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‘ERROR CEASES TO BE DASGEROJJS WHEN REASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT lT.”- = J/#»wn.
VOLUME xrx.
ATLANTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23,1867.
NUMBER 4.
Ulcckli) Jutciliflcttcrr.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA,
Wednesday, January 23, 1366.
!•! lil.lMlii I) DAILY AND WEEKLY BY
JARED IRWIN WHITAKER,
Proprietor.
Mur Platform.
Let the Southern people l»e sure to prodace,
as they easily can, an atiuiidant supply of provi
sions, manufacture their own limber and iron in
to all tlio implements they need, s[»in and weave
all the cotton they consume,and let only tliesur-
jilus of the staple, if any, pass over to Lowell
and Manchester, to be paid tor in hard cash. Let
them do whatever may lie necessary to secure a
free Republican State Government, and steadily
refuse, by any dcljasing compliances, topurchase
ilie privilege of enjoying their Constitutional
rights in the Federal Vnion. 8o employed, let
them manfully meet whatever destiny may be in
store lor them, secure at least in the possession
of their own self-respect.
The Nashville Daily Gazette has placed at its-
mast-head the foregoing patriotic sentiments as
its platform; so do we, endorsing every word
and letter of it as the true policy of the Southern
States in their present irregular, anomalous con
dilioti. Let the people of the South set out with
determined resolution to produce their own pro
visions, the first demand upon their industry and
patriotism ; next to nianutncture their timber and
iron—of whicli t here are abundant supplies—iuto
all the implements they need ; then let them go to
spinning ami weavmgall I he cotton and wool they
have to consume, and let only the surplus of these
staples pass over to Lowell or Manchester to be
paid lor, not in cotton or woolen goods as has
been the custom, hut in hard cash; and a change
will ‘‘.soon come o’er the spirit of the dream” of
those who have made Southern industry—not
Southern enterprise, for that has been recklessly
thrown away—tributary to Northern and Euro
pean cupidity. Above all things, let the South
ern people do all that may be necessary to secure
a free Republican Government, eomiwsed of
Stales in one common union, and steadily refuse,
by any debasing compliances, to purchase, the
privilege of enjoying their constitutional rights
in the “Federal Union aud, tints employed, let
them manfully meet whatever destiny may be in
store for them, secure at least in the possession of
their own self-respect! When this is resolved
upon by the people of Did Southern Stales, then
will they command the admiration of the civil
ized world, and force even the most relentless of
their radical persecutors to respect and accord to
them their privileges and their rights. It is ab
surd to reason otherwise. No people have ever
yet bad their political rights conceded to therm
who did not assert and contend for them. Over
powered they may have been by arms, still they
lose nothing by asserting their t ights and main
taining their sell-respect by at least performing
voluntarily no debasing act, tit the suggestion of
the conqueror. So should it now he with the
South. To industrial pursuits let our people turn
their attention. To railroad and manufacturing
enterprises; to the development of the mineral
and mining resources of the several States ; to
tin; culture of their great staple; to the raising
of stock ftf every description; to the growing of
the cereals lor bread and for feed; let them de
vote iheuisclies earnestly! Prospering in pur
suits like these, political rights will soon
follow. Those which are denied now, will
ere long he tendered. The North needs a
Southern prosperity as well as the South it
self. Statesmen of the lornier, high offi-
cials in their government,acknowledge and assert
this. Rut recently this was asserted by the Se
cretary ot the United Stales Treasury, Mu.
McUo'iLoen, who, as a statesman and financier,
stands the peer ot any oflicial of them all. The
piatform ot the Gazette, then, is also “ Ol'll l’l.AT-
kukm," and it should l>e the platform of every
Southern State. Standing upon it, weshall soon
see better times. Rejecting it., and temporising,
with precaution, will result in continued oppres
sions and exactions until we shall not only lose
the respect and influence which so vast a terri
tory and its people should exercise in the govern
ment, but ottr own self-respect and former regard
for civil and constitutional liberty. From such
a destiny may we all he delivered!
Rut yesterday, as it were, there canto flashing
over the telegraphic wires, the news that the
Supreme Court of the United States had declared
certain U st oath* unconstitutional. In this we see
light breaking, and to souie extent intolerance
and persecution suppressed. Who knows wliat
another day, another mouth, may bring forth?
Who knows what Unit “ sitbcr, second, thought
may not produce ? People of the South, be pa
tient in your endut mice, but be lirin in the main
tenance of your honor! Obey the laws exacted
for your government, but debase not your
selves !
John ('. Brecklnriiljrc.
The radical editors seem to have suddenly fal
len in love with John C. Breckinridge, who
for several years they denounced as a worse
traitor than Jeff. Davis. They now like him so
well, and have so much confidence in his wis
dom and judgment, that they actually make him
say things he never thought of, and then parade
them at the head ot their colums iu double-lead
ed brev tor, for the benefit of all lesser rebels,
large numbers of whom are presumed to pore
over the radical papers daily, as tlic only source
from which political light and truth is to he de
rived. Gen. Breckinridge has been recently
made to say by these veracious sheets, that the
terms o lie red the South by the Congressional
majority, were of the most enlarged and mag
nanimous character, conceived in the very bow
els ot mercy aud compassion, and that tie [Gen.
Breckinridge] is confounded at the wilful obsti
nacy and blindness of the South iu uot joyously
accepting them, and signifying its gratitude by a
general jubilation throughout the ten unrepre
sented Slates. Now, to he brief,aud uot to weary
the reader with a matter of no great importance,
Gen. Breckinridge never said it—never made the
remark imputed to him, and is the last man to
commend the South to do a thing which would
compromise its honor and self-respect.
An lMporUat Vtuaucial movement.
We learn through a Washington paper that a
few days ago Mr. Randall, of Pcuusy fvania, in
troduced a bill into the House designed to grad
ually do away with the national hauk system,
ami also to provide means for liie gradual extinc
tion ot the national debt, it proposes the issue
ot $300,000,000 ot legnl tenders, *100.000,000
each year to bo used in the purchase of the se-
ci.riries now held for the circulation of such
hanks. These bonds, when purchased, to be
constitute d a permanent siiiKiug fund. It K also
Mated that the hill 1 tames the Secretary ol‘ the
Treasury, Attorney General, Secretary of the
Interior, Comptroller of the Currency, and lac*
’1 n. isurero! tlic United State*, :ts the Jive com
bi i i.iiie.s ..I tlit sinking fund.
