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" «■ , * ..... ... BbfWwkla Wwa Wraffiii VOLUME XXI Wcekli) JJutflliprfcr. PUbLIbHED DAILY AND WKS ELY BY JARED IRWIN WHITAKER, Proprietor. ~ ATLANIA, GEORGIA- Wednesday. December 22. 1869. The Province or Jonrntlhm~Tbe Intel ligencer uud Ite Critics. Every man thinks he can punch the fire to bet ter advantage than his neighbor. No man ever yet planned or constructed a cottage, that was not open to criticism by everybody else. This gable is too steep; that door is too narrow; that chimney is too short; the pilch of this room is too low; that one is illy proportioned—in a word, every part must be altered to conform to the ideal oi -the critic. And if torn down, re modeled and rebuilt every month in the year, it would, in the end, be quite as far from pleasing everybody as at first. Is this less true of journalism ? The conduct of a newspaper is an easy task, certainly 1 Every man who may have acquired the habit of string ing words together, is apt to imagine himself abundantly competent to run a newspaper! Wi'h journalism, as with farming, the veriest tyro thinks himself competent to the task, even when he can do nothing else I They regard it as a sort of retreat for the versatile idler; a ha ven of rest and recreation for the sentimentalist; a dernier resort for the disappointed, the soured, the impecunious and the played out! A profession that is so accommodating to the capacities of men, must of course have outside ci itics in abundance 1 These seldom agree in opinion as touching any single merit of the journal. It has not enough oi the spice of per sonality, says one; it is too disgustingly personal, quoth another. It is too much wedded to an idea, says a third; it is rather too accommoda ting in its politics, quoth number four. It is not sufficiently courteous in debate, puts in some fastidious reader; it is “ unsound ” because it does not “ pitch into ” the personal character of its political opponents, quoth some fiery parti zan. And so on, through its whole manage ment 1 It is either too personal or too stately and argumentative; or, it is “ too ” both at the same time! If it adheres to principle, and at tempts to maintain the faith of its party, with out descending to the level of the blackguard, it is characterized as tame and time serving. If, under the pretense of advocating a principle, it habitually traduces and villifies the personal character of an opponent, it at once becomes the favorite of roughs and bullies. But if, in faithful adhesion to principle, it seldom finds it necessary to discuss the personal character of an opponent, , the bullies aforesaid suspect its party allegiance 1 I Said a hopeful scion of Democracy only a few ' days since: “The Intelligence!! is getting 1 fishy.” “ How so, replied a staunch old veteran of the party, seeing that it presents a consistent ' record on both the XVth Amendment and negro i political equality—the two living issues in Geor- t giaj” “Ah well, it don’t pitch into Joe Brown, Foster Blodgett and Gov. Bullock” said young | hopeful! ( That is the specification. The Intelligen cer fights to establish Democratic Principles, t whereas it should labor to traduce the personal t character of those who belong to the opposite l . school of politics I Mirabilien dieter 1 , Now, when it is borne in mind that this jour nal was the first in the State to oppose the rati- t flcation ot this XVlh abomination ; that it was ’ also the first to oppose a reference to the 8u- ( preme Court of a question which had become, by legislative action, res judicata ; and that it ’ was the first to repudiate Mr. Tift’s proposition ’ of self-stultification, and the proposed total , abandonment of the entire Democratic platform ; when such a record as this is coal tasted with that ot other Democratic papers which did at one time (during the last session of the Legisla ture) advocate the ratification ot XVth Amend ment, and which but quite recently fell into line again by opposing it, and which now seek to gloss over a defective and inconsistant political record by violent personal abuse ot political opponents —when brought into such a contrast as this, the Intelligencer, can very well afford to give its critics the widest possible berth. In time they will come to their senses; oi her wise, their good opinion is not an object of very great solicitude! Having marked out our course, we expect to follow it, regardless of what “Mrs. Gruuday" may say ; and it is needless to add that, in the future, as in the past, we shall always be found the consistent and persistent advocate oi Democratic Principles. .lournitlikm ii»l Personalism. The French papers, it has been remarked, are almost wholly personal. True, and they are almost wholly without influence. With them, it is the editor that gives the paper its status; consequ ntly, the opinion of a French paper is simply the individual opinion of one man—noth ing more. Failing to reflect public sentiment, the paper is impotent to mould and direct it. This was not the case three-quarters of a centuiy ago, when the French press wiis comparatively impersonal; and when, according to Lamartine, it wrought the first revolution “by responding,” not the sentiment ot the individual, but to “ the long pent up indignations and strangled sentiments ot the populace." With the freedom of the French press, passed away its imperson ality and its influence; and, to-day, the news paper pre»s ot Paris is notoriously the most im potent aud venal of the civilized world. In England, this is not the case. There the press is tree, and scrupulously impersonal ; and there, 100, is it preeminently the “ Fourth Es tate”—a power whose mandates no cabinet may disregard. The London Times shapes public sentiment only because it first reflects it. Its articles are something more than the opinions, caprices, whims, <crcutricities, ami egotistical lucubrations oi "tie individual. They are the utterances ot the journal; and the journal be ing a recognized conduit ot enlightened public sentiment, or the authentic exponent oi its party, and hence necessarily impersonal, carries wilh its teachings that insignia ot authority which never adheres to tue opinion ot a mere individual writer. Wtsnax X ATUiRTtC Rxn-BOAD, 1 M'vssoertMDSsr'e Orrcv, < Avlamth, oa, Dec. 11. 