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‘ ERROR CEASES TO BE DANGEROUS WHEN REASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT-” Jefferson.
VOLUME XVIII.
ATLANTA, GA„ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14,1866.
NUMBER
IPtrklQ JntrUlgrnrrr.
PUBLISHED DAILY AND WEEKLY BY
JA&ED I. WHITAKER,
Proprietor.
JOHN H. STEELE, Editor.
ATLANTA. GEORGIA,
Wednesday, February 14, I860.
A Week In iflllledsevllle.
We spent the last week in Milledgeville quietly
looking on, a patient observer of the “actings and
doings” of tliosc in whom the power of leg
islating for the State is invested by the people
thereof. We reached the good old capital just
after the excitement attendant upon the election
of
JUDOKA OK THE SUURK.UE COURT
had sill (sided. In reference to these elections
there appeared to lie a general und profound re
gret, as well within the legislative circle as beyond
it, at the defeat of Genebal Burning. We,
without designing to reflect o|h>u any other, of
the candidates in that election, participated in
this feeling. The time hod come, we thought,
when that able jurist, and gallant gentleman,
should have had restored to liim the judicial sta
tion which he had theretofore filled, but which
ha<l been wrested from him to gratify the preju
dices and to promote the interests of others—
whom we need not designate. Long years of
patriotic service, wc regret to say, had not extin
guished that opposition. While it conceded to
General Benning purity of purpose and the high
est legal ability, it still pursued him and he was
again defeated by it. Another illustration of the
ungratefulness of republics! We reached the
capital, however, in time to witness, and to some
extent, participate in the excitement attending
the election of
UNITED STATES SENATOn.S.
Our readers have already been advised of the
result of these elections. The two gentlemen
elected are too well known and too highly es
teemed in Georgia—too long considered as being
among her ablest representative men ; statesmen
of the highest order, enjoying the confidence of
the people; for uuy doubt to rest upon the mind
of any one that their election will be acceptable
to tbe people ot the State. When it became
known that Mu. Stephens would not refuse to
serve the State in the Senate, if elected in spite
of his declared determination not to be a candi
date and his expressed wish that his friends
would not vote for him, the contest was settled
between him and Mk. IIill, as it would have
been between him and any other individual in
the State. He was therefore elected for the long
term upon the first ballot. For the short, term,
the contest for several hallotings was between
our fellow-townsman, long the representative
of what was formerly this congressional dis
trict, both in the old United States and the
(’onfederate. Congress, Gen. Gartkell and Mr.
Peoples. During tfie several hallotings we felt
sanguine of the success of Gen. O. He was evi
dently the favorite in the race between the can
didates lirst announced and balloted for, and was
ahead in it, until he caused his name to be with
drawn. While the election of the gentleman—
Hon. II. V. Johnson, to whom the two candi
dates gracefully yielded the senatorship—will
doubtless be acceptable to tbe people, for he pos
sesses in a high degree their confidence, and will
stamI the peer of any in the Senate, still the
lricuds of Gen. Gautrkll in the General Assem
bly felt deeply mortified at tlie circumstances
which resulted in his non-election. As our fel
low townsman, who “bus done the State some
service" in the field as well as in the halls ot leg
islation, we feci it due to him to state that he bore
himself honorably and gallantly in the contest,
yielding cheerfully to the circumstances by which
he was surrounded.
These elections over, we were pleased to see
that both branches of the General Assembly went
resolutely to work. The
HOMESTEAD BILL
in the Senate was passed after much animated
discussion. What its fate will he in the House,
wc think we can predict. It will he favorably re
ceived and acted upon in that body also. This
bill reserves a homestead valuation of $2500.00
to t lie head of every family in Georgia. A large#
sum was reported by the Committee, but it was
reduced to that amount.
TITE RAILROADS.
Much excitement prevailed in Alilledgcville, at
the passage by the House of a bill materially in
terfering with the present rates of fare and
freight transportation by the Railroads of our
Slate. The passage of this bill brought to the
capital several Railroad gentlemen of experi
ence, who, we learned, were prepared to demon
strate that the hill-ns it passed the House would
prove ruinous to the lloadf or to producers, at
the option of the former though, if it became a
law. It is.now before a Senate Committee to
whom it has been referred for revision.
RANKS AnD THEIR BILL-UOLDKUS.
Between the Banks w1k> are weU represented
in Milledgcville, and their Bill-Holders, a warm
contest is prevailing. Tbe Banks apply for re
lief, and their stockholders lor relief from person
al liability. The Bill-Holders demand the pen
alty in the bond, or charter. The question is a
grave one—one perhaps that wc may refer to
soon in a more elaborate manner than this hasty
sketch will warrant.
STAY LAWS
Are the “order of the day” in both branches
of the General Assembly. Numerous bills are
before both branches providing for this measure
ot relief to debtors. In the adoption of the
Homestead bill, it strikes us, that relief will la?
extended to the debtor class of the community,
as to make a “stay law” not so absolutely neces
sary as it otherwise might be. We wait, how-
over, the progress of these measures before the
General Assembly ere we “have our say” in re
gard to them, or in regard to the policy which
should regulate the relations of debtor and cred
itor in these trying times.
TBE STATE ROAD.
In the Senate, a bill has been passed providing
for the salary of the 8nperindent of the State
Road. This is fixed at $5,000 per annum. The
committee rejiorted $6,000. The House, we
think, will concur with the Senate. Who the Su
perintendent will be, is a matter of as anxious
solicitude at the capital as it Is here in Atlanta.
The Governor is mum, and we believe no one
knows who that fortunate individual will be—
perhaps wc should write unfortunate individual,
for whatever the salary may bo, he will richly
earn it if he does his duty to the road and the
State.
THE srEAKER AND THE PRESIDENT.
The General Assembly is fortunate in having
excellent presiding officers. Both the gentlemen
—the President of the Senate, the lion. Wm
Gibson, and the Speaker of the House, tbe Hon.
