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GEORGIA WEEKLY OPINION
THE weekly OPINION.
BY YY. I. ICBUOOf AND J. B. DOUBLE.
OFFICIAL FAFBB FOB THE COUNTIES OF
B«k.r,
Baldwin,
Bartow,
Bibb,
Butts,
Carroll,
Chattooga,
Clayton,
Cobb,
Dado,
Do Kalb,
Fayotto,
Forsyth,
Fulton,
Gordon,
Groeno,
Gwinnett,
Harralson,
Hoard,
Henry,
Jasper,
Lee,
Xouroe,
Hurray,
Newton,
Paulding,
Polk,
Spalding,
Sumter,
Upson.
Ta* CosoitKgsiosAL Districts or Gkou-
m.t.—A convenient tnble for reference,
headed Georgia Congressional Districts,
trill be found in another column. It "Ives
the names of the counties composing each
of the seven Districts, and the reprcsentU'
Live population of each district, as deter
mined under the constitutional rule that
controlled in I860.
CuhiuxtIon.—Our report of the resolu
tion by Mr. BCBXRTT, yesterday, should
have stated that after some discussion, It
was withdrawn by that gentleman. And
In another point the reporter erred in
naming Mr. McCoy as replying to Air.
Caldwell. It should have rend Air. Akeii-
MAN.
The Gudeiuutomal (Joeetios.—By re
ference to our reports of to-day's proceed
ings of the Convention It will be seen that
the question of petitioning Gen. Pope to
appoint a Provisional Governor who will
assist In the work of reconstruction has
been carried by a decided nm|ority. The
debate was an able and lengthy one—com,
paring favorably with any wo have ever
beard in the legislative balls of the State,
Almost tlie whole session was consumed in
the debate. At the close both sides came
to a fair and final struggle upon the main
issue, with the result announced elsewhere.
The Convention and Ain. <,'iiake—Cai
ecs Meeting Last Xiuiit.—At a caucus
of the Republican members of the Consti
tutional Convention, held last night at the
City Hall, the following resolution was
adopted with but one dissenting voice,
there being about eighty delegates present:
•' Unsolved, That we, the llcpuhllcau
members of the Georgia Constitutional
Convention, anil citizens of the State of
Georgia, do hereby express our high adrift,
ration ior the eminent statesmanship of
Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, and ex
press our most Implicit confidence in bis
fidelity to all the principles of equal jus
tice embodied in the platform and adorn
ing tho triumphant history of the Repub
lican party j'anfi wo furthermore take this
method of declaring to the world our hope
that the American people will, at the own
ing Presidential election, transfer Air.
Chase from the bead of tho Judicial to the
head of tho Kxccutlro Department of our
Government, with assurances, however,
that we will cheerfully support the nomi
nee of the party whomsoever ho may lie.”
OIIOBGM STATE CONVENTION.
EIGHTH DAT.
•Wednesday, Dec. 18,1867.
Convention met at regular hour; prayer
by Rev. Wesley Prettymsn; Journal of
yesterday read and approved.
The unfinished business of yesterday—
tho gubernatorial resolution of Mr. Caltl-
woll—tvns resumed, Mr. BRADLEY hav
ing the floor. lie resumed Ills argument
In substance to tho effect that Gov. Jenkins
had not been asked to continue In office—
he was, under the reconstruction laws, dis
qualified, lnasmui^ as ho could not take
the test oath. All officers who could not
take this oath held their positions Illegally,
In violation of the constitution and laws of
tho United States. Xot only this—many
of tho provisional officials had labored dil
igently to defeat tho work of rccons ruc
tion, the purpose for which this Conven
tion was called.
Air. SAFFOL1) roso to a point of order.
The resolutions of Air. Caldwell were, he
claimed, not proper matter for considera
tion, under the resolution reported from the
committee of ten, and adopted yesterday.
The CHAIRMAN ruled the resolutions
proper matter for consideration; when Air.
BRADLEY resumed and continued Ills
remarks at some length.
Air. BLODGETT referred to the past
political course of Gov. J., which he con
demned so far as connected with the histo
ry of Georgia during and slnco the war.