1809.) CoL W’ Awiy, Editor Constitution : Drab Sih-In ’be editorial coin mis of the CVm.Di of the 9 h instant., appears the fol— lowtna : “It is broadly rumored that Gov Bulhvk took with him a large sum ot money to use iu in fluencing the action ot Congress.” It is further tfuu the many came from the SlaU hood I're.isury “The gn>ss receipts of the R nd tor October,” it is stated, “were $250,000, aud tor November s29d.tMo Not a dollar has been paid into the Sts e mb tor either ot those months.” Neither Gov Bullock nor Mr. Blodgett have taken any money hom the State Road Treasury. The erre« reeetpts ol the Road tor October wen SO6 792 37, and for November $120805 59 making a total oi $236,597 87, netng 808,403 13 less than the amount stated in yonr article. The reasons lor the non payment ot the usual n nount into the State Treasury for the months ot I'ct 'berand November,were lully stated by me i: a< m.uuuicatiou to Gov. Bulba'a, under date <>t November ‘?sJ»,and pubh hid in thecolumus ol il.e v i the Sh Very respect fully. E. Hulbkrt, Sop’t. ——l C*. State Items. The residence of John F. I’hiuizy, near Ath ens, was entirely consumed by fire on the night of the 9th instant. Loss $3,000; insurance $2,750 in the “ Home,” Columbus, Georgia. On Thursday night there left this city, on the Georgia Railroad passenger train, one hun dred and sixty nine through passengers, and one hundred North Carolina emigrants on their way to Missouri. —Augusta Chronicle, X2th. Mr. James C. Moore has been elected Presi dent of the Street Railroad Company in Au gusta. The Gallon Opera Troupe is announced for Augusta on the 20th instant. The Rome papers complain of “ dull trade” there, notwithstanding the unusual number of visitors. The Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad Com pany are negotiating .for the purchase of the branch road from Dalton to Cleveland, Tenn. Heavy Cotton Exports.—Yesterday was one of the h< avi< st, it not the heaviest, day of the season in cotton exports, both foreign and coastwise. The number of bales ot cotton, when enumerated, seems prodigious, and the value oi one day’s clearances represents the bard earnings ot many busy hands and heads throughout the Somh.— Sav. Advertiser, 12tA Another Cotton Vessel Lost.—Messrs. Wilder & Fullerton, of Savannah, received the following dispatch on the 11th instant: New York, December 11. Wilder & Fullerton : The Crescent City was abandoned on the 14th of November. Crew landed at Falmouth. In form shippers. Williams & Guion. This vessel was cleared from the port of Sa vannah "on the 28th October last, with a cargo of 4,804 bales of upland cotton, weighing 1,288,969 pounds, valued at $564,555 26. The Savannah Advertiser says the Crescent City was a full rigged British ship of 1,500 tons. The nature ot the disaster is not yet known—fire most probably. This makes the second disas ter of the kind this season. We have been requested to copy the follow ing from the Savannah papers of the 13th : Signor Borra, the Italian gentleman who pro posed last May to introduce Italian immigrants into the State of Georgia, desires to have an in terview with the delegatee of the Atlanta Con vention and all others equally interested. They can see him every day at his office over St. An drew's Hal], from 10 to 12 M. They have a Liquor Dealer’s Mutual Protec tion Association in Savannah. A Wonderful Freak of Nature.—Amone the arrivals in our city on Saturday, was Master Zack Gaultney, a deformed boy. He is certainly an unparalleled anatomical monstrosity, and should be seen by all who are curious in such matters. He was born in Macon county, Geor gia, is fifteen years old, and only forty inches high ; his legs, arms, feet and hands are formed of notty substances, the latter being as large as a man’s.— Savannah News IZth. First Freight —The first down freight from Macon via the iMacon and Brunswick and Atlantic and Gulf Railroads arrived Saturday nigt. It consisted of one hundred bales of cot ton— Savannah News Kith The editor oi the Rome Courier, who has been sojourning through the Northern counties of this State, writes as follows: A great part of our time has been spent upon the cars, and we have bad a capital opportunity to become sorrowful over the immense and con tinually increasiug tide of emigrants that are flocking from Georgia to the great Slates o! the West. Every train upon which we traveled was filled to overflowing by huddled crowds ot men, wo men and children, that were leaving the richest and most promising country on the continent, to try their fortunes in an unknown land. Most ot them were very gay, lively and frol icsome to a startling degree. Shouts of laugh ter and defiance answered the warnings of those passengers who disclaimed against the wisdom ot their course. * * * * Arrangements had been made by which they were transported from Atlanta to New Orleans for eight dollars and a half. Thousands took advantage ot this tempting proposition, and Georgia will feci before long the effect of this most disastrous madness that has seized her people. We will contess that we sec but little to rejoice at in the status of Georgia, while her best sons and daughters are fleeing from her in multitudes. The Augusta Cronicle, of the 14th, says the “ party of Cuban filibusters, whose insane expe dition for the relief of the “Gem of the Antilles,” has been betore meutioned, were brought back to the city yesterday. They were overhauled and picked up down the river by the steamer Katie, without much resistance being offered. The celebrated guano war has been reopened in Augusta Neither party propose asking or giving quarter 1 They are scrambling over the small offices in Columbus. The Georgia Railroad has declared a semi annual dividend of four per cent, on the capital stock of the company. One lot of hogs from Tennessee arrived here by rail, a tew days ago. The price asked is 12j cents gross. We have not heard of any sales yet.—Athena Watchman, 15th. In looking over Newnan we can observe only one work of public improvement worthy of special notice. This is the macadetnizingof De potstreet, which may be said to be slowly pro gressing.—People'» Defender, 15M. Banking Capital, I'ne banking capital of Virginia before the war was about $11,000,000 or sls 89 to each inhabitant. Now it is only $2,000,000, or $3 18 to each inhabitant. Clarke County and Mil Tift.—The Athens Hanner, sp< aking of the Georgia issue and Mr. Tift’s proposition,says: We cannot see how any meml*er of the Legis lature, who voted to unseat the negroes, can stultify himselt by patting them back. They are legally dead, and have no more right in the Legislature than so many mummies. l*eraonnl Gimon. Gen Ames, the military commander of Mis sissippi, is a native ol Maine, a graduate of West Point in 1801, and unmarried. Don Piatt, in one of his recent letters, very pointedly reminds somebody th it “ the cheapest philanthropy is that which frees somebody else’s nigger.” Rev. Lours H Take, the Sweedenborgian Missionary tor Georgia, Is lecturing in Augusta to large audiences. Daniel Webster wrote, after continued i provocation, to the editor of a newspaoer w’hich ■ relerred to bis private affairs, and especially to j his not paying his di bls. He said :“It is true j that I have not always paid any debts punctu ally, and that 1 owe money. One cause of this i is that I have not pressed those who owe me for pay. As an instance of this, I enclose your father’s note made to me thirty ytars ago for money lent him to educate his boys.” Prof. A. Ryan is lecturing in Americus. Thk Knoxville 7Vc*s Herald, of the 14th inst, chronicles the death of “ Sut Lcvcngood ” ’ (Geo. Harris )He died at the Atkins House j in Knoxville, on the 13ttr. Rev. J H. Nall has been regularly installed as the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at ’ Columbus. Pio Nino takes his cigar alter each meal. I Generals Butler and Gary, of South Caro- I hna, were in Augusta Wednesday. “ERROR CEASES TO BE DANGEROUS WHE^IREASON IS LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT.”