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-ERROR CEASES To BE DANGEROUS WHEN REASON IS LEFT TREE TO COMBAT IT.’’—Jefferson. VOLUME XVIII. ATLANTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12,1866. NUMBER 49. UkchlQ Jntflligrnrrr. PUBLISHED DAILY AM) WEEKLY BY JARED IRWIN WHITAKER, Proprlclor. ATLANTA, GEORGIA, Wednesday, December 12, 1866. The Keller Kill. Wc lay before our readers to-day, the bill to be entitled an act lor the relief of the people of (Jeorgia, and to prevent the levy and sale of pro- j>oriy under certain circumstances, as it passed the House of Representatives on the 1st instant, a substitute for the Senate bill to the same end. Perhaps the provisions of the bill are looked to by the people of our State with more interest than any other measures before the present Gen eral Assembly, and it is lor this reason, although it has not yet passed the Senate, that wc lay it at once, as it passed the House, before our readers. It will be found in another column. “Kcnlnrky Baptlat Keller Aaaoclatlon.” The attention of our readers is directed to the article which appears in to-day's paper, headed as alwvc, over the signatures ol a committee of the “ First Baptist Church,” of this city. The noble spirit displayed by the “ Kentucky Baptist Relief Association ” to the poor of this city and other portions of the South, will ever be remem bered by the mi tiering recipients of their bounty, us well as by those upon whom Providence has been more gracious in its wise dispensations. A Stale (•t’olof'lmt. Wc trust that the hill introduced into the House of Representatives in the early partof its session, providing for the appointment of a State Geolo gist, or some other measure to the same end, will be adopted and become a law, ere the General Assembly of our State shall adjourn its present session. The most important interests of the State demand the appointment of such an officer. These arc now its agricultural and mining inter ests. In the development of these, Georgia will soon attain her former prosperity, and as they are developed, manufactories will spring up in utmost every county of the State, and an impetus given to every industrial pursuit and enterprise that will bear iter onward to the position she so proudly occupied previous to the war. The ap pointment of a State Geologist will he the initia tive to a revelation of Georgia's greatest resources. Her mountains teem with mineral wealth, her plains and her valleys are rich in soils capable of producing every want of man. Let the Geolo gist, go forth, and, guided by science, let him tell where the soil is easiest of culture and most pro ductive, and where, in greatest abundance, the valuable minerals, the coal, and the marble, lay deposited 1 We trust the Legislature will hasten to inaugurate the good work. Tliv Kentucky Baptl.t Keller A«.oclation. The following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted at a Conference Meeting of the First Baptist Church of this city, Decem ber 2, 1866: The committee, whose duty it was made at the rtonforeuce held by this church, December 1,18t>0, to dratt suitable resolutions expressive of the thanks of the church for the large and liberal donations made by the people of Kentucky to the destitute poor of this city and other portions of .air distressed land, beg leave to offer the lot- lowing preamble and resolutions: Whereas, The people of the State of Ken tucky have, within themselves, organized an as sociation known as “The Kentucky Baptist Re lict Association,” for the holy and Christian pur pose of furnishing supplies of clothing and pro visions to the sufloriug poor ot our city, and other portions ot the South, he it therefore unan imously Resolved, By the First Baptist Church of At lanta, in conference assembled, that, deeply sen sible of the Christian spirit and benevolent inten tion of the people of the State of Kentucky, in their recent noble and generous action in fur nishing supplies ot clothing and provisions to the vast number of suffering poor of our destitute section, wo recognize the highest evidences of those exalted impulses and pious sentiments so characteristic of our Divine Religion; and, in hchalt ot the poor and destitute among us, whose hearts have been made to rejoice, we, the First Baptist Church ot Atlanta, moved by the loveliest appreciation ot the laudable object of “The Kentucky Baptist Relict Association,” ten der it, and through it the people of Kentucky, our sincere and heart-felt thanks, praying God, the Giver of all, that lie may bless them “an hun dred fold in this lite,” and give them, in the life to conic, eternal lelicity. Resolved, That the special thanks of the church are due, and are hereby tendered the officers ot “The Kentucky Baptist Relief Association.”— We would express our grateful acknowledge ments to Rev. W. II. Felix, President; Rev. S. S. Helm, Corresponding Secretary; Rev. Pope Yeam&n. General Agent; Mr. Ilenry Gilbert, Treasurer of the association, for their Christian devotion to the objects of the organization ; and to Messrs. Warren Mitchell A Co., of Louisville, Kentucky, who for their personal efforts in su perintending the transportation of supplies through their city, are entitled to, and should re ceive our warmest thanks. We also tender our silicon.' thanks to the various railroad companies for their generous action in transporting the sup plies of the association free of charge. The foregoing resolutions of thanks apply equally to Doctors NM Crawtord and Thomas Ramhaut, formerly of Georgia, now of Ken tucky,. (.although having no official connection with the association,) for having devoted their liest exertions for the promotion of the objects of the association. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the President of “The Kentucky Baptist lieliet Associationthat a copy be fur nished the city papers for publication ; and that they In? spread upon our minutes. W. T. Goldsmith, ^ The General Ancmblj and the Date State j The attention of the Committee has also been c ommUaarjr Department. j defected to the accounts against the State for During the late war, the Commissary Depart ment of this State was presided over by Col. Jared I. Whitaker, the proprietor of this jour nal. It was an office of high responsibility and I office rent, and other incidental expenses held by 1 Colonel Whitaker, and for services rendered by him since the war, and which have accrued by i reason of directions given to him bv the late trust, and was conferred by Governor Brown, j 1WisioBal Govemor> aud bv tlie Pin:ince Com- tbe then Execute of the State, upon its re- j mjUee rajsed by direction of ' the ]ate State Con- A. K. Seaoo, I Committee. John J. Thrasher. ) Annexation of the Provinces.