Weekly Atlanta intelligencer. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1865-18??, January 10, 1866, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text11biti iriti n- r •-' 5«^ 3jIJ fl T olio! «-inoi>: -.I O’AT ; riifjr? i 4 I f ■l lit** - NS\ * 'f >' # ■* ’ “ERROR CEASES TO BE DANGEROUS WHEN REASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT-"—Jt'jfi.r8on. VOLUME XVIII. ATLANTA, GA„ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10,1866. NUMBER 2. IDffklt) Jtntdligrttrrr. PUBLISHED DAILY AND WEEKLY~~BY JARED I. WHITAKER, i*roj>rl«; Lor. JOHN H. STEELE, ..... Editor. ATLANTA GEORGIA, Wednesday, January IO, 1806. EcUoferaor Jooeph K. Brown. Among Dm many valuable accessions to the population of our city, socially and otherwise, none gratilii* us more tlian that of the distin gulshed gentleman whose name heads this article and Ids esteemed i.adv and family. Shat hearti ly do we hid them all welcome to Atlanta, their future permanent residence. We do so, too, in the name of its citizens, who, like ou,self, appre ciate the public sendees ot him, who for four successive terms was elected by the people of Georgia, their Chief Magistrate, and who served them in that office with rare ability' and a faith fulness certainly not surpassed by any previous Executive of our noble old HLite. It is Govf.hNon Brown's intention, we learn, to retire from political life, and pursue tlie prac tice of law—a field in which, ere he was-promo ted to the bench, he hud won reputation', and while on it distinction ns a jurist. He will, soon, we understand, open a law office in this city,and we doubt not will succeed, in the practice of his profession, in receiving a portion, at least, of that which the war has deprived him of, and which lie had labored to attain in his early professional career. Success attend him in his vocation ! A Cotton Famine. That old and reliable journal, the National In telligencer, referring to the“Cotton question” says: “We are on the eve of the greatest cotton fam ine that lias ever occurred. Thereare uot more than seven or eight hundred thousand bales of cotton in this country, including the crop of the present year (1805,) and the remains of former crops.” This is startling news—startling, we mean to the manufacturers nil over Europe and America, whose millions are invested in cotton mills. It a fleets also set iously the finances of this country. Few financiers, says the same paper, “believe tliat the national debt can be paid, or the national credit maintained, unless the cotton fields ot the Southern States are again re-worked for a supply of the staple which has been, and may now lie again our chief medium of ex change with foreign nations. It has been sug gested, indeed, and believed by some sanguine and credulous persons, that our gold and silver mines are to totally supercede cotton in our for eign exchanges. It is a vain expectation. Our cotton fields are our richest mines. Cotton is specie, and that chiefly is to enable us to resume specie payments.” If this conclusion of our Washington City r co- temporary be true, and we confidently believe it is true, how important it is to the government and country that no obstacle should be interjxised to the extensive production of cotton in the South the present year. This can only be ac complished through negro labor—the labor of the freedmen and freedwotnen. Shall either a mistaken philanthropy, or misdirected judgment, prevent what is so absolutely' necessary to the maintenance of the nation’s credit ? Aside from the benefit that will accrue to the freedman by bis being induced, and where he cannot be in duced, by his being compelled, to labor, in liis cultivation ot the cotton fields of the South, the finances of the country will become healthy, aud instead ot being depressed in value, the govern ment currency become improved. Neither the gold nor the silver mines, nor the granaries of the West, nor the petroleum wells were thfcy thrice multiplied, can supercede cotton as a for eign exchange. The Intelligencer is right when it.says this “is a vain expectation”—that “our cotton fields are our richest mines”—that “cotton is specie, and that chiefly is to enable us to re sume specie payments.” The same paper says'it has “favorable intelli gence” us to arrangements making for the next year's crop, and ulso that it lias information of “political uncertainties” that “discourage plant ing enterprise in the South." So long as the re lations of the pluming States to the Union re main unsettled, the Intelligencer is right in saying that “capital aud enterprise hesitateto undertake planting on a large scale.” Neither the one nor the other, capital nor enterprise, is wanting in the South to produce the staple once called King. Let the Southern States lie received in the Union, and let them regulate the labor of the freedman, as they would do in a manner both liberal aud just to those ot them who will labor, and there will be no cotton famine when the present year shall have passed away—otherwise, what is now predicted only, will prove a stern reality. High Treason. The first trial for high treason against the Uni ted States took place before the Federal Court at Knoxville recently, resulting in an acquittal by the jury of the individual charged with that grave offense, one John. £. Garnb.e, of Blount county, who, says the Knoxville Whig, “was an enrolling officer during the days of rebel rule, aud enrolled the conscripts of his civil district. He was also appointed agent to collect guns, aud performed some acts under that agency.” The trial lasted five days. “The detense was that there was no guilty in tent. It was admitted that he was an enrolling officer, and that he enrolled the conscripts of his district, but it was denied that he did so with the view of aiding the rebellion. On the other hand, it was insisted by his counsel, O. P. Tem ple, that he was a Union man; that he accepted the office by the persuasion of Union men; ex ercised it in such a way as to favor Union men and protect them; and that, in fact, he never seized a single gun, or put a single conscript into the rebel army. After the examination ot about thirty witnesses, and lengthy arguments on be half of the Government by C. W. Hall, District Attorney of the United States, and O. P. Tem ple on behalf of the defendant, the jury were charged by Judge Trigg, and who, after retiring and consulting, retured a verdict of not guilty. “This case was novel and important, as it was the first regular trial for treason against the Uni ted States that had ever taken place in the State, and the first that has taken place in the United States since the commencement ot the rebellion, if not for the last forty years. It was earnestly insisted by the counsel of defendant that if he could be convicted, throe hundred known Union men in East Tennessee, who had held this and similar offices during rebel rule, could likewise tie convicted of high treason, while the instiga tors and leaders of the rebellion were sheltered and protected by amnesties and pardons. The defense was based upon the broad ground of not guilty in intent, aud not on technical points.