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GEORGIA WEEK 0 P I NT O N . const. 5 civil oi. down, THE WEEKLY OPINION. - '.r iHTRIOtlERB BEWARE. Frt i. v-on which the Military Ke- .wa went Into operation, the j Georgia, from the Governor e Provisional. Governor toxins and all other civil officers of State, jjeld their position under and by virtue of the Reconstruction Act of Congress. When, therefore, they gavo their personal ' influence, and the patronage of their of- liees to the support of a party seeking to nullify tiie law under which they held positions, it was only natural to suppose they would forfeit those positions. Tiie Convention, now in session in this c py, have, therefore, passed a Resolution recommending the removal of Governor Jenkins, whoso influence has been given in opposition to the faithful execution of the law. Tins U right. And the Conven tion should go further. It should petition for the removal of all civil ofllcers who oppose Reconstruction, as many General Topp. was sout to the Third Dis trict to perform n defined duty. If he meets’with obstacles, ho should remove them if in his power—and that ho Is au thorized to do so none can doubt. In the debate upon the proposition to appoint a Provisional Governor who would assist In the work of Reconstruction, some of the friends of tins measure charged that the ofllcers of tiie State Road were objec tionable; and some of the gentlemen— good Union men—who voted against the resolution, so acted because they were led to believe that the real purpose was to get control of the emoluments of the Road, and sacrifice men whom they knew had favor ed Reconstruction to the utmost extent of their influence. When the charge was made against the management of the State Road, Mr.TnA.M- >j i;i.l briefly refuted it, by a plain statement of facts, of which everybody who knew anything of the workings of the Road was cognizant. He stated that he knew the employers—many of them, in all positions, were men who had served in the Union army. Nine-tenths of them had voted and labored for the Union delegates in the dis tricts along the line. The white vote in that section of tlio .State was polled favorably. There had been no interference by officials, as was the custom in times past, to control the opinions of employees, and these voted their own sentiments, and voted right. Tiie large majority of the Republican party do not seek the spoils of office, at this time. Certainly they do not seek to destroy those who are aiding them in the work of recon struction. Were they to attempt this the cause would be lost inevitably. Gen. Pope would interpose his authority, we have no doubt, and the masses of tho Republican party would rise up ns one man to protest against such a policy. If there are any would-be leaders, as there doubtless are, who arc seeking to use the Republican or ganization for selfish purposes, wo warn them it will not be toleiatcd, and universal condemnation from the young but vigorous organization will follow the first attempt to divert It from its legitimate purpose— the reconstruction oi tho States of the Union. strength of X>^r(leit. The Republican'National Convention. Washington Cor. Cincinnati Coinmerctfcl.J Speculating a moiith ago on the place anti time for holding the National Repub lican Convention, I said that Chicago and May meant the nomination of Gen. Grant. Now that Chicago and May have been se lected, I am confirmed in the belief then expressed, as to the result, and have not the least doubt that Gen. Grant will be tho nominee of that Convention. Everything tends that way now, and there Is no reason to believe that anything will occur be tween now and tiie 20th of May to effect such a change as would make Grant an un acceptable candidate. That Gen. Grant is a Republican, in the sense that he indorses the principles and practices of the party since the close of the war, very few believe and noue can prove. Rut that makes no difference. His strongest supporters are to lie found among the men whose' leadership In Congress and throughout the country has rendered the success of a party candi date a verv doubtful problem. So General Grant is the candidate, pot of choice, but of necessity, and as such he will lie nomi nated in spite of all t}»c Democratic gym* J * be Future of tho Ifcpiiblicun Party Mr. Greeley, who had just returned from a visit to