Tho Provisional Governor had opposed, in
the courts, ns the last resort, the laws ot
Reconstruction, and had remained passive
after defeat. Tho friends of Reconstruc
tion wanted a Governor who would aid
and assist them. Such a man was named
by the resolution under consideration, and
inasmuch its it was only recommendatory,
and could not control the action of Gen
eral Pope, he hoped tho resolution would
pa*i
Tin: State Road.—A rumor being cur
rent in Chattanooga Monday of a proba
ble change in the management of tho AY.
and A. Rail Rond, the Union of that city
says:
AVc sinccrly lnqio that this report will
prove Incorrect. No 1 sitter roml than tho
State Road exists in tho South. Under the
masterly management of Campbell AYnl-
laco, Its fame lias been so widely diffused
that every traveler hi the land knows of
the quick time, the smooth traveling and
courteous officials of tho Western and At
lantic Railroad, and its stockholders nre
semi-annually reminded by their premiums
that its management is of tho best.
AVc presume there is no rcliahlo founda
tion for the rumor to which the Union re
fers. If ability, efficiency and integrity
arc among the requisites for siiperintcii-
ftant of that Road, we do not see how AlsJ,
AVai.i.ace'8 place could lie better filled.
Tut: Alabama Constitution.—Com
menting upon the Constitution prepared
by the State Convention of Alabama, the
New lork Tribune says:
None In any of the Free states Is more
nobly dedicated to tho principles of uni
versal freedom and equal rights. Already
the clause relating to suffrage, however,
Ims boon subjected to some unfriendly
criticism. Neither Congress nor the Con.
vcntlon 1ms seen fit to carry out the recon
struction iiolicy of the Tribune, which
has I wen and still Is lit favor of Uni
versal Amnesty and Impartial Suffrage,
Had the generous policy of universal am
nesty been adopted, a much larger white
vote In favor of reconstruction on the basis
or impartial suffrage would have been
polled In everv Southern State than can
now bo polled for any constitution that
may lie framed under the proscriptions In-
cldcift to tho Congressional policy.
The people of theSouth would now unite
with Mr. Gkkklev. or any one else, on the
Platform of “Universal Amnesty and Im
partial Suffrage." A State Constitution
Ibr Georgia, based upon that Principle
would meet with but very feeble opposi
tion In Georgia, lint the law of Congress,
known as the “Military Reconstruction
Act" renders that scheme Impracticable.
Reconstruction must bo accomplished ac
cording to terms Imposed by tho Law, un
less Congress shall yet make such a modi
fication us will enable tho people to carry
out their wishes ill this particular.
Air. PARROTT—Judge Harris hi the
Chair—said this was an Important ques
tion, when considered hi connection with
Reconstruction. lie objected to the course
of Governor Jenkins In relation to the
conscription laws, ami to his course since
the war with regard to restoration. But
he was not prepared to vote for the resolu
tion. lie was willing to trust this and kill-
dre,I questions to the General command
ing. which officer he defended from charges
made upon the floor. Gen. Pope had stood
by Georgia, was earnest In aiding the work
of Reconstruction, and his past conduct
was sufficient guarantee for tlie future
and hereafter, os now, tho people of this
lommonwcalth would have cause to com
mend his official conduct. Air. Parrott
concluded by moving to postpone the
further consideration to January 8,1868,
Air. DUNNING opposed the resolution,
e eotdtl see tlie secret springs that
prompted the contemplated action, and did
not believe honesty Impelled the active
outside influences working so vigilantly
to carry the proposition
Mr. llRYANT favored tho resolution at
length, replying to the arguments of gen
tlemen In opposition, lie wanted some
one at the head of public affairs who would
stand by the reconstruction party In the
canvass that would Inevitably ensue upon
the question of ratification. This was not
done by Gov. Jenkins and civil officers
generally, during the late canvass; but It
would ho done lit tile next canvass. If the
gentleman named hi the resolution should
he accepted by Gen. Toiic. Air. Bullock,
he said, was iio party hack, hut was and
had been a Union man, a friend of Georgia
and her people, and would devote the best
energies of a long and active experience to
the advancement of their Interests.