— The defendant refused to apply for pardon, lie- cause ho insisted that he was never guilty of any crime to Ik* pardoned.” Resulting as this trial did, and at the point it did ; the defense set up of uot being guilty in ex tern ; we are forced to the conclusion that a bet ter spirit prevails in the region of the influence of the Knoxville Whig, towards those who attaclied themselves to the late Confederate cause, than we were inclined to credit some time ago. If we are correct in this conclusion, we congratulate that portion of East Tennessee upon the change in public sentiment prevailing, and trust that we shall hear no more of individual persecutions there of those who were “ not guilty in intent ” whether they were arrayed on the side of the Union or of the (.'«*ntederate cause. It is time there should Ik* peace between those who dwell iu the same section, and who acknowledge alle giance to the same government Smuggling between Switzerland and France is reduced to a science. You buy a watch of a Geneva watchmaker. He asks you: “Will you take it with you. or shall we deliver it in Paris?” If you answer that you prefer it delivered at Paris, he gives you a note, with which, when you arrive at Paris, you go to an appointed place and receive your watch, as innocent of the pay ment of duty as when it left the goldsmith's hands in Geneva. A dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette, from Washington, says that there is reason to lielieve that several Mexican privateers, carrying formid able armaments, will shortly sail from certain ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to prey on French commerce. We learn that a portion of the negro troops, who for some months past have composed a part of the garrison of this place, have been mustered out, and tliat in a few days tiie remainder will be similarly disposed of. This will be gratifying in telligence to every one. This community has suffered as little from their presence as any otlfer —and we believe less—yet it is the universal opinion that the government made an error in sending them among us. In referring to the sub ject, the Louisville Journal thinks that incidents of more or less importance are constantly occur ring which prove that the presence of negro troops in the South is a source of irritation, and which give force to the suggestion we made sev eral months ago for their withdrawal and the substitution of white troops in their places. Gen. Gmnt, in liis late tour in the South, satv the pro priety and desirableness of tbe measure, aud re commended its adoption. It i3 to be hoped the President will concur with the Lieutenant Gen eral, and at once withdraw that class of troops. T fieir longer retention is not necessary either to the public wellitre or the public safety. They can be easily replaced by white troops without any additional expense or any inconvenience or detriment to the public service. Their with drawal would exercise a salutary influence and prevent the petty collisions which now take place. It would be in strict harmony with the President’s general policy. It would conciliate and show the Southern people that the Goverp- ment is desirous of removing all needless causes of strife; that it can respect natural prejudices, and is not above complying witli anything reason able in furtherance of its grand design of restor ing national harmony and good-will throughout our widely-extended country. It cannot be expected that, in the Southern States and along the borders that lately separa ted the free from the slave States, negro soldiers should be regarded in the same light as white soldiers. To retain the former, therefore, seems to look like a disposition to humiliate unnecessa rily. This, we are persuaded, the Government has no thought of doing. We hope, therefore, that the recommendation of General Grant will be heeded without delay, and that all colored sol diers will be speedily withdrawn not only from this State and along the borders, but from all the Southern States. We feel satisfied that the great cause of national brotherhood would be thereby promoted, and the work of restoration go on more raffldly and effectively. Advices from Mexico are becoming more and more contradictory. The statements of one clay are opposed by the statements of the next, and no sooner does one- become hopeful of tlie tri umph of the liberal cause through favorable an nouncements of the success of its forces, than his warmth of feeling i%dashed by counter commu nications. This results in some measure flora the mode of defense necessarily adopted by the native party. The arms of the Republic are not concentrated, and their blows, struck at short in tervals, are inflicted stealthily and at distant points to be effective. Much of the jargon is cer tainly attributable to the wily stories set afloat by the imperialists. We are told that just before the sailing of every French, steamer, a batch of sensational articles are hatched out and circula ted, to foster the cause of the. Emperor in the public mind of Europe. Tlie best news received lately is that in relation to the abatement of the factions which divide that country, and a conse quent firmer manifestation in favor of the Re public. The Countess Dudley—just married to one of the richest noblemen of England, Lord Ward, now Earl Dudley, was the belle at Compiegne. Her beauty, toilette and jewels eclipsed all there, making even tlie Empress jealous. She is de scribed as tall, fine features, exquisite figure, 20 and amiable. Her husband is an old rake who has dissipated in ever}* capital in Europe, been angled for 25 years by ambitious mamas of band- some daughters, and has protected more ballet- girls aud actresses than any other man on tlie continent. He surprised everybody by choosing his bride from a poor but good family, and en dowing her with the most liberal gifts. One ot the celebrations of his marriage was a free per mission to every tenant on his estate to shoot game during the winter on the condition that they should not sell it. The Earl is well pre served considering the life he lias led, aud is styled handsome yet. A Memphis newspaper says that many north ern men in that vicinity have leased plantations, and are engaging in the culture of cotton. As the general government has taken upon itself tlie task of repairing levees along the Mississippi, a large amount of land uncultivated this year will be planted the next. Late estimates by Secreta ry McCulloch have indicated that by the time the next year’s crop is gathered, the amount on hand will have been entirely consumed, from which may be inferred the interest the country at large has in the cultivation of the crop tlie coming year. It of course cannot nearly reach the amount raised just before the war, but it may prove sufficient to prevent a greater scarcity than now exists. Arlington Heights still remain in the pos session of the Government, but it is said that the wife of Robert E. Lee has recently written to a friend that she intends to return there, even if she is “obliged to live in the black quarters.” This is indicative of the strength of her deter mination to re-assert what she considers the rights of herself and husband to this historic property; but among the other obstacles she will probably encounter, is the tact that twelve thousand Union soldiers have been buried upon its soil. New York is going to have a charity ball that shall eclipse tlie Prince of Wales, Japanese and Russian balls, all of which were really- magnifi cent. The Academy ot Music and Irving Hall have been engaged—the latter to be used for tlie supper-room. It is belived that $75,000 will be realized, as the tickets are nominally $20 each, and many of these will be sold at quadruple the price. Delmonico prepares the supper for the creme-de-la-creme who will be there. Bornlnc of Use Jail at marietta. Marietta, Ga_, Dec. 28,1865. Mr. Editor:—Just before the freshet arrested mail communication between this place .and the “Gate City,” the jail and the city guard house j here, in which were thirteen prisoners, were j burned down—bat not one escaped. I At midnight some'one—believed to be a freed- j man, one of the prisoners—set fire to the jail on the inside. It was a wooden building and burned rapidly. The guaid house standing near was also consumed. Tlie prisoners were in for mur der and other grave offenses for the most part, and embraced whites and blacks. Besides the citizens who. turned out. Major Warner, of the 149th Illinois Volunteer Infantry-, w'a3 promptly- on tlie spot, and his efficiency strengthened the confidence already entertained by our citizens, in bis administrative abilities and qualifications for liis important duties; accessible to all without distinction of social position or antecedent political position; with justice as his polar star, he listens patiently, decides wisely and impartially everything cognizable before him.