—The New York limes of the 1st. has the tollowing in reler- eisce to the annexation of the British Provinces to this country, reports of which have been cur rent for some time past: We have had repeated announcements by tel egraph that annexation meetings were convened in different parts of the neighboring Provinces. It has to be noticed that in every case these re ports have been followed by a specific contradic tion. It may be that then' is a stronger annexa tion feeling in British America than appears on the surface of political movements there. But the project is not likely to he advanced by rumors and reports which are utterly without foundation. A constant repetition of such telegrams, more over, has a tendency to create the false impression abroad that we arc steadily looking with the most eager expectancy for territorial acquisitions on our Northern frontier. Whatever may be the origin of the rejairts in question, they have no inspiration from loyal quarters here. It is most likely they arc a part of the O’Neil scheme of in vasion ; and that scheme will yet Ik? found, in so far as it had any political significance, to be of a kindred character with the old rebel attempt to involve our Government in some dispute with & foreign power. Fire.—A fire occurred in New \ork on Fri day night which destroyed an oil warehouse with seven thousand barrels ol oil. Loss estimated at $100,000. cipient, who reluctantly accepted the same, only influenced at the time he did so, by the patriotic conviction that every Georgian owed, in that time of peril, service to his State. At great self-sacri fice, in the abandonment of his professional, and other pursuits, Col. Whitaker proceeded at Mice to organize his department, and otherwise entered actively upon the discharge of his official duties. During the wliole of the war these were most laborious and onerous, and when to them were added, by direction of the Govexnor, the extra-official labor of supplying the soldiers’ families and the destitute of the State with salt, from the Virginia Salt Works, there were im posed upon Col. Whitaker an amount of labor and responsibility which only those few in official position can appreciate who have investigated the affairs of his department, or who have been con nected therewith. To say, when the day came up on which he surrendered the high trust conferred upon him, lie came out ot it with clean hands, and at the sacrifice of no interest, save his own, is what is testified to, not only by the Finance Commit tee, raised by direction of the late State Conven tion, but by the present General Assembly of the State. Col. Whitaker, in his management of the State Commissary Department, bad no “itch ing palm ; ” not a dollar of the public money Inis he left unaccounted for; not a sack of salt nor a pound of meat remains in doubt as to its proper disposition; not a disbursement, but has its up proved voucher. With this clear and perfect re cord, one that commends him to all good and honorable men, Col. Whitaker has not escaped slander, and .impotent as it has proved, it is yet proper in us to lay before our readers, and before the people of Georgia, the legislative testimonial to his integrity and to the services which he has rendered his native State, that the slanderer may be exposed and rebuked. Hence, we take great pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to the “ Report and Re solutions adopted by the General Assembly on the final settlement with the late State Commis sary General ” which appears in another part of this day’s issue of the Intelligencer, properly certified by its officers. These embrace not only a complete vindication of Col. Whitaker against all charges aud insinuations that have been made against him, but are mo§t compliment ary in their recognition of his services to the State during the late war, in his conduct and management of its Commissary Department.— We are pleased, too, to see it reported by the Mil ledgeville correspondents for the press, that Gov ernor Jenkins has approved and affixed his signature to the resolutions which appear in these columns, subjoined to the Report of the Joint Committee that made it, and to which we again call the attention of our readers. Keport and Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly on the Final Settle ment with the Late State Commissary General. Mr. Hill ot Fulton, from the Joint Special Committee made the following report: Mr. SrEAKER: The Joint Committee to whom was referred, by resolution, so much of the Gov ernor’s message addressed to the General Assem bly, on the 12th inst. as relates to the books, ac counts,vouchers, aud Confederate Treasury notes, returned to the Executive Department, by Col. Jared 1. Whitaker, Commissary ^General ot the State, during the late war, with notice of certain articles of State property in his possession at Atlanta, and ot a balance due said officer for office rent and other incidental expenses, beg leave to submit the following REPORT. The Committee, in joint session, have examin ed the books and papers transmitted by Col. Whitaker, the late Commissary General of the State, to the Executive Department, and which, thc3 r are gratified to state, constitute a complete and neat record of the business proper, and the extra official duties imposed on that officer dur ing^ his term of service up to tin; close of the war, and since, by direction, as well of Provi sional Governor Johnson, as of the Finance Committee raised by direction of the late State Convention. These books and papers, con tain valuable State statistical information and boirtg evidence of the aforesaid Commissary General’s faithful conduct of liis department during the late war, the committee recommend that the same be deposited with the Secretary of State, with directions that they be preserved among the other State archives for future refer ence, deeming them important to that end, as furnishing valuable information in regard to the services of Georgia’s noble sons in the late war, as ol the bounty of the State to the widows and orphans, of her gallant dead, as well as to thou sands of those made indigent by its sad calami ties. These books and papers are embraced in tlie following list, to wit: commissary records. One warrant book containing copies ot Execu tive warrants, on account of Commissary Stores and Virginia Salt. One Cash Book with proper vouchers. One Cash Quarterly Account Current Book. Two Books showing the purchases, issues, and sales of Commissary Stores. One Book showing the receipts and issues of subsistence. One Book showing the sale of Commissary Salt to the Interior Courts in tlie early part ot 1862, for