Thomas Hardeman—display tact and ability
iu disposing of the business before their resjiec-
tive branches Courteous in their demeanor to
all, they have beeomo popular, while prompt in
their decisions; and pressing on to completion
the business of legislation, time is not wasted,
nor work neglected. Thus far the committees
have labored hard, and as they report, the Presi
dent and Speaker allow no time to be wasted in
the final disposition of the bills reported. The
session will, we think, be a protracted one. There
is a vast amount of business before it.
THE MILLEDOEVILLE HOTEL.
This hotel is one of the l>est in the Southern
States, and it is here that most of the membera
of the General Assembly, and persons visiting
Milledgcville on business or pleasure, hike up
their abode for the nonce. The brothers McComb
know how to keep a hotel, and, unlike some oth
ers in other localities, “can afford to do it.” Suc
cess attend them!
On our way to and from Milledgcville, we
were most generously entertained by “mine host”
of the
BROWN HOUSE IN MACON.
We cannot too highly recommend this fine
hotel to the traveling public. Its location as well
as its accommodations commend it Excellent
rooms, good and clean beds, polite clerks, atten
tive servants, a generous host, and the best lare
the country can afford, the traveler will be sure
to meet with at the “Brown House” in Macon.—
The gentleman who now presides over it as
landlord, is the owner of the house. An old
citizen of Macon, he conceived the enterprise,
erected the handsome edifice, and designs that it
shall lie a first rate hotel. It is so now, and as
such we commend it to our friends.
Incendiary Publications.
The New York Bound Table, referring to this
class of Northern publications, says there “is a
gloomy prospect before us, and we may well de
spair if the moral sentiment of our people will
tolerate the publication in our periodicals of such
articles as that entitled “A Freedman’s Story,”
commenced in the February number of the At
lantic Monthly. The authentic history of the
lives of incendiaries, highwaymen, jjnd pirates,
or the autobiographies and dying confessions of
murderers, have not heretofore figured in the
class of literature which the moral and more in
telligent portion of our reading people have de
lighted to patronize. This story is introduced by
a regular contributor of the magazine, and pub
lished professedly to show the fitness of the ne
gro to exercise the elective franchise; and if the
story of this negro he true, there are few white
meAi the couutry that excel him in hardened
vilhum'. Yet this contributor bolds him up as a
model man, and by his intimations we are to
conclude that should the merited halter be meted
out to this instrument of the devil the writer will
place him on his saint’s calendar second only to
John Brown.”
The hero of t he story now being published in the
incendiary monthly referred to, is thus described
in the Round Table :
This negro, in his youth pining for freedom,
feartul of being sold away, could not pack his
bundle and leave, but wantonly provoked a quar-
rel with his master and hurt him badly that lie
might have tin excuse to run away. He went to
Pennsylvania, lived a lawless life, in which he
gloried in crimes no less than murder; converted
a publican to abolitionism by setting fire to his
barn in the night and watching Tt "burn ; he also
set fire to the house of another Pennsylvanian in
tin! night and saw it burn “beautifully” while he
with his companions waited aud watched to shoot
the owner by tlie light of the flames when they
should drive him out. So far lias this “Freed
man’s Story” progressed. For the sake of our
country, lor the sake of the poor and sutlering
negro, and for Christianity’s sake, let us have no
more of it. These incidents, which theeontribu-
tor to the Atlantic Monthly encourages this man
to relate so boastfully, happened before the war ;
let us hope that the acts of such a fiend under
the barbarous license of war may never be made
public.
The consequences to the negro, of such publi
cations, the same excellent journal thus sums up:
It is a terrible wrong to the negro to hold up
so depraved a being as a worthy and well-de
serving model representative of the African rnce,
and to publish such a story approvingly ip a
magazine that holds the position that the Atlan
tic does. Its tendency to encourage the lawless
in their lawlessness, and, as in this ease, to imbue
them with the notion that they are instruments in
the hands of Providence for the working-out of
their own desires and passions. It also tends to
increase the prejudice which exists against the
negro race, encourages the shiftless and evil-
minded to engage in riotous proceedings, and
thus subjects them to the risk of becoming the
victims of popular vengeance, that is not apt to
discriminate between good and the bad. The
Atlantic Monthly has been the professed cham
pion of the negro’s cause, and it is certainly its
duty to aid the great numbers ot negroes that are
striving to improve their condition, arid not pub
lish and praise one who, if his talc be true, would
have been hung tor his crimes in an*portion of
the State of Massachusetts,,had they been com
mit ted within t lie jurisdietion of any ot its courts
The Georgia Senators.—Referring to the
recent election by the Legislature til - Georgia, of
the Hon. A. II. Stephens and the Hon. II. V.
Johnson as United States Senators, the Wash
ington City National Intelligencer says: “It were
better for the Republic if men of their stamp of
polities in other days, and of their great arid ex
perienced ability, were on the floor of Congress,
in the place of so many who hold their positions
by the concert of small politicians, and by cau
cus intrigue, bargaining and corruption.”
The Intelligencer expresses iti the foregoing
what is the common sentiment of the conserva
tive papers and men at the North, while the radi
cal press and men, denounce the election of the
distinguished Georgians as only another evidence
of persistent disloyalty in our State. For our
own part, we do not hesitate to affirm that there
are no two men iu the whole United States that
are more loyal to the Government than our two
recently elected Senators; and no two men better
qualified to promote its prosperity and restore a
harmonious Union of the States North and
South, if permittted to take their seats in the
Senate of the United States, than they are, let
radical abolitionists say what they may !
Says the Sail Antonio (Texas) Herald: “Our
city wore a warlike appearance last Sunday eve
ning, occasioned by the mutiny of the 3d Mich
igan cavalry, and the galloping to the scene of
action hv other commands to arrest them. The
merits of the case so far as we can learn are that
the regiment refused to allow a certain number
of their men to be arrested, and when the arrest,
was attempted to be made by force they all
rushed to arms, when the arresting party desist
ed. The whole regiment was thus placed in a
rebellious attitude, and other regiments were
called in to crush them; bat it was apparent that
blood would be shed if force was resorted to, so
about dark the coercing party withdrew. We
understand that General Thompson made a
speech to the regiment, closing by giving an or
der to have them disarmed, which was carried
into effect, and the arms of the regiment are now
deposited in the arsenal.
