Weekly Atlanta intelligencer. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1865-18??, February 27, 1867, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text•. *• ERROR CEASES TO BE DANGEROUS WHEN REASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT.”—Jefferson. VOLUME XIX. ATLANTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27,1867. NUMBER 9. $nkl9 JoUlltgtitrrr. ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WadnMdtjf, February 37, 1866. The WMt«ra Sc Atlantic Kail road and the Mate Trenenry* We had the pleasure yesterday of greeting in onr sanctum our old friend, Col. John Jones, the fait hi ul Treasurer of our State, who left the State capital tor this destination a few days ago, to replenish the Treasury vaults with the nice little sum of $50,000, which Major Wal lace, the Superintendent of the State, or West ern Sc Atlantic Railroad, had notified the Gover nor was at his disposal, being the net earnings of the road for the month of January last. With these net earning* of the road, the result of its excellent management, Col. Jones left our city this morning for the scene of his official duties. His visit gave us great pleasure. That Major Wallace has been able to make this payment of $50,000 into the State Treasury tor the past month, is evidence of his most ex cellent management of that great work. But few comprehend the extent of the demands made upon the earnings of the State Road since its present Superintendent took charge of it. The road itself was in a terrible condition, and its rolling stock totally inadequate to the demands of trahsportation, when it was turned over to his superintendency. How he struggled, with what cnergv and sleepless vigilance he has labored to overcome all obstacles to its success again as an important enterprise to the State, and to meet pressing demands of a pecuniary character made upon it, must be understood to be properly ap preciated. Suffice it now to say, that he has sue ceeded, aud this January payment into the State Treasury we hail as only one instalment of many that will be paid into it during his present year’s administration, provided—well, we must out with it—military authority does not intervene and take possession of the road. The Branch Bint—Citizens* meeting. Atlanta, Feb. 17,1867. At a meeting of citizens of Atlanta, at the At lanta National Bank, to take into consideration the propriety of memorializing the Congress of the United States, upon the subject of locating in this city the Branch Mint at Dahlonega, Geor gia, and also to ask for a proper building for the use of the United States Court, for the post office and for revenue officers; Ou motion, Richard Peters was called to the Chair, and V. A. G ask ill was appointed Secre tary. The iollowing resolution was adopted .- Resolved, That a committee of three be ap pointed to draft a petition to be presented to Con gress, after receiving such signatures as may be obtained for the purpose of furthering the objects of this meeting, and that said committee report at an adjourned meeting to be held to-morrow morning, at this place, at 0 o'clock. V. A. Gaskill, William Markham, and T. T. Smith, were appointed on said committee. On motion, adjourned to 9 o’clock to-morrow morning. [cOXlirSICiTID. ] Collector's Office, U. F Internal Revenue, 1 Fourth District, Georgia. V Atlanta, February so, 1867. ) Editor Intelligencer: For the information of those who are interested in written instruments not stamped at the time of making the sane, I beg leave to call attention to ao act of Congress passed July 13, 1866, providing, “That when it shall appear to the Collector, upon oath or other wise, to hie satisfaction that any such instrument has not been duly stamped at the time of making or issuing the same by reason of accident, mistake, inadvertance, or urgent necessity, and without any wilful design to defraud the United States of the stamp, or to evade or delay the payment thereof, then and in such case, if such instrument * * * shall, within twelve calendar months after the first means of proper education for them; also, they j shall have the right and authority to buy, sell, i lease, and re-lease real and personal estate, and receive such donations thereoi as may be from time to.time given for the purposes’ aforesaid, and generally do and perform such other and further proper acts as may be deemed necessary to cany out the. intention and purposes of the act Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That the money received by said lottery, after defraying all ne cessary expenses, shall be applied to the purposes aforesaid^ and said persons shall make annual returns, oh oath, to the Governor of the State of all moneys received, whether by proceeds of the lottery, gift, or otherwise, all expenses paid by them, and all instruments made and interest de rived therefrom, as also the names and numbers of widows and orphans receiving the benefit aforesaid, with the name of the counties whence they came. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the per- MEMPHIS CORR ESPONDENCE. [SPECIAL to THE INTILLIaENCKR. - ! Napoleon—France. We have read a good deal in the papers dur ing the last twelve months about the Emperor State of the Couatrj-An Open. Manly Expression of I of the French—that he was hopelessly diseased physically and must soon pass away. But the Opinion the Beat Policy—“ Brick ” Pomeroy in Mem' phis—He Lectures on “Northern Style”—The Heavy Bains—Freshet—Railroad Trains Detained—Tennessee Legislature and the Nashville A Chattanooga Railroad. Etc., Etc. day of August, 1866, or, within twelve calendar 80118 aforesaid, or any two of them by themselves, The Branch mint—Citizens’ meeting. In another column the reader will find the proceedings ot a meeting held in this city, in which is embraced a memorial to Congress ask ing for the location, in Atlanta, of the United States Branch Mint. This memorial will be pre sented to our citizens for their signatures, which it, doubtless, will receive. It embraces facts that, we trust, will impress Congress favorably. When Atlanta had no existence; when it was supposed that the gold belt of our State was confined principally to one district or section of our State; when there were no railroad facili ties for transportation; it wus well enough to es tablish the Branch Mint at Dahlonega; but time has made great changes as well as discoveries. Atlanta exists now as the most flourishing inte rior city in our State, enjoying commercial and other advantages far beyond most of her sisters in Georgia. Recent discoveries establish, too, the fact that the “ gold belt" of our State is not confined to one particular district, but that it runs across the State, and embraces even the district or section in which our city is located and almost within its corporate limits, rich veins having been discovered in this immediate vicinity. We have now, also, the railroad facilities not dreamed of hardly when the Branch Mint was established at Dahlonega—and all combined, surely Atlanta is the point for the Mint, and this being determined, the Supreme Court rooms, post office, treasury or revenue offices may be embraced in the struc ture, and thus save cost to the Government, which sooner or later, must erect an edifice for the use of the officials in these departments of the public service, or be subject annually to heavy rents.