Georgia Historic Newspapers

    CONSTITUTIONALIST.
atjghjsta. aa.
FRIDAY MORNING. AUG. 28,18(58
HON. A. H. STEPHENS AND THE
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.
It has been stated, from time to time, in
Radical journals, North and South, that
the lion. Alexander H. Stephens favor
ed the fourteenth amendment, and urged
its passage by the so-called Legislature of
Georgia. As this assertion lias still pos
session of the public mind, by Radical di
rection, we deem it opportune to correct
such wrong impressions as may be drawn
from broad and partisan assertions. This
correction can be all the better made by
presenting an exact account of Mr. Ste
phens’ position with regard to this vexed
question.
It is true that Mr. Stephens, as a matter
of policy, favored the adoption of the
amendment by the Radicals. It is not true
that he wished the Democrats to assist in
its passage by active participation. It is
utterly untrue that he either advised or fa
vored its adoption on its merits. On the
contrary, he considered the act itself null
and void, and stated more than once,
openly, that he “ hoped no Democrat would
vote for it; and, if he were in the Legisla
ture, and his vote would defeat it, or by
not voting permit it to pass, he would not
vote at all.”
As the case then stood, it seemed to him
best for the State and the whole country
that it should pass, the Radicals having the
exclusive responsibility of its passage.
Here are some of the reasons leading to
this conclusion:
Ist. The vote of Georgia, at that time,
could not affect the real merits of the ques
tion, one way or another, as three-fourths
of the States had already adopted it.
2d. By its adoption, we could get rid of
the military government and military ar
rests. At that particular juncture, this rid
dance was a matter of some importance.
3d. By its adoption, we might, if the
election was left to the people, cast the nine
electoral votes of Georgia for Seymour and
Blair, and thus essentially aid in bringing
into power a party which would hold the
whole matter—as Mr. Stephens did—
utterly null and void.
4th. In case the Democrats were vic
torious in the Fall elections, no possible
injury could come of it. Pen- contra , if
Grant and Colfax were elected, we would
lie no worse off with it than without it.
Nay, we might be in a better condition,
since, through the present constitution, all
the whites were enfranchised, which might
not be the case if another constitution
were framed under more Radical auspices.
sth- So that, in every possible view of
the subject, as the matter then stood, Mr.
Stephens deemed it best for the State and
the whole country that the Radicals should
be permitted to adopt it.
To tliis extent, and no farther, Mr.
Stephens “ favored ” it. But it is wholly
false that he favored or urged its adop
tion on its merits , as the Radical journals
would have the public believe.
Men may differ as to the cogency of the
reasons assigned, but few, whose good opin
ion is valuable, will question the honesty of
our illustrious statesman’s motives. We
know that no living man holds the Recon
struction Acts in greater abhorrence, and
no man would sacrifice more before giving
them his \ r ote, sanction or approval. His
judgment may not be infallible, but his pa
triotism and devotion to the South arc be
yond suspicion.
We have given, Avitii what clearness and
perspicacity we equld, the true position of
Mr. Stephens in the matter of the four
teenth amendment and its passage by the
so-called Legislature of Georgia. The
ivhole question may be briefly summed up :
It is true that Mr. Stephens advised the
Democratic members of the “ Legislature ”
to abstain from voting, thereby throwing
the onus and responsibility of the adoption
of the measure upon the Radicals.
It is immeasurably false that lie had any
sympathy with the measure, or urged its
adoption on its merits, since no ipan deems
it a greater abomination than he does, and
no man will more gladly welcome that glo
rious day which shall consign it and kin
dred villainies to the tomb of the Capulets,
or, in more modern phrase, to the grave
clothes of-that old agitator and father of
misdeeds, who awaits the last trump tn the
colored cemetery at Lancaster, in the State'
of Pennsylvania.
THE GAME OF PURGING LEGISLA
TURES
Bullock, who writes himself Governo
of Georgia, made the first essay, we be
lieve, to purge the Georgia “ Legislature ”
of Democratic or anti-BuLLocK members.
From recent developments and a very sig
nificant debate, the synoptical report of
which can be found in our special telegram,
it appears that the “ Legislature ” is mak
ing rapid progress toward a substantial
purging itself of Radical pets. The ways
of Legislatures are past finding out; but it
looks as though a majority of the Georgia
Legislature had caught inspiration from
Seymour and Blair.
In case a goodly number of members are
pronounced ineligible, the question natu
rally occurs, what right had they to vote
upon and hel p decide matters of moment;
and how far these matters, thus settled,
can be considered legal or final? When
the House shall have been effectually, purg
ed, wo«ld it not be lawful to have anew
deal in the way of State officers and the
like ? If men have been voting who have
had no right to vote, important questions
and prominent candidates decided by their
illegal ballots should undergo reconsidera
tion. Let ns have a thorough purge of per
jury, if such a thing be possible.
The New Orleans Orescent thus describes
anew caricature of Gen. Grant:
The General, booted and spurred is re
presented balancing himself on a rope over
an abyss, one end of the rope being fasten
ed to one cliff by means of a musket the
bayonet of which is firmly planted in the
ground, whilst the other end is held by a
negro standing on the other side, who
grinningly exclaims: “ Whar you be
Jlassa Grant, if I lef’ go ? Yah! yah!” ’
The Public Debt.
STRIKING ILLUSTRATION.
[From tin. lionmvillc Democrat.
The statement of the public debt, publish
ed August Ist, 1868, confesses that the
amount of that great “ national blessing ”
foots up $2,523,584,4801 These figures rep
resent an amount of indebteness that few
men can comprehend. Its immensity is
barely within the bounds of human calcu
lation, and would prove appalling to a
nation of Rothschilds, Barings and Pea
bodys.
It stands upon the ruins of the Constitu
tion, amid the crumbling pillars of the
American Republic, a monument of Radical
misrule, incompetency, villainy and despot
ism. While it represents the price of our
national ruin and degradation, it is elo
quent of national bankruptcy, intolerable
and eternal taxation and of selfish subjuga
tion of the poor to the rich.
