Newspaper Page Text
OLD SERIES, VOL. IAX V.
Chronicle & Sentinel.
xi pNR v Sr<ion i
A. H. WIUGIIT.
TKKMS OF SI JW( ttIPTION.
AVKKKLY.
* mouth* to
« uumtta 1 75
J. It. VV. JOHNSTON .
Busiist-** Murder.
A ICW I 'HT A , €i A :
WEDNESDAY IORXINK, UGI'ST 22.
The Situation In Europe.
Exciting and extraordinary event- have
succeeded each other in such rapid succes
sion in Europe during the last few weeks,
that the inind becomes quite confused in
the attempt to kejfp up with the setentious
outgivings of the cable, and the varied and
conflicting details of the foreign press. A
writer in that excellent paper, the New
York Mercantile Journal, has come to the
aid of the reading public, and gives a co
herent, and we believe also, a correct and
reliable bird's-eye view of the status of
affairs at the opening of peace negotiations.
From it we learn that England is very se
riously agitated by the disturbances arising
from the defeat of Parliamentary lieform.
Popular leader.- like ifrieht and Mills utter
ominous words, and the Liberal journals
are full of vehement warnings to the Min
istry in power, and the Government that
sustains it. The least that may be appre
hended is. fresh financial disturbance and
trouble, extending throughout the great
cities and manufacturing districts of the
Kingdom, to be aggravated, perhaps, by
more serious difficulties in Ireland.
Outlie Continent, Prussian diplomacy
on the one hand, and her astounding mil
itary vigor and sagacity on the other, are
sleeping everything before them. King
William i already, to all intents and pur
poses, at the head of a great united Ger
man Empire, the peer of France in power
and influence, while thegenius of Bismarck
has raised him to a pedestal, as lofty in
statesmanship as that of Napoleon 111.
The armistice was merely a respite to
the utterly fallen fortunes of the House of
Austria. The Prussians rushing resist
leasly from triumph to triumph, had, after
another great battle in which they smote
the defenders of Presburgh, hip and thigh,
closed around Vienna, towards which Cial
dini was advancing at the head of 15,-
000 Italians, infuriated by the evasions
of their foe by forced marches. A practi
cal survey of the position of the various
bcjligerant forces at-the date of the five
days truce, will show better than any
other explanation, how the political and
military map of Europe as it stood four
weeks ago, has been transformed in tjiat
time.
Ist. Tlie Austrian army still available
concentrated in 10 corps, along with whu£
is left of the Faxon corps around Vienna,
and in the entrenched camp of Florisdorf,
a few miles distant from the capital guard
ing the passes of the Danube, in all 150,000
men, with headquarters in the city; 30,-
000 men in the fortresses of Konigsgratz,
•losephstadt, Thercsienstadt; and Oliuuctz,
pretty thoroughly surrounded by the
Prussians; 20,000 men in the Tyrol, hold
ing Garibaldi at bajf, and 50,000 shut up
in Vienna, Mantua, Pcschiers, Legnago,
and Venice, a Corps of 10,000 men defend
ing the passages of the I’iave and retreating
upon Verona, and finally another body of
8,000 men of tho late contingent in the
German Federal army, beaten at Asehaffen
burgh, and retreating upon Manhoim.
2. .Federal army, forming the sth
corps of Prince Alexander of Hesse, re
treating upon Augsburgh and striving to
make a junction with the Bavarian army,
in all (10,000 men, Hessians, Austrians,
Baden troops, Wurtemburghers, etc.
3d. The Bavarian corps beaten at Kis
sengen, and retreating upon Augsburgh
via Wurtzburgh, about 50,000 men.
4th. Tho remainder of the Bavarian ar
my, between 50 and 00,000 men in the di
rection of Munich and Nuremburgh.
sth. The Italian army divided into two
grand bodies, viz: that of Cialdini compris
ing four corps, inarching Northward, in
all 150,000 men; and the army of La Mor
mon, comprising 3 corps or 1.000 men,
with its headquarters at Terrara, where
King Victor Emanuel was personally pres
ent. Garibaldi with about 25.000 volun
teers, was also slowly making bis way
through the passes of the Southern Tyrol.
Othly. Comes the Prussian force in
three grand armies, viz : that of Prince '
Frederic Charles, extending from /maim
of Oh-Hollahrun and Lundcnbourg with
detached divisions, and the Sth corps ;
echelonned from Hudweis to Linz road ; |
next, that of the Prince Royal at Brum,
with detached divisions at Koenigsgratz
and at Prerau ; the flying partisan Stol
berg corps, pivoting on Prerau with head- i
quarters at Brunnard : the 7th corps com- !
posed of the two Mantcutfel divisions, and
the mixed Federal division stretching from ;
Frankfort to Mayence and Darmstadt,
with headquarters in the latter city. The
third is the army of reserve, organized in ;
four corps and already marching upon 1
Saxony, under the orders of the (1 ratal
Puke of Mecklenburg. The grand "total of
the Prussians already in the field is 400,-
iKHI, covering the three armies above men
tioned. The advanced armies had been
making forced marches, so as to approach
Vicuna as nearly as possible before the
cessation of hostilities, and had reached
the great plain of the march or Marehfield,
and pushed on beyond the town of Nieols
burg, while on the Hungarian territory,
after overwhelming an Austrian cavalry
and artillery corps of 00.000 men near
Presburg, they had masked that place and
cut otf I euetia'on the Hast and South East.
Such was the military statu quo, at noon
on the U2d, when the armistice commenced, j
The terms of negotiation have been pub- :
lished —the proposed accession to Prussia !
of several Federal States—the withdrawal :
of Austria from the Herman Con fedora- j
tion—partial payment of the war expenses ,
—but as all these are still under advise- j
meat. we can afford to wait yet a few days
for the definite result. The events of the
blazing month of July—more startling
perhaps than that afforded in the annals
of any like period since the morning stars
sang together—make anew era in the his
tory of Continental Europe, and are not
without significance in their relation to
civ dilation everywhere.
Congress and Us Pay.
The New York Trim < says ; Congress
did a very unwise, selfi>k. cowardly, un
principled act, increasing its own pay at
the close of the late session. We say un
wise. because there are not five men in the
two Houses who would have dared, when
candidates for their present positions, to
declare that, if elected, they would seek
and vote to raise their own pay from SO,OOO
to SIO,OOO each per Congress. It was
selfish : for the members must have known,
that in so acting and voting, they were
embarrassing and damaging the public
cause which they profess to have at
heart in their greedy lust of private gain.
It was unprincipled ; for tunctioiinries en
trusted witj. power over their own roconi
pense should therein set an example of
moderation, in order that they may be in
position to resist sternly and efficiently the
rapacity of other would-be loecues on
the body politic. It was cowardly; fro
they did not venture to enact this increase
of pay in a distinct bill, and let the yeas
and nays be taken and recorded thereon,
but sneaked it into the tail end of an ap
propriation bill, and juggled it through by
the machinery of a conference committee,
after the House had voted it down by °ue
aud twenty-five to thru. It was
a very mean performance, aud we hope to
see it repealed at the next session. It will
be. if the people will only take the matter
in hand and ask even- candidate for the
next Congress. "Sir. will you vote to put
the pay of members back to $3,000 pier
annum, and have all mileage charged by
the most direct mail route ?"
Texas—Gov. Throckmorton's Ir,augural.
Governor Throckmorton, of' Texas, was
inaugurated on the sth. An abstract of his
inaugural address i- telegraphed to the
Western press, in which he reviews the
political and materia; condition of the State.