Air. SAFFOI.I) thought much was made
sometimes by people attending to their
own business ami he did not tldnk this
Convention was. by any means, engaged
In a legitimate work, should It pass this
resolution. Ho represented ono of tho ne
gro districts of the State—Idmself and col
leagues did not receive more than 75 white
votes—they were Georgians by birth and
Interest, and os such were sent up here by
a large negro constituency to'make » Con
stitution, and not to make Governors.
There was nothing In tho Reconstruction
laws that devolved any duty upon this
Convention beyond preparing a Constitu
tion. General I’opc would uttend to eve
rything necessary to advance Reconstruc
tion. and he was willing to trust the
matter with him. By doing too much the
Convention might endanger all, and being
a Union man lie should opposo tills und
other resolutions. Lot this Convention do
Its business as well os General Fops hat
dono Ills, Slid all Will lie well.
Mr. l’UINCK regretted that gentlemen
boasted ot their place of birth. As tn off
set, he would ssy that he was born In New
England, but had adopted Georgia as Ids
homo. Re was here todo all In hli power
for Georgia and hit constituents. He un
derstood the wishes of tlioto who bad sent
litin here, mid one of tholr wishes was tho
removal of all obstacles to the advance of
Reconstruction. Governor Jenkins was
one of these, and lie should be removed,
and a man put In Ids place who would
compel the civil officer* to protect loyal
men, which was not now the case, as was
dally being demonstrated.
Mr. llfiLCOMU was opposed to the In
troduction of parly tactics Into tills Con-
ntlon. If this was avoided the work
would soon lio done and dono well. Keep
out firebrands, and all will be well. The
HT A bill will soon lie Introduced, It Is
•said, reorganizing the Patent Office, aim-
lbldng tho office of Commissioner, and In
vesting the power confided 111 him in a
board of commissioners to lie appointed by
the president, sitidinr tn the method pre
vailing In 1 ranee and England. 1 rom this i , 0 f arc in favor of restore-
hmtd ‘‘ ! l, ™« •“ 1,0 tlnn-trne they dlfiferas to the best means
appeal, except tn the Cnpienn* ( onrt of the j , Kocp llown party spirit.
si nltcd Mate*. ^ ^ j and eschew ForauihUng foroffiec, and Geor-
E?pThe receipt* from interim! revenue gla " III pooh resume her old place. Gen.
to-day were JU0.V.J5S.I& making the total | Pop*' was the Instrument of the United
amount for the week editing to-day 82,253.- State* (SoYcrnnient—he was here* to pro- OIM>]
*2, and the total since the beglning of; serve peace and order—had ealled this (.’on- • edit
the present fiscal year K'.»l.m7.5SI.36. vcntlon. and delegates were here to fulfill
their portion of the duties assigned them
by the laws of Congress. He wanted the
Convention to do nothing more, and would
vote against the resolution.
Mr. McCOY spoke in opposition to the
resolution. lie believed ottice seeking was
the great curse of tho country* and could
see In tills proposition that a strong effort
was being made to continue the evil.
Especially, lie said, should a scramble for
office, for purtixnn purposes, be condemned.
Gov. Jcnkius could not retard tlie work ol
reconstruction, as lie could not direct the
action of a half dozen officers in tho Mate.
He believed tlie key-note of tills move
ment was something else—the question of
aiding tlie work of reconstruction was a
subterfuge to veil eftbrts to get charge of
tho offices and emoluments of tlie State
road, lie also claimed that Gen. l’ope
did not dare remove Gov. J. unless lie was
an obstruction to reconstruction, and that
point Gen. Pope mustdeelde himself, and
this Convention could not be his con
science keeper.