The tax gatherers, of whom it is the fer
tile parent, are now busy in every street,
lane, highway and byway in the land; and
are as disastrous to the prosperity of the
country as the seven plagues, to which
Pharaoh was compelled to succnmb. They
demand taxes for—
The hat on your head,
The boots on your feet,
The clothes on your person,
The food you eat,
The tea and coffee you drink,
The pot it is cooked iu,
The cup you drink it out of,
The implements on your farm,
The tools you work with,
The paper you write on,
The pen and ink you use,
The papers and books you read,
The furniture in your house, '
The gas or oil you burn,
The coal you consume,
The stove you burn it in,
The match you light it with,
The medicine you take.
The tobacco you smoke,
The pipe you smoke it in,
The dishes on your table, and
All you eat off them.
Those of our readers who deal in money
and who are in the daily habit of inspecting
piles of greenbacks, may be interested with
the following illustrations, which we find
in the Frankfort Yeoman:
The highest mountain in the world is a
peak of the Himalaya Mountains, in India,
which reaches the altitude of 28,178 feet, or
a little less than five and a half miles.
The public debt of the United States, ac
cording to the official statement of the Sec
retary of the Treasury, amounted, on the
first of the present month, to the sum ol
$2,523,534,480. Now, let us, for illustra
tion, suppose this debt to be one dollar bills,
and piled up before us. Do you imagine it
would reach “mountain height?” Let us
see:
Allow one hundred notes to the inch, and
we have its height
To be 25,235,344 inches!
or 2,102,945 feet!!
or 700,981 yards!!!
or 398)4 miles!!!!
or, if the notes were of the denomination of
SIOO each, instead of sl, we should have a
pyramid of money reaching about four
miles high! whilst the highest mountain
peak in North America (Mount St. Elias,
in Russian America,) is but 17,900 feet, or
less than 3)4 miles.
Still further: let us suppose the debt to
be in silver instead of notes, and estimating
sl6 to the pound, wc have a weight of debt
amounting to just 157,720,905 pounds !! or
9,857 car loads (at 16,000 pounds to the
car), which would make a train of cars 56
miles in length, allowing but 30 feet to the
car!!!
But let us illustrate a little further; and
suppose it were necessary to take the silver
dollars from the mint, employing porters
for that pnrpose, requiring each man to
carry forty pounds. In that case it would
tuko about, 4,000,000 men, who, standing
three feet, apart, would make a line about
3,000 miles long; anti, marching at the rate
of three miles an hour, it would require
about I'orLy days for this debt-burdened
army to pass a given [joint! And the task
of counting the debt, in silver dollars,
would be one of almost endless duration.
Let us see: A man commencing August
Ist, 1868, and working ten hours each day,
and counting sixty dollars each minute,
would accomplish the job A. D. 4368.
[From tlie National Intelligencer.
They have, by the manner in which they
conducted the Avar, and by prolonging it for
the benefit of trie Radical party years after
it might, and should liaA-c been closed, and
by the most unnecessary, reckless, and
ruinous prodigality of the people’s money,
created a public debt whose ascertained
(ofticial) amount Is about two thousand fine
hundred millions of dollars, ($2 500,000,000,)
ami which, when the uneiscertained is added
to it, will, as estimated by Thaddeus Ste
vens, who had charge ot the subject of
finance, or ways and means and appropria
tions, for several years in the House of
Representatives, including all the years of
the war and since, ami who, therefore, had
the very best means of information on this
subject, amount to the astounding sum of
fine, thousand millions of dollars, ($5,000,000,-
000.) Tills estimate of Mr. Stevens probably
includes the private claims for the destruc
tion of property North and South, debts
arising out of breach of contract by the
Government, and spoliation at home and
abroad, growing out of the prosecution of
the war, and probably, in his contempla
tion, also, the assumption by the General
Government of the war debts of the several
States, counties, towns, &c. Others, again,
have estimated the debt, 1 all things included,
as high as six thousand million dollars,
($6,000,000,000,), : ,
They have not ODly not lessened the stu
pendous debt, but have increased it, during
the last tAvo months, over thirteen millions
of dollars, ($18,000,000,) as shown by Mr.
McCulloch’s official report.
First, as to revenue:
They have, from the 30th June, 1864, to
January Ist, 1868, collected from the people
a revenue amounting in all, as set down in
the official record, to seven billions six hun
dred and eighty-seven millions eight hundred
and one thousand and sixty-four dollars,
($7,687,801,064,) including the fivS billions
six hundred and twenty-seven millions four
hundred and sixty-two thousand three hun
dred and eight dollars ($5,627,462,308) from
loans and Treasury notes.
As going to make lip these seven billions,
&c., are put down, under the head of
“ direct taxes,” (but these oniy from 30th
June, 1862,) twelve millions one hundred and
sixty-one thousand three hundred and twenty
seven dollars, ($12,161,327,) having collected
in 1867 alone, for direct taxes, four millions
two hundred tlumsand two hundred and thirty -
three dollars ($4,200,233.)
Under the head of “miscellaneous,” two
hundred nnd thirty millions one hundred and
fifty-one thousand nine hundred and fifty
three dollars ($230,151,953;) having collect
ed in the one year of 1866—under this “mis
cellaneous” head, mark you— sixty-seven mil
lions one hundred and nineteen thousand three
hundred and sixty-nine dollars ($67,119,369.)
They wrung from the people in the cne
year of 1865, total revenue, the appalling
sum of one billion eight hundred and five mil
lions nine hundred and thirty-nine thousand
three hundred and forty five dollars ($1,805,-
989,345.)
' Thus much on the subject of money col
lected. Now, a few figures as to money
paid out—expenses of carrying on the Gov
ernment.
They have expended, from June 30, 1861,
to January 1, 1868, total, seven billions five
hundred and fifty-seven millions seven hun
dred and forty-one thousand two hundred and
ninety-five dollars ($7,557,741,295,). having
spent, in 1865 alone, one billion eight hun
dred and ninety-seven millions six hundred
and seventy-f Air thousand two hundred and
twenty-four dollars , ($1,897,674,224.)