, \\ hiie he acknowledges that the difficulties
of the situation are depressing, he does not
i de-pair of receiving liberal and
treatment from his Northern fellow coun
trymen. He cannot believ%hat the land
of Franklin, Hancock. Adams, Hamilton,
Jay, Webster, and many other patriots,
is to be no longer the land of the good and
great, or that their les-ons of unselfish
j devotion to the country are to lie forgotten.
\\ hen the storm of passion subsides, and
its fury is expended, when reason and jus
tice liavq tempered wifii magnanimity, a
generous ©£ ird for flpr.' section of the
Union, they will, he iJJfcves, resume their
''it,' believe \ great iAa-s of the North
desire tir-.ti-ca4ii.iS as brotSers. The gen
erous policy and liberality of the President
have deeply touched the tendcrest chords
of the Southern heart. Sentiments of love ;
and veneration for tlie Government of our
fathers have been aroused by it, which had
long slumbered. His kindness and
mercy have been far more potent in elicit
ing fidelity to the Union in a few months,
( than could have been effected by bayonets,,
confiscation and the gallows in long years of
oppression.
tic reviews the sufferings, privations
and dangers endured in behalf of a cause !
they considered just and holy, shows how
sincerely the people have kept tleir faith
with their renewed allegiance, says ho has j
been identified with Texas for a quarter of !
a century, has mingled with her people
j and claims to be able to speak for them,
j He urges the importance of enacting
laws that will afford the freed people the
full protection of all their rights of person
and property, guaranteed them by the
amended constitution, and thinks the day
is not distant when the black people will
be convinced that their truest friends are
those with whom they have sported in
youth, and who have cared for them from
infancy.
After briefly reviewing his own course,
as a 1 Inion man, anil a subsequent suppor
ter of the Confederate cause, he urges as
tlie most sacred duty of all, to labor for th*
restoration of peace and harmony, and
invokes the co-operation of the Legislature,
and of all in the good work. Ho
counsels unselfish devotion to the country,
moderation, forbearance and enlarged
charity for differences of opinion, as the
sure agencies to produce the great ends
desired.
The temper of the Governor’s address, if
sustained by the legislature and the peo
ple of Texas, will not fail to effect her
speedy restoration to all the functions of
civil government. The factious and ob- \
noxious course of Jack Hamilton, the Pro- !
visional Governor, have greatly retarded
the restoration of the civil status to Texas !
as well as to’the rest of the States.
He is deemed accountable for the omis
sion of Texas from tlie proclamation of the
President which was received as the restora
tion of civil law. The omission of one
State, has been urged as a plea for the as
sumption that a state of war still exists,
and as an excuse for proceedings that have
appeared anomalous, under thePresidcnt’s
proclamation. Judge Underwood of Vir
ginia, makes the exclusion of Texas the
excuse for decisions which arc at variance
with a state of peace. Now that Texas
presents herself in the attitude of loyalty,
under all the forms prescribed, the last
.trace of a condition of rebellion lias passed
away, and there is no further barrier to
the full and complete restoration to all the
States of all their self-governing functions.
The Philadelphia Convention.
The telegraph brings us the gratifying
intelligence that the Philadelphia Conven;
tion is a perfect success. From the re
ports which reach us, it is one of the lar
gest, most harmonious, and significant po
litical assemblages that ever met in this
country. Every State and Territory is
represented, and the prevailing spirit is
that of conciliation and fraternity. All
jarring influences and barriers to the per
fect harmont of the meeting melt away
before the spirit of unity and harmony
which seems to animate all parties.
The self-sacrificing spirit of Hon. Fer
nando Wood, and lion. Clement C. Val
landigliam, in declining to accept scats in
the Convention, through apprehension
that such a course might endanger its har
mony, is in the highest degree creditable
to those gentlemen. Though by no means
the greatest of their sacrifices to constitu
: tional principles, it gives them renewed
1 claim on the gratitude of the States seek
ing reconstruction, and to the respect of all
I who hold the good of the country above
' personal consideration. It was no mean
i triumph for such men to be delegated by
their constituents to a Convention seeking
| to reconcile estrangements which they had
i labored to prevent, and theta; is something
of the heroic in tlicir refusal to accept
j scats in the Convention.
•Those in the South who have opposed
the Convention will doubtless find new food
for carping in the existence of any possible
cause for the self-exclusion of these distin
guished gentlemen from its counsels. To
such we commend a modicum of the noble
spirit they exhibit in promoting the ends
of harmony and reconciliation.
The North yields to our prejudice against
those who were termed disloyal to our
cause: let us not stop to cavil because she
does not select as arbiters of peace those
i who were termed disloyal to her cause.
Cable Dispatciies.
Some of our eotemporaries have in
t dulged in what appears to us as captious
j criticism upon the dispatches by the cable.
We have deemed it reasonable and just to
give the Association time to perfect its ar
rangements attendant upon so important
a change in its reports. For the last few
days our dispatches have embraced the
important European events of the day of
their reception, with the markets up to the
close of business on the night before our
paper goes to press. This wonderful re
sult. it appears to us. should disarm all
criticism, aud entitle the Associated Press
to the hearty thanks of every journalist in
the land—especially when it has Ken done
without adding a dollar to the charges ot
the Association.
In this connection, we take pleasure in
returning our acknowledgments to Mr.
Walsh, the polite and efficient agent of the
Association here, and also to the obliging
operators, for their courteous attentions.
•• Don’t Rise on my Account.’’
The o">r<rta Citizen, and some other
journals who have exerted the extent ot
their influence to make the Philadelphia
Convention a failure, now claim to have
exerted a very salutary influence in eou
troling and moulding the policy of the
Convention. Thiscourseof these papers re
minds us of an old woman who went late to
church, and reached the sanctuary last as
the audience wa> rising for prayer. Being
unused to the customs of the congregation,
-he thought they were all rising to give her
a seat, whereupon she rem: rked, so that
all the congregation could hear her, 3' OU
needn't rise on my account.
These presses have had just about as
much influence on the Philadelphia
Convention as the old lady did upon the
congregation aforesaid —or as the guut did
upon the bull s bora iu the fable.
Whither are we Drifting ?
We are aware that reason is unavailing
in an issue with the agrarian efu-nders
who have espoused the cause of universal
suffrage and negro equality. But there
are many who thoughtlessly follow the
lead of these agitators, who may not be
lost to words of caution. We conceive it
to be the duty of all exponents of Southern
■ opinion, however humble, to meet this
suffrage heresy with candor. The States
! of the South, in their desire for concilia
tion, and respect for constitutional obliga
tions now resting upon them, have submit
ted to all the exactions which conferred on
the negro perfect civil equality, and to
many radical changes in their fundamental
laws. This last demand for the suffrage of
a race, four-fifths of whom are but one re
move above barbarism, is a shock which
our social and civil institutions will not
! bear. It is the last hair that is bound to
break the camel’s back. The people of
the North have had ample warning of the
results sure to attend this outrage upon
free institutions. The President has told
them it would lead to a war of races.
Generals Grant and Sherman have reitera
ted the same warning ; and tluUNgWvGr
leans riots, and numerous other collusions
between the whites and blacks, which have
resulted from the insidious teachings of
this terrible doctrine —all confirm the ap
prehensions which induced the President
and the better portion of his military and
civil advisers to warn the majority in Con
gress against attempting so dangerous an
experiment.
Their warnings have been unheeded.
The utterances of the bad men who figured
in the late drama in New Orleans, (ex
tracts from which we publish elsewhere,)
show the determination to exact the privil
ege of suffrage at the point of the sword.
