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The Cotton Crop.
Norfolk, Va., September 0.—The
Cotton Exchange report lias the follow
ing, compiled from 86 replies in 38 conn,
ties in Virginia and North Carolina:
Seventy-two show rainy and unfavorable
weather, 14 favorable; 22 report the
weather more favorable than last year, 40
less favorable and 18 same as last year;
38 show cotton fruiting well, retaining
squares and bolls, 17 fruiting well; 19 re
port crop very good—from 10 to 50 per
cent, better than last year; 53 crop fair
and better than last year and 14
poor and not so good as last
year; 20 report picking . not
begun, 47 that picking has begun. The
general tenor of the reports shows that
picking will be general by the 15th of
September. Seventy-four show no worms;
six report worms in five counties, but lit
tle damage. Thirty-six indicate slight
damage by shedding and rust; 29 report
damage of 5 to 32 per cent, by shedding
and rust; 20 report no damage. The ma
jority of the reports indicate that since the
15th of August the weather has been un
favorable in consequence of too much rain,
causing shedding and rust; and the report
further says that since the average date of
the reports received the bad weather has
continued, with great severity in the past
few days.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Charleston, September 9.—The re
port of the Charleston Cotton Exchange
for August is compiled from (5 re
plies covering 30 counties, the average
date being August 30th. The character
of the weather during August is reported
by 2“ as favorable aria by 45 as unfavora
ble to the cotton crop. As compared
with the same period last year, 12 report
it as more favorable, 5 about the same
and 45 as less favorable. Twenty-two re
port the cotton as fruiting well and re
taining its squares and bolls, while the re
mainder complain of considerable shed
ding. As to the present condition
of the crop and its comparison
with same time last year 23, report
same to be better; 0 about same, and 30
not so good. Picking is universally re
ported as having commenced, and will be
come general, even in the upper counties,
by the 15th of September. No injury has
been done by worms. Tho damage to
the plant by shedding and rust, as com
pared with its condition on the 31st of
July, is stated by 17 to be very slight; 40
estimate the damage to amount from 5 to
33 per cent., averaging 20 per cent.,
while five report no damage at all from
these causes.
* GEORGIA.
Savannah, Sept. 9.—The Savannah
•cotton exchange has the following crop
reports: In Georgia 83 replies from 51
counties report that in the first part of the
month of August there was too much rain
for the cotton plant; then it became too
liot and dry causing rust and shedding of
forms and young bolls. The weather was
less favorable than in tho sdtne month last
year. Picking was commenced about the
15tli of August in southern Georgia, and
in a few days became general. “ Exces
sively hot suns are opening and maturing
bolls unusually fast. Worms have ap
peared only in southern Georgia and
even there but little injury has been done.
The present prospect of crops is more
promising than cn same date iast
year, bnt the yield at this time last year
was afterwards increased ten per cent, by
the second growth and an unusually late
frost. As rains commenced a month later
this year, we cannot look for much result
from the second growth this season. Dur
ing the last days of August and the first of
September, this State was visited by a se
vere wind and rainstorm, which destroyed
much of the open cotton.
FLORIDA.
Seventeen replies from 11 counties
were received. The weather during the
month of August was generally favorable,
about on a par with that of last year, with
a little too much rain during the first part
of the month. The plant was injured by
both lust and shedding, but not by worms
to any extent, though reported as gener
ally throughout the Staie. The plant has
not yielded as well as expected, but bet
ter than last year. Picking became gen
eral about the 20th of August. In the sea
island section the condition of the plant is
reported slightly better than at this date
last year. No injury from worms, but
nut and shedding have cut down the esti-
been very unfavorable in all the counties,
except 2, (Desha and Sebastian), and is
decidedly less favorable than last year,
the plant not retaining its forms and
tolls. The present condition is bad, very
much worse than at this time last year.
Owing to heavy rains, followed by exces
sively hot weather, 'the crop has ripened
very suddenly, hence picking has be
gun earlier titan usuil and will be
general by September lGth. The army
worms have made their appearance in
nearly all of the counties, but tho damage
by them is slight. Boll worms have dam
aged the crop very much. Shedding, rust
and rot are complained of in all the
counties, the injury from these four
causes aggregating 19 per cent.
Virginia Tobacco.
Petersburg, September 9.—Informa
tion received here from several counties
say the recent heavy damage to the to
bacco crop, especially in low lands where
the loss is very heavy, is in consequence
of the destruction of the plants by
the tobacco worms early in
the season, and great damage
resulting from heavy rains. The tobacco
crop in this section of Virginia is smaller
thau for many years. Fodder has already
bceu pulled, and its quality has becu
damaged by the rains. It is feared that
the cotton crop is somewhat injured from
the same cause.
New York, Sept. 9.—Livingston, the
Brooklyn faster, entered upon the third
day of his task at 1 p. 'm. He is closely
watched by parties who have bet upon
his failure within ten days. Since the
commencement of his fast he has drunk
a half pint of water. He Is suffering
pangs of hunger severely, but he says
they will soon subside.
Jersey CIty, Sept. 9.—The Hudson
County Republican Convention was held
in Jersey City to-day.
.Lewis A. Brigham was renominated by
acclamation for Congress from the Sev
enth district of New - Jersey.
EX-GOVERNOR SMITH
02T
COLQUITT'S ADMINISTER
TI0N. ,
A Criticism on the Acts and Remits ot
the [Gnbernntorlal Administration
of Governor Colquitt — Mr. Smith’s
■ Speech at Col umbos Saturday, An
Host 21.
Copied, bn rtquett,from the Columbus En-
' * Sue J
Texas Cotton Crop.
Galveston, September 10.—The Gal
veston Cotton Exchange has 134 replies
from 92 counties, of which 75 report fa
vorable weather during the month—59 un
favorable; 62 report the weather more fa
vorable than last year, 21 about the same,
60 less favorable. Seventy-five report
cotton fruiting well aud shedding; 40 re
port the present condition of the crop not as
;ood as last year, 8 about the same, 80
letter—one reporting 15 per cent., two
25 per cent., three 33 per cent., six 50 per
cent., one 60 per cent., and six 100 per
cent, better.
One hundred and thirty-two report pick
ing commenced, two not, and sixty-one
report picking general Septem
ber 1st, nine September 5th,
38 September lOtb, 26 September lotli.
Sixty-eight report damage from worms
and boll worms as follows; Six 100 per
cent., two 15 per cent., three 20 per cent.;
eleven 25 per cent.; one 30 per cent.;
eleven 33 percent.; thirteen 50 per cent,
damage. One hundred and eight report
no injury from shedding or rust; 17 some
injury from shedding; 9 injury from rust.
Some counties that report serious damage
by worms, also report that, notwithstand
ing this, the yield will be greater than
that of last year.
Tennessee Cotton Crop.
Memphis, September 10.—The cotton
crop report of the Memphis Cotton Ex
change for the month of August embraces
132 responses from points in west Tennes
see, north Mississippi and Arkansas. One
hundred and nine report that the weath
er has been general ^ unfavorable as com
pared with last August; 14 report it as
more favorable; 13 about the same, and
105 much less favorable* Fifty report the
plant forming and blooming well; 34 mod
erately well; 47 not well. Twenty-nine
report it as retaining its bolls well; 103
report a serious shedding of forms and
young fruit. On uplands the top crop is
generally reported as almost entirely lost.