“The Lesson* or Expcrinuce.” I The Plan of Operation* for the Impeach- . The Democracy of Connecticut.
We tire not entirely hopeful that any amount I meut of the President. ( The following preamble and resolutions werp
of writing, talking, or even preaching, would im- i The New York Ikraid has a characteristic 1 adopted unanimously by the Democratic State
press our people with a proper i in porta nee of tlic : article aliout the impeachment movement. It • Convention, which assembled at New Haven,
fact, that so long as they devote all their atkiUion, repudiates the idea that the movement is a ruse Connecticut, on the Sth instant:
energies aud labor to the growth of one particu- guerre, or a sharp diversion against the ad- | \\ here as, It becomes a free and intcliigeyt
lar plant, or to the building up of one single ■ ministration, and plainly assumes to he iu pos- ; people, justly jealous oi their rights and liber-
brauch ol industry, so long will they be afflicted ! session ot information from \\ ashington which
with that sense of dependence on other sections justifies the conclusion that Ashley’s resolution
which so heavily embarrassed them through the ai 'd the pending inquiry of the Judiciary Com-
' mittee of the House are but the initial steps to a
past. We have frequently copied articles from
other journals into our columns on this subject,
and more recently have published several origi
nal papers bearing upon it, which we trust may
have received some little attention at the bauds
of the agricultural and industrial classes, who
are certainly most interested. We extract to-day
some facts from a letter of an experienced Mis
sissippi planter, which appear to us to he valua
ble and worthy' of attention. The writer speaks
more particularly of his own immediate section,
hut his facts are of sufficiently general applica
tion to be of value even in Georgia. The letter
dates from Columbus, Mississippi, and is address
ed to the editors of the Memphis Avalanche :
As we have gathered our crop, I propose to
give you the result of our operations this year.
A gentleman from Tennessee anil myself were
planting together in this county. Owing to the*
extreme wet weather in the spring and early
part of the summer we were not able to cultivate
our crop as well as we desired. We had to haul
in the months of April, May and June, two
thousand bushels of com three miles, with the
same stock we used in cultivating our crop. We
had also to haul eight thousand pounds of bacon
fourteen miles. Our work stock was very infe
rior, many of them being mules that were in
use before and during the war. Notwithstand
ing all these difficulties, we made *md saved a
little more than three and a half hales of cotton,
each w'eighing five hundred pounds to the hand.
We gave our negroes one-third of the crop,
and also furnished food and a portion of cloth
ing to the laborers. This was perhaps too much,
as a general rule. Our negroes w orked very
well, considering they were free. No free ne
groes ever will cultivate cotton and corn as well
as the slaves did. Our com crop was not good.
This was owing partly to the bad weather, but
mostly from the fact that we neglected the corn
to save the cotton from grass. I am now satis-
fled that if we had planted one-third less cotton,
and more corn, we would iiave saved nearly as
much cottou and a great deal more corn, be
cause we would have cultivated both better. We
were more successful thau any of our neighbors,
because we planted less cotton to the hand than
they did. This was because they planted nearly
all their laud in cotton. I am satisfied, from ex
perience and observation, that those who plant
large crops of cotton, to the neglect of corn, and
expect to rely upon free negroes to cultivate tin m,
will, in eight cases out of ten, fail. Six or eight
acres of cotton to the hand is as much as can be
made and saved on the uplands of Mississippi.
Com is made with so much less labor than cot
ton that all the land planted in com, after six
acres are planted in cotton to the hand, is so
much clear gain. The great difficulty with our
people has been, and 1 fear w'ill continue to he,
that they will devote themselves to cotton grow
ing, to the neglect of other things, and if they
do, ruin, even greater than the present, will come
upon us.
Cotton requires such continuous labor during
the whole year, aud is subject to so many casu
alties, that it is not safe to rely on it as the sole
means of providing ourselves with the necessa
ries aud comforts ot life.
There is duuger that our own misguided policy
may do us more injury than any mere' political
movement.
Since our cotton is heavily taxed, ought we not
raise that whicli is not taxed ? As L have said
before, the “ best and wisest protection which we
pan have against high tariffs and high taxes on
nir cotton, is to manufacture the cotton which
we raise,” and, I might add, to produce the food
which we consume.
lf-wc escape general confiscation, then there
is danger that the policy we have been pursuing,
(and I fear will continue to pursue) will produce
general starvation. In 18(H) this county pro-
luced lilly-oife thousand hales of cotton, weigh
ing each four hundred pounds. This year the
product will not, 1 think, exceed fifteen thousand
tour hundred pound hales, and a large portion ot
this will he required to buy corn and meat. I
think it very probable that Mississippi is iu a
worse condition to-day, so far as the necessaries
of life are concerned, than she was on the day of
the surrender. It. is all owing, I think, to our at
tempt to raise too much cotton, in which we
have failed signally, aud change of policy cau
alone save us—raise our own supplies, and let
cotton be the surplus.
Yours, truly, Wm. J. Sykes.
Tlic ltellrrd Lint.'
The following lias been given as the probable
number of Southerners which Uie adoption of
the .Constitutional Amendments will proscribe
during the natural period of their lives:
Rebel Executive, President aud Cabinet. S
Rebel Congress 132
Governors and stalV 140
Rebel Legislatures 1,(550
State Judiciary, including the District and Circuit
Courts ; aai
Probate Judges 693
United States Judiciary 66
Marshals 22
Postmasters 8,525
Assessors and Collectors 100
Lighthouse establishments 7S
Customs 64
Left National Congress 31
Left Regular Army 313
Loft Navy —
Sheriffs 693
County Clerks 633
Add all lawyers, except as included above among
Judges , 6,050
Add for clerks in Post-offices, Custom-house, Ac... 5,000
Add to cover Justices of the Peace 5,000
Total of above classes 23,743
Advances to Planters.