— These facts impressed upon Congress, will, doubt less, cause that body to gravely consider, ere it determines to renovate at heavy outlay the build- iug, and coutiuue the Branch Mint at Dahlonega. The President and the Radicals.—If the reader will pardon us the expression, some of the radical leaders must be “ mighty mean cusses. ” They visit the President, hang around the White House, eat good dinners, soak their bodies and moisten their little minds with the t idlest wines, and thus refreshed, return to their seats on the floor of the House or in the Senate chamber, and renew the work of abuse, scurrility and denunciation. At least we learn as much trom the Washington correspondent ot the Me tropolitan Record, who says: “ The President takes things remarkably easy, for a man whose head is in danger. That lie eats heartily, and sleeps soundly, is not to be wondered at; for men have been known to do both a few hours before they were led to the callows. But it is very rarely indeed that we find a man under sentence entertaining his friends at grand dinners, and inviting his to-be- executioners to the feast. This is what Mr. Johnson has been doing during the week that closes while I write this letter, and what he in tends to continue doing for some weeks to come. Those who attended had a very pleasant time, and no one would suppose for a moment that there was anything like a conflict pending be tween the host and many ot his guests. Labor vs. Cantal.—The New York Sun calls attention to an industrial danger, and says: "Strong symptoms of another outbreak be tween capital and labor begin to be discernablc. In Boston the journeymen plasterers lately re solved to strike for the eight hour system, and we now observe that the master mechanics of that city have been banding themselves together lor the purpose of opposing the movement.— Master mechanics in all branches seem deter mined to fight the eight hour movement where- ever it may take practical shape. They rightly reason that if the operatives in one trade succeed in establishing the system the battle will virtu ally have been won tor all. It may be expected, thereiore, that any movement in this city or elsewhere, to enforce the proposed system by a strike, in any branch, will be tollowed by com bined opposition on the part of master me chanics. There is every probability of such a results aud this consideration should have due weight in the minds of those who are urging the eight hour reform. “The New Plan.”—The “new plan,” about which so much was printed a week or two ago, seems suddenly to have collapsed, and to have disappeared “like a bright exhalation in the eve ning,” which none shall ever behold again. The only reference to it we have seen within the last lew days, is the following ill-natured paragraph, which we find in the Raleigh Standard, of the 10th : Thursday's proceedings will be touud else where. The principal event of yesterday’s ses sion was the refusal ot the Senate to concur in the House proposition to go into joint conference oil the new plan. We learn that the secessionists are exceedingly tenderlooied on this matter. Stir 'em up. Brother Pell, with a protracted pole.— They w ill lake to eating dirt w ith good grace, it you will only stir ’em up a little more." Hurry up the performance or you will be too late. Head Center Stevens.—There are many ■w ho believe that Head Center Stevens, whose movements after he reached the United States w ere such as to throw doubts upon his fidelity to the Fenian cause, is now in Ireland, engineering the insurrectionary movements in that country. If such is Ilie fact, it w ill be admitted that he played a pretty deep game to place the Brfiish detectives at fault, and that he succeeded admira bly. The revolt will hardly ultimate in anything good at present, but there is little doubt that it is of a much more serious character Uiru has been reported by the Atlantic Cable. Atlanta, Feb. 19,1867. Meeting assembled according to adjournment. Proceedings of yesterday’s meeting read and ap proved. The following report was called for, read and adopted: To the Hon. the Senators and Representatives in Congress assembled : Your petitioners, citizens of the State of Geor gia, are intimately acquainted, and in many in stances, directly connected with the mining in terests of the State, and observing with satisfac tion, a disposition manifested in your honorable body, to foster the raining interests of .the coun try by appropriations to restore to usefulness the Branch Mint in this and other States, would re spectfully represent that the developments of minerals, and improvements in transportation since the location of the Branch MiDt at Dali lonega, plainly indicate the city of Atlanta as the point for the future permanent location ot the Branch Mint in this State. Atlanta presents to the Government a place of easy access by its railroad connection, and a claim upon its liberality, in consequence of the “ inci dents of the war,” and the large revenue derived from Us capital aud business; and, to the mine ral interest, a central’ position in the geld belt across the State, a concentration of capital in vested in all the various branches of trade from which supplies may be drawn with facility, and a floating capital sufficient for the mineral de mand of exchange. Other good reasons might be urged for chang ing the location, but believing the advantages herein set forth sufficient, your petitioners hum bly ask that the location of the Branch Mint in this State may be changed from Dahlonega to the city of Atlanta. Your petitioners would also suggest the necessity of uniting with the Branch Mint building a sufficiency of properly arranged rooms for the United States Court, post office, snd revenue offices, and as in duty bound we will ever pray. Respectfully submitted. V. A. Gaskill, Wm. Markham, T. T. Smith. On motion, a committee of one from each ward was appointed by the chair to circulate pe titions in furtherance of the objects of this meet ing. First Ward.*—L. H. Davis. Second Ward.—L. S. Salmons. Third Ward.—V. Spalding. Fourth Ward.—J. O. Harris. • Fifth Ward.