Ten report a very fine condition of the
crop in all respects; SO in a good condition.
As to cultivation, 11 report the crop as ex
ceedingly grassy, and 13 in bad condition.
One hundred and seven show a nomi
nal damage by worms; 25 report some
boll worms. The aggregate damage is
trifling. Two hundred and thirteen re-
port no damage by rust or blight; 18 re-
mates 10 per cent. Considerable damage P 0 ! 1 s ® r ‘ ous damage
, .. . ^ Tn Tonnnccna orw
was done to the cotton crop by severe
gales during the last ten days of August
and the beginning of September.
ALABAMA.
Mobile, September 0.—The crop re
port of tbeCotton exchange for the month
of August is based on 75 letters from 42
counties in Alabama. The weather is re
ported as having been favorable in 10 of
the most productive and 12 of the small
counties,’and unfavorable in 14 of the
most productive and six small coun
ties. The general report for all the coun
ties is less favorable than the same period
last year, only two large counties and
three of the small counties reporting it
more favorable. The plants are fruiting
well and retaining squares and bolls in
seven of the most productive and nine of
-the small counties, all the other counties
reporting rust and much shedding. In 12
of the most productive and 10 of the
small counties the condition of the crop is
reported to be as good or better than last
year, aud in all the other counties the
crop is reported not so good as last year.
Picking has commenced and is geneial in
In Tennessee and Mississippi the top
crop is almost an entire loss on the bot
tom lands. Everywhere there is much
complaint of two rank a growth of the
plant at the expense of the fruit. I.ate
planted cotton will not average half a
crop.
Political News Items.
The World prints the following: Dur
ing the last two weeks 85,578 enrolled
members of Hancock and English clubs
have been reported to the national Demo
cratic committee. This number is exclu
sive of clubs which have sent notifica
tions of organization and lists of officers
without stating the number of members
enrolled.
United States Sneator Wallace, of
Pennsylvania, chairman of the Demo
cratic Congressional Committee, was in
New York yesterday. He said he was
highly gratified with the condition of the
canvass fin Pennsylvania, the reports re
ceived by the Congressional Committee
indicating a largely increased Democratic
majority in the next House of Represen-
all the~counties except 14, and will be in ' tatives.
these from the 10th to the 20th of Sep-1 The Republican Hancock and English
. tember. Worms have appeared in more Campaign Club of the city a"nd county of
or less numbers in ail, except 11 of the New York has issued a call for a meeting
small counties, and the damage is report- to be held at the Westminster hotel next
ed as from smalfto considerable, the exact Tuesday. The call is signed by 222 mem-
percentage not being giveii. Rust and bers of the club, all men who have here-
snedding are reported in all the connties, J tofore acted with the Republican party,
and the average damage therefrom is esti-'
mated at 13 per cent, in 24 of the most
productive and 10 per cent, in 18 of the
smaller counties.
MISSISSIPPI.
Thirty-eight letters were received from
20 counties. The weather is reported as
having been favorable in five counties,
and unfavorable in 15 counties. One
county reports the weather as having been
more favorable than the same time last
year, two as favorable, and 17 less favora
ble. The general report is that plants are
not fruiting well, and that there is much
shedding. One county reports the present
condition of the crop to be as good or bet
ter than last year, 3 as equally as good and
16 not so good. Picking has commenced
in all the counties, and will become gen
eral from the lOtli to the loth of Septem
ber. Boll wormsand caterpillars have ap
peared in 13 counttes, but damage bas
been slight. The average damage by rust
and shedding has been estimated at 22
per cent.
LOUISIANA.
New Orleans, Sept. 9.—The cotton
exchange report for Louisiana says: From
87 parishes we have 119 replies of the av
erage date of August 31st. The weather
during the mouth has been most unfavora
ble and, as compared with last year, less
favorable. The plant is reported as not
m fruiting well orretaiuing its spurs or bolls.
. The present condition of the.crop is not
g<5od, and is, on the whole, decidedly
worse than at the same time Iast year.
Picking has commenced and became
general about September 6tli.
Boll worms, rot and rust have done seri
ous damage, and the injury from shed
ding, superinduced by too much rain and
worms, has been great, the average loss
from these sources iu the Statp being. 22
per cent. ' '
MISSISSIPPI. _
„ Our report is compiled .from 153 replies
for thirty-five counties, .the average date
being August 31st. The weather during
the month has been very unfavorable to
crops, and much leSs favorable aicofli-
pared with last year, .the plant not form
ing and blooming well and Hot-retaining
its squares and bolls. Tdie'present condi
tion of the crop is not good, and. decidedly
worse than last year.
The crop has ripened very early, and
picking has commenced. It wa3 expected
to become general about September 6.
Army worms,bav# appeared in a great
many counties, bnt have not (toiie much
carnage to the crop. The ravages of boll
\\ orms, horyever, are genera!, and in many
instances very serious. It is estimated
that the damage from boll . worms, gljed-
ding, rust and rot is 23 per cent. 1
ARKANSAS. I
We have 107 replies from 33 counties
south of the Arkansas river of average
date of August 81st. The weather has
The Perils of the Czar of Eussia,
London, September 4.—The Berlin
correspondent of the Daily News tele
graphs as follows: “A well-infbnned St.
Petersburg correspondent writes me that
one mine was discovered in the Govern
ment of Ekaterinoslay, on Friday last,
previous to tlie Emperor of Russia’s jour
ney from Tsarskoe Seto to Livadia, and
another, in the Government of Taurida,
116 versts further, on the railway to Sim-
pherapol, was found only the day before
he started. The latter mine contained
three poods (108 pounds) of dynamite,
packed in two cases. There was a wire
connected with the mine, but no battery
attached to it. General Loris Melikoff
has been exercising the greatest vigilance
in view of the Emperor’s Intended jour
ney. The details about tho mine in
Taurida are from a competent source.”
—A yonng lady spoke to a friend > who
had called upon her regarding a trait char
acteristic of her mother, who always had
a good word to say to every one. “Why,”
she said, “I believe Jf Satan were under
discussion mother would have a good
word to say for him.” JMtjkcn the
mother entered and wa what
the (laughter had saj£? she
quietly replied: “Well, I think
w« might all imitate Sat«R v persevcr-
ance.” ’ <
—An astrologist of Kingston, Jamaica,
will fiud in the hurricane at that place a
confirmation of his theories. About a
year ago he made a direful prophecy of
earthquakes, hurricanes, famiues, plagues
and wars, that were to begin in 1*S0 and
Iast seven years. Even this prophet,
however, has some good in store for us.
Those who survive 1887 are to live “.twice
as long as they ever did.”
—Bonn was drunk when he undertook
an ascension on a tightrope, at Clyde,
Ohio, to the towerof the town hall. • The
multitude shouted to him to go back, but
he kept straightahead, staggering at every
step. At length he dropped Ills balance
pole, and fell backward, but like a flash
wrapped his right leg around the rope,
and held on. He said afterward that the
loss of the pole sobered him instantly.