The last General Assembly of Georgia, with a
view to encourage advances to planters to ena
ble them to make another crop, passed the fol
lowing Lien law, to which we call the attention
of merchants and factors:
An act to give landlords a lien upon the crops of
tenants, for stock, farming utensils, and pro
visions, furnished such tenants for the purpose
of making their crops; and to give factors
and merchants a lieu upon the growing crops
of furmers, for provisions, aud commercial
mauures, furnished them tor the purpos’3 of
making their crops.
Sec. 1. The, General Assembly of tKe State of
Georgia do enact. That from and after the passage
of this act, that landlords may have, by special
contract in writing, a lien upon the crops of their
tenauts, tor such stock, farming utensils, and pro
visions luruished such tenants, for the purpose
of making their crops.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That factors
aud merchants shall have a lien upon the gl ow
ing crops of farmers, for provisions furnished, and
commercial manures furnished, upon such terms
as may be agreed upon by the parties.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That sncli
lieus shall be enforced in the same way and man
ner that liens are now enforced against steam
boats in this State.
Sec. 4. Repeals conflicting laws.
Approved 15th December, 1S66.
Important Law,
An act to make the employment of anv servant
whatever during his term of strvice illgal, and |
declare the same a misdemeanor.
SkCtios 1. The General AssemNy do enact, j
That from and after the passage of this act it |
shall not la 1 lawful for any p.rsou to employ any i
servant in the employment of another for and J (.Kansas) Bulletin displays a staving United States
during his term ot service, and it any person, flag at the head of its columns, and the lollow-
deliberate purpose on the part of the republicans
in Congress for the removal of President John
son from office, and without any needless delay.
The Herald further assumes that a plan of op
erations has been deliberately agreed'upon as
follows: The House Committee on the Judici
ary will make up their report in favor of im
peachment, and it will he adopted by the House
before the close of the present session. A com
mittee will then he appointed and instructed to
go, in the name of the House, and impeach
Andrew Johnson of certain “high crimes and
misdemeanors” before the Senate, and demand
his trial upon the charges preferred against him.
The Senate will then postpone the matter to the
meeting of that body in connection with the
new House of Representatives on the 4th of
March, for the reason that on that day the term
of oue-thiril of the present members of the Senate
expires, and ueiv members to a considerable ex
tent, including several radical gains, will take
their places. With this meeting of the 4th of
March the Senate will first proceed to the elec
tion of their presiding officer, and Benjamin
Wade, of Ohio, it is supposed, will he chosen.
Mr. Wade, therefore, as President of the Senate,
in the event of the removal of Andrew Johnson,
will become President of the United States un
der an existing law ot Congress made in pursu
ance of the Constitution. With this contingency
thus provided for, the Senate next, as a high
court of impeachment, Chief Justice Chase pre
siding, will proceed to the trial of President
Johnson upon the indictment ot the House and
will push the trial rapidly forward, and, as it is
believed by the prosecution, to ^lis conviction
aud removal from office.
The Herald also predicts, with its usual con
fidence, that within two months from the com
mencement of this trial, (if not with its com
mencement) Andrew Johnson will be displaced
aud Senator Wade will be promoted to the White
House. It is well enough, perhaps, to remember,
iu connection with this prediction, that hereto
fore that journal has been very unfortunate in its
political vaticinations—it frequently having de
monstrated its right to rank with the class
known as false prophets. We quote the conclud
ing portion of the Herald's article entire:
Rut for what ofiense is President Johnson to
he removed by a vote of two-thirds of the
Senate? The Constitution, article IV., section 4,
says:—“The President, Vice President ancLall
civil officers of the United Stales shall be re
moved from office on impeachment for and con
viction of treason, bribery or other high crimes
aud misdemeanors.” We have heard of no ac
cusations of treason or bribery against Mr. John
son, hut iu these “other high crimes aud mis
demeanors” of which the two Houses of Congress
possess the power to judge him they have a
wide latitude for a judgment against him, right
or wrong. The Constitution does uot declare
whether the President or auy other civil officer
of the United States arraigned before the Senate
on an impeachment shall Lie suspended from that
point in the functions ot his oftice subject to the
final issue of the trial; hut it is surmised that the
Senate at the outset will take the responsibility
of a decision upon this ques.ion. Anil here the
danger is apprehended of a conflict and a violent
shock to the financial world, resulting in a gene
ral revulsion. The Secretary of the Treasury
appears to he pursuing a policy—Greeley’s policy
—in behalf of premature specie payments, cal
culated ot itself to lead to a financial collapse,
and therefore the greater the danger of this
calamity with the opening or ending of thePres-
i dent’s trial before the Senate. We can only
admonish all parties concerned to trim ship for
the coming gale; lor otherwise it may result in
numerous shipwrecks. We are still in the midst
of a great revolution, and the issues resulting
from stieli a tremendous civil war as that from
which we have just emerged are not to be settled
in a day.
Collateral Branch.
At last advices the negro convention recently
assembled at Washington hail not been dissolved
iuto its original elements. It is now said its ses
sions will he prolonged, at the request of the
radical leaders, until after the impeachment trial,
as the presence of such a body, while that inter
esting drama is being gone through with, will, it
is thought, strengthen the spinal column of the
party, auu give great moral weight to the move
nient. Indeed, it has been whispered in confi
dential circles that Mr. Stevens, who was re
cently a candidate for United States Senator
from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
has in serious contemplation the introduction into
the House, at an early day, of a measure re
cognizing the colored convention as a collateral
branch of the legislative department of the na
tional government, and providing that its exist
ence shall lie co-equal with that of the Fortieth
Congress, which will meet on the 4tli of March
ensuing, anil sit, sans intermission, for the period
of two years. This, however, may he a “bloody
copperhead lie,” anil we tell it simply as ’twas
told to us.
Very Iliad, and Bather Indignant.