— Jefferson. ATLANTA. GA.. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22,1869. Iteport of Major-General Allred Terry. Washington, December 7.—The annual re port of the Secretary ot War is accompanied by numerous sub-reports, some of which are ol the first importance. That of Major-General Alfred H. Terry, commanding the District ot Georgia, is, in view ot the recommendation in the Presi dent’s message, and in lurther view ot the bill Io be taken up in the Senate to-morrow, of the highest interest. It is dated August 14,1869, and is as follows : SENATOR WILSON ON THE OUTRAGES. Soon after I assumed command oi this Depart ment a letter from the Hou. Henry Wilson to the President of the United States was referred to me, with instructions to investigate and re port upon the matters therein mentioned. The following is a copy of that letter, and of the in dorsement placed upon it by the General Com manding the army. Natick, Mass., May 14, 1869, Dear Sir—Can nothing be done to stop the outrages in Georgia? These political outrages should cease. Nothing animated the people more in the canvass than the idea that the rebel outrages would be stopped. They were checked much by youi election; still they go on, and many ol our best frit nds say that we do nothing to stop them, and that we rather say nothing about them. I tear that unless something is d-me many of our most devoted friends will grow dissatisfied. Cannot a proc-ama ion iu regard to Georgia be issued? Cannot these criminals tie caught by the army and punished ? lam sure something should be attempted. Martial law is this day needed in that the worst oi ail the Slates for the security ot the friends ot the country. 'Yours truly, Henry Wilson, EBaDQUABTSHS Os TBB ABMT, I Washing:on, Jane 7, 1t69 f Respectfully referred to Commanding General Department ot the South, for thorough investi gation and report. W. T. Sherman, General. I have delayed making the report thus called for until the present time, in order that I might become acquainted with the condition of affairs in Georgia before expressing any opinion. Now I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the situation here demands the interposition ol the national Government, in order that life and property may be protected, fieedom ot speech and political action secured, and the rights and liberties of the freedmen maintained. This opinion is based upon complaints made to me, the reports ot officers detailed to investigate al leged outrages, and upon the statements ot many persons ot respectability and high positiou irom different parts of the State, in whose representa tions I must repose confidence, some ot whom have given me information only under a pledge ot secrecy, the state of affairs in their sections being such that they feared extreme personal violence should it become known that they had been in communication with me. THE KU-KLUX KLAN. In many parts of the State there is practically no government; the worst of crimes are com mitted, and no attempt is made to punish those who commit them. Murders have been and are frequent, and the abuse in various ways of the blacks is too common to excite notice. There can be no doubt ot the existence ot numerous insurrectionary organizations known as “ Ku- Klux Klans,” who, shielded by their disguise, by the secrecy of lheir movements, and by the terror which they inspire, perpetrate crimes with impunity. There is great reason to believe that in some cases local magistrates are in sympathy with members ot these organizations. In many places they are overawed by them, and dare not attempt to punish them. To punish such offen ders by civil proceedings would be a difficult task, even were magistrates iu all cases dis posed, and had the courage to do their duty, for the same influences which govern them equally affect juries and witnesses. HOW TDK CRIMINALS ESCAPE. A conversation which I have had with a wealthy’ planter, a gentleman of intelligence and education, and a political opponent ot the National Administration, will illustrate this difficulty. While deploring the lamentable condition of affairs in the country in which he lives, he frankly admitted to me that were the most worthless vagabond in the country to be charged with crime against the person ot a Republican or a negro, neither he nor any other person oi property within the county would dare to refuse to give bail tor the offender, nor would they dare to testily against him, whatever might be their knowledge ot his guilt. That very many ot the crimes which have been com mitted have no political bearing, I believe; that some of them were prompted by political ani mosity, and that most oi the numerous outrages upon freedmen result from hostility to the race, induced by their enfranchisement, I think can not be controverted. The same difficulties which beset the prosecu tion of criminals are encountered by negroes, who seek redress for civil injuries in local Courts. Magistrates do not do their duty toward them, and instances are not wanting where it has even been beyond the power ot a Magistrate to protect a negro plaintiff from vio lence in his own presence, while < ngaged in the trial of his case. I desire it to be understood that in speaking of Magistrates, I in no degree refer to Judges of the Superior Court. They are gentlemen of high character, and I have every confidence that they will do their d"ty fearlessly and impartially. But it is to be ob served that even they cannot control grand and petty juries; they cannot compel the former to indict, nor the latter to render unprejudiced verdicts The Executive of the State would gladly interpose to give to all citizens the pro tection which is their right, but under the. Con stitution and laws, he has power neither to act directly in bringing oflunders to justice, nor to compel subordinate officers to d<» their duty. PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN THE STATE. I do not suppose that the great majority oi the people oi the State ot either race approve ot