Reports from Georgia give a nroiul picture
of affairs iu the interior of that State. The coun
try is traversed by bands of outlaws, who hang
and shoot negroes, and commit .other like out
rages. All Northern men are driven out.
We clip the above from the San Francisco
Weekly Union. It was sent to that paper from
New York, and is a fair sample of the wholesale
lies our radical friends in the North are sending
to California and to Europe. And from just such
statements as the above do they form erroneous
impressions of the people in this Southern coun
try.
Debt* or tbe States and tbe Cities Thereof.
The loyal States, the Nashville Gazette says,
with the exception of Kansas, Iowa, and Alichi
gun, and the Pacific States, have furnished to Mr.
Blaine, of Maine, chairman of the Select Com
mittee on the War Debt of the Loyal States,
the amounts expended by them severally in sup
porting the late war. The footing in most cases
include the amounts expended by counties, cities
and towns, and the aggregate in round numbers
as follows:
Maine, $12,000,000; New Hampshire, $13,
000,000; Vermont, $8,700,000; Massachusetts,
$24,100,000 (State alone, without including town
debt;) Rhode Island $5,500,000; Connecticut,
$17,G00,000; New York, $111,000,000; New
Jersey, $26,700,000; Pennsylvania, $54,000,000
Delaware, $1,100,000; Maryland, $8,000,000:
West Virginia $2,000,000; Ohio, $95,000,000
Indiana, 22,500,000; Illinois, (estimated) $30,
000,000; Wisconsin, $12,200,000; Minnesota,
$2,500,000; Missouri, $9,500,000; Kentucky,
$1,600,000; (by the Stnte alone, not includin,
counties or towns.)
The decree that caused the repudiation of the
Confederate debt by the Southern States, has left
them to provide only for the payment of their
debt contracted before the war. This is insignif
icant when compared with that of the loyal States
Georgia, for instance, owes scarcely three mil
lions of dollars, while her avaij^hla assets will
command any day in Wall street, thrice that
amount. Pennsylvania owes we believe even
more to-day than all the Southern States com
biued, while New York owes double the amount
they do. In the future this will tell for the South,
Labor alone, well directed, will soon relieve the
Southern States from debt. Their agricultural re
sources are sufficient for this, and when we add to
these their mineral and manufacturing resources
—the coal, iron, marble, that abound in the moun
tainous regions ot the South; the water power that
Ciin be excelled no where for manufacturing pur
poses—the Southern States will require but few
years to extinguish their indebtedness, while tins
cannot be claimed but for very few, if any, of
the “loyal” ones.
The same may be claimed for tbe Southern
over the Northern cities. But few of the former
are encumbered by heavy debt. Perhaps New
Orleans, Charleston, and Richmond, may be.
Savannah and Augusta next. The latter city,
we have seen it stated, owes about a million of
dollars. Our own “Gate City” only a few
thousands. But, as in the case of the States, the
Southern, owe comparatively trifling sums, when
compared with the indebtedness of the Northern
cities. Reconstruction affirmed, labor regulated,
the freedmen’s bureau abolished, the energy and
enterprise of our people directed to the develop
ment of the resources of the South, and the year
will not be a far distant one when it will be
claimed for the Southern States and the Southern
cities that they are not oppressed by debt. But
when may this be claimed for the so-called loyal
States and cities of the North and West? Who
will answer?
The Constitutional Amendment.
The Constitutional amendment passed by both
Houses of Congress, allows each State to regulate
the suffrage question for itself, but those who may
be excluded from exercising suffrage—persons of
color or others—are not permitted to be counted
in the apportionment of representatives. The
amendment, of course, will be : submitted to the
people of the States for ratification; but, says the
Louisville Journal, “it is said that it is the inten
tion of the Radicals to submit it, if it passes the
Senate, to only twenty-seven States, of which
nineteen will be two-thirds, and if it is adopted
by that number it will be considered as adopted.
Then, in that event, it will be the doty of the
President to issue another proclamation, setting
forth that the Union is composed of twenty-seven
States, and that nineteen of them, constituting
two-thirds, having voted for it, it has become a
part of the Constitution; aud then two proclam
ations—one declaring that there are thirty-six
States iu the Union, and the other, by the same
authority, declaring that there are but twenty-
seven, will be laid carefully away in the same
pigeon-hole in the State Department, to present
something for the future historian to write about,
and to excite the ridicule and contempt of the
world.”
This is yielding a Constitutional right to the
States in one breath, and denying them another
in another aspiration. Nineteen States are to
have no voice in the matter—the States alone
who have anything to gain or to lose in the final
settlement of the question. If this be not Con
gressional usurpation we do not know what is >
or can be. The Journal is right when it says it
will “present something for the future historian
to, write about and to excite the ridicule and cori-
tempt of the world.”
-*
An Associated Press dispatch says:
New Orleans, Feb. 6.—Civil proceedings
have been commenced in Brownsville, Texas,
against the parties implicated in the Bagdad af
fair. Labor prospects on the Red river planta
tions are more cheering. The freedmen are dis
posed to give better satisfaction.
New Orleans, Feb. 6.—A dispatch from
Vicksburg, on the 2d, says: The steamer W. R.
Carter exploded her boilers at 3 o’clock this
morning, at Island 98. A large number of lives
were lost, and the boat aud cargo are a total loss.
The following are known to be lost: Airs. Dr.
Richardson and three children, of New Orleans;
Airs. Gibbons, Airs. Wolfe, Airs. Rice, Cincinnati;
Airs. Oateman, Texas; Airs. Noose, Airs. Alorris,
Columbus; and Airs. Howland. Many others
were scalded and otherwise injured.