As going to make up this sum they ex
pended for the War Department three bil
lions one hundred and eighty millions three
hundred and sixty-eight thousand four hun
dred and six dollars ($3,180,368,406;) having
paid out, in one year —lß6s— one billion thirty
one millions three hundred and tioenty-three
thousand three hundred and sixty ($1,031,-
323,360.)
For the Navy Department, four hundred
and fourteen millions eighty-three thousand
two hundred and eighty-fire, ($414,083,285 ;)
having spent for the year 1865 one hundred
and twe-tty-two millions Jive hundred and sixty
seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-six
dollars , ($122,567,776.)
For “ordinary expenditures,” three bil
lions nine hundred and forty-five millions two
hundred and ninety-one thousand one hundred
and fifty five dollars, ($3,945,291,155;) havlug
spent under this head of “ordinary ex
penses,” for the one year of 1865, one billion
two hundred and twelve millions nine hundred
and eleven thousand two hundred and seventy
dollars, ($1,212,911,270.)
For “ miscellaneous ” expenditures, (to
June 30, 1807.) one hundred and fifty-eight
millions, sixty-one thousand four hundred and
fifty-two, ($158,061,452.)
Somewhere swallowed up in these amaz
ing sums of money, which stagger the mind
in the effort to realize them, the amount
squandered on the Freedmen’s Bureau
would reach probably fifty millions. At
least, for the year ending Jannary 1,
1867, as estimated by General Howard,
Commissioner of the bureau, nearly twelve
millions were required. At this rate, for the
three years the bureau has been inexistence,
it has consumed thirty-six millions; and
we know that a vastly greater amount —at
least fifty millions —have been spent upon it,
all to keep the Radical party in power.
The rate at which we are going to ruin—
tile astounding sums of money drawn by
the tax-gatherer from the hard labor of the
people, and spent-—can be better understood
when we say that during the seventy-three
years preceding the war (as estimated re
cently) the whole expenditure of the Gov
ernment amounted to less than fourteen hun
deed millions of dollars, while the Radical
party in the one year of 1865 spent nearly
nineteen hundred million dollars, as above
stated.
Such all exhibit as this may well strike
the people with dismay, and cause them, as
tiiey do, to cry aloud for relief from so
intolerable a burden.
Thou Art the Man !
Colonel Robert Ould has written a long
letter to the National Inleligcncer, proving,
what all Southerns believe to be true, that
General Grant is responsible for all the
prison horrors of the war, especially those
at Andersonville. The World thus sum
marizes the statements of Colonel Ould :
I. That so long as the excess of prison
ers was In the hands of the Confederate
authorities the cartel of July 22, 18C2,
whereby all prisoners on either side were
to be discharged within ten days after cap
ture upon parole, was strictly observed, but
upon the excess falling to the part of the
United States this arrangement was so far
rendered nugatory that on the 10th of Au
gust, 1864, the Confederate authorities of
fered to deliver man for man and officer for
officer, those longest in confinement to be
delivered first. No answer having been re
ceived to this communication, a second of
like tenor was forwarded twelve days there
after. No answer was ever received to
either of these proffers beyond a line from
General Mulford, dated August 31, 1864,
stating he had nothing on the part of the
United States authorities to communicate.
11. That ou the 24th of January, 1864, a
proposition was made on the part of the
Confederate authorities that surgeons of
the respective services then in hostilities
should be allowed to attend their own men,
with power to receive aud distribute any
supplies of money, food, clothing, medicine,
or the like for such use furnished. To this
communication no reply of any kind was
ever made.
ITT. That in the Summer of 1864 the
Confederate authorities offered to surrender
all the sick and wounded prisoners then in
their possession without equivalent; that
it was not until November in that year that
transportation therefor Avas furnished by
the authorities of the United States, and
that at the time of delivering up 8.000 sick
and wounded as stipulated, 5,000 well men
Avoro added, ex gratia.
IV. That in the Summer of 1864 the Con
federate authorities offered to purchase
medicines, then contraband of war by
action of the authorities of the United
States, from said authorities, purchase to
lie paid for in gold, cotton, or tobacco at
three times, if asked, the then market price
North, and said articles, under the dis
bursement of United States surgeons, to-be
exclusively applied to the sick and wound
ed of that service. To this no reply Avas
ever received.
V. That, on attending at the military
proceedings resulting in the death of Wirz,
said attendance being necessitated by a sub
poena for the defense, for the purpose of
testifying as to the matters hereinbefore
act forth, and others of like general tenor,
Robert Oukl was dismissed without ex
amination by Col. N. H. Chipro&n, the
prosecutor.
These are grave allegations. If sustain
able, they show that the sufferings of the
Union prisoners rest otherwheres than has
heretofore been supposed, in his letter
Mr. Onld says: “General John E. Mnl
ford is personally cognizant of the truth of
most, if not all, the facts which I hive nar
rated. * * ’ * I appeal to him
for the truth of Avhat I have written.” It
is now incumbent upon General Mulford
to slate the case, as coming under his ob
servation. That Mr. Minigeu, of Ohio,
made three different efforts to have this
matter investigated, and Avas three times
voted doAvn by the Radical majority in
the House, is a matter, avo believe, that ap
pears on record, and so persistent a stifling
Avould seem to lend color to flic implied
charge of this letter. That charge is, as
will be seen, that General Grant is respon
sible for the delay of exchange, and the en
tire ignoval of the meliorating propositions
from time to time put forth by the Confed
erate authorities. If so, there may be rea
sons that to the merciless doctrine of “at
trition ” may be satisfactory, but it remains
for the people to say whether or no this
revelation, dank Avith human misery that
might have been so easily prevented, forms
a pleasing appendix to the story of that
dreadful butchery Avhereby seventy thous
and lives were lost to get an army where,
under a general, it might have marched
without the loss of a man.
The War Department must, unless Stan
ton burned them before his flight, possess
some documents on this matter. Will it
produce them ?
