Newspaper Page Text
(SaUahcv’j; £ ndr pendent.
3. GAIXAIIEIL, Editor.
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1874.
I <BUa 'JIK" .
IS IT TRUE OR FALSE
That. tlm business men of Havunnnli
t-wunt. to #ell in- Southern
Georgia anil Middle Florida 7 They say
in n many works, wo are making no ef
forts to noil, we nro trying to contract our
business. I)oos this story bear upon it*
fnoo tlic impress of truth 7 Wo think tlioy
might truthfully any that wo don’t want to
Mir good* on time, wo think tlioy might
truthfully say wo rahliot port with our
goods witluHit an equivalent, for wo own
mid wo must pay, or Keep tho goods on
hand to make such a allowing as to saliif
our criditoni and obtain for as nn exten
sion of time. Why do tlioy not make the*'
stitoniouta frankly 7 ltecanno they do not
wiali to expose their true condition, and
would rather make the impression that
merclmuta in the interior cannot be relied
on. This wo belieYo is intended, (and we
know it is well calculated) to cast a shade
<if siisfrieSwl upon the reliability of interior
merchants, at least to defer tho penalty of
ihoir own extravagance and mismanage
ment. This does not apply to all the
mcrchhnts in Savannah for there are some
tlmt is perfectly solvent and like, truthful
tnen'irhuy Soy they desire to retain the cus
tom of all their prompt patrons, mid they
establish t.ho truth of their declarations by
courting their trade by advertising in the
country paper* find sending (lilt efficient
agents, such os Col. R. ti. O, nlry, and we
take pleasure in saying that tho large
house he represents are constantly receiv
ing and Ailing tho orders of their many
patrons. Many of them arc doubtless lie
liiud but thny, aro noting honorably and
doing all they can; snrl this entensive
house is sustaining them in their honora
ble efforts. This house doesn’t throw off
its prompt patrons of many years standing
for tlioir short comings during tho pen
dency of a money pauio. Is it so with
olliers 7 If riot, why not 7 Do they buy
goods with no desiro to sell them 7 In the
very nature of things this cannot bo true.
Then, why will they not supply tlioir cus
tomers of long standing ? There can lx*
but one of two masons. Either they are
in failing circumstances themselves or
they have ceased to confide in their prompt
patrons of many years. Which is most
probable? Wo find tho houses of Clag
liorn ft Cunningham and Dgwit, Morgan
ft Go.', courting the trado of our merchants
and our citizens. Why is that so ? They
have been successful, Houthem Georgia
and Florida Ims contributed to tlioir suc
cess and now they nro- able to reciprocate
and nro magnanimously doing it.
Those who rofnso to do it now are
either in strained circumstances or they are
•contcmptablo ingrates. If they nro una
ble to extend the usual credit let them say
so; not put it upon the grounds that the
merchants in the interior uro unreliable,
and tlmt their trade is not worth courting;
and then throng the railroads and villages
with their drummers after trade. Isn’t it
strange tlmt they will employ agents at
largo Httlnrii* to conviiss the country in
search of trade they don’t want ? Their
nets are so inconsistent with their lan
guage tlmt we constrained to believe their
declarations to bo false; and we dou’t hes
itate to say tlmt if tho merchants of South
ern Georgia continues to deal with them
after having been thus treated and spoken
of tlmt they hro us contemptubly syca
plmutiu os tho merchants above refered
to aro false. We would bo proud to see
our merchants and citizens trailiug with
Savannah if there was a reciprocal liberal
ity manifested towards them by the city!
If our inc'rcliuiits have any s- if rcspict
they will look out for other markets';
both for the sale of their produce and for
the purchase of their sripplifisi '
The Morning News says: "Major Onllsi
ber, of tho Quitman Independent, was iu
town yesterday. Ho is not planting tur
nips tuis season.
Ton are right, Joe, wo are not planting,
bnt wo learned while in Savannah, that
yon planted last season ami succeeded in
getting one good stand, and though your
crop of red-top is small, wo learn it is
growing and thriving by absorption,
-
l>r. Joann Boring, of Atlanta, has had
the verdict of tho Superior (Joint of Troup
county, giving him damages to tho
amount of 810,000 for injuries received
on tho West Point Railroad, affirmed by
the Supreme Court.
Soudersville (liueite: Tho four droail and
alarm among the families of the county,
•specially of tho families residing in the
different'neighborhoods of tho convicts,
we are informed, is truly distressing.
Tile Aukansah Htmmm.— Little Rock,
May 14 . —They are still arresting each
ether. Two Brooksitea, while making
cartridges, thought they would smoko,
ami exploded each other.
Tub Ahe annas Bolts.— Little Rink May
13.—A quorum of both Houses %f the
Legislature is now in session. There are
fourteen members in the Senate and
forty-five iu the House. Both branches
aro proceeding with business.
Cleveland, May 12.— Tho Bohemian |
sewer-workers have struck and forcod |
others to quit. Several harmless shots j
were fired, and some persons were hurt by
bricks.
A Danbnary bouse out was cremaled
last Wednesday morning. She had crept
into the kitchen oven during the night,
and in tho morning got accidentally shut
in. When the oven was opened to hake
tho breakfast rolls her remains weighed
but 13 3-4 ounces.— Rem.
A negro philosopher, discussing the re
lations of the ram's, said: "You know do
turkey, ho roost on de fence an do goose
lie roost on de ground. You pull de tur
key off tie fence, and ho will git up again.
You crops his wings, but some how or
nndder ho gino to get hack on de fence.