Washington, writes in the N. Y. Tribune of tho 17th, as follows; Conversing last week at Washington with one of tho keenest and most deter mined Radicals in the South, we inquired as to the prospect of carrying his State in the ensuing election. "Very much de pends,” he replied, “on our candidate for Governor. If A. bo tho man, 1 shall fear tiie result*, with B., the chance will be bet ter; lmt the man wo ought to run, if we could, is Gen. X. llo was a Rebel, and fought gallantly through the war; yet, the moment it was over, he said he had fought for slavery, because lie Indieved in it; but now that it was gone, he was for Recon struction and lasting Union on the basis of Equal Rights for All. From that hour, he lias steadily, openly advocated tho enfran chisement of the. Blacks, not merely as ex pedient. or politic, or Inevitable, but ns es- seutailly right—a logical, necessary result ■ of Emancipation, if lie were only en franchised, so that wc could run him for Governor, our success would be certain.” Is there one man on earth not a born idiot who can imagine a reason for not cnfrnn-, chising such a man—all such men ? What sort of policy, or justice, or common sense, can there be in keeping under tho ban men who are not merely with us and of us, but whose restoration to political rights Is es sential to ourown success and ascendancy ? Wc do pot seek to disguise tho fact that we favor a far more generous and compre hensive restoration to political rights: but that cannot affect tho wisdom of enfran chising our oion»pcoplc. It is on this point that we would now fix attention. Tiie Alabama Convention has sent up to Congress a long list of the disfranchised in that State who, becauso they are earnest, active Radicals, the majority desire to have restored to the fullest rights of citizenship; and we do not doubt the ultimate success of tills demnnd. But why not affirm a principle rather than establish an excep tion ? Why should not Congress enact, In six linos, that every Southron who has, for at least three months past, supported Re construction on tho basis of Equal Rights for all citizens, and still supports it, shall, upon making and filing his affidavit to the fact, bo restored to all political rights and placed on tho registry of his district as a voter? Wliat is the need of squandering paper In printing long lists of names when the principle involved is so clear? Admit that a few unchanged Rebels might com mit perjury In a matter so plain as to ren der exposure and Infamy, If not legal pun ishment, inevitable, wc Insist that their power for evil would bo fatally crippled by tiie notoriety of their crime. And itf* never possible to preclude absolutely all chance of such abuses. It Is, wc believe, generally conceded now that Congress will amend its late acts so far as to render a mnjorlty of those voting, instead of requiring n majority of all who registered, to adopt tho amended Constitu tion. It will also enfranchise those Becon- struction Ists who were compromised In tho rebellion. proven against hlra*b&weui» now anu the 20 th of May. It Is by no means certain, however, that there will not be a third candidate in the field next fall. The leaders of the Repub lican party in the South will not be satis fied with Grant, except on such a platform as his friends in tho North would bo afraid to offer him. It has already been givcu out by those who control tho negro votes in the South that the Southern Radicals will vote for no man who is unwilling to commit himself in their favor. But that in cut of Grant's nomination as an ex pediency candidate, they will nominate and vote for a man after their own heart, who is in full sympathy with them, and fully Identified with the Republican plan " ' construction. Such a course on their _ may throw the election into the House. It will do so should tin* Demo cratic party show any considerable strength in tiie contest, and be able to hold the States they now have, and gain Indiana, which D not a very unreasonable expectation. Supposing the Southern States clo-hol;.** ns they threaten, and to lie eutitied to representation in the electoral eollegf. which it is generally understood they v. ill be; and supposing tho bolt, to have n«> ef fect whatever in dividing the Rcpuhih an party in any Northern State, and thus in creasing the Democratic strength, the mut ter wilfstand thus, according to tiie last election: Grant. Dem. Rad Alabama, - • - - — — !