The So urows of an Honest Revenue
Officer. —P. A. Wilkinson, Esq., is ;U
present Collector of Internal Revenue for
the third district of Tennessee. Mr. Wil
kinson being an elderly gentleman, leaves
the performance of the main duties of the
office, which latter is in Chattanooga, to his
son, an estimable young gentleman, and
well qualified for the business. The elder
Mr. Wilkinson resides in McMinuville,
Warren county, of which county he has
been county clerk for the past twenty-one
years. The loyal men of Warren county—
and in Tennessee it must be remembered
uone but loyal men can vote—have often
ilesiral and coaxed Mr. Wilkinson not to
collect the revenue tax from them, as they
were loyal, but to make up the loss thus
incurred by taxing double the Democrats
of the county. Os course, Mr. Wilkinson
could not concur with this idea of the loy
alists, whereupon the League gets mad, and
the members thereof, at the late county
election in Warren, elected a young Loyal
Leaguer for county clerk, defeating Mr.
Wilkinson, who was again a candidate,
very badly; and all because he would not
take the taxes off the loyal men of Warren
county. Such, readers, is one of the results
of loyalty, as practised in the dominion of
Brownlow.
[Chattanooga American Union , 19 th.
lCsvr«*poad#iiec of the Richmond Whig.
Letter from the White Sulphur.
General Rosecrans’s Visit— The Object of tt —His
Interview with General Lee—Substance of their
Conversation—lnterview with Mr. Stuart —
Probable Promulgation of tin Address by
Southern Representative Men—Notables at the
Springs—The Generals and the Ladies, %c.
White Sulphur Springs, August 33.
The arrival of General Rosecranz by the stage
yesterday created quite s stir among the male
sojourners here, among them many who figur
ed largely in other days in the councils of the
nation. The object of his visit, before bis ar
rival, was understood to be for the pnrpose of
conferring with Gen. Lee and others as to the
best means of placing before the North a state
ment or the. real feeling ol the people, of the
South towards the Onion. He had stooped in
Staunton to 6ee Mr. Stuart and compare views
with him, but that gentleman was here at the
time. General Rosecranz had, however, a long
interview with the Hon. John B. Baldwin, which
he states was very satisfactory to him.
As soon as dinner was over, Gen. Rosecranz
sought Gen. Lee, and they conversed freely for
some hours. There sat in the same room two
general officers, who, early in the bloody drama
not long closed, figured as the leaders of two
opposing armies, talking of peace and concilia
tion and a restoration of the Government. And
what Robert Lee said then and there the South
said, For he is the embodiment of her sentiment,
and she is willing to confide her honor, her in
terest and her all to his keeping, knowing that
whatever he does is right. Gen. Rosecranz, who
is a very fluent talker, and who expresses his
opinions with a soldierly want of reserve, as
your correspondent knows, said that there
were many honest, well meaning men in the
North and West who have been led to believe
by the misrepresentations of the Southern eor
respondents of the Radical press as well as by
the speeches of the leaders of that party, that
the people of ibe Sontli are just as hostile to
the Union now as during the war, and as much
embittered against the Northern people ns they
were when both were in arms ; that they hate
the negroes with a deadly hate because they
have been freed, and but for the stroug arm of
the military, would reduce them to a state of
jiractical slavery, and perpetrate all manner ol'
outrages upon them.
He proposed, therefore, that the general
officers of the Confederate army, representing
as they do the valor, the chivalry and the truth
of the South, unite and lay beiore the North
ern people, in a tangible form that cannot he
disputed, the true state of the feeling as he had
found it everywhere in his travels South.
Geucral Lee denied that the people of the
Sontli are inimical to the Union. They want
peace, and long for it. This is their universal
sentiment as lar as he lias been able to ascer
tain it, and his opportunities have been many,
from frequent conversations and extensive cor
respondence with representative persons in all
parts of the South. As to their animosity to
the negro, nothing could be farther from the
fact, and why should there he. Said lie, there
is no rivalry between the races, but a recipro
cal interest growing out of the fact that each is
dependent upon the other to a great extent —
one needing employment and the other em
ployees. Apart from this, they had been rear
ed together and there is a natural affection aud
sympathy between them.
General Lee gave his cordial approval to the
patriotic object which General Rosecranz has
has in view and is so zealously prosecuting.
At the close of. this interesting interview,
which lasted some hours, a nnmber of gentle
men, including Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, General
Echols, General J. R. Anderson, Major Suther
lin, of Danville, called on Gen. R. and protest
ed against his leaving this morning, as he an
nounced he intended to do ou his arrival. He
referred to liis meeting with General Lee in
terms of great satisfaction, and readily con
sented to remain until Sunday. As they were
leaving, he requested Mr. Stuart to remain and
confer with him in the same frank, honest, sol
dier-like manner he had with our great captain
in the afternoon. The views expressed by him
were substantially the same as I have given in
the abstract above. The conversation,.how
ever, took a wider range and embraced the po
litical issues now before the country. Upon
these General Rosecranz was not at all reticent
as to liis position nor as to his preference be
tween the Presidential tickets. Mr. Stuart
gave him a full, frank and clear statement of
the condition of things in the South, the feel
-1 ing of the people as to the Union, their friend
ly regard for the negroes, their detestation of
! Radical emissaries, and. their
’ desire for speedy restoration to the Union in a
constitutional way. To-day General Rosecranz
was in conversation with other gentlemen here,
, omitting no occasion to give expression to tie
same views. He is evidently in earnest.
No plan has yet been decided upon, bnt it
is probable that some distinguished gentle
man known to the whole country will be re
quested to prepare a paper in accordance with
the suggestion of Gen. Rosecranz, which shall
set loath clearly and fully the real feeling now
' existing in the South. This will he printed
and forwarded to all the general officers of the
Uoufederato army, and such representative
, Southern statesmen as it is deemed desirable
should sign it, for their signatures. At the
’ same time they will be requested to add such
comments as they they may think proper.
A DAY LATER.
MORE OF GENERAL ROSBCRANZ’S ERRAND—
ER. STEPHENS, &C.