the destitute'of their counties. One large Book containing extracts ot letters received. Seven Letter Books containing copies of letters sent ofl. Tlie Monthly and Quarterly reports of the Commissary General and his Assistant Cornmis- sarvs, with proper vouchers and. certificates. Official bonds and original letters. Also the following Records and Papers, show ing the receipts and issues of Salt from the ir- ginia Salt Works," to soldiers' lamilies, from 31st July, 1S62, to the close of the war, to-ieit: One Cash Book with proper vouchers. One Cash Quarterly Aceotmt Current Book. One Book showing abstract of Salt received and issued. One Book showing the distribution of Salt tr the Inferior Courts of the State for soldiers’ fam ilies and special issues. Three large Books, numbered one, two, and three, containing a complete record ot the names of soldiers' families, as furnished by the Courts, and to whom Salt was issued. The Monthly and Quarterly reports of the Commissary General and the Salt Agents, with proper vouchers and certificates. The official bonds of the Agents, the original letters and list of names of soldiers’ families. With regard to the Confederate Treasury Notes returned by Colonel Whitaker, as per his report to the Finance Committee, as balance due the ] State, and w hich they find to be correct, your Committee recommend that the same be deposit ed with the State Treasurer, and that they be burned by that officer as suggested in the mes sage of His Excellency, the Governor. vention, and conceiving them to be just, we re commend that they be examined and audited by the Comptroller General of the State, and when so audited, that tlie Governor draw his warrant on the Treasurer for the amount, charging the same to the contingent fund. ' With regard to the property of the State re ported by Colonel Whitaker to be in his posses sion at Atlanta, your Committee recommend that the Governor cause the same to he sold, and to deposit the nett proceeds thereof iu the State Treasury. Before closing this report your Committee deem it but an act of justice to Colonel Jared I. Whitaker, the late State Commissary Gen eral, to express their high gratification at the testimony borne by the late Finance Committee to his official integrity and ability, and the faith fulness with which he discharged the arduous and onerous duties imposed upon him by reason of his official position during the late war. It is this which entitles Colonel Whitaker, as the Governor iu his message remarks, “ to have this whole business closed, and to a final acquitance and discharge.” Your Committee therefore re commend the adoption of tlie subjoined resolu tions. J. F. Johnson, Chairman Senate Committee. Thos. W. J. Hill, Chairman House Committee. RESOLCTIONS. Resolved by Ihe General Assembly of the State of Georgia: 1st. That the thanks of the people of Georgia are due, and are hereby tendered to Col. Jared I. Whitaker, late Commissary General of this State, for his eminent ability and faithfulness in the discharge of his official duties during the late war. 2d. That the books of the late Commissary General, together with the vouchers and accom panying papers, be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, and that the Confederate Treasury. Notes, returned by him as a balance due the State, be deposited with the State Treasurer, and be by him burned. 3d. That the property of the State, reported by Col. Jared I. Whitaker to be in his pos session at Atlanta, be sold by direction of His Excellency, the Governor, and the nett proceeds thereof be paid into the State Treasuty. 4th. That the Comptroller General be required to examine the accounts of Col. Whitaker for office rent, and other incidental expenses, which have accrued since the war, by direction of the Provisional Governor and the late State Finance Committee, and, upon finding them correct, that he audit the same, and that the Governor be re quired to draw his warrant on the Treasurer for the amount, charging the same to the contingent fund for the year 1867. In House.—Report taken up and agreed to November 24, 186G. J. D. Waddell, Clerk House of Representatives. Resolutions adopted November 26, 1866. J. D. Waddell, Clerk Bonsp of Represent a*.ires. In Senate.—Concurred in November 26,1866. John B. Weems, Sec’y Senate. Tlie Vote for Congress. A friend, writing from Calhoun, thinks we have done Colonel Little injustice in the pub lished returns of the vote for Congress hereto fore made. We published the scattering vote just as it was sent to the office. Of course we could not say anything of the result in counties from which no returns had been received. He states Colonel Little’s majority in Gordon county to be two hundred and twenty-five. If our friend at Calhoun, or other parties, will furnish us with the official returns of the respective counties, we will publish them with pleasure. But it will be hardly worth while to refer to the matter again, until the official vote is received. Since the above was in type, we have received the Rome Courier of the 6th, which contains the following, and which we copy without knowing whether the figures are entirely accurate; We learn through a friend at Calhoun—Colonel Little’s residence—that tlie returns he has re ceived up to the 4th instant foot up as follows : Little .' S50 Hambleton 597 Printnp 5t>7 Tlie writer had heard from all the counties ex cept Chattooga aud the outside precincts of Cher okee aud Walker. lie states that Little received nearly the entire vote of Dade, Whitfield, Catoosa, Murray, Walker aud Gordon. The polls were not opened at Kingston, Car- tersville nor Allatoona, and probably no other in Bartow county. The vote of Chattooga gives Little 17 plural ity above Hambleton. The Government Revenue.—It is stated in advices from Washington, that the Radicals will make a determined and persistent effort to de tach tiie entire control of the government rev enue from the Executive, in order that they may possess greater facilities for plunder and spoils. From the foreshadowings already made, there is uothing at which the Radical majority will hesi tate, and it is evident that the leaders have made up their minds either to control the whole ma chinery of government, or to utterly destroy it. Sumner has so avowed, Stevens has so avowed, and so have the rest of the leaders, and what they dictate, the balance will subscribe to; “The hounds will hearken to the huntsman’s halloo, Aud where he points the duteous pack will follow." The Pope.