> Arkansas, - - - - — — 1 California, - - - — 5 — Connecticut, - - - — u — Delaware, - - - — 3 — Florida, ----- — ;i Georgia, ----- — 0 Illinois, - - - - 16 — — Indiana, ----- la — Iowa, - -- -- 8 — — Kansas, - - - - a — — Kentucky, - - - — ll — Louisiana, - - - — — 0 Maine, -----7 — — Maryland, ----- 7 — Massachusetts, - - 12 — — Michigan, - - - 8 — — Minnesota. - - - 4 — — Mississippi, - - - — — 7 Missouri, - -- -11 — — Nevada, - - - - a — — New Hampshire, - 5 — — New Jersey, - - - — 7 — New York, - - - — 33 — Oregon, ----- 3 — Ohio, 21 - — North Carolina, - - — — 10 Pennsylvania, - - — 26 — Rhode Island, - - 4 — — South Carolina, - - — — 8 Tennessee, - - - — — 10 Texas, ------ — 4 Vermont, - - - - 5 — — Virginia, ----- — 10 West Virginia, - - 5 - — Wisconsin,- - - - 8 — — Nebraska, - - - - a — — Total, - - - - 123 114 80 Total electoral vote, 317; necessary to a choice, 150. I have put New York and Pennsylvania down for the Democrats. Grant’s friends ay they can carry both for him. .Should they lo so, it would give him a majority of the ntlro vote and elect him. but with a popu- ar candidate in the field, it is not at nil likely that the Democrats would lose 50.000 the vote of last November, and unless they did so, tiie Repbulicans could not carry the State. The addition of Pennsyl vania alone to General Grant’s vote*as . iven above, would not elect him, nor keep the election out of the House, nor would the addition of New York alone. Should election go Into the llottrsc. it must be between the three candidates voted for by the people. Each State is eutitied to one vote, and a majority Is necessrry to elect. The choice would devolve upon tho pres ent Congress, with the addition of the new unrepresented States of the South. Chase, who will probably be tho nominee of the Southern States, would start off with eleven votes, and would require eight more to elect him. It would be difficult to say how tho Re publican States would vote in such an clectiou, but there is a strong probability that enough could bo secured for Chase to elect him. It will bo borne In mind that the Congressional elections will have been held, and there will not be that pressing de mand for Grant’s popularity os an accepta ble help In close districts, which now seems to exist. There will bo no reason for choosing an “available” person then, ns there seems to be now. Nor would it bo at all strange If between now and next No vember it became apparent that the only way to secure a Republican President is to throw the election into the House, as I have demonstrated can easily be done, simply by admitting the Southern States, and letting them vote solid for a Republican nominee of their own. Let Grant and some Demo cratic candidate light it out in tho North, and “if the worst comes to tiie worst,” the latter can’t carry States enough to elect him, hut can only throw the election into tiie present House of Representatives. Southern Representation.—Thad, Stevens’ Supplemental Reconstruction bill has passed the House, and will, doubtless, pass the Senate also. Tho third section, increasing Congressional representation In the South, Is stricken out, and the bill as passed, provides that the majority of those voting on tho Convention, and Congress men shall bo voted for when the pcoplo vote on ratifying tho new Constitutions. ■"Beecher on Basies.—Henry Ward Beeclicr confesses to tho sin of covetous ness. lie says he cannot repress tho desire to steal babies. The reverend gentleman is not man enough to possess one of hU own. Hence hts desire to steal one. tiEOlIQU STATE CONVENTION# TENTH IUV. Fridav, December 20,1807. Convention met at regular hour; prayer by the Chaplain; Journal read and ap proved. Mr. TRAMMELL moved to reconsider the action of yesterday, to reconsider the yote on the passage of the resolution for the pay of officers aud members. In support of his motion Mr. T. disclaimed any right of this Convention to make or unmake Governors. He demurred to the right of any gentleman to force New England political ethics upon him or tl^p people of Georgia, and denied the whisperings con cerning himself, to the effect that he was an enemy of reconstruction. Those who uttered them were slanderers. He was an advocate of the Shcrman-Shallabarger bill ; for Relief so far as iteould be granted con stitutionally, and