White Sulphur Sprinhs, )
• Sunday Night, August 23. (
General Rosecranz is still here, and all of the
prominent military men and civilian guests o(
the Springs have been in conference with him
nearly all day. A. H. Stephens, while I write,
is still in his room with him. There will he an
address issued, as I stated yesterday, but
further than this has not been determined
upon. The mission of Gen. Rosecranz is far
more important than any one believed the day
of his arrival. The General, who had arranged to
leave to-day, Avas requested to postpone his de
parture, and he at once ordered his trunks (o
his room. I will keep you advised of what
ever occurs in connection witli (his interesting
conference.
“ A subject of Her Britnnnic Majesty ” gives
notice to ex-Gov. Brown through the Savannah
papers, that at the next term of the United
States Court lie will commence suit against the
ex-Governor for damages to the amount, of five
thousand dollars. Ilis complaint is that Gov
ernor Brown, during the war, ordered all aliens
either to leave the State forever or take lip arms
an.d repair to Atlanta within ten days, and that
be was thereby compelled to “ sever his busi
ness and domestic relations on short notice,”
whereby he sustained the damage complained
of.
A New Name for It. —A young man from
the country went into a Bridgeport drug store
the other day, and seeing people Ireely patroti
izing the soda fountain, at length stepped up
and asked for a drink of “ that are ” for him
self. After swallowing the foaming contents of
the. glass and laying down his stamps with a
satisfied air upon the counter, “ Mister,” said
he, “ what do you call that stuff that bites so ?”
On being told that it was soda water, “Wa’all,”
said he, “ I sposed it was sweetened wind.”
\ Providence Herald.
A preacher not long since discoursing to the
boys in New Hampshire State Reform School
upon the fact that the good were respected
while the bad were shunned, attempted to illus
trate by saying: “ Now, boys, when I walk on
the street I speak to some and not to others ?
what now makes the difference'?” supposing,
of course they would say, 11 Because some arc
good and some bad but he was much aston
ished to hear some little fel'ow sing out, “ Be
cause some are rich and some are poor.”
A homesick dog recently traveled nine-hun
dred rbiles, and got back to his old home in
Missouri by instinet. After November there
will be an exodus of homesick two-legged dogs
from the South, hunting their kennels much
farther off.
The chaplain at Thad. Stevens’funeral prayed
the Lord to give Vermont another son, and
Pennsylvania another statesman like old Thad.
Every good man will put up a petition against
that last clause, but there arc few who will care
if Vermont had such a son iu every trundle
bed, provided she would keep them. _
Six companies of militia have been organized
in Little Rock. Not a single white Radical in
the county could be induced to join. Oh, no !
they do not associate with negroes.
An Albany merchant advertises “ a full as
sortment of,madder prints.” If they are mad
der prints than the Tribune and Post, they
must be a novelty— Leader.
After the clergyman had united a happy pair,
not long ago, an awful silence ensued, which
was broken by an impatient youth, exclaiming,
“ Dou’t be so unspeakably happy!”
I From the Atlanta latelliganaar.
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
Tuesday, Angnet 35,1868.
SENATE.
The Senate met pursuant to adjournment,
aud was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr.
Trawick.
Mr. Wooten gave notice that he would move
to reconsider so mpeh of the journal of yester
day as relates to the rejection of a bill granting
to tyro fire companies in the city ot Macon cer
tain privileges and exemptions. He only wished
the bill reconsidered as an act of courtesy to
the Senator who introduced the measure and is
now absent. Mr. Wooten also advocated the
reconsideration on constitutional grounds In an
able manner.
Mr. Merrell advocated reconsideration, stat
ing that it was out of the power of the courts
to grant the exemptions asked for, hence it
clearly devolved upon the Legielatnre.
Mr. Wimi opposed the reconsideration. He
said that privileges granted to two orXhreo fire
companies, composed of two hundred members
each, would work badly at this time ; besides,
it was unconstitutional. Fifteen men were
sufficient to work an engine, and a sufficient
nnmber to exempt, bnt here we have a large
number of parties seeking exemptions whose
services arc required in the present state of the
country.
Mr. Harris favored reconsideration for refer
ent* to the Judiciary Committee; also, Mr.
Brock favored the same. It was the first lime
a courtesy had been refused to an absent Sena
tor who had a bill of eneji importance, to give
the,same a fair hearing.
Mr. Candler said, the judges of the courts
had no power to grant exemptions, and there
was quite a difference between a privilege grant
ed to certain individuals aud certain parties
named in the bill.
The motion to reconsider prevailed, and the
hill laid on the table for the present.
Mr. Merrell moved to suspend the rules in
order to take up the hill, providing for the elec
tion of a Mayor and Aldermen, iu the city of
Savannah.
Mr. Holcombe moved to amend, by having
read the second time the House hill, to reorga
nize the manner of holding municipal elections
of Augusta. The motion to suspend was agreed
to, and the bill was read and made the special
order for Friday next.
The Senate took up the hill for a third read
ing, providing for the election of Mayor and
Aldermen of the city of Savannah.
Mr. Lester offered us a substitute the hill as
passed by House of Representatives.
Mr. Campbell opposed the substitute—espe
cially that portion referring to the justices
presiding, liis idea being that it should be so
fixed that t .vo white and two colored persons
should preside; also opposed to the time fixed
for the election ; as to judges he wanted at least,
one colored man on the board, lie wished all
ol this done to prevent a collision. He wanted
quietly i fair expression of opinion—so that
all parties may he satisfied.
Mr. Adkins hoped the amendments would
receive the calm and dignified consideration of
all Senators.
Mr. Harris moved to take up the bill by sec
tions, which was agreed to.
The preamble was read, and Mr. Campbell
moved to amend by striking out the words
“ third Monday in November,” aud insert
“ second Tuesday in October.”
Mr. Smith, of the 7th, 6aid that, as the peo
ple there simply asked for a small extension of
time, and as it would injure no one, he hoped
the whole substitnto wouid pass.