The bloody result of their boasts is but a
prelude to scenes which will drench the
land with gore, if their mad teachings are
persisted in. We deplore violence in every
shape—we have no disposition to defend
mob carnage anywhere. But when the
passions of men are lashed into fury by
startling innovations upon law, justice, and
social order, such as tried the temper of
the New Orleans populace, collisions are
inevitable.
It is painful to notice that the influence
which led to that disturbance are insidi
ously at work throughout the South. We
do not mean to excite alarm, but it is well
to look impending danger squarely iu the
face. Our own community is an illustra
tion of the irritating tendencies of the
teachings of this new heresy. The colored
people, beguiled by the imagined benefit to
result from securing the franchise, have
organized an association to promote that
end. They have been told that those who
would deny them this privilege are their
enemies, and seek to keep them in subjec
tion. The result is a feeliug of jealously,
and hostility to the whites, which is both
damaging to them and threatening to the
peace of society. Their favorite loaders
encourage this spirit of estrangement, and
are now at the North seeking material aid
in the prosecution of their cherished
scheme. They are writing letters, which
are published in papers read chiefly by the
blacks, warning the whites that suffrage
must and shall bo accorded to the negro.
Such letters are being industriously circu
lated among the colored people. However
unworthy of respectful notice these emis
saries of mischief may be, personally, we
may not with impunity shut our eyes to
the effects of their follv.
It is in no threatening or captious
spirit that we present this subject
to our readers. We would see
the kindest relations exist between
the races. We would accord the colored
people the same rights and privileges
that are accorded them in the States
from which these champions of suffrage
come. At the same time wo would urge i
the intelligent among them who are capa
ble of reviewing the subject with reason,
to reflect that this is tho government of
tlie white man, and that the white people
of this country North and South, revolt
against unrestricted negro suffrage. We
remind them that in only a very few of the
free States arc the negroes allowed to vote,
and in only one, or perhaps two, can they
vote save under a property qualification ;
that several of the Northern States have
recently reiterated at the ballot box the
denial of suffrage to the negro. If this
has been clone in those States where there
are but few negroes, of the more intel
ligent classes, how much greater is the
reason for refusing suffrage to tlie degrad
ed plantation blacks of the South, who do
not know the meaning of the word ?
This subject, delicate though itis, relates
to tlie most sacred interests of society. Its
agitation calls up frightful pictures of tho
horrors of St. Domingo, but frightful as
they are, we may not shut them out of
view with indifference. We have no fears
that tlie fate of St. Domingo will ever
attend the late slave States of the South.
Tlie predominance of the white over the
black population is too large, to make the
struggle long or the question of supremacy
doubtful. All the instincts of humanity
call for the mutual exercise of forbearance
and good will between the blacks and
whites, that the dire calamities attending
such a struggle may be averted.
Gen. Tillson’s Report.
General Davis Tillson, Assistant Com
missioner of Freedmen's Affairs, has ren
dered his report of the operations of the
Bureau in the State of Georgia, since his
assignment to duty here, in which he says,
since the enactment of laws by the State
granting to the freedmen all the rights of
person and property enjoyed by tlie white
citizens, the Bureau has labored persistent
ly to restore the supremacy of civil law and
its enforcement in such manner as to pro
tect all classes of citizens, irrespective of
color or condition. It was not expected
this effort would be followed by immediate
success, but enough has been accomplished
to render the future hopeful. Still, there
are many instances where, through the
prejudice of the people, or the incompe
tency of the Magistrates, the treedmen are
denied the protection of the law, and
where the interference of the Bureau is
esseutial to secure justice.
The General says further, that the plan
ters depend upon the continuance of the
Bureau to control labor and make it re
liable, and the freedmen to aid them in
obtaining their wages. Its removal now
would be followed by doubt and uncer
tainty on the part of the one, and distrust
on the part of the other. The most in
telligent planters entertain this opinion,
and would regard the removal of the Bu
reau and its agents at the present time as
a public misfortune. Such are the views
of General Tillson.
Tiie Convention News.—No discus
sion—the re-affirmation in an address of
the principles of the call—and a separate
manifesto from Southern delegates—seems
the programme of the National Union Co
nvention yesterday assembled at Philadel
phia. W e have no comment to offer —that
programme speaks trumpet-tongued for it
self. And so does the speech of His Ex
cellency Governor Orr.— Constitutionalist.
Me are gratified at the quiet acquies
ouce of our eotemporary in the success of
the Philadelphia movement. It is said
that silence gives consent, and the above
is so near silence as to indicate that our
eotemporary is in a fair way to become a
convert to the good influences which pre
vail at Philadelphia.
The population of Milwaukee, W iscon
sin, in IMO, was 1,7-50 souls ; in 1565 the
inhabitants numbered 65,640.
A Plenary Council of the Roman Catho
lic Church throughout the United States is
to be held at Baltimore on the 7th of Octo
ber,
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 22, 1866.
Sleeping (ars on the Georgia Railroad"
Being called to the depot on last night,
to put some friends on the cars, we went,
immediately on the arrival of the train, as
usual, to the rear box. to find seats, when,
to our great astonishment, we found our
self in a gorgeous coach, resembling far
i more the costly cabin of some first-class
steamer than a railroad c;.r. For a while
we could not comprehend the situation. It
was hard to realize the fact that we were
! on the Georgia railjpad. or on any South
i em road, having never before seen any
sleeping coaches on any of them. Fine
damask curtains hung on each side of the
aisle, and large gilt-framed mirrors re
flected our images back on ail sides, and
we really thought, for a moment, that our
being on the cars was all a dream.
At the entrance the polite captain of the
cabin inquired if vre wanted a double
or single berth, to which inquiry we re
plied with a shower of questions, and at
i the same time indulging in a sort of solilo
! quizing wonderment. But, on examina
i tion, and through the communicative dis
positioii of the polite captain, we found
I that he was prepared to furnish, not only
i single persons, but married persons, with
I'comfortable beds. A man can take his
j family into a genteel and handsome berth,
free from dust and noise, (no loud talking
allowed to disturb passengers while sleep
ing,) and perfectly private, and retire
regularly to bed, just as much so as on
any steamer. Each berth has a large
mirror in it, and at the end of the institu
j tion is a handsome wash-stand, marble
| basin and clean towels, and everything
necessary to make the toilet.
How the world progresses! In a few
more years, no doubt, our railroad gauges
will be widened, the track-bed wilU be
solid granite, laid with artistic masonry,
the coaches will be enlarged, and we will
j ride without a jostle, and cook, and eat,
| and sleep, and dance on our cars, just as
j upon steamboats. In the year three
| thousand the reality in the world’s pro
| gross will be found to be far in advance of
the wonderful picture which some far
seeing genius penciled a few years since
from his vivid imaginations.
In this same sleeping car we had the
pleasure of finding the accomplished, ener
getic and jovial superintendent of the
road, Col. E. W. Cole. He was in com
fortable dishabille, enjoying the luxury of
the establishment, cum dignitate.
Speaking of this model improvement
reminds us of an amusing incident which
happened here a few nights since in con
nection with it: One of our prettiest and
most charming young ladies —indeed, one
of our belles—while at the depot to see
friends off on the train, stepped aboard to
examine this new feature, and was “so
carried away” with it, that when she
found herself she was in Madison, some
twenty miles distant. She returned next
morning, safe and sound, to her anxious
friends, but we have not since heard how
she enjoyed her “snooze,” nor what her
opinion is, in general, of “ sleeping cars. ”
J. ft. S.
Greensboro, Ga., Aug. 9.
The Development of our Resources.
Messrs. Editors :—Various schemes have
been suggested for advancing the interests
and prosperity of Augusta, but few are
acted on. Editors and newspaper corres
pondents frequently point out what might
be done, but unless a direct and immedi
ate return can be realizefl in a few weeks
or months, plans that would ultimately in
crease the value of property are neglected.