no farther. But Relief would not be accomplished by members •voting themselves nine dollar* per day. To be consistent this Convention should be satisfied with less. Members could afford to work a few hours a day for less—they could live for less, and he hoped Delegates wobld reflect. By. accepting the action of the last Legislature in reference! to pay, this Convention was “whipping the devil round the stump,” dodging responsibility, and acting cowardly, taking what some Delegates called a “Rebel Legislature,” for a precedent. Mr. BLOUNT wished to be consistent, lie was a member of the last Legislature, When §0 per day was voted. Then money was plenty, a large crop had been sold at high figures. The people had not then learned that they were ruined—they did not appreciate the importance of having lost $1,000,000,000 worth of property. Hence they were extravagant in 1805. Rut they have awakened from their dream of rich dreams. Hence the cries for relief. Hence tho necessity of this Convention curtailing its expenses. He would not vote for revolutionary ami agrarian measures, and would oppose men who favored them, lie asked delegates to be satisfied with a reasonable per diem, and not exhaust the last energies of a suffering people. Dele gates could not face the people after prac ticing such an exorbitant per diem, and should vote for reconsideration. Mr. l'KIXCK opposed the motion. He had moved -SS per day. and denied that New England men were responsible for this resolution. Mr. MILLER favored reconsideration. The resolution was vague. The word “the last Legislature of Georgia.’ might be held to be the Legislature of 1800. Many doubted whether any succeed ing legislation was legal. In 1800 the per diem was $5; in 1805 t was $0. At pres ent board was obtained in Atlanta at less than onc-half the sum charged in Milicdgc- vllle in 1805. Thn provision staples to-day could be bought for one-third less. The people were poor, and could not. afford to pay unreasonable fees. He hated tiie am biguity of the resolution—it was not hon est, and should have explicitly stated the 1, and not dodged behind the “last Leg islature of Georgia.” Mr. EDWARDS opposed the motion to reconsider. The per diem was not too much; if he could lie \yould put through a measure to pay $12 per day. The last leg islation had chafgfed $9 per day fordoing harm; this Convention proposed to do good and should bo paid at least ns much. Mr. SHROPSHIRE favored reconsidera tion. The people were burthened by taxa tion—execution upon execution have been piled upon their property—they were de manding relief, and here was a chance for delegates to give relief. The wages of labor were not now more than half the sum voted here, and productive labor cer tainly was entitled to as much as the few hours services daily rendered here, Tnc previous question was called, and a vote was taken by ayes and nays, resulting yeas 04, nays 81, as follows; i—Akertnan. Angler, Bell, of Banks. Bowers, Bigbee. Blount, Brace we 11. Bryson, Burnett, Caldwell, Colo, Crane, Crawford, Dotting. Davis. Dunning, Dnnnegan, El lington, Fiods. Flynn. Fort, lostcr, of Morgan, Foster, of Paulding, Glover, Oood- to pay out moneys that may be advanced from tho Treasury. Tho amendment was adopted, and the ordinance so amended Was adopted. Un der its provisions tho Treasurer,of State is authorized to advance $40,000 to Dr. Angler for payment to December 23d, 1807. The CHAIR announced that Muj. Gen. Pope was in waiting, and upon being con ducted to tiie Chairman’s stand, tiie Chair man, in the name of the people of Georgia, and the delegates assembled, welcomed him to the hall, and introduced him to tiie Convention. Gen. Rope was received with enthusi asm, and addressed the Delegates briefly, thanking them for the cordial invitation extended, and which had caused his pre sence in the Hall, and especially for the emphatic endorsement of his official course, conveyed in the resolution adopted unani mously by this body, in its session of yes terday. He congratulated tiie delegates upon the, progress they had already made in flic gnfat work entrusted them, and as sured them lie would co-operate with them to the extent of tiie powers entrusted him by his government. In conclusion he counseled that wisdom, moderation and justice should govern all tho actions of the delegates, ami expressed an earnest hope tliHtj their deliberations would result in a speddy restoration of Georgia to her place in tiie Union, and her people to nil the blessings that peace and good order would assuredly bring them. Oh motion the Convention took a recess of fifteen minutes, during w hich the inrui- lierf, indiviually, paid their respects to the distinguished visitor. Mr. AKER.MAN moved thatthe rules lie suspended to take up the resolution for a recess. Carried, and the resolution wn* taken up. and after being amended so as to provide for recess on the 23d of December to January 8tli, 1868, was adopted. 