— Oir the occasion referred to, he immediately doubled his guard over the town, and had a com pany- of his regiment surrounding the burning buildings. Aided by his intelligent and clever Provost Marshal, Captain Peters, and supported and implicitly obeyed by the officers and men, under admirable discipline, who compose his gar rison of 250 men, his administration is giving great satisfaction. Citizen. On the Rio Grande. The following letters written from Brownsville, Texas, to the New Orleans Times, gives some in teresting particulars of the warfare now being waged in that quarter. Brownsville, it will be remembered, is immediately- opposite the Mexican c ity- of Matamoras, which was recently so vigor ously besieged by the Liberals. The Imperial ists—that is, Maximilian’s troops—still remain in possession of it: Brownsville, Texas, Dec. 4. * * All quiet on the Rio Grande. Our Mexican neighbors have settled dow-n to the con viction that, with the arrival of the “ Hessian ” reinforcements mentioned in my last, all fears of being troubled by the “ bandits” known as Lib erals, should disappear, and have for the last two days been celebrating and merry-making over the heroic defense of the “ heroic city ” by the “ most illustrious Gen. Mejia.” An immense quantity of gunpowder has been wasted in firing salutes, whilst tlie bells of the different churches, etc., have joined with the throats of the brave de fenders in making night and day hideous. Ac cording to that reliable sheet, the Ranchero, this section of Mexico is forever rid of the Liberal ar my. At last accounts the Liberal forces were at Camargo. Nothing is known here as to what their intentions are. That they will soon move from that place cannot be doubted, but I am un able to divine what direction they will take. The Liberal cause is not dead in Mexico, and is not likely- to die soon. That there exists a great deal ot lukewarmness amongst tlie citizens of the ci ties in regard to the cause cannot be denied, but one decisive victory for tlieir army would soon do away- with all that, and thousands who now take no stand, and by tlieir silence do much to dishearten their countrymen in the army, would flock to the Liberal standard. The Mexicans are a people who fight, and in fact, do everything from impulse. Get them worked up to the proper pitch of enthusiasm, and they will charge to the very mouths of cannon and fight like devils.— They are not cowardly, as is said by many, but are disheartened by tlieir many- repulses by su perior numbers. Once successful, they would have a larger army than they could arm, and an army that would fight. Gen. Weitzel has ordered that hereafter no communication be held with any besieged place in Mexico, and that no supplies be allowed to go to such place from this side. Had this order been issued during the late siege of Matamoras, it would have undoubtedly- caused the fall of that city; for, as I have before stated, almost all of the supplies received in the city were sent from tills side. * * * Brownsville, Texas, Dec. 8. * * * As I said in my last letter, the Lib eral cause is not yet dead in Mexico. Instead of that, they are showing unmistakable signs oflife by the activity and celerity of their movements through the country. On the morning of the 24th ult, Gen. Escobedo, with a large force, at tacked Monterey, and after some little fighting took possession of the city on the morning of the 25tb, taking quite a number of prisoners.. After holding the place some twenty- hours and ob taining a loan of several hundred thousand dol lars, the Liberal army evacuated and fell back to Mier, on the Rio Grande, about 120 miles from Matamoras, where they were, according to last accounts, laying back on their oars and prepar ing for another movement. What direction they will take next, I cannot say, although it is ru mored that there is a probability that Matamoras will be again besieged. The latter is “a consum mation devoutly to be wished,” for under the ex isting circumstances, a well organized attack on that city- could not but be successful, and with tlie downfall of Matamoras Maximilian can bid farewell to all power in tbe State of Tamaulipas. Such a success would bring all the fighting pop ulation to the Liberal standard, and give new- life and energy- to that cause, so that the good work of liberating Mexico from the government of an imperial usurper would be hurried to a successful end. Gen. Cortinas was in town on Sunday, and, in company with Col. Garcia, (the “fighting Colo nel” of the Liberal army, who was wounded in the late attack on Matamoras,) visited Brevet Major Gen. Smith, commanding post of Browns ville. He looks the daring guerrilla chieftain ev ery inch. Gen. B. Clay Crawford, said to be of President Johnson’s staff, arrived here last night. The cause of this visit is unknown, but rumors of all kinds are to be heard concerning it, all of which tend to a war with the Imperial possessors of Mexico. I suppose the cause of such rumors is the facts that all here w-ould hail with joy such a war, and eagerly assist in expelling the French from the land. I have heard nothing, however, reliable as to the truth of such reports, and there fore give them for what they are worth. They are believed by many, because it pleases them to believe anything of the kind, but I am sure they are not official. George IV., in the latter years of l»b life, was in the habit of quoting the Iron Duke as a wit ness to the statement that His Majesty had led in person the decisive charge of Waterloo. Wel lington’s answer on such occasions invariably was, “I "have often heard your Majesty speak of that before.” Murder of Edgar Carmichael.