—The religious journals of Paris insist strongly that the Pope cannot possibly, with any regard for his safety, remain at Rome after the departure of the French troops. Should His Holiness not resolve to take his departure of his own free will, circunlstances, they assert, will speedily after lead to his expulsion. In conse quence, those journals not. only urge the Holy Father to depart, but affect to look on that course as decided on. Then comes the question, “ Where will the Head of the Church go ? ” And on that point there is the greatest diversity of opinion. A Good Decision.—The Supreme Court of Missouri has decided the question as to what are the powers of County Clerks in correcting elec tion returns and issuing certificates of election. The court declares the power of clerks to be simply ministerial, and in no case judicial; that Milledgeville, Monday, Dec. 3. In the House of Representatives, this morning in the absence of Colonel Waddell, who is con fined to liis room by sickness, Mr. J. B. Estes, the very efficient and attentive assistant of Colonel Waddell, was appointed clerk pro. tem. of the House. taxes on lands. Alter the reading of the journal of Saturday, the bill w hich had lieen made the special order for tlie day, was taken up. This is a bill to regu late the manner of giving in land for taxation, and the sale and redemption thereof. It was passed this morning by tlie House. The bill re quires the Comptroller General to have published a sufficient number of maps of lands which have been surveyed, to enable him to furnish each Re ceiver with two copies embracing all the lands in his count!', and one copy to tile in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court. The Receiver is to make a separate digest of lauds in his county which have not been returned, unless in a town or city, designating them as improved or unim proved, and lorward 4 copy of such digest to the Comptroller General*/* Improved lands not re turned are to be assessed, and the tax collected as now required by law r . Lands are to be returned by district, number, and section. Improved lands having a tenant are to be returned in the county where the land lies. Persons owning unimproved lauds not in the county of their residence, are to. make returns to tlie Comptroller General or to the Receiver of the county in which the land lies. Tlie bill provides for the sale of unimproved lands not given in after notice by advertisement for sixty days by the Comptroller General, to the owners of the lands. The owner is to be allow ed the privilege of redeeming the lands so sold for two years, by payment of the purchase money aud costs with interest at the rate of ten per cent. jailors’ fees. The House has also passed a bill, conferring upon the Inferior Courts of the several counties the power ot fixing the fees of jailors for dieting prisoners confined in jail on any ground what ever. Tlie House passed a bill amending-the provi sions ot the Code in regard to juries in divorce cases, and legalizing judgments and decrees in such cases heretofore rendered, by the summons of extra jurors. Several local and private bills were also passed by the House, and a few new bills were intro duced. SENATE PROCEEDINGS. A very considerable amount of business was transacted in the Senate this morning, the session being prolonged until two o’clock. There was no measure of very great importance acted upon. Mr. Redding, from the Standing Committee on the Penitentiary, made a report which was order ed to be printed for the use of the Senate. Sev-. eral new bills were introduced, mainly local in their character. Mr. J. A. W. Johnson offered a resolution requiring the Superintendent of the Western & Atlantic rYlroad to issue change bills iu denominations not less* than fifty cents, nor larger than three dollars, to the amount ol three thousand dollars, for the purpose of enabling him to buy andpay for the wood that has been crowd ed on the line of the mad, and for the cross-ties that have been hauled to the road. These bills are redeemable in tlir j^.ears in currency, and in the meantime, are to be made receivable by the road for fare and freight. The Senate passed the .bill introduced a few days ago to prevent insurrection or attempt at insurrection by the convicts of the Penitentiary and the chain gang. The bill to authorize the Governor to issue bonds of the State in lieu of old bonds issued prior to the war, and which matured during the war, and were re-invested during that period, was ordered to be printed, and was made the special order for Friday, the 7th inst. The Senate passed a bill to authorize Ordina ries to grant letters and leave to sell land in cer tain cases without publication of citation. Also, a re-considered bill defining the liability of stockholders of banks. The local bills originating in the Senate, and those from the House that were passed by the Senate, would have interest for but a small number ot your readers sufficient to require the. space that a notice of them would occupy.— Such of them as become laws will be referred to in future letters. H. Milledgeville, Tuesday, Dec. 4. In the House of Representatives this morning several bills passed yesterday were re-considered. Among them was a bill to compensate Messrs. Boughton, Nisbet, Barnes, and Moore, the pro prietors of the Federal Union, for Public Printing of 1864 and 1865. It seems that these gentlemen received, on the 9th of May, 1865, State Treasury notes for their warrant on the Treasurer, which they intended to keep as evidence of indebted ness, and have kept till this time, in sheets as they were received. This is certainly a case of great hardship, and on the question as to whether paj-ment ought to be made, there w r ould probably be little difference of opinion. A message was received fi|pm the Governor, communicating his assent to the act incorpo rating the Chestatee Fluming and Mining Com pany ; to the resolution for the pardon of R. W* Chaffin, aud to the 1 resolution relative to the il lustrious State prisoner, Jefferson Davis. The House passed a substitute for the bill to allow executors and administrators of other States and Territories to qualify aud act as such in this State in certain cases. The bill to extend the aid of the State to the completion of the Muscogee Railroad was lost. senate proceedings. In the Senate, this morning, several new bills were offered, among them, one by Mr. J. F. Johnson, to form a new county out of the coun ties of Coweta, Meriwether, Spalding and Fay ette. Several bills of a local character were pass ed. A bill was also passed amendatory of the stay law ; also a bill amending section 980 of the Code, by striking out the words, ‘*of which he is a resident.” This section relates to the distribu tion of the laws and journals. Also a bill to provide for the selection of a judge in certain cases. A resolution authorizing the Superintendent of the State Road to receive, in payment of dues, certain change-bills issued by the road, was re ferred to the Judiciary Committee. A bill was passed incorporating the Albany and Atlantic Railroad Company. The reconsidered bill for they must count the votes as returned bv the tlie pardon of Creed T. Wise, a convict in the judges of election, and issue certificates to the J Penitentiary, for the crime of murder, was pass- party receiving the highest number ot votes.