—A girl was found nailed to a plank,
so' that slie could inoTe neither hands nor
feet, and floating on the Yangtse river,
in China. Beside her was tlio head of a
Buddhist priest, and some coins. An in
scription said: “This money is provided
for her coffin when she is dead." She be
longed to a wealthy family, and her two
brothers, petty mandarins, used this cruel
treatment because she married the priest
whose head was on the plank with her.
quirer
The opera house,as we have stated, was
crowded on Saturday night. Many color
ed men were in the galleries. Ex-Gov
ernor J. M. Smith was introduced by
Colonel Blandford, and was received with
a cheering greeting.
After stating that he was suffering
from severe cold and hoarseness, and that
he trusted the audience would remain
quiet while he was speaking, Governor
Smith said:
For the first time in its history the
Democratic party of the State of Georgia
has found itself unable to agree upon a
candidate for the office of Governor.
After a number of days spent in fruitless
attempts to harmonize upon a candidate,
the convention adjourned without mak
ing a nomination. The two sections into
which the convention was divided have
each recommended a candidate for the
chief magistracy in the State. And so
far as the Democratic party is concerned,
it finds itseir hopelessly broken up in the
election for the official named.
It is impossible almost to exaggerate,
when viewed from a party standpoint, the
danger likely to ensue from this situation.
A President of the United States is to be
elected during tho present year. Mem
bers of Congress are also to he chosen; and
the most injurious effects will not improb
ably ensue from the unfortunate division
in the late Democratic convention of this
State. If no other damaging result should
follow therefrom, we can no longer say
that the Democratic party in Georgia is-a
unit. The. division, then, will likely
crystallize and it is not improbable that
the great Democratic party of the State
will hereafter exist in two or perhaps
more factions; each striving not to over
come the foe of Democracy, but to .crush
out the existence of the other.
The people of the South since the war
have looked to the Democratic party for
honest government. [Applause.] We
have believed that if the right of self-gov
ernment should ever be restored to the
people of this section it would be in con
sequence of the efforts of the Democratic
party. With the party divided it is im
possible that this high mission can be per
formed. In view of this, the persons who
are really responsible for the division in
the Democratic party should be held to a
strict accountability. No man, or set of
men, who from motives of personal ambi
tion attempt to paralyze the power of the
party, should be allowed to succeed in
their efforts. [Great applause.)
The people of Georgia who have so long
expected the restoration of the right of
self-government from the success of the
Democratic party alone, should see to it
that attempts to produce division or other
wise to impair the usefulness of the party
shallnotbe allowed to succeed. [Applause
and cheers.] Just at this point a very
important question .arises. It is the duty,
as well as the interest of the Democrat^
to settle the question in the present gu
bernatorial canvass. That question plain
ly stated is as follows:
Who was to blame for the failure
to nominate a candidate for Governor
in the late convention? It is the duty of
the people to discuss tho question thor
oughly and settle it fairly. Either the so-
called majority and its chiefi Governor
Colquitt, on the one hand, or the minority
and Mr. Norwood on the other, are re
sponsible. When this question shall have
been settled justly, the people should ap
ply the only remedy iu existence merci
lessly. Those who were to blame foi the
unfortunate condition of things referred
to, should be unconditionally retired by
the action of the people from public life,
in the State of Georgia. [Great ap
plause.]
Nothing should prevent, and my faith
in the people leads me to say nothing can
prevent them from doing right in this
matter. [Applause.] By so doing they
protect their party in the State; they pre
vent the demoralization which naturally
ensues from division, and they perpetuate
the existence of that organization through
which good men, both in the State and
out o£ it, expect to preserve the liberties
of the people of the whole Union. [Loud
applause.]
Then who ought to be held responsible
for the division in the Democratic party
in Georgia? To answer this question it
will be necessary to go back some two or
three months, and call your attention
particularly to some of the acts of Gov.
Colquitt.
The people of Georgia will not soon for
get the startling effect produced upon the
public by the announcement that General
Gordon had resigned his seat In the
United States Senate. All the circum
stances attending this act were calculated
to excite curiosity and provoke inquiry in
the public mind as to the cause which led
to it. It lacked but a few days of the ex
piration of the session of Congress. Not
the faintest suspicion existed that Gen.
eral Gordon was dissatisfied with the very
high and honorable position to which he
had been very lately returned by the will
of the people of Georgia. Why should
he have insisted on resigning before the
end of the session when that event was so
near ? Why should one who had so long
been the favorite of his people, have con
cluded so suddenly to retire from one of
the most elevated offices to which a citi
zen can aspire ? These were questions
which very naturally arose in tho public
mind. It should be borne in mind just
here that the office which General Gordon
held belonged to the people of Georgia.
He was bnt a mere trustee therein, for the
benefit of his State and people. They,
therefore, had the right, without subject
ing themselves to a charge of impertinent
interference, to call for the reasons which
actuated their servant in this matter. It
was no reflection on him; it was no in
vasion of any right which belonged to
him, for his people to seek to know
why he had so suddenly and so secretly
resolved to resign the . trust which they
had confided to him. The same remarks
apply witli equal force to the conduct of
Governor Colquitt. He is but a trustee
of the people, entrusted with certain
great powers, attaching to the chief mag-
stracy of the State, to he exercised for
their benefit rather than for liis. [Ap
plause.] In the discharge of the duties
of this high office there is but one honora
ble aim presented to the ambition of
its’incumbent, and that is that he shall
wisely and well, and to the utmost of his
ability, in a spirit oi self-abnegation, de
vote all his powers to the service of his
people. In view of this the people have
the right to be informed of the motives
which influenced the condnct of their
Governor. It is not a reflection, there
fore, on him; no insult to his official dig
nity, for inquiry to be made by the people
into the motives which influenced his of
ficial conduct, and he, instead of treating
such injury as an insult, should take
pleasure in gratifying the reasonable cu
riosity of his people in the premises.
There are various temperaments among
men; their dispositions are different; they
frequently differ iu judgment; and hence,
>vhen inquiry into the motives of officials
is made by the people, it is not unreasona
ble to expect that there should be a differ
ence of opinion' * Among them. One in tho
high position of Governor should therefore
never feci that he is outraged by even a
harsh judgment by the people as to his
motive and official conduct ' He may feel
that great injustice is doncliiiff, but as the
chief magistrate of a great Stale he should
also feel that he is.ou a planatoo elevated
to permit himself to Indulge in personal
denunciations of his- fellow-citizens who
may have ‘done him inj ustice. [Applaus*.]
For at least they may be honest and .well-
intentioned in even their harshest ,crit'-
cism on his official conduct. By the suf
frage of the people is the governor elected,
by personal enemies as well as by person
al, ft lends. And it should be the study.of
Ids life to serve bis people by holding the
scales evenly between his friends and foes.
[Applause.]