—Last week we published a hasty account of the murder of this estimable young man. Since then we have learned the following additional particulars, which grealty intensity- the horror with which the crime was viewed by- this community, and must arouse every right thinking person to the importance of discovering the perpetrators, and bringing them to tlie bar of justice : While alone in tbe store, and asleep, about twelve o’clock Christmas night, hearing some one knock, young Carmichael repaired in hb night clothes to the door, to see who was there. Recognizing, probably, familiar voices, he open ed the dooy admitted’ the persons who knocked, and went behind the connter to serve them with goods. Whilst thus engaged, and facing those persons, he was shot and instantly killed by one of them. This b inferred from the blood upon tlie counter, which must have spirted from hb side as he stood in front of them, and from the position and appearance of tlie body behind the counter, when dbcovered Tuesday morning. Having gained admittance, and dispatched tlieir unsuspecting victim in this summary way, tlie assassins proceeded deliberately to rob the store, and repeatedly walked over the lifeless body, into the warm blood, and through the rooms—leaving the impression of their horrid deed wherever they went, and bearing away with them, when they departed, the clothes, shoes, hat and bedding of the unfortunate youth, as wc-ll as the merchandise they chiefly coveted. And now we ask, shall nothing be done?— The cruel murderers, though suspected, are not certainly known, save to those who thus far have failed to reveal them. It is believed that the offer of an adequate reward would stimulate endeavor, and lead to their detection. The whole community are in terested—countty residents especially. Shall it not be offered ? We propound the question, and will cheerfully receive tbe contributions of all who may be willing to give something for tins purpose.—Augusta Constitutionalist. The Esquimaux alone are at peace, but .how soon they mean to attempt a conquest of Green- lands b unknown. A letter signed -“Madison,” in the Rational Intelligencer, closes with the following eloquent passages. He makes allusion to our Southern Congress Members: Far away in the South there lies a beautiful land, wanned by glowing suns, and fanned by cooling breezes from the sea. Its soil is fertile, its air pure, and&s productions rich and varied as those ot the tropics. The bravery of its sous has become proverbial, and its daughters, fair as the dames of C^gcasus, are as virtuous as they are fair. This glowing clime has borne its full part In all the perils of die country, and contribu ted its ftill shareof gloty and of fame to the na tion. Its heroic dead lie buried on all the battle fields of the Republic. The fiery genius of its sons has added to the parliamentary and forensic glory to the land Its morab like its intellect, are vigorous in type. Its social life b pure. Over thb fair and abounding clime, iu an evil hour, the fell] spirit of sectional discord brought the sweep of the hurricane breath of war. The earthquake jar of contending hosts shook its hills, and its plains ran red with the blood of slaugh tered people. After the desolation had spread far and near, the plague of war was stayed. Its smoke lifted from the battle-fields of strife, and it was seen that the fair and truthful land which, four years ago, hid entered the arena of the con flict almost a paradise of loveliness and plenty, was no more. There stood in its place a char red and desolate land—a land riven by tbe bolts of war, drenched in blood, and filled with dead men’s bones. Myriads of its noblest sons had gone down to the’red burial of the brave' on the battle-fields of the strife, or perished by the va ried casualties of war. Widowhood and or phanage filled its habitations. In eveiy household there was gloom, in every heart a grief. A 'fatal blight had fallen upon all its material intt^tsts and pursuits. Its fields were desolate, its vilinses waste, its proudest cities in chains. All bu*£he fragments of its wealth, the virtues of its women and the heroic resolve of its men to bear and to conquer an adverse fate, had perished. To tins sorrowing and stricken land there came from a benignant Government voices of encouragement and words of cheer. Its peo ple were invited to a political resuscitation under a new order of tilings, and to seats in the family circle of the hation. Accepting the summons, they have beaten their swords into ploughshares and their spears inte pruning hooks. To every requbition of the Government they have yielded a full and unreserved obedience. Acquiescing in all the results of the war as final and conclusive upon them, both in honor and in fact, they have ratified the sternest issues of the struggle by pul ling down their social and industrial iabric, and laying its comer stone on the foundation of a new and, to them, an untried polity. They have modified their organic lawk and helped to modify the organic law of the nation, adapting them to tlie new order of things. They know no other purpose, they cherish no other resolve than to be true to their plig-ited word with the nation, and henceforth loyal to its flag and obedient to its laws. That their former relations with tbe U nion of their fathers might be restored they have, in compliance with express invitation from the na tional authorities^reorganized their State govern ments and chosen representatives to both branches of Congress. Some of these representatives are now in thb city. „ More of them were present in the Capitoll halls on the day that Congress opened its session. They stood and knocked at the door of the family mansion of the Republic, demand ing, as their birth-right, admission to its fireside and participation in the hospitalities of its boards. The door has been shut in their faces. * * * If, in obedience to thb yet unpronounced, but sure-coming decision of the American people, or upon the justice and right of the case itself, the doors of that mansion shall yet be opened to the representatives and the people of the South, it requires no vision of the prophet to foresee that a new era of progress and good feeling will soon begin to run its golden eyes in these occidental climes. Front! ac gmniit of tlie National Ararat, on which /hbCsy the Constit 1 tion, freighted with the precious interests of tlie country, rested ou the subsidence of the bloody deluge of war, a reconciled and mighty people will come down and fill all the borders of the land with the hum of industry and the activities of a busy aud pros perous national life. Arts and sciences will flour ish under the patronage of extended apprecia tion and abundant rewards. A thriving com merce will whiten every sea with its canvas and visit every port with its exchangeable values.— Revived manufactures and resuscitated agricul ture Mill pour a ceaseless tide of wealth into the lap of the nation. The men ot the North and the men of the South, standing beneath the folds of the same starry flag, will vindicate its honor and maintain its supremacy on every land and on every sea of the habitable globe. A nation, mightier and more prosperous than any the sun looks down on in its circuit through the heavens, will fill the earth with the renown of its arts and its arms, and prove, by the stability of order, the supremacy of law aud the permanence of free institutions, that man is indeed competent.to the great work of governing himself. An English View of Petersburg.