3Ir. CALDWELL wanted to make a
proposition in connection with ills resolu
tion that would rciuovo all tlie objections
that had been made. He eared nothing for
men, cliques, or tills or that wing of the
Convention, but tlie great prize or measure
he had in his heart was restoration. He
knew personally but little of Mr. Bullock,
but learned that ho was u gentleman of
ability and integrity, whose name lie pre
sented without much consultation. He
would drop tlie name, however, ami let the
Convention decide upon tlie principle of
Ids resolution; if favorable they could then
decide upon tlie man—and if it was found
that Col. Bullock was not the right
man, select another to recommend to
Gen. Pope. He hurled back tlie charge
that lie was inline need by tho pride and
power of odlcc in his action. He only
wanted tlie principle sustained—did not
desire to command Gen. Pope, simply to
request him to change the chief magistra
cy. He moved to adjourn until 10 o'clock
to-morrow, which motion was lost.
Mr.TltAMMELL rose to correct an as
sertion that had been made. It hud been
asserted that no Union or colored mat
could be employed on the. Western and At
lantic lhiilrond. It was not true. He knew
two-thirds of Hie employees, many of them,
in all positions, had served in tlie Union
army; nine-tenths of them had voted for
Keconstruction. The officer at the head of
tlie road was an earnest friend of the great
cause In which we are engaged, and it was
a fact that upon entering u|k)ii the dis
charge of tlie duties of tlie office, the pres
sure upon him to remove men for opinion's
sake was so strong, that lie found it neces
sary to publisii a letter on the subject. He
made this correction for the purpose of
doln justice to a patriotic and honorable
citizen and an efficient officer.
Mr. BLODGETT moved the previous
question, which was sustained, and a vote
on the question of postponing to January
8tli, was ordered; which Mug by a call of
the yeas and nays resulted—yeas 77;
nays 78.
A motion to adjourn was lost on divis
ion—yeas 48; nays 71.
A division of the question was ealled for,
and a vote was taken on that portion of
tlie original proimsUion. which reads as
follows;
We tlie representatives of that majority
are now striving to overcome tlie obstacles
In tho patli of restoration to civil law, and
therefore rcspcctfullv petition tho General
commanding tills Disr
strict that a Provis
ional Governor he anjHMitcd who will
assist in tills great work.
Upon this question the yeas and nays
were demanded and taken, ns follows:
Yens — Adkins, Alexander, Anderson,
Angler, Aslibiirn, Bentley, Bealrd, Bald
win, J. Bell, J. C. Bowden, Blodgett,
Bryant, Brown, Bracewell, Bryson, Brad
ley, Campbell, Carson. Catching, Cussey,
Caldwell, Clift, I. W. Christian, Clint-
ters, Claiborne, Chambers, S. A. Cobb, Cos-
tin. Conley. Crane, Crayton, Crumley. Cot-
ting, Davis, Daley. Dinkins. Dunning,
Dunnegan, Edwards, Ellington, Gibson.
Gilbert, Good win, Gould ing, Guilford, Hall,
X. H. Harrison, Higbec, Hlgdcn, Hopkins,
Jackson, Joiner, Jones, Knox. Lee, Linder,
Lumpkin, Madden. Maddox, Maul, Minor,
31.3Ioore, It. Moore, Murphy. Nea, Noble,
Pal men Pope, Potts, Powell, Prince, Rey
nolds, Rice. Richardson, Roz&r, Robertson,
Sikes. Shields, sccley, Sherman, Stewart,
Supple, Stone, Strickland, Turner, Walton,
Wallace, Welch, Whitaker, Itobt. White-
head. W. H. Whitehead, Whitley, Williams.
Woodey, Yeates.
Nays—Akcrman, Bedford, Madison Bell,
A. Bowden, Bowers, Bigbce, Blount,
Buchan, Burnet, Cameron, II. H. Christian,
Cooper. E. S. Cobh, Cole, Crawford. Cutter,
Dews, Fields, Flynn, Fort, A, O. Foster, T.
J. Foster, Goves, Griffin, Harland, A. L.
Harris, A. U. Harrison, Hotchkiss, Houston,
Holcomb, Hooks. Howe. Hudson, Hutche
son, Jordan, ‘Kees, King, Lott, Harier,-
Mathcws, E. B. Martin, C. C. Martin, Philip
P. Martin, McCoy, Miller, McWhorter, Saf-
fold, Saulter, F. M. Smith, W. C. Smith, X.