—J. J. Thrasher. Ou motion, Y. Spalding, Wm. Markham, and V. A. Gaskill were appointed a committee to forward the proceedings of this meeting to Wash* ington, and secure such aid as they may be able to get, for the purposes contemplated. On motion, our city papers were requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting. Ad journed sine die. Richard Peters, Chairman. V. A. Gaskill, Secretary. Penalty Tor Unstamped Papers. It is well to be posted, and we give the follow ing items imposed by the last Stamp-Duties re gulations : A penalty of fifty dollars is imposed upon every person who makes, signs, or issues or who causes to be made, signed or issued, any paper of any kind or description whatever, or who ac cepts, negotiates or pays or causes to be accepted, negotiated or paid, any bill of exchange, draft or order, or promissory note, for the payment ot money, without the' same being duly stamped, or having thereupon au adhesive stamp for renounc ing the tax chargeable thereon cancelled in the manner required by law, with intent to evade the provisions ot the revenue act. A penalty of two hundred dollars is imposed upon every person who pays, negotiates or offers in payment of any sum of money, drawn or pur porting to be drawn in a foreign' country, but payable in the United States, until the proper stamp has been affixed thereto. A penalty of fifty dollars is imposed upon ever}’ person who frequently makes use of an adhesive stamp to denote the duty required by he revenue act, without effectually cancelling and obliterating the same in the manner required by law. ' It is not lawful to record any instrument, docu ment, wr paper required by law to be stamped, or any copy thereof, unless a stamp or stamps of the proper amount have been affixed and can celled iu the manner required by law; and such instrument or copy and the record thereof are utterly null and void and cannot be used or ad mitted as evidence in any court until the defect has been cured as provided iu section 158. Liability for Negro Hike in 1865.—The Montgomery Advertiser of the 19th has the fol lowing report of a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Alabama: We publish this morning another important decisiou, recently made by the Supreme Court Leslie vs. Langhatn’s Executors from Wilcox Circuit Court. " The action was founded on a promissory note, given tor the hi re of a slave for he year 1865. It appeared on the trial that the lave went into the possession ot the defendant, under the contract, on the 3d January, 1865, and continued in his possession until tiie 1st May, 1865, when the military forces of the United Slates occupied the couutry; and he then quit ihc defendant’s employment, without fault on the part ot the owner.’ On these facts the Su preme Court decide— 1st. That the hirer was bound to pay the agreed price tor the full term of the hiring, although he had lost the sen-ices of the slave for a part of ilie term. 3d. That the emancipation proclamation pub lished by President Lincoln in January, 1863, had no force or effect in this State; and that slavery was destroyed in this State in May, 1865. 3*1. That the note not being 9et out in the record, and bciug (by legal presumption from the vennents of the complaint) payable in money, its legal effect could not be changed by proof of a parole agreement between the parties that it was to be paid in Confederate States treasury notes; and that the ordinance of the Convention, passed in September, 1865, did not authorize the admission of parol evidence in such case, to de teat a recovery in toto. months after making or issuing thereof, be brought to said Collector to be stamped * * * it shall be lawful for the said Collector to remit the penalty and to cause such instrument to be duly stamped. It will be observed that this provides for the re mission of the penalty and for the stamping of deeds, notes, bonds, receipts, contracts, as well as ot all other written instruments liable to stamp duty, made during the war and afterwards, at time when and place where revenue stamps could not be obtained. The first stamp act took effect October 1,1862. Parties desiring to have instru ments stamped and the penalty thereon remitted, when made after the last named date, should present them to this office before August 1,1867, or within twelve months from the date of the instrument to be stamped, with a written affidavit setting forth the facts in reference to the omis sion to stamp at the time of making the same, in the terms required by the act above quoted in italics. The affidavit may be sworn to before the Collector, but should be presented to him for the purpose already written out. James Atkins, Collector 4th District, Georgia. A Huge Threat.—The Washington corre spondent of the Chicago Republican, speaking of the military government bill, says: "The bill will be matured, and passed. Should the Presi- deut refuse to co-operate in carrying out its pro visions in good faith, he will bn at once impeach ed, and it is not improbable that he will be re moved by August.” What a terrible fellow that reporter is to be stfre. * ^ The fieorgla State Lottery and tlae Ma sonic Orphans’ Home. Iu answer to many queries addressed to us since the advertisement of the first drawing of the “ Georgia State Lottery ” appeared in this paper, we have concluded to make the following statements in regard to it, in order that the public, at home and abroad, may be satisfied that it is a legally established institution of the State, and should be entirely free from any suspicion of fraud, or of “ bogus, ” being attached to it. This “ Lottery, ” then, is au thorized to be drawn by virtue of a grant in the form of an enactment by the Legislature of our State “ to so far modify the laws against lotteries as to enable” certain parties “ to adopt a scheme to raise money for the purpose of building a home lor, and supporting indigent widows and orpbans, the home to be called the “ Masonic Orphans’ Home”—a purely benevolent object, which must commend itself to eveiy sympa thizing heart with that large class of sufferers in our State by reason of the sad calamities and results of war. In this grant, or act, of our State Legislature—it having received Executive ap proval—the following parties have been consti tuted the corporators, to-wit: Colonel William W, Boyd, of Atlanta; Mrs. William T. Wilson, widow of Colonel W. T. Wilson, “ Seventh Georgia; ” Mrs. Charles D. Pearson; Mis. Rosa Delony; Mrs. Sarah Doles; and so many of them as may accept the $aid grant, which all have done. Of Colonel Boyd, it is proper to remark, that he is a gentleman high in position in the Masonic Fraternity of this State, being its Deputy Grand Master at this point, and is other wise a most excellent citizen deeply imbued with that spirit of brotherly love and charity anima ting all goo4 Masons. To him, in fact, does this Georgia State Lotteiy ” owe its conception, and it is to his personal efforts before, and appeals to the Georgia State Legislature, that we must at tribute the enactment which authorizes the draw ing of the lottery. The Ladies associated with Col. B. are well known in Georgia—they are the widows of gallant men, all of whose fives were sacrificed to a cause to which they were devoted iu fife. Such is the character ot the corporators, who, having strictly complied with all the pro visions of the act, have proceeded to advertise their first drawing of the “Georgia State Lottery.” One of the provisions of the act or grant, and one which should also commend tbe Lottery to public confidence, is the penalty fixed to a vi olation of the requisition iu it, that “the money re received by said Lottery, after defraying all neces sary expenses, shall be applied” to the benevolent purposes contemplated in the act, of which an an nual report on oath shall be made to the Governor, to-irii: The grant to be withdrawn,and the proper ty and assets of the corporation to be turned over to the “ Georgia State Orphan Home,” to be used for the benefit ot the Institution. So much for the corporation and the grant under which is established this “ Georgia State Lottery.” Associated with Col. Boyd, the principal man ager, is a gentleman of large experience in the management and conduct ot lotteries. We al lude to Mr. L. R. Broadbent, of Baltimore, who is advertised as “ Agent ” for the Lotteiy. This gentleman stands high in the estimation of the people oT Maryland, and as we are assured by an eminent citizen of Georgia who iios had business transactions with him ior many yeais, deservedly so. By the Legislature of his own Si site, he was constituted the Chief Manager, or Instructor of the drawings of the lotteries there in order to prevent frauds, a trust of which he acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of the people of that State. In securing the services of so honorable and so experienced an individu al, the corporators of the “Georgia State Lot tery ” have displayed much wisdom. We have been thus prolix on the subject of this “Lottery,” for reasons before stated. Con sidering the benevolent nature and objects of its creation, we could do no less. We are at the standpoint of its principal office and where the drawings wifi take place. We shall have per sonal knowledge of each one of the “Board of Managers,’’ who, the public are assured by the Principal Manager, will be “some of the best citizens of the State,’’ and while we have now every confidence in the integrity of every one of the parties connected with its present manage ment, our readers may be assured that we shall faiihtully report any violation of the provisions of the grant, should anv such occur. In concluding, we call attention to the act es tablishing this now institution of onr city—the “Georgia State Lottery.” It reads as follows: An Act, To so far modify the laws against Lot teries as to enable William W. Boyd, of the city of Atlanta, State of Georgia, and Mrs. "William T. Wilson, widow of Col. W. T. Wil son, Seventh Georgia; Mrs. Charles D. Pear son, Mrs. Rosa E. Delony, Mrs. Sarah Doles, and so many of them as may accept the same, a majority of whom shall receive the powers herein granted, to adopt a scheme to raise money for the purpose of building a home for, and supporting the indigent Widows and Or phans, the home to be called the “ Masonic Or phans’ Home.” Sec. 1. The General Assembly of the State of Georgia do enact, That tbe persons aforesaid, shall have the right and authority to establish in said ciiv, a Lottery or series oi Lotteries, and agencies at such other places as they may deem expedient under such scheme, rules and regula tions, as may be proper and expedient to raise money for the purchase of real estate, and erect ing buildings thereon, in or near said city, suita ble and proper for the purpose of building said “ Home ” and for supporting and maintaining indigent widows sad orphans, and providing the or together with such other or others in this act named as they may designate, may become, in the mannerj;p>aeribed by law, a body corporate, under such T.amc and style as they may select and in that r»Ae the right and powers given by this act may exercised by such body corpo rate, but shall be exercised tor the purposes and under the restrictions and liabilities expressed in this act. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That should said persons and said body corporate, when so crea ted, fail to make returns as above required, un less good cause be shown for not so doing, to be determined by him, the Governor shall withdraw the rights and powers conferred by this act, and the property and assets acquired by virtue thereof shall be turned over to the Georgia State Or phan Home, to be used and disposed of as may be most advantageous to that institution. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That neither the property acquired nor powers exercised by virtue of this act, shall be liable to taxation. Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. [Si'gned] Wm. Gibson, President of the Senate. Thos. Hardeman, Jr., Speaker of the House ot Representatives. Jno. B. Weems, Secretary of the Senate. J. D. Waddell, Secretary of House of Reps, Assented to 13th December, 1866. [Signed] Charles J. Jenkins, Governor Georgia, Office of Secretary of State, / Mhj.idgkviu.is, Dec. 13th, 1836. j The three foregoing written pages contain a true and correct copy of the original act now on file in this office. Given under my hand and official seal. [Seal.] N. C. Barnett, Secretary of State. ■a w FROM FIRST ISSUE OF THE ATLANTA “ DAILY OPINION. To Our Reader*. In the exercise of those rights of person and property guaranteed to every American citi zen—to follow the profession of his choice, to se lect his abode, and to do with the fruits of his own labor whatsoever his own inclinations may dictate—the proprietor has become permanently identified with the future of Atlanta, invested a portion of his means in a printing office, and be gan the publication of an independent newspaper. The Daily Opinion will, therefore, appear every morning from this day forward, and will be served to subscribers according to the terms elsewhere published. Being fully convinced that the advancement of the interests and prosperity of Atlanta will cor respondingly enhance our own interests in this enterprise, and in other permanent investments already made, the Opinion will be specially devo ted to the development of all the facilities of this great mart of trade. To this end, therefore, we cordially invite the ^-operation of all who are, with us, fully identified witn the progress of this city. This paper is not established in tbe interest of any clique, nor as the organ of any partisan, sec tional, or business combination. It will be the mouth-piece of no man, identified with the per sonal fortunes of no public functionary, the echo of no coterie of politicians, the expositor and hired supporter and advocate ot no man’s “policy” or private interests. In the discussion of all public questions, whether of a municipal, State or Fed eral bearing, it will know no man or set of men, but will be independent in the fullest and most comprehensive sense of the term. Mere differences of opinion representing meas ures of public policy, or as to the means of ac complishing the same ends, should be no cause of ill-feeling or personal animosity between gen tlemen—still less between members of the jour nalistic profession. It shall, therefore, be our constcnt aim in the future, as in tbe past to treat with proper consideration and courtesy the ad verse opinions of others; to cultivate and main tain terms ot amicable relationship with our cotemporaries, and to eschew, as far as possible, all mere personal feuds and differences. Never theless, we shall compromise no principle for the sake of harmony, acquiesce in no popular iallacy for the sake ot unanimity, bow to the behests of no prevailing prejudice lor the sake .of avoiding controversy, and, in controversy, shall be none the less outspoken and candid for bciug conside rate and courteous. A news paper, to be reliable, must be free.