—A cor respondent of the London Times writes the fol lowing from our city, under date of November 7th: - This straggling and impoverished little town was the graveyard of the Confederacy. In the strong and elaborate fortifications around it, the Southern soldiers made their last desperate stand, fighting in the trenches till the dead were piled as high as their heads, and giving way only when utter destruction threatened them, from Grant’s beleaguering hosts. The sufferings of the Con federate army, in these last days, were terrible. After two years of unflnehing resistance, Gen eral Lee ordered the retirement of the Confede rate troops from around Petersburg, and Grant thus possessed the key to Richmond. The effect of thb compulsory retreat was decisive upon the Southern army. Every n»an felt that the cause was hopelessly lost, aud from the moment the troops left the trenches they straggled off in all directions. The conutry was soon covered with them. They left about thirty-two thousand strong. When Lee surrendered at Appomatox, there were only about eleven thousand five hun dred men with him, including cavalry. The remainder went away rather than be included in the surrender. With war thus raging about its gates the town of Petersburg tell into almost complete ruin. It had formerly been a thriving place, by reason of its large trade with North Carolina, but the line which was drawn around the Confederacy stopped the vital circulation in every part of it, -and Petersburg went to decay. It b now reviving again, though by feeble and uncertain steps. Yankee store-keepers have settled down in the principal streets, and offer their amazing shoddy at princes which bring them the resonable profit of a hundred per cent. The country immedi ately around b poor, and was never very rich. You ride through mile after mile of wild land, covered with pine woods, and only at long inter vals see a patch of cleared land, in which the stalks of Indian com stand bare in the frost. Here and there along the road a chimney-stack or fragment of brick wall litters the fields, while hastily thrown np breastworks or trenches cover the face of the country. The monotony'of the brown woods b sometimes relieved by a black face peering from the top of a soldiers cast-off overcoat, the proprietor being the freedman on hb travels in quest of the lands to be given him by Congress. Fall in Domestic Goods.—Tbe New York Journal of Commerce thinks though all classes of dry goods show a decline, that it does not follow from any known bets that staple goods may not be as high in the spring as they have been this fall. Producers will crowd their looms and a dull opening may create a panic in prices, but the causes which have stimulated and sustained the speculations of the last two years are by no means removed, or in process of removal. On the same subject the Financial Chronicle says: Goods of all kinds are rapidly accumulating, very much against the wishes of holders. The bottom b not yet reached, but a farther reduction of five or seven per cent, will bring about a re action, and the trade which will surely follow that reduction will soon-clear the market of the present accumulation. Prices are not yet down- to those of the last week in August, at which j time trade commenced so briskly.” The long pe- I riod of dullness which has followed the unwar- j ranted advance of September and October will j suggest more cautiousness should trade again ; spring up. Advices from San .Domingo say the recent j Spanish invasion left havoc and devastation j wherever the Spanish troops penetrated. The ! invaders did not confine their depredations to the possession of the natives, bnt destroyed or carried off property indiscriminately, regardless of the nationality of its owners. Many Ameri cans and Englishmen are sufferers to large amounts. A "High-Handed Outrage.—On Tliursdav ! some colored troops went to the house of Mrs. i Freeman, a lady residing about one mile from the Areenal, and grossly insulted her. One of them, we are told, threatened her life. Her son making hb appearance, pbtol in hand, the party left.— Early in the evening eight soldiers went to the house and demanded admittance. Being refused, they endeavored to force an entrance. A well directed shot from a window, however, brought down one of the party, and checked the move ments of tlie balance. The wounded negro was taken up by his companions and carried to the Arsenal. In a little while a large partv returned to the house. In the meantime, a son of Mrs. Freeman and two other gentlemen, who fortunately happened to be in the house, made preparations to give ahy one who might attempt any deeds of violence a warm reception. The lawless wretches as soon as they arrived made a regular attack upon the house* and suc ceeded in breaking down the door. The family retreated to the upper story. The negroes, then, commenced a regular raid on the furniture, at the same time using tlie most violent and ob scene language. They entered the parlor and broke in pieces tlie piano, and other furniture and articles of value. Having done all the injury in their power in thb part of the building, they returned to the hall and endeavored to ascend the stairs to the room where Mrs. F. and family had taken refuge. A w-ell aimed bullet from Air. Freeman’s pbtol finished the career of crime of the negro in ad vance. Nothing daunted another villain followed in the footsteps of the first one and met the same just fate. Enraged at being thus foiled, two inoty rushed up the stairs—-only to increase tlie heap of carcases on the floor. Both fell under the fire of Mr. F. and his friends. By thb time an officer arrived from the arse nal and put an end to tlie proceedings. He im mediately ordered the remaining soldiers back to the arsenal, where they were immediately pot' under arrest. Hb arrival at the scene of action was indeed a fortunate occurrence, for the ne- f roes had torches and might in their fury and esire for revenge have destroyed both the house and inmates by fire. We are tola that three of the negroes were badly wounded—aside from the four who were killed.—Chronicle & Sentinel. A Fearful State of Affairs.—It is with feelings of sorrow and regret that we chronicle day by day the scenes of robbery and murder which are on the increase in our beautiful city and vicinity. A few short weeks ago a case of robbery would startle the public mind aud cause much comment. Now such deeds are looked on as small matters, when compared with others of a greater magnitude, and more fearful inthefr character. One thing must be apparent to every observer. Grimes of all kinds is rapidly on the increase in our midst. And what makes matters still worse, is the fact that as crime increases, the unlawful deeds committed also increase in enormity. We have no heart to write upon the Subject we are dbcussing. It is a grievous matter to reflect upon. Augusta, once one of the most law abiding cities in tlie South, is now so thoroughly infested with robbers and villains of so desperate a char acter, that a person is unsafe even within tlie quiet of his own domicil, after shades of night have fallen. Truly, these are evil times. They are fearful times. We commenced this article not to speak of matters in general, but to refer to one in partied lar—the diabolical outrage perpetrated within a few miles of our city last night. The repeated attacking of a private residence, by an organized band of villains, reminds one of the"deeus com mitted in the dark ages of barbarism? When open warfare was carried on between the South and the North, acts of violence and blood were expected. They were the evils which always follow in the train of armies. But now, after the white wings of peace are spread o’erthe tlie land, the people expect all things of thb kind to cease. ‘ It is no use to smooth over matters. We might; as well speak our mind at once, and thus cease writing about a distasteful subject. Tlie outrage committed at a residence near thb city on Thursl day night was an infamous outrage. An outrage of most high handed order. There can be no extenuating circumstances in a deed of this kind.: Those w ho took part in it richly deserve to be! visited with the severest penalty that either thej civil or the military law can inflict—the penalty of death. Perhaps we ought not to sav anything on this subject., before it is investigated. But we feel we should be recreant to our duty as a journalist did we not, at least, say as much as we have.