General Sherman’s explanation of the order
turning over all the sea island lands to the ne
groes, is as follows:
Washington, Feb. 2.—The question having
been submitted to Gen. Sherman, who is now
here, as to what he meant by his military order
turning over all the island lands in South Caro
lina to the negroes, he has stated to a committee
of gentlemen from that State, and also written a
letter io the President, that it was only for tem-:
porary purposes, and was not intended to last.
longer than when peace was declared, and the
rebels laid down their arms and submitted to the
laws. This fact is of great importance, as it lias
been maintained by legislators that the reverse of.
this was Gen. Sherman’s idea. He also says that
he only intended the lands to be used for the aged
and helpless freedmen, and he distinctly says that
the title of the freedmen could last only so long
as the war lasted. ,
—
An aged clergyman, speaking of the solemnity
attached to the ministerial office, said that during
the whole term of forty years that he had offi
ciated, his gravity had never been but once dis
turbed in the pulpit.
On that occasion he noticed a man directly in
trout of him, leaning over the railing of the gal
lery, with something in his hand which he after
wards discovered to be a huge chew of tobacco
just taken from his mouth. Directly below sat a
man fast asleep, with his head back" and his
mouth wide open. : • —
The man in the gallery was intently engaged
in raising and lowering his hand, taking an ex-
I act observation, till at last, having got it right,
Later news from the Rio Grande states
that careful inquiry is being made by officials on
either side in regard to the Bagdad affair. The
sending of United States soldiers on Alexican soil
is likely to result in serious complications. As
will be seen from the following correspondence
between Generals Wcitzeland Mejia, the latter
apparently looks at the matter in its worst light:
Headq’rs District of the Rio Grande, )
Brownsville, Texasi Jan. 18,1865. f
Major General Thomas Mejia, commanding line of the
Rio Grande:
General—I am directed by the Alajor General
commanding tlic department of Texas, to explain
to you the reasons for sending a guard of my
soldiers to Bagdad, and the orders which I gave
them.
I sent three bundled of my command to Bag
dad at the request of t.'-nerul Escobedo. They
are still there. The act was one of humanity in
the interests of the peaceful citizens of Bagdad,
and had no relation to the cause for which the
opposing forces are contending. My orders to
the commanding officer are that he should pre
serve peace and protect property and life in Bag
dad. That he should obey no orders but those
emanating from his superiors on this side. That
under no circumstances shonld heperform any
militaiy service for either party. That if an at
tack be made on the town; he should remain, it
not too much exposed; ami that if the French
were successful, he should meet the commanding
officer under a flag of truce, and explain the rea
sons for his being there, aud then withdraw ; but
that in case his men were too much exposed, to
withdraw at any time when in his judgment it
ou"ht to be done.
I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient ser
vant, G. Weitzei.,
Alajor General Commanding.
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPOXDKXCE.
1866.
Imperial Army, AIexico, 1
Alejia Division General in Chief, f-
Alatamoras, Jan. 19th, 1866. J
To Major General Weitzei, Commanding Department of
Texdfi:
General—I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your note of yesterday. I have
given my Government notice of all the occur
rences that.have taken place in Bagdad.
Accept, General, the assurance of my most
particular respect. TnoMAS AIejia,
Commanding.
The above would seem to disclose the fact that
the American General Weitzei had no object in
view but to do good to both parties by sending
his troops on Alexican soil. His intention was
humane. The horrors of war were assuaged or
modified as much as possible by the act,' inas
much as private persons were saved from insult,
and their property from pillage and fire. Gene
ral Alejia, however, does not desire to look upon
this side of the question. This short, quick and
really startling answer to General Weitzei, fully
explains his feelings in the matter. That he has
taken the very worst view of the case, and re
ported so officially to his “ Government,” there
can be no doubt. The Frencli naval command
er at the Rio Grande also, previous to his de
parture for Yera Cruz to report the fact officially
there, protested to General Weitzei, in a short
note, against the invasion of Mexico by Ameri
can soldiers.
Another splendid business block lias just ■ he let fall his’ quid, and it went plump into the
beeu completed a( Chicago Its facade is on mouth of the sleeper below !
Randolph street, and is built of Athens marble
in the modern Italian style. It is five stories in
height, and presents *a strong and elegant ap
pearance.
The whole scene was so indescribably ludi
crous, that foT the first and last time in the pulpit
an involuntary smile forced itself upon the coun
tenance of the preacher
A Washington correspondent of the Cincin
nati Commercial, having probably traveled in the
South and discovered that Southern gentlemen
never recognize‘gentry of his “cloth” when they
are known, makes the following contemptible
suggestions. We publish it as one sample of a
host of similar statements furnished to the North
ern press: ■ - J
We hear a great many complaints every day of
the bad treatment of Northern men traveling in
the Southern States—of indignities offered to
them, insults, want of respect, &c. This is all
because these migratory Yankees do not under
stand how to touch the sympathies of the South
ern people, how to appeal to their sense of honor
and manhood, and cause them to thrust forth the
right hand of fellowship and fraternal feeling.—
~ am surprised at this ignorance on the part of tv
proverbially shrewd nation, of a remedy so sim
ple as to be within, the reach of all. There is no
necessity whatever for a Northern man being
subject to insult or despiteful using in the South
if there is a nigger within hailing distance of
him. A few words like “look at that d—d nig
ger. I wish all the niggers were in hell,” uttered
in the hearing of a chivalrous Carolinian will be
as oil upon the troubled social waters, and will
heal all animosities that may previously have
been harbored in the Southern mind. The con
ciliatory effect will be still more striking if the
d—d nigger thus alluded to happens to be dressed
in blue, while the bystanders are for the most,
part attired in gray, ami happiest of all will be
its results if to the ineffable degradation of a black
skin is added the. exasperating circumstances of
having lost a leg or arm under the Federal ilag.
Then tt will require several damns to effect the
reconciliation, and possibly a wish that it had
been his head instead ot his arm that was knocked
off; but if-the Yankees will only pile on the
curses, he will certainly reach the tender part of
the Mississippi or Alabama, or Virginia heart af
ter awhile. I commend these few words, “d—n
the niggers,” ns a first rate countersign for safe
conduct through the South—pass-words ot ad
mission to the masonic fraternity ot subjugated
society. “D—n the niggers”—that’s all. Next
moment'you are grasped cordially by the South
ern hand, and perchance asked to take a drink.
