Newspaper Page Text
•ERROR CEASES TO BE DANGEROUS WIIEX REASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT."—Jefftrton.
VOLUME XIX.
ATLANTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3,1867.
NUMBER 11.
HMI9 Jntflli.qeufrr.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA,
Wednesday, April :3, 1866.
Uvvtrnmcnl Stallillci.
What Im to be Done.
The Macon Telegraph Las transferred to its
; columns the following article lrom the Xtic Or-
j Iran* Crescent substituting "Georgia'’ tor “Loui-
j siana,” and endorsing the policy suggested in it
| "as applicable to our condition up to the time
- j when the Legislature under the new order ot
A Succinct Statement of the Military and
Supplemental Acta.
We are indebted to the Charleston Mercury
Most Excellent Counsel.
The colored population of Macon held :>. nieet-
at the Second Colored-Baptist Church in that
Comparative Number of White and Black.
Voters in tieorgia under the Sliermau
Bill.
The Speech of Ueucrul Wade Hampton at
Columbia.
The following are some extracts from the
j things, will be called on to sanction certain
The following valuable information we find in , cIianges in the fundanleD ul law of the Union,
the monthly report of the Director of the Bu- ] wheu> if we Lave the liberty n f writing and pub-
rtMiu of Statistics, Treasury Department of the j li5 , ling our view8 we will be heard from <>n the
Government at Washington, bearing date the » questioll of the dllty and poliev of Oeorgi^.
l.-ith ultimo. It embraces a statement of the ; „ Up tQ (he prcse * t time the po]5cv «f inaction
value of the export* of domestic produce from the hag been the J>oIicy adapted lo ^e'peculiar cir-
Initcd States to foreign ports, for the years I860, , ciunstance8 iu which Uie South Uas bwn pIaced .
j This journal has steadily and consistently op-
i posed any such affirmative action on tiie pari of
! Georgia as would make her a participant in
j measures intended to accomplish lier political
degradation. As long as the question presented
for consideration was, simply, whether or not we
should accept conditions inconsistent with our .
rights and our dignity, as I lie price of political
re-liabilitation, and as long as liberty of choice
and the control of our interna! affairs were leu
for the succinct statement, copied below, of the j c if V> on Thursday last, which was attended by a
Military and Supplemental acts recently passed j number of the prominent citizens of that place,
' in addition to the United States Officers at that
I i>ost. Several addresses Were made on the in
teresting
ported
to 1800, both inclusive, to-ick :
la 1(00 4378,180,a*
In 1861... 2SB.o5e.4S6
ill isol 213,009,479
In 1863 806.884.etW
In IsOt 320,035,197
in 1S66 323,743,187
In 1800 550,081,277
From the foregoing it will be seen that during
the progress of the late war, the value of ex
ports from the United States of domestic pro
duce, to foreign ports, fell largely short of the , lo us , present expediency no less than abstract
table exported in 1860. This will not surprise J pr j nc j p le dictated the necessity of refusal. While
any one, as the South contributed but little du- i ^^jrg remainded in tins condition, and while
ling the war, and that little, possibly, only from j they promised to remain in this condition, it v.n-
New Orleans and other less important points, to j posslb i e to thwart the aims of the radical party
ihc value of exports. But what may surprise and to thwart the aims of the radical party
some, is the fact that the value of exports of j would have been to preserve the constitutional
1866. should so largely exceed that of 1860 the j r i gb | S 0 f the Southern States, at least in theory
former being in excess of the latter $177,494,993. if nol in practice. If we could have retained the
Attribute this to what cause or causes we tiinv, liberty ot accepting or rejecting conditions, and
by Congress, and now ready to be enforced:
K LECTIONS.
1. Registration to take place of voters quali
fied by the “ Act lor the more efficient govern
ment of the rebel Stales.”
7!. Election to bo.hc!d to determine whether a
convention shall be railed—votes Iw ballot to be
indorsed concentiou or no contention.
ft. Election to tie held for delegates to a con
vention, if determined to be called.
4. Constitution adopted by convention to be
submitted to people for ratification or rejection.
The people, consisting of the registered voters,
are thus to be appealed !•> three times for their
direct action at the polls.
TIIK VOTERS.
5 The voters to he registered must have the
following qualifications: 1. Twenty-one years
old ; 2. Resident one year before day of elec
tion , ft. " Of whatever race or color; 4. Not
disfranchised for participation in rebellion or for
felony: 5. Never been a member of any State
Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial
office in anv State, and aftencards engaged in
rebellion against the’ United States; 6. Never
having taken an oath as a member of Congress,
or an officer of the United States, or a member
of a State Legislature, or an executive or judi
cial officer of a State to support the Constitution
• oum oie (general Sickles, assuming command ot i
,T ; speech deIivered by Genwal Wadc Hampton at cond District, composed “of the States of
& -bssenger, bin trior m suppostn a tbe f ree dmen's mass meeting in Columbia, South ! . lud South Carolina-
hat there are but twenty-seven counties m the ^ - ’ auu Down uaronna.
con
1 tli
State in which tlie blacks have a majority of vo
ters. We have before us the tax»returus for 1SGG
The Second Military District.
Below will be found a copy ot the order of
General Sickles, assuming command ot the So-
North
Carolina:
My Friends—You have requested me to give
Headqcxrtkks Second Military District, 1
N'okth Carolina and Sou iu Car hxa, -
Columbia, S. C., March 21, iso:. )
there is one thing certain—it evidences a won
(lerful increase in tin: value of domestic produce | than"a continued exclusion
t the 1 nited States, and afterward* engaged in
i if rejection would have entailed no other penalty I insurrection or rebellion; .. Swears to the above
exported lrom the United States since the year
1860—a year of peace, and when the South con
tributed largely to swell the value of those ex
ports, if she did not contribute in cotton, rice,
and sugar, the greater amount. In 1865, but
very little cotton, or other productions were
grown in the South, and but little, consequently,
ot the crops ot that year could have been export
ed in cither that, or the following year, 1860. It
is well known, loo, that disastrous failure attend-
rnm the Union, it !
would have beeu impolitic and degrading to ac
cept the offered terms. Such an acceptance
would have been merely a barter and sale ofj
principles and rights, without even an adequate
consideration.