— The question of the legality of votes to be de cided by the courts or Legislature, as the case mav be. Brooklyn, New York—Brooklyn has for years been styled the “ City of Churches." Yet, no place of its population can show a greater amount of crime. The following item dates trom that city, December 3d; A11 outrageous outrage was perpetrated early yesterday morning in Brooklyn by a gang of ruffians, who entered a house occupied fry a num ber of sewing girls, and having robbed the in mates, seized the terrified women and subjected _ihem to the most revolting indignities. All were outraged in a horrible manner.^ Several arrests have been made. • ed by the Senate on a rote of yeas 31, nays 5. senate bills in the house. At the afternoon session of yesterday, the House passed Senate bills incorporating the Lumpkin Manufacturing Company; lor the re lief of Albert Fields, of Dougherty county; and a bill to change section 2500 of the Code, so as to authorize administrators, executors and guar dians to compromise all contested or doubtful claims for or against their estates or wards, to submit such matters to arbitration, to release a debtor if to the interest of the estate or ward, Ac. The House passed, with amendments, the Senate bill to so modify the existing State laws against lotteries as to allow E. P. Watkins and others to have a series of drawings for the pur pose of educating tlie cliildren of destitute, and the orphans of deceased soldiers. This last bill was re-considered this morning, and upon being again put upon its passage, was rejected. STATE AID TO THE MACON & BRUNSWICK RAIL ROAD. For several days past, great iuterest aud much anxiety have been felt in regard to the action of the Governor upon the bill which has passed both Houses, for the extension of State aid for the completion of the Macon & Brunswick Railroad. This morning, in the House of Representatives, a message was received from tlie Governor noti fying that body that he had assented to and signed the bill, and the supplemental and explan atory resolutions. By the provisions of the bill, the State is to endorse the bonds of the company to the amount of ten thousand dollars per mile of every mile of the road finished and in complete running order; the road to be free from all ens, mortgages or other incumbrances which may en danger the security of the State. The endorse ment not only vests in the State the title to all property purchased with the bonds until pay ment of the bonds, blit also operates as a prior lien or mortgage upon all the property of the company. On failure of the company to pay the bonds at maturity, or the iuterest when due, the Governor is to take possession of the road and all its property, and apply the proceeds from the earnings of the road and the sale of the road, and other property, to the payment of the bonds and coupons. By the supplemental resolutions the bonds are not to be sold at a greater discount than ten per cent., and it is made the duty of the company to set apart two per cent, of the amount of the endorsed bonds as a sinking fund to be in vested in State bonds and used for the payment of the bonds of the company. I send you herewith a copy of the Governor’s message, containing his reasons for signing the bill and resolutions, and a frank expression of his convictions on the whole question of the ex pediency and policy of State aid. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT. As ihe constitutional time of forty days pre scribed for the session ot the Legislature, there remain but six working days. The mass of busi ness remaining to be acted on is so heavy, that the general opinion is, that it is impossible to ac complish the work properly in one week. By a tw'o-thirds vote of both Houses the session may be prolonged. The prevailing impression is that this will be done so as to’extend the time for a few days. The choice is between doing this and leaving a large number of bills without taking action upon them. A strong argument is. used for continuing the session for a short time longer; It is urged that every member who has proposed a measure in behalf of his constituency or for the general good ot the State, has a right to have it voted upon and either passed or rejected. SUPREME COURT. The Supreme Court is now in session in this city, the winter term having been commenced on'yesterday, the first Monday in December.— There is a full bench, Judges Lumpkin, Harris, Walker, being all present at the opening of the term. There is, as I am informed, a very wrr-~ siderable number of cases to be determined at this session of the court. The docket from the Southwestern Circiut was first in order. Only one case was argued yesterday. BLUE RIDGE CIRCUIT SOLICITOR GENERAL. Your readers will have seen by the proclama tion of His Excellency, Governor Jenkins that quite a uumberof Judges of the Supreme Court and Solicitors General are to he elected on the first Wednesday in January next. I take pleas ure in enclosing the announcement of C. J. Well born, Esq., 'of Blairsville, Union county, as a candidate for the office of Solicitor General of the Blue Ridge Circuit. Mr. W. is a gentleman of ability, industry and high integrity. He has the experience derived from some six or eight years practice at the bar, and will, if elected, make an efficient public officer, careful of the State’s interests and faithful in the performance of his duties. H. The Price of Cotton.—A good authority estimates the want of the world at 5,500,000 bales. Putting down the South for 2,000,000 bales— which is above the mark—the East Indies for 600,000, Egypt for 800,000, and Brazil for 130,000 bales, gives a supply of only 3,030,000 bales. Setting the stocks on hand at the beginning of the year against the stocks that will be on hand at the close, we have then a deficiency of 2,000,- 000 bales. The price of cotton must advance, and it will probably advance more in proportion than the lack of supply would seem at first sight to require. It is considered erroneous to suppose that the price of an article of consumption ad vances in the proportion that the supply recedes If the supply of flour, for instance, were to di minish oDe-half, the effect would be to raise the price more than double. Some think it is more fair to presume that it would be quadrupped in market value. Be that as it may, cotton must advance, provided the currency remains as it is. That Picture and This.