Singular rumors concerning Air. Davis are
thus alluded to by some one writing from Wash
ington: , ...
The rumors of the rescue of Jefferson Davis
from prison' are assuming a new and strange char
acter. It is now hinted that the authorities desire
his escape, and that.facilities, have been offered
him. but that he won’t go- There is little room
to doubt the awkward embarrassment attendant
upon his confinement and rejected trial. Chief
Justice Chase does not hesitate to say that he
cannot be convicted of treason, and Thaddeus
Stevens declares that he is nothing more than a
foreign leader, about as much amenable to the
laws of the United States as Maximilian! I have
it from the best authority—from authority which
you Cannot question—that Mr. Davis feels the
most ample security. He said less than a week
ago, “My defense is complete now, and rests sole
ly upon the law which will be administered fair
ly, I know, and in perfect accordance with civil
justice.” ' The shameful pettiooat story will be
’ rut to the blush when that time arrives. Mr.
: Davis is at present in good health, .eats heartily,
reads a good deal, and possesses, as lie said the
other day, “a good digestion and a good con
science.” He receives tetters from his wife three
times a week, and keeps a journal every day.
The Vaults of the Bank of France.—The
walls of these vaults are of stupendous thickness.
On H winding the stepslea ding to their entrance,
the first obstacle we find is an iron doer, locked
with three keys, one of which is in the hands of
the governor of the Bank; the second is kept by
the cashier, and the third by the censor; so that
this door cannot be opened without the simul
taneous consent of these three functionaries.—
We thus gain access to a first compartment, con
taining the funds for current use. The safe kept
here is so curiously constructed, that if you do
not know the secret of its construction, the slight
est touch anywhere will set a noisy alarm agoing,
loud enough to startle all the inmates ot the
establishment The next compartment is circu
lar, and called the serre; it cannot be entered
without the same ceremonial, and is fitted up
with fire-proof shelves. It contains all the im
portant deeds, notes and papers belonging to the
Rant- also deposits of private persons. Here the
Duke of Brunswick used t<* leave his jewels,
previous to going on a journey. Alademoiselle
Mars used to send her diamonds there; the lingof
d’or was deposited in the same place, &c. Alter
the serre come the vaults properly so called, the
entrance to which is closed by an iron door, se
cured by several combination locks; it turns on
central pivots, like Italian doors. It gives access
to a well hole, containing a winding staircase,
admitting but (me person at a time, and leading
to subterranean galleries four hundred and twen
ty metres in length. These are filled with iron
cask containing lingot3 and coin, and labeled
according to their contents. By way of addi-
tional security, the.well hole might be filled up
with clay, and the vaults with water, at a min
ute’s notice, if the safety of the . treasure were
menaced in the slightest degree.
;( . -7 ♦♦ —
Over $80,000 belonging to a Williamsburg
hank, was stolen from a boy in William street,
New York.
AIn.LEDGEtni.LE, Feb. 5
SENATE.
The Senate met at the usual hour. Prayer by
Dr. Manson.
Air. J. A. W. Johnson from the committee ap
pointed to look into the interest of the State in
the Card Factory submitted his report. The report
concluded with a resolution, which was adopted,
that the Governor be requested to appoint a
commissioner to make a full, fair, equitable and
final settlement of the State with Alessrs. Devine,
Jones & Lee, in regard to the State’s interest in
the Card Factoiy.
Air. Strozier introduced a bill to repeal all laws
in relation to slaves; also, a bill to establish and
define the relations of husband and wife, parent
and child, and master and servant, so far as re
lates to negroes, and to define the term “negro.”
Fifty copies of the bill were ordered to be print
ed.
, Air. Freeman introduced a bill to change the
time of holding the courts in the several counties
of the Western Judicial Circuit.
The special order of the day being a bill to re
peal section 3778 of the Code, and to substitute
another therefor. The object of the bill is to al
low parties to testify in cases where they them
selves are interested, leaving the degree of credit
to be given such testimony to be judged by the
jury. The bill was amended so as to apply to
criminal cases only and passed.
Bill to incorporate the North Georgia Alining
and Alanufactnring Company. Passed.
Bill to incorporate the Cherokee Alining and
Alanufacturing Company. Passed.
Bill to incorporate the Kennesaw Alining and
Alanufacturing Company. Capital $5,000,000.
Passed.
Air. Aloore of the Judiciary Committee report
ed a bill to regulate the relations between mas
ter and servant.
Bill to incorporate the Home Insurance Com
pany of Atlanta. Passed.
A message was received from his Excellency
returning, without his signature, the resolution
making valid contracts between black and white
persons. The Governor thought the resolution
should not be retro active.
Bill to repeal an act in reference to the pay
ment of jurors in the county of Talliaferro.—
Passed.
Bill to repeal section 2635 of the Code and to
substitute another therefor. The bill allows aliens
to hold land in the State, on their filing an affi
davit that it is their intention within one year to
improve the same. Passed.
Bill to incorporate the town of Smithville, in
Lee county. Passed
Mr. Owens introduced a resolution which was
adopted, requesting the Governor to ascertain
whether bonds of the State will be received in
payment of State tax due the United States, and
in case they will answer, to issue and pay over
the same.
BILLS ®N THIRD READING.
Bill for the relief of the Savannah Alutual As
sociation. Passed.
Bill to change the time of holding Ordinaries’
courts from the 2d to the 1st Monday in January
of each year. Passed.
Bill to allow the Phoenix Building Association
aud the Union Building and Loan Association to
resume business. Passed.
Bill to change the line between Early and Alil-
ler counties. Passed.
Bill to amend section 4564 of the Code.—
Passed.
Bill to amend the act incorporating the town
of Quitman. Passed.
Bill to amend section 432 ot the Code. Passed.
Bill to allow all persons unable to work to re
tail spirituous liquors and peddle without li
cense. Lost.