31 r. TURNER moved to take up the reso lution petitioning for the pardon of Jef ferson Davis. Lost. By Mr. TRAMMELL, a resolution that the chairman of the Committee on Elections lie authorized to employ necessary clerks, and the committee lie authorized to send for persons and papers. Adopted. Several ordinances on the Clerk’s desk were appropriately referred, and a call of tho roll for tiie intro* n of new matter followed; By Mr. CHATTEi elution in re lation to intermarring. By Mr. COOPER, an oru*.nance in rela tion to a homestead. By Mr. DUNNING, a resolution that tiie Committee on Revision be instructed to introduce an ordinance for the removal of tiie capitol from Milledgcville to Atlanta, and designating the day and year when the removal shall be made. > By Mr, JIIGBEE, an ordinance declar ing It the duty of the Legislature to pro vide for an efficient system of common schools iu the State of Georgia. By Mr. HOTCHKISS, an ordinance In relation to imprisonment for debt. By Mr. MARTIN.of Habersham, a reso lution for the relief of the people, recom mending the Legislature to establish a Loan Ilank at the Mate Capital. By Mr. MURPHY, a resolution rcgula- ting the nu mber of county officers, and how appointed. The resolution proposes four years terms. By Mr. BRADLEY, an ordinance rela tive to franchise and the test oath for ju rors. A By Mr. ROZAR. n preamble and resolu tion on Relief, ns follows; Whereas, it Is considered in Convents assembled, that during the existence of th. present illegal and unconstitutional £ eminent «>f tin* State or Territory of G« ilia, imprisonment ami punishment ii been inflicted uiiinercUully upon per? for minor offence-, which they were almost Coin jH'iled to do, through a force of cireum- and lor the actual necessities of telegraphic intelligence. Virginia Conveiitio Tn the Convention nr ted adversely . utracted since ives, on tho ms not power Richmond, Dee. 1 the Judiciary Com m to declaring void a. I860 for tho purch. ground thatthe Conv to impair obligations of debts which must be decided by the civil courts. The re port was tabled- The report of the Committee on Printing, giving the Convention printing to the pro prietors of the New Nation, was adopted. The following resolutions of inquiry were adopte !; Of establishing houses of correction in cities of over ten thousand Inhabitants; of establishing primary schools In districts where fifty children can attend, and grammar schools where two hundred can attend; of clothing,the* Governor with power to remove political disabilities when ho pardons a criminai; of requiring all voting to be done by bal lot. A resolution requesting Genenral Scho field to abolish distinctions on account of color in public conveyances, and a petition asking the same thing of tho Convention, wore reforred. Resolution to require the Legislature to impose a capitation tax of two dollars on all over sixteen years, for educational purposes, was tabled. ^A resolution that the Convention have no ground for apprehension that the lia bilities of the State would not be met, was referred. After some debate relative to drawing pay up to the recess, the Convention ad journed. Congrehsloiial. passed yesterday by tho 11. - pad twice and refe *f A11 Washington’, Dec. 20.—Mr. Trimble lias been seated, John Young Brown and Major Young, have been sent back. Tho Com mittee on Election! has determined, much to the chagrin of the extremists, uot to seat the minority contestants. Philadelphia, Dec. 20.—The elephant Romeo has killed his keeper. ' San Francisco, Dec. 20.