—Chron-\ icle tC- Sentinel. A Blab for Dttktm.' The Richmond Dispute?If lias heard that Mr. Charles Dickens is about to take another look at this country, and thus welcomes him: It was aooift twenty-five years ago, we tliiafo when Mr. Dickens first did ourcouutry the honor of a visit. He dropped in upon us in a’neighborly way, and was received with immense hospitality. At that time, though a young man, he was in the meredian of his lame, and hb porpularity, in the United States as in England, was unbounded: We greeted him with a perfect furore of enthu siasm. There were some people who thought we rather over-did the matter. They said wer went down upon all fours, as it were, before thb promising worship of the British lion. But truth is, there never was a more genuine outb .of good feeling than that which the great massdf our people displayed towards Dickens. Some flimkybm there was, as there always will .be, but the most of us loved Boz like a bro ther. We identified the man with his works, and hb works had always been true to humanity. We were his debtors for a vast amount of fun, and, wliat was better, he had taught us to sym pathize whith the' poor and suffering. He hjid never degraded his pen by servility to rank aid power. Hb heroes and heroines had been al ways of the common mould, and when a noble man figured in liis productions it was not much to 1ns advantage. Such a genius and such a na ture (js shone in his pages touched an electric' chord in the soul of this republican country. We welcomed him with both hands and oiir whole heart. Hb first speech at a Boston festival rather open ed our eyes. It was evident in that speech that, while we fancied him hugely, he did not much fancy us. That makes a great difference in mat ters of friendship and love. Those sentiments, to live long, must be somewhat reciprocal. Per haps we did uot deserve a return of our confiding affections, hut tlie fault that Dickens found with us iu his first speech, and a great many other speeches, need not have made our charmer so cold; and the making it tlie constant burthen of lib song was not calculated to raise him in ohr esteem. One great sin, which it appeared Iiq had come across the water to reform, was the neglect to protect by a copy-right law the property of Bri tish authors in their productions. No one can dispute tlie justice of such a law, and it ought to have been enacted long ago, but we had not ex pected to be lectured oil our short-coming at that time, in that way, and by that man. It gave fit kind of mercenary aspect to our gay cavalier that chilled the ardor of our young affections and dis pelled the halo of romance that had encircled our hero’s brow-. But the festivities to Dickers w-ent on all the same, and hb progress through the country was a perfect ovation. At last, having spent two mouths in traveling through sixteen States of tlie American Union, Mr. Charles Dickens returned to Europe and wrote a book. Wc expected it would be a candid, just and somewhat friendly estimate of our na tional character and habits. We did not look for anything very philosophical or profound, but had the right to anticipate a brilliant and good- humored portraiture of American life. There w-ere some who predicted we should catch it, but it was believed that if satirized at all, it would Feniax DCiif. at Liverpool.—One evening laakweek an Irish gentleman, carrying on busi ness in Liverpool, and well-known on the Ex change, previous to going home to liis residence at Edgehill, had occasion to call at the barroom of a highly respectable hotel in Dale street, which at the time was considerably crowded by gen tlemen iu liis own position in society—a very re spectable one. The gentlemen referred to was carrying a double-barrelled fowling-piece, which had been undergoing some repairs. Among those present iu the room was a tall, sallow indi vidual, of unmistakable “Yankee” aspect, but of gentlemanlike person and attire. Ou obser ving the gentleman who carried tlie fowling- piece, he addressed him and said, “I suppose you are a Fenian ?” The other replied that he was not, and that so far from lieing so, lie despised both Fenians and Feniansism. ‘ ‘Then you despise me,” rejoined the stranger. “I do not know you, sir; if you are a Fenian, or even a Fenian leader, I have no respect for you.” The stranger took a handkecliief from liis pocket, applied it to liis nose, and then tiirei^ it in the face of the other, at the same time exclaiming with a strong Yankee twang: “I am a Fenian General; my name is Wm. Brown. My father was one of the Browns of Mayo, in Ireland; I was born in New York, and thus I treat any one who dares to depreciate Fenianism.” “And my name is John G—gs. I am an Irishman and a native of Mayo also; and thus I treat any one who will declare himself and act a3 you do,” accopmpanying tlie words by a blow w-hich made the general measure liis length upon the carpet. Thb was done amid shouts of‘apologize’ from the company, addressed to the discomntted trans-Atlantic Fenian, w hose ardor appeared to have been cooled by the Hibernian argumentum ad factum he had encountered. Cards, however, were exchanged between the contending parties, and, after considerable difficulty, a meeting w-ith pistols was arranged between them. On Thurs day, about noon, the two, accompanied by a single gentleman—who, with marvelous good nature, had agreed to act as second to both- met in a field a little to-the south ot Redstonhill, on tlie Cheshire side of the Mersey. The requi site preliminaries having been adjusted, both parties fired, but, as both retained an npright- po sition, the double second interposed, and, decla ring that both had behaved like men of honor, succeeded in preventing further proceedings of a hostile character. The combatants shook hands, partook of a slight draught from a flask which the accommodating friend had with liim, and which is supposed to have been fumbhed with a trivial supply of some commodity familiarly known as “Dutch courage,” and having done so, quietly wended their way toward Birkenhead. Before reaching woodside Ferry, however, tlie General was observed to turn very pale and faint. Investigation showed that his antagonbt’s ball had taken effect in 1ns hip, and that the wound bled profusely, hb clothes having become quite saturated w-ith blood. Proper means were adop ted for stopping the hemorrage, and the Yankee took leave of his “friends,” requesting that no thing concerning tlie affair should be communi cated to the newspapers until after his departure by the mail steamer on Saturday for New York, which took place. Another quarrel originating in Fenian politics resulted in a murder in Liv erpool on Sunday night. A poor fellow named McManus, who had only arrived in port on Sun day morning, was in a public house at night, w hen he engaged in a controversy on Fenianism with a young man named McKenna. There was a quarrel and an apparent reconciliation, but McKenna suddenty drew liis knife and fatally stabbed McManus, fle also wonnded a man named O’Grady, who interposed.