— It should stand independent of all combinations, and depend for its support upon the patronage awarded by reason of its merits. It can then, and then only, be made the medium ot' the peo ple, and to rank as a power in itself. It can then afford to give publicity to every movement con nected with all parties, to publish both sides of all questions, and to suppress nothing through fear of impairing the personal popularity of some official incumbent, or of damaging tbe political prospects of some partisan leader. Such is our platform. It implies independence in all things—neutrality in nothing. It also im plies a practical test of the question as to whether this is a country wherein freedom of speech is guarranteed to every citizen, and where no raau may be put in jeopardy of life or limb for the fearless expression of an honest opinion. Tile Franchise Law In Tennessee. The negro franchise bill has passed its third reading in the Tennessee Senate, and is now a law. Two-thirds ot the white race in the State were disfranchised by the previous action of the Legislature, and this act enfranchises the negro without qualification, and as the Radicals believe secures to them the control of the State lor an other two years. Things is “ workiu’.” The Nashville Press and Times announces the result with the following sonorous paragraph : The franchise bill passed its third reading yes terday afternoon in the Senate, and the colored suffrage amendment, without qualification ot propety or education, is now an article oi our State Constitution. This gratifying victory was won by tbe decisive vote ot 14 to 7. It has placed Tennessee, alter a two year’s struggle, kept np without an hour’s intermission, in the van of the army of freedom. The bill had its faults, we believed, which we would gladly have seen removed, but its passage enfranchised some 50,000 loyal voters, and that was enough to con ceal all its detects, when we reflected that its de teat would have doomed the State to the bloody rule of Andy Johnson’s partisans. The enfranchisement of near fifty thousand loyal freedmen is a deed of no ordinary magni tude and lustre. When we look back upon the midnight blackness and terror of 1861, under se cession Democratic rule and compare it to the almost cloudless sunrise of Republicanism in 1867, tbe advance seems beyond all the ordinary rules of political progress, and brings back the days of miracles when the Almighty visibly in terposed in behalf ot his people, and the earth acknowledged the presence and inspiration of the descending Deity. It was a grand, a glori- Memphis, Feb. 18, 1867. I wonder if it ever occurred to some people of these Southern territories, or provinces, how ut terly futile it is to disguise their true sentiments, or those of the community around them, for whom they may bo in a position to speak. It appears to me worse than idleness to believe that in so doing we gain any more favorable consider ation or friendly feeling from the ruling mass at the North. If we can give them any credit as an enlightened people, rather should we expect to be benefitted by an open, manly utterance of our true feeling, on every occasion. We are not worthy of respect or consideration if we do oth erwise, and I cannot blame our rulers for desiring to keep a people in a state of vassalage and subjugation, who are afraid to speak out boldly on all subjects affecting their rights and social relations, as a free and independent people. I oan never believe, because we were unsuccessful in the late struggle between the two sections, that we entirely lost our liberty and rights. Through our republican form of gov ernment, enough of those rights were left us even at the close of the war, which enable us to contend with untiring perseverance and energy for the balance,which are withheld by the domi nant party. For nearly two years we have bended to the will of our masters, without scarcely a murmur, with the promise that by such means we should secure the desired end. And now we are told that what we have done availetli nothing; a new start must be made, the end of which we know not of; and we arc told so by the party which has the power, and un mistakably show the determination to carry it out. Is this the time, after such alarming signs, from Washington, of tbe supreme disregard and littleness with which we are looked upon by the dominant party, for we, of the South, to longer attempt to hide from them the true state of feel ing among a proud but down-trodden people ? If we ar e ever to gain their respect and good will, it can only be done by frank, open means. Should we never, and there is to be no end to this degrading state of vassalage, let us at least leave a name that succeeding generations may delight to honor for oar steadfastness to principle and right. “ Brick ” Pomeroy is spending a week with us, and is to deliver several lectures during his stay. His first, on “Northern Style,” is an nounced to take place to-night, at the Greenlaw Club hall, under the auspices of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Thousands wifi go to hear him, and will doubtless be well repaid for it. His name is on the lips of everybody, and the Overton is crowded with people Hrying to get a glimpse of the distinguished humorist. He i6 on a Southern tour, and will probably visit your city. A great quantity of rain has fallen the past three or four days. Reports from above repre sent that a freshet may be expected, and from the rapidity with which tbe river is rising at this point, we may believe it is already upon us. Tbe river is nearly bank full now, and still rising. Great activity on the levee. Boats arriving and departing every hour, day and night, and navigation to all points of tbe great river and its tributaries easy and regular. The weather is veiy mild, and the rain which ceased falling yesterday threatens to begin again every mo ment. While the rain has benefitted river trans portation, it has proved a source of great annoy ance and expense to railroads. The Memphis & Ohio and Memphis & Charleston have hid serious drawbacks from land slides, etc. No smash-ups, however, only detention of trains Some fellow in our notorious Legislature is pretty severe on the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad! A resolution has been offered in that body requiring the officers ot the road to stop their trains at Running Waetr bridge and allow tbe passengers to walk over if they wish. It was referred to the Internal Improvement Commit tee, and appears to meet with their serious con sideration. J. B. L. extract below from our Paris correspondence would seem to contradict the generally received opinion in regard to the Emperor’s health, and furnishes evidence that he is still possessed of no small share of both mental and physical vigor: Paris, February 15 —The Emperor Napoleon, in a speech before the Corps Legislatif, on the assembling of that body, said: “Serious events have happened in Europe, almost fulfilling the great