—The Demo cratic caucus has nominated Eugene Cas- selry for Senator. Am Ordinance To levy and collect taxes to pay the dele gates and officers connected with the Convention, as well as all other inciden tal expenses. ,Section 1. Be it ordained by the people of Georgia in Convention am-einhh-d, That it shall be the duty of tiie Compt rol ler General of the State of Georgia, to levy and assess a tax of oue-sixteehth ,of one per cent, on all the taxable property of this State, as returned upon tiie di tests for tho year 1807, Ir. addition lo the State tax; and the Comptroller General shall direct and require tiie Tax Collectors in the several counties in tho State to collect the tax so assessed, or so much thereof as will defray thri expenses of this Convention, and pay the same into tho treasury of tho State of Georgia on or before the 1st of November, Hec. 2. Be it further ordained by the au thority aforesaid. That the Treasurer of this,State is hereby authorized ami direct ed to advance to the disbursing officer of this Convention, out of the Treasure of tills State, forty thousand dollars to defray the expenses of this Convention, and tiie pay and mileage of its members and offi cers up to the 23d (Jay of December, 1807. See. 3. Be it further ordained by the same authority, That N. L. Angler in hereby ap pointed the disbursing officer of this Con vention, and is authorized to receive and receipt for the muii aforesaid, ami to pay our the same on th. warrant of the lW- -The bill *'"il.V* * 1 s t oiivctulou, ou the report of tnc nu 1 j auditing committee. Supple- j See. f. Re it further ordained bv the t*ts. wn* Mine authority. That the amount so ad- udichtrv b - v lIlL * Fre.isurcr shall fie replaced ■ j ir?m the proceeds of the tax ordained by . Lins Convention to be assessed and collect- nd mileage of tiie re pr< W herea-. It is presumed justice has not been done iu many instances, from preju dicial feelings being ?o extreme ns to con trol the better judgment of impartial ju rors; and the adjudication of illegal and unconstitutional Courts of this State or Territory, have not been in strict accord ance w ith the reasonable demands of.jus tice; therefore, be it Resolved, That a Committee of — bo ap- pointed to proceed forthwith to Millcdge- ville and investigate the charges, offenses, aud causes of imprisonment of inmates of State Penitentiary, and ascertain whether in their opinion such punishment as has been inflicted is Just, and not from preju dicial or mi prejudicial considerations—if the result of guch investigation, present to this Convention unjust punishment having beon made upon any person or persons whatsoever, lie, or they, shall be at once released from such Imprisonment. The call was continued through the roll, and at its conclusion, the regular hoar hav ing arrived, the Convention adjourned. Business Decay in Memphis.—Tho Memphis Bulletin laments over the decay and stagnation of business everywhere ap parent in that place. It says: But a few years ago there was not a city from Cairo to New Orleans, and from the mountains of East Tennessee to the West ern prairies, that displayed the bustle and vigor and indomitable impulse toward ad vancement that Memphis did. Now look at tiie contrast. Even Little Rock is set ting us an example. Have we the spirit to imitate it?” • Grant and Stanton.— 1 Tho story of a dhagreinent between General Grunt and Mr. Stanton, telegraphed from Washing ton, seems to have no better foundation than the sipiiJar story put afloat some time ago of 1 i rupture between Gen. Grant and lion. E.Bf Washburn. There is the best authority’for stating that previous to Mr. Stanton’s leaving Washington, after being relieved by Gen. Grant, Mrs. Grant visited Mrs. Stanton, and vice versa, and Grant and Stanton were on tiie most friendly terms. Since Mr. Stanton’s return the same Inti macy has existed between the gentlemen named and their i< *pectlvc families, and no one was more su t rised than they at the „ publication of th unfounded reports. Dr. Angler be appointed disbursing officer Washington Star, win, Goves, Griffin, llurmnd, Harris, of Newton, Harrison, of Carroll. Hotchkiss, Houston, Holcomb, Hooks, Hudson, Keef, King, Lee, Lott, 1 Madden. Murler, Math ews, Martin, ot G&ttfcl),' Martin, of Haber sham, McCoy, Minor, Miller, McWhorter, Moore, of White, Rice, Saffold, Smith, of Thomas, Shropshire. Shumate, Stanford, Trammell, Turner, Waddell* Welch, Wil bur, Whltely—04. Nays—Adkins, Alexander, Anderson, Ashburn, Bedford, Bentley, Beaird, Baldwin, Bell, of Oglethorpe, Bow den, of Campbell, Bowden, of Monroe, Blodgett, Bryant, Brown. Bradley. Buchan, Campbell, Carson, Catching, Clift, Chris