If we have not the necessary capital or
knowledge to prosecute certain enterprises
ourselves, let us invite others to take hold.
Btot it'toelc'notvTV what opportunities and
resources are at our very doors, ready to
reward skill and enterprise.
The Exhibition of all Nations, to be hold j
at Paris next spring, wotdd afford an ex
cellent opportunity to bring into notice
many valuable resources which might bo
made to add materially to our prosperity,
if a few public spirited individuals would
interest themselves in presenting these ap- '
titudes to tlie attention of the people from al 1 j
parts of the civilized world who will there j
be gathered.
For example, will not someone take the
trouble to send forward a sample of the
remarkable deposites of Kaolin found in
this immediate vicinity. European work
men state that the quality is second to
none they have even manipulated and a
comparison with English or French clays
need not be feared. As an indication of its
value, parties are now engaged in stoip
ping to Northern ports large quantities.
Itis evident tliat if it can be profitably used,
after paying the heavy expenses incident
to transportation, there must be a large
margin for profit if manufactured on the
spot, and the quality must be better than
most clays to bear that expense.
Some weeks since an article appeared in
your columns descriptive of this Kaolin
and its uses—and the peculiar advantages
of this section for manufacturing this class
of articles, enlarged on. As stated, here are
the raw materials, efficient water power,
facilities for transportation, cheap fuel and
a home market, all combined.
If a proper spirit and enterprise was
evinced, these deposites would eventually
afford profitable employment to thousands
of operatives. No one would dispute the
inference that the establishment of facto
ries giving remunerative employment to
workmen in the surrounding country,
would redound to the advantage of the
city, and give anew impetus to its growth.
Employment would thus be given to
foundries and workshops. Merchants
would supply materials needed; farmers
by having a home-market for their pro
duce, would be able to buy more freely of
tho goods they need, and all classes would
be benefited ’directly or indirectly.
Any measure that tends to produce such
a result should not be neglected. As an
advocate of progress, cannot you, through
the influence exercised by your paper, in
duce a spirit of looking beyond the imme
diate personal results, to the benefit that
would be derived by each one if his neigh
bor was prospering and making money.
The sending of this kaolin would be a
practical step in the right directum. Have
it put up in a neat case, accompanied by
statements of quantity, quality and facili
ties, and opportunities for successful prose
cution of the business, with a request to
the American Commissioner at Paris to
place it where attention can be directed to
it. Tho cost of the transportation will be
slight for the samples, as the agent in New
York, I understand, takes charge of arti
cles intended for exhibition.
Kaolin is not the only article worthy of
being sent; therefore, f trust you will urge
the importance of such measures. ®
Disturbance in Charleston.
The Charleston News gives an account
of the riotous conduct of some negroes near
the West Point Mill, on Saturday night.
They were ordered away from the premises
by tlie watchman, wben one of the ne
groes knocked him down with a brick. He
then tired at them. They soon rallied some
companions, and threatened to kill every
d —d—rebel! son of—in the yard. The
watchman retreated to the house of M r .
Jordan, one of the owners of the mill,
who in coming out to see what was going
on. received a severe cut in the head from
a club. He seized a double barrelled gun.
and shot his assailant in the back, upon
which the negroes retreated. Several ne
groes were arrested.
{fur New Hampshire Letter.
We publish to-day a letter from a New
Hampshire Democrat, of the Pierce shod
giving his views of the Philadelphia
movement, and critiei-ing the way in which
President Johnson has given the cold shoul
der to that wing of his Northern supporters.
We trust that the Philadelphia Convention
will so concentrate aud unite the friends of
the President that there trill be no oeca
-ion hereafter for charges of prejudice or
partiality —but that all will be recognized
as fraternal co-workers in the cause of re
conciliation, peace and union.
There was a short pistol practice between
a soldier and citizen in Selma a day or two
s p iee _rifteen or twenty shots were fired,
but nobody hurt!
Georgia
The first bale of new fatten received at
Macon lias been ptoppped by eitizens of
that place and slapped as a present to
President Johnson. JEjgis
Hon. D. A. Walks- iledin s. on account
of sickness, to attdjd The Philadelphia
Convention, as onep# the delegates for
the State at. large. flMßjieamly endorses
the object ot the (’oqksntioii.
An amusing to the
Elberton Gazette, the other day. The
paper on which one Mlf its weekly edition
was printed was tarried off by mistake
with a lot of old papeg and sold to a mer
chant ofHart eountyM;;
A. T. Stewart’s a reart branch dry goods
house at Savannah .Swill measure 42 feet
front by 310 feet deem and have six stores.
Its height will be Ofgfeet from the side
walk, and it will bfr|uiit of pure white
marble.
The Macon Mexseihas says tliat the fire
man on the up provision train of the Cen
tral Railroad, on evening, while
out -on the engine greasing some of tlie
machinery,' slipped |ikl fell, breaking his
.-hull, which resulted in his death soon
afterwards.,
Prof. AVilliams, of the Blind Institute,
has introduced a mrf and very useful
feature into his instit?**t!K!' s l* VrtWft'Work
shops for the Blind, sftljlaeon. The editor
of tlie Messenger liuwween a specimen of
Corn Broom made at tlie Institute, which is
equal to the best from Connecticut. His
object is to furnish the means of support to
the blind by instruWpg them in various
mechanical arts of usein every-day life.
The Rome Courier Says a gentleman liv
ing in that county, by the name of Sol.
Nettles, some fifty ye@rs old, and not a
large man, ate seventy-three raw eggs in
town last Saturday. He contracted with a
family grocery merchabt for as many eggs
as he could suck, agreeing to pay twenty
five cents for the ideal. He ate all tho
mereharft had, and said “he would like a
few more,” but yet djd not wish to trouble
the merchant to go but and get them.
Tlie Macon papas allude to tlie fact
that New Orleans ©aiton dealers are offer
ing extraordinary iAducement to the plan
ters of South Western Georgia to ship
their cotton to thatfearket. They furnish
bagging and rope ctemost favorable terms,
and are preparing {©lncrease the number
of boats on the Chattahoochee river. The
freight on a bale of cotton from Albany,
Eufaula and ColuMus to New Orleans,
will be three dollars per bale, while tlie
present freight by rail to Savannah is from
seven to seven dollar, and a half.
Mr. Davis, of Upson county, informs
the Macon Messenger that a young man,
Samuel Brown, was killed, near Barnes
ville, Wednesday bight about 8 or 9 o’clock,
under the following circumstances: A
suspicious character had been taken up in
Barnesville, during the day, who confessed
to horse-stealing, and that lie belonged to
a clan, the members of which resided in
different counties, which would meet at
Air. Garland’s, ©bout eight miles from
Barnesville, thatfnight and take his stock.
A party, with the thief, went out to Air.
Garland’s and placed themselves in am
bush. Very soon, someone came riding
up, when the thief met him and gave tho
password, which was not responded to,
when the thief asked his name, to which
he replied , “Why do you ask my name?”
About this time, seeing a crowd surround
ing him, he put spurs to his horse, when
three shots were fired at him, one of them
taking effect in thy, horse and another in
himself. He fell from his horse about
three hundred yards distant; * and when
found soon afterwards, was dead. It is
the general opinion that young Brown was
an innocent party, on his direct way home
from Thomaston, and started to run
merely because lie became alarmed, think
ing he was surrounded by banditti.
Significance of the Result of the Ken
tucky Election.