C. Smith, Speer, Shropshire, Shumate,
Stanford, Stanley, Trammell, Traywlck,
Waddell.
So tlie motion prevailed.
Mr. BLODGETT moved that the Conven
tion adjourn. Carried, and the Convention
adjourned until 10 o’clock to-morrow.
Sufbkmk Court or Gkobou.—The Re
corder, of the 17th, aaya:
It is understood that tho Court, for the
accommodation of the members of the Bar
engaged In coses from many of the Circuits
which have not yet been reached on tlie
Calendar, will take a recess from Friday
night next until Thursday after tiio first
.Monday In January, 1808. Tlie Court meets
daily at !) o'clock, a. m„ hoars argument
until half-past 1, resumes at 3 and hoars
argument until candle-light. Every Mon
day and six nights of tlie week are devoted
to tlie examination and decision of cases.
As yet very few annunciations of points
ivc lieen made. One of these is in accord
with the United States Supreme Court, that
greenbacks are a legal tender.
£#**A paper is to lie started In New Lon
don, Connecticut, next month, on tho co-
o|M-ratlve system. ..11 who work on It—
lltor.s, reporters printers, and imok-keep-
•>—have invented money In it.
TELFUItAl’lIlt' intelligence.
Virginia Convention.
Richmond, Dee. 17.—In tlie Convention,
tlie Committee on Finance, to which was
referred the icsolution Instructing the Au
ditor to suspend tlie payment of any In
terest on tlie State debt till the (invention
is satislied there is enough In tlie Treasury
to pay tlie whole, re|M>rted adversely to
any action on tlie subject, having received
the a—urancu that the Treasurer of the
State would bo able to pay nil demands as
presented. The report was adopted.
A resolution not to interfere with tlie
lease of a ferry, was laid on tlie table by a
decided majority, ufter several speeches,
in which tlie ground was taken that the
Convention lmd no right to determine
questions of law, or grunt injunctions,
Afterwards a resolution appointing a
committee to report whether tlie Conven
tion has tlie power of legislation and to
ask General Schofield's opinion, was laid
on tlie table.
Tho following resolutions were referred:
For incorporating a provision into the
Constitution that immigrants to this State
are not to be sued In courts here for debts
incurred before Immigration, and exempt
ing a certain amount of real and personal
property of such immigrants from seizure
for debt.
For changing tlie system of State laws
from remedial to preventive. The pream
ble to tills resolution refers to the prosti
tution ot the liberty of speech and the
press.
For punishment for attempts to intimi
date voters at tlie ratification election.
For protecting loyal citizens from being
distressed by disloyal tax collectors, for
taxes levied years ago.
A colored delegate offered a resolution
prohibiting distinction on railroads and
other public conveyances, on account of
color, was referred.
A resolution to adjourn for tlie holidays,
and waive any claim to pay during tlie ad
journment, was laid over.
Adjourned.
Isouiaiana Convention.
New Orleans, Dec. 17.—Tho session of
tlie Convention to-day was short. It
adopted the report of tlie I’rlnthig Com*
mitte as a whole, and adjourned to 12
o'clock to-morrow.
Fire In Vicksburg.
Finney’s carriage repository, and Leon
ard Brother's livery stable and grocery, in
tlie suburbs of Vicksburg, wero destroyed
by lire lost night. Insured $40,000. In
cendiarism.
Congressional.
Washington, Dec. 17. — Senate. — A
resolution promothe of the promised «et-
Moment of claims was Introduced.
In the course of debate it was maintained
that the accounting officers assumed too
much Jurisdiction.
3Ir. Sherman reported t bill funding tlie
debt, but its consideration was postponed
until after the holidays.
A resolution calling on the President for
tho instructions to officers under tho act of
1862, to suppress tho rebellion and punish
treason, with the amount of money real
ized, and the names of tho victims, was
adopted.