“But it was always conceivable that this situa- j
tion would undergo a change. The same party i
which left us the liberty of choice might, at j
least, deny us the liberty ot choice. The same j
j party which permitted us to retain control ot our
1 the planting of cotton in 1466, and yet we i Btate affairs, might, at any moment, deprive us
e officially reported that the exports of domes- ! () f t be con trol of our State affairs. Iu fine, it
was quite within the limits of supposition that
we might find ourselves in a coudition in which
tic produce for the latter exceeds that ot 1861, i
by the enormous amount, above stated. In this I
we see a vast increase of the agricultural pro- j
Unctions of the United States—nay, a most won- j
derful one ; one that evidences an industry and |
prosperity in the West and great Northwest that ;
hills fair to render it, if it be not so now, the \
greatest agricultural country in the world — j
When to this shall be added the agricultural pro- j
dilutions ol a reconstructed South, who can doubt :
the ability of the Government to pay its debt?
If, comparing 1860 with 1866, the value ot ex
ports from the United States ot domestic pro
duce lias increased so vastly, what may it, not
•.veil to in the future when to the industry and
enterprise of the people of tlie South, there shall
be no drawback, but every encouragement given ?
Phis is food lor reflection, and the statesmen of
the American Republic should give to it their
earliest, most profound, and patriotic attention.
^
•‘Steven*’ Bill.”
The people need not be touch alarmed about
Thud. Stevens’ Confiscation bill. Well informed
parties at Washington write that there never was
a chance of its passage either through the Senate
or the House of Representatives. Air. Stevens
himself told au intimate friend that he had no
hope the bill would become a law, but he would
nevertheless offer it and make a speech in its ad
vocacy in ordei to redeem a promise and satisfy
the demand ol some of his more immediate con
diments. It was promptly sent to the lumber
room ol the House, there to remain until Deqjjtn-
hor next, when an unavailing attempt may be
made t<> resurrect it. Meanwhile, the radicals
and semi radicals in the South will attempt to
hold the infamous tiling over the heads ot the
people, and will also use it to balm and delude
the uegroes into acting with them under a false
promise that the lands proposed to be seized
shall be divided into homesteads and parceled
out for their benefit.
We repeat, that Stevens’ bill, with the whole
subject ol confiscation, is dead and buried, con
signed to the receptacle of lost tilings, and those
who teach otherwise dishonor themselves, as
iliev would dishonor the whites whom they
threaten, and the blacks they try to delude.—
riiere is no more probability ot such a law be
ing passed, than there is that Mr. Stevens and his
< ii workers will by some miracle be transformed
into good men and honest patriots.
Ttic Ohio Legislature.
The Legislature of Ohio having voted down
the proposition to strike the word “white” from
the Constitution of that State, a Democratic Re-
presentive, one Mr. Beer, from Crawford county,
prepared a preamble and resolution to meet the
political condition, in which he assumed they
would be placed on the legitimate application of
the doctrines ol the majority in Congress.
The preamble argues that as the Reconstruc
tion Commkleeoof Congress, and the Federal
Congress, had decided to refuse representation
to ten States i» the* - Union, until, among other
things, they should confer the right of suffrage
on the blacks, this is one of the indispensable
proofs of loyalty, without which no State is en
titled to representation in the Congress of the
l nited States, or to have civil governments ot
their own. The State ot Ohio thus becomes
disqualified, under the rules of Congress, and
may be deprived at any time of her right of re
presentation. Mr. Beer, therefore, moved an
application to Stevens, as leader of the House,
iu these words:
/?,. That onr S nators be instructed, and
our members iu Congress be requested, to use
their influence with the said Stevens, to the end
th he may restrain his Congress lrom reducing
me Slate of Ohio to a territorial condition, and
ir.nii placing the government of the State in the
hands of a brigadier.
This sounds like sarcasm, but there is a jxiwer
of logic in it that is more easily voted down than
answered.
Population ol I lie South.
The following table shows the white and color
ed population ot the excluded Southern Slates
a cording to the census of I860 :
we should no longer possess liberty of choice or
coutrol of our domestic affairs. These possibili- i
lies have become actualities. The transition lias J
worked a change in our circumstances which re
quires that wo review the situation, with the ob
ject of ascertaining whether or not the change of
circumstances demands a change ot conduct.—
If such a change be dictated by the exigencies of
the situation, we should conform our conduct to
tlte necessities of the case, without regarding
charges of inconsistency which would be as un
founded as innocuous.
“Now what has been the principle on which
we have hitherto acted ? Simply that of declin
ing to accept conditions offered as the price of
rights; simply of refusing to ally ourselves with
the Radicals by becoming active participants in
their schemes. The military act, as it is called,
still left us some liberty of choice. It imposed
still more odious and extraordinary conditions
than those which had previously been offered;
blit we could still escape the final humiliation by
declining to furnish the machinery of reorganiza
tion which was not provided by the act. While
affairs remained in this situation there was dan
ger that the pressure of active provisions of the
law, and the impossibility of divining a solution
of our difficulties, might have wrought a fatal
division of public opinion, might even have so
influenced the Legislature, as to induce them to
do that which would have been a superfluous
dishonor and disgrace.
“It is lortuuate, perhaps, that Congress is
about to save us from this peril, by carrying the
assumption of the supreme power to the utmost
limit of arbitrary intervention and dictation.
The Supplemental bill now pending before that
body provides the mode and the machinery by
which the ostensible object of radical legislation
is to be accomplished. Nothing now is left to
us in the way ot acceptance or rejection of con
ditions. There is to be a forcible re-organization
of our State government under military author
ity. It is necessary for us to comprehend that
this result cannot be avoided. But wliat is still
left to us is the liberty of choosing whether nr
not we shall take part in that re-organization—
whether or not we shall vote at the elections,
and thus maintain some degree of control over
our political future, or abstain from voting, and
thus deliver ourselves over to the tyranny of va
grant and mendicant ‘loyalty.’