Mr. Campbell. 1 do not want to be factious,
hilt this extension of time would injure hun
dreds. He, with his son, saw three hundred
who would l>e affected. They had been ostra
cised on account of their political opinions—
refused employment and are now seeking it ;
and they were not a rabble, a motley crew, hut
thorough, church-going people. It was a duty
he owed to them to protect them against this
measure.
Mr. Smith, ot the 7th, advocated tho substi
tute at length, taking the grounds that, a* no
one would be barred the privilege of voting,
and is advocated by both Republicans and De
mocrats. The tax-payers of Savannah, irre
spective of party, have harmonized ou this
plan.
Mr. Adkins said they had plenty of time
from now until October to register five times
over, and this haste shows the cat In the meal
tub. The persons then in power wished to
hold it also until the Presidential election is
over. He wished that when the election of
President comes on it would bo 1c proper
hands; therefore, if this were so, wc would
avoid bloodshed, etc. They arc hostile, then,
to Republicanism and reconstruction, ard we
should put the administration of government
in the hands of those whose hands arc eventu
ally to wield the power. As to time, he repeat
ed that they could register a thousand times
more than they had. Already a member of the
lower House had got a letter from his wife that
a Kil-Klux had called ou her, [laughter] and an
other one had tied a mau to a plank and whip
ped him until he confessed he was a Democrat.
{Laughter.J We must have law aud order
here. The Senator from the 7Ll> could have
pursued a different liue of policy, living distant
from the city of Savannah.
Mr. Smith, of the 7th. Which has lived long
er in the region of country Savannah is in, the
Senator from the 7th or the Senator from the
2d ?
Mr. Adkins. I do not know either of you
much. The Senator of the 2d is in sympathy
with his race.
Mr. Smith, of the 7th. Will you allow me to
ask you another question ?
Mr. Adkins. lam always willing to answer
when put in good faith (very excitedly), hut I
will not l,e bothered and troubled again in this
manner, (very loud,) aud no one shall do it. —
[Sensation. |
Mr. Lester. The diflionlty here is this, we
had a bill read three times here for which the
substitute is offered as passed by the House, but
as no time can be gained I move to withdraw
the substitute.
The Chair decided that as the Senator would
not give way, the motion was out of order.
Mr. Adkins feared that if these people held
power, lie had no doubt but that they would
take possession of the polls at the Presidential
election. It was urged that the people there
desired it, and we are to listen to a species of
oligarchisLs and not to those'who arc iu for law
and order. The people, have a right to vote tor
President and Vice-President.
The Chair. The Senator must confine himself
to the subject matter.
Mr. Adkins. I beg pardon, Mr. President
and Senators. I want tilings so fixed that wc
ean all go up to the polls and vote for President
without fear or favor. Let the election, there
fore, come off in Savannah at as early a day as
practicable.
Mr. Lester introduced the substitute and the
original hill was laid on the, table for the present.
He then moved a further suspension of the
rules, which being agreed to, the House hill,
which he had offered as a substitute, was taken
up and read the first time.
The Senate took up the message of the House
with an amendment to the Senate hill, in re
gard to the drawing of jurors. The amend
ment was concurred in.
The Senate resumed the unfinished business
of yesterday, which was the consideration of
the bill to alter and amend the usury laws of
this State.
Mr. Winn, having the floor, supported the
measure in an able argument.
Mr. Welborn followed iu opposition, pend
ing which the Senate adjourned until 4 o’clock,
this evening.
EVENING SESSION.
The Senate met, and proceeded to read bills
the second time, after which they adjourned
until 10 o’clock to-morrow.
HOUSE.
House met. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Spillman.
The House resumed the consideration of un
finished business of yesterday, to-wit: the bill
to amend Sections 2530 and 2531 oi the Code.
(The amendment proposed is that, in setting
apart the year’s allowance provided by law for
the widow and family of deceased testates and
intestates, the indigent helpless members of the
family, though not minors, Bhall be provided
for.)
Mr. Hudson, of Harris, whose judgment is
always deferred to in the House, objected to
the passage of the bill. Ho was opposed to
mutilating tho Code, &c.
Mr. Crawford favored its passage in a very
pointed speech—advocating the providing for
the Indigent and helpless, &c.
Mr. Scott said, if the bill were so amended
as to make its provisions apply to lcinales only
ho would support the bill.
Mr. Anderson said if the object of tho bill
was to provide for daughters who were perma
nently disabled he would support the bill.
The bill was passed.
The Benate bill to provide for holding fall
terms of Superior Courts was passed.
HOUSE BILLS ON PASSAGE.
To provide for the elccliou of justices of the
pence «nd constables. Passed.
To provide for tho speedy collection by
clerks of their fees for recording deeds. With
drawn.
To provide for the distribution of property
in certain cases. Lost.
To make It penal to transfer the same pr -
pert-y more than once. Lost.
For the relief of J. J. Stallings, executor of
8. Gibson. Withdrawn.
To amend road laws of this State. Lost.
To provide for election of justices of the
poace. Lost.
To adjourn to Millcdgoville on 30th Septem
ber.
Mr. Bryant moved as a substitute that this
General Assembly will adjourn on sth Septem
ber.
Mr. Rawls offered the following substitute :
Resolved, That the mover of the bill to nd
journ on the sth of September he allowed a
leave of absence from the sth of September to
canvass his Congressional District as elector of
his party, as we believe liis services will greatly
benefit the Democratic party.
Ruled out of order.
The Speaker ruled Mr. Bryant’s substitute
germain to the bill.
Mr. Anderson appealed from the decision of
the Chair.
The House sustained the Chair.
Mr. Bryant spoke in favor of his substitute.
During his remarks, he said his party was
willing to do the business and adjourn. His
party wore anxious to go home. The Senate
had got behind with its business. They had
been wasting their time npon the everlasting
Bradley ease. If the House will go and finish
their business, as It can do In two wcek9, wc
can adjourn in two weeks. He did not wish
the Republican party charged with staying
here and wasting the people’s money.