Mr. Davis offered a resolution calling for
the aggregate expenditures of tlie Freed-
man’s Bureau since 18C5. ?
Several Senators objected. Too much
of tlie disbursements was for white refu
gees.
Pending the discussion, the morning hour
expired, and tlie repeal of tlie cotton tax
was resumed.
Mr. Conkling, of Xew York, proceeded
to say that a helping hand lmd been ex
tended to those destitute communities. The
direct tax had been suspended in all tlie
insurrectionary States. Tlie tax had been
removed from sugar, machinery and other
articles which pertained to that communi
ty. He would say now tint it would have
been much better for those people If ono
of the parties of tills country and tho visi
ble head of tlie government lmd let them
alone.
If they had stopped swaggering about
and talking about representation In Con
gress, and gone to work to build up their
Impoverished section, they would to-day
have been much happier, and so would we.
If tho tax was taken off. it would wipe out
twenty millions of revenue, and they knew
not where to go to replaee It. Mr. C. indi
cated a disposition to vote for a reduction
of the tax, but maintained that tlie proper
course was to postpone the bill until Feb
ruary or March, when the whole subject of
revenue would come up, and gave notice of
his Intention to make a motion to that
effect.
, Mr. Morton said cotton should not be en
tirely exetnpl from the burdens of the gov
ernment.
The discussion assumed a political turn,
and the subject was postponed for execu
tive session, snd the Scnato adjourned.
Bouse.—After the general business, Mr.
Btevens introduces! a bill regarding recon
struction. Objection was made, and the
bill was postponed.
This bills alters the provision requiring
a majority ot tho registered voters for the
new Constitution to a majority of the
votes cast.
The second section provides for tho elec
tion of Representatives at the time of the
election on tho constitution, who shall take
their scats at the session suceedlng the one
at which their States aro submitted.
Section third provides that until a now
apportlonmenttlie States shall be represent-
foliows; South Carolina, six—two of
whom shall be elected by tlie State ut large.
North Carolina, eight—one to be elected
by the State at large. Georgia, eight—one
to be elected by the State at large. Flori
da, one. Alabama, eight—two to be elect-
t| by the State at large. 31is«issippi. six—
ne to be elected by the State at large.
Louisiana, six—ono to be elected by the
State at large. Arkansas, three. No num
ber of representative Is given lor Vir
ginia.
Tho Judiciary Committee was directed to
continue the examination regarding Mary
land's having a republican government.
The House went Into Committee of the
Whole, and after receiving Executive eom-
munitcalons, adjourned.
miscellaneous*
Tlie nomination of Daniel Dim nett, as
Collector of Customs for the Toche District
of Louisiana, was withdrawn by the Pres
ident. Dunnett can't take the test oath
conscientiously.
There was u long Cabinet session*—till
present.
Wak Department, i
liure.au U, F. awl A. L •
Washington, Dec. 11.18i>7.>
With a view to the reduction of the nun -
her of officers and agents of tlie bureau in
places where their services can be best dis
pensed with, it Is hereby ordered, that,
with the exception of tho superintendents
of education, on and after the fifteenth day
of February, 1808, all officers and agents
in tho following States be discharged, viz;
Maryland, Kentucky, West Virginia, and
Tennessee. The senior officer of tlie regular
army in command of troops will be thereaf
ter the assistant commissioner in the above
named States. He will keep himself thor«
oughly informed of the condition of the
country within the limits of his command,
and will have a small force available to
send to any disturbed District where there
shall be evident necessity of interference
The superintendent of education in each
State named will report to the Assistant
Commissioner thus constituted who will
assist him by every means in his power in
fostering and extending tlie work of edu
cation. All officers of tlie regular army
relieved by tills order will report by letter
to tlie Adjutant General for Instructions.
0.0. Howard.
3Iajor Gen. Com.
Approved.
U. S. Grant.
Secretary of War ad interim.
Official documents show that the diplo
matic negotiations relative to the Alabama
claims are closed, both adhering to their
views.
Tho Susqucliannuli lias arrived. Admi
ral Palmer and Captain Burroughs arc
dead. The Susquehannah’s machinery and
boilers aro crippled, and her hull strained
Revenue receipts to-day $270,000.