“ On the principles by which we have hithcito
been guided, this question is very easy of dc
qualifications, with the addition “ that I will
faithfully support the Constitution and obey the
laws of the United States, and will to the best of
my ability encourage others to do so.”
TIIE CONSTITUTION.
6. The constitution to be framed, must be: 1.
In conformity with the Constitution of the Uni
ted States in all respects; 2. Prescribes that the
elective franchise shall be enjoyed by “all such
persons, as have the “qualifications” prescribed
r | in the acts for tiie election of delegates, to the
convention; 3. Shall be ratified by the qualified
electors ; 4 Shall be submitted to, and be approv
ed of by Congress; 5. And the Legislature of
the State, under this constitution, shall have
adopted the constitutional amendments, known
as article fourteen ; and, 6. Said article shall
have become a part ot the Constitution of the
United States.
‘ REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS.
1. Representative must never have taken an
oath to support- the Constitution of the United
States, as a member of Congress or officer of
tiie United States—or a member of a State legis
lature, or as an executive or judicial officer of
a State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection
or rebellion against the United States; 2. Must
appear to Congress that the election, was one, in
which the registered and qualified electors had an
opportunity to vote freely and without restraint,
fear, or the influence of fraud;—and that the
Constitution meets the approval of a majority
of all the qualified electors in the States; 3. Must
take the iron-clad.
P-CULIC DEHTS AND SLAVES.
Amendment Article XIX.—The validity of the
public debt of t-lie United States, shall not be
questioned ; and neither the United States nor
any State, shall assume or pay any debt incurred
in aid of insurrection or rebellion, or claim for
the loss or emancipation of any slaves. Con
gress empowered to enforce Article XIX. with
appropriate legislation.
penalty.
For swearing falsely, penalty perjury, to be
prosecuted and convicted in criminal courts.
the lu-ad of the Bureau no*, we believe, in Geor
gia—was next called upon to address the masses,
which he did in a plain, straight forwuid and
manly manner, showing the colored people their
true position, ami telling tOcin plainly that the
majority of them had much yet to acquire to j Tronj;
make them lully entitled to and appreciative ui
the elective franchise, and that he did not believe
in universal suffrage—that no one, whatever ins :
coior, should be allowed t > exercise that right !
who uid not knowingly understand the princi- j
pies oi republicangovern n.^M, etc. He conclu- 1
ded bv counseling them to a spirit of concilia- i
tion and good will towaidxgMffBe among whom j
they live—their Southern tr«A
The sound advice embraced m the for:going, j
coming, too, as it does, lroin.T-.a connected with
the administration of the affairs ol the “ Freed-
men’s Bureau” in this State, ue trust will make
sixtv in the following counties; Baker, Calhoun, | thau this mark ot confidence from the colored 'I 10 tinderricrned hereby assumes command o!
-- - - ® ’ - ’ 1 - to-,1 the Second Military Distric
Chattahoochee, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, El
bert, Houston, Lee. Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes,
Macon, Meriwether, Mitchell, Quitman, Ran-
lolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas,
Twiggs, and Warren.
These tax tables show, also, that two ot the
counties given in the Messenger as having a ma
jority of negroes, to-wit: Bryan and Chatham,
have now a majority of white male adults.—
They show also, that the whole number of
the counties which have a majority of blacks is
forty-five. We give below a lull' list of these,
with tiie number of white and black polls in
each, as made on oath to the State Tax Receiver
of last year:
people of this district, amongst whom my life
has been passed.
District constituted by the
Act of Congress, Public No. 68, 2d March, 1867,
entitled “An Act for the more efficient govern-
[COMMUNICATED.J
Public Meeting in Chattooga County.
A large and respectable portion of the citizens
of Chattooga county met at the court house,
in Summerville, for the purpose of counseling to
gether in relation to our national affairs. Judge
A. P. Allgood was called to the chair, and Samu
el llawkins, Esq., made secretary. The object
of tlie meeting being explained by Frauk A.
Kirby, Dr. G. B. T. Maddox moved that it ad
journ without action, which motion was carried.
Mr. Kirby then requested ail who believed the
adoption of the amendment proposed by the
Thirty-Ninth Congress to be the shortest way lo
peace to remain in the house.
Judge Allgood was again called to the chair,
and Samuel Hawkins chosen secretary. Mr
Kirby then introduced the following resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted by a large
proportion of the citizens assembled at the first
meeting.
Resolved, That we believe the shortest and
surest method of adjusting our differences with
sion. If our object was to thwart the designs of j the Government of the United States, is for the
the radicals and “ loyalists,” by declining terms j people of the S ate to adopt the constitutional
and conditions as long as we had the liberty ol j amendment proposed by the Thirty-Ninth Con-
acceptance or rejection, it, was proper fir us to j gress, for ratification to the Legislatures ot the
decline. But by abstaining from taking part in j several States ; and that we will vote for it when-
the compulsory re-organization dictated to Con- \ ever an opportunity presents itself,
gress, by refusing to vote at the elections, we ! Tu - •!red, That a copy of these resolutions be
should forward and not thwart the designs of our | sent to each, the Rome Courier,_ Constitutionalist
enemies. Here, then, is the point at which an i and Atlanta Intelligencer lor publication,
ostensible change of conduct becomes proper and Andrew P. Allgood, Chairman,
necessary. Here is the moment at which if is : Samuel Hawkins, Secretary,
desirable to pass from the policy of passivity to
March 22. 1867
activity. We shall be in no way responsible for
the form of re-organization, or for the manner in
which that re-organization is effected. But, this
resolution being consumated, we must look for
ward to the period when we shall discharge the
duties of citizens, and exercise such rights as
may remain to us.
Begistration of Voters.
Many questions have beeu asked concerning
the mode of registering voters, and there seems
to be an impression among some that it will be
done in a manner similar to the listing of tax
payers. Not so, however, as the following from
a Washington paper, concerning the registra-
“ To deter the discharge of those duties and j tion of void's in a ward in that city, will show.
orih Cju
uth ( a:
To tat.