Mr. O’Neal, of Lowndes, offered an amend
ment, that this Hourc will adjourn the Ist of
October, lie snU the General Assembly would
do Its business with reference to party or party
lines. lie wished to separate this question of
removal of the seat of government from the
question of adjournment. He called upon the
friends of Macon, of Milledgevllle, and of com
mon justice, to ciinc up and meet this ques
tion. He insisted that there w-s a pressing
emergency to take buck the seal of government
■where our fathers had placed it. It never has
been legally removed, and it becomes ns, as
the representatives ol the people, to say so,
etc., etc. ne contended that the late conven
tion had no right to interfere with the location
of the capitol.
Mr. Dunpan raised the point that this bill re
ferring to two subjects matter was obnoxious
to the. constitution.
Mr. Harper, of Terrell, said lie did not be
lieve the seat of government could be removed
to Millcdgevillc, except by a change of the
constitution, nc said he would like to know
how the gentleman from Richmond had found
ont that the people were sick and tired of our
staying here. He was certain that ho had in
troduced some bills which were enough to
make the people sick—ns, for instance, Ills
Tennessee militia bill and his printing bill,
lie did not sec why Mr. Bryant should wish to
forestall the adjournment, lie (Bryant.) spoke
of spending the people’s money. lie was
rather a juvenile protector of the Treasury.
The bill was laid on the table.
To protect farmers from fox hunters and
other sportsmen. Lost.
A bill providing the time when costs on suits
and actious shall be paid. Lost.
To fix the salaries of the District judge and
Solicitor of the First Senatorial District. Re
ferred to the Committee ou District Courts.
To relieve Seaborn Montgomery, and other
securities of Henry L. Tyson. Lost.
Resolution to encourage immigration, Ac.
Mr. Faulk introduced ft resolution to hold
two sessions of the House daily. Not taken up.
A bill to amend an act incorporating Ogle
thorpe University. Passed.
A bill to define the liabilities of all Insurance
agents of foreign Insurance Companies doing
business in this State.
To consolidate and amend the several acts in
corporating the town of Lumpkin.
To amend the charter of the Atlanta Street
Railroad Company to change its name and to
lend the aid of the Btatc thereto, and to confer
banking powers and privileges npon tbs same,
and for other purposes. Referred to Judicial
Committee.
House adjourned to 9, a. m.
Dexter Trots a Mile in 2:l4.—Dexter has
recently beaten his Buffalo time, and baa fairly
earned the title of the fastest horse in the
world. In June last Mr. Bonner sent Dexter
to the Fashion Course, where he was placed in
charge of Mr. Win. H. Doble, who was instruct
ed to train and work him down to a racing con
dition. A few days ago Dexter waa taken on
the track as usual for his daily exercise, and
several gentlemen who were present expressed
a desire to see the horse put. to ids speed. Dex
ter was sent to the stable, rubbed down aud
scraped, ant: after an absence of about twenty
five minutes was broubt back, with Bud.d Doble
as driver. A rutming horse with a driver was
also provided and placed at the three-quarter
pole to make the round with the famous trot
ter. Mr. Turnbull, the well known turfman,
aud Mr. Conway, of Philadelphia, took the
judges’ stand and kept the time. Dexter was
trotted slowly around the first time, aud as he
began the second heat was worked up, until at
the quarter pole lie seemed to lie going at a lo
comotive pace. With the running horse at his
side to incite him, Dexter trotted at such a
rapid and steady pace as to surprise all. The
first quarter mile was made in thirty-three and
a-hnlf seconds, the next in thirty-three sec
onds, the third in thirty-four sceondp, and the
mile in the unprecedented time of two minutes
and fourteen seconds. Yesterday, on the same
track, Dexter trotted a quarter mite in thirty
seconds, or at the rale of a mile in two min
utes. The trainer says that after Dexter has
been got in thorough condition he will make
still better time. Whether he does or not, his
past achievements have fairly earned for liiin
the name of “ King of tho Turf.”
[N. Y. Post, August 23.
The Floods in Maine.—“ The floods are
risen.” Down the Penobscot Valley poured
an irresistible tide of patriotic and Union-lov
ing men, to hear the words ol truth and sober
ness from the lips of the distinguished Demo
cratic statesman of the West. The gathering
was beyond all expectation. No one could
possibly mistake the temper of that great meet
ing of intelligent freemen. They heard not a
syllable from the speaker’s lips that tended to
excite their prejudices or their passions, but,
on the contrary, Avcre warned against the harm
ful indulgence of their feelings when calm rea
son was especially summoned into service.—
They listened to a clear, calm, and impressive
statement of the perils that environed our free
system of government; of its heavy debt, the
unwarranted expenditures ol the party in con
trol, the. causes of high prices and low wages,
the extravagance and corruption which pile up
taxes almost without end, the undermining ef
fect of the measures set on foot by Congress,
and the danger of the utter loss of our liberties,
nn'ess the people rallied in serious earnest, to
their rescue. This great gathering of the peo
ple of Maine, to ho followed by others of the
same character, promises a heavy loss next
month to the Radical leaders, and shows, that
with concentrated and unremitted effort, the
State ean he carried for the party of the Con
stitution and the Union. —Boston Post.
A Watermelon and What Came of It.
—Col. J. G. Tucker, having forwarded a sixty
pound watermelon to the next President of the
United States, received the folloiving acknowl
edgment :
Utica, August 20,1868.
My Dear Sir : Your water melon made a
sensation In our town, where we are not often
treated with a sight of such remarkable size.
I am gratified with your kind consideration
in sending me the present, and also with your
kind letter.
Thus far, cA r erything looks well for us in this
State, and in the North generally.
Very truly, yours, &c.,
Horatio Seymour.
Julius G. Tucker, Esq.
Lucy Conn Institute.—The exercises of
this famous Institute, one of tho very best in
the South or in the country, will bo resumed
on the 15th of September. Under the adminis
tration of Madamtf Sosnowski, it has attained
great celebrity, and we predict additional laurels
in the year, to come.
. Claghobn, Herring & Co.—This firm Hinge
its banner to the breeze. It lea big banner
and invites the multitude to gaze upon it. The
business of this house extends over the country
and is bound to reap a rich harvest of patronage.
