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or.Hklfrniion the intoaPßt of the State in the Card Factory. HOUSE. Pattbdat January 20. The Speaker cf the House being granted leave of absence on account of sickness. Mr. Petti war < iected to the chair. On taking his seat he spoke as follows : Gentlemen of the IIou:-e, I return you my eincere thanks for the honor you Lave conferred on me. and bespeak in advance, of you, ycur indulgence for any er rors I may commit while acting as ycur tem porary presiding officer. The House aid now proceed with the regular order The annexed resolution;! wero adopted : appointing a joint committee of three from the Hou«« and two from the Senate to take into consideration that portion of the Governor’s message, relative to the disposal of the State’s interest iu the Card Factory ; r> questing His Excellency, the Gov ernor, to request of His Excellency the Presi dent of the United States, to restore to owntrs of rs-al estate on Skidaway and Whitemarch Islands, the !a ~da at present occupied Dy the Fried men, under orders from General Sber man ; requesting the resumption of inaiig on the A'lantir arid Gulf railroad amended so as to include the resumption of the mail service over all route t in Georgia, adopted and trans mitted forthwith to the Senate. SENATE Monday, January 22. ’1 lie annexed bills wore postponed : to au thorize the sale of all lands in Okefenokee sv/amp belonging to the State ; to authorize any person maimed in tho war to peddle with out a license ; to authorize H W L Craig to practice medicine. The annexed bills were passed : to require certain criminal prosocutlons to bo nolle prono qui; to repeal the acts amendatory of the charter of the Macon and Western Railroad; to aaiend the charter of the Dalton and Jack sonviile, (Ala) Railroad ; to incorporate the Georgia Express Company ; the House reso lution requiring tho oponing of mail routes, was passed. iiili io allow 10 per cent interest to be col iected if agreed upon. If more than 10 per cent is contracted, only tho principal may be collected. Where no rate is specified, the rate of 7 per c ut is to be understood. The bill was passed—yeas 25, nays 10. HOUSE, Monday, January 22. The annexed bills,were introduced;: to change the name of tho Milledgeville Railroad und for otlier purposes ; to amend 4391 Section of new Code of Georgia ;to amend Section 1770 of the new Code of Georgia ; to alter and re peal certain Sections of the revised Code re lating to tho payment of claims against the estates of deceased persons; to repeal 742 Section of tho new Code of Georgia ; relating to Bonds of Trustees ; to extend tho civil ju risdiction of Courts in various counties of this State ; to fix the Fees of Justices in the Severn! counties in this State ; to change the mode of empannelling Jurors for trial of criminal cases ; for the relief of persons there n named ; to pay expenses incurred in sup pressing small pox in l’ike county, appropri ates SISOO : amend Section 1385 of Code de claring how estray property shall be sold ; to authorize the Inferior Coupt to levy and- col lect a tax to compensate P G Morro w and others for expenses incurred in small pox cases in Heard county ; to authorize sheriffs or constables to pursue into any county per sona charged with criminal offense, without warrant being signed by a judicial officer ; to amend section 4613, oi the Code; to incor porate the Atlanta Canal and Water Works; to incorporate the Atlanta Railroad Company, und for other purposes; to authorizi all" per sons engaged in the of medicene five yeais prior to the first of January 1866, with out license, to practice, charge and collect for the same; to change the time of holding the Court of Olay county, in the Pataula Circuit; relating to the collection of executions in cer tain cases; for tho relief of administrators, and for other purposes; to incorporate the town of Aornonburgb; to incorporate the Hydraulic Compressing Cotton Press Company of Suvan nan; to authorize the Inferior Court to pay over the State Taxes of 186<i— one half for the use of widows and orphans and the other half to be appropriated to build a jail and court house in Cults county; to amend the 1670 sec lion of the Cede of Georgia; to cornpoH Rail roads, Steamboats, and Express Companies t > give r< ceipts tor freight when offered for traus portation ; to authorize the county oi Cherokee and other counties similarly situated to ap propriate the State tax for 1866 for the erec tion of Court Houses and Jails; to amend 2462 section of the Code; to define and establish the sir Dames of the Freedmen and for other pur poses; to authorize the Inferior Coutt of El bert county to levy a tax for county purposes; to incorporate the town of Elberton and to re peal certain acts relating theroto; to repeal all laws against the distillation of grain into spir itous liquors; gtantiug certain privileges to persons living along tho line ot W. and A. R. R. The annexed resolutions wero introduced : requesting 'ha President to omit a portion of the oath tube taken by Pos'musters ; in ro lation to tho Confederate Cotton Loan ; in ro terence to contracts made during the war, and requesting tho Judiciary Committee to bring in a bill to adjust all such contracts ; a resolution instructing the Messenger to procure gunny lagging, with which to cover tho tl >or ot the Representative Hall, as soon as practicable. SENATE Tuesday, January 23. An attempt to reconsider the rate of interest bill was lost. The annexed bills were introduced ; to pro vide for the stay of executions ; to atnond the Charter of the town ot Athens ; to amend the 2460th paragraph, part 2d, title 6tb, chapter 3d of the (’ode—the bill provides that when all the parties in interest reside in the county where intestate dies, or where application is made lor letters of administration, or letters testamentary to allow citation to bo poifected by giving wiitten notice of said application by posting notice at the Court House door aud at two other public places iu the couuty ; for the relief ot maimed soldiers—it provides that the State shall tutnish artificial limbs to such sol diets ; to incorporate the Atlanta Street Rail road Company, capital $150,000 ; to compen sate Oidiu.-.rics for administering the Amnesty oath ; to repeal Sectiou 3778 of the Code—it allows parties at suit to be witnesses— the fact ot their being interested to be considered in giving credit to their testimony. Also a bill to incorporate the Savannah Steamboat Com pany with Insurance powers ; to incorporate the Atlanta Loan Association ; to incorporate the Savings Bunk of Augusta ; to make valid pri vate contracts made during the war. 