Napoleon’s idea to unite all the great homo geneous nations, hitherto separated, and which is the only possible balance of power in Europe. German and Italian events have paved the way to it. Their success can not disturb France. I stood aloof, and helped the peace which Prussia and Italy made, without dismembering Austria. France was just and neutral. In another part of the globe we have been obliged to employ force to redress legitimate grievances, and we have endeavored to raise an ancient empire. The happy results at first obtained were compromised by an inauspicious concurrence of circumstances. The guiding idea of the Mexican expedition was an elevated one to regenerate a people, and implant among them ideas of order and pro gress, and to open the vast outlets to our com merce, and leave the recognition of the services rendered to civilization to mark our path. Such was my desire and yours but as soon as the extent of our sacrifices appeared to me to ex ceed the interest which had called us across the ocean, I spontaneously determined upon the recall of our army corps, that the Government of the United States might comprehend that no want of conciliation had embittered relations which, for the welfare of both countries, should remain friendly.” The Rome treaty of Septem ber has been executed, whereby the Government of the Pope has been placed iu a new phase, and he is sustained by his own strength, and the vener ation of the great Powers from the head of the Church. Europe will sustain his temporal pow er against demagogues. Our relations with England are intimate, and both the Powers agree on all the great questions. The perpetuation of Austria is necessary to the balance of power. The Emperor says he is certain the peace of the world is not to be disturbed. “Sure of the pre sent, confident of the future, I have fulfilled your wishes in regard to the development of our institutions on a liberal scale. France will use her new rights wisely. She is respected abroad, but the conditions of war be ing changed, she must increase her defenses.— The army bill has been so drawn as to lighten the l urden in times of peace and increase the resources in times of war. Our neighbors as sume far heavier burdens. Let us ever keep the flag high as the best means of preserving peace. The prosperity of France advances. The indi rect revenue has increased fifty millions of francs, and we shall soon be able to 9ati9fy all interests, and reduce the land tax whereby the working classes are to be benefited and liberty to be solid, lasting and glorious. I trust in my policy, my right and my conscience.” The above is not the language of a ruler who is anticipating an early departure from the scenes of earth, but rather of a cool, calculating mind that is quietly and sternly preparing to play a large part in that great drama of the world which every indication tells us must oc cur in the next two or three years. ons day’s work. It has clothed tbe present State Government with imperishable splendor. In be half of the loyal white voters of the State, of tbe vast host of enfranchised colored voters, who yesterday put on the shining garments ot citizen ship, we say with overflowing hearts, All hail, the Tennessee Senate! James G. Hamilton, a commission merchant in Chicago, was shot by his son, a boy of sixteen, the ball passing through the cheek into the neck. The wound is not fatal. The young man had been scolded, and took that effectual method of stopping his father’s “jaw.” Change of Base.—Dr. Andrews, of the Macon Citizen, has determined to remove his establish ment to Americas, at which point the paper will hereafter be issued tri-weekly and weekly. The Doctor advertises for two good composi tors to work on the Citwen. The Iss peach meat Question. The impeachment project which a short time ago was absorbing the almost undivided atten tion of tbe Radical mind, seems suddenly to have disappeared from the halls of Conrgesa and the columns of the public prints. Even the Washington Chronicle has failed to urge the measure for the last eight or ten days; and as for Ashley, the great embodiment of impeach ment, he has been as quiet as a lamb ever since that gentle reprimand from hiB colleague, Mr. Bingham. The truth is, the impeachment bu siness is dead and buried for tbe present, and unless, when the Fortieth Congress assembles, the hero of Bermuda Hundreds and the Hatteras Slashes succeeds in resurrecting it, we shall hear no more of the hopeful offspring of madness and fanaticism, except as an abortion that perished in the hands of its accouchers. Tbe New York Journal of Commerce, a paper that largely enjoys the confidence of the mer cantile and financial classes, has the following in regard to the subject: We are not in tbe confidence of any of tbe politicians, hut there is a little less promise of the success of this extreme measure than there appeared to be only a few days ago. The de cided opposition of the entire moaetary interests was not expected by the authors of the scheme, and thev seem to be much shaken in their pur pose. It is said that even the leaders in the measure at Washington were taken by surprise at the emphasis of the public opposition, as they had inferred that the country would not only acquiesce, but rejoice in this solu tion of the difficulties attending recon struction. We are by no means sure that business men have any great cause for congrat ulation in the effect ot their opposition. Should the best men of all parties now unite in the settle ment of this question, and the Union be speedi ly restored, the result would justify the effort to avoid tbe serious agitations that must attend the impeachment of the Chief Executive. But if the controversy is only to be prolonged indefinitely by this avoidance of that extreme measure, and if the country is never to have any peace until Radicalism has triumphed and thns exhausted itself, we think it would be better that this course should be shortened and all obstacles to the ex periment speedily removed. With a new Presi dent created by the Senate, a Supreme Court re organized through new appoiniments of special partisans, and the whole machinery of the Gov ernment thus actually in the bands of a majority in Congress, the plans ot these projectors would be without even a nominal hindrance, and their ability to restore and maintain the integrity of the Union and the liberties of the people be fully tested. It is likely to come to this at last unless The Proposed Democratic Convention* There seems to be a good deal of sense in the let ter below, of the Hon. G. 8. Hillard, in refer ence to the proposition to hold a National Dem ocratic Convention: My Dear Sir—I have received your letter in regard to the proposed Democratic Convention, and will say in reply, with entire frankness, that I am net in favor of the proposed convention, and I will state some of my reasons. In the first place, I think the Democratic party has not the confidence of the country; whether rightfully or wrongfully, I do not say; but of tbe fact, there can be no question. Second, I have no taith in conventions. They are