But how-did Governor Colquitt and Us
friend General Gordon meet the publicin-
quiry in reference to the matter referred
pie ofGeorgia that his circumstances were in them simply sought to commend him- further was heard from the matter until 1 will take the trouble to examine the
such that he could so longerserve them in ] self to the people rather than assail Gov- -* * -• - - -*
the high position of United States Senator ? . ernor Colquitt. The same may be said of
Did lie inform them why it was that after | General Gartreil. So that in effect it
having sought a re-election to that high j may be truthfully said that the crusade
office two short years before, and when ! preached by General Gordon and Govern-
liis family expenses were as great as at the ! or Colquitt against the infidels met witlr
time of his resignation he suddenly found j no opposition whatever. Now, is it at all
it necessary to. retire from the position ? wonderful, I repeat, that under the cir-
Wien he must have known whe would be cumstances—is it a matter of astonish-
his successor, why did not General Gor
don say to the people of Georgia, who
bad honored him so highly, that circum
stances beyond his control required he
should resign at once? If he had to leave
the Senate without a day’s delay, there
was a reason for it. What was that rea
son ? It may have been a good one, but
the people to whom General Gordon be
longed did as they had a right to do—they
commented upon his conduct. They had
conferred great and signal honors upon
him. They had a right to know why it
was that after accepting these honors he
so suddenly resigned them. He was their
servant. He was in the face of their ene
my at Washington.- Why did he lay
down his commission and retire from the
contest just before the battle closed? Now,
all these questions the people had a right
to ask, and they were entitled to an an
swer without mental reservation on Gen.
Gordon’s part.
Upon the reception of General Gor
don’s resignation so suddenly and clan
destinely made, it became the duty of
Governor Colquitt to appoint his succes
sor. In making that appointment what
was he bound to do? As has been alrea
dy stated he too was but a trustee, bound
in this matter to carry out tho will of the
people. Did he make a single inquiry of
any living human being, except General
Gordon and his appointee, as to whom ha
should elevate to the -honor pf a seat in
the United States Senate ? Now, trustees
exercising authority for others when any
important question in their administration
comes up for solution usually institute
some inquiry as to how they can best dis-
cliarge such duty. Whom shall I consult?
Whoso advice is most reliable? What
shall be my action ? are questions which
naturally and necessarily arise in such
cases. But Governor Colquitt asked none
of these questions. No investigation was
necessary to enlighten his judgment. At
once, when the resignation wa3 received,
he fixed upon Joseph E. Brown to receive
the appointment. [Sensation.]
Now, just here, permit me to direct at
tention to some features of the history of
Governor Brown. For years after the
close of tho war, when we ail felt that
every Georgian at least ought to be a
Democrat, and.so stand squarely with his
people in sentiment and conduct, where
was Governor Brown ? In the dark days,
when the honor ot the State was trampled
in the dust, did this gentleman show to
his people, who had honored him so fre
quently and highly, that living or dying
and to the end, their fate and their fortune
should be his? When the flag ot the
Confederacy went down Joseph E. Brown
left the ranks of the Democratic party and
in so doing deserted Southern men and
Southern interests, and aligned himself
with the authors of our humiliation and
defeat. Why did ho leave the ranks of his
friends ? Why did he fee] it necessary to
desert the drooping flag which marked the
broken fortunes of those who had so
highly honored him, aud join the forces of
their oppressors ?
Could he not prove to his masters that
he submitted to them without uniting with
them to taunt, insult and revile those who
had honored and loved him so much ?
Could he not have remained a Democrat
still, and submitted himself to the recon
struction acts, as all Democrats did, with
out affecting to love his oppressors, and
without kissing the rod that smote him ?
Why did he join the Radical party in'this
State ? Why did he go iu their conven
tions ? Why did he assist in the nomina
tion- of their candidates? Why did he
lend all of his powers for the defeat and
destruction of the Democratic party in the
State? Why did he so continue to do un
til the abdication of Governor Bullock
showed that the Democratic party had re
covered the government ?
I do not ask the questions for the pur
pose of answering them here. I would
not criticise the conduct of Governor
Brown harshly. My sole purpose is to
direct your attention to the inquiries
which aroused the public mind when he
was appointed Senator by Governor Col
quitt. These inquiries were natural; they
were suggested to the minds of the people
by the situation. The people have a right
to feel some curiosity. It was their right
to have that curiosity satisfied. It was their
right to know when and for what reason
their trustee, Governor Colquitt, had con
doned the political sins and obliquities of
Governor Joseph E. Brown. It was their
right to know why General Gordon, who
had been denounced in the public prints
by Joseph E. Brown os a traitor to his
E and his section, had resigned his
position to make room in the coun
cils of the nation for his former enemy
and traducer. [Great applause.] Now,
I repeat that the people had a right to
know all these things; they had a right to
speculate in reference to it, and their
servants had no right to object thereto.
[Applause.] But how did these servants,
especially Governor Colquitt and General
Gordon, conduct themselves ? Did they
seek to gratify the curiosity of the people ?
Let us see.
Almost immediately after the announce
ment of the resignation of General Gor
don and the appointment of Governor
Brown, Governor Colquitt commenced to
make speeches to the people of the State,
as he said, for his own vindication.
[Laughter.] Commencing at the capitol
he went from county to county, announc
ing that he was the victim of religious per
secution, that he was a Christian; that he
had preached to the colored people of the
State, and lor such religious acts his name
had been cast out a3 evil; tliat religion it
self was being assailed in his person. He
asserted that he was being percecuted for
Christ's sake, aud he called upon all the
religious people of the State to rally to the
maintenance of religion against infidelity.
He and his friend General Gordon
rode forth, like Castor and Pollux,
animated by one purpose, and aiming
at one object. The Governor was to be
vindicated from the assaults of infftels
and skeptics by re-election to office.
[Sensation.] Nothingshortof continuing
the Governor in liis present position
would vindicate religion and piety in the
land. In vain was 1 It that the people,
amazed at the condtfct of these gentle
men, demanded to knbtv who had made
such assaults on the Governor; who had
persecuted him.because lie was a Chris
tian who had condemned him because he
was a Sunday school man, who had de
nounced him because, In the elegant dic
tion of General Gordon, “He had floated
the banner of the King of Kings.”
It is unnecessary to say that these ques
tions were not answered. When great
pressure*was brought to hear upon these
intleriien, they professed to ho deeply
dignant. “Why should Colquitt be
questioned ?” says Gordon; “is he not the
hero of Qlustee ? He is persecuted for
‘floatingthe banner oftheKingof Kings.’”
“Did you not know, General •'GOnlon,
when yen resigned that Joseph E. Brown
was to he your successor ? ” “lwill an
swer no such questions,” responds the
General. “Governor Colquitt wflhts the
support of no person who would ask such
a question. Was not I at Appomattox?
Do I not say that Governor CoJquitt
ought to be re-elected? He ‘floats the
banner of the King of Kings.’” [Amuse
ment at the idea.] And thus through tho
whole State these distinguished gentler
men appeal to the i people in terms i of
thrilling eloquence to re-elect .Governor
Colquitt. •«»» ■ —-
Now,'I ask thejquestitfn jttstjiere, is it
at all wonderful that, under all circum
stances, Governor Colquitt secured a ma
jority—a numerical majority—In the late
gubernatorial convention? Why . the
to f~ Did General Gordon say, in response
to"inquiries, simply and kindly to the peo-
cent religious men in'the State. They
were adjured by their love to religion, by
the interest they felt in the cause of the
ob.irch, to make haste and delay not, to
rally the religious element iu their re
spective neighborhoods to the support of
the Governor against the wicked In the
primary meetings of the people.