A dispatch by the underground fine gives as a
report current on the streets of Washington, that
when Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, discovered
how genteelly he, and his right bower and next
best friend, Forney, had been flanked in the
Senatorial contest by Cameron, he grew intensely
terrific, and swore more horribly in his individ
ual capacity thau did our whole “ army in Flan
ders.” It is seriously stated that the Great Com
moner has not been in such a towering rage aud
so furiously exercised since the day wherein
those unregenenite sons of Belial, the rebels, ap
plied the torch to his iron mill in Adams county.
Don’t we, of the reconstructed phalanx, feel sorry
for him—“ in a pig’s eye 1”
A Mistake.—The New Y'ork Courier says:
flie Democrats in the House of Representatives
who voted the other day against an investigation
looking to an impeachment, made a great mis
take. Mr. Chaudler, of this city, had sense
enough t j put himself right in the matter. Mr.
Ashley preferred charges, aud though he did it
in a theatrical way, and is a silly fellow, yet be
ing a member of the House, it was proper the
charges should be formally examined. The
President has no fears of an investigation by
that portion of Congress meeting in Washington,
why should his friends vote against the resolu
tion ? It should have been made a unanimous
thing.
The Next F.residency.—The Leavenworth
g Presidential ticket:
For President in 1S6S:
ULYSSES S. GRANT.
For 17ei-/7 evident :
A MAX WE CAN TRUST.
The Charleston Mercury save; The Bulkt-in
iue lb‘.in
!\ of i’lP Veil.
..'v county met ;n
Iti iii-t., Hon. L. 11.
But owing to the
this on Mo . t /■
Fe • Iirrstoii o i tile n
fact that sufficient notice cl n : been ;iveil of
the ehange ot time from tliird Monday to second
Monday iu January, a id jx-riinp- other reasons,
the court \\ as adjourned \\ ithout transacting auy
business, to the fourth Monday iu April
by himself or agent shall be guilt)' of employing
the servant of another during the term tor whicli
he. she, or they, may he employed, knowing
that sucii servant was so employed, and that Lis
term of service Was not expired, or il auy ]kt-
sou or is- .ns shall entice, persuade, or decor,
or attempt to entice, persuade, or decoy any
servant to leave his employer, either bv offering - „ ... ... . . . ^ . , . -
higher wages, or in any'other way ‘whatever, ia a fit paper to nominate Giant, but it is
a :rin£ lim term oi service, knowing thai said d&rd to tell who the Vice-President will be. m e
- u;t was so employed, shall be deemed guilty i know a great raarrv men whom we
Of J misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof l aad but few whom we can trust
shah lie lined any sum not more than two huu- ^
died dollars, or corns noil in the common jail of/
the county in the discretion ot the court, and i
uot to exceed three months.
Bee. 2. Repeals cothcting laws.
Approved loth December, 1366. j
ties, to frankly aud fearlessly assert tlicir views
upon all great and important public questions;
ami
Whereas, When armed resistance to the au
thority of the United States ceased, each of the
several States that had been in antagonism to
the Government became, by the inhereut force
ot the Constitution and the fundamental princi
ples upon which our system of government is
based, reinstated ami restored to all their rights
and privileges; and
Wiiereas, The President of the United States,
by virtue of the authority vested in him by the
Constitution of the United States, anti the laws
in pursuance thereof, issued his proclamation de
claring the war at an end ; and
Whereas, The Congress of the United States
demanded and accepted from said States the ex
ercise of one of the highest duties devolving
upon States, to-wit, an alteration of and amend
ment to the Constitution ot the United States;
and
Whereas, The Supreme Court of the United
States lias declared, “that if military government
is continued after the courts are reinstated, it is
a gross usurpation of power. Martial rule can
never exist where the courts are open and in the
proper and unobstructed exercise of their juris
diction.” Therefore,
Resolved, That each and all of the Skates that
were arrayed iu armed opposition to the author
ity of the Government of the United States, hav
ing ceased such opposition, are now entitled to
representation in the Congress of the United
States, and to all other rights and privileges ap
pertaining to the States of the Union.
Resolved, That the Congress of the United
States, in its persistent exclusion of the Senators
and Representatives of said States; in its open
and avowed determination to destroy the organ
ization and subvert the authorities of said States,*
violates and undermines the Constitution ot the
United States, attacks the very principles that lie
at the foundation of our system of Government,
and strikes a fatal blow at the financial, commer
cial aud industrial interests of “the entire people
of the Union.
Resolved, That the Congress of the United States,
in all its legislation; in its act levying internal
taxes upon all the States, including the said
States expressly by name; in its act prescribing
the number of Representatives in Congress for
all the States ; in its acts submitting the Consti
tutional Amendment abolishing slavery, to all
the States; in its act of last Session, submitting
another proposed Constitutional Amendment to
all the States; in its joint resolution, passed witli
almost entire unanimity, declaring the object of
the war to be “to defend and maintain the supre
macy of the Constitution, and to preserve the
Union with all the dignity, equality, and rights
of the several States unimpaired,” and in other
acts, lias uniformly, from the commencement of
the civil war to the present time, in the most de
liberative manner, recognized said States as ex
isting States, aud as States in the Union.
Resolved, That the Executive Department of
the United States, by its proclamations, its admin
istrative action, anu in its diplomatic intercourse
with foreign powers, has uniformly recognized
all tiie said States as existing States in the union.
Resolved, That the Judicial Department of the
United States, including the Supreme Court at
Washington, tlic Circuit Courts iu the several
circuits, and the District Courts in their respec
tive districts,has uniformly recognized the States
as existing States, and as States in the Union.
Resolved, That this repeated recognition of said
States as existing States, and as States in the
Union, by the executive, judicial and legislative
departments of the Government, leaves no ques
tion that the exclusion of these Stales from Con
gress, governing them and taxing them without
representation, is not a violation of the Federal
Constitution in its most essential part, and ty
ranny as defined by the Declaration of Indepen
dence, but a most flagrant breach ot public faith,
alike prejudicial to the best interests and to the
honor of the country.