N'w yon put do goose ou de fence, an ho
will fall off; bo don’t belong tlar. l)e tur
key am de white man. He’s down now,
but is gwine to git up again. l>e nigger
is do goose. lie bettor stay whur ho
b’longs. *•
I Letter from TliomiiHVillc.
Thomasyim.h, Ga, May 11, 1874.
Editor Indejwndenl-,
Judging from the action taken by tho
Ornml. Jurors, first and second weeks, of
Circuit Court it will ho apparent that n
ulmnge has onuso over our jmople, or, some
of them at least, ns, to tho host way of
managing our ftnnnaee.
The Radical and r/tiani Radical element
of the county liiui.cmlroled and dictated
the General I’rosontmontn of our Grand
Juries for some timo post, and they have
over boon bnsy in trying to control the
funds of the county through theso Pre
sentments, nnd to some extent, they Imvo
been successful in the past. Our Commis
sioners Court, organized hist your, chock
mated these fellows at tho start, and tlic
Hails Imvo been making war upon reform
ers all tho timo since.
Tho Grain! Jury for tho find week hav
ing tho report of tho Commissioners
Court before them, and being convinced
tlmt they boil saved the County from much
iif tho extraviganco practiced by public
officials in the past, promptly endorsed
tho Commissioners OoUit, so that in the
future this Court, I suppose, will bo one
of tho fixtures of the County, at any rate
it should bn. Tho first pannol of Jnrors
left but ono subject in this lino
unattended to —that ia the establislivnent
of a County Court for tho trial of criminals
below tho grade of felony. Under a wise
provision of law that tho writer was not
familiar with,they promptly recommended
the establishment of this Court, and nomi
nated Col. Henning 11. Moore for tho
judgeship of said Court, so, with tho ap
proval of this appointment by tho Gover
nor,’ ns tho law requires, wo will bo pre
pared through this Court—as in your own
county—to save, and will save, no. doubt,
thousands of dollars to tho county annu
ally. Col. Moore is u good lawyer anil
Ims tho good of his country at heart, and
I think will make his Court popular.
Judging from tho prist lie may roly upon
ono thing—Ac will hive plenty to tlo.
I hazard nothing in saying tlmt there has
been more crimes of all grades committed
in Thomas county within tlie last five
yours than any three adjoining counties in
tho Btute, and this is easily trneiblo to,
and depends mainly upon Radical rule and
Radical influences.
For ouoo tho jail is virtuaUy clear, n
thing so uunsual in our comity that it
rather reminds pcaccuhlo mindeil people of
milteniuni, so great is the change and so
quiet arc things about the jail now.
Tho new hotel sensation in the main .sub
ject of interest with ub just now. Mr. T.
C. Mitchell has just closed a contract with
a Mr. Keys, of Forsythe, Ga., for tho con
struction of a tjiroe story hotel on tho cor
ner of Broad and Jackson streets the
Remington lot It is to front Broad street
lf)0 feet, with main entrance in the mid
dle, and to run back 80 feat, with store
rooms for the most part in tho basement
story. Tho plan is said to l> an excellent
ono, modeled mainly after tho host ar
ranged hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The
work will begin in less thuu ono week from
this time, and tho store rooms, I think,
are to bo completed and ready for use by
tho first of November next.
Another fact of .vital interest to Thomos
villo, an unusual thing sineo the financial
panic, is tho prosperity of her schools.
Tho Young Fornalo College has over one
hundred pupils iu daily attendance, and
thu roll for tho soholislio year is much lar
ger than ovor before.
Fletcher Institute, undor tho direction of
Mr. O. D. Boott, is well patronized. Mr.
Scott is an excellent teacher, mid an’ inde
fatigable workor, a rigid dihiplinarian, yet
popular with attendants and patrons. Ho
can’t fail to succeed. The Young College
will have six graduates this year,l believe,
and Mr. Scott will huvo a few of his boys
outer tho State University in October
next. Tho prosperity of onr schools
jttst now, is without a parallel in tho State,
so fur as I know, or believe, and if I am
oorreot in this matter it is an important
fact upon which onr town and comity, may
justly congratulate themselves. By the
wny, it is time tho Trustees of the College
were looking out for a speaker on Com
mencement occasion.
The economical disposition of onr finan
ces, tho establishment of another court for
the disposition of small offences, the erec
tion of a splendid hotel and the unusual
prosperity of our educational interests,
sum up tho host outlook to-day that Thom
asville has ovor had.
Now and Then.
- • ♦- ——
' GEORGIA NEWS.
Tho Albany Tost Offices has a negro
clerk.
Tho Grangers are preparing to estab
lish a 360,000 ware house in Ameribns.
The cattle in Troup county are dying
very rapidly of some unknown disease.
There was 4(31 granges of the Patrons
of Husbandry iu this State tho Ist of
May.
County Court has been established in
Thomas county with Col. B. B. Moore as
Judge.
The Columbus factories have taken this
year 6,731 bales of cotton against 5,773 last
year—an increase of 958.
Mr. Jno. A. Cochran, formerly Ordinary
of Pipe county, and lata Clerk of tho (Su
perior Court, died in Upson county on
May 2d.
Calvin Brigham, a colored burglar in
the Waynesboro jail, was shot by the jailer
while trying to escape. He diet! iu a few
minutes after receiving the wounds.
Anderson Tucker, an unruly convict of
theThomasville chain gang, made his os- j
cope from the county jail on last Sunday j
night. His aoutouoo was for nine months
labor.
The oontrnct for building the long-talked
of hotel in Thomasvillo, has been awarded
to Mr. J. O. Keys, of Forsythe. Tho
building is to he ono hundred und ninety
feet long and eighty feet wide.