—A Jacobin paper gets off the following as a climax: Get rich by gambling, and run for Congress on the Democratic ticket. The Hartford Times paints a companion piece as follows ; You mean, make a million by robbing cotton and sugar planters in Louisiana, under pretense that their crops were “wanted by the Govern ment,” and then, after plundering all the women of New Orleans of their silver spoons, come back to Massachusetts, squat yourself upon the strongest Radical district in the State (for fear of defeat in any other), and get elected to Congress. No wonder the boys in the street cry “spoons!” to such a candidate, and hit him in the stomach with rotten apples. Massachusetts.—Bulloch, the bovine Gov ernor of Massachusetts, refused to recognize the late proclamation of President Johnson appoint ing a day for Thanksgiving and Prayer. If there is any little, petty, spiteful thing to be done, you may count with certainty upon find- in a Radical official equal to the occasion. A Bill To be entitled An Act for relief of the Peojte of Georgia, and to prevent the lery and safe of property, under cer tain circumstances—passed by the House <f Hcpresenta- tires Decanter 1,1SGG, as a substitute for the Senate bill. Sec. 1. Ik it enacted. That' there shall be no levy or sale of property of defendants, in tills State, under any execution founded on any judg ment, order, or decree, of any court, heretofore or hereafter to be rendered, iqion any contract or liability made, or incurred, prior to the first of June, 1865, or in renewal thereof, though bearing a subsequent date, except in the following man ner : for one-third of the principal and interest due on said execution, and no more, which may be levied on or after the first of January, 1868; one-third of the whole, on or after the first day ot January, 1869 ; and the remaining one-third, on or after the first of January, 1870, unless the defendant shall endorse on the execution a waiv- •er of the benefits of this act. Provided, when a voluntary payment shall be made on any debt, judgment or execution, the amount so paid shall ] be deducted from the one-third authorized to be levied by this act. Sec. 2. That this act shall not apply to execu tions for costs, nor to rules against officers for money, nor to any process against persons hold ing money or effects, as bailees; nor to execu tors, administrators, or guardians, or other fidu ciaries, to the extent which they may have converted the estate into cash, and failed to pay out the proceeds in due course ot administration. Nor to cases where plaintiff, his or her agent or attorney, shall make oath that defendant resides beyond the limits of the State, or is about to re move from the State, or lias absconded, is ab sconding, has removed, or is removing his pro perty, or fraudulently conveying, secreting or concealing the same, to avoid the payment ot his just debts. Nor to orders for alimony and fines, for neglect of road duty, or processes, issued by the Ordinary, for the support ot widows and or phans. Nor to express companies, nor to rail road companies, in cases where (hey are respon sible by existing law s for goods lost, or stock destroyed, by said corporate companies. Pro vided, that nothing in this act shall be so con strued as to prohibit persons from carrying property or produce from one county to another, for the purpose of sale; and provided further, that citizens changing their domicil from one county to another in this State, shall not be pro hibited front carrying their property with them, when the same is not done to evade the payment of their just debts. Sec. 3. That all statutes of limitation relating to liens affected by this act, shall be suspended during the continuance of this act. Sec. 4. That any officer or other person, vio lating tills act, shall be guilty of trespass, and lia ble to the defendant or person injured, in dam ages not less than the amount of the judgment, order, or decree, upon which he is proceeding, as in other cases of trespass. Sec. 5. That any security upon any debt, or demand, for which executions may have been, or may be issued, during the continuance of this act, ishall have the right, with, or without the consent of the plaintiff, to cause a levy aud sale to be made, whenever the security shall make oath that the principal defendant has brought himself within the provisions of the second sec tion of this act. Sec. 6. That whenever any plaintiff or securi ty, shall attempt to have an execution levied, for any of the causes stated in the second section, the defendant, or other person, claiming the property about to be levied on, may stay the said, execu tion, by filing with the levying officer, his affida vit, denying the existence of the said cause, and giving bond and security, in double the amount of the execution, conditioned to pay the plaintiff such damages as may, by a jury, be assessed, in case the issue hereinafter provided for, should be found against him; and where the defendant, or other person, claiming the property levied on, is unable to give security, he may make his affida vit of inability, as iu cases of appeals, in section 3,543 of the Code of Georgia. Sec, 7; That the plaintiff, or defendant, as the case may be, may traverse the allegations in the affidavit ot the opposite party, which traverse shall be returned to the next court, from which the execution may have issued, and the truth of the same shall be tried as in cases of illegality, and where the issue is found iu favor of the plaintiff, the execution shall proceed for the whole amount due thereon, in the same manner as though no affidavit had been filed, as well for the original execution as for t he damages, which may be assessed in favor -of the plaintiff. Sec. 8. That where property subject to an ex ecution, may be levied on, and the property levi ed on is claimed by any-person, other than the defendant in execution, such person may pay the one-third due on said execution, and it shall he the duty of the levying officer to endorse on said execution, the name of the person paying the same, which endorsement shall operate as a trans fer ot the execution, to the person whose name is so endorsed, to the extent of the sum paid by him. Sec. 9. Whenever the debtor and creditor shall agree to submit to arbitration, for equitable adjustment the matter between them, and to sub mit to an award and judgment, as prescribed by the existing laws for arbitration iu this State, aud to submit to the arbitrators any, and every mat ter, which