. .536.4 (1
. .324,195
77.7 IS
. 591,5tS
.tVIiKU
. (S1.UO
291.SS-
.421.294
t‘>96.:: t
.4.271.9 1
3 1. 22
4 2 no
1S2 ! 21
At the present time,says the New York Herald,
making allowances f»r natural increase on ti.c
. ne hand and the effects of the war on the other,
iu these ten States, in cutting off the whites and
increasing the blacks by accessions from Tenues-
<•, Kcntuckv, Missouri and Maryland, brought
down lor security as slaves dining the war. the
segregate population is perhaps now about
4 ,">00,uOO white- ag drst 3,7.>0,000 blacks. I he
Macks are in the majority iu South Carolina,
Mississippi and Louisiana, and they are proba-
about equal in numbers to the whites in
v , td.UwLA and Florida; and with itni-
ver-al Mack suffrage they form a strong balance
of power iu the other four States.
Mexico.—It seems definitely settled at last
the exercise of those rights, would be simply to
lose them altogether. Georgia would Income a
second Missouri or Tennessee. Another Brown-
low would sit in the gubernatorial chair. An
other gang of plunderers would break into the
public treasury. Another horde of vagrant and
mendicant “ loyalists” would tyrannize over the
State and disfranchise the white population. In
short, the era of Butler would return upon us.
characterized by a ferocity heightened by re
venge, and an appetite sharpened by want. It
follows, then, that both abstract principle and
actual expediency require us to take an earnest
and zealous part in the elections to be held un
der the Military ami Supplemental acts. It fol
lows, toe>, that such a transition front the passive
policy to the active policy i# not a change of
principle, but simply that change of conduct
which circumstances not only justify, but de
mand.”
An Honorable Record.—A well known
magistrate ot this city, says the Richmond Ra
il . iner, whose testimony as to the facts referred
to below is undoubtedly the most reliable that
can be obtained here, says:
T was Common weal tbs Attorney of the citv
After a mention of (lie place at which the regis-
tation was held, the article reads thus:
"The scene was one of much interest. Proba
bly two hundred persons were present during
the time: each person upon being registered
passing out of the building iuto the street by a
seperate passage-way—the room lieiDg divided
by a row of benches, and ail confusion being
thus avoided. Five ehalienners were present,
two white anti three colored, all old residents
in the ward, and well acquainted with those
residing therein. A police force was on hand
to preserve order should their services be re
quired, but there appeared to be no disposition
whatever to create a disturbance of any kind.
But comparatively few persons were chailenged.
In such cases they were first sworn, and were
then required to reply to the following interro
gatories:
“1. What is your age ? 2. Havewou ever been
convicted of crime? 3. How long have you
resided in this Di.-trict ? 4. How Jong hare vou
resided in the ward ? 5. Have you voted at
any election in this District or in any State
within the period of one year prior to the first
of June next? 6. Where were you dnriug the
existence of the rebellion? 7. Were you in the
rebel army at any time ? 8. Did you furnish
supplies ot any kind to that army? 9. Had you j
a deep impression upon the minds of the colored
people who heard it givers- well as upon all
who may chance to read it. It is only in culti
vating “a spirit ot conciliation and good wiii
towards those among whom they live—their
Southern friends”—that the colored race in this
or any other Southern State can attain tiiat hap
piness and prosper it j' which civilized men of all
races, and in all countries, so Ardently seek. The
more that spirit is cultivated—the sooner its ne
cessity is impressed upon the minds of the South
ern freedineu—the better lor the colored men;
and the slightest advance made by them in that
direction ought to, and will, be responded to by
their former masters most heartily and gener
ously.
On the same occasion, Major Henry S.
Fitch, the able and accomplished United States
District Attorney for Georgia, also addressed tiie
meeting, and is reported by the -Journal cfc Mes
senger as follows:
Colonel Fitch, United States District Attorney,
for Georgia, was the next speaker. He spoke
briefly but ably, enunciating views and admoni
tions worthy of the best statesmen. Speaking to
the colored gathering, he said: You have as
sembled together to celebrate your freedom. I
caution you og dust politicians—they will cajole
you and feed you on false hopes aud false pro
mises for your votes. You arc not our equals iu
political capacity or importance. Suite cralt
does not come in a day or by intuition. It takes
time aud study. You are equal ouly in point of
law ; and you arc equally responsible for all the
crimes you commit.
You are not free by your own efforts ; and
bear this truth iu mind: Those who have here
tofore beeu your superiors must aud will, through
the present generation be your political precep
tors. You cannot become political and civic
equals in a day nor a month. By toil, and study,
and effort, and learning lrom those whose wis
dom and experience are superior to yours, you
may at some future time be prepared to exercise
the privilege which, by no act ot yours, j'ou have
become invested. Use your utmost endeavors,
then to sustain yourselves and elevate your con
dition.
The caution embraced in the foregoing against
politicians—men who are even now making ef
forts to “cajole” and “feed” lie freed men “on
false hopes and false promises-'- for their votes,
was as well timed as it was eloquently expressed,
and we trust it will not pass unheeded by those
to whom: it was given. These two officers ot
Government, Col. Lewis, of the “Freedmen’s
Bureau,” and Major Fitch, United States Dis
trict Attorney for Georgia, each in liis official po
sition, must have had favorable opportunities
extended to them of noticing the influences
brought to bear upon the freedmen, whether for
good or for evil, and the result is that the former
counsels them to cultivate “a spirit of concilia
tion and good will towards those among whom
they live—their Southern friends,” while the lat
ter warns them against politicians who will ca
jole and feed tlietn on false promises for tlieir
votes, and advises them that it is only “by toil,
and study, and effort, aud learning lrom those
whose wisdom and experience are superior to”
theirs, that they “may at some future time be
prepared to exercise the privileges which by noaet
of” theirs they “have become invested.” If re
ports which reach us be true, that oilier a id op
posite counsels than those offered by the two
Government officers to whom we have referred
iu the foregoing, are being given in this and other
cities to the freedmen, we have simply to remark
,hat those who give them are no true friends of
the recently liberated race, though they call them
“brethren” and kneel at the same altar. They j
are the '‘politicians"—the hypocrites jigaiust whose I
artful influences the freedmen stands warned, not j
by, as in the instance referred to, a Southern man, !
but by one of Northern birth, an officer of that j
Government to which the freedmen owe their
liberty.