'liie Homestead bill, which was tbs special order, v. as taken up anti alter some discussion was referred to the Judiciary Committee. HOUSE. Tuesday, January 23. The t evolutions of Mr. Frasier, relating to the modification of the Test Oath iu Reference to the Postmasters, were referred to the Com mute- on State of the Republic. A resolution to bring on the election of U. S. Seuc.tors was offered, but was lost for want of three foul th vote. An effort was made to take up the Senate resolution bringing on tho election of Supreme Judges to-day was unsuccessful. Bills on second reading being the Older of day. quite a number of bills were read aud re (erred to appropriate Committees. Ihe resolution was passed in reference to claimants upon the State Read for services renders and under the contract of J. \\ G’eun The resolution authorises claimants' to‘ make out the r claims and present them at cnco. SENATE. Wednesday, January 24. The Hons > resolution, authorising the Gov ernor to pros vu' .• the claims of the State to cotton captured iu Savannah by the Federal army, was < ike ; up ..ml adopted. beats on the li. i ot the beuaic wore tender ed to Samuel Barnet and L. C. Bieckly, Esq , Commissioner;, :u pointed to prepare a code (ox tltegoverr.un ;.t cl freedmen. The special order of the day—the resolution of the peuin 'diary system cf punishment was tak-*u up aud discard but not acted upon. Senate vou and to bring on the election of U. S. Senators. Feb. 15. A petition was received from Stephen D. Boruet of the c. uuty cf Newton, which was re ferred to the Committee on Petitions. Mr. Stewart, of Spalding, was added to the Committee on the Judiciary. The anni zed bills tfcor izug Justices of tin luf _‘ik>r Oojtt 11 fairtcw county, to compromise with In d-n of Loads of county ; to authorize budding , f Court House ad Jail in Brrtow county ; to author z Supe rior and Inferior Courts to ii i vacancies in Board cf Trustees of Churches and Camp Grounds ; to d<fino liabilities cf Guar and 0.-,, Executors, &c ,to organ r ze a . swJu V.cial ti. cuit to be called the Augu-t. Circuit :to pro mote the agricultural in teres of G ■ rgii ; for the relief of person - * practicing n:. ii i..e without license ; to anthorze Justices of the Inferior Court to grant rules nisi for foroc’osure oJ mortgages in vacation ; to amend the Charter of Newman ; to amend the CL: :rtcr of Atlanta ; to incorporate the Gecreiaaod Alabama Min ing and Petroleum Company ; io change the name of the Confederate Marine and Fire Company, and Fire Marin Aim jrauc- Company; to require all bill* changing County lines to be accompanied by diagrams show iag the change to be made ; to compel Freed men to work ; to exclude freedmen from other S:ate3 from this State) to declare Olivia H. Wallace, the adopt ep child of Stephen 15 Jcaos ; to require all Railroads of this State to receive and forward all freights offend on certai \ conditions ;to nuthorizo Executors and Administrators to employ hired labor and to ratify contracts ; to provide for divisions of lands of estates ;to regulate contracts with freedmen; to require persons to take the amnesty o.rthjmfore entry ; to prevent fire burning ; to . grant ieiief to the Maiino Bank of Georgia ; to authorize and require executors, administrators, &c., to m .ke returns of Confederate and State securities belonging to estates; to change the lino between Irwin ar.d Miller was passed ; to alter the 2nd and 3d eonetAeloaol Uiot-iolß, -O far ftc relates to the county of Schley, was passed. ► TATE ITEMS. Recently a soldier named James Hand killed another named Patrick Welsh, at Columbus Georgia. Hon. Barrington Ivirg, died a few days since from injuries received from the kick of a vicious horse at Ih>weli. Watrous, Judge Advocate of the military commission for the trial of 6 ii Lamer, Jr., has received ciders from the Department Head quarters to suspend further proceedings in the caee. A nefv commission will probably be organized withiD a few days, when tho trial will be proceeded with. Assistant Secretary of the Treasuavy, Chan dler, is at Savannah, investigating cotton frauds. The troops stationed at Griffin are to be mus tered out in a few days. The aged wife o'John Lewis, Esq., of Sa vannah, while attending ber invalid husband one day recently, accidently set fire to her clothing and was so shockingly burnt that sho died in a few hours. Alfred M. Nosbet has been ’ appointed by Gov. Jenkins book keeper of the Peaitenfiaiy. Some of the papers in this State are for hanging people for burglary. The bridges oa the State Road, between Atlanta and Chattauooga will all be rebuilt in a few days. Biig Gen Robert H Anderson, late Corifer ate Army, is Chief of the Police at Savannah. Brigadier General A R Lawton is ip Savan nah, and has entered upon the practice of bis profession. The 187th Ohio regiment, Col Dawson, sta. tioned at Macon have been mustered out. All the negro troops at Macon have also been mustered out. The Macon & Western railroad have given five hundred dollars to the poor of Macon. NEWS feUMMAUY. Mr3. Grinder, the poisoner, was executed at Pittsburg on the 19th inst. She made a full confession on the gallows. The new fifty cent notes have been issued by the Treasury Department. Now York furnished, during the war 473,- 443 volunteers. A proposal for anew Presidential Mansion, will soon bo submitted to Congress. A company is now organizing in Chicago, with«o capital of half a million dollars, to build a cotton mill iu that city. Tho Revereud Win C Blunt, of tho Metho dist Church, Portsmouth, Va, was fatally shot January 16th by an assassin The Vera Cruz papers r. gnv ? „ V ~„ T n .- cer tain between the United States and Frame on Mexican affairs. Several Ex-Confederate officers have ten dered their services to tho Chilian Govern ment. Orders have been issued for the release of R. B. Winder, late Quartermaster in the Con federate States army. He was arrested through mistake. The South Carolina Legislature has passed a law, giving the election of Presidential elec tors directly to the people. Very few applications for pardon are being presented at the Attorney General’s office. In one land office in Missouri, in December last, 27,250 acres were taken for actual settle ment. Ihe cash land sales amount to sß,° 262. The North Carolina Legislature assembled on January 18th. General Butler’s reply to General Cjrant, will soon appear in print. It is surmised that the Reconstruction Com mittee’s first report will propose an amend ment to the Constitution. The Parkersburg, Virginia oil refinory, was destroyed by fire on January 18th. Anew French evening paper, L'Eloile d’Ori ent, has been started at Constantinople and is conducted with much spirit. The Prince and Pricee.