would render a compromise fair and equitable; the execution issued on the judgment founded on any award so made, shall not be sub ject to the provisions of this act, may be levied for the whole amount, as though this act did not exist. Sec. 10. Repeals conflicting laws. standard, threw himself upon the bridge at Lodii Ambition was the incentive, honor the reward. But where, on earth’s green surface, can be found a brighter spectacle of fidelity and of devotion to patriotic duty than that of the Con federate soldier who, in many instances, with out the chance of promotion or honors of office, moved onward with a sheet of tire blazing in his face keeping only in view the honor of the glorious army to which he was attached, and the liberties of his suffering country. Such fidelity not only deserves your praise,' but merits that ot even angels and of God. Though their brave hearts beat no more, though their lips are forever closed, yet there comes tip from the rustic graves of these gallant dead a silent, but thrilling appeal for a decent resting place in the bosom of the State they so foudlv loved. Shall their appeal be in yain ? The noble wo men of Cherokee-Georgia, animated bj' the same spirit which sustained them amid the heat and smoke of battle and the desolation of their homes, second the appeal—not for compensation —but ask only for a sufficient amount to enable them to discharge the high and holy duty. It is an appeal, Mr. Speaker, which reaches the heart, and which, I think will touch a responsive chord in every bosom in this Hall. I feel, and 1 am proud to feel, that in my public advocacy of this bill, I but reflect the sentiments ot the peo ple of Georgia, and that I shall receive the appro bation of the generous constituency which I have the honor to represent upon this floor. The Independent.—The New York Inde pendent says: “ The South cannot grant any thing—having nothing to grant. The North cannot ask for anything—having already come in possession of everything by war.” We would like to know, then, what the Independent is jaw ing about. . Story on the Constitution.—At the close ot Judge Story's Commentary on the Constitu tion, the following occurs: “ Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, Jmd intelligence ot the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from tlie public coun cils, because they dare to be honest, and the profli gate are rewarded, because they flatter the people in order bo betray them." 3Iaxxmilian\—The sensation papers are still gasing about the departure of Maximilian from Mexico. There is no reliable or official evidence that he has either left, or intends leaving—in a hurry. Sale of Lalds.—The Huntsville Independent records a large land sale in the vicinity of that place, consisting of five plantations, at an ave rage of eight dollars per acre. At Terre Haute, Indiana, last Saturday, fine hogs were selling at six dollars per hundred pounds nett Burial of Confederate Dead. SPEECH OF MR. SNEAD, OF RICHMOND. Mr. Snead, of Richmond, delivered the follow ing touching speech on the bill to make appro priation for the burial of Confederate soldiers, which bill passed the House ou the 20th ult: Mr. Speaker: The bill upon your table seeks to make an appropriation for the purpose of gathering together and intering the gallant dead who fell iu our defense in the late war. It shall have the poor sanction of my cordial approval. With me, it is no question of filthy lucre, except so far as involves the amount which may be ne cessary to carry out tlie patriotic object, sought to be accomplished. But, it is a question of feeling, of duty, and of gratitude, which soars far above and beyond all such paltry considerations. If, at the present time, we cannot make large expenditures of money—if we cannot do all that should be done —if we cannot build monuments and cenotaphs to commemorate the memories of these noble meD, or erect towering obelisks with which to mark the spot where our ,patriotic soldiers sleep, we are not so poor but that we may appropriate a sufficient amount to gather together and de cently inter their bones. In doing this much, we but partially discharge a debt of gratitude which no time can bar—which no money can ever pay. In do'mg this much, we honor the heroic dead, and in honoring them, we but honor onrselves. Why should we not honor them ? They yield ed up their lives a willing sacrifice to the cause which they and we alike believed to be a just and righteous cause. Ti;ev were the flower of our vouth that we sent forth to meet the shock of battle. At the bidding of our State they en listed beneath her banner, and cheerfully threw themselves into the awful shock of death, carry ing with them their great hearts, every impulse of the soul, and all the energies of their nature. They are gone. They laid down their lives for us, aud “no greater love hath man than this, that he layeth down liis life for his fireside;” but it is a' pleasing reflection—it is a proud and happy consolation that they have left behind ; a record of which we need not be ashamed ; a re cord that displays all tiiat is noble and chivalric in man ; a record that will live when monumen tal brass shall fade, and sculptured marble crum ble away; a record so glorious that, 4 *Even the meanest rill, the mightiest river Flows mingling with their fame for ever.” I am content with that record. I leave them in their glory. But with a record so bright, is it not a shame that their bones shou'd lie in mournful neglect in the very valleys and on the hill-sides rendered historic by their deeds ol noble daring. Ah ! had they left you in the hour of danger and in the time of trial and enlisted beneath another flag, and fought against you instead of for you, what would be the result ? Instead of lying neglected and almost forgotten in their rude resting places, some monumental shaft, lifting its proud head on high, would tell of their fidelity and of their matchless courqge. Is their fidelity of so doubtful a character as to merit such a fate. Days of romance are filled with incidents where knights have performed “deeds of em prise,” or crossed lances beneath the smiles of some lady-love, who stood with wreath in hand to deck the victor’s brow, while with no less ol the romantic but more of the terrible the ardent and impetuous NapoleoD, seizing his country’s State Aid—Special iSeksase, Governor Jenkins has given his assent to aud assigned the “ Act to extend the aid of the State to the completion of the Macon & Brunswick railroad, and for other purposes.” Below we publish a copy of the special message of the Governor, containing the reasons for his action in the premises: Executive Department, ) Milledgeville, December 