Universal Suffrage.
A Washington correspondent writes that, at
the next session, iu November or December, the
Wilson Universal Suffrage bill will be the great
radical measure. An attempt will then, of course,
be made to pass it by a two-thirds vote in both
Houses, before any Senators or Representatives
from the ten Southern States shall be admitted,
and before any absorbing questions shall arise in
regard to that subject. The radicals do not ex
pect that an}- Southern State const.unions will
be submitted to Congress before next March—a j
year hence. If all the military m ichinery should !
work smoothly, most of the States will probably I
have effected an organization by that time.
The views of the President's last veto mes-j
sage are well calculated to induce doubt on the |
part of the country aud of Cougress whether j
the action of any Southern Legislature, organ
ized under the Military Reconstruction acts, can
be accepted as the work of a majority of 1he
people of the State. Grare questions may,
therefore, arise as to the validity of the State
Constitution that may be submitted.
It is thought by many judicious observers that
ultimately—though not till after another Presi
dential election—a constitutional convention,
representing the people of all the States, will lie
necessarily resorted to, for the adjustment of ali
questions to which the war has given rise.
Counties.
Whites.
Blacks.
Baker..
.act
95C
C:il d win
ru,-?
647
Burke
857
20K
Camden
21C
277
Caihomi
2SS
023
4:10
463
Columbia
.. 4HH
1359
Crawford
547
760
Decatur
923
1012
Donghertv
371
1537
Early ...
3t>3
t»74
Elbert
St .’o
Sll
Glynn
201
370
Greene
(i'Hl
1203
Hancock
710
1188
Harris
981
1159
Houston
707
2145
Jaeper
607
902
Jefierson
598
93S
Jones
49S
840
Liberty
3115
556
Lincoln
300
Lowndes
52(1
606
Lee
.. 305
1339
Macon
597
1053
Merriwether
1091
1219
Mitchell
430
5(i(i
Monroe
8M7
1206
Morgan
563
1016
Ugletiiorpc
968
1110
Putnam
478
913
Randolph
767
802
Quitman
233
312
Schley .
35S
378
Screw u
531
589
Stewart
SOI
1373
Sumter
880
1282
Taibot
749
I10o
Taliaferro
328
440
Terrell
, , 57h2
70S
Thomas
781
1325
TrVuyi
978
1140
Twtwft.
403
S79
W *i rre n
020
708
5V ilkes
554
1121
There is one other point on which theie should ; lu ® ut T ot rc h c l states,
be no misunderstanding as to our position ; no 1 " . execution of the duly of the Coni
loop on which to hang a possible misconstrue- I General.to maintain the security ot the
tion ns to our views ; and that is the abolition of j ln ‘ m .ants in their persons and property, to sup-
slavery. ” ~ The deed has been 1 P ress Hisurrection, disorder and violence, anil to
done, and I, for one, do honestly declare that I I I 111 "'? 11 or cause to be punished all disturbers of
never wish to see it revoked. Nor do 1 believe j P nbIlc P e;lcc and criminals, the local civil tribe
that the people ot the South would now remand \ ua1s be permitted to take jurisdiction of and
the negro lo slavery, if they had the power to !'T offenders, excepting only such cases as may
Augusta Chronicle, 23ff.
North Carolina—tlte Fruits oi Secret Or
ganizations.
The American, published at Statesville, North
Carolina, contains the following:
Serious Troubles in Wilkes County.—It
appears that a lawless set of “Red Strings” in
Wilkes county, have taken it into tlieir heads,
that because the Stale has been placed under
martial law, that therefore there is no law to
punish crime, and the vicious and lawless can
have their own way and appropriate the property
of tlieir neighbors to their own use with impu
nity, and commit other outrages as well. Last
week a band of ten or twelve ot these outlaws,
headed by a desperado who says lie hails from
Marylaud, with any number ot aliases, and all
but himself citizens of Wilkes, made a raid
through a portion of the couuty, taking horses,
mules, watches, brandy and other property; and
compelling by force, good citizens, whom they
happened to meet, to go with them.
They met a man and his sister in the road
whh a'team, took the animals, and then hung
the man to a limb until lie was nearly dead,
when they cut linn down and carried him to
their camp a prisoner. During the night he
watched his opportunity aud made his escape,
and collecting some dozen of citizens, attacked
the desperados in their camp, capturing a halt
dozen, the others making their escape. Four of
these have been admitted to bail, aud three, in
cluding the leader, are confined iu jail at Wilkes-
boro’.
These men say that tlieir friends are numerous
anil that they can be released at auy time. They
say that there is no law to punish them now, aud
tiiose who arrested them shall suffer for it. From
the statement made by these outlaws, tlieir or
ganization is extensive, and they have plenty of
arms and ammunition. They profess to be “loyal
Union men.” It requires no sage to tell whose
teaching is the cause of these troubles.
Charleston.—The attack on the street cars
at Charleston a few days ago, of which men
tion was made in the telegraphic dispatches,
was, according to the Courier of the 27l!i, with
out any serious results. A negro had thrust
himself into one of the cars, contrary to tlie regu
lations of the company, but when notified by the
conductor withdrew. Subsequently a gang of
negroes took possesion of the cars, and threaten
ed the conductor. But, the prompt interference
of the military soon put a stop to the matter. Il
'lie negroes were left to themselves such troubles
would be,of much rarer occurrence. It is the fault
ot the mean whites, who thrust themselves into
association with the blacks, meet with them in
council, and put all sorts of mischievous no
tions into their heads. These are the really cul
pable jv.ii lies, aud should he punished wherever
they can be identified. It is pleasant to know
the authorities in both the first ami second mili
tary districts are looking after the mischief-ma
kers, and that there is a fair prospect of some of
them coming to grief. Let the blacks avoid and
shun the advice and counsel of all such. They
will only lea 1 them into trouble, and then aban
don them, to get out the best way they can.