—Licerpool Cor respondent Glasgoxe paper. The San Francisco journals announce that the experiment of employing Chinese operatives in factories in California has been successful. They proved apt at learning the nature of the work assigned them, and hired for vety small wages. They are suited only for the simpler process. The Virginians are ordered by the Freedman’s Bureau to take care of all their negroes—feed, clothe and protect—whether they are able to work or not. Thb b very good for the black, hat rather severe cm the white. be iu such artistic stj-le that we should enjoy out own dissection. But we were all to be grie vously disappointed. Tlie book overflowed with gall and venom. There was scarcely a drop of the milk ot human kindness in it. It out-Trol- loped Trollope, and in downright inbrepresenta- tion and abuse threw Hall aud Maryatt into the shade. As a specimen of wit and humor, it was heneatli contempt. He came back at us in tlie same style in “Martin Chuzzlewit.” Instead of a Da mascus blade of bright and trenchant satire, lie cut us up with a rusty butclier-knife, which, con sidering us a nation of swine, he probably thought tlie most appropriate weapon. Forget-: ting liis own carricature in Pickwick of French travelers iq England, lie himself enacted the part of Count Smorltork in America. He gravely declared in liis veracious .sketches that all Amer ican men chew tobacco and talk through tlieir noses, and that all American women are ignorant. He spoke of public journals in the North as the! Sewer, the Slabber, the Family Spy, the Private Listener, the Peeper, the Plunderer, the Keyhole Reporter, the Rowdy Journal—a nomenclature possibly suggested by his own character and instincts. He represented an intelligent American editor, speaking in language like this ; “There a’iiit an, engine With its biier bust in these free United States so ffummuxed to a most e-tarnal smash as; that young crittur, Queen Victoria, in her luxuri ous location in the Tower of London, will be: when she reads the next double extra number ofi my paper. May tlie British Lion have hb tailj eradicated by the noble bill of the American| Eagle, and he taqglit to play upon the Irish harp- and the Scotch fiddle the enchanting music of Yankee Doodle.” lie w-as throwm into spasms, of course, by the slave institution which his own country had established in America. “This the land of liber ty !—They’re so fond of liberty in this part of the globe tbit they buy her and sell her and carry her to market with ’em. They’ve such a passion for liberty that they can’t help taking liberties with her. The stars wink upon the bloody stripes, and liberty pulb down lier cap upon her eys, and owns oppression in its vilest aspect for her sister.’*' Such are some specimens of the “American Notes” and “Martin Chuzzlewit,” productions, which may prove the author not only to be at home in the realm of fiction, but never to leave them, and which certainly do not show to ad vantage by the side of DeToqueville’s profound volume upon America, or the dignified observa tions of Lord Morpeth, and others of that class of English gentlemen to which Mr. Dickens does not belong either by social position or by that higher patent of a noble and magnanimous char acter which nature confers. The genuine jewel of his undeniable genius sparkles in the head of a toad, and even the touching pathos of his portraitures of human suffering may have no deeper sources than the equally beautiful sentimentality of Sterne. When Mr. Dickens again visits our country, we hope lie will find it more to liis liking. He will discover that we have survived his book on America, and are doing as w-ell as could be ex pected. Interesting Letter from Gen. Pillow.— It gives us great pleasure to publish tlie subjoined letter from Gen. Pillow. Most heartily do we congratulate him upon his success, and trust that the result of his enterprise may lie fully up to his anticipations. He has gone to work like a man of sterling good sense; aud his example ought to be followed in allparts of tbe South. If all of her planters would do as he has done our glo rious section would soon again blossom as the rose, and attain a higher degree of prosperity than characterized her in the past: Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 22,1865. Gen. O. O. Howard, Commissioner, &e., dc., Wash ington : It affords me pleasure to inform you that I have been successful beyond my most sanguine expectations in engaging labor for all my planta tions in Arkansas and Tennessee. I have already engaged about four hundred freedmen, and have full confidence in making a success of the work. I have given in all cases the freedman a part of the crop of cotton, and I allow- him land for the cultivat ion of vegetables and com for his own Use, without charge therefor. I would have engaged one thousand laborers if I had needed that num ber. My brother, who adopted my plan of work, succeeded in engaging laborers for three places he is working. have put one large plantation under white labors from tlie North upon precise ly the same terms I engaged freedmen. I feel anxious to try the system of white labor of that character for the .plantation. Knowing the in terest you feel in tlie success of the system of the freedmen, and feeling grateful for your kindness to me, I feel it to Sir a duty to communicate the result of mv work thus far. With assurance of my personal regard aud respect, I am, General, very respectfully, Gideon .J. Pillow. The citizens of Washington voted on Thurs day on the test question of conferring the fran chise on negroes. Tlie result was 7,0(M> against, to about 80 in favor of the proposition. The friends of negro suffrage are understood to have absented themselves from the polls with a view of referring the question to Congress, and secur ing its adoption by vacating the city charter, and reducing the District to a territory, with a Con gressional delegate, to lie voted for by whites and blacks alike. There seems to be no doubt, how ever, that a large preponderance of the present electors of Washington are decidedly opposed to the extension of the suffrage to colored people. : XWiSCM”Rio Gr*nde-Fnrther Cor- rn nwirtMiicfl Uetwacn CtMcral* Mejia Jjhe correspondence between the re- speetive Conlmonders on the American and Mex ican side.of the . Rio Grande is in continuation of that preyioualy published: GEN.* MEJIATO GEN. WEITZEL. Imperial Mexican Army! ) Jlatamoras, Dec. 1,1865- j General—In answer to your communication of Octobdr 24,1 will state that I have taken the necessary Information in regard to the detention of tffte nmiviclnals whom you ask me to set at lib- 'LL ft 1 I * .Yrt nonc of the edifices which serve as prisons in this dity of Matamoras can there be found tlie persons of James McElrath, Bartley Quinn, or James Stnhh. But under the jurisdiction of the Court Martial arc detained Richard Crawford, Carter-Stmth and Joseph King, American sol diers’, who deserted from your command on the lfcth dty of Sfepteniber last, and were taken pris oner's in thte-neighborhood of Matamoras on the rfextihtytlie 17th, In a skirmish which took hftAeedielweta a few of my' soldiers and one of Crirlifaas’ bafidv*. It-iS therefore 'impossible lor me to set them at liberty! ItjS frueth^t a-few mfiu of color, of American origth, were entployed on the public works or fomfleirfions, J liut their work was freely given, and they were paid one dollar each dhily. You see that neither tlie laws nor the treaties have been violated. Iris alsa ; certain that during the last operations in'this city several negroes and former