Henry Jackson, colored, who was to lie
hanged at Leesburg on tho Bth insk, was '
making his farewell remarks from the gal- ;
Tows when the Governor's telegram res- j
piling him was received.
MR. HILL’S HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
NUMUKII 11.
LimatTV Ham.,
Ckawi.’odvim.b, Ga„ May 4, 1874.
litUlor of the Conetil Mtionalist:
The reply of Mr. Hill, of the2lst ultimo,
to my first article ou his Historical Ad
dress, renders it proper, if not necessary,
that tho substance of this article, No. 2,
should relate to matters different from
what I intended it should, when the first
was written. What was intended to lie em
braced in No. 2, therefore, will bo post
pones! until I respond to his letter referred
Jo —the chief object of which Bourns to
have boon to divert attention from the
merits of the r<;,u issues between us, as
presented by my first article, not only in
roferenooto the Hampton's ltouds Con
ference, but other matters specified by
me.
This repose, though I wus, as I still am,
exceedingly feeble from protracted disease,
and now burely ablo to dictate wlrnt is
penned by tho band of another, would
Imvo been sent to you in time for your fast
Huturday’s iesuo, lint for the previous an
nouncement in the Atluntu Her old that Mr.
Hill would have u further communication
on the same subject in the following Bun
day’s issuo of that paper. Tlmt announced
communication is now before me, anil I
will proceed to give it, ns well as his letter
of the 21st, such answer and in such lan
guage ns I deem they botli deserve, keep
ing in mind, I trust, a dtfe regard for my
own self -respect, os well ns the importance,
magnitude and dignity of the subjeot. The
real truth of history has been, and is, my
controlling object. I have as little taste
for controversies of this sort, or even tho
use of strong reprobatory words as anybody
can have, and never indulge in either ex
cept in the vindication of wliat I deem
truth and justice.
First, then. Mr. Hill in his letter charges
mo with the base act of not quoting fairly
from his address, and that this was done
for the purpose of giving his words a mean
ing they did not otherwise lmve. To this
allow me to say to you, through you to the
public, tlmt I quoted from his address as I
Sound it in the Augusta Chronicle nnd
Sentinel. The quotation by me is exactly
as I found it in tlmt paper, as any one cun
see by turning to its tiles, and examining
its issue of March the 11th, 1874. If
there was aDy mutilation of a “comma” in
the sentenoo quoted it cannot be justly
charged to me. I need lmrilly add tlmt I
supposed tlmt the publication in tho Chron
icle nnd Sentinel was correct. Bneh nu act as
Mr. Hill charges mo witli is utterly incom
patible with tho entire principles of my
nature. 1 will, moreover, say in reference
to this matter of the “comma” that 1 do
not now see any possible difference in the
meaning of tho words by its omission.
Tho sonteneo, ns it appears in the Oron
icle nnd Sentinel, anil as quoted by me,
represents Mr. Hill as using this language:
"I received from Mr. Davis' own lips a
full account of tlio conversation between
him and tlio Commissioners, before their
departure from Richmond.”
Mr. Hill snys he put a “comma” after
conversation, lie this os it may, I cer
tainly lmd nothing to do with taking it
out, nor do I now see how the souse of the
words can possibly lie changed or modified
either by its insertion or omission.
The plain-import, either way, is tlmt ho
received tho account of the conversation
from Mr. Davis If fore the departure of the
Commissioners from Richmond. This I
showed conclusively, as I thought, from
the facts of the case, (apart from Mr. Hill’s
absence) to be impassible, amt Mr. Hill
himself admits, not only in his letter re
ferred to, but in his communication in the
Herald of yesterday, that ho did not re
ceive this account from Mr. Davis until
some days alter tho departure of the com
mission.
This is quite enough for all his sensa
tional comments on my murderous slaugh
ter of a ‘•comma 1 ' with the malicious in
tent of doing hi* an iniury. it is also
quite enough to sustain my position ou
this point of difference between ns.
Mr. Hill, however, in his letter of the
21st ultimo, proceeds to make a statement
of facts, which lie pledges himself to make
good on pain of infamy. This statement
involves several issues of veracity between
him and myself, as ho is pleased to treat
thorn. Theso are:
Ist, That ho teas in Richmond during
(ill the tirno the subject of tho Commission,
and tlio appointment of commissioners of
the Hampton Roads Conference was un
der consideration by Mr. Davis.
2d. That I knew ho was there, that I
saw him almost duily-r-tolkod with him
knew tho interest lie took in tlio subject
of the Commission, and that I could not
have forgotten theso facts, unless I havo
become iubeeilo indeed.
3d. That lie was iu my room and told
mo in tho presence of a number of gentle
men that lie should insist on my appoint
ment on the Commission.
That I may do Mr. Hill no possible in
justice in my construction of his language
I give his whole statement in his own
words. In quoting I shall not copy, bnt
shall incorporate what I find in print over
his name, in the Atlanta Herald, of the
22d of April. So if there bo auy mutila
tions of commas or words, in what he
wrote, tlio responsibility for it will not rest
upon mo, but upon the compositi r-i iu
tho Herald or Constitutionalist office.
Hero is what I find over his name:
“Now, I stand before the public respon
sible, on pain of infamy, to make good
the following statement of facts.
"I was not only in Richmond during all
the time tho subject of tlio commissioners
was under consideration by Mr. Davis, but
Mr. Stephens knew I was tliore; saw me
almost daily; talked with me; knew the
interest I took in tho subject of tho com
mission, and could not have forgotten
those facts unless he has become imbecile
indeed. I was at the man’s room, and
told him in the presence of a number of
gentlemen that I should insist on liis ap
pointment on the peace commission.”