Gen. Grant’s confidential letter regard
ing tlie removal of Sheridan and Stanton
Is published. It is quite strong, but its
length, und tho fact that it bears on past
Issues.'precludes the necessity of telegraph
ing It.
Nmv York, Du<p 18.—Tlie hawser of the
steamer Vllle de Purls broke, injuring sev
eral—some fatally.
A severe earthquake, lasting twenty sec
onds, was felt tills morning. It extended
to the New England States, Canada, and ns
far .South ns White Hall.
Foreign,
London. Dec. 18.—Nltro-glycorbie ex
ploded while being removed by tlie police
ofLyne. Several wero killed and nearly
thu wlpilc party Injured. It supposed
tlie glycerine was concealed there by the
Fenians.
Spain denies any intention of selling
Cuba.
A clinngc in tlie Austrian ministry is
pending.
Tho Abvssinlan expedition have readied
Tscnnpc; water plenty and the nations all
friendly.
Congressional.
Washington, Dec. 18.—Finale.—A me
morial from tho Norfolk Board of Trade,
asking tho repeal of the cotton tax, was
tabled.
A memorial from tho citizens of Arkan
sas, affirming that outbreaks arc imminent
on account of destitution in several of tlie
counties.
Tlie repeal of the cotton tax was resum
ed, after whidi tlie President’s message re
garding Hancock was read, when, amid
considerable confusion as to its disposition,
the Senate adjourned.
Iloute.—A bill for the relief of soldiers,
who deserted, was reported by tlie Milita
ry Committee, and provoked discussion.
It was contended that it restored officers
who abandoned the Union for tho Confed
erate army at tho commencement of tho
war.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union.
The Hancock message was read amid
considerable confusion, and ordered
printed.
The Reconstruction Committee’s bill, tho
substaqce of which was telegraphed yes-
tenlay, was resumed.
Mr. Maynard gave notice of an additional
section authorising the Conventions to es
tablish Provisional Governments.
Mr. Btevens withdrew th j section of the
bill increasing the representation from the
Southern States. Bnd tlie bill passed by a
vote of 104 to 37—a strict party vote.
Tlie bill as passed provides that a majori
ty of the voters shall ratify the’ Constitu
tion; members of Congress shall be elect
ed acoordlng to the Congressional Districts
existing in 1858. Tho same officers who
make returns of the votes on the Consti
tutions shall give cortilloatc* to Congress
men.
The House adjourned.
JlHacellaneotift
The President’s message is highly lauda
tory of General Hancock’s order No. 40,
and conclude*: “I respectfully suggest to
Congress that some public recognition of
General Hancock's patriotic conduct hi Arre»u of Itcfugcc*.
due, If not to him to tin* friends of law and I Brownsville papers say that under orders
Justice throughout the country. Of such from General Reynolds, refugees from
an act as his, at such a time, it is but lit Mexico are being arrested In Brownsville,
that the dignity should be vindicated and I and turned over to the Mexican aiithnri-
thc virtue proclaimed, so that its value ns tics under charge of being deserters.
an example may not be lost to the nation."
Internal Revenue receipts to-day $345.-
000.
Immense amounts of produce are frozen
up in tlie Erie Canal.
The House Committee on Piddle Lands
lins reported a bill declaring forfeited the
hinds granted Southern Railroads In leffUi.
There are about 500,000 acres involved.
From California*
San Francisco, Dee. 18.—Tlie Dmim-
eiatic caucus fails to nominate a n tor.
Severe storms prevailed throughout • all-
fornhi.
CienoraU Pope and Ntvayiic.