In this connection it should be hope in
mind that to these efforts there was little
or no opposition. Colonel LeSter’refused
ment—that the Governor received a nu
merical majority of the delegates in the
convention? The wonder is that the
convention was not unanimous in his fa
vor. But the people of Georgia are a
cautious race. They always demand to
hear reasons for action, and to this is to
be attributed in a large measure, the fact
that there was aminority in the convention
opposed to the re-nomination of Gov. Col
quitt. On occasions I have met and con
versed with that great man, General R. E.
Lee, who told me that the troops from
Georgia were the coolest and most imper
turbable he had ever commanded. The
Texans and Louisianians were excitable
andJmpetuous, but the Georgians would
calmly fight all day aud you couldn’t see
the color of their faces change, and be
ready to assume action on the morning,
without the semblance of a murmur or
strong emot’ou. They were cautious, hut
charged grandly when aroused and stood
firm under fire. [Great cheering.]
When the delegates had been selected,
it was understood that the adoption of
the two-thirds rule by the convention
would be a grave question. It was known
that many delegates were opposed to that
rule, and that others had even been in
structed, by their constituents, to demand
that it should not be imposed upon the
convention. It was settled in the public
mind that Governor Colquitt had a nu
merical majority, and it was believed that
his adherents in the convention
would insist upon the majority
rule. This question was setttled, how
ever, on the morning of the assembling of
the convention'by the following authori
tative statement which appeared in the
Atlanta Constitution, Governor Colquitt’s
organ:
“It is definitely settled that the Colquitt
men will adopt the two-thirds rule.
“There were many delegates, flotably
from Richmond, Worth, Dougherty, Ogle
thorpe and elsewhere, that were solid for
the majority rule on principle. There
were some—such as the Burke delegation,
that were instructed for the majority lule
Governor Colquitt, however, urged his
friends to waive the matter at least for
tho gubernatorial nomination, and put his
case squarely on the two-thirds rule. Af
ter some .discussion, this was done, and
the chances are tliat there will be but a
dozen or so votes against the two-thirds
rule, if there are any at all.”
The Constitution states in plain terms
that Gov. Colquitt himself had urged his
friends to waive the matter and to place
his nomination by the convention square
ly on the two-thirds rule. Did the Con
stitution state ‘the truth or not ? It was
then,’ and is now, the extreme advocate of
Gov. Colquitt’s re-election. The Gover
nor himself would hardly dispute the
truth of the statement made by the Con
stitution. It that statement be true, what
obligatiou did the Governor take on him
self when he overruled all objection on
the part of his friends, and placed his
nomination “squarely on the two-thirds
rule ?” What obligation did he take upon
himself when he authorized Geu. Young,
his friend, to move the adoption of the
two-thirds rule in the convention ? Now,
I ask, in all candor, of liis friends here to
night, was.uot Gov. Colquitt bound by
his action, in morals, in honor and in re
ligion, not to accept a candidacy unless
conferred by the convention under the
two-thirds rule? Was lio not bound in
honor, neither by himself nor friends to
throw any obstacle in the way of a nomi
nation funder the two-thirds rule in
the convention ? Did he not in effect say
that it was the duty of the convention to
make a nomination under that rule?
That the majority rule .for nominating
should not obtain in the convention ?
Was not he pledged in honor, to reject
a candidacy unless tendered by a two-
thirds vote of the convention ? I ask every
adherent of Governor Colquitt here to-
pight to answer these questions to his
own conscience. You are honorable men,
you are American citizens and Georgians.
Don’t you know that the Governor by his
action in the premises was estopped from
denying the validity of tho two-thirds
rule, aud from seeking a candidacy for
governor under any other rule? The
.rule was his iu this special case; it was
adopt 0 -! by liis suggestion, it was imposed
upon the convention by his friends, and
if there is such a thing upon this earth as
a man being bound by his act, then the
Governor was bound to allow the two-
thirds rule to do its legitimate work in
the convention. [Applause.) By coif-
sent, stronger than if it had been express
ed in terms, he bound himself to be gov
erned by the will of a minority of more
than one-lhird of the convention against
him. He stands to-day pledged before
the world, not to accept of a candidacy
for governor over the opposition of such a
minority.
Permit’mo to pause here a moment and
inquire who was the disorganizer in this
convention ? Was it the Governor who in
troduced the two-thirds rule iu the con
vention, and then abrogated that rule to
accept of a candidacy under a different
rule, or was it the minority who accepted
the Governor’s two-thirds rule, and never
claimed a right which it did not give
them—who protested to the last against its
abrogation? To ask this question is to
answer it. And to-day Governor Colquitt
stands before tho world as a disorganizer
aud a disrupter of the party which, four
short years ago, honored him fbr.his pres
ent high position by a majority of 80,000
votes. [Enthusiastic applause.]
Let us then hear no more of the evils
growing out ot the two-thirds rule, and
of the propriety of nominations by a ma
jority. When Colquitt imposed the two-
thirds rule upon the convention he, In
the most ; authorative way, declared that
whether in the practice it was right or
wrong he would he governed hy it. It is
with mortified feelings that I declare
here to-night that lie stands before the
world as the violator of his own volun
tary pledge, and if the people of Georgia
would avoid all the evils which will Cer
tainly flow from division and strife within
the party, unless properly rebuked, they
should, at the ballot-box in October next-,
retire Governor Coiquitt to the shades of
private file. [Grand approval.] Very
lew opposed hiB coming into office; still
fewer ought to oppose his retiring from
office. [Applause continued..]
But, it may be asked, why, under tho
circumstances, should not the minority of
the convention have waived their objec
tions to Governor Colquitt’s nomination
and in tbe interest of the party have har
monized wit'll the majority. j n
I now proceed to point out the reasbns
which, in my judgment,.demanded , that
the minority should never consent to Gov.-
Colquitt’s nomination. In presenting these
freasons, I shall be governed by nq feeling
ol personal ill, will totbo Governor. Most
of tlio facts that I shall refer to arc writ
ten, and speak for themselves. I shall
make no ciijnst reflection upon the per
sonal character ,or conduct of the Govern
or. His religion shall be as. sacred, to
me as it is to him. I do him no dishonor
for the interest he takes ■ in Sabbath
schools. I concede that it is his purpose
to be an honorable, upright gentlem^ii in
private life. TJiejacts which I shall i
to are his official acts only.' His relij
aud Allhis'personal conduct are su<
fiom comment bv mb.
