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(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.