Resolved, That in the Supreme Court of the
United States, we possess a tribunal that maybe
justly termed the bulwark of republican liberty,
and, in the language of its eminent jurists,
“ The Constitution of the United States is law
tor rulers and people, equally in war and in peace,
and covers With its shield of protection all classes
of men under all circumstances. * * *
No doctrine involving more pernicious conse
quences was ever invented by the wit of man,
than that anj' of i<s provisions can he suspended
during any ot the great exigencies of govern
ment. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy
or despotism. Rut the theory of iieccxsit//, upon
which this is based, is false, tor the government
within the Constitution lias the powers granted
to it which are necessary to preserve iis exist
ence.”
Thus the Supreme Court of the United States
in 186(5 vindicates and sustains the positions as
sumed and announced hy the Democracy ol
Connecticut, iu convention in 1803.
Resolved, That after solemn deliberation it is
the opinion of this convention that the sugges
tion of our conservative brethren of Kentucky,
that a convention ot the Democracy and all
Constitutional Union men of the thirty-six States
should he called without delay by the National
Democratic Committee; and we respectfully
suggest that said convention meet in the city of
New York on the 4tli day ot March next, to ad
vise and counsel upon the great questions that
now agitate the public mind ; to protest against
the revolutionary and unconstitutional acts of
the present majority ol Congress; to announce
the determination of the conservative men of the
Union; to resist and oppose, by constitutional
exercise of power, the disorganization ot States
aud the destruction of State authority.
Resolved, That the thanks of every patriotic
citizen are eminently due the President ot the
United States for his repeated exercise of the
Executive power iu behalf of the Constitution
and the rights of the States ; and we pledge him
our support in all his future efforts to the same
noble end.
Progress of Bailroad C onstruction in tlae
United States.
The Railroad Journal gives the following table
of the progress of railroad construction from the
year 1828, w'hen the only railroad in America
was that belonging to the Quincy Company, ex
tending from their quarry to tide-water in Bos
ton harbor, to the commencement of the present
year, 1867, when the United States, in the aggre
gate, is traversed hy a longer length of track
than is found, in all other parts of the world to
gether; and if the equivalent single track be
measured, the whole would girdle the earth at
the equator with a double track fine:
Year.
Miles.. Year.
Miles.
1S2S
3 184s
5,682
1S29
28:1840
6,350
1S30
41
1S5U
7.4 40
1831
51
1851
8,589
1832
131
1852
11,1127
1833
57«i
1853
33.497
1834
7*i2
1854
35.672
IS®
91S
1865
37.398
1S36
..1.102
.1,421
22,625
1S3S
3,843
1S5S
25^090
1S39
1,926
1859
26.755
1840
.2,197
I860
28,773
.3,311’
i^>*l
1842
3,877
1862
33,760
1843
4,174(1863
32 473
1844
4,311
!5*>1
33,803
..4,5*2*.'
1X5
34.442
1846
4.870
1866
35,383
Railroad Between New Orleans and
Mobile.—The Picayune, of the 11th announces
that steps have been taken to construct a railway
between New Orleans and Mobile. Says that
paper:
Most of our readers will he surprised, and all
be gratified to learn, that capitalists of ample
means have united into a company which will,
within fourteen months, construct the long need
ed railroad hence to Mobile, bringing the Rigo-
lets, aud placing the delightful coast towns ot
Mississippi within two or three hour's ride from
Canal street. Hardly any announcement could
be more gratifying to our permanent residents,
so many of whom do now and so many more
would wish to enjoy the refreshing breezes and
i invigorating baths at these places of resort, be-
t trust, j s iJ c “the multitude of others who need such a
i road for extensive travel and the transportation
Southern Railroads.—S. E. Maxwell, cx- ! “ „ . _ .
, ™ , . , j The Port of Apalachicola.—It is stated
member of Congress from Florida, has been; ^ up Saturday last, only 10,24)0 bales of cot-
• ton had been received at the port of Apalachico-
l la. Last season the receipts were over 114,(XK».
MEMPHIS CORRESPONDENCE.
[SPECIAL TO THE INTK1J.1GENCER.1
Memphis and the Great Western Cities—Their Popula
tion and Resources—Freedmen Moving—Unusually
Large Number of Idle Ones in the BlnlT City—“Old
Pap” Home again—Lieutenant General A. P. Stewart
— Bishop qnintard—Rev. Dr. Mann, of Georgia—Itev
J. R. Graves’ Baptist Paper to be Revived in Meiuphi
—New Memphis Theater—Vestvali—A Hard Joke on
Presbyterian Minister—“Our Sam’s” Caning, Etc..
Etc.
Memphis, Jan. 14. 186
At the last session of the Tennessee Legisla
ture the Metropolitan Police Act, for this city
was so amended as to provide for the payment
of the police force through the Board ot Mayor
aud Aldermen—the Police Commissioners and the
Mayor to constitute a committee to estimate the
sum requisite for their yearly support, aud re
port to the Board of Aldermen. At their meet
ing some weeks ago for that purpose, they failed
to agree, tlie commissioners demanding $150,000
which the Mayor thought too much. At the
meeting of the Board, Mayor Lofland made the
matter the subject of a special message, iu which
he gives us the following information in relatiou
to the population, police, eta, of the three great
Western cities: “ SL Louis has a population of
220,000, a revenue of $1,500,000, and a police
force of 218 men, costing $225,000; Chicago
has a population of 200,000, a revenue of
$1,750,000, and a police force of 200 men
costing $240,000; Cincinnati has a popula
tion ot 250,000, a revenue of $2,782,000, and pays
her police department $250,000.” He then says
we (Memphis) are called upon to pay $150,000 for
the support of our police, while our population
does not exceed 55,000, and our yearly revenue
will not reach $700,000. Mayor Lofland could
not but see this striking difference when com
pared with the cities named above, aud very
properly refused to agree to the amounts con
tended for by the Commissioners, at the same
time suggesting $100,000 as sufficient, or, at least,
as much as our citizens were able or willing to
pay for the support of the police department.—
Tlie matter has been settled by the Board of
Aldermen, by a compromise—$125,000 being the
sum agreed upon for the support of Beaumont
and his Metropolitans. I mention these faGts
more particularly because tlie figures give inter
esting statistical information, showing, as they
do, the greatness and importance of these cities,
which but comparatively a few years ago were
unknown to the commercial or traveling public.