The Radical press of the North and
West are industriously endeavoring to
create the impression that the election in
Kentucky was an exhibition of what they
call rebel sympathy. The absurdity of
this assertion is apparent when we con
sider the fact that Kentucky gave a ma
jority of some 40,000 against secession,
and now those who are accused of secession
sympathy have a like majority over those
who claim to be Union men. The
truth is, Kentucky is tired of Radical mis
rule, and the Hobson party in Kentucky
were'allied with radicalism, while Duval
was the exponent of the President’s re
construction policy. The result shows a
sweeping change of popular opinion against
those who profess to bo the especial guard
ians of tho Union. It is, we hope and be
lieve, but the first surge of a ground-swell
which is to sweep from power the pestilent
herd of fanatics at the eqming elections.
Precious Wines. —The burghers of the
steady city of Bremen boast of a wine which
was made in 1624, and which cost when
barrelled $240 a butt, of 204 bottles. Count
ing the expense of cellarage, and the com
pound interest of $240 since 1624,' and we
have the conclusion that a butt of this
choice nectar is now worth 600,000,000 of
six tholers; or 2,750,000 rix thalers a bot
tle, equal to $2,000,000 in American gold.
At this rate a glass of this Rocnevain wine
is worth $280,000, or S2SO a drop! The
Paris correspondent of the New York
Times —who makes tho above calcula
tion—says that during the period that
Bremen was occupied by the French, under
Napoleon, some of the Imperial Generals
very coolly drank a considerable quantity
of the precious liquor, and for many years
afterward the inhabitants of Bremen insist
ed that their city had paid to France a
larger war levy than all the rest of Germa
ny combined.
A Savannah Eden Disturbed.—Col.
H. H. Eden, late of Savannah, writes the
Brooklyn Union a long account of a dis
turbance that recently occurred in Savan
nah, in which Samuel Whitfield, a freed
man, was killed, and which led to his de
parture from Savannah. It is full of vile
slanders upon the Courts and people of
Savannah, and is so palpably false that
the Republican reviews Edqp’s letter, and
declares that his statements should not be
credited. Will the Brooklyn Union con
sider the Republican rebel testimony?
The Bank Tax and Private Bank-
ERs. The Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue lias decided that the act of March 3,
1860, amended July 13, 1866, imposing
a tax of ten per cent, upon banks and.
bauking associations for pa3'ing out the
notes of said banks, does not apply topri
\ ate bankers doing business without a
charter. If', however, a private banker
receives and patsout the notes of State
janKs. as of a national banking
association, State bank, or bankinc asso
ciation, the statute of liability is credited.
They have anew disease at Washington.
It is called pen palsy. ’ The affection
derives its name from the fact that it is
attributed to the use of the popular French
copying ink. which contains arsenic. Both
hands and feet of those who use it swell
up, and health is so precarious that phy
sicians have prescribed abstinence of labor,
and especially from the further use of the
copying ink.
Didst Daredo it.—The reason Frank
fort was not sacked upon the refusal of the
authorities to raise $26,000,000, was that
Rothschild told Manteuffel that if he dared
plunder Frankfort he would crush the
banks and bankers of Prussia. And he
would have done it. This is one time when
old Moneybags was stronger than old Mars.
TUB FREEDMEX’S BUKE.it?’.
Report of Generals Steedinau and Ful
lerton.
New Orleans, La.. July 20, 1866.
To the lion. E. M. Stanton, Secretary ot
JEW :
Sir : We have the honor to submit the
following report of our inspection of the
operations of the Freedmen's Bureau De
partments of Georgia, Alabama, .Missis
sippi, Louisiana and Texas. We found that
the number of officers and civilians em
ployed by or detached to the Bureau, in
the Departments above named, were as
follows :
Georgia. —One Brigadier General, As
sistant Commissioner; lour on staff duty ;
two in charge of hospital, and eighteen
Sub-Assistant Commissioners, Civilian
employees, ninety-five, at a months pay
of £89,117 ;in addition 177 agents, ap
pointed in accordance with the resolution
of the Georgia State Convention, Otcober
30,1865. They are not paid from bureau
funds, but by fees allowed for approving
contracts and other duties.
Alabama. Major General, Assis
tant Commissioner ; nine on staff duty ;
nine Sub-Assistant-Commissioners. Civil
ians, seventy-two, at a monthly pay of
$88,283.
Mississippi.— One Major General ; As
sistant Commissioner; six oil stall' duty,
performing military duty, and also bureau
duty. Only 22 Sub Assistant Commis
sioners. Civilians 64, at a monthly pay of
■£8,933. - ...
Louislana —One Brigadier General,
Assistant Commissioner; nine on Staff
duty; 38 Sub Assistant Commissioners,
two on temporary duty ; civilians 94, at a
monthly salary of $99,165.
Texas —One Brigadier General; As
sistant Commissioner; six on staff duty;
29 Sub Assistant Commissioners. Civilians
eight, at a monthly pay of $3,383.
The number to whom rations have been
issued in each State since the Ist of Sept.,
1865, up the Ist of April, were as follows:
Georgia —Bations to Freedmen, De
cember, 1,507 ; rations to freedmen, Janu
ary, 1,605; rations to freedmen, February,
1,670; rations to freedmen, March, 1,919.
Bations to white refugees, December, 372;
rations to white refugees, January, 12; ra
tions to white refugees, February, 13; ra
tions to white refugees, March, 112.
Alabama —Bations to freedmen, De
cember, 2,249; rations to freedmen, Janu
ary, 2,226; rations to freedmen, February,
4,093; rations to freedmen, March, 505,-
018. Rations to white refugees, December.
3.289; rations to white refugees, January,
25,050; rations to white refugees, Februa
ary, 13,083; rations to white refugees,
March, 17,115.
Mississippi —Bations to freedmen, De
cember, 570; rations to freedmen, Janua
ry, 696; rations to freedmen, February,
927; rations to freedmen, March, 565. Ba
tions to white refugees, December, 20;
rations to white refugees, January, 43;
rations to white refugees, February, 65;
rations to white refugees, March, 118.
Louisiana —Bations to freedmen —De-
cember, 1,021 ; January, 1,192; February,
1,158; March, 1,388. To white refugees
—December, 51; J anuary, 24; February,
20; March, 10.
Texas —To freedmen—December, 32;
January, 67 ; February, 92 ; March, 45.
To white refugees—December, 15; Janu
ary, 4; February, 7; March, none.
There is no necessity for relief beyond
the present season, except in Northern
Georgia and Alabama, where a limited
amount may be requisite for some time.
Much depends in all the States upon the
success of this year’s crop. But little en
couragement lias been given to the opera
tions of the Bureau by the citizens of any
State, except Alabama and Georgia, in
which the Assistant Commissioners, Wil-.
son and Swayne,. have removed much of
the prejudice against the Bureau by secur
ing the co-operation of the civil authorities.
A reduction in expenses of the Bureau ren
ders it far less objectionable than it is now.
The discontinuance of paid employes not in
the military service of the Government
would reduce expenses for clerks, contract
surgeons, hospital stewards, &e., to the
following amounts :
Georgia, $34,584 per annum; Alabama,
$33,312 per annum ; Mississippi, $30,276
per annum ; Louisiana, $55,984 per an
num ; Texas, §Tojß96per annum 1 Total,
$165,052.
All the labor performed by these employ
ees might be discharged by details from the
troops. One set of officers should be re
quired to perform the joint duties.
Mr. Matthew Whilucn, formerly in the
School Department, stated in September,
1865, that Capt. Pease, Superintendent,
reported officially there were 40 schools in
operation, and in a flourishing condition,
when in fact there were but two, and that
the books and records were destroyed in
Capt. Pease’s office and others substituted.