-a cf Wales recently paid a visit to Lord Suffield, and it cost that nobleman $5,000. Gen. Grant has taken up his. residence in “Donglass Block,” Washington. Hostile band’s cf Indians on the line of the overland route to the Pacific have been com mitting depredation upon emigrant trains. The redemption divisiou of the Treasury Department, has cancelled $150,000 in fract ional and green back currency. iwn an—— Se.MUKK OF HOGS PACKED IN THE WEST FOR FIFTEEN YSAKS. Believng it will bo interesting to the trade to know the number cf hogs packed in (he West, as reported by the Price Current the past fifteen years, we have examined our files and made up the following figures from them. It Is evident that the returns were not as full as they should have been for the first three years, but the idea was then » ter one, and a great deal of trouble was ex perienced in obtaining them : Years. No. of Hogs. 1849 50 1.('52 220 185 0 61 1,332,867 - 1851-52 .‘..1,482,840 1852 63 2,201,110 1853- 2,534,770 1854- 2,124.404 1855 56 2,489,502 1856- 2,818,468 1857- 2.210.778 1858- 1,465.552 1859- .2 350,822 1860 Cl e 2,155,702 861 62 2.893,668 1552-63 4 069,520 1863.64- 3,261.105 MILLKDLiEYILLK NEWS. Tho daily sessions of the House exiends from 9 a.m. to 2 p. m., and those oi the Senate from 10 a. in. to 2 p. m. Thus the whole afternoon of each day is left, and occupied, ioi the present, in cancnssiog and electioneering. It is very evident but litde business will be done, until after ali fat offices are filled- Miliodgeville letter writers think that there is more working ability iu the Senate than House ; ar.d more in the House who desire to make speeches for bnneumb than in the Sen ate. Among tho prominent men at Middledgville aie—Ex-Governor Joseph E. Brown, Hen. A. H. Stephens, General Henry L. Beuuicg, Hon. William H. Dougherty, Ceionei J. V. Ram sey, Colonel Cinciunatus Peoples, Hon. John D. Clark, Hon. Richard H. Clark, Ex-Pro* visional Governor James Johnson. Hon. Thomas P. Ssfield, Hon. Warren Aiken, Cap tain George Uiiiyer. Hon. Joshua Hill, Hon L'nton Stephens, Major JoLn T. Stephens. Genera! L. J. Cartrell, Hou. D. A. Walker, General JohD. K. Jackson, Hon. John Scbiey. Hon. Richard F. Lyons, Colonel Joe lan, Col- Lewis Tumiin, Hon. J. J. Fioyd, and Colonel William Harris. L StlEB FiiOMHOJf H. W HIUjIAHD Wo republish from the Washington Chronicle the faliowr.g letter from Hon. 11. W. Hilliard ;o a gentleman of New York, who is at this time ri siling in Washington city ; Mr Dear Sib : Your letter reached pte to day. xou desire me to give yen my views cf the state of the country. You are entitl.d to the freest expression of my opinions upon all su't j sets of public interest. Our long estab ii h■ i political relations give you a claim cn t.ie, independent of my high persona! regard. for you In tiro late momentous struggle, from which the country is jus f recovering, you were at ibe North, I was Lt the Sou h. We were borne asunder by the tide of revolution, that rose so high as to submerge the loftiest .monuments reared by the old partie?of the Republic. In the Titanic battle that for four ygars shook this continent, those who had L.en pollt icalallies up to that time, found themselves rang 'd under different banners and maieha’ied iu opposing ranks. Impelled by.y ;ur well set tled opinions, your construction of the powers of the Government, and your attachment to the Union, you gave a prompt and vigproas support to that Government. I had been ih . firm friend of the Union. I had declared, with all tho ardor of my nature, in the presence of the representatives of all the States, that no man should iiiake me cal culate the value ti the Union.. I wag proud oi my country. I had faith in * its government! Even when the sectional party that had select ed Mr. Lincoln for its chief, ascended the steps ol the Capitol for the first time, with a!! the pomp of a great national triumph, I was still the steadfast friend of the Union. Opposed to secession, confronting its leaders, I appealed to ihe people to wait, to try the new Adrnfnistia tiou, to respect the il ig of the country. I insisted that every interest of the South would be safer within the Uuidn than out of it. My counsel was to make the great struggle for the rights of the South within the limits of fire Uuiofl. Not until the dread dinraiol war opened, d:d I take part in any' act of hostility to the Government of the United States.' Thou sands, who, like myself, were opposed to the wild measures that were precipitating the country into the vortex of revolution, when they saw the purpose of the Administration clearly defined, and beheld the spectacle, for the first time exhibited in this Republic, of the General Government arming itself to coetce States into obedience to its authority, took their places under the new flag that was Heat ing over the ranks of their kinsmen. They believed that a great battle for constitutional liberty was impending, and they could not re sist the imperious sense of duty, and the gene rous sentiment which impelled them to share tho fortunes of the States of their nativity. You triumphed. We had slaked everything upon the field of battle, and wo lost everything. But the annuls of the world can furnish noth ing to compare with the spirit of our people siuce the contest has ended. If the strife was fierce, tho tranquility that succeeds it is quite as remarkable as that which came down Upon the sea of Galilee when the voice of the Lord said, “Peace, be still”—suddenly there was a great calm. I have said that wo lost everything. It would be better to say, that everything that wo went to war to vindicate was lost. But when tho war had ended, we found that we had still a Goverumant and a country. In the order of Providence we are able to stand up and feel that, the Government cf the United States, is our Government, and that the whole country embraced within its limits is our country. Tho Administration of President Johnson, by a policy as wise as it is magaaui mous, is rapidly restoring fraternal relations between those who were lately engaged in deadly strife. Hie Administration is charac terized by a spirit so enlightened, so compre hensive, so national, and so