On theso issues Mr. Hill vauntingly pro
claims that he raises the "black flag,” and
will neither give nor take quarter.” He
will "tolerate no solution but proof retrac
tion or infamy.
This is all quite high sounding, rather
indeed ou the “highfalutin” order; and
coming from anybody else, but for its
extravagance, might be received ns the
tones of a true man of real honor and
chivalry. Coming, however, from Mr.
Hill, what do they amount to ? What
does ho mean by tho "black flag ?" Judg
ing from his past course in liko matters
the only legitimate inference is that he
means by it nothing but ink! Under
what other "flag,” either with a pen or
other heavier instrument charged with the
same jetty fluid, did he ever fight ? As
for what lie says about “proof retraction or
infamy," it is quite enough for me at this
time and in this connection to remind the
public, that ho some seventeen years ago
stated in a public speech at Thomson
before a largo audience, as it was reported
to mo, that he had a few days bofore at
Lexington charged mo to my face “with
having boon a traitor to the Whig party
and that i had cowered under it.” When
called upon to make good this statement
as a gentleman of honor, he neither fur
nished “proof," nor made any “rctrac-,
tiuu,” or other tmen.de for his unfounded 1
and boastful fabrication; but submitted to
tlio “infamy” of being posted as a man
utterly destitute of truth. It was alter
this brand was then thus fixed upon him
he as now hoisted his "black flag,” and
squirted his ink in most disgusting profu
sion. This, therefore, it is to be presumed
is all that he now means by reference to
his nsual and favorite “flag.”
As to his several issues of voracity I sub
mit tho following comments only:
His statemont, that I knew he was in
Riohmouil pending the consideration of
the Hampton Roads Conference—that I
saw him almost doily—talked with him—
and knew tlio interest he took in the sub
ject of the commission, otc., it utterly un
founded in fact.
His statement that he was in my room,
and told me in Hue presence of a number
of gentlemen that be should insist upon
my appointment on tho Hampton Roads
Conference, (and this in its connection is
whnt his statement means, if it means any
thing,) is also utterly unfounded in fact.
Let him, therefore, bring forward his
“proof," name the gentlemen refered to,
make his “retraction,” or bear that “pMn
of infamy,” which he invokes.
His statement that he was in Richmond
nil tho time this commission was under
consideration, in denial of my statement
that he was in Georgia at the time, I
shall say more about hereafter
It was in expectation that some of his
proofs at least to make good theso state
ments might bo adduoea in his previously
announced article of yesterday, that I
waited to see it before responding to his
letter of tho 21st ultimo: halt somewhat to
my surprise it oonfelns nothing of the
sort. It is upon the whole nothing but
another one of his six or seven columned
“Carmagnoles,” ala mexhs Barero. It
does, however, if true, throw some light
upon a matter that was heretofore dark
and rather mysterious to me. lint the
truth, if ho has told it, reflects, I am sorry'
to say, quite us little credit upon Mr. Da
vis as it does upon himself. If, however,
wliat ho says be either true or false—well
may Mr. Davis exclaim, "Save me from
my friends.” I alwavs thought it exceed
ingly strange that if Sir. Davis was reully
in fuvor of getting an armistice nnder Mr.
Blair's proposition, be should have pur
sued the course he did by giving publicity
to tho Commission.
It now seems from Mr. Hill’s lost mani
festo mid confession that ho and Mr. Davis
were both acting with tho grossest duplic
ity towards mo, and, in confederation with
others, formed a very foul conspiracy to
use tho Blair proposition, with no other
object whatever but to defoat another
mission of a very different character,
which it wus well understood at the time
would be instituted by Congress early the
next week. Tho Commission, under the
authority of Congress, Was to lie raised in
accordance with the resolutions prepared
by me early in January, to which Mr.
Hill refers. The object of these resolu
tions, and the contemplated mission under
them, were entirely different from those
aimed at by the Blair proposition. His
j looked solely to and covered nothing but
a eecret Military Convention between the
belligerents with a view of preventing tho
establishment of a French Empire iu Mex
ico, by the joint operation of the Federal
ami Ooufodorate armies, iu maintenance of
the Monroe doctrine. In this way Mr.
Blair thought, ns Mr. Davis stated to me,
a fraternization wonlil take place between
the two armies, and peace be ultimately
obtained by a restoration of the Union
without the subjugation of tho Bontheru
! States. His proposition was not for a
i pence coni mission in any proper sense of
the words at oil, nor did pt took to umt di
rect overture of peace on either side, or
the terms upon Which it should be estab
j fished.
My resolutions on the contrary author
ized tho creation of a commission em
powered to initate, or to make overtures
for the initiation of negotiations for peace,
not upon separate State action, but upon
tho great principles on which tho whole
Contederate struggle rested, and upon
which tho whole fabric of American free
institutions was founded.
From tho baleful light that Mr. Hill
now furnishes—which is of tho character
of tlio faint glare from covered lanterns
which sometimes gives glintpes of the
most diabolical, underground, raiduight
deeds of the most fiendish criminals—it
seems that ho, Mr. Davis, and others
were aiming at nothing in nooeeding to
Mr. Blair’s proposition, but “to stop Mr.
Stephens," and to hood and defeat his
movement of bringing tho war to a close
upon theso principles on which hlodo
Constitutional liberty can he preserved ou
this ooutinent. It seems to mo that Mr.