the commission of these crimes. I believe that not only would they gladly see good order re stored, peace and quiet maintained, and law dicated, but would lend their aid to secure these ends were they not controlled by lheir tears Governed, how ever, by their apprehensions, and having no confidmce that the civil authorities will afford them protection, in many counties they suffer these evils to exist without an effort to abate them, and meekly submit to the rule ot a disorderly and criminal minority. While 1 have been In command of the De partment, I have end> avored to take no action which could not be justified by the letter of the law, even if Georgia should be held to be re stored to its original relations to the General Government. I have confined myselt to giving support to the civil authorities, and moving de tachments of troops into some oi the disturbed counties, where their presence would exert a good influence, and where they would be ready to act it properly called upon. I think that some good has in this way been accomplished, but the great evil has by no means been reached, as Department Commander, I can do no more, for, whatever may bp the status ol Georgia, and whatever may be the powers which an officer assigned to the command ot the Third District, created by the reconstruction acts, would pos sess, it is only an officer so assigned who could exercise them. They are not vested in me by my assignment to the command ot this Depart ment. Where, therefore, the civil authorises are in sympathy with or are overawed by those who commit crime, it is manifest that I am powerless. In this connection I respectfully call the special attention of the General Command ing the Army to the jreports in regard to the at tempts made m Wairen county to secure the arrest and punishment of persons charged with crime, which are this day forwarded. WHY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTERFERE. It appears to me that the national honor is pledged to the protection of the loyalists and the treedmen of the Struth. 1 am well aware that protection of persons and property is not ordinarily one ot the functions ot the nations! Government, but when it is remembered that hostility to the supporters of the Government is but a manik station of hostility to the Gov ernment itself, and that the prevailing prtjudice against blacks results from their emancipation, the act of the Government, it would seem that such protection cannot be denied them, it it be within the power of the Government to give it 1 know ot no way in which such protection can be given in Georgia by an exercise ot the powers conferred on military commanders by the recon struction acts. [The General then enters into a long discus sum whether these powers can still be exercised in Georgia, and treats ot all laws bearing upon the question with much vigor oi judgment and i clearness ot expression, coming to the concla . sion that they may still be decreased, and clo -1 sing his report as follows:] • HOW TO REBTO-iE GOOD ORDER. In conclusion, I deSUj- to express mv couvic ? tion that the only wayjpo restore good order in the Slate is to resume lajilitary control ovt r it “ for the time being, auiHUnltimalely to provide ’> by law that the shall reassemble as • a Provisional ' ble persons shall be ex mde I, ami to which all u eligible persons elected it, whether white or black, shall be admilte" Such a Legislature would, 1 believe, enact tafch laws, anil invest their Executive with sucl-. powers as would en . able him to keep the place, protect lile and , property, and puuish critae. The process of ( resuming military contmAwould, it appears to . me, be a very simple one. A.ll that would be , required is an order from the President counter ' manding General Ordcs No. 55, Adjutant . General’s Office, July 28, 1868, and Orders No. 103, Headquarters Third January District. July 21,1868, and assigning a| officer to the com mand of the District, excepting the States of ‘ Florida and Alabama. This action I respect -1 fully recommend. gen. Halleck’s erpobsement. l General Halleck, comma;; ling Military Divi sion of the South, endorses sods report ol General Terry’s as follows : ' v I cannot concur entirely i. the views of Gen i eral Terry. After the recognition for so long a time of the Slate Government of Georgia by the President and highest military authorities, for these officers to retrace theiAsteps and declare their own acts illegal and v ;d, would not only seem inconsistent, but migik produce much harm, Should Congress, howcrc— decide to return the State to the condition ot military district, under the reconstruction iavT, on the ground that it had not been fully rest isiructed, the case would be very different I -therefore, respect fully recommend that the matter be left for ac tion of Congress. The Vacant Supreme Sidgevliip.' No nomination has yet tn-in made by the President for the vacant Assistant Justiceship on the Supreme Bench of the jlnited States.— The New York Herald, of L»st Thursday, says : “ No nomination has yet been made tor the va cancy on the bench ot th6 t- ibreme Court of the United States. The choice TwfotrbtCdly lies between Attorney General Hoa and Judge Ers kine, of Georgia.” On Taxation,-! The New York bowe s r wrong it is on many political topicsis right ojthe subject ot federal taxation, a reduction of v ,ieh it strongly advocates. “It says: “ The pei p 3, we are told, can endure yet longer the evil a deprecated currency. They are willing toe icede time for the conversion of outstanding bo into otheis bearing a lower rate of interest. tßui they are not willing to sustain a load of t Ration which impairs all energy, injures all ind' and com merce, and yields a revenue far in4xcess of the actual requirements ot the Govern Lcat.” Buhiness Sense, a A New York exchange, notici .lg the heavy , business doing in Christmas goods4ijs : , “The purchases for Christmas Year's , use and enjoyment are brisk am j numerous. The traders who do not hide their cdsire to sell, , amt do not secrete their large stocl of goods, i are doing by far the lion’s share ?■! the vast , business.” p ' , And so it is in Atlanta. Purchase, tor Christ- , mas are brisk and numerous, and j.ose who advertise are getting the trade, whih ,bose who do not; or, to use the language* Afctbe New York paper, those wh > “sec-ete their by not advertising; are getting ba' man with “business sense,” crpecrlFy during Christmas times, w® advertise. J . Beecher’s Faith.—A corresponkfot of one of the New York papers asks if Bencher is, in , faith, Nicolaitan. The inquirer thuj explains: ( “ The Nicolaitans were a party iigtwnst whom , the severest denunciations were pioilounced by the Savior, by the mouth of the Appstle John, : which are recorded in the 2d and Bdchapters ot ■, the Book ot Revelation. These Nicolaitans ( were the ‘Free Lovers’ and' Worjeii ibglits’ ot the first century. Their doctrines taught a • comrauni.y of wives’ aud general I ‘ free love,’ much, I presume, the same as lbi#t now advo cated under the modi rn titles above quoted.