beneficent, that the people of the South, with one common senti incut of trust and loyalty, are prepared to give it tj.ieir hearty support. They have already recovered their ancient confidence and sense of security in their Government, Thß President, by a wise statesmanship, is obliterating the traces of war. The military force is disappearing be Tore the advance of the civil authority. This pacific policy is working admiiably; and while it's author, with steady hand, is guiding it to perfect completion amidst the taunts and execrations of the Radicals who desire to impose military rule upon the South lor many years to come, he is achieving a noble fame by adhering to a system of restoration eminently wise. He will go down to history crowned with the imperishable laurels that/ encircle tho brows of those who promote the triumphs of peace. He will take rank as the Restorer of the Republic. Here, at the South, we accept the results of our recent struggle— slavery no longer exists. Whatever regrets may be felt by some at its destruction, the great body of our people are oppose-d to any attempt to revive it in any form. It belongs to the past. The folding doors of anew era arc thrown wide open before us. We shall adjust ourselves to its conditions I firrniy believe that, in the course of ten years, the South will exhibit a greater prosperity and a higher civil ization than at any previous period of its history. There will be fewer great plantations. There will be a greater number of well-con ducted farms, instead of the constant strain upon the muscle of labor to produce tho largest possible quantity ot cotton, rice, sugar, and tobacco for the accumulation of immense for tunes, there will be a diversified industry, in creased comforts among a greater number of human beings. There will be fewer autocrats, but more baypy families. Something like this I said to a friend seated by mo recently at a table in Willard’s Hotel. He is one of our wealthiest arid best men. He could nolagrie wiffi me, and assured me that it would require five hundred thousand dollars to make good his losses by the results of the war. But you observe that my friend’s standpoint was the door of the handsome mansion that overlooks his omn broad fields of labor aud thrift. He had lost half a million—but the State has not lost it. The blacks no longer labor lor him, but they will henceforth be pro ducers for themselves. The .Commonwealth wilt not be impoverished by the new condi - tions of the parties. Ali belong to tho State, whatever may be their relations to each other. This is the view that I would impress upon my countrymen. Let them accept the order of events cheerfully aud hopefully. Our fine climate, our fertile soil, our abound* ing streams, our exhaustless mineral wealth, all invite labor and enterprise. They should be encouraged. Wo have no redundant popu latioa. If the freed men will work, all will be well for tho white and the black race; <snd 1 be lieve that tho great majority of them wili werk. They are accustomed to labor. Our’s is no West India climate, nor is our’s a tropical soil. The blacks are not enervated, and tho ground does not yield its fruits spontaneously. The condition requires labor. It wiil be bestowed. Now that slavery exists no longer, there is no cause of quarrel between tho North and the South. There are no conflicting systems of industry. We shall side by side compete with a generous rivalry for the great rewards which civilization yields to those who address themselves to the tasks of life with a heroic spirit. I have always believed that the North aud the South'were essential to each other. In other words, that both would attain a higher prosperity under a common government t" an if sundered aud supporting rival political sys tems. No great mountain ranges divide them; no Danube or Rhine rolls its waters between them. The Mississippi pours its majestic cur rent from the extrema North to taa Gulf of Mexico. The Tennessee sweeps down th r cugh the co’ton regions of the South only to return | and empty its waters into the Ohio. The dis ; tact Pacific coast is becoming united to the Atlantic s-aboard by great highways of travel j and commerce. Let us be friends. Let us be Ia nation. Ti e attempt of a faet’on to forca the South ■ ern States to admit the blacks to political | equality is too mischievous to enlist in its sup port any considerable number ot the people of I the North. The great boon cf freedom has b. eu conferred upon the slave. Let us observe what use he will make of it. We hope for the best. He stands a freeman, protected be equal laws. Let him develope his fitness for hts new condition. The political iostitir ic L -. of this country were constructed for iK," ! white man It would be rash to sav that the freediian should never participate ia I the admin is ration of the Government • I but it wouli be -madness to confer u>--cn - him a? this time all the privileges ec'oved by i the white ruan, without some qualification.--’-I The great principle that the governed should i possess the right to choose their rules is too generally comprehended in this country to re qu’ eal ne to enforce it. I yie'd to it my heart assent. Nor am 1 d’sposed to favor re -trictiens upon suffrage. This right is much abused ; bat lam for tho free.-t exercise o; it among a homogeneous people. I have cot lost f.\i;h popular formsofgovernm'“ht.They areat taaii/d w ith th:- disadvantage of an abuse of the eleoticual franchise, but thatj must be dera ted. There are compensations. I prefer a re. üblie to a monarchy. It scf ms to ms to be bette- tr> subject the freedman to a probation in his new- status, before advancing him to political privileges, thm to attempt at this time ;6 confei those privileges on a portion of that race, under tho application of some ar bitrary te.-t of fitness. After all, this question belongs to the several States, they will dispose of it. Con noetic it has alri-ady dene so. Let us .leave the .question to the Stairs. I. hope to sec a great national party grow up —ii party sincerely committed to the develop mrnt of the power end the advancement of the glory of the Republic. Now that the dis turbing element of slavery is removed, wo may hope for the growth of a larger slatesmiUbhip. Questions will be discussed in their true rela tions to the interests of the country. Politi cal economy will be regarded, aud the materi al interests of the Republic encouraged. We enter now, I hope, upon anew cycle of nation'll prosperity and glory. Emerging from a dvil wav that taxed the energies and re sources of the Republic to an extent unparal leled in our history, the nation finds itself at peace with the whole world. The extraordina ry ability displayed by Mr. Seward iu tile ad ministraiion of the department chaigeu with Ihejfonduct of our foreign Effiirs, has enabled The Government Os tho United States to take rank to-day as one of tho great powers of the earth, with an irflaence never possessed by it before. That influence will be felt in the ad justment of questions affecting the fortunes of the world. Tho cautious non-intervention policy Euittd to the condition of a ycuug and feeble republic will no longer restrain cur pro gress. 