Davis told me about his having mentioned
tho subject of Mr. Blair’s proposition to
any ono but Mr. Hunter was not true.
Ho told Mr. Hill all about it, and that but
for tho iguoblo dovico they resorted to,
"Mr. Stephens.” Resolutions would havo
been adopted tho next week.
In this view of tho subject and from
what he now states 1 frankly confess that
it is not at all improbable that Mr. Hill
may have been in Richmond when I felt
assured that ho was in Georgia. That
statement of mino that ho was iu Georgia
when Mr. Davis had the subject of the
Blair conference under comrideratiot was
based upon what now seems to have been
a too confiding reliance by me on the truth
of what he and Mr. Davis told me.
It is as true as I exist that I never heard
of the Blnir proposition until noon Friday,
27th of January, 1806, when Mr. Davis
first communicated it to me. Mr. Hunter
hod only made a general reference to it
when ho told me, on the morning of that
day, that Mr. Davis wished to soo mo at
twelve o’clock ou tho subject.
It is also as true as I exist that Mr. Davis
told mo that Mr. Blair had loft the day bo
fore, and that he had not mentioned the
subject of his mission to any person what
ever, except Mr. Hunter, not even to a sin
gle member of his Cabinet, but waste have
a Cabinet meeting at four o'clock that
evening on the matter. It is equally true
that I remained with Mr. Davis until the
Cabinet was announced. As I passed out
of the door of his room they passed in. J
It is equally true that tho commissioners j
wore determined upon by the Cabinet I
i before their adjournment. Hence I stated !
it was impossible for Mr. Hill to know 1
why each of the commissioners had been ;
appointed. I took it for granted that
what Mr. Davis told mo was true.
It is moreover as true as I survive, how- 1
ever "imbecile” in body I may be, that’
Mr. Kill called at my room either the
night before Mr. Davis sent for me, or the
night before that (I am not certain which)
when we talked fully about the commission
to bo raised the next week by Congress
under the resolutions prepared by me. Ho
then spoke as if ho was in cordial support i
of the movement, but stated that he was to j
start for Georgia the next morning and !
took his leave of me accordingly. In this
last interview between ns in Richmond he
did not give mo tho slightest intimation
that he knew anything about Mr. Blair’s
proposition. I did not see him in Rich
mond afterwards. He was not there ou
mv return from Hampton Roads, and the
next I hoard of him after he took his leave
of mo, as I have stated, he was in Georgia.
These are tho grounds on which I predi
cated what T said about his not being in
Richmond during tho time Mr. Davis
iiad the subjoi tof acceding to Mr. Blair's
; proposition under consideration. Irom
i what he now snys I will not undertake to
reaffirm that he was not there, hut h ave
him to settle the question as he please*.
Iu the estimation of honorable men it will j
make no difference which way he settles it.
His present version of his conduct in the
whole affair, anil his confessed deceit,
double-dealing and duplicity towards me is
perfectly consistent with his telliug me
that ho was going to Georgia when be in
tended to do no such thing, lint to continue
to lurk about Richmond, keeping out of
my sight, while he might watch the work
ing of his scheme to defeut a movement
which he professed to support.
This matter of his presence in Rich
mond is, however, at best, only a side
anil collateral issue. It does not touch the
real merits of the controversy between us. ;
And since Mr. Hill's showing, it becomes
a matter of very little importance liow the
fact is so far as “infamy” is concerned.
Now, in reference to the confer
ence propossed by Mr. Blair, it
may be proper for me here to state
state that it was, in no sense whatever, a
peace commission properly so-called. It
proposed nothing, and covered nothing,
but a eecret Military Convention, with tho
views and objects before sta‘.cd. My rea
son for advising Mr, Davis to accede to it
ore fully given in my account of the Hamp
ton Roads, Conference. I had no idea,
however, ut the time that he was using it,
and deceiving mo (according to Mr. Hill's
showing) for the sole purpose of defeat
ing the movement proposed by me, and
which, according to general understand
ing, would be adopted the next week by
a majority of I with Houses of Congress.
Mr. Hill in his last “Carmagnole” con
fines himself simply to whut he culls a his
tory of tlio Hampton ltoails Commission,
but utters not one word about the con
ference under it. It is a fact to bo noted
that he does not assail or question a single
statement of my history of the conference
itself. He neither assails its fullness or
aceurancy. This tlio point to which ho
was challenged. Ho does not even ques
tion the fact that Mr. Davis assured me
that nobody.knew anything übout it ex
cept Mr. Hunter. But whut he says about
; tho meeting of the Georgia delegation in
my room early in January, and our con
sultation upon the resolutions I then sub
mitted deserves somo notice from me.
According to his account, after the dele
: gatiou had agreed to support them on
the terms stated, he went over to the Exe
cutive Mansion and conversed with Mr.
Davis until midnight, concocting with
! him a scheme by which I was to be circum
vented. My recollection is very distinct
that after I read the resolutions to him
and ho objected only to that feature which
provided for the appointment of the Com
missioners by Congress, and not by the
i’resident; and I had explained to him ray
; reason for this provision, which was to
; relieve Mr. Davis from tho embarrass
i incut iu which ho would bo placed from
; his then recent sproeh against tiie call of a
; general Convention of .States as an iniutory
j step for negotiations of peace, &0., he
seemed to be satisfied with the explana
tion, and said that iu view of the subject
I he thought Mr. Davis himself would not
! object to them. I told him tho best way
; to settle that question was for him to take
i the Resolutions over to Mr. Davis and sub
j uiit them to him. The Executive Man
sion was but a short way across the street
from my quarters. This he did. The de!e
--1 gatiou awaited bis return. He was gone
I but a sliqrt time, anil reported that he
i liail read the resolutions to Mr. Davis, and
! that he would not object to them. This
|is my recollection upon that poiu t. It is
1 true Mr. Hiii did say,, in case the com
! missioners were appointed as proposed,
; that I ought to bo one of them, and when
j I told trim, no, ho urged his views; but
! to the last I stated that I had no desire, to
■be on the Commission I did not think I
: ought to bo. It is utterly untrue, how
! over, that I objected to the appointment
i of Mr. Hunter on that occasion or at any
time on the Commission then under con
sideration.