tian, of Newton, Christian, of Early, Chat ters, Claiborne, Chambers, Cooper, Cobb, of Houston, Cobb, of Madison, Costtn. Conley, Crayton, Crumley, Daley, Dinkins, Ed wards, Gilbert, Goulding. Guilford, Har ris, of Chatham, Harrison, of Hancock, Higbce, Hlgden, Hopkins, Howe, Hutche son, Jackson, Joiner, Jones, Knox, Linder, Lumpkin, Maddox, Maul, Moore, of Co lumbia, Murphy, Noble, Fulmer. Pope, ; inee, Reynolds. Richardson,Rozar, Kob- -on, Saultcr, Sikes, Shields, Seeley, Shcr- m. Smith, of Charlton, Speer, Stewart, mile, Stanley, Stone, Strickland, Tray- wffk, Walton, Wallace. Whitaker, White- head, of Burke, Whitehead, of Butts, Wil liams, Woodey, Yeatcs—81. So tho motion to reconsider was lost, and the per diem remains the same as paid tho lust Legislature, which was $9 per day, and $5 for every twenty miles travel In going to and returning from the Coventlon. Mr. SHROPSHIRE, from the* Committee on Finance reported an ordinance to levy a tax to defray the expenses of this Con vention. Tho ordinance provides for the levy of a tax of one-sixteenth of one per cent, upon tho digest of 1867. Mr. McCOY moved an amendment that Several speeches were made, urging im mediate and vigorous action, to which Mr. Sumner, Chairman of the Committee Foreign Relations, replied; The Committee could not be driven into hasty action by the temporary pressure. The memorials were referred. The deficiency bills from the House, up, and were debated at length, with calls for the ayes and nays on miuor amend ments, evidently with a view of staving off the cotton tax and contraction bills until after the holidays. Three amendments arc pending on the cotton tax. Doubts are ex pressed whether a quorum will be present to-morrow. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Treasury, stating that the public exi gencies would prevent contraction during this and next month, and assuring the Senate that no frirthcr contraction would be made until Congress expressed its views, The Senate adjourned. House,—After unimportant business, Mr. Berry offered a joint resolution thanking Gen. Hancock for his support of civil law, but the clerk was not permitted to con clude its reading, some of the objections arising from tiie republican side, and the regular order of business was insisted upon. The bill for the relief of deserters came up, and an amendment offered depriving deserters to the enemy was adopted. Tho discussion developed the fact that a quar ter of a million of deserters were on the rolls. The call for tho previous question lied, and tho bill was recommitted. 'I r. Stokes pres'ente J a resolution guar ding loyalist's claims for losses iucur- during tiie war, Referred to tiie Com mittee on Claims. A resolution was adopted directing fur ther delay iu the selling of tho Govern ment’s interest in tho Dismal Swnmp land. The House went into Committee of tho Whole on the deficiency and reconstruc tion acts. Mr. Boyer asked if it was now In order to move thanks to General Hancock for do ing till in his power to abrogate the mili tary government, thus reducing the ex penses. The Chair ruled it out of order. Mr. Butler said Gen. Ord, without appa rent cause, expended more than Pope,Can- by and Schofield together. The negro character was discussed at length. Mr. Butler^maintained that he was a kind and amlablo person, who would protect himself when he had the ballot. Mr. Lawrence moved an amendment that tho Conventions in the South be allowed to levy taxes to refund the reconstruction expenses, which the chairman ruled out of order. Committee rose and the bill passed by a vote of 07 to 35. The Honsc adjourned. miacellaneone. The President sent a message to the House covering the report of H. G. Sharpe, sent to Europe last January to investigate whether citizens of the United States Im plicated in Lincoln’s assassination were in Europe. Sliarpo reports there arc no legal or rea sonable proofs to warrant the action of the Government against any person now in Europe. The Buffalo express train on the Lake Shore road, near Angola, ran off the track. The rear car went over a sixty-foot em bankment. Forty-eight passengors were burned to death. No Southerners among a partial list of killed and wounded. Fire* In Vickuburg. New Orleans, Dec. 10.