Large numbers of freedmen are daily passing
through the city on their way to the trans-Missis
sippi States. The majority arrive by the Mem
phis & Charleston Railroad, from points beyond
Chattanooga. Many of them arc doubtless tlie
same the Intelligencer lately mentioned as
passing through your city. I notice also large
crowds of them every morning collected around
the various intelligence offices, apparently seek
ing employment. Their labor is said to he in
such great demand, this looks strange, and it is
probable they are asking such terms as cannot
he accorded them. They have, at least, become
such a nuisance, iu blocking up the sidewalks,
that the police have commenced the duty of in
quiring into their intentions or means of liveli
hood. We have a standing population of 25,-
000 of these newly-made citizens to look after,
and it is hoped some means may he devised to
induce the surplus now to be seen on the streets
to follow the example of their more thrifty
brethren who are passing through. Those who
are so eager to have the privilege of voting can
wend their way to the District of Columbia,
where I hope enough of them may congregate
to stink the last one of their white worshipers
out of the halls of Congress.
General Price passed up the river to St. Louis,
on the Olive Branch last week. The bout did
not reach our wharf until after bed-time, so that
none our citizens had the opportunity of greeting
the noble old hero. I am glad to see that he lias
safely arrived at St. Louis, and by this time he is
probably among tlie old friends and neighbors of
his former home. Ifo comes, with his family, to
stay, and already a shout of welcome lias gone
up from every Southern heart that lie has deter
mined to cast hjs lot with the people he loves so
well.
Lieutenant-General A P. Stewart, who has
been pardoned l>y the President, and who is so
well and favorably known as a corps commander
iu the Army of Tennessee, has lately become a
resident of this city: In connection with a broth
er, who ranks among one of the best scholars in
the city, he lias opened a high school for boys.
Bishop Quintard has accepted the rectorship
of St. Lazarus parish, Rev. J. W. Rogers resign
ing, that he may devote his whole time to the in
terests of St. Lazarus College.
Rev. Dr. Mann, so long known as a member
of the Georgia Methodist Conference, has with
in tlie past two weeks taken up his residence in
this cilv as pastor of the First Methodist Church.
His congregation is highly pleased with him, and
1 know liis Georgia friends parted with him with
great regret.
The celebrated J. R. Graves is now in tlie
Eastern cities procuring material for establishing
a Baptist publishing house in this city. He will
also revive his paper at an early day, the first
two numbers of which, I learn, will probably be
published in New Y’ork.
Yestvali is creating a perfect furore at the
new Memphis Theater. Friday night—the oc
casion of her first benefit—the house was jammed
from pit to dome, and hundreds had to go away,
being unable to obtain even standing room. She
is undoubtedly a fine tragedienne, though her
broken English detracts considerably from the
effect sought to be produced on an American
audience. Her very large size and masculine
voice and appearance causes one who sees her
in the part of “ Angelo,” in “ Bel Demonio,” to
entirely forget he is listening to one of tlie femi
nine gender.
In this connection I will tell a good joke on a
Presbyterian divine, in this city. It is an actual oc
currence, and hardly to be looked upon as a joke
—rather, it would seem to cause erroneous im
pressions as to the honest piety of the popular
minister: A young man, a few nights ago, in
making his confession, preparatoiy to becoming
a member of the church, hesitated to renounce
attending theatrical performances, whereupon
the Rev. Mr. D. modified the obligation (for his
particular benefit) so that he could attend such
places whenever a “ star ” was announced. He
probably was not aware that, in this city, that
was equal to giving the new Christian license to
gratify his desire in that way nearly every night
in the season, hat in any event, the circumstance
will go far to injure him in the eyes of the world
as a true man of God. The Presbyterian confes
sion of faith, I understand, does not prohibit the
attendance of members at such amusements, but
the Rev. Mr. D. had added this prohibition for
the good (?) of Lis immediate flock.
I sympathize deeply with “our Sam.” in his
caning. I know he deserved it.
Weather warm and cloudy—river lower than
I ever noticed it. J. B. L.
The Territorial Plan.
It was announced a few days ago by telegraph
that Mr. Ashley would present the hill agreed
upon l>y the Territorial Committee as a substitute
for Mr. Stevens’ hill. Ii is said this hill “abolishes
the present Southern State governments, and all
laws made in pursuance tiiereof; calls upon all
male citizens, over twenty-one years of age, who
can swear they would not have aided the rebel
lion after the 4th of March, 1864, and would have
complied with the President’s proclamation of
the Silt of December, 1863, if the opportunity
had been offered them, and who can swear that
they never ill-used Union soldiers, and will hence
forth bear true allegiance to the government,
to organize constitutional governments in their
respective States, and calls for conventions in the
Southern States, composed of delegates who cau
swear that they never voluntarily aided the re
bellion in any way. These conventions shall
determine if they will accept the terms proposed
by Congress, and if so, shall appoint commis
sioners to provide for holding elections to adopt
the new Constitution, elect State officers, and
prepare for admission into tlie Union.
Every constitution shall provide against slave
ry. All laws shall he impartial regarding the
race or color. The rebel debt shall not he paid,
nor the loss from the emancipation of slaves.—
Free schools without distinction of color of pu
pils shall he established. No person that held
civil, military, or naval office in tlie Confederate
States, shall be allowed to hold any office, except
by a two-thirds vote of tlie Legislature. In case
of rebellion Congress shall have the right to de
clare the cessation of relations with the rebellious
States, until the State is thoroughly purged of its
disloyalty. These constitutions must bo ratified
by a majority of tlie people of tlie States who
cau take the oath of loyalty utter the ratification
of the constitution. Senators and Representa
tives shall ho elected, but not admitted until
Congress declares the State entitled to represen
tation. It further provides that in cadfe the States
decline to accept these terms they shall submit
to Congress a plan of restoration, providing said
plan acknowledges the Constitution of the Uni
ted States as the supreme law of the land ; that
State constitutions shall guarantee to all freed
men equal rights before the law, and that suf
frage shall be impartial, without regard to race
or color. Tlie rebel war debt and compensation
for slaves shall not be assumed by said States, or
claims be brought against the United States for
them. All laws recognizing slavery, or which
exclude the testimony of person^ of color, or
deny them the rights of trial hy a jury, or make
color a distinction, shall he null and void ; also,
that provisional governments may suspend the
writ of habeas corpus iu case of resistance to tlie
authority, aud call on the government for aid.