Bill to repeal all anti-distillation laws. Lost
Bill to prescribe (lie mode of carrying cases
from city courts of Augusta, Savannah anil other
cities ot the State to bther courts. Passed.
Bill to give keepers of livery stables lien on
animals. ; • J.
* t s HOUSE.
The House mot at 9 o’clock, A. AI. Prayer by
the. chaplain.
The journal was read and approved.
Leave of absence was granted Air. Dodds, of
Polk.
. NEW MATTEIt.
A bill to allow AI. B. Quillian free transporta
tion on the Western and Atlantic-,Railroad.
A bill to change the county lines of Irwin and
Wilcox counties.
A bill to incorporate the Georgia Paper Mill
Company.
A bill to protect the passengers on the several
railroads of this State.
A bill to authorize the City Council of Newnan
to issue change bills.
A bill to discharge the clerk on Freedmen’s
Affairs, and disband the committee.
A bill to increase the jurisdiction of courts ot
justice.
A bill to pay Daniel B. Sandford for bringing
up the unfinished business of Robert E. Alartin,
clerk of the Supreme Court.
A bill for the relief of maimed soldiers of this
State.
A bill to incorporate the Columbus Insurance
Company.
A bill to change the time of holding the Supe
rior Court of Aluscogee county.
A bill to incorporate the Southern Alining
Company.
Resolution instructing the Finance*Committee
to remit certain taxes. Adopted.
The House adjourned till 3 p. m.
AIelledgville, Feb. 6,1866.
. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer by Rev. S. Brooks.
Ou motion of Mr. Bedford, the action of the
Senate on yesterday, rejecting the bill to repeal
all laws against distillation was reconsidered.
NEW MATTER.
Air. Brown. A bill to prevent the consump
tion of grain by distillers, and to provide for the
seizure and confiscation of the distilleries.
Air. Butter. A resolution instructing the Com
mittee on Public Education to report on the best
method of providing for public education, and
the endowment of the State University.
Air. Ezzard. A bill to allow the Inferior Court
of Milton county to retain the State tax of 1866
and 1867 for the purpose of building a jail, aud
for other purposes.
Air. Freeman. A memorial from a citizen of
Franklin county in relation to a bridge over Hud
son river, the boundary between Franklin and
Madison counties.
Air. Owens. A bill to define the rights of per
son owning landings on rivers; aiso, bill3 to
amend sections 3320, 4792, 4793, and a bill to
amend section 3866 of the Code, so far as relates
to the city of Savannah.
Air. C. H. Smith. A bill to authorize the Alay-
or and City Council of Rome to is3ue change
bills.
Air. Strozier. A bill to regulate the annual re
turns of incorporated companies; also, a bill to
increase the fees* of county officers 75 per cent.
Air. Butler. A resolution to simplify the en
acting and repealing clauses of bills.
BILLS ON TniKD READING.
House bill to sell Hie exile camp. Passed.
Resolution of J. A. W. Johnson to require
change bills of the Western & Atlantic Railroad
to be received for freight and passage on said
road. Passed.
Bill to regulate the administration of estates.
Passed.
Bill to incorporate the Planters’ Loan Associa
tion. The association is to have its office at All
gusta. The object is to lend money to planters
—any rate of interest being allowed that the plan
ter agrees to pay. The bill was amended by re
stricting the association to the legal rate of inter
est by a vote of 21 to 12, and then on motion of
Air. Gibson the bill was indefinitely postponed.
A message was received from his Excellency
informing the Senate that the several banks ot Au
gusta had surrendered their charters. The Gov
ernor appeals to the Legislature for clemency to
wards the officers of these banks. The commu
nication also included a final report of the Geor
gia Relief and Hospital Association. It also re
commended loans by the State to pay the Federal
tax, or to tax the people for that tax, and exempt
them the present year from State tax. The me
morial of the banks included in the message were
ordered to be printed.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
February 5,1866.
The House met at 3 o’clock.
Air. J. J. Jones of Burke introduced a resolu
tion, which was agreed to, that the action of the
House in the afternoon session be conliued to
reading bills the second time.
After reading a number of bills the second
time, the House adjourned till 9 o’clock to-mor
row morning.
HOUSE.
The House met pursuant to adjournment.—
Prayer by the chaplain.
The special order of the day—the abolition of
the Penitentiary system of punishment was taken
up.
Mr. Byrd, of Alitchell, • moved the indefinite
postponement of the bill. Lost.
Air. Starr, of White, introduced a resolution
as a substitute which was adopted, that it is the
sense of the House that the Penitentiary system
and the present system of criminal law should
be so modified as to allow the continuation of
the execution of the latter in such a manner as
will, in the course of a few years, test the supe
riority of the different inodes of punishment.
The Governor sent in a message, which was
read and 500 copies ordered to be printed.
Bill to amend 1st clause of section 954 of the
Code. Passed.
Bill to make it penal to fell trees on another’s
land, and carrying off timber. Passed.
Adjourned.
A Broken Heart.—The following interestin,
case of a literally broken heart was related by a
late distinguished medical professor of Pliiladel
phia, to his class, while lecturing on diseases of
the heart. It will be seen, on perusing it, that
the expression “broken hearted,” is not merely
figurative:
In the early part of lus career Dr. Alitchell ac
companied, as surgeon, a packet that sailed be
tween Liverpool and one of our Southern ports.
On the return voyage, soon after leaving Liver
pool, while the doctor and the captain of the ves
sel, a weather beaten son of Neptune, but pos
sessed of uncommonly fine feelings and strong
impulses, were conversing in the latter’s state
room, the captain opened a large chest, and care
fully took out a number of articles of various de
scriptions, which lie arranged upon a table. Dr.
Mitchell, surprised at the display of costly jewels,
ornaments, dresses, and all the varied pharaplier-
nalia of which ladies are naturally fond, inquired
of the captain his object in having made so many
valuable purchases.
The sailor, in reply, said that tor seven or eight
years he had beeu devotedly attached to a lady,
to whom lie had several times made proposals of
marriage, but was*as often rejected; that her re
fusal to wed him, however, had only stimulated
his love to greater exertion; and that finally upon
renewing his offer, declaring, in the ardency of
his passion, that without her society, life was not
worth living for, she consented to become his
bride upon his return from his next voyage.