The lirst matter to which I call your at-,
Ujntion is what is known as the Alston fee
case, piirlng the administration of Gov-
ernbrfiullock lie engaged th* services of
Messrs/ Baugh and Garlington, of Atlan
ta to prosecute a claim In, behalf oi ithe
State against the United ’States govern-
f the Western and -At-
fer
ment on 'account ofthe Western and
mails were loaded with letters written by lantic railroad. 1 When his successor
the Governor and jiis adherents to promi-. -came into office be found tho claim Btill
pending, and that Governor Bullock had
agreed to advance to the agents flamed
$3,000 in casTi, and to allow them 12} per
cerit. of any amount Of the claim which
might be recovered by them. At. the in
stance of tho agents tho claim was re
newed before Congress, but with little
prospect of success, however. Some time
in 1873, say, at the instance of Colonel
Baugh, one of the agents, he was-allowed
to associate the late Colonel R. A. Alston
with himself and Genoral Garlington in
to canvass for the nomination at all. Col. j with himself and Genoral Garlington
Hardeman made but few speeches, aud the prosecution of the claim. Nothing
Baugh in collecting the claim. The Gov
ernor indorsed upon the letter of attor
ney, given by Bangb to that firm, his offi
cial consent to the arrangement; and as
these additional lawyers were to be let
into the agency, he saw fit to restrict their
claim for compensation by inserting in
the indorsement what he understood to
he the substance of the bargain between
himself and Colonel Baugh, when Alston
became an agent, viz: that in no event
should tho compensation of the agents
exceed 25 per cent, of the amount
collected. It was not the understanding
of the Governor that the compensation
should be in any event twenty-five per
cent., but that in no event should it ex
ceed that amount. A few days before the
expiration of the term of the then Gov
ernor, General Garlington presented to
him a paper, stating that it contained what
he (Garlington) remembered as tbe un
derstanding when Colonel Alston was
employed. ~ The Governor could not then
look to the paper; he did not even read it.
He found no time to do so before he turn
ed over the office to Governor Colquitt.
He did not instruct that tbe memorandum
banded him by General Garlington
should be filed, and its contents were un
known to him until long after he went out
of office.
Sometime after Governor Colquitt
came into office the Garlington paper was
found in a heap of waste paper, and Col.
Alston, in an affidavit on - file in the exe
cutive office, swore that he, himself, filed
it. I now state before you here that the
Indorsement on the Baugh letter of attor
ney and the undersigned and unread Gar-
linston memorandum were the only evi
dences outside of the statements of
Messrs. Alston and Garlington themselves,
that any agreement had ever been made
with them that the 12} per cent agreed to
be paid by Governor Bullock could possi
bly, in any event, be increased to 25 per
cent.
1 here state positively that when I left
the office of.Governor of the State I did
not kuow that Messrs. Alston and Gar
lington' pretended that they were to have
25 per cent, of the amount of the claim
collected. I did not intend ever to give
them the right to make such a claim un
less it could be shown tliat they bad nec
essarily incurred extraordinary expenses
which required it. 1 beg, just here, to say
that I have seen it stated in a report of a
speech made by a gentleman, in this house
recently, that Governor Colquitt was war
ranted iu paying the large fees allowed in
this case, by the fact that the case had
gone into the court of claims where extra
ordinary costs and fees had been incurred.
This is a mistake; the case was never be
fore the court of claims, and no extraor
dinary expenses could have been incurred
on that account.
Congress appropriated the sum of S198,-
035 on the claim referred to. Governor
Colquitt considered the matter of sufficient
importance to warrant the executive in
leaving the capitol in Atlanta and travel
ing to Washington, in person to secure the
money. The amount was paid to him in
draft on the Assistant Treasurer of the
United States in New York. The Gov
ernor brought the draught to Atlanta, and
turned it over to John W. Renfroe, State
Treasurer, who sent it to New York, and
through the Fourth National Bank of that
city, the then special agent of the State
treasuiy, received the money, every dollar
of which wa3, through that bank, paid out
upon the bonds and coupons of tbe State.
I now say here not one per cent, ofthe
proceeds of the draft referred to ever went
to the hands of Alston, Garlington or any
bonds. So much for this,
There are quite a number of.other cases
in which the Governor paid out money
without proper authority of law. The
cases which I have already presented are
sufficient to show that ha seems to have
had no proper conception of his constitu
tional obligation in this regard. I will
pass from this class of cases with the re
mark that a gentleman informed me in
Atlanta the other day that there was fully
a half peck of such cases which could be
furnished from the Comptroller General’s
records. I now come to the case of the
indorsement of the Northeastern railway
bonds. Application for the indorsement
of these bonds was made to Governor
Colquitt’s predecessor, some time before
the expiratiou of his term of office. He
referred the question to Attorney-
General Hammond, who furnished his
official opinion that, the company were
not, under the law, entitled to the indorse
ment. The Governor furnished a copy of
this opinion to the company, and also
stated to the president of the company
that lie conld not give tho indorsement
applied for. Commissioners had been
appointed on tbe application of the Gov
ernor to examine and report under the
law the condition ot the road. This report
did not come in until a day or two before
the time the Governor went out of office.
The refusal to grant the aid was not regu
larly entered on the executive minutes,
and the whole case was turned by the
Governor over to his Successor. For more
than twelve montlis after Governor Col
quitt came into office lie failed and refused
to indorse these bonds. The matter was
referred to the legislature of 1877 aud was
not acted on. A bill was filed before
Judge Rice, one of the most learned judges
in Georgia, who, alter elaborate argument,
held, in substance, that the company was
uot entitled to the indorsement. Upon the
question of the validity of this indorse
ment, a resolution was introduced into
the House and referred to the judiciary
committee. I have uot examined the jour
nal, but the newspapers at that time stated
that the committee reported unanimously
against the legality of the indorsement.
So that I now sav here every official who
has ever been called upon to pass upon the
question of the claim of the company to
the indorsement under oath, decided ad
versely thereto except Governor Colquitt.
It was stated at the time and talked-upon
the streets of Atlanta, tliat the Governor’s
own Attorney General, Ely, was opposed
to the indorsement. The opinion of At
torney General Hammond was averse to
the indorsement, and the same I
hold has never been, nor can be success
fully met. It is still on file in the
executive office. Disregarding all these,
however, the Governor at last allowed
himself to be persuaded to make the In
dorsement. But not until after the rati
fication of the constitution ol 1877, which
provides that the credit of the Stato shall
not be pledged in aid of any work of in
ternal improvement. The lundamental
law which tbe Governor was sworn to
obey, took away from the Governor, and
from every other official, the power to
pledge the credit 'oi the State in such
cases. Nevertheless the Governor, in
tho face of this provision of the constitu
tion, made this pledge. The constitution
said” he should not do it. But he made
the pledge. He swore to obey the con
stitution. I make no comments upon
this. [Applause.] '
_ The next matter that I call your atten
tion to, is the wild land troubles which
led to the impeachment and conviction of
other agent who collected or pretended to I Comptroller General Goldsmith. I here
... , jnoney (according to the ' failed to come up to the full measure of
records) to stop interest on the convention “ * * - •
collect the claim.
But you ask how was the Alston-Gar-
lingtou fee paid? It was paid, fellow-
citizens with money taken by the Governor
out of the treasury of Georgia, no cent of
which formed any part of the proceeds of
the draft referred to. These proceeds, as
already stated, were used in New York.
Alston & Co. were paid with money taken
out of the treasury iu Atlanta, But you
ask how were the accounts of the treas
urer made to balance? It was done by
skillful Bookkeeping, an art held by Gov.