Mutual Confidence.—The Richmond Whig,
in an admirable article on the new political ele
ment ot the South, comments on the fact that
the vital element which should be introduced
into the relations of the whites and blacks of the
South i~ mutual confidence. That’s it, but in
order to cultivate aud secure that mutual confi
dence, it w ill not do to leave the blacks to the
tender mercies of designing and evil men, who
give them unwise counsel that they may profit
by leading them astray.
Savannah News.—The Xeics'dk Herald, of
the 27th, Dotices the arrival at Savannah on the
prei'ious day. of the steamship General Barnes,
with a large and valuable cargo. The same pa
per saj-s in regard to the shipment of cotton:
Messrs. Charles Green A Son yesterday cleared ; of a turnip th
the British ship Jame3 Jardide for Liverpool, ' unsuccessful.
Old Books.—In the library of the late A. A.
Smeis, of Savannah, are ten books printed pre
vious to 1476. The oldest was printed in 1460.
Two in 1405—one in 1408—tsvo in 1470—one in
1473—one in 1477—two in 1478. The oldest
manuscript book was written in the year 800,
anJ now fully 1,000 years, old ; written in parch
ment, and about the size of a family Bible.
Tiie library of the late Mr. Smets will be sold
in New York the coming fall.
Montgomery.—The Daily Advertiser is glad
to learn that the extremely high rents which
have been demanded by property holders in
differerent portions of that city,ever since the close
do so unquestioned. Under our paternal care
from a mere handful he grew to a mighty host.
He came to us a lie.-.then—we-inadr Mfn a'Cluis-
tiuu. Idle, vicious, savage in liis own country,
in ours lie became industrious, gcut'e, civilized.
Let his history as a si ive be compared hereafter
with that which .he will make for himself as a
freeciman, and by the result of that comparison
we are willing to be judged. A great responsi
bility is lifted from our shoulders by his emanci
pation, and we willingly commit his destiny to
bis own hands, hoping that he may prove him
self worthy of the new position in which he lias
been placed. As a slave, he was taithful to us;
as a freeman, let us t.eat him as a friend. Deal
with him frankly, justly, kindly; and, my word
for it, lie will reciprocate your kindness, clinging
to his oicl home, bis owe couutrv, and his for
mer master. If you wish to see him contented,
industrious, useful, aid him in his efforts to ele
vate himself in the scale of civilization, and thus
fit him, not only to eio .vy ihe blessings of free
dom, but to appreciate i s dm’
Your own orator of the day, who has just ad
dressed you, has spoken wisely and kindly on
this topic and the advice he has giveu you I ap
prove of heartily. Why should we not be friends ?
Are you not Southern men, as we arc ? Is this
not your home as well as ours? Does not the
Southern sun above us shine alike for both of
us? Did not this soil give birth to all of us?—
Aud will we not all alike, when our troubles aud
trials are over, sleep iu that same soil in which
we first drew breath? I see before me a
banner on which is inscribed “united we stand,
divided we fall." Thai motto is lull of signifi
cance and truth, for your welfare is inseparably
linked with tiiat of the whites of the South. If
we are unjustly taxed, you w ill have to pay your
share; if we are oppressed, you will suffer; if
we are ruined, you will be destroyed. Your
prosperity depends entirely on that of your coun
try, aud whatever fate awaits the white people
of the South will be yours.
Now let us consider for a few moments the
subject which has brought you together to-day,
the military bill just passed by Cougress. Y r ou
must bear iu mind that a great many persons,
amongst whom is the President of the United
States, think that this bill is unconstitutional ;
that Congress had no authority to pass it. Now
the only way by which that question can be set
tled, is by a decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States, The court will declare the
bill either constitutional or unconstitutional. If
constitutional, you will, by it, all be allowed to
vote. How will you vote? Whom will you
select to make the new laws, which are to gov
ern the State ? Will you choose men who are
ignorant of all law—all sections ot your govern
ment? Will you place in office these strangers
who have flocked here to plunder what little is
left to us? Or will you trust the men amongst
whom you have lived heretofore—amongst whom
you must always live? It seems to me that this
latter course would he the wisest, tor as it is to
the interest ot the Southern whiles to make the
blacks enlightened, prosperous and contented,
they would surely do all in their power to secure
these objects. I do not tell you to trust to pro
fessions of friendship alone, whether they come
from die Southern inan or the Northern. But
what I ask you to do, what I have the right to
ask of you is, that as we profess to be your
friends, you will give us the opportunity of
showing by actions, whether we arc sincere or
not.
If we deceive you, then turn to the North, and
see il you can find better friends there. 1 have
no lears of the result; for with us not ouly does
humanity dictate kind treatment, honest dealing,
just laws for the colored population, but selt-
interest demands from us the same course. A
stronger prejudice lias always existed at the
North against your people than here, and it ex
ists still. If this bill goes into operation, you
will first of all have to vote for members of a
State Convention. Now your own speaker, to
whose remarks on this point I listened with plea
sure and interest, has given you sound aud prac
tical advice. Select the men whom you know
to be honest and trustworthy, aud who are iden
tified with the State.
You ask counsel of me. I have given it, fully,
frankly, sincerely. jS'o personal motives can
possibly sway me, for I am no longer a citizen
of the United Stales or of South Carolina. The
bill which gives the right ol suffrage to you dis
franchises me. I have not even a home here, for
my home, and the homes of all who love my
name, have been laid in ashes. 1 have no po
litical rights. I have nothing to bind me to this
ruined land, but the memories of ihe past; the
affection I cherish for its people, and the graves
of tny kindred. These ties, however, are strong
enough to keep alive in my heart a warm interest
in my State, aud they are sufficient to make one
strive always to promote her welfare. This mo
tive, alone, brought me here to-day, for it was
not until the chairman of your committee urged
me to come, upon the ground that I could thus
“do good to my own people, and to his,” that 1
consented to address you. I trust that these ex
pectations may not be disappointed, and that the
spirit which has animate 1 this meeting may
spread over the whole South. I trust that here
after there may he mutual kinftuess, forbearance
and co-operation between all cla.-ses of our peo
ple.