We can see no object for the fabrication of
this false report, unless it was to account
for payments made to persons who were
not engaged in teaching. Capt, Morse,
appointed Provost Marshal by Mr. Con
way, made his office a slave pen, arresting
freedmen and selling them to planters at
five dollars a head, and sharing the pro
ceeds with his special policemen, who
made the arrests. This officer collected
$675.10. The Bureau is cultivating a
large plantation for which it pays ten or
fifteen thousand dollars a year as rent.
Major General Absalom Baird is the As
sistant Commissioner and Military Com- i
mander of the Department. He improved
upon the administration of Mr. Conway.
In Texas the facilities for travelling are
so limited, and the State so large, that wo
found it impossible to make a thorough
investigation of affairs in that department.
The headquarters of the Bureau are at Gal
veston. A few agents are in the most acces
sible and populous parts of the State. Os the
condition of affairs in the interior we were
unable to obtain accurate intelligence,
either from .the agents of the Bureau or
from any other sources.
In Richmond and Houston we met sev
eral of the agents from several districts.
At Iliehmond, Capt. Sloan, the agent, is
engaged in planting with his former cleric,
Captain Porter, and an ex-officer of the
Hebei army, Capt. Mitchell. Capt. Sloan
denied under oath that lie was or ever had
been interested in the plantation, but Ma
jor Pearson, Commandant of the troops,
and Dr. Beard, Post Surgeon, swore that
Capt. Sloan had told them repeatedly that
he was interested in the farm, and had
mentioned to them the amount he intend
ed to raise by it. Complaints are made
that Capt. Sloan had employed the power
of the Bureau to take negroes from planta
tions and place them on his own. Lieut.
C. F. Hardenbrook, Agent at Beaumont,
Jefferson county, stated that the freedmen
were doing well, and that the disposition
of the people was not very fair. Most of
the freedmen were engaged in herding
stock, and are paid from $lO to sls a
month in coin. He had recently arrested
Dr. Houston, a.’citizen, on the report of a
freedmen, that the doctor had said he did
not regrad his parole as binding, but find
ing it was impossible to obtain evidence
against his prisoner, lie had been obliged
to release him. We are satisfied that he
was utterly incompetent for his position.
In the Brenham district, (Capt. S. A. Craig
stated that his predecessor, Lieut. Arnold,
Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, had kept no record,
and had left nothing in the office but a list
of contracts and a file of orders, and he could
give us no information of his official ac
counts.
Bureau agents in Texas exercise judicial
powers in both civil and criminal cases, and
in the discharge of these arbitrary and
dangerous functions frequently arrest and
imprison respectable citizens upon mere
rumor. Capt. Sloan, of Bichmond, while
at Galveston, out of his district, arrested a
citizen, and put him in prison on the plea
that he wanted him as a witness in a case,
which he only knew from rumor would be
brought before him. Ten of the 35 agents
are citizen planters. One ot them, Col.
MeConnaghee, agent in Thornton county,
was formerly a Colonel in the Bebel arm},
and was appointed an agent of the bureau
by Gen. Gregory, then Assistant Commis
sioner for the State, while still unpardoned.
While we believe Gen. Gregory to nave j
been honest in Ills administration, we think
hri extreme views and policy promoted ill
feeim" and bitterness between the whites
and blacks. So far as we saw or were able
to o-et information in Texas, the freedmen
were working well, and the crops were
verv promising. The wages paid, all the
payments being made in specie, were bet
ter than in any other Mate. Brevet Maj.
Gen Kidd is Assistant Commissioner.
SUMMARY.
In pursuing this investigation, which
lias now extended over four months, we
have found extreme difficulty in complying
with that portion of our instructions which
requires us to report upon the operations
of the Bureau and its mode of administra
tion. The Bureau has no settled mode of
administration. There is an entire ab
sence of svstem or uniformity in its con
stitution. In one State its officers exer
cise judical power : in an adjoining State
all eases are referred to the civil authorities;
while in a third State the Bureau officers
collect the cases and turn them over to the
; military Provost Courts to dispose of. In
j some Departments the officers of the
1 Bureau have attempted to regulate the
j rate of wages. One form of contract be
• tween employer and employed is prescribed
; in one State, while in another a different
j form is adopted, iu Louisiana the ex
penses of the freedmen schools have been
1 wholly paid by the Government. In the
other States the schools are self-supporting,
j In some localities the Bureau officers in
terfere arbitrarily between the planter and
j the freedmen, in favor of the freedmen ; in
I other localities the Bureau is used as a
I means of coercing the freedmen in favor of
| the planter. The expenditure of the
Bureau varies as much as its mode of ad
ministration. In one State the expenses |
are over $300,000 a year; in another State,
with an equal pcpulation, the expenses are
not more than $50,000. In some States
tlie expenses have been met by taxes,
levied and collected from the people ; in
j other States the cost is entirely borne by
the United States Treasury.
We found it impossible to investigate
tlie Bureau qurtermasters, for the reason
that when the funds were received from
taxes, rents, tines, and sale of abandoned
property, there were no means of ascer-
I tabling the amounts received, except from
the personal statement of tlie officers them
selves. A quartermaster in the army,
drawing his funds from the Government,
has the amount charged up to him, and is
obliged to account for it in bis return; but
the looseness of tlie administration of the
quartermaster’s department of the Bureau,
and the absence of all check upon the offi
cers, give no security except the personal
honesty of the men themselves.
We examined, the accounts of Bfevct
Brig. Gen. Whittlesey, Bureau Quartcr
miYstepAif the Department pf Mississippi,,
who satisfied us that he had honestly ad
ministered the affairs of his department,
and had accounted for all the money re
ceived by him; but whether his prede
cessor, who collected a large amount from
taxes, rents and sales, paid over to Gen.
Whittlesey all tlie money in his hands be
longing to the Bureau, we arc unable to
determine. We do not make this state
ment to reflect upon that officer, against
whom there were no charges, but to illus
trate the looseness of the system. The
official report of Col. Reno, Provost-Alar
shal-General of the Bureau in Louisiana,
shows a deficit of upwards of $7,000 in the
accounts of the officers who were engaged
in the collecting of taxes in New Orleans,
which deficit Col. Reno says he is unable
to explain in consequence of the loose
manner in which the books were kept.
We have stated our opinion of the effect i
of the operation of the Bureau on tlie
the habits of freeuuien, and their disposi-
tion to labor and support themselves. We
have seen nothing in subsequent investiga
tions to induce us to change the views ex
pressed in past reports. We now speak in
detail of the Bureau in the States we have
visited. The Bureau in Georgia, under
the management of Brevet Major Gen.
Tillson, has been honestly administered,
and has accomplished all the good of which
the system is capable, it lias been assisted
by the Governor, Judges of the Supreme
Court, and civil authorities and to some
extent by citizens. The amended laws of
Georgia arc fully as liberal as those of any
Northern State. Notwithstanding this
fact, we have found that agents of the
Bureau have taken cases out of the hands
of the civil authorities, and disposed of
them in a manner never contemplated by
the laws of the State. The freedmen of
Georgia, where we went through the State,
were generally at work, and wherever their
wages were remunerative and regularly
paid they were contented and doing well.
In Alabama Major-Gen. Wager Swayne,
Commissioner, has pursued a discreet,
liberal, and enlightened policy, laboring to
secure the co-operation of the civil au
thorities, and to obtain from the judical
machinery of the State a recognition of
of the rights essential to the well-being of
of freed people. Subordinate agents have
been guilty of considerable irregularities.
Several officers and agents are engaged in
planting.