'While we shall not interfere with the internal affairs of European States, we drill bo able to exert a powerful influence in advancing the cause of civil liberty throughout the woild. We cannot remain iuuiffernt spectators of the struggle of the peoples of Europe to attain a higher political condition,- The moral in fluence of our example will encourage and strengthen them; while cis Atlantic neighbors, looking to us for sympathy, will find us ready to extend to them whatever aid we may be at, liberty to afford, consistently with our obliga tions to other Governments. Oir financial condition affords the onfy ground for real apprehension in tho future”. Our debt is enormous, and it will require great skill to avert a serious national disaster. But we are young, and our resources are bound less. II they can lie judiciously developed, and properiy applied, we shall be able to return in good time to specie payments—the only safe sud solid system for a commercial people.— Fortunately for the country, there is a gentle man at the head of the Treasuary Department who possesses the highest order of financial ability. He has already earned a splendid reputation, and his recent indication of his policy is such as to inspire the greatest confi dence in him. Mr. McCulloch is, I learn, as much distinguished for purity and singleness of purpose as for ability, and I look forward to a suocesfui conduct of a department envi roned with difficulties great enough to intimi date and crush a feebler man. You sue, then, that lam hopeful for the fu ture of our country. For the fust time, wearo really a nation. The cofintry enters now upon higher destinies. It leads the way in the march of civilization—all the clouds that hung above our fortunes have disappeared. We are seen by the whole world in our true proportions. We are entitled now to the proud name of the great republic. Very re spectfully and truly yours. Henry W. Hilliard. LETTER FROM MR. 81'EPHEKS. Eeply of Ilona Alexander 11. Stephens to invi tation to address the Legislature on public af fairs. Mii.L3Daßvn.Lß, Ga., January 22, 1806. Messrs. J. F. Johnson, Charles It. Smith, and others : Cfeiill» «*'■*> • vum uutoui invitation to me to address the General Assembly on tfee State of the country, and assuring- me that it is the almost universal desire of the members that I should do so, if consistent with ray feelings, etc., was received two days ago. I have con sidered it maturely; and be assured if I saw any good that could be accomplished by my complying with your request, I would cheer fully yield my personal reluctance to so gener al a wish of. the members of the General As sembly, thus manifested. But as it is; seeing no prospect of effecting any good by such an ad Iress, you and your associates will,’ I trust, excuse mo iu declining. My reasons need Dot be stated ; they wiil readily suggest themselves to your own minds upon reflection; In reference to the subject of the election of Uuited States Senators, which is now before yon, allow me to avail my a-! sos this occasion to say to you, and through you, to ail the members of the Gen eral Assembly, that I cannot give my consent to taQ use of my name in that connection.— This inhibition of such use of it is explicit and emphatic. I wish it so understood by all. As wil iugly as I would yield my own contrary inclinations to what I am assured is the geu eral and unanimous wish of tho Legislature in this respect. If I saw any prospect of my be ing able, by thus yielding to reader any essen tial service to the people of Georgia; and, as earnestly desirous as I am for a speedy resto ration of civil law, perfect peace, harmony and prosperty of the whole country, yet, un der existing circumstances, Ido ‘not see such prospect of the availability of my services to these ends in any public position. More over, no far as I am personally concern ed, 1 do not think it proper or politic that tho election should be postponed with any view to a probable change of present circumstances, or .a probable change of my position on the sub ject; and do trust that no member will give evei a complimentary vote to me in tho elec liOli* Yours, truly, Alexander H. Stephens. Pxtaoe Stamps.—Tho contract for furnish ingtlro stamps was given in 1861 to the National Bank Note Company, which now an nually supplies 220,000.000 more stamps "than in De first year of the contract. During 1865, thai co*ncany furnished Government 400,- 000000 stamps and the demand has fre quently excaeded a million and a half per diem. The iollgwing will be lead with inter est : • The largest number ever delivered in one day being 5,923,895. The consumption of stamps of different values may be understood from a statement of tho proportions manufac tured in the mouth of March last, when Ihero were delivered to the Government of One cent s tamp3 175,200 Two cent stamps . 14,477,250 Three cent stamps" 85,933,850 Five cent stamps 275,310 Ten cent stamps 10,100,640 Twelve cent stamps 322,000 Twenty-four cent stamps 480,300 Thirty cent stamps 140,656 Ninety cent stamps 19,490 Total 111,925.620 The value represented by these stamps is $3. 207,199.50. Tho entire number supplied by the National Bank Note Company up to the prurient time is one billion three hundred mil lions. To mess a demand so vast, the presses ate sometimes run night and day, and to avoid error'in accounts, a daily balance of the busi m iis struck. In furnishing this imfnense number —representative of a vaine of $40,000,- oCC— not a single loss involving censure to the company has occurred, and the stamps are printed,"perforated, gummed and packed—for der. very from the company’s office to ail the United States Post-faces —for twelve cents a thousand. _ The Tennessee Legis'ature has resolved that no more elections sha'i be held in that State, until t .c list of voters is purged. E a Joan G. Davis, long a member of Con giit's, from Indiana, is dead. A horse is bring exhibited in Berlin, which ha- attained the patriarchal period of eighty. Ojv Cattin, of Pennsylvania has returned from Havana.