— 1 They are denounced with great abhorrence by i the Lord himself, and severe judgments were , pronounced on them.” The JDcmocratie Press United. The Democratic press of the State, with per haps two individual exceptions, have pro nounced against the plan of Mr. Till for squar ing the legislation of the State to accord with the Republican party in Congress. We do not now call to mind a single Democratic p.iper, of recognized position and influence in the party, that has not declared boldly in opposition to the tame and humiliating scheme which would ex change the Democratic platform for a few scats in Congress. Among the last to take position on this point, is the Augusta Chronicle, which closes an article in its issue of the 13th as follows : II the Radicals in Congress desire the reseat ingot the negroes, let them pass an act to that effect, in accordance with Grant's recommenda lion. Leading Radicals seem to be wed posted in regard to the prevailing sentiment of the Legislature, and are content to give ustimeto accomplish our dishonor. We prefer—-infinitely prefer -the course recommended by General Grant Mr. Tilt in 'Washington. The Washington correspondent of the New Yoi k Erprese says : “ The Legislature of Georgia is soon to acton the decision ot the Supreme Court of thatutate, that negroes have a right io office as well as votes, and hence, it is probable, they will restore the negroes to Hie Legist dure ejected under the Georgia Corslitation. Mr. T.ft, late member from Georgia, is here, urging Congress to delay action upon Georgia, until the Legislature has time to act The waiting of Congress, however, is very doubtful.” Mr. Tift’s mission to Washington, may prove successful, in so tar that his representations may induce Congress to p »tpone action upon Geor gia till the Legislature meets, but the great mass of the people of Georgia would much prefer j that Congress should take action and prescribe terms of reconstruction to the Slate, thau that the Legislature should reseat the negro members and adopt the Fifteenth Amendment. In the one case there is no dishonor; in the other, there is. Choosing a Wife —Keep your eyes open, boys, when you are alter a woman. It the dear little thing is cross and scolds her mother in the back room, you may be sure you will get par ticular fits all around the house. It she apolo gises tor washing the dishes, you will need a girl to tan her. It she blushes when at the wash tub with her sleeves rolled up, be sure, sir, that she is codfish aristocracy, has little breeding and little sense. If you marry a woman who knows nothing but to commit manslaughter on the piano, you may have got the noortst piece of muslin ever gotten up. F.nd the one whose mind is right, and then pitch in. Don’t be hanging around like a sheep thief, as though ashamed to be seen around in the day time, but walk up like a chicken to dough, and ask for the article like a man. General Terr,’* Report. We lay betore our readers to-day the report made by Ma jor General A. H. Terry on the condition of Georgia, together with the dissent ing endorsement of Major General Halleck. , The report will be found in another column. To Adjourn.—Th# legislature of Alabama, which has been in over a month is about to adjourn, to re asseAt » in January. They Want '.—The eoitor r.f South G- ■ ger.’. .Ta: v ‘ I*t «as»t istied ... I Congress and Georgia-What Is to bo Done I i The Macon lelegraph & Messenger of the 14'h instant, contains, under the foregoing heading, ■ an editorial article ot consideiable length from which we make the following extract: “ The case, indeed, lies in a nut-shell. If Georgia reseats these negroes, (Congress accept i ing the act,) Georgia then escapes all the hard , conditions of the punitive legislation now pro posed and certain to be inflicted in case of our refusal.” This is the sywimtni? up of the case as present ed by our Macon cotemporaiy in the article re ferred to. In it there is a saving clause—“ Con gress accepting the act.” Now we have no more idea that Congress will accept “ the act” as a settlement of the vexed question, than we have that the question can be settled without a reinstatement of the expelled negroes to their seats in the Legislature. And when this shall be done—no matter by which—Congress or the State Legislature—all will be accomplished, in our judgment, that Congress desires, to wit— the ratification by Georgia ot the XVch Amend ment, the most odious of all measures following the reconstruction enactments, and more odious than the most odious of them all. It is said that a man was i nee tempted by the devil to commit rape and murder, which tempta tion was firmly resisted But baffled though he was, Satan did not despair, and, per sisting, tempted hts victim to get drunk.— He did so, and while drunk committed the crimes he had previously resisted. Now only reseat the negro, and we apprehend when that shall be done by the Legislature, our Macon co temporary, as well as that body, will find that all else will follow which is foreshadowed in President Grant’s recommendation to Congress, and, thus far, in the woikings of that body. It is a grave mistake, we think, all make who im agine the reseating ot the negro iu tlie Georgia Legislature will be followed by a cessation of hostilities on the pai lot the Republican party in Congress, to the Stale. The truth is, Geor gia is not reconstruct! d according to their no tion, aud until it is, thej' are determined to make exactions upon her, which, to the very letter, she will be torced to comply with, else “ remain out iu the cold.” Sooner than yield to such de mands- demands involving a forfeiture of honor and of all self-respect, we are for remaining “ out in the cold,” and will welcome military government instead. “It is impossible that i a sensible people should hesitate one mo- I ment which of the two alternatives to choose,” j says our Macon cotemporary, and so say we. ] Under all the circumstances, we are as clear too i in our judgment, as the Macon Telegraph and 1 Messenger is, that “ there ought to be i o reason- ’ able doubt of what should be the di in mds ot a , sound and safe statesmanship iu this critical t condition of our affairs.” And we are entirely 1 of the opinton uttered by the “ Cinstitution ”of ( this city, only a few days u.yo, that all things" we “ should listen to no man,” (noteven t the Hon. Mr. Tift) who would advise ” us “to 1 commit suicide in order to defeat the chance of fall ing at the hands of some one else.” Pei haps “a ( change may have