—Two more fires occurred at Vicksburg lost night, one acci dental. Loss trilling. The other was in cendiary. The Bank of New Orleans has discontin ued business on account of the depression In trade. ^c-c. ii. Le 11 Iu tiler ordained by the same authority. Jnaf tint several tax collectors shall receive the same percent, for cnllect- ng the same in they now are allowed by law tor collecting the .State tax. For the Opinion.1 \ on are right, and with the people, on the subject of relief. Gov. Brown, in his letter, is with no one. Unless he does bet ter in Ids next, lie will be considered an old fogy, and laid upon the shelf. If the politicians think they can palm upon the people a sort of cobweb bill of relief upon which they expect to crawl Into office, and through which the people are at last to fall into the hands of the sheriff and “Shylocks,” they will find themselves very much mis taken. This is the People’s Convention, and every one will be watched with a crit ic’s eye, and nothing will be ratified that does not look to the genuine good of the people. The decision of- the Supreme Court on tho Stay Law, will doubtless be long remembered, and cause the pedigree of the unfortunate gentleman to be given to future generations ns a memento of their utter disregard for the misfortunes of their fellow-men. Butts. Shifting Sail Again.—It Is nothing un usual for tho New York Herald to make violent summersaults, but its late shift on tho Grant sensation is rather in advance of general expectation. In a leading article in Its last issuo, after a prelude of rigma role, demonstrates against Grunt as ioi- . lows .* Urdcr these circumstances, v u predict' tbo culmination in November in ■«.» of thy political revolution of which * b tvt* already felt the first shock. From :»!!; symptoms that surround us, it N i-.n*, t„ foresee that the violence and folly o! '.in gress, In forcing upon the country a pJi- v ntircly foreign to our institutions, and ii, on 11 let with all our ideas of freedom, Ju ice, and generosity, will unite tiie people upon the Democratic and Conservative nominee for tiie next Presidency, and tiiat ill be elected by a large majority. The Radicals may hope to save themselves by calling to their aid the great name of Gen. Grant; but, if that distinguished mil itary leader should accept tiie nomination upon the African supremacy platform of the present Congress, he will bo defeated ut the polls. More Annexation,—A Havana dispatch, of the 17th, gives us the following intelli gence : Advices from 8t. Thomas to the 17th Instant, liavo been received. The trans fer of that Island to the United States will probably be made on New Year’s Day, but ;he jlate has not beon positively fixed. A Government architect was examining those edifices which were left In a dangerous ”* ion by the earthquake. He had or tho demolition of the English mail T.lnvd'a hiiUntnar TVirmnn'a llninl condition by the c dcred offices, Lloyd’s building, Herman's Hotel, the HJardemaal, the Newtown and Butch er's gates, and the warehouse, of Morrison, Mora, and Camp, Up to the 7th Instant, 500 shocks of earthquakes had been felt. Divers wero busily at work In the Bay, and 200 packages wero dally raised from the wreck of the steamer Columbian. Busi ness had been generally resumed, and no moro failures were reported. Bents of corner lots wero greatly Increasing, Tub Hu.ls—A Query.—Wo learn from the Opisiox that lion. Joshua Hill was to have delivered an nddress in Atlanta, on Wednesday night. In compliance with tho expressed wishes of a Inrge number of citi zens and of tho members of the Conven tion. Was tills Item of news unknown to the Intelligent nnd usually well informed Press Agent at Atlanta ? Supposed It Imd been Hon- Instead of Joshua? Wo all know that If the former merely comes to town, to have a little private clmt with his conservative allies—the Obstructionists— the important fact is telegraphed where’er the wires penetmh-—Avyutta Republican. Mn. Chask von 1-iiesidk.vt.—Some time ngoweftomhonest convictions, placed at he head of our paper the name of lion. Schuyler Oolfja Ibr President, We done it because woknew he would do; lmt, ns our friends in Convention assembled, have a better means of knowing tho sentiments and feelings oftno whols State, nnd ns they have unanimously given their voice for the master statesman, Salmon P. Chase, wo yield our preference for a good man, for one better known, and equally pure and good.—Orlffin Union, 20th.