3,18Gt>.) To the House of Representatives : I have assented to and signed “ an Act to ex tend the aid of the State to the completion of the Macon & Brunswick railroad, and for other purposes,” aud also certain resolutions explana tory of said Act, both of whieli originated in y our body. The two were signed at the same time, being taken together, as one complete legis lative act. It is due to myself, and to prevent erroneous inferences, that I should briefly present my views in regard to State Aid to such enter prises generally .as a system, aud considerations which have controlled mein this particular case. Georgia, as a State, has already invested in the construction of railroads $10,000,000, and this has been done so judiciously as to dispense the benefits of her investments among all exist ing railroads, and through them among the peo ple generally. The chief investment has been made in the Western & Atlantic Railroad, which is the connecting link between other railroads in the State and those of the West and Northwest. This I regard as the wisest, safest and most com prehensive plan of extending State aid to tlie whole system, and to the citizens with their di versified. pursuits and iuterests. A portion of the debt contracted for its completion is still un paid, and a considerable one has recently been added to repair the rayages it sustained during the war. Having done this much for the cause, it would be very unwise to embark in a general system of aid in the form of credits. Certain, recent occurrences, which need not be men tioned, her present necessities, and her uncertain future, all admonish her to be chary of her credit. Its indiscriminate or lavish extension to private corporations would unquestionably give it a stunning shock,. Your journal shows that seve ral of these are now asking of her such aid. You have already determined, by your action, to avoid both extremes—that of granting all such applications, and that of refusing all. I frankly confess that, in my judgment, the better course would have been the latter, tor the present at least. You have determined, in passing upon them, to discriminate. Aside from the present embarrassed condition of affairs, it might be con ceded that there are exceptional cases; and even now,, in deference to the General Assembly, I yield my preference as to the general policy to be pursued on the question, and will carefully consider the merits of each as it may arise. The bill and resolutions now under considera tion have been assented to for the following reasons; The Macon & Brunswick Railroad connects our important interior commercial city with one of the best ports on the south Atlantic coast; a port confessedly better than any now in use on that line. Such a port is of incalculable value if made accessible to a fertile interior region. The railroad communications which Macon enjoys with every portion of the Sta-e, and with co terminus States, are weli known. With two such termini, argument is not needed to prove that this road will be a most important commer cial highway. One million of capital has been actually paid in by the company and expended in construc tion. Three hundred thousand dollars of addi tional capital has been subscribed, and, though not yet paid in, is considered entirely secure.— Fifty miles of the road have been finished, ancl are ” in daily operation. Seventy miles more have been graded and made ready for the super structure. Before the full amount of State’s en dorsement can be obtained, eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars of additional capital must be bona fide subscribed and paid in. Aggre gating the present capital paid in and subscribed, and the means which this legislation will place in the hands of the company, I am satisfied, after careful investigation, that the road will be com pleted without further aid from the State—a most _ important consideration. The facts and strong probabilities, as apprehended by me, are these; 1. The road is a very important one to the State. 2. It has now bona fide capital paid in and sub scribed exceeding one-third of its entire cost and equipments. 3. More than one-lourth of it is finished and in operation. 4. More than one-third in addition is graded for the reception of the superstructure. 5. Without the aid asked from the State its completion will be indefinitely postponed, whilst with it an early completion may be expected, the necessary means having been secured. 6. The title to the property purchased with the State’s Aid will be in the State, and on all the property there will be, a lien with the right of entry and user or sale. 7. A limit is placed upon the price at which the endorsed bonds may be sold. 8. A contingent fund of two percent, upon the State’s endorsement, is to be annually invested in the State’s bonds proper, and deposited with the Governor lor the redemption of the endorsed bonds. Having made such security, I have come slow ly to the conclusion that an exceptional case has been made out, and I will not dissent from your action. Allow me, however, most respectfully to add, that it is equally incumbent upon the General Assembly and the Executive, to subject each case that may be presented to like scrutiny, that there may lie neither peril to State credit, nor risk of further application for State aid, nor doubt of the success and general utility of the enter prise. Charles J. Jenkins. Congress to be Perpetual.—The Louisville Courier expresses the opinion that it is the inten tion of the Radicals to declare Congress perpe tual. It says: The Jacobins propose to pass a law requiring the new Congress to assemble on the 4tli of March next, tlie day on which the present Con gress expires. They are apprehensive, w r e pre sume, that tliev will not be able to consummate the villainy tliev are plotting before that, time, and are well aware that Andrew Johnson would not, under any circumstances, call them together. It is equivalent to declaring their sessions per petual, which is, doubtless, what they intend to make them. Their purpose is to run the Gov ernment themselves, and they are afraid to leave the President at Washington without a Congress there also. Indiana.—A huge lion, escaped from a me nagerie, is roaming about Harrison and Craw ford counties, Indiana. Considerable excitement prevails in consequence. The Louisville Demo crat says: “We would inform our Hoosier friends that there is a mucli greater lion in the path— one Satan, who is walking up aud down the earth (Indiana included) seeking whom he may devour. Look out for him.” Illinois Senatokship.—The contest for Sena- ship in Illinois is said to be waxing warm. At ast advices Logan was said to he ahead.