come o’er the spirit ”of our t Broad street neighbor, since the foregoing lines ’ were penned —indications ot which are plain in j its yesterday’s issue —stilt we stand by them, i and will, till the battle shall be over, contending i for the right even t'vough we may be over- 1 whelmed in the struggle. And when that time shall come, if come it must, Georgia rnuit bear , the shock, as she has heretofore borne greater I ones. In the language of the Columbus Sun, ’ “conciliation will not parry it, submission will j only give further fall to its descending weight, i The time approaches when the ‘cause of Geor- J gia is the cause ot all ’ and upon the patience ! and courage of her people rests all of her fu- , tore.” t s Beeclicr and His riliurch. s Brother Beecher has occupied much of his t time oi late in explanations. Fitst, he thought J it n<cessary to explain to the public, through ( the morning journals, that he had been led into < participation in the Richardsou-McFarland mar- t riage ceremony through a misapprehension of 1 the “ facts” connected wilh the previous lives i of the parties. This bore rather heavily upon ( Mr. Greeley, and one or two others who were < responsible to Mr. Beecher for the “ facts ” upon < which he predicated his action. ( Next, he enters into a scriptural argument, f through the columns of Ihs Christian Union i (of which paper be is Chief Editor) to show ! that the Sermon on the Mount may be so ex- ( plained and interpreted as not to be iu conflict i with the Indiana divorce law, whereby Mrs. i McFarland got rid ot her husband ! This is a ’ rare piece of theology, and will be interesting < to special pleaders and quibblers. | La.-lly, the Reverend gentleman is arraigned i by his congregation, at the accustomed prayer . meeting hetures, to show cause why the Church , should not proceed to censure his conduct in the Richardson matter; and, in explanation, he 1 i here stated, in a style peculiarly his own, that, “ If my foresight was as good as my hind sight, I should do a great many things belter than I do" The plain English of which is, he now sees his error, and would have done better had he a> first understood the Ricbardson-McFarland casa as clearly as he undetstauds it now. This appeared satisfactory to the members ot his flock, and the case was dismissed. Tlie RemandiUß: of Georgia. Rumors are rite in regard to the remanding of Georgia, by Congress. Some of them affirm that the State will be let alone till alter the Legislature assembles and acts upon the negro eligibility question; others that Congress will act promptly and remand the Stale, and still others that it will not a< t till after the approach ing holidays, but will ih-o act regardless of what the Legislature may du. It seems, however, irom the following special telegram to the Nash ville Union & Aniericao, that the Senate Judi- j ciary Committee —we give the words oi the telecram —“have agreed to report the bill pro viding for the reassembling ol the Georgia I Legislature, the exclusion ol members ineligible under the fourteenth amendment, and the re seating oi the heretofore excluded colored mem- I bers of the Legislature. To Is provisional until the United States Senators and Representatives are admitted to Congress.” This does not look like a postponement of action on Georgia affiirs, nor docs it seem to regard anything the Georgia Legislature may do as at all affecting the action ot Congress. ; The Stamp Act.—ln the Internal Revenue Bureau during the month of November 583,600 i distilled spirit stamps were i-sued, valued at ' $5,000,000, and tobacco stamps valued at $lB,- 000,000. The Internal Revenue Commissioner decides that although distilleis and brewers can ; sell at the place <>f manufacture so tong as they i sell in the original casks or packages, to whicu I tax stamps are affixed, without payment ot the | i tax as l.quor dealers, a rectifier ot the distilled I products, cannot sell without paying the tax as i liquor dealer at any place. Progress.—Twenty thousand men are out ot j ! employ ment in Chicago, and the streets of that : city are fi led with idlers and vagrants. 1 Tennessee. —Gen. Thomas D. Arnold is a candidate tor the Tennessee Constitutional Con vention from Greene county. 3 DECISIONS And Proceeding* of the Hnprema Court 1 of the Slate of Georgia. • DECEMBER TERM, 1869. 1 I Reported fpeclally for ths Atlanta IMligemer by Col. Z. D. Harrison.] f OBDBB or CtUCUrT>>, WITH THU NUMBSB OP CASES fuom each. 1 Southern 5 - Southwestern . ’ Pataula '' /. 7. ,’?3 Chattahoochee \.... 81 Macon ' " 13 Fl nt ” Tallapoosa .10 At anta ’ wi-> Rome I. t> Chcrokes ./J’.Sl Blue Rulje //.. /// li Western / /.././ H Northern 8 Middle. Ocmueee .10 Eastern ’ 4 Brunswick 1/’//.7/ 0 DAILY PROCEEDINGS. The following judgments were rendered : Brown, C J.—James Stewart and Allen S. Cults, plaintiffs in error, vs Benj. Mordecai, defendant in error—Complaint and petition to transfer the same to the Sth Circuit Court of the Uunited Slates from Sumter Superior Court. Judgment ot the Court below affirmed, and transfer allowed. D P. Gibson, plaintiff in error, vs. C. C. Williams, defendant in error—Complaint and motion for new trial, from Lowudes county. Judgment of the Court below affirmed, and mo tion relused. James H. Hill, plaintiff in error, vs. Wm. O. Fleming, defendant in error—Rule against as signee iu bankruptcy, from Dougherty. Judg ment of the Court below reversed on the ground that the whole proceeding was without authori ty ot law, and was unauthorized and erroneous. William Mitchel], plaintiff in error, vs. Benj. Mitchell and Benj. Willis, defendants in error— Disolution ot injunction, from Worth. Judg ment of the Court below reversed on the ground that the Court erred in dissolving the injunction. As the paitiesto theconveyance were volunteers, it was not necessary that the donee be cognizant of the mistake, if it is clearly and satisfactory shown that the donor acted under the mistake when he made the conveyance, and did convey his dwelling house and the cleared lands ad joining it, when he did not intend to include them in the conveyance. McCay, J.—A. T. Burke, et al, plaintiffs in error, vs. Robert 8. Anderson, defendant in error —Equity, from Pulaski. Judgment of the Court 4?elow affirmed. Levi G. Hollaway, plaintiff in error, vs. Fran ces Chiles, Administratrix, defendent in error— Motion to set aside a judgment, from Mitchell. Judgment of the Court below affirmed, and mo tion refused. i Covingbon Dumas, Administrator, plaintiff iu j error, vs Jesse Robson and L. D. Munroe, de fendants in error—Motion to open f. fa., from Calhoun. Judgment reversed on the ground that the Court erred in passing a judgment on part of the issues submitted to him, and referring ' another part to a jury; and on the further ground, that the record introduced, and which was the only evidence upon the point, did not ' show that the consideration of the debt, on • which the judgment was founded, was slaves or the hire thereof, and the Court ought, upon the whole case, to have opened the judgment and ’ ordered it to proceed for one-third of tue amount . pue before the judgment in 1864 Warner, J.