Montgomery, Dee. 18.—Tlie unofficial
letter of Major General Pope to Suayne,
dated November 20th, 1807, recently pub
lished by the National Intelligencer, and
aynopsized in the New York Herald's
Washington s|>ecial dispatch of Deceml^r
12th, was genuine copy, which was furnish
ed to tho reporter of tlie 3Iontgomery
Mail and published In tliut paper by a
prominent member of (he late Reconstruc
tion Convention, who is one of the Radical
nominees for Supreme Court Judge. The
published document was a genuine verba
tim copy of General Pope’s letter, and was
furnished to tlie 31ail’8 reporter as impor
tant information on account of personal
enmity to Pope, because of his dictation
and military surveillance over the Conven
tion. General Swnyne will vouch for the
genuineness of the letter, and Gen Pop**
cannot deny it, hut regrets its publication.
The other was copied to show to a num
ber of members of tlie Convention to in
fluence their action, and many influcncia!
men declured that the published letter was
a genuine copy. Prominent radical mem
bers said these orders or letters of military
commanders were dictatorial and insult
ing. and they wished them published that
tlie people might know wlnit commanders
of military districts were doing to embar
rass tlie reconstruction policy of the Re
publican party.
Alabama Affairs*
The Advertiser says: *• 3fr. Granger, the
slid iff, so-called, of Mobile, was in the city
yesterday, ne visited tlie military head
quarters, wearing an anxious lace us he
went in and came out.”
It will be recollected that a prisoner in
3tr. Granger's custody has sued out a writ
of habeas corpus in Judge Busteed's Court,
alleging that lie is restrained of Ids liberty
by a man who Is not n legal officer. This
involves the whole question of tlie consti
tutionality of the reconstruction act. 3Ir
Granger thinks that the act will be de
clared unconstitutional, and tlie prisoner
ordered to be set at liberty. It is shrewdly
suspected that the so-called sheriff is peti
tioning the military here to come to his
aid In resisting Mr. Busteed.
Accounts from the fanning districts re
port great destruction of farmer’s stock.—
It Is freed men who prowl niioiit tlie coun
try and kill beef cattle, mdeh cows and
hogs, and live by general pillage. In some
sections tlie cotton Helds nre still white.—
Labor is sought but cannot lie procured.—
Many freedmen were dismissed because
tholr term of service had expired, and
others because they will not work, and
from various causes tlie country is filled
with thieving vagulmnds. But few’ freed
men have made contracts as laborers for
the next year, though ninny are anxious to
do so. Preparations for farming next year
are very circumscribed in consequence of
the objectionable features in the new con
stitution. In some sections the farmers
require the freedmen to sign agreements
to vote against tlie ratification of tho con
stitution, on the ground that it ruins tlie
planters. A great majority of the farmers
aro hiring fewer laiiorers than ever before.
Albert Smith, a frecdinan, has been ap
pointed by Gen. Pope, a Justice of the
Peace in Tuscaloosa county.
Texas Election Ordered.
New Orleans. Dec. 18.—In Special Or
ders 213, dated to-day, Gen. Hancock gives
notice of the election in Texas for Conven
tion or no Convention, and delegates to tlie
same. If carried, the Convention will bo
held from February tho 10th to the 14th,
inclusive. Ninety delegates to be elected.
Tlie total registered vote Is 104,250. The
revision of registration will commence
fourteen days previous to the election. The
order apportions delegates among the
counties, and says no election will bo held
in counties not organized, or In which there
has been no registration. The elections
will be held only at county seats. Each
ballot presented by a colored voter must
be marked colored by the Judge of the
election board.
Registers are charged with the conduct
of the election, but if from any cause tny
of the registers foil to perform their duty,
their places will be filled by the county
Judge, county clerk or clerk of the District
Court; provided they can qualify, other
wise the vacancies to be tilled by appoint
ment of the balance of the registration
board. Bales of liquors during the election
Is prohibited. Military Interference, unless
necessary to keep the peace at the polls, is
prohibited. No soldiers will bo allowed to
appear at the voting places, unless regis
tered voters, and then only to vote; but
post commanders are to be prepared to act
promptly in case the civil authorities foil
to preserve the peace. Sheriffs and officers
arc required to be present, and are respon
sible that there will Ik? iio interference.
The Judges of election* and each regis
trar or clerk is empowered to call upon tlie
civil authorities, and In enw* of failure to
respond to perform their duties during the
election.