1 As to what he says about my agreeing
ito write to Governor Brown not to call
| tho Legislature together on conditions
! that the delegation would support my
I resolutions, I have no recollection of any
thing of the sort. Ido not usually make
bargains of such a character. Moreover, I
thought at tho time it was highly expedi
ent that tho Legislature should be con
vened in order take proper action to arrest
the demoralization set forth in the letter
of Judge Han sell. I have no question
that I assured the delegation that i would
use my utmost influence with Governor
Brown against recommending any separ
ate State action looking to the withdrawal
of Georgia from tho Confederacy and
making isqiarato terms of peaco for herself
with the Federal authorities. I had no
idea Governor Brown contemplate any
such thing. How could I or auybody
entertain such an opinion of him in the
face of his letter in reply to an overture of
this character from General Sherman ?
In Gov. Brown’s reply to Gen. Sher
man he said: “ ‘Come weal or como woe,’
the State of Georgia never should by his
consent withdraw from the Confederation
in dishonor. She will never make separate
terms with the enemy, which may free her
teritory from invasion, and leave her
j Confederates in the lurch.” I may have
| assured the delegation that in case I dis
j covered auy change of policy on the part
lof Gov. Brown in this respect, that I
I would use my utmost influence against it.
With the views of my brother, Hon.
j Linton Stephens, I was fully acquainted.
We were iu almost daily correspondence,
and the imputation cast upon his memory
by Mr. Hill, that he was to take lead in
j tho Legislature for a movement looking to
j the makeiug of separate terms of peace
I by Georgia is as unfunded as it is uujust.
! One of the most sacred duties now resting
l upon me is to vindicate his memory from
| such unpatriotic and dishonorable conduct
as the insinuation imports. He was fully
: informed of the nature amichareater of my
Resolutions, and gave them his cordial ap
proval. Indeed they were but the em
bodiment of onr mutunl views and senti
ments upon the subject. I believe also J
' then, and believe now, they wero in full!
accord, with the policy ol Governor Brown.
These Resolutions will bo given to the
j public hereafter, when I am able again to
i resume the subject. From them it will be
| seen how far tho • -Vice-President, ” "Hon.
: Linton Stephens” and “Governor Brown”
| tho “malcontents” of Georgia so-called, :
j were attempting to head a “Counter-Revo-;
j lution.”
Alexander H. Stephens.
An Entire Train Burned Up.—Satur
day night a possouger train on the Pitts
burgh Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad
I bound East consisting of an engine, two j
baggage, one refrigerator ono smoking,;
one day and three sleeping cars, were j
thrown from tho track at Summit station
by a misplaced switch, and all the cars,
except the refrigorator, caught fire and
were totally consumed. A large mass of
mail and express matter inclnding the
California mail, was burned. The pas
sengers escaped by a miracle. None of
them were seriously injured. The engi
neer, fireman, express messenger and
baggage master, were badly, but not dan- j
gerously hurt. 1
THE AHKAMsAS AVAIL
Lrrn,E Rock, May 11. - The Brooksitos
hold tho bridge at Baring Cross, one mile
the other side of the river, f hero is much
shooting, but no blood.-
Washington, May 11.
To Hon-. Eu/ah Baxter, Little Rock:
I recommend that the members of the
General Assembly, now at Little Rock, ad
jouru for a reasonable time, say ten days,
to enable Brooks to call together his sup
posed adherents, so that there may lie a
full legislature. Any hasty action by a
part of the Assembly will uot be satisfac
tory to the people. Brooks friends hero
agree that if this course i pursued no'op
position will be made to meeting of the
Assembly in the State House, as usual, and
that he will at once dismiss his forces if
you will do tho some.- I urgently request
that all armed forces on both sides be dis
banded, ho tlmt tbe General Assembly
may act freo from any military pressure or
influence. The United States forces will
give all necessary protection to the Legis
lature aud prevent, os far us practicable,
all violence and disturbance of tbe public
peace. Answer. U. 8. Chant.
Washington, D. C., May 11, 1874.
To Hon. Josephßbookh, Little Rock:
I hnve suggested to Mr. Baxter that tbe
members of the General Assembly, now
in Little Rock, adjourn for a reasonable
time, say ten days, to give you nn oppor
tunity to call in those members who may
not have responded to his call, so iliut
there may be a full Legislature. The
United Status will give all the necessary
protection to the Legislature on meeting
und transacting business as usual at tlie
State bouse, and prevent as far as practi
cable nil violence and disturbance of the
public peace. I urgently request that the
military of both parties lie at onto dis
banded, which is the first step towards a
peaceable settlement. Answer.
U. S. Grant.
Little Rook, May 11. —Federal Col.
Rose ordered a restoration of the steamer
Hattie to her owners, werenponthe Brook-
Hites scuttled her, aud she sank to her hur
ricane deck.
Both parties are reinforced, and the
lines ore closely drawn. More cannon have
been planted. A number of Senators and
Representatives have appealed to Grant for
protection in their assembling.