He was so oveijoyed at the prospect of a mar
riage irom which, in the warmth of his feelings,
hCprobably anticipated more happiness than is
usually allotted to mortals, that lie spent all his
ready money while in London for bridal gifts.—
Alter gazing at them fondly for some time, and
remarking on them in turn, “I think this will
please Annie,” and “I am sure she will like that,”
lie replored them with the utmost care.
This ceremony lie repeated every day during
the voyage; and the doctor observed a tear glis
ten in liis eye as lie spoke of the pleasure he
would have iu presenting them to his affianced
bride. On reaching liis destination, the captain
arrayed himself with more than usual precision,
and disembarked as soon as possible to hasten to
his love. As lie was about to step into the carriage
awaiting him lie was called aside by two gentle
men who desired to make a communication, the
purport of which was that the lady had proved un
faithful to the trust reposed in her and had married
another, with whom she had decamped shortly
before. Instantly tlic captain was observed to
put liis hand to liis breast and fall heavily to the
ground. He was taken up and conveyed to his
room on the vessel. Dr. AI. was immediately
summoned, but before be reaclien the poor cap
tain he was dead. A post mortem examination
revealed the cause of liis unfortunate disease.—
His heart was found literally twain! The tre
mendous propulsion of blood consequent upon
such a violent nervous thock forced the powerful
muscular tissue assunder, and life was at an end.
The heart was broken.
A San Francisco paper thus refers to a rare
and beautitul spectacle in that city:
Alter nearly twenty-four hours of storm, the
elouds lifted from the horizon just before sunset
on yesterday evening, and revealed to the eyes of
the'San Franciscans a strange and wondrously
beautiful spectacle. As the mist rolled up from
tlie valley of the Alemeda and passed over the
mountain range which bounds our horizon on its
eastern rim, the hills from the green gardens and
orchard lands along their base, up Vo the craggy
summits, were seen clad in thick robes of snow,
which glistened as coldly white in the rays of the
setting snn as that which the wondering traveler
beholds on the peaks of Alont Blanc or the Jung-
fra. Every eye turned to gaze upon the strange
spectacle of mountains of pearl set in borders of
emerald, the white snow above and the bright,
green grass below standing out before the eye in
startling contrast, and each beholder saw some
thing unseen by others. The Switzer saw his
native mountains clad in their robes of majesty ;
tbe son of New England saw the White Moun
tains, or the Green Mountains, once more, and
shivered as ot old, in imagination, under the
touch of the wintry blast; the miner of ’49 saw
the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas, and 3tood once
more young, ambitious and hopefully beside his
rocker on the banks of tbe Yuba—and so on to
tlie end of the chapter. A thousand gazed upon
the spectacle, but no two alike. And now, even
as they gazed, the heavy, dark curtain ot the
cloud trailed its broad fringe ot luminous vapor
over the summits of the range, and disappeared,
while another and more l>eautiful scene unfolded
itself to the vision. Alount Diablo came out of
the mist white as if cut from the purest marble
from foot-hills to topmost peak, and then iu an
instant caught tbe full light of the setting sun
and a flood of soft pink-rose color and carmine
hues flickered and played alternately on every
part of it, crowning the wondrous scene with a
glorv inexpressible, then grew dim and disap-
appeared in the shadows of the night. The child
who witnessed that wondrous spectacle may live
to traverse the whole earth in search of the sub
lime and beautiful without beholding its equal,
and its like may not be seen again in a lifetime
by the dwellers in dust and mud-cursed San Fran
cisco.
Gen. Spinner, of the Treasury Department,
has mailed to Europe for collection three cap
tured drafts, of £50 each, drawn by Col. Harrison,
of Air. Jefferson Davis’ militaiy' family, and in
dorsed by Brown, Shipley & Co., the Confederate
bankers in Liverpool
The District of Cordova, Mexico.
The following document will possess interest
| for suchtti contemplate emigrating to AIexico:
lion, M. F. Maury, Imperial Commissioner of
Colonization: Sir: The undersigned have the
honor to submit the following report:
Immediately tiller our appointment wc pro
ceeded to the District of Cordova, in tlie State
of Yera Cruz, for the purpose of examining the
lands owned by tlie Government in tlnifDis
trict,
We have visited and examined tlie haciendas
and lands,jn said district, mentioned in tlic de
cree of 5tli September, 1865. They are situated
upon the nineteenth parallel ot north latitude,
upon a plain which descends from tlie region of
perpetual snows, auil within twenty or thirty
miles of the snow-eapped peak of Orizava. The
altitude of this plain is about twenty-eight hun
dred and fitly feet above tlie level ot the sea;
giving a climate which is positively delightful,
where it is qcvcr tod warm to wear cloth clothes
and sleep under a blanket with comfort, and rarely
fold enough to require an overcoat. We are hi-
formed by intelligent men, who have lived in the
country for many years, that tlie extreme varia
tions of tlie thermometer will not exceed twenty
degrees.
The soil is extremely fertile and highly pro
ductive, abounding in every variety of tropical
fruit, and of the finest quality, yielding under tbe
present very imperfect system ot’ c ultivation large
crops of corn, barley, rice, tobacco, sugar-cane
and coffee of an excellent quality. Under a
proper system of cultivation we are satisfied that
these lands may be made to produce equal to any
that we have ever seen.
We find mahogany, cedar, oak, anil other
valuable timber, in the forest, while the orange,
lemon, lime, fig, guava and vanilla grow luxuri
antly in the woods.
These lands tire, in our own opinion, admira
bly adapted to the purposes of colonization. Con
sidering soil, climate, location and variety of
crops, we know of no better, if indeed we have
ever seen so desirable a country tor agricultural
pursuits; some of them lie upon, and all in reach
of the railroad from Vera Cruz to the city , of
AIexico, the most distant being within twelve (12)
miles of the road, and about seventy (TO) miles
from the city of Vera Cruz, and from fifteen (15)
to twenty (20) miles from Pasaclel Alacho, to
which point the road is now in operation.