Let those, then, who are familiar with the
cause, the people, and the interest of South Car
olina, frame the new chns'.iiutiou, and if you find
that your rights have beeu ignored : if you find
that there is one law for the white man and an
other for the black, yoG can justly complain of
having been deceived, and you can reject the
constitution. This convention, then, will he the
means ot testing the sincerity of the piciessious
made to you by the white citizens ot the State,
and of yours to them. But suppose the bill is
pronounced unconstitutional, what then ? You
will he left in precisely the same position you
held before its passage. The present State gov
ernments will continue, and the present laws
will prevail. It will then he for us to prove that
our professions of friendship were not iclie, and
while I cannot speak for other.->, I tell you wliat
I am willing to see done—1 am willing to give
the right of sufirage to all who can read and who
pay a certain amount of taxes, and I agree tiiat
all, white as well as black, who do not possess
these qualifications shall be excluded. I would
not take th s right from any who have hereto
fore exercised it, but I wish to see an educational
and property qualification for voters adopted for
the future. Let this qualification bear on white
and black alike, and while it will cut off from
voting some of botlrt"aces, it will be a strong in
ducement to all to seek education and to obtain
for themselves a real and tangible interest in the
State. It will serve to elevate all classes, and
of the war, are falling somewhat in disfavor.
Tcere is reason in all tilings even to the roast-1 contribute not only to the material prosperity of
empt to per- i tbe ^ ta,e i but t0 tbe increase of virtue and cdu-
| cation among her people. No one under twen-
! ty-one years of age is allowed to vote, nor can
ing of egL rj , and when landlords attempt to per
form the interesting feat of extracting blood out
experiment generally proves
July. 1865? 10
, „ . | kind ot trade with the enemv durin.
of Richmond for twenty-one years, and in that i hellion ?"
long interval I prosecuted only three Jews, and
two ot them were most honorably acquitted,
there being not a particle of evidence to sustain
the charges. During my fourteen years of ser
vice as a magistrate, only one Jew was before me
for trial and he was acquitted. In all that iong
interval I do not remem liar having ever received
an application for public charity lrom any indi
vidual ot either sex or any age belonging to that
faith. And, so far as I am aware, no" Jewish
child has ever received even the benefits oi our
having on board 1,741 bales of upland and 170
bales of sea island cotton, and 150.485 feet of
lumber. The total value of the cargo was 8255.-
any communication with anv person or persons j ^- J - The bark Progress, O. C. Olsen, Mas-
the re':>el States between April, 1861, and ! ter. was cleared yesterday for Queenstown with
Were you engaged in any | gsi bales of cotton, valued at 8130,110 89.
the re-
Daring PerfomaNCE.—A circus rider a
few evenings ago, on a wager, rode one of the
circus horses from the bottom to the top of the
circular stairs leading to the dome on the Conrt-
Ilouse, at Chicago. The dome is one hundred
feet from the landing. The stairs are not more
than four feet wide, and the balusters not more
' than three feet' high. The daring performance
attracted a large crowd.
District of Col.cmbia.-
^ Death of a Nun.—The Richmond papers
Arrested for Breach of Trust.—Colonel j chronicle the death of “Mother JulianaSupe-
J. H. James, formerly quartermaster at Chatta- : rioress of the Academy of Visitation in that
no. . I, was. at the instance ot Mr. II. 0. Mugler icitv. She was looked upon as a woman ot the t-w „ r OI r J7,*T —It annears from ihe
ton. arrested and taken before Squire Meachem ' , . . , , , , I DISTRICT OF eollmbia.—appears irom me
yesterday, charged with a breach of trust. Mr. most anluant mind and splendid in.effectual at- rec . rd of registration that in the First Ward j tba t jfMajor GenerafsCommission was tendered
fMUgieton, it appears, had placed voucher?in the ; tainments, and was probably the oldest oun in a j ono baV e been registered 1,450 colored ' Frank Parrish, but that he peremptorily refused,
bands ot Colonel James, with in-;ructions to , the world, she having been a member of the or- v ,. * -ordin-’ to tin* usual computation of » •— —
have them cashed. The colonel, it is alleged, iu ; dcr upwards of sixty-five vears. .. . , inhabitants this won!' .-ive to the Drowned.—John Bridges, a n a Lconkluo
the transaction, managed to appropriate more) „ , „ , ,, .* . . . _ | one vote to six lunaouanis, mia«ouL.ignciouie ,
foreigners do so until they have been in this
country some years.
A Colored Captain.—We clip the paragraph
below from tiie Nashville Union <£ American of
Sunday:
Governor Brown low, after a long and arduous
search, has at last found a colored man willing to
accept a commission in the “ loyal militia.”—
Only a few days since one ot our leading tonso-
rial artists refused a Colonel's commission. With
in the last day or two, however, James S. Sum
ner was proffered a Captaincy, and promptly
accepted the commission, w iiich he now carries
in his breeches pocket. Sumner is well known
among the colored population. Rumor has it
l>y thu order ot the Commanding General be re
furred to a commission or other mUUaxy mhum.t
for trial.
8. The civil government now existing in North
Carolina and Soutli Carolina is provisional only,
and iu all respects subject to the paramount au
thority of the United States,at anytime to abol
ish, modify, control or supersede the same. Lo
cal laws and municipal regulations not inconsis
tent with the constitution aud lawsot the United
Stales, or the proclamations of the President, or
with such regulations as are or may be presctl
bed in the orders of the Commanding General,
are hereby declared to be in loiee ; and in con
formity therewith, civil officers arc hereby au
thorized to continue the exercise of their proper
functions, and will be respected and obeyed by
the inhabitants.
4. Whenever any civil officer, magistrate, or
court neglects or refuses to perform an official
act properly required ot such tribunal or officer,
whereby due and rightful security to person or
property shall be denied, the case will be re
ported by the Post Commander io these head
quarters.
5. Post Commanders will cause lo be arrested
persons charged with the commission of crimes
and offenses when the civil authorities tail to ar
rest and bring such offenders to trial, and will
hold the accused in custody for trial by Military
Commission, Provost Court or other tribunal or
ganized pursuant to orders from these hcadquar-
ers. Arrests by military authority will he re
ported promptly. The charges preferred will
be accompanied by the evidence on which they
are founded.