Washington, May 12.—A reply lias
i been received from Brooks, of Arkansas,
I declining to accede to tlie terms proposed
jby the President through the Attorney
! General. The telegram will lie a subject
|of Cabinet consultation to-day. It is very
; probable that the General Government,
j after having exerted its best influences for
i tbe preservation of pence and the restora
! tiou of political harmony at Little ltock,
! will now decide definitely on the cose and
that means will be taken to liave its decis
ion enforced against any opposition.
New York, May 12.—A little Rock spe
cial contains the following items: The
regulars yesterday took nil arms at tbe ar
senal to pieces to prevent either the
Brooks or Baxter people from using them.
The raft with arms from tip the liver ar
rived safely.
There was great excitement yesterday
morning iu Little Rock during the skir
misli across tho river. Col. White, of
Baxter's force, was wounded in the leg.
After the skirmishing, lasting some two
hours, a coinpnnv of regulars crossed the
river and stopped both parties, releasing
n train of ears which Baxter’s men just
then had stopped: Four Baxter men are
reported killed. Two of Brooks’ men are
I killed and two wounded.
The Clerk of tho Circnit Conrt swore in
t tlie members of the Tlegislature.
| The regulars have thrown np another
| barricade across Markham street. 001.
i Rose has telegraphed to Gen. Sherman for
i a company of regular cavalry.
Washington, May 13.—Mr. Davis, of
j West Virginia addressed tlie Senate iu
favor of (Hiving tlie claims of loyal citizens
for property destroyed or taken by Fed
j oral troops during the war.
I PABTK.TUI.AKK or THK SKIRMISH ON TUESDAY.
i Little Rock, May 13.—' The parties
j hail a sharp skirmish yesterday with varied
| results, when the Federals interfered and
| the mobs returned to their quarters. The
| Baxterites lost one horse ami man slightly
wounded. It is reported that the Brooksitea
had eight killed and wounded.
As soon as the skirmish on the outskirts
j yesterday was known iu the city, Colonel
I Rose gave orders to have it stopped. One
j company formed behind the barricade forc
i iug Baxter’s lines with loaded guns, and got
| remly to prevent their advance. Another
I company, under the command of Lieuten
ant Noble, marching towards the battle
i field halted half way, and the officer
| went ahead of the Brooks men behind
i the rifle pits on the side of him, which
! were thrown up when Markham street
I was being graded. The firing had been
quite brisk on both sides.
Baxter’s forces had been driven over the
opposite hill, between two of the Cario and
Fulton railroad buildings. The forces
were about three hundred yards apart, j
! Colonel Rose was soon seen riding toward
the Baxter lines, which had then moved
back toward the city. Lieutenant Morri- j
son and Colonel Rose both galloped to j
different points to stop the filing. Their I
efforts were ineffectual, however, and the j
firing now became sharper and near t< -!
ward the city. Now the regulars marched }
between, but soon came back to their orig- :
iual position. Firing between the pickets
was not intermittent. Baxter sent out in
fantry to support White. When two blocks
from the State house and passing it
they fired at the advanced Brooks’ pick
ets. His company was one block from
the State house, fired a volley back, and
the Baxterites retreated in good order.
Several were seen to fall. The Brooks’
forces were under immediate command of
Colonel Brizzolari. Toward evening King
White’s command moved back toward the
end of the town. Fighting during the af
ternoon oocured in the early settled part
of the city. The women and children were
scared badly. Lieut. Morrison, of the regu
lars wits shot at three times by one man, a
| Baxterite. Morrison was on horseback at
the time, and endeavoring to prevent blood
shed. He drew his pistol to return the
fire, but it snapped.
Washington, May 11. —The House
passed a bill appropriating ten thousand :
| dollars for the improvement of the Oostan- j
aula river in Georgia.
In the Senate, the bill for the better or- j
ganizstion of the United States District
Courts in Louisianna was recommitted to !
tho Judiciary Committee.
THE CAR LISTS.
London, May 12. —A special dispatch to
| the Times says that Gen. Concha began
| his advance from Bilbao yesterday. The 1
j Carlists are entrenching themselves in the ;
mountain passes. Gen. Elio has issued a i
decree that all persons expressing dissent j
to the pretensions of Don Cailos will be
shot.
MEETING OP COTTON EXCHANGES.
Augusta, May 12. —The New Orleans |
Cotton Exchange having designated this |
city as a suitable place to hold a coaven- i
tion of delegates from the Cotton Exchan- |
ges of the various States, the Augusta Ex- j
change extends a oordial invitation to the
different Cotton Exchanges to send dele- :
gates to the meeting proposed to bo hold I
m this city on tho oil of June.
United States Internal Revenue Lawn
Important to LliiHor Ikalrra, Kallrond.
Drjn anil Wagona. *
It is not generidly known that the law
requires that oil brands and marks put oil
a barrel by the gauger should be effaced
nnd obliterated at ibe time it Is emptied
Most dealers thiuk it is necessary that the
stamp alone should be scratched off or eflt
faced. *
Section 43, Act 20th July, 1868, which
is still in force, says:
“That it shall be the duty of every per
son who empties or draws off, or eauw* m
be emptied or drawn off, any distilled
spirits from a cask or package bearing any
murk, brand or stamp required by law, at
the time of emptying such cask or pack
age,- to'efface nud obliterate said mark,
stamp or brund. Any such cask or pack!'
age from which said mark, brand and
stamp is not so effaced and obliterated/
shall be forfeited to the United States
and may be signed by any officer of inte;*'
nol revenue wherever found.