Tlie hill is also said to contain a proposition
to divide Texas into two States before admission
into tlie Union. The whole thing is infamous iu
its inception and details, hut it will probably be
late in the season before the measure becomes a
law, and, if passed, still later before its provisions
as stated above will he put into practical opera
tion.
Tlie Cotton Trade—Prospects of High
Brices.
:V New Orleans correspondent of tlie Mem
phis Avalanche says:
“Tlie half of the cotton that will passthrough
tliis city lias been received. Many persons esti
mate the receipts at two-thirds of the full
un.>imt. The favorable foreign advices of the
>ast few days luive produced a lively market,
md increased the activity on change and general
ransactions on Canal street. Anew philosophy
seems to have entered into the spirit qf calcula
tion here within the last few days. Last week
the impression prevailed that cotton would not
go beyond thirty-five cents at anytime; now
tlic idea obtains that it will reach forty cents or
more before next Spring. You may have noticed
the reason ot this in the advices from India. The
lotnbay planters have determined to bull the
lisli market. Factors there tire standing
aside, quietly awaiting a collapse in the recent
xtravagant prices of Eastern cotton. That the
India cotton crop has largely failed, was owing
to easily recognized causes. Last year the enor
mous priees that ruled for all classes cotton, in-
luced every one to plant that staple. This was
done to the utter neglect of rice and other cere-
ls, the production of which is absolutely neces
sary to the sustenance of that people. Havii-g
thus neglected to provide for living, famine en
sued, and as a consequence of this, tiie laborers,
on cotton plantations had to abandon the fields.
Many thousands died. The crop was lost for
want of cultivation. A short and comparatively
small crop of Egyptian and India cotton is the
result. To make up the requisite supply for tlie
usual consumption, all the cotton in America
will bo required, and then the airyiunt will not
nearly equal the demand. The supply being
short and the demand absolute and large, prices
must reach much greater figures.
However, it will he prudent for those of our
people who cau retain their cotton for a few
months, to do so.”
Tlie Snprcuic Court.
At the Eighth of January Banquet at Wasli-
iugton, Judge Jeremiah S. Black, ex-United
Slates Attorney General, responded to the toast,
The Supreme Court.” In the course of his re
marks he said, in allusion to the recent decision:
A great truth, on which tlie safety of society
and the security of individual rights must depend,
is in its nature indestructible. Y'ou may crush it
to-day, hut it will reappear and vindicate itself
to-morrow. On the other hand, nothing is so
evanescent or so fickle as the passions that spring
from the interests and the prejudices of the hour.
Let the lessons of history be heeded. Titus
Oates, Bedloe, aud Dangerfield enjoyed a tar
greater measure of popular confidence than ever
was bestowed on Mr. Holt, Mr. Conover, Mr.
Campbell, alias Hoare, or hy all the officers,
agents, spies, delators, and witnesses of the mil
itary bureau put together. They—I mean Oates
and"company—were loudly applauded in Parlia
ment; they were tlie former favorites of the Brit
ish people, and they were the very darlings of all
the political preachers. They held the fife and
honor of the nation iu their hands. If they hut
pointed a finger at an individual, lie was doomed,
and no purity of previous character, no proof of
innocence, however clear, could save him from
destruction. Such was their overflowing pros
perity one year; b»it before the next came round
those wretched miscreants were howling at the
cart’s tail, under the lash of the public execution
er, and the whole population ot London was
clapping its hands with joy. Let the man who
puts his trust in a false popularity beware of the
rebound which is sure to come, sooner or later.
It is written down among the unchangeable de
crees of Almighty God that no lie shall live for
ever; and especially is this true of ajgreat, mon
strous, bloody lie like this which the Supreme
Court has put iLs broad foot upon.
What Bid General Brant Say •
The above question appears to he absorbing
some of the attention of the public press. In
deed, it is rare to pick up a paper from the North
or West without finding several paragraphs
about wliat General Grant said or did on this or
that occasion. \\ e do i.ot usually attach much
weight to after-dinner speeches, when the third
or fourth bottle has been sounded, nor is it likely
that General Grant, or “any other man” of ordi
nary sense, would avail himself of such an op
portunity to enunciate his opinions upon leading
political measures, with a view to have them
reach the public through tlie questionable instru
mentality of a newspaper correspondent who
was probably au unbidden guest at the “feast of
reason aud flow of soul” which is said to be a
peculiar feature of such occasions. Nor do we
regard it at all important whether the statement
below had any foundation, or was simply manu
factured by the correspondent of tlie Cincinnat
Gazette, who furnishes it as the substance ol a
conversation alleged to have taken place at the
dinner-table of Secretary Seward, in tlie presence
of the Radical delegation from Arkansas, who
visited Washington to have their State set back
iuto a territorial condition. It is enough for us
to know, which we do from a source that admits
of no contradiction, that the Judicial aud Execu
tive departments of the Government are in wise
and happy accordance upon all questions involv
ing reference to the Constitution, and that Gen
eral Grant will obey all orders, not in violation
of that instrument, emanating from the Presi
dent, who is Commnnder-in-Chief of tlie army
aud navy of the United States.
Tlie following is the version of what General
Grant said, on the occasion alluded to, as fur
nished by tlie correspondent of the Gazette :
“ General Grant, who was very reticent in po
litical matters, frankly stated to them he knew
nothing of political attairs and was totally igno
rant of tlie sophistries of politicians. Regarding
the constitutional amendment, the general de
clined to express any opinion as to its justice,
constitutionality or expediency, but said lie would
like for at least one Southern Slate to adopt it,
as au experiment, to see if its Senators and Re
presentatives would be admitted to seats in Con
gress ; at the same time expressing the opinion
that they would be admitted. He also stated
that at the commencement of Congress he urged
prominent members,- if they intended to make
the adoption, on the part of the Southern States,
ot the amendment tlic condition precedent ot
re-admission, they ought .to pass a resolution to
that effect, solemnly pledging Congress to receive
the Senators and Representatives into that body.