—R. G. Fulgham, plaintiff in er- ! ror, vs. B. B. Johnson, defendant in error— guo > warranto aud rule nisi, irom Pulaski. Judgment < of the Court below affirmed. Samuel Lindsay, former Sheriff, plaintiff in error, vs. Benj. F. Cock aud John Thompson, defendants in error—rule nisi, answer and de- . murrer, from Lee. Judgment ci the Court be low reversed, on the ground that the Court erred in holding the Sheriff liable lor the value of the bank bills up..n the uncottlroveried tact slated 1 in his answer, that the bank bills were ol but ; little or no value. George F. Robinson: plaintiff in error, vs. J. B. Hoss & Son, defendants in error—motion to dissolve an injunction, from Lee. Judgment of the Court below affirmed in refusing to dissolve the injunction, and in refusing to revoke the or der appointing a Receiver to take charge of the ' plantation, stock, crop, etc., for ihe present year; but it is the judgment ot this Court, that if, in the discretion ot the Court below, it should be necessary to keep the property and plantation . in the hands ot a Receiver until the final termi nation of the litigation between the patties, then the complainant should be required to furnish ! said Receiver with all the necessary means and supplies to make a crop, and carry on the plan- 1 tation for the ensuing year, as is specified in the * written agreement for the lease ot the premises, • for the mutual benefit of the parties, as stipula ted in that agreement; and in the event the . complainants shall fail or refuse to do so, then 1 the order appointing a Receiver should be re yoked and set aside. j McCay, J— Thomas C. While rnd J. 8. Wiiite, plaintiffs in error, vs. Wm M. Huslelt and Elbert M. Rucker, executors, defendants in error—Relief, from Elbert; and Thomas C. White, plaintiffin error, is. Dillard Herndon, defendant in error—Relief, from Eibert. Both these cases were returned aud argued together at the last June term. Judgment ot thia Court rendered to-day, reversing tlie judgment ot tlie Court below, on the ground that the Court erred . in dismissing the affidavit, without, permitting the defendant in the judgment to set up against the judgment the equities provided tor by ihe act of 1868, known as the relief law. Brown, C. J., concurring. Warner, J., dissenting. George T. Connell, plaintiff in error, vs. Thomas Vaughn, defendant in error—Relief, from Carroll. Judgment of the Court below affirmed John McK. Gunn, plaintiff in error, vs. Dav'd H. Jones, defendant in error-Motion to set aside a judgment. Judgment of the Court be low reversed, on the ground that the defendant did not show any equitable grounds of defense, which would authorize him to open the judg ment. Wm. Reimshart, plaint iff in error, vs. Jesse E Hann, defendant in error—Relief aud Rule on foreclosure of mortgage, from Bryan. Judg ment reversed on the ground that the defindaut in the judgment did not prove such tacts as enti tled him to any equitable r.lief under the Act of 1868 No. 17. Sou'hern Circuit, Gardner and Sprad ley, vs Kersey, et al— Bill and motion for injunc tion, from Lee—Was called in its order, and ar gued by Messrs. Fred. H. West aud D. A. Vason tor plaintiffs in error, and by Col. W. A. Hawk ins tor defendant in error. No. 18. Southwestern Circuit, Johnson vs. Stewart —Equity aud Rule for contempt, from Lee—Was withdrawn. The Court announced that it would adjourn for the Chris'mas holidays on Wednesday, 220 met., till the 2d Monday in January. The Couit then adjourned till" 10 a. m., to morrow. Wednesday, December 15, 1869. The Court met pursuant to adjournment. No. 19, Southwestern Circuit, E. D. Watson, et al, vs. Henry Johnson, et al, was first in ordei i This case was dismissed, because the original | bill of exceptions was not served on defendant I or his counsel as required by law. No. 20, Southwestern Circuit—Watson vs. ; Johnson—was dismissed, beciuse nc transcript of the record of the cause in the Court below had been certified and sent up to this Court by the Clerk of the Superior Court of Lee county, as required by law. No. 21. Southwestern Circuit, Neal et al. vs Patten—Motion for new trial, from Mitchell.— Was argued by Messrs. Samuel Irwin & D. A. Vason for plaintiff in error, and by Gen. Henry Morgan for defendant in error. No. 22. Southwestern Circuit having been I previously disposed of, No. 23, from the same Circuit, which bad been catered on the docket by an order of the Court, was next called. It is the case of Wm. McAffee Littleberry Mulkey, from Lee county. Pending the opening argu ment ol Judge D. A. Vason, the Court adjourned till 10 o'clock, a. m., to-morrow. Another Explanation.—The last phase ot the Beecher-McFarland-Richardson sensation is ; a correspondence between Robert Bonner of the Ledger, and Mr. Beecher, wherein the latter gracefully retracts certain damaging statements I made about McFarland, in his preface to the : marriage ceremony. Mr. Beecher says he knows of no legal proof against McFarland justifying his wife’s libel for divorce under the laws of New York. He acted upon mere hear say. Poor Mr. Beecher! NUMBER 52. THE LATE “GO UJP.’» I Cruise of the “ Hyperion “—An Interest ing Aeconnt of the Voyage as Given by Dr. Hape. 7 It was the first gas balloon that ever ascended from Ailanta, and as the little coquett rose mt s jestically to the upper air, she was greeted with 5 wild cheers. She at first drifted toward the 3 West, but upon reaching a higher atmosphere i she changed her course to Northeast. We bad ’ anticipated a glorious view, but were scarce pie ; pared to view the world from a different stand- > point than we bad heretofore been accustomed • to. It was beauty everywhere. “ Perfection . cannot be flattered.” Neither can the beauty of i such a scene be described. It was like some ’ glorious vision ot dreamland, and we almost ’ fancied that we could see the fairies and sprites > in the background. Roads, paths, rivers, and 1 smaller streams could be traced tor miles upon this miniature world. The picture was ever Changing, but ever perfect. It was hard to realize that we were traveling at the rate of forty miles per hour, yet such was the case. , Atlanta was soon lost in the background, and Stone Mountain, with its sullen front, formed , one of our principal sky-marks. It had the ap pearance ot a huge pyramid, and though «e were one and a half miles above its summit, we could notice many familiar places. We now tested the quality