- ijpniclf $ j&erdtttfi « EDSESOAY V.ORVIVU, FUURKAIIY I. Change of Bates. The Cheapest Weekly Is sued iu the. Country. THE WEEKLY Chronicle &* Sentinel . Is issued every Wednesday.- It will contain all the latest markets, both foreign and domes tic, as well as all the current news of-the day Subscriptions will be received at the annexed rates : One copy one year, § 2 Three copies one year, 5 Five copies one year, 8 Ten copies one year, 15 Any larger number addressed to names of subscribers $1 50 each. An EXTRA COPY will bo sent to any person who will get up a club of ton names and forward the same. These ra' ea maketheAUGUSTA CHRONICLE'& SENTINEL -the •cheapest publication in the country. THE NEW FIiyANCB BILL. There is an increasing confidence in Secre tary McCulloch, as tho .details of his policy of finance are being gradually unfolded. It now appears that his efforts at contractions are chiefly directed to the funding of-the maturing $830,000,000 of Seven Thirties into long bonds, and the conversion of the outstanding Treas ury certificates and legal tender interest bear ing notes. It seems evident that he will make no further direct effort to contract the aiftua! currency circulation. The lesson of the late conversion loan has not been lost upon the Secretary, and ho appears to shiink from the consequences of a direct reduction of the vol ume of greenbacks. He expects to accom plish his object by ti more indirect, but no less efficacious means. This course has many advantages. It confronts him mote directly with the greatest difficulty, the solution of which may involve the settlement of the mi nor points of embarassments. The conversion and funding of t&is immense mass of securities, is a work of no slight magnitude. Ail other questions may be safely postponed for it.— This is more especially the case with reference to the contraction of the volume cf currency, as the funding of the new bonds will largely depend upon the ease of the money market. In this view, the ccurso of the Secretary of tho Treasury, as it is now understood, is in ac cordar.ce with the ordinary laws of finance. The process of funding the Seven-Thirties and the compound legal tenders will be effected quietly and without any direct interference with business. If the money markot should continue very easy, there will be a gradual absorption of the currency, and if not, it will remain in the channel in which it is most needea by the community. The derangement of prices and credits that would otherwise take vlsir**. thus,J>.a minion* transition and shock which is to be so much deprecated, and the fear of which excites a constant alarm, may be almost entirely avert ed. The extraordinary power conferred upon the Secretary of the Treasury by Hr. Morrill’s bill, excites considerable Attention, and some op position. Some of these objections, we regret to observe, are of a political and personal na ture. It is manifestly beyond the wisdom of Oongres to anticipate tha various contingencies that may eli'ect the future credit of the government. It cannot bo predicated with any degree of certainty what proportion of the Seven-Thirty bouda falling duo next year and the year after may be presented for redemption, or convert ed into forty year bonds under new finance bill. The success of the entiro measure also largely depends upon the sale of government bonds in Europe, Even this Is a matter ot uncertainty. It is true that the foreign demand for ohr bonds is large just now, but their continued populaiity depends upon the future political aud social condition,of countries of which it is unsafe to predicate any thing. W e believe that the credit of our securities abroad, will increase all.the more in tho midst ol foreign revolutionary storms. Tho resources of our people are ample to discharge the principal and interest of all our obligations Indeed, as matters now stand, United States 'ecurifles are steadily increasing in value abroad, while those of other countries—even England not excepted-—are depreciating. As the sale cf our bonds abroad must largely effect their credit, or rather our capacity to absofb them at home, the propriety of investing the Secretary of the Treasury with, discretionary power to act as circumstances may dictate, is the more important. Tho quantity of bonds to oe absei bed :s absolute aud definite, and any that are not sold iu Europe, must be disposed cf bore on such terms aa may be feasible. The financial problems to be olved demand tho exercise of the largest discr tioary powers and the country kae full confidence in Mr. Mc wullochs ability and integrity. He has the ex cellent qualification, of being able to profit by experience, and of constantly seeking tho ad vice and counsel of those who are qualified to give an intelligent opinion upon the questions iii haul. There is probabiy few financiers of the day, to whom it would be safe to delegate so large an authority, and the fact that the proposition does not meet with more opposi tion than it has yet encountered, affords tne possible proof of the estimation in which Mr. McCulloch is held by the public, A review of the financial situation is calcu rated to inspire confidence in the measures so far proposed for the consideration of Con gress. Mr. Morrill’s bill, although calculated to contribute to the grand objects of placing the eutiro debt upon a uniform, permanent basis, and faciiiate a return to specie payments. Biqiit.