generally controlled by the least wise among their body. They are excitable mobs, and in ev eiy convention there are a few men who are wiser than all the rest, but these men are con trolled, and do not control. The course of the Democratic Convention in 1864, in my judg ment, lost McClellan his election. The Conven tion last summer at Philadelphia did no good at all, to say the least. And the dang rs of con ventions are increased in times so excitable and electrical as ours. “Non talis anxilis, non defensoribna istis Tempua eget.” What we need now is patience; inflexible, in vincible patience, that endures and waits. The country is sick with the disease of radicalism; and this is what the faculty call a self-limited dis ease, and must run its course, and cannot be checked by medicaments. My fife upon it, should this convention meet, it will not part without do ing or saying something to give aid and comfort to the enemy. The country now is too prosperous lor any change in its policy. Nine men out of ten have no other test ot wisdom of any set of public measures than its effect upon their pockets.— Wljen the tide shall have turned from flood to ebb; when the seven yeare of plenty shall have been succeeded by seven years ot famine, we may hope for a better day, but not till then. Yours, faithfully, G. S. Hillard. Bx-fiovernor Brown’s View* as Reported by a Bohemian. We find the following in the Washington cor respondence of the New York Herald: Ex-Governor Joseph E. Brown, of Georgia, and Judge Dawson A. Walker, of the Supreme Court bench ot that State, were recently admitted to practice at the bar ot tbe United States 8u- I reme Court. ' Governor Brown states that the effect of the Louisiana bill and the Stevens bill, which recently passed the House, will be to make tbe slaves of the South the political mas ters of their former owners. The master is de prived of the right to vote and serve on juries, while his former 9lave will be enfranchised and placed in the jury box to sit in judgment upon those whose property he once was; that it is not expected by Southerners that their slaves will dispense righteous judgment, and the result will be that a large majority of the Southern people will have to come Nprth and seek a place ot retirement, if they are able to do so, and if not, some means of livelihood. The constitutional amendment, he says, would render it impossible for tbe South to conduct lier State governments, because not men enough qualified under tbe amendment could be found to fill the offices. The result of the amendment would be that the offices would be filled either by irresponsible persons who had never had mind enough to act according to their own wills, or by partisans imported for the purpose. Else they must re main empty and unexecuted. The Congressional Temperance Society. —Among those who have joined the Congres sional Temperance Society recently organized, is Senator Yates, ot Illinois. At the first meet ing, which occurred some ten days ago, Mr. Yates was introduced and said: He had signed the pledge for good and bad made his covenant with God some months be fore. When he signed the pledge he raised him self to his full bight for he was tree, although be had considered himself a moderate drinker. It was published through the land that he was a drunkard. There was some truth and error in this. He had the failing when drunk of letting everybody know it. His speeches were not fre quent, but long and loud. The great Common wealth of Illinois had for twenty-five years hon ored him in ali public positions, and be had now promised that State and all who loved him, Kate a financial revulsion shall first open tbe eyes of md the children, that he would never more touch, the people to the nature of the revolution now in progress, and unite Conservative men every where to arrest it before the full consummation is reached. “Big Injuns.”—The editor of the Salt Lake Vidette, who has just arrived at Topeka via the Smoky Hill route, states that at Downer’s Sta tion there were 7000 Indians who had met other tribes to decide upon war or peace. One old chief who appears friendly told the coach- driver if he wanted to save his life be had bet ter leave the fine before grass grew. A lady was told at one of the stations by the principal that he would have her for his squaw before long. taste, or handle the unclean thing. He intended to fight it out on that line till the last hour of his existence. In conclusion, lie read a cheering and joyous letter from hi3 wife, in response to tbe good news that he had signed the pledge, which moved many in the audience to tears. Should the reformation extend so as to em brace the Radical majority in the two Houses, it will no doubt prove a blessing to the country at large, as much of the bad legislation is owing to the great consumption of mean whisky at Washington. The Missouri Legislature has refused to sub mit to the people the question of requiring law yers and clergymen to take tbe test oath. From tbe Mobile Tribune. A Scrap or m»n>ry. A late number ot the Pnilade phia Inquirer reiterates a false statement which has been circu lated extensively by Northern papers, which, if allowed to go fineontradicted, may find its way into history as truth. It is to the effect that on the second day’s fight in Hampton Roads, the Merrimac was driven oft by the Monitor. We feel called upon to correct the statement by giv ing the facts as they occurred under our own ob servation. In order to present them in a con nected form, we shall give a brief uarrativa ot the occurrence ot the two days, as they remain impressed on our memory. On t^e 8th of March, 1862, there sailed forth from the ruins of the Norfolk Navy Yard, an ex perimental vessel, an improvised iron-clad, the old Merrimac reconstructed and named Virginia. She wm commanded by an old naval officer, Franklin Buchanan, a citizen of Maryland. The people of two cities thronged their respective wharves and bade tbe vessel “God speed” as she steamed past in the narrow chancel. She was g°l®g os her trial trip. Every one on board, but one, thought she would return to the navy yard after she had made a simple trial of her machi nery. “We are getting pretty near the enemy only to try our engines,” was the thought ot offi cers and men, as they found themselves below the obstructions and still no signs of returning. Faces were turned inquiringly towards the old commander. He was walking up and down the deck, conversing with officers near him, and looking entirely too unconcerned “to mean fight and yet the vessel is getting painfully near the enemy. The latter are plainly visible now. Off towards the left, under the land batteries at New port News, are seen looming up the great black hulls of the Congress and Cumberland. There are seventy heavy guns peeping through the port holes of those vessels, and a thousand trained gunners standing behind them. Well, the Vir ginia has ten such guns, and two hundred men around them. To be sure they are protected by armor, but no one knows whether it will prove effective or not. Almost directly ahead of the vessel, between the Rip Raps and Fortress Monroe, are seen tbe frigates St. Lawrence, Colorado and Minnesota —vessels canying batteries of fifty guns each. Some half dozen gunboats aie also there. The Virginia by this time is heading direct for Newport News. There is heard a Bound ot the drum, and its roll has hardly ceased, ere the crew are at their stations and the ship is ready tor battle. “It begins to look as if the old man means to fight” All doubt concerning that is soon removed. Coming down on the lower deck and calling his crew around him, Buchanan ad dresses them in brief and eloquent language.