We are assured by the people of the country
that two crops of corn can be grown ou the same
land each year, and from what we have seen we
are satisfied that the custom of the country is to
raise a crop of com and a crop of tobacco on tlie
same land, the corn ripening before the usual
time for tobacco planting.
Coffee'is extensively and profitably.cultivated
in the immediate vicinity of these lauds. The
excellent quality of the coffee grown here in
times past, gave it high rank in the coffee market •
of the world.
The cultivation of tlie coffee crop is simple, '
easy and cheap, producing ordinarily from one
thousand, (1,000) to fifteen hundred (1,500) pounds
per acre.
The absence of any local cause for disease, and
tlie report and robust appearance of tlie people
living upon this plain, give ample assurance as to
tlie health of tlic country.
The engineers are at this time engaged in sur
veying the lands referred to. It is believed they
will complete the survey within a week or ten
days, when their settlement will commence by
about thirty (30) American immigrants. Who
are now here, waiting tlie completion of tlie
survey. Immediately upon seeing these immi
grants furnished with lands, we will proceed to
the examination of the Zonyalica and Jalapa
lands, upon which, we hope to be able to report
Very soon.. Respectfully submitted
Sterling Price,
John Perkins,
I. G. Harris,
Cordova, November 13,1865.
The thrilling adventure of a Cincinnati
traveling agent at a eountry hotel is thus told by
the Cincinnati Commercial :
A short time since the traveling agent for a '
large publishing house in this city had occasion
tp “put up” at a country hotel, aud, as usual with
him, examined the lock of his room door before
retiring. Finding it satisfactory, lie drew out bis
revolver and his wallet, and proceeded to count
the money, of which lie lmd a large sum, collect
ed from agents of the house for which lie travel
ed, throughout the country. This interesting
process was undergone by tlie light of a “tallow
dip,” and occupied nearly half an hour, at the
expiration of which time the traveler prepared
to go to bed, first by looking under that article of
furniture—a habit usually indulged iu by sojourn
ers at couutry taverns, especially when carrying
fat purses—and secondly, by untying the strings
of liis buffalo overshoes.
Now, it happened that our traveler was one of
those practical fellows who try to “kill two birds
with one stone,” and he tried to untie bis over
shoes and look under the bed at the same time.
As lie did so his eyes encountered the huge pro
portions of a massive human head anil shoulders
protruding from a heterogeneous collection of ,
bandboxes and nameless lumber stowed away
there, and a cold sweat broke out simultaneous]}'
and instantaneously over his body, at tlie bare
thought of being murdered and robbed by such a
giant.
Not a moment was to he lost, for he felt that
the would-be robber aucl assassin saw that lie
was seen. The traveler seized his money and liis
revolver at the same instant, and in a voice, trem
ulous, we were going to say, with fear, lie de
manded the vilain to come forth. No reply.
Ah ! thought the traveler, the rascal is going
to shoot me, and quick as lightning lie cocked
his weapon and banged away at the gigantic
head under the bed, and then rushed for tlie door,
and called tor help.
The report of the pistol already alarmed the
house, and the landlord, tlie occupants of adjoin
ing rooms, and several loungers from the bar
room, rushed toward the scene of excitement.
The traveler was thought to tie crazy, for there
lie stood, liis eyes starting from tlieir spheres, Ids,
liair on end, and liis trembling band grasping the
revolver,- while liis- bloodless lips murmured,
“I’ve plugged him, sure! I’ve plugged him, sure!”
He pointed under the bed with liis revolver, and
the landlord, catching a glimpse of the situation'
stooped down, with the candle, and drew forth a
bronze bust of Daniel Webster, with a bullet-
hole through the forehead.
The murder was out, and no amount ot ex
planation could save the cruel crowd from laugh
ing at the traveler, nor keep them from calling
for numberless drinks at bis expense that night.
How AIen “Bust Up.”—Men with unassuming
wives never fail. It is the husband ot such
women as Airs. Dash and Lady Brilliant who
find themselves face to face with the Sheriff and
certain mysterious documents adorned with red
tape and a wafer big enough for target exercise.
The desire of a New York feminine is to out
shine her neighbors—not in mental acquirements,
but in gingerbread ornaments and gold-edged
scuttles. If Airs. Dash gets up a game supper—
■woodcocks stuffed with gold dust—Lady Brilli
ant takes the wind out of her sails by getting.up
another, in which the prevailing dish will be
birds of paradise swimming in gravy made of
melted pearls. It is this rivalry, and not “dab
bling in railroad stock,” that brings ruination to
the last men of Wall street. The “illfortuuq” qf
which they so much complain, is no more nor
leas than a brainless wife. If they would come
back to happiness, they must direct their atten
tion, not to the fluctuations of the stock market,
but the ruinous absurdities of their own firesides.
Thousand dollar repasts don’t pay, while tlie
merchant who purchases one hundred dollar
handkerchiefs for a “duck of a wife,” should not
wonder if the time eventually comes when a
“goose ot a husband,” will lack shirts, or be but
illy supplied with them.
Labor in Texas.—A Southerner who has
traveled extensively in Texas, writes to the Mem
phis Post:
I was very much pleased with the progress .of
the labor system in Texas. It is, in my opinion
in a more settled state than any other portion of
the country. Laborers get from ten to twenty-
five dollars per month, in specie, with plenty to
eat anil good clothes. The sclioojs areselt-sup-
porting, and are making rapid progress. On the
whole I see a great ileal to be thankful for in
Texas. God grant that the other States may
soon have their eyes opened, so that the suicidal
policy ot attempting to force upon tlie negro a
system of peonage, which, if.carried into effeet,
would eventually work tlie ruin of both the
whites and blacks of the South, may be uban- ,
tloned. :
Notwithstanding the announcement that
the French troops are to be withdrawn front
Mexico, we hear of the embarkation at Toulon
of two or three thousand more troops for that
country.
t