While we arc very sorry to see Mr. A. M. Jack
son leave Augusta, to attend to the interests
of the firm in Charleston, wo feel confident
that Mr. Herring will prove an excellent sub
stitute. There is tho ring of the true metal
in the very sound of Claghorn, Herring & Com
pany.
BY TELEGRAPH.
[Special to the Oonstitnltonaltalk
from ATLANTA.
Atlanta, August 36.
In the Somite the House bill providing for the
election of Mayor and Aldermen for the city of
Savannah was made the special order for to
morrow.
The House resolution encouraging emigra
tion passed.
A bill repealing the usury lawe was lost
yeas, 17; nays, 18.
In the House, upon the call of counties, a
number of new bills were introduced.
Scott, from the Committee on Privileges and
F,lections, arose to make a minority report,
charging the majority with iutenlionsl delay.
Bryant made a point of order that a minority
could not report until the majority had reported.
Scott replied that frequent efforts had been
made to have a meeting, but the majority would
not do so. He believed they never intended lo
report. He claimed it was a question of privi
lege.
The Chair coincided with Scott, and ruled
tire minority could offer a report.
* Ilice appealed from the decision of the
Chair.
The Chair was sustained l y a vote of 103
to 31.
Scott presented the minority report, declar
ing Fryall, of Macon, ineligible—first, because
lie was not a resident of Macon at llic time of
the election ; second, lie was a free person of
eoior, and for this reason is not, under the con
stitution and laws oftbc State, eligible.
Mr. Duncan introduced a substitute, declar
ing all the negro members ineligible.
Scott reported the substitute, and this caused
much excitement among the negroes.
A parliamentary fight arose in which a num
ber of points of order were made, the Radicals
being whipped out on every point.
Mr. Bcthune, chairman of the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, made a report, asking
farther time. It was laid upon the table—yeas,
82; nays, 53.
The question then arose: Should llic mem
bers charged with ineligibility be allowed to
vote, each separately, on the question of tho
others’ eligibility?
Tho Chair decided they could not.
An appeal was taken auil the Chair sustained
by a vote of 90 to 20.
In calling the roll upon the last vote the
names of the negroes were not called.
House adjourned.
[Associated Press Dtoprieha*.
W ashington.
Washington, Augnet 86—Noon.
It Is announced through paper# noppllcd
with White House items by the President’s
phonographic writer, that Perry Fuller is *p
pointed Collector ol Customs.
Gen. Grant instructs Meade, Thomas and
Buchanan relative to the use of troops In aid of
civil authorities. The obligations of FedeMl
military officers and soldiers, in common with
the citizens to obey a summons ol a marshal
or sheriff must be held subordinate to their
paramount duty as members of a permanent
military body; hence troops can set only In
their proper organized capacity, under tlieif
own officers, aud in obedience to the immediate
orders ol these officei s. The officer command
ing troops, summoned to the aid of a marshal
or sheriff, must also judge for himself, end npon
his own i ffleial responsibility, whether l tv*
service required of him Is lawful and nacuwsrp
and compatible with a proper discharge of hi*
ordinary military duties, and must Umll hi*
action absolutely to proper aid in the execution
of the lawful precept exhibited to him by tb*
marshal or sheriff. •
Washington, August 86—P. M.
Rousseau and Fuller are both making, pre
parations to repair to their posts in Louisiana.
Judge Cad wullader, of Philadelphia, refuses
to administer the official oath to O’Neill, ap
pointed by the President United States attor
ney, on the ground that, under the tenure-of
office act, the President could not appoint.
Persons visiting Cuba must have passports
vised hy the Spanish consul.
Georgia.
Atlanta, August 36.
A bill was introduced in the House to eateb
fish a State police and appoint a chief, he to
appoint subordinates in each county, under
control of the Governor, to enforce tbe lawn
and preserve order.
A member ot the Committee on Privileges
and Elections presented a minority report on
the eligibility of negro members.
A point of order was made that the minority
could not report before the majority.
The Speaker said the committee bad six
weeks to make a report; failing to report, ho
decided the minority report In order.
An appeal was taken, and the Chair sustain
ed by 102 to 31. I
The minority reports members bolding scats
who are not residents of counties. They rep
resent also that all persons of color under tha
State constitution are ineligible.
There being a disposition on the part of the
majority present to make investigation, s sub
stitute was offered declaring ail negro members
ineligible.
The question arose should members charged
with ineligibility be allowed to vote ouch sepa
rately on the question of the others* eligibility.
The Speaker decided that as a class, members
on trial for ineligibility should not vote on the
eligibility of Olliers.
An appeal was takeu (rod this decision, but
the Chair was sustained by v vote ol 90 lo 20.
South. Carolina.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE
IN THE MARKET.
WHO BIDS?
Columbia, August 26.
The Legislature Is pressed for money. Their
only hope is being bribed by railroad corpora
tions.
Columbia, August 20.
The Legislature elected eight Circuit Judges
to-day, of whom ex-Governor Orr is one. [Got
his sop—very poor sop.]
JLionisiana.
New Orleans, August 26.
James Mann, the only Democratic Represen
tative in Congress from Louisiana, died this
morning from congestion of tho brain. Both
branches ol the Legislature adjourned out of
respect; the House, in addition, adopted reso
lutions of sympathy and to attend the funeral
in a body.
i^oreign.
• (nr cable.J
Liverpool, August 26.
The ship Favorite, hcncc for New Orleans,
ashore off the Irish coast, will probably bo
saved. Tugs have reached her.
Madrid, August id.
Gcu. Dulcis’ death is denied.
London, August 26.
Reverdy Johnson had an interview with.
Disraeli to-day.
Marine IST e ws.
Wilmington, Aogust 26.
Cleared—Fairbanks, New York,
Savannah, August 26.
Arrived—Steamship Marmion and 8n»
Jacinto, New York.
Cleared—Steamship Herman Livingston.
Charleston, August 26.
Arrived—Schooner M. A. Vaneleaf, Rock
port.
Sailed—Steamer Monterey, New York
schooner J. A, GrifHn, Tiulaielphi*.