Brown informer timoo to be highly repre
hensible'. [Laughter.] Some time after
the draft referred to was sent to New
York, the treasuiRI jras charged upon the
books of tlie comptroller-general with the
amount of the same less the sum handed
to the governor for. the fees. So you per
ceive by this adroit process the treasurer
is made chargeable .with only 152,000
and one hundred dollars — the pro
ceeds of the draft, whereas* in<
truth he received $198,035 as such pro
ceeds of such draft. Now, what authori
ty had the Governor to draw these fees
from the treasury of the State ? If you
will turn to the constitution of 1868 (and
the same provision is in our present con
stitution) you will find that money can
not be drawn from the treasury except by
an appropriation hy law. It is not pre
tended that the amount of these fees had
been appropriated by law. If you will
turn to still anotiier provision of the con-
stitution you will find that tho Governor
iu his official oath swore in effect that he
would abide by and perform the provi
sions of that constitution. Now. 1 just
ask the simple question, when he paid
out the amount of the Alston fees with
out an appropriation by law did he ob
serve tbe constitution ? I leave you to
answer tbe question.
To another matter, of a somewhat simi
lar character, I will now call your atten
tion. In the act authorizing the calling
of a constitutional convention in 1877
there was an appropriation of $25,000 to
defray the expenses of such convention.
Before the duties of the convention had
been performed the appropriation was ex
hausted. Just-at this time an official
opinion of the Attorney-General, the legal
adviser of tho Governor was published in
the newspapers to the effect that no furth
er funds coaid be drawn to meet the ex
penses of the convention; that the Gov
ernor was under constitutional obligation
to allow no money to be drawn from the
treasury • except by appropriation T>f laW;
that this meant that a legislature and not
the convention should make such an ap-
priation. ,
It was expected when this opinion was
published that the convention would be
embarrassed thereby. This expectation
met with disappointment. The conven
tion occupied a plane high above the art
and artifices of those who were opposed to
When the attention of the conven
tion was calledto the subject,- that grand
old man, General Toombs, , arose in liis
place as a member of tlie • convention and
stated thatthe body need not be troubled;
that if access to the treasury of the state
should be denied them, that he, by God’s
blessing, possessed the means .of. defray-
Jnrr flio’p aytjhkoc' thofi 1m u*nu fifth nfra iff
his duty it is not because he lacked power
under tlie law, but because he has
failed to discharge his duty. If the Gov
ernor had been as careful to make visita
tions to tlie different, prison camps in
Georgia as he has been to attend to the
Sunday school Interest of New York and
elsewhere, how many a pang of suffering
mights have been spared to the poor con
victs of this State, both white and colored.
[Long and continued applause.]
Fellow citizens, we want men who will
do their duty; who will do it because it is
duty.
He has preached, as I have been in
formed, and as he says himself, to the col
ored people of the State. Again, we’say
all right. But did our good Governor
ever think it worth while to preach to a
camp cf convicts in Georgia? [Great
cheering.] Thousands of holy men have
enlisted to teach Suuday schools, hut who
has felt himself commissioned to visit the
camps of these poor unfortunates and
teach them the way of salvation? Has
our Governor ever done so? If so, when
and where? [Continued. applause from
whites and blacks.]
In conclusion, I beg leave to say that
the law bas vested in the Governor power
to rule and control the penitentiary of the
State. If there have been abuses under
tbe present system it is his fault. It is his
duty to know how they are treated. The
law gave liim power to require any infor
mation on this subject that he may de
sire. Have they been inhumanly treated ?
nas their moral condition been neglected?
Have they suffered from want of medical
attention, proper food and clothing? I
charge here to-night, if, as stated, the
above is a fact, it is the fault of Governor
Colquitt. If he had done his duty, under
tlie law, such abuse could not have exist
ed. [Applause, especially from the color
ed people.]
And now, fellow-citizens, 1 must con
clude. I have detained you longer than I
intended.
It was my purpose to have said some
thing in reference as to the mistake of the
Governor in the sale of the]|Macon and
Brunswick railroad, and also to have
commented as to his action in the Mariet
ta and North Georgia railroad, but the
lateness of the hour admonishes me that
I must close. In many other acts Govern
or Colquitt has blundered profoundly.- I ’
do not, nor have I accused him of person
al corruption. He has been very weak
.throughout his entire administration. The
consequences, fellow-citizens, are the
same to you; losses by corruption and
losses by incoinpetency should teach the
same lesson to tbe people. [Applause.]
And now, fellow'-citizens, 1 submit to
you iu view of what I have said, can you
lor one moment hesitate in determining
that the action of the minority was right ?
That their action in opposing Governor
Colquitt's renomination and re-elec
tion was undemocratic and unfit to be
made? [Applause.] His conduct before
the convention proved that in all he did
he looked on his own selfish purpose rath
er than to the' interest of the party. That
he was willing to violate and did violate
his pledged word to the convention.
What I have to say is, to investigate his
conduct, and if you should find that he is
unworthy of your confidence, reject him.
I think he is unworthy. [Great ap
plause.]
Mr. Norwood is a Christian gentleman,
and if elected will never want a vindica
tion by the people. He is a man who has
taken care of his own interests and conse
quently can take care of that of the pub
lic. [Tumultuous applause.]
log their expenses; that lie was not afraid
to trust his mother, the old commonwealth
of Georgia; that they should go on with
their labor's. and he himself, would un
dertake to furnish the means they should
need. [Tremendous applause.]
At the proper time..an ordinance was
introduced and pvsed aulhorizim; aud
requiring the presiijent of ttjq convention
to-issue convention bonds, for the amount
required, payable on or before the last
day of tbe next session of tbe. legislature.
Upon these bonds money was advanced
by General Toombs to the amount of over
$21,000. 4 ■ "*• ! g J
Now, fellow-citizens, ydu will bet. some
what astonished, after wliatl have said to
you, to hear that' the amount of these
bbiids was paid General Toombs without
auy appropriations of law whatever. - The
Governor had announced to - the. world
,though liiSattorney.general Chat the ap-
lEopnatiob. of $25,000 having .been ex-
lausted,' he was forbidden by the consti
tution, Which he'nad swom'-to support, to
allow any further funds to be drawn for
the convention without an appropriation
by the legislature. Nevertheless, with
out any appropriation by law, in
the' very face of tho announcement
made through his Attorney-Geueral, he
about the 20th day of December, 1877,
without auy appropriation either by tbe
Legislature or the convention, put his hand
into the treasury aud drew out over $21,-
000 and paid the convention bonds referred
to. It has been stated in extenuation of
3V«
Up _ .. ■ ,
of stopping the interest thereon. If yon
state that the reports of Comptroller Gen
eral Goldsmith fully pointed out to Gov
ernor Colquitt all the difficulties which
environed the subject of the taxation of
wild lauds in the Stale of Geoigia. No
person can read the report of this unfort
unate official, made to the Governor iu
the early part of 1878, without feeling
tliat it was his purpose to be honest. He
not only pointed the difficulties attending
this wild land subject, but he took pains
to explain the cause of such difficulties.