6. The commanding General desiring to pre
serve tranquility and order by means and agen
cies most congenial to the people, solicits the
zealous-and cordial co-operation of civil officers
in the discharge of their duties, and the aid of
all good citizens in preventing conduct tending
to disturb the peace ; and lo the end that occa
sion may seldom arise for the exercise of mili
tary authority iu matters ot ordinary civil ad
ministration, the Commanding General respect
fully and earnestly commends to the people and
authorities of North and South Caroliua unre
served obedience to the authority now establish
ed, and the diligent, considerate and impartial
execution of the laws enacted for their govern
ment.
7. All orders heretofore published to the De
partment of the South are hereby continued in
force.
8. The following named officers are announc
ed as the staff of the Major General Commknd-
Captain J. W. Clous, 38th United States
Infantry, Acting Assistant Adjutant General
and Aide-de-Oamp.
Captain Alexander Moore, 38th United States
Infantry, Aide-de-Camp.
i.revet Major J. R. Myrick, First Lieutenant
3d Artillery, Aide-de-Camp and Acting Judge
Advocate.
Major James P. Roy, 6th United States In
fantry, Acting Assistant Inspector General.
Brevet Major General It. O. Tyler, Deputy
Quartermaster General U. S. A., Chief Quar
termaster.
Brevet Brigadier General W. W. Burns, Ma
jor aud C. S., U. S. A., Chief Commissary of
Subsistence.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Clias. Page, Sur
geon U. S. A., Medical Director.
D. E. Sickles,
Major General Commading.
Official: J. W. Clous, Aide-de-Camp.
B'hat ft Costs Uncle Samuel to Keep
House.
The New York Tribune, whenever it falls into
trouble about “great national questions,” goes to
cyphering like all wrath, and, what is creditable
to its skill in that particular line, usually works
out a pretty fair sum. It has recently been using
the slate with special reference to the expenses
incurred in government house-keeping, and" the
following is the result, which ot course will not
astonish any one:
The appropriations voted by the second session
of the Thirty-fourth Congress to pay for the cur
rent expenses of the Government during the
coming year and to supply the deficiencies of the
last fiscal period, amount to the pretty little sum
of $144,793,037 61. The army takes $23,881,654;
the navy, $16,794,244; Mr. Seward receives two
allowances ot $80,000 each for liis Atlantic cable
bills ; and the Postmaster General gets $20,000
worth of twine. The Military Academy, at
West Point, is very liberally provided tor at an
expense ol $268,913, of which that eminently
useless body, the. Board of Visitors, consumes
$5,000, and another $5,000 is applied to an en
largement of the cadets’ laundry, which we
should think ought to be big enough now to keep
that dapper little company of soldiers clean as.a
row of new pins. The printing of our Govern
ment money costs $200,000 ; the management of
loans and notes canmit be effected for less than
$2,000,000; and for the detection of counterfeit
ers we have a bill of $150,009. Our expensive
old friend, Pub. Doc., dances in to the tune of
$2,169,198, which surely ought to make Congress
ashamed of itself. Next to the salary of Andrew
Johnson, the charge under which it strikes us
that we get the poorest equivalent for our money
is that ot $314,696 tor the Department of Agri
culture.
The purchase and distribution of seeds, which
nobody wants, costs $80,000, and the Botanical
Garden, where Mr. Commissioner Newton raises
hot house flowers for members of Congress,
is supjxirted at an outlay of $10,675. Ten thou
sand dollars lor bouquets! But after all that is
not worse than the “legislative” appropriation of
$10,250 lor horses and carriages—a little bit of
luxury in which we mistakenly supposed the
Common Council of New York were unrivalled.
The most bewildering thing of all is the list
ol appropriations for keeping our public officers
warm. Here, tor example, we have $9000 for
heating tiie Supreme Court room ; $3000 for
nealing the cadets’ mess room, at West Point
$40,000 for heating and ventilating apparatus for;
the public buif tings, $1000 worth of ditto for
the library of Congress; $5000 worth of luel for
the White House ; $15,000 worth of luel aud
lights for Congress; $500 for heating the Capi
tol ; $2000 for fuel again at the White House
and Capitol. How in the world it is possible in
a single winter to consume such enormous
quantities of coal, is a ’problem quite beyond
our comprehension. There is an item of $55,-
000 lor lighting the Capitol and White house,
besides which the illumination of the Rotunda
by electricity involves an annual expense of
$3000, and the Government has to pay au elec
trician $1200 a year to attend to it.
Another Indian Massacre.—A letter just
received at Chicago from Fort Rice, Dakotuh
contains the following:
Our latest reports from Fort Buford, it true,
are horrible. Three Indians belonging to the
than the per centage he was to receive, hence
liis appearance in court. He was held over in
Thursday at ten
that the Empire is about ended, and that Maxi- j free schools, lor which their parents, without a , a $5,000 bond, to appear on Ti
uiil'uu will soon leave the country. j murmur, pay their taxes.” \ o’clock.— Union dc Dispatch, 20th.
Her unbounded kindness to the sick and
wounded in the Richmond hospitals during the
, , ’ . . c Bridges, of Coahoma county, Mississippi
; First *> ard alone a negro poDulatiou oi 8, io0.— , 3 ’ _ , _ . , *
drowned near Fr.ar’s Point, a few days ago. He
who were repulsed by the little garrison.
On the 15th, after being re-enlorced, the In
dians made a sudden rush on the weakest point,
succeeded in getting into the fort, and butchered
every man, woman and child, not one being left
to tell the tale.
The lort was under the command of Col. Run-
kin, and company C, 31st United States infantry,
was the only company garrisoning the lort. The
report is current that these hostile Indians have
made a declaration that they intend to drive the
United States troops from the upper Missouri,
and that they have commenced with Fort Kear-
U'-v and Fort Buford. Taking into considera-
tien the small number of troops at each post, it
i would be a very easy matter to capture and inas-
A Washington paper entertains the beliei that a i .
war, will endear her memory to thousands of j large latitude has been allowed in the work of j served for eighteen months m General Forrests
the Confederate soldiers in all parts of the south. I registration. ' escort.
sacre every man.
Denif.s.—The New York Times denies that
Jerome has failed.