of an oyster pie and some “ Old Catawoa,” contributed by “ Pease & His Wife.” After dinner we deccended low enough to have a talk with the folks below. They wue anxious to learn where we were from ; where we were going ; how we could swing to that bladder; and one gentleman exhibited a very long rifle and informed his friends that “ if them cussed revenue fellows troubled his still, he would bring ’em out of their d n bladder.” Many could be seen running as if their salvation depended upon their speed. A crowd of boys, engaged in fishing, became frightened, threw away their fish and ran through the pond to get home. All were enchanted by Prof. King’s music (in a horn) and believed that Gabriel was blowing his last toot. One lady informed hi r friends that “ the world was coming to an end," and “ thanked God that she had lived to see it.” Many very earnest prayers ascended, and many deep curses followed “them fellows in a bladder." It was near sundown when Prof. King began to look for a suitable place to alight. An old sedge field was spoken of, but the Professor de cided to goon “over the woods.” We were now traveling at the rate of forty miles an hour, and it was evident that we must strike “ among the pines.” Everything that could be spared was now thrown overboard. Sand bags, pro visions, wine, and even our beautiful bugle was sacrificed; still not enough to prevent striking. Seizing the side ropes, we braced our selves, and the next instant had struck and bounded thirty feet in the air. It was all we required to carry us clear ot the woods and into the cotton field beyond. Still there was danger that our little vessel would be dashed to pieces amongst the dead pines. In a few seconds she struck one ot the pines, puncturing a hole in her side. We continued to sail low until ena bled to grasp first a peach tree and then a large stump, to which we finally succeeded in fasten ing our cralt. The natives in the immediate vicinity were having a first class camp meeting, and firmly believed that the last day had arrived. They finally succeeded in getting over their fright, and entertained us In friendly style until next morning, when they conveyed us to Mari etta, where we took the morning train for At lanta. Prof. King has made one hundred aud forty-one successful ascensions, but declares that he has converted more people upon the last occasion than in all his previous voyages. North Georgia Conference—Ordination of Preachers. The following named ministers were ordained aa deacons of the M. E. Church, by Bishop Dog gett, at Rome last Sunday : Henry J. Ellis, Sidney Babcock, John M. Bow den, Curtiss A. Connoway, Wesley G. Hanson, Alonzo M. Campbell, Franklin M. T. Brannan, Robt. T. Wilkerson, Oliver P. Ritch. On the evening ot the same day, the iollow i ing named preachers were ordained elders: Wm. D. Heath, Thos. H. Seals, Wm. P. Kra mer, John W. Heidt, Amicus W. Williams, Wm. P. Rivers, Joseph C. Holmes, and James IL Mayson. The following arc the supcranuated preachers of the Conference: Wm. J. Parks, Jesse W. Carroll, J. B. C. Quillian, Edmund W. Reynolds, John P. How ell, James B. Payne, Henry Cranford, Andrew J. Deavors, Miller H. White, John M. Bright. Knv. Dr. Wiley, President Emory and Henry College, and Rev. Mr. Arbogast, Presi dent Martha Washington College, are in attend ance upon the Conference, and addressed that body, in the interests of the institutions over which they preside, on Monday. We notice among the proceedings that Dr. Jessee Boring, of this city, tendered his services to the Church as an effective minister. For some time past Dr. Boring has been, from una voidable circumstances, a supernumerary, but he desires again to be in “ harness.” The following named gentlemen were elected delegates to the General Conference to be held at Memphis, Tennessee, next Spring : Atticus G. Haygood and Alfred T. Mann, were elected. Reserves W. R. Branham, H. J. Adams, and G. J. Pearce. Lay Delegates, Rev. J. E. Godfrey, Col. Geo. N, Lester, Dr. J. P. Garvin, T. M. Merriwether, Esq., H. R. Harris, and L. D. Palmer. Reserve Delegates, W. A. Turner, C. H. Johnson, Dr. L. Smith, W. 8. Thompson, F. L. Little and Judge John J. Floyd. Important Supreme Court Decision—Bank Tax Constitutional. In the Supreme Court the case of Reascie, the Cashier ot the Bank of Bengor.w. Jeremiah Finn, Collector, came up. The general question to be considered was, whether or not the tax of 10 per cent, on State Banks, or National Banks paying out notes of individual or State Banks used lor circulation, is repugnant to the Consti tution. The Chief Justice in his opinion, said : This question cannot be determined by the Court. The judicial cannot prescribe to the legislative department ot the Government limi tations on the exercise of acknowledged pow ers. The responsibility of legislation is not to the courts, but to the people having, in the exer cise oi Constitutional power, undertaken to pro vide a currency for the whole country. It can not be questioned that Congress may constitu tionally secure the benefit of it to the pub lic by appropriate legislation. To this end Congress has denied the quality of legal tender to foreign coins, and has provided by law against impositions ot counterfeit and base coin upon the community. To the same end Congress may discourage, by suitable enactment, the circula tion, as money, of any notes not issued under its ovn authority. Without this power, indeed, its attempt to secure grand and uniform currency, lor the country must be futile viewed in this I light as well as in the other. As duty on con tracts or property, we cannot doubt the consi-t --ency of the tax under consideration. The three questions certified Irom the Circuit Court ot the ahtrict ot Maine must, therefore, be answered affirmatively. The questions are, first whether the second clause ot the 9th section of the act ot Congress ot July, 1866, under which the tax was collected, is a valid and constitutional law. The other two questions were different in form. In a New Role. The New York Herald has entered the field of Theologieal disputation. Its ethical creed is a curious combination of the Systems of Emanuel Kant, Spencer, Spinoza, Renan, and the Ger man Rationalist Philosophers, with Christianity as taught by Sweedenborg and Thos. L. Barris. It professes to have discovered no very conve nient back door to Heaven, but is latitudinous to a degree that would exclude no man there from tor prelering a road of his own construc tion! This Broad Gage Creed has doubtless been suggested to the Herald by the private lite of many Clergymen in and about Gotham 1 Another Death. W e learn that Mb. Walter H. Mitchell for many years Treasurer of this State, died at his late residence in Oxford, on Tuesday night last, after an illness of some weeks.