— -The stay law just passed by the Legislature of Virginia has been so far modified as to except debts contracted since tho close of the war. We think such a course eminently right and proper. No man should be shielded from paying debts made since the close of the war. If a party is unabie to pay up what he con tracted to do before or during the late struggle, he is entitled to leniency. But to pass a law to shield a man from paying an honest debt contracted since the war, is simply to make a I bid for dishonesty and unfair dealing. J! El tiSHItKTiOS. This word has giown into comt.on use. It I is now almost universally applied to tho means in operation for the rest ration of the ancient order of things in tho United States. When used in this sense, it is misapplied. It. is a mischievous perversion of lauguage. To reconstruct, is to rebuild that which has been destroyed. To say. therefore, that the work of reconstruction is going on in this country, is to assume that the Government of the United States has been destroyed, and that the pro cess-of rebuilding is progressing. Now we hold with the President, that the Union of these States has never been over thrown. That the stuctuie was a3 complete during the late civil war as tt is to day. An attempt was made to destroy the Union. It did net succeed. A revolution was inauguia ted. It failed to accomplish its object. The citizens of the Sculhern Elites took up arms to vindicate tho declaration they'had solemnly made, that the several Sta.es engaged iu the revolution were uo members of the Union. If they- hud succeeded, they would have made good their declaration. Failing iu arms, they are net conquired provinces,\mt stiil States of the American Union. Just as if the Colonies had failed to make good their declaration of .Independence. They would stiil have been Colonies of Great Britain. Indeed the great commonwealths jthat undertook {o secede from the Union, hold by a nobier title their Claim to be still States of the Federal Re public. The general government has no right to make war on the States. The Congress did not undertake to do tbia No suoh monstrous as sumption of authority wa-r proclaim, and. The President undertook to suppress what he styled “an insurrection.’’ Congress by its legislation co-operated in this object. That power the general government certainly dees possess. It derives the power directly from a grant iu the constitution. What does that very important phrase mean ?—“to suppress insurrections.” The insurgent inhabitants of a Stats may be put down. Order may again reign. The au thority of the United States temporarily pros trated may be restored. What then follows ? The “insurrection” being suppressed, the au thority of the United States being restored, tho State is retrieved from military rule. Tho civil government is re-established. Represen tation is once more admitted. The harmoni ous working of the system, which was for a time disturbed, once more exists. The State is the State still. Georgia is Georgia to day. For a time the State was in the hands o thus? opposed to the government of the United States. But they have been defeated. Loyal citizens now controlled the State. Os course no condition can ba imposed on the State, af fecting its relations to tho Union. The inhabi tants may be dealt with. Those who took part in hostilities directed against tho United State u may bo punished by that government. But the Commonwealth is unchanged. England was England under Cromwell, as it had been England under Charles the first, and as it was again under Charles the second. If the Southern States had succeeded in atms they would have been out of the Union Had they at any subsequent time been con qured by the arms of the United States—then they might have been held as conquered pro vinces. Or if they ha.d voluntarily sought to re-enter the Union, then terms might have been imposed on them. To-day the Southern States are States of the Union. No recon*truction is necessary to re store to them.their rights. No terms can be imposed on teem, ixo conditions can be held over them by their sister States. Thoir people may be punished, if guilty of any offence ;or they may be pardoned. The latter policy far the Wiser. But the free, great, recognized States are still members of the American Re public, and wo trust that the true spirit will oou breathe in them all from Maine to Texas. The Peoplb of the Booth in accepting the new order of things, have no desire to oppress or be unjust to their former slaves. The asser tions of tho “freedom shriekers’’ iu Congress, to the contraty are incorrect, and without foundation. Some people are endeavoring to impress upon the minds of our coloied popula tion the idea that the modicum of justice meas ured cut to them by the separate tribunals es tablished throughout the country is so much wrung from our white people, reluctant to give them justice, and which would not be ac corded to them by their own civil courts. The course of the agitators is wrong. I hoy arc pur suing a policy injurious to the best interests of the country. What is tho use of attempt ing to fasten upon tho minds of the freedmen, who are to continue residing amidst the white people of tho South, the apprehension that the whites are unfriendly to them, inclined to oppress them, and loth' render them jus tice ? Such is not tho case. Their former masters are the negroes’ best friends, and they should know it. Those who are trying to fill the negroes’ mind with suspicious prejudices, and dislike towards jthair former owners, are doing the freedmen an incalculable injury. The former masters will continue to be master still, al though the relations between the employer ana employee will be different. It is, there fore, in-the highest degree, important to eetab lish, cn both sides, sentiments of esteem and confidence; without these, harmony cannot ex ist, and without harmony no profitable co-op eration can take place; and consequently, no genuine prosperity can ensue. The Law of. Libel—lmportant Decision . The recent decision of Judge Jones, of New York, in the caso of McCabe against the Sunday Mercury, jvhich resulted in the plain tiff feeing non-suited, is of interest to the newspaper press of the country. The Court held that an editor or reporter is not legally liable to prove the absolute truth of any charge or accusation which may be embod ied in a fair report of proceedings before a leeal tribunal, and that it is sufficient justifi cation to show that the facts reported have transpired as they were narrated. If the decision were otherwise, oveiy conductor of a newspaper cculd be forced, at the will or ca price of a litigant, to become the plaintifF or defendant ailuded to in any report which might appi-ar in his journal, the [accuracy of which might be questioned. The ruling thus decides lhat an editor is a mere publisher of actual occurrences, and cannot possibly assume in law the position of a litigant in cases of which he must necessarily be wholly ignciant. Had this Court ruled differently, an Editor or Reporter could be compelled to take the places of a dozen plaintiffs or defendants in a day—the number to be only decided by the reports which cither party to a suit might choose to consider libellous. The onu3 of proving tho truth of a charge made before a legal tribunal will thus devolve on the party who prefers it, and cot on tho editor who gives it publicity as a part of the news of the day. Central Railroad.