United States Soldiers were arrested, but they were after wards liberated. Still the presence of individ uals of this, class in the enemy’s litres, the pro jectiles of American inanufecture whidh were thrown oyer Matafiioras, find the passing of Es- copedtfs - artiTfery indiscriminately to and from Texas ^on United States transports, justify; in the eyes of my Government, such measures of secu rity. Accept-, General, the asrarance of my highest consideration. Tomas Mejia, General Commanding, etc. To Mai. Gen Weitzel, commanding Western District of Texas. GENERAL weitzel’S REPLY TO GEN. MEJIA. General: In accordance wish instructions from Major General P. H. Sheridan, commanding Mil itary Division of the: Gulf, transmitted through Major General H. G. Wright, commanding De partment of Texas, I hereby notify you that if any such outrages on American citizens as I com plained of in my letter to you of the 24th of Octo ber last are permitted within your lines, no ex cuses for such conduct will be accepted “ that you will not be permitted to eonimit acts figairist the United States, will not accept your personal apol ogies for your bad faith. I ani furtljer ordered to say to you that hereaf ter when ahygarrfeoii under your command is in a state 6f siege no supplies' df any kind will be permitted to be sent tdsuch garrison from this side, Gen. Sheridan considering that it would be less of violation of neutrality against the legiti mate authority in Mexico to send powder to such garrison. I am further ordered to stop all intercourse with any garrison during the progress of a siege, except that which humanity sluill dictate. I aui; sir,' very resjieCthilly, your obedient ser vant, - G! Weitzel, Major General ■Commanding. Theforegoing communication was returned by Gen. Mejia, with a verbal message, to which Gen. Weitzel returned the following: General : I-have the honor to acknowledge the receipt df your communication of the -1st instant, in reply to niy communication of the 24tli of October last. ■ The three nteni tiiat'cafanot now be found in your prisons- liave long ago been released. If tbe three Ihen of the 23d United States colored troops w-ere captured in the lines of your ene mies in arms against you,. I have nothing more to say, of course. Errt for humanity’s sake, I ask that, on their trial, your court’hiay take into consideration, tlieif igniJrance of yonr language and the fact .that officers-anil others from the other side",ihduccd tiieiu to .do .wliat they did under promise of large sums of -money. But three pieces of artint-ty bave crossed and re crossed this river;'arid'that only once, and then not on United States transports; lint one of my officers, -whasaw the whole performance, says the gqns were dismounted, the ’ carriages taken apart and the different parts carried over in Skiffs. These were brought over to be repaired arid retnriied aS soon as they were repaired. As; I ilnderstand you, however, you do not complain of, this, nor of projectiles of American manufacture being thrown over Matamoras ; but yon merely mention them as facts which justified great precautionary- measures on your part. I liave also- received my communication of the 27th ultimo returned to roe. I must consider it unanswered, as I can receive no verbal reply to a commufiicafion written by direction of such high authority as it was. I am, sir; very respectfully, your obedient ser vant, G. Weitzel, Major General Commanding. Words vc. Deeds. It has been but two or three months ago, that the National Express Company was first publicly spoken o£ Then it was said that it was the in tention of the projectors to give employment to as many disabled Confederate soldiers as should apply, and were competent to fulfil the duties required of them. It nr a pity that this intention has been “untimely nipped i’ the bud.” Why it was so, we do not understand. >, There are many amongst us now, who, always loyal and patri otic in everything that concerned our State in terest, and State pride, went forth from among us, hale, hearty anil vigorous young men, Some of them, alas, have never retnmed, but many, very many have come back, to us, now, maimed and crippled for life. It was not for their own interest that they were hurt, it was not for hire, or distinction, or any other petty motive of self aggrandizement, but because their State l\ad called upon her sons for aid, and they could not listen unmoved to her thrilling cry. It was that the great, the wealthy, add the influential, had become embroiled in a dispute, which could not be settled without a resort to arms, and who were there to bear those arms, but the young, the robust, the patriotic ? Rich and poor alike, sprang forward, in this extremity, many of them to die, and but comparatively few to return at all. The war wrought its change. The rich be came poor, and the poor were made poorer still. Some of them came back to us not only ragged and penniless, but without the strong arms, and strong bodily frames, that w-as necessary to gain a livelihood for themselves and their families. Shall these men be made to suffer now ? Shall they pine in want and misery, while those for whom they fought are living in comfort and luxuiy? This question has been before the peo ple of the South ever since the return home of our troops. • What is to become of our maimed and crippled. They return in sorrow to a con quered and degraded land, without food and without employment by which they can earn that food. There are no pensions for the Confederate soldier; no bounty yet due, and which might serve to drive the skeleton from the door. No friends who have grown plethoric with green backs, and who can greet him home as a con queror. It is different with him. Without money, almost without friemls, is it strange that he should look to some Southern or ganization, as a means whereby lie may gain bread for himself and for his little ones ? It is strange that, when that great and good man, Gen. Johnston, w-as placed at the head of the National Express Company, that his poor heart should bound with joy at tlie prospect of such honest labor as he could perform? And certainly if is not strange that when, after all, good, strong, able-bodied, field shirkers, receive those appoint ments, that his poor heart should sink with that grief deferred that maketli the heart sick. Not only, however, were the applicant soldiers disappointed at the turn affairs had taken, bnr the people themselves felt that they had been de ceived. The necessity of providing employment for disabled soldiers has long been felt, anil.when this new Express Company was first spoken of, it was thought that one of the greatest difficulties in the way had been removed. Such an exten sive organization as this could easily employ, and t hereby support a great many of the newly in the South.. Is it yet too late for this Company to do good ? Cannot a change in the order of things be effec ted ? Places like -these inr Southern Institutions belong of right to the Confederate soldier; and in God’s name we say, “Render nnto Ciesar the things that are Ctesars.”—Wilmington Daily ■Visitor. -* *■ T—r- - England has thirteen million Pillars’ worth of property in the Chilian bonded warehouses at Valparaiso, which are exposed to thulire ol the Spanish Admiral in case he bombards the city.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

Weekly Atlanta intelligencer. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1865-18??, January 10, 1866, Image 1