Any railroad company or other transpot
tatibn company, or person, *ho shall re
ceive or transport, of have in possession
with intent to transport, or with intent to
cause or procure to hb transported, any
such empty easlr or package, or any part
thereof, having thereofl any brand, mark
or stamp, required by law to be placed on
auy cask or package containing distilled
spirits, shall forfeit three hundred dollars
for each such Cask or package, or auy part
thereof so received or transported, or had 1
!in possession with the intent aforesaid;
: und any boat, railroad car, cart, dray,
wagon, or other vehicle, and all home# or
other animals used in carrying or trans
porting the same, shall be forfeited to the
United States. Any person who shall fail
or neglect to efface or obliterate said
mark, stamper brand at the time of empty <
ing such cask or package * * * shall
be deemed guilty of felony, and on con
viction shall be fined not less than five
hundred dollars nor more than ten thou
sand dollars, aud imprisoued not leas than
ono year nor more than five years.
Saved From The Gallows
Tlie Sumter llejntblican gives arfaecowfft
of the negro, Henry Jackson, Who was
saved from tbe gallows in Leesburg last
weels, from which we make ah extract
which follows. After being placed npOft
tlie scaffold with tbe rope about hi# BeWft
he spoke as follows:
“Town people, come listen to wliat 1 4*
have to say. This is a solemn time. I
have to die. And why bave I got to die 7
l’oor Henry Juekson has got to die for
that he did not do. lam innocent of this
great crime. And why did I say that F
was innocent 7 Recnwse poor Henry
Jackson did not do the crime. Henry
Jackson said others dime it; but then He
did have the fear of the Lord- before hi#
eyes. They came and took me a Way from
my wife for that I was innocent of, and
carried me to Smithville, and poor Mr,
Warwick put the rojic around my neck.-
I said others done it, but I am in Jesus
now and he is in me, aDd now I Bay T
don’t know anything about it In tbirt
hour or the next, Henry Jackson must die
tho innocent death; but they can’t kill
me. They say they will carry me to tbe
gallows aud hang me, but I will go
straight to Jesus. This nil comes of my
not being good; wbeuever n man said any
thing to Henry Jackson he w ould go for
him anil now you see what it lms brought
me to. I want you all to raise up your
children right. Teach them to go to
(maudlins; and wrvu tie, Ljurd. Hud poor
Henry Jackson done so bo would not Lave
hud to die the innocent death to-day.
l’oor Brother Lester has put the love of
the Lord in my heart. I want tbe Smith
villo people to bear what I have to say.
[Where is Mr. Jojmson 7 It hurts me as
; much us it does him. I did not kill tho
1 boy, and having the love of Jesus in me,
] if the real murderer was to come to mo
j aud say he did it I would tell hini to go off
and not tell anybody else, and I would die
for him.”
The Sheriff annonneed to the crowdthat
there was a possibility of bis innocence,
und the Governor had respited him, advis
ing the colored people to raise upon, the
spot the necessary funds to assist him to
! gain bis fife, if he was innocent. The two
; colored ministers also made some sensible
remarks to them, but they ccemd disap
pointed, and soon disappeared.
This is tlie substance of the statement,
aud his repetition caused it to appear five
times as long. Whenever he spoke of
going to Heaven, or being confident of
Jesus' love, the negroes would applaud-
THE PRISONER RESPITED.
He was rambling on this was when thw
Sheriff was called down stairs, and liandeiV
a telegram from the Governor in reply to
one which hod been sent by the officers of
Lee county asking a respite. A glance at
it showed that the request was granted
| and the Sheriff broke the news gently to
i the prisoner, who seemed surprised, and
i contended in round terms that it was not
; right to delay his sentence when he wan
j ready to die.
COL. C. T. GOODE
! has been regularly retained by the prison'
or’s friends, but we have not learned
whether they will go to the Supreme
Court for aid, or look to executive clem'
enoy in the prisoner’s behalf.
—
The Difficulties of Watermelon Culture
“ Can the watermelon be successfully
cultivated on a sandy soil, in a rural town
of four thousand inhabitants, and a theo
logical institute located near by, contain
ing one hundred and twenty students
studying for tho ministry ?" This ques
tion excited considerable comment and
loud discussion among the agriculturists
presentfat the meeting of “The Hayseeds'*
in Cleveland], and nearly an hour and a
half was spent in discussing the same. An
old green grocer who had raised early and
late vegetables for the market for twenty
years of his life said he could raise water
melons on top of a barn or on a billiard
table even, let him pick the locality and
his neighbors. It was not so much the
soil, nor season, that the melon depended
upon for its perfection as it was the pe
culiarities of theiuhibatants of the eonntry
roundabout. Where there was an excess
of colored citizens it was almost as impos
sible to raise a paying crop of melons as it
was to keep spring chickens unless they
roosted at night ill a Herring’s safe..
Then again—colleges have a bad effect
upon the melon crop, and even a minister's,
family of seven boys have been known to
blight a large patch in a single night. In
sections of country where these drawbacks
exist, the speaker had learned that the
only method to insure a full crop of mel
ons was to station a man by each melon
from the size of a hen’s egg until it rip
ened. This was expensive but the resuli
was gratifying. As the fruit grew in size,
and approached ripeness, the speaker had
sometimes found it necessary to station,
two guards over each large melon and even:
then in communities where a great fond
ness for these products existed, he had
konwn of the inside of a large tvatemelou
being stolen and devoured while two men
with clubs and pistols are seated on the
shell, or rind, engaged in friendly con
verse. — Danbury News.