We found the freedmen in Alabama
working well on. the plantations,
but the heavy rains had swollen the
streams out of their banks, doing immense
damage to the crops, and some apprehen
sions were felt that the freedmen who were
working on shares would lose their labor,
and would not be able to make subsistence
for themselves and families. In Missis
sippi Major General Thomas J. Wood lias
improved upon the administration of Ins
predecessor, Col. Samuel Thomas, whose
policy was not calculated to produce har
mony betweenjthe races-. There is still more
ill feeling existing between the whites and j
blacks in Mississippi than, elsewhere. I
There are causes operating in localities be- I
yond the control of the Bureaq, producing i
antagonism and bloodshed. At Grenada j
an organized band of desperadoes have, for j
some time past, held, the town iu terror.
In April last they murdered Lieut, Bland- j
ing of the Bureau. The respectable citi
zens strongly condemn the crime, and
sought to have the murderers brought to
justice. At Meridian a condition of things
nearly as bad prevails. Major J. J. Knox
was fired upon in the night, a few months
ago, an excellent officer on good terms with
the people.
At Columbus, Major Smith made some
remarkable statements, lie at first said
that the people of the district were well
disposed, that the freedmen were doing
well, and were kindly treated by all except
the poorer classes of whites. In a very
few minutes afterward he asserted that
outrages upon the freedmen had been com
mitted by two-thirds of- the planters in the
neighborhood. He proceeded to state es
pecially the nature of the outrages, and by
whom committed. Jle mentioned three
only, all of which had been committed on
the same plantation by the overseer, and
all of which had been remedied by the
planter himself as soon as His attention
was called to them. On investigation, we
found the statements of this officer as to the
ill treatment of negroes grossly exaggerat
ed, and learned that the agent himself
had, on one occasion, advised a planter
with whom he was dining to “club” any
negro who refused to work. Aside from
the places infested by bad men, tbe
negroes in Mississippi work industriously
and, as a rule, are kindly treated and doing
well. The officers of the Bureau formerly
imposed and collected fines, and many
kept no records.
At Grenada, a former agent, Chaplain
Livermore, did a thriving business in this
way of collecting fines, and selling rations
and Government horses and mules. This
officer seems not only to have collected
fines ranging from fifty cents to five dollars
from the freedmen for marrying them, but
also attempted to exact fees trom resident
white Ministers for giving them permission
jto marry freedmen. In cases were the
! negroes were unable to pay the sum de-
I rnanded of them for approving their con
j tracts or marrying them, the chaplain
j levied on their personal property, in one
j ease seizing a negro’s empty wallet and
i jack-knife for a balance of fifty cents,
j This close driving is probably to be ac-
I counted for by the fact that Chaplain Liv
j errnore openly expressed his intention to
j return to Illinois with SIO,OOO in las pock
j ct. After he had been removed from his
| post be offered a military officer fifty dol
: lars for his influence to retain him in his
I position. Chaplain Livermore left no offi
; eial papers behind to show the disposition
jhe had made of the funds received. A
large amount of money was collected by
! the first two Agents at Columbus in the
shape of fees and fines, and, so far as we
could learn, no account was ever rendered
iof it. This class of officers have lately been
I mustered out, or have disappeared. L ri
i der the present Administration, Agents ex
ercise no judicial power. .
In Louisiana the Bureau is more in need
; of retrenchment and reform than in any
1 o ther State. More money has been col
; looted and more money squandered than in
! any other three Southern States. The ex
penses of the Bureau, as accounted, for
the year ending the first of J une, 1866,
! were" over $300,000. To meet this ex-
I penditure there were collected, in taxes
1 and rents, $253,448 47, leaving a deficit of
$60,057 33 to be paid out of the National
Treasury. These expenses are in addition
to the transportation, rations and quarter
master's supplies furnished by the Govern
ment. At the very lowest estimate, the
property taken possession of as confiscated
or abandoned amounted in value to $lO,- ■
000,000, and the rents returned are less
than one per cent, on the entire value.
The expenditure of the Bureau under the
present administration, for agents, civilian
clerks, and employees about its headquar
ters alone, amount to not 1e.,.- than $40,236
a year, exclusive of the pay of staff officers
1 and orderlies in the military service. A
large proportion of the money expended on
the freedmen’s schools, under the adminis- ■
tration of the Rev. W. Conway, the late 1
Assistant Commissioner, we are satisfied,
1 was squandered.
MLSSION OF THE BUREAU ENDED.
| At the close of the war, and for some 1
; time after the cessation of hostilities, the •
Freedman’s Bureau did good. The people !
of the South, having at first no faith in the j
negroes working under a free labor system, j
were desirous of getting rid of them ; and
during the summer of J 865 judicious Bu
reau and military officers did much toward
restoring order and harmony, and inducing
the people of the. South to resume the cul
tivation of their plantations by employing
NEW SERIES,'fOL. XX V. NO. 35.
the freedmen. Before the close of 1865
there was an entire revolution in the senti
ments of the people of the South with
regard to negro labor. A feeling of kind
ness sprang up toward the freedman, re
sulting mainly from the conviction that his
j labor was desirable and profitable, and the
j only labor to be had. Tlie necessity of the
; Bureau then ceased. Since then, while it
I has been beneficial in some localities, it has
| been productive in the aggregate of more
1 harm than good. It lias occasioned, and
I will perpetuate discord as long as it exists,
! though administered by the purest and
' wisest even of the nation. The freedmen
I regard its presence as evidence that they
would be unsafe without it, and the white
people consider if an imputation upon their
integrity and fairness, and an espionage
upon the official action of all their courts
and magistrates, as well as upon the private
conduct of their citizens. Both races are
thus made suspicious and bitter by an
agency which, in the present reorganized
condition of civil government and society in
the Southern States, is powerless to ad
vance tlie interests of either.
THE BUREAU OPPRESSES THE NEGRO.
The best protection the freedman has in
the South is the value of liis labor in the
market, and, if he is left free to dispose of
this—at all times—to the highest bidder,
unshackled by contracts made for him by
Bureau officers, no apprehensions need be
lblt for bis safety or his success. If the
freedmen could at this moment demand tlie
wages which the high price of the products
of the South would justify, one dollar per
day. and board, would be the ruling wages,
instead of $lO or sl2 pur month, the prices
now paid. But they cannot take ;nivan
tage of tlie demand jlir their-: labor. .'JW‘
are bound toy contracts, atM 'linskvoiLft*
twelve months through the agency am| in
fluence Freedtncn’s Bureau. The
hands on the Mississippi river steamboats
were not required to make contracts, and
they are getting S4O per month and their
board for labor less exacting than that of
plantation negroes. The freedmen on the
Ogeehee and' Savannah rivers are getting
on the rice plantations from $lO to sls
per month, and contract for tho year, while
the laborers employed on the G eorgia Cen
tral Railroad, which runs between these
streams, arc getting $1 50 a day. The
negro is going to make all lie can out of
liis freedom, and ho has a right to do so.
A policy strongly in accordance with jus
tice and sound political economy is defeated
by tlie_ contract system, inaugurated and
forced into practical operation by the offi
cers of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
We are unable to discover why the
simple rules which regulate and control
the relation of labor and capital in the
Northern States should not obtain as well
in the South, why tlie National Govern-'
ment should permit the laboring man to
sell bis labor to tlie highest bidder in one
section of the country and appoint an agent
to sell for him in another section. Almost
tlie only dissatisfaction existing at the
time among the freedmen results from this
low rate of wages at which they have been
hired under the influence of the Bureau.