— They respond with three hearty cheers and return to their guns. Nothing is heard now but the ominous creaking oi the engine and the jarring sound of the shaft. Nothing till the silence is broken by the sound of a gun. It comes from a tug-boat, commanded by Lieutenant Parker, who is coming on astern, and who has fired without orders. A little more time elapses, when there comes a sound as if a young volcano bad broken oose. It comes from the broadside of tbe Con gress—only fifty yards off. There are a tew mo ments of smoke and confusion, orders given by the wave ot hand, recoiling of guns, and passing of dead and wonnded below decks. The smoke has scarcely passed away, when there is a vibra tion throughout the ship’s frame that almost throws her crew from their feet. Those in the after part of the vessel look inquiringly at one another. Their doubt is soon relieved by ihe Cheers of those stationed forward. “ The Cum berland is sunk 1” Backing out from her viciim the Virginia turned, look her station under the stern of the Congress, which vessel had ran aground in attempting to eocape, ana forced her io surrender. “This is very good tor one day,” remarked one of the officers to Caieahy Jones, the executive officer, as the latter passed along the deck. “So tar,” replied Jones, “but it is on ly begun. There are three more to fight.” The St. Lawrence, Minnesota and Colorado, were then on their way up. They wire too fate. As night came on, the Virginia withdrew from the scene of her victory, received without reply ing to the fire of the Minnesota and the St. Law rence, anchored under the Confederate batteries at Sewell’s point, and sent her dead and wound ed on shore—among the latter her noble com mander, who was shot by a sharp-sneoter on shore, while standing on the deck ot his vessel directing the removal of the officers and crew of thaCongress, previous to her destruction. Among the former was his own brother! The early fight of the next day showed the quiet waterBOt tbe Roads, roiling where the two trigates had lately floated; the Minesota aground a lew miles off 4 and a new and uncouth looking actor enterea on the scene—the Monitor. It had been discovered during the night that the Virginia was leaking badly; her prow, which was under tbe water, having been wrenched off, and there being several shot holes in her hull be low the armor. In Bpite of this, however, when, with daylight, the condition ot the enemy wus ascertained, it was determined by tbe commander of the Virginia to attack the Minnesota, with the purpose of destroying her. Proceeding then to take up her position as near to the Mmesota as she dared venture without getting aground, the Virginia poured her fire into that vessel at long range. To this point the Monitor ventured out in order to divert the fire from her helpless consort, and right nobly did she perform her part. For two or three hours the duel was kept up; the two vessels so close to together at limes that a person might have stepped from one to the other. Once tbe Virginia struck tbe Monitor with her disabled prow, and bad not her engines been stopped purposely, would, without doubt, have passed entirely over her. The Monitor finally retired in alienee from tbe fight, and alter that event, the Virginia kept up her fire on the Minesota for a full naif hour, without receiving any reply. Deeming that he bad done all that it was possible to effect at such long range, the Monitor entirely out of reach of his guns, and the Minnesota silent and apparently a hopeless wreck, the commander ot the Virginia after con sultation with his officers, determined to return to Norfolk, and repair the damages received in tbe first day’s fight. This was accordingly done; leisurely, and amid a silence unbroken by the vessel tbat is said to have caused tbe wr hdrawal. It was afterwards ascertained by a published report of tbe commander of tbe Minesota, that had the Virginia continued her fire fifteen min utes longer, be would have blown up his vessel, which he was, at the time preparing to aban don. He was forced to this step, he says in effect, because tbe Monitor bad retired after tailing to divert the fire from him. The report is on file at tbe Navy Department, and it tbe inqoirer has any disposition to tell the troth, it will be consulted. Horrible Tbagbdt.—A horrible tragedy occurred at S&vannab on Sunday last. The particulars below are from the Newt, <& Herald of Monday: Shortly after ten o’clock yesterday morning our community were startled by tbe intelligence that a horrible murder had been committed, and tbat afterwards tbe murderer had immediately taken his own life. The melancholy affair took place in the kitchen attached to the “Our House” dining saloon, and the principal actor was a Frenchman named Alfred Meuiilot, who was the chief cook in that establishment His victim was a young man named Philip Judge, about twenty years of age, who, up to within a short time since, had been employed there as a waiter. The Coroner, Dr. Robt. P. Myers, was sum moned, and at abont eleven o’clock, having pro cured a jury, proceeded to an examination, from which it appeared that Judge had been dismissed from the establisment a short time since, and that the proprietor had given orders to not allow him in tbe kitchen. Fatally for him, he went there yesterday morn ing, and taking a cup, asked the pantryman for some milk and sugar, and was about to go to the coffee urn, when Meuiilot told him tiiat the proprietor did not allow him to come there, whereupon be to.d the Frenchman to “go to hell.” The latter, who held a knife in his hand at the time, said if Judge repeated that expres sion, be would put the knife into him. The boy made use of the expression again, when, true to his threat, the enraged Meuiilot plunged the knife into the body of Judge, inflicting an in stantly mortal wound. The knife used was a long carviDg knife, which was very sharp, and entered the right side, penetrating to the lung and cutting it off. With an exclamation of “Oh, God! I am killed l” Judge fell to the ground, and expired almost instantly. When the murderer saw what he bad done, he leaned his head and appeared as though pric ing in French; then, seizing the bloody knife and baring his own breast, he plunged it in some six or seven times, in tbe region of the heart. Leaving the knife on the table, he fell dead upon theflocr.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

Weekly Atlanta intelligencer. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1865-18??, February 27, 1867, Image 1