Il they did not take some such step, they could
not expect ihe Southern people to take a step
that might he preliminary to others that would
lead them they know not where. On the negro
suffrage question lie was more decided, slating
tiiat he believed that was a question that should
hs left wholly and entirely with the people of
the several States; that Congress, in his opipion,
had no right to interfere in that matter; and
emphatically declared if the question came up
in Illinois, and he were there to vote, he would
certainly vote against it. But he said, smiling,
if he were in the Southern States, he believed lie
would vote for it, for he was satisfied that lie
could march the negroes up to the polls and vote
them as he pleased, anil would thus be gaining
instead of losing political power.”
State matters.
elected President of the Pensacola & Montgom
ery Railroad.
The Macon and Brunswick Railroad.—
The Brunswick Courier annonnees that the Pres
ident of the above named road has purchased
lorly-tliree miles of iron, which Is enough to lay
the track to No. 7, fir the initial point on the Sa
vannah and Gulf Railroad. It says, also, that
Colonel Robertson, the engineer of that division,
is there, and vigorously pushing the survey, which
will be completed in a veiy few days.
Another Fire at Nashville.
Anollicr large fire occurred at Nashville on
the night of the 15th. We copy the particulars
from the Nashville Press and Times of the 16th:
The scene of destruction was the large brick
business building on the corner of College and
Broad streets. This was three stories high, and
Contained two store rooms, which ran back a
length of one hundred and twenty feet. The
building was owned by Mr. T. II. Mitchell and
Mrs. Bradfute, and is almost a total loss. The
first room was occupied hy S. 15. Spurlock & Co.,
who had, not long since, bought out the stock of
Mr. J. J. McCann, and who had a heavy amount
ot groceries and provisions in their establish
ment. About two-thirds of this was saved, hot
iu a damaged condition. Their loss will reach
about $12,000.
j The next room, to tlie East, was that of A.
| Mover A Co., wholesale grocers, who had a large
j stock, which was a total loss. It was in this
‘ store that the fire originated, in the front part of
the room near, and probably from the stove,
; burning up to the frent doors, prevented any
| portion ot the goods being saved.
Swi Lager.—The Nashville retail dealers in
lager beer have reduced the price from ton to
five cents a glass.
WE learn, through the Southern Recorder, that
Governor Jenkins has sent circulars to the Jus-
Rices of the Inferior Courts of the several coun
ties in the State, informing them that under the
law of tlie last Legislature, giving him discre
tionary power on the subject, that he will in fu
ture “reluse to receive, and wifi not send lor any
convicts sentenced to labor on public works or in
tlie chain-gang.”
Our MiUedgeville cotemporary says, thus it
becomes at once the duty of the Inferior Courts
to provide suitable places for the safe keeping of
all convicts, and to make provisions for their sup
port by the county, and to employ such overseers
or guards as may he necessary for their safe keep
ing. The courts have power under the law to
hire out or bind out such convicts to contractors
on tlic public works, or to individuals upon such
terms and restrictions as shall suhsel vc the ends
of justice; and for such purposes, any two or
more counties may combine, keep and work to
gether sudli convicts upon such public works
anywhere in the State, as they may agree upon.
The Augusta Constitutionalist gives the fol
lowing case, decided in the Superior Court in
that city on Tuesday: J. Ross Weisiger vs. .Jack-
sou Smick. This suit was brought to.recover
money, the proceeds of the sale of horses, pro
perty of plaintiff, in 1861. The defense set up
was that the animals were sold for Confederate
notes, and that before defendant had au oppor
tunity to account to plaintiff, said Confederate
notes became worthless. These allegations were
not in evidence, however. Verdict for plaintiff
of sixteen hundred dollars. H. W. Hilliard for
plaintiff, and J. C. & C. Sneed for defendant.
The same paper is requested to state, for the
information of those who may be interested, that
tlie remains of Colonel Taylor, and private
Thompson, both of the 53d Georgia Regiment,
are buried in tlic front yard of Mr. R. II. Arm
strong, near Knoxville, Tennessee. Exchanges,
hy noticing this, may convey important informa
tion to the friends of the deceased.
Tins store of W. T. Robinson, in Blakely,
Early county, was destroyed hy fire early on the
morning of the 5th instant—work of incendia
ries, loss $8,000, no insurance.
The office of the Early County News is offer
ed for sale, provided application be made before
the first day of March. It is said to he a paying
establishment.
Public Acts.
An act embracing the following provisions
was passed by the General Assembly of Georgia
at its recent session :
Section L Tlie Genera! Assembly of the State
ot Georgia do enact, That from and after the
passage of this act, it shall not be lawful for any
person to bathe in any stream or pond of water
on the Sabbath day, in view ot any road or pass
way leading to and from any house of religious
worship.
Section IL Be it further enacted, That any
person violating the first section of this act shall
he considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereoi, shall he fined in a sum not
exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisonment
in the common jail of the county, at the discre
tion of the court, not exceeding six months.
Section III. Repeals conflicting laws.
Approved 13th December, I860.
Also, an act to add an additional section to
the 4tli division, part 4th, title 1st of the Code.
Section L The General Assembly of the State
of Georgia do enact, That if any father shall
willfully and voluntarily abandon his child, or
children, leaving them in a dependent and desti
tute condition, such father shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall
he punished as lor other misdemeanors.
Approved 13th December, 1866.
And the following:
Section L Be it enacted by the General As
sembly of the State of Georgia, That the Justices
of the Inferior Court of the several counties of
this State shall have, and are hereby invested
with, the power to fix the fees of jailors for
dieting prisoners confined iu jail on any ground
whatever.
Approved 12th Decern her, 1866.
Death of a Distinguished Virginian.—
Samuel Chilton, Esq., of Fauquier county, Vir
ginia, died at his resilience at Warrenton, on
Monday last, after a protracted illness, in the
G-!d year of his age. lie was an able and dis
tinguished lawyer, and once represented the
District in which he lived in the Congress of the
United States.