This report, iu a very brier but compre
hensive way, placed the Governor in pos
session of ail the information needed to
enable him to secure justice to the tax
payers of the State. The facts therein
developed show that it was impossible,
under tbe then existing laws, to collect
tbe taxes without doing great wrong to
the honest people of tlie State of
Georgia. In this connection it
is proper to state that the
collection of such taxes had been suspen
ded in the administration of Governor
Bullock, aud the same had not been col
lected in the administration of Governor
Colquitt’s - immediate predecessor. It is
proper here to state, In addition to what I
have already said, that Governor Colquitt
was specially requested to suspend the
collection of these taxes, which request
he declined to entertain. Now, it is true
■that no man on this earth (Goldsmith or
anybody else) could-have executed the
wiltHandlaws without injury to the own
ers of such property. Tlie Governor was
fully advised and ought to have known
such was tbe facts. Did he have the pow
er to interpose and, prevent the wrong ?
If you will tarn to section 75 of the
Code of Geoigia, you will find the
governor is invested with the power to
suspend collection of .taxes or any portion
thereof until the next meeting of the
general assembly. Now, suppose the
Governor when lie was advised "in these
wild land troubles, had exercised the
power given by law, .and had suspended
the collection of these taxes uiitil the
meeting of the legislature. Would he
not have saved the State of: Geoigia and
his own administration from the terrible
disgrace which fell upon them by. the
trial and conviction of poor Goldsmith ?
If the Governor had done his duty would
Goldsmith have been• convicted? No!
[Applause.] Because Goldsmith would
tinges
whenever tills ease is mentioned.
The next cue to which I call your es
pecial attention is tlie mismanagement of
the Georgia penitentiary. It will bo borne
in mind that since the war the increase
of felonies has been very great in this
State, as well as the whole country. The
question of the proper disposition to he
made of convicts 'has been' a very
embarrassing one. Tlio State owes it en
.one liand to punish them, and on tlie oth
er to attempt to reform them. It became
a question liow these duties could best.be
performed, . Tlie country was very poor
after tlie war, and in proportion as we
had become impoverished; convicts had
increased. During fifty years of’ the
history of tho State penitentiary' be
fore the war the couvicts then cost annu
ally, over and above all tlie •means of tbe
institution, $210 per capita. At the time
the late lease contracts, which are so
much complained of,weremade, tlie hum-,
her of convicts was, say 1,3001 Multiply
this by 210 and we have, say, one-fourth of
a million 6f dollars. We certainly could'
uot expect to support convicts now for
less than under tlie old system. Is there
anybody here, white or” colored, who is
w'illingto contribute his portion of a quar
ter- million of dollars to support the
rogiles ot the country? I think uot. [Ap-
plause.l : - 4 ■ <> > , i
^But it is claimed that there are great
abuses in the present system. This! am
prepared in a measure to admit, but who
is responsible for these abuses? ’ It is ad
mitted ou ail hands tliat the system is not
a perfect one. We., must do the best we
can under the circumstances. If wc were
rich and powerful we would have a differ-
j*.g..
lures of necessity. But is there
for abuses of this system? Let us inquire.
If you will turn to the-laws you yillfmd
that the Governor of ttye State, is empow
ered to correct every possible' abuse in the
present system. The Governor is invested
by law with power to inspect not only at
stated times, but at all times, the physical
condition of-the convicts. He eau do this
through bis*Principal Keeper of tbe Peni
tentiary. He may do it by any other
agents/selected by j himself, and he
mtingen *
He bas it in bis power absolutely to ascer
tain whether they have been properly
Anniversary of the Great Storm in
Savannah.
To-day is the 70tli anniversary of the
great destructive storm which swept over
Savannah on the 8th of September, 1804,
and which raged with terrible fury from
9 o'clock in tbe momim* until 10 o’clock
at night.
None of the Inhabitants dared to ven
ture out, excepting those who had to flee
to avoid being c-ushed in the ruins , of {
tlieir own houses. The, river rose above
tbe wharves, and covered Hutchinson’s
island and tbe rice plantations around the j
city. The Georgia Gazette, in its account j
of the storm, says the people who had
been kept in the house tlie day before, their [
fancies depicting the most woeful scene, j
found, the next morning, that busy]
fancy, ever prone to exaggerate, had]
formed but. an imperfect picture j
of the dreadful scene of havoc and]
destruction. A laige number of trees in]
lively pait of the city were blown down, j
and also several bouses, the steeple of thej
Presbyterian meeting bouse, and part of]
the walls of tbe Episcopal (Christ) church.]
The wharves from one end of tlie city to
the other were torn up, and many stor
houses erected at the foot of tlie blufi
were either totally destroyed or so much
torfa to pieces as to render valueless every4
thing within them. Every vessel in thej
harbor was thrown upon the wharves, exj
cept such as were totally destroyed. In
the city several persons were injured bv
falling houses and chimneys, and two olj
Mr. Green’s children were instantly
killed. Captain Webb was also Ulled
Twenty-four houses, including the F
change, the filature, jail, and court liou
on the bluff, and^ twenty-six busine
houses under the* bluff, were injure^
and tlieir stocks of goods swer
away. Eighteen vessels were swept upol
tho wharves and there remained wbe|
the weather subsided. Over one bun
died negroes were drowned on Uutchi*
son's island and on the rice plantation
•near the city. The steeple of the Presb^]
terian church, then situated where no
stands the large brick livery stj
bles on the southwest corner of Whitt at
and President streets, which was near]
as high as the present steeple of tbe Ina
pendent Presbyteriau church, fell
southwesterly direction, crushing i
house and cutting off a portion of a 1
oh which lay a sick man, fortunately i
injuring hun. The bell in tlio steei
was found, much to tlie astonishment!
ail, unbroken. It was afterward huu_
the steeple of the Independent Presby
lian church, and there remained no
about 1824, when a larger bell was n
sented to the congregation.—Sar. Net«|
Steel Ships.
•It would seem to be pretty certain tl
steel is destined to supersede iron!
steamship building quite as effectually
iron has superseded wood. Evidence!
tho fact come to us almost every day «
the great English ship yards. A Has
pool correspondent of tbe latest receif
Manchester .Examiner, speaking of the]
dustry in that quarter, says:
A new era bas been established heil
the shipbuilding department, a steam*
nearly 2,000 tons burden, constructed]
tircly of steel,.having been launched r
on Saturday, and if we may judge r
tlie recent resul's of this descnptiojj
shipbuilding, the ,,construction of
vessels will soon form a leading featuj
the industry of the north. Nor is th]
that is to be said of the material iu q
riou, as an extensive engineering!
have recently been experimenting
sively with a view to the introductic]
steel plates for boilers.”
—Henri Rochefort finds that bis ‘
tionalisms” begin to pall upon the p!
of tbe Parisians. They want somm
new and fresh, and Rochefort is baa
and posse.. His capsicum has loJ
sprigbtliness;his scandals are mostly!^
annuated. His journal L'Jntransii
which sold 80,000 copies when i|
■came out, has fallen to a precarious]
lation of 12,000, and his personal]
iaritv Is ou tbe wane. Tlie other
rive, he asked the station-master to!
him a private door to escape by
the crowd should become too euthul
and press him too closely. Alas,]
the train came in there was no crov
body paid auy attention to Rochefol
be walked away from tbe depot]
commis-voyageur, with nothing jo]
midable tbar h:s own reflections tq
from.
Little Rock,'September id
election returns are coming in i
but do not vary the results iq
heretofore.