—Tbo annual report of the President and Superintendent of this road, containing a statement of his Affairs up to the l9t December, gives the earnings and ex penditures of the road since the company commenced to receive and pay’ out U. 8. cur iincv, as follows: For Freight $59,525 04 For Passage 53 697 47 Total Earnings $ 113,122 51 Expenditures have been 190 986 00 Showing Expi-nscs in excess of Earuincs °f 77.5C3 49 Total uumbor of miles ofroal now iu ope ration, including Eatonton and Waynesboro branches, one hundred and fifty-one. Tho machinery is in bad condition and will need extensive repairs. But few cars or engines were lost during tho war, but they are all in bad order and mach scattered over the country. Tho total destruction of track and.btidgea will reach about. 139 wile3. The only statiou houses left standing are at. Nos. 2, 2 1 2, 10, and 14. Tho process of repairing bus been greatiy de layed by the difficulty of procuring aticlte taining labor, of purchasing cr hiring teams and wagons and of getting timber for cross' ties and bridges. The superintendent says these troubles are now removed, and tho work will heroafter progress according to contract. llox, A. H. Stkpuexs, —lt will bo seen by a Milledgeville dispatch, that Hoe. A, 11. Stephens declines to make any public address at present and also adheres to his deteiminatiuu not to allow his name to be used id connection with the U. S. Seuatorship. It is to be regretted that Mr. S h is concluded not to represent Georgia in the Halls cf the National Legislature. No man is better fitted for the positiou. No man would tako care of tho interests of Georgia more faithfully. No man is more competent to discharge the duties of the place. Pure and patriotic in all his aa peiatioue, ho commands not only the love and admiration of his frieuds, but even the respect and esteem of his enemies. Besides, ho is a statesman in the fu’lest sense of the word. It is such men as these who should be elected to plates of honor and trust, for amid nil trials and troubles their influence is always for good; and is rdvvays felt. Their voices are ever heard above the roar ofyingry political strife, — no matter how iempestuos it may be. Gmisa Alarmed —Some of tho Northern journals are getting alarmed at the enormous importations being made; they do not sec where the money is to come from to settle European balances; they use every agument ana induce ment for tho raisiug of a large cotton crop. If they will do one thing at the North--juet let the South arrange her own domestic affairs in the same manner that Northern States are permitted to do, a largo crop wili be raised. But if a continual intereference is made with the planters, we do not see how any kind of a crop can be expected. Let the employer and employee make their own baigains, a3 tho same classes do at the North; let there be no intermeddling by third parties, and an immence orop of all kinds will continue to bo produced at tho South. The South wants peace. Her condition demands that she have rest. And il rest be given her, if fanatic aud those disposed to keep up excitement within her borders aro compelled to leave her to manage her own af fairs— Bho soon will yield of her abundance aa bountifully as ever. Happilt Done. —Several days ago, a resolu tion was Introduced in the Virginia Senate, by Mr. Meade, appropriating, the sum of “ten thousand dollars, or such amouut as, in their judgment, would appear best’’for the benefit of the widow of the immortal patriot and hero, Stonewall Jackson. The resolution was adopted with but one dissenting voice. This is right. The mother of statesmen, who have long since crossed the river of death, and of soldiers, living and dead, moves timely and gracefully in this good work. It Is meet that she, upon whose bosom the great chieftain’s life blood was poured out, should throw her arms of protection around his wife and children. Those who died for us became our children ; their kindred our kindred ; when storms threaten them, we should shelter them. When want stares them in the face, we should hasten to their relief. The oil cruse should ever be full and the measure of meal not bo wanting. Notes on Mattkbs of tub Day.—Compari sons are said to be odious; consistency is claimed by some to be a jewel. Here is a comparison which shows the consistency of radical republicanism : i Gen. Howard, of tho Freedmcn’ft Bureau has ordered that negro children shall be taught in tho public schools of Maryland the samo aa white children. Per contra. An application of a colored girl for admis sion to the High School in Troy, N. Y., which was refused by the principal, was taken to the Supreme Court, where it was recently decided against the applicant. Comment on the above is unnecessary. It eimply shows that the radicals desire the South to do for the negroes what they them selves are unwilling to do. im-in I The Late Wait wa3 pros cuted by the North, not to force the South out of the Union, but to keep her in. Now that tho object for which the war was carried on has been accomplished, every sensible man ought to be willing to do away with all war measures at oace, and allow peace aud quiet .once more to resume full sway with all altendan t blessings, throughout oar entire land. All war congressional acts, all war move ments in Congress, ought to have ceased aa soon as the South accepted the new order of things, and throw down the sword, if this had been tho case, and ail useless agita iocs ceased, the country would have been In a far better condition than it now is. A Blood Thirsty Governor. —Tho Governor of Wisconsin has issued a most blood thirsty message. Such men ought lo recollect that tho war between the two sections of the coun try ha3 closed, and that all such documents only tend to keep up an injurious agitation. The policy, of all leading men ought now to be to conciliate—not to inflame. What the coun try desires is quiet, not political harangues and excitement. The true stalesmm will seek “to pour oil upon the troobled waters,” — demagogues will adopt a contrary course. Wo trust the people will soon thrust the latter from the places they now occupy, and fill them with men better qualified. The Scctu Carolina Railroad.—lt is tho Intention of the President of ithis road to have it finished through to Blackville some time during the present moDib. As soon as this is accomplished the “journey over the break’’ can be performed by daylight. The company will then establish a complete connection by wagon train, and al»o adopt, through rates of freight.