This discontent makes the freedmen un
willing to work, and their indolence pro
vokes the planter, who resorts to violence
to enforce the contract, and this makes
business for the officer who sanctioned the
contract. It is a great error to suppose
that the freedmen are not competent to
enter into contracts for themselves. They
are sharp at a bargain, and know veil what
a good contract is, and are much better
collectors than white people.
The system of contracts now existing in
the South and enforced by the Bureau is
simply slavcly in anew form. AVliat is the
difference to tlie negro, whether he is sold
for $5 or $5,000, for3o years to 30 masters,
or for 30 years to one master. It is invol
untary servitude in either case, and a prac
tical defeat of the Emancipation Proclama
tion of the lamented I ’resident Lincoln. If
tlie freedman leaves work to seek employ
ment at bettor wages he is arrested as a
vagrant by the Freedmen’s Bureau, and
put to labor on the roads, with ball and
chain, as is provided by an order recently
issued by Gen. Scott, Assistant Com
missioner for South Carolina. If fatigued
from overwork, he desires to rest for a day,
if he leaves the plantation to visit a rela
tive or friend, it is made a penal offense,
and a fine of SSO is imposed, as will lie
seen by circular 14 of Gen. Kiddo, Assist
ant Commissioner for Texas. If he refuses
to contract at all lie is arrested toy tlie Bu
reau Provost Marshal, and sold for a few
dollars to the nearest plant® - , as in the
case of Capt. Morse of New Orleans, al
ready referred to.
The coercive policy adopted by the Bu
reau, in this and other respects, has been
made a justification for the discriminating
legislation of some of the Southern States.
The only remedy against a white man for a
breach of contract is a suit for damages,
and we can sec no reason wl\y the same
remedy should not bo applied and conceded
in the case of the black man. Tlie freed
man has nothing to sell but his labor, and
we are strongly of the opinion that lie
ought to be permitted to obtain for it the
highest price it will bring. If lie is a freed
man it is neither just or lawful for any per
son to assume control of him, and certainly
not more just or lawful for an officer of the
Freedmen’s Bureau to do so than a South
ern planter.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
James B. Steedman,
Alajor Gen. Vols.
J. S. Fullerton,
Brigadier Gen. Vols.
A Card from toi. 11. A!. Ashby.
Atlanta, August 8, 1866.
Editor Era. —“ Stop a lie before it goes
too far.” Brownlow, in his last issue,
speaking of my arrest says :
“This man Ashby, who commanded
rebel cavalry during the war, was passing j
through here on Thursday, last, under some I
assumed name, and was arrested on the
train by Sheriff Bearden, upon an indict- J
merit found against him by the Grand Jury i
of Knox. He gave hail and was released. 1
The allowing of Ashby to give bail and ;
walk the streets unmolested, is creditable
to tbe Union men, and shows the high re
gard for law and order. No man which
had command of troops in East Tennessee
behaved worse than this man Ashby.
“He it was who robbed Dr. Thornburg
of a five hundred dollar horse, and then
drove the Doctor into Knoxville with a
file of soldiers cursing and abusing him like
a dog. He it was who arrested Mr. I foiucr
and.took his horse from him, while Homer
was confined in Tuscaloosa nine months.
And it was this man Ashby that drove
400 Union men into Knoxville on foot, and
refused them water as he drove them i
through branches and creeks in hot 1
weather, killing some of them by the way.
“The truth is, there is not a more
lenient people on earth than these East
Tennessee Unionists, and this case of the
j beastly Ashby demonstrates it.”
A more shameless lie was never printed,
even in Brownlow’s Whir/. It is false
from beginning to end, and the only reason
that induces me to reply to it is that, it is
made with a circumstance and detail which
may impose upon many who may not know j
me. . .... !
lam a native of Virginia, and at the j
breaking out of the war was a resident of'j
East Tennessee. When Tennessee seceded, !
I took sides with the State, and entered the
Confederate army, raised a company, and j
was subsequently elected Colonel of a regi
ment; fought through the war with ear
nestness and zeal. When the armies sur
rendered, I was paroled, and took the am
nesty oath offered by tbe President, in good
faith, and went into business in New York,
where I have since resided, endeavoring to
deport myself as a peaceable and law
abiding citizen.
While in the discharge of my duty as a
Confederate I was ordered to es
cort a number of prisoners to Knoxville,
among whom was Dr. Thornburg. I per- (
formed this duty with as much kindness and j
humanity as was consistent with my duty, j
and so far from having inflicted on Dr.
Thornburg any unnecessary restraint or j
hardship!, I treated him with marked at- j
tention and respect, and received from him :
on parting, his thanks for my kindness.
It Ls true I did arrest William Homer !
while carrying the Federal mail, and in
obedience to orders, sent him and his horse I
to General Zollicoffer’a headquarters- at i
Cumberland Gap. What disposition was j
made of his horse I do not know, but I j
would not have hesitated to cpnfiseate it if i
I had not been ordered to make a different |
disposition of it.
As to my traveling under an assumed
name, I can refer to the Federal Generals
in whose company I was traveling to refute
this charge. lam not ashamed of my
name, and at no time, and under no cir
cumstances, do I ever expect to deny it.
The record which the name of Ashby
has acquired by other members of the fam
ily in the late struggle for Constitutional
liberty, will prevent my ever decrying it 1
and 1 hope it has not suffered in my keep
ing. I entered the army because I thought
I was right, and under the same circum
stances I would feel bound in duty and
honor to do so again. I tried to do my
duty, but I took pride in the consciousness
that at no time was I guilty of anything
which I blush to acknowledge.
I have every reason to believe that the
statement contained in Brownlow s paper
was written by John B. Brownlow, whose
soul is steeped in infamy and crime. Bo
lore the war he barely escaped execution
tor the cold-blooded assassination of" a col
legei companion. During the war his only
exploits of valor consisted in the murder
tit some prisoners, among whom was John
I nee, tlie details of whose death were so
shocking as to nearly cost him his com
mission.
.Since the war another college com
panion, young Laker, a brave anil gallant
soldier, was murdered at lns| instigation :
and Ins whole course lias been characterized
by a vindictive revenge and brutality,
which makes him a worthy son of liis
illustrious father. He is not only a mur
derer, but a coward, and here I dismiss
him.
It is true, I was protected by worthy
Union men and Federal officers ; and I
believe it is due to their interference that, I
escaped with my life, but there are no
thanks due to the miscreants headed by the
Governor of Tennessee and Iris worthy son.
H. M. Ashby.
FROM El HOPE.
Additional by the Java.
The Berlin correspondent of the Timex,
writing on the 24tli says : “Although
prospects of the prolongation of the ar
mistice have increased, it would be a mis
take to infer that peace is certain. All
that Austria lias consented to is to with
draw from the Bund. It is a matter of
doubt whether the future'constitution of
the South, as contemplated by Could
Bismack, will meet with the approval of
bisJaimlticd, yet lmiuil. gpu .untamed-let*
But i£ik fifit believed that cvyu wue tjnj
jtrffefei. u: < aj >.»
if'would inatenany Sisassk
Government in ereutihga npys;tirriy, luree
of the most populous provinces Are in tbe
bands of the enemy. Venice lias ceded.
Hungary is ripe for insurrection. The
public movement in favor of the Prussian
supremacy is getting stronger and stronger.
In Dresden a number of leading politicians,
so long the avowed friends of Austria, have
combined with the adherents of. Prussia.
Letters and books advocating the same
idea abound in the \\ intern berg press.
The vanguard of the Prussian forces un
j der General Manteuffel was in Baden ter
ritory on the 26th, and had advanced
southward after a short engagement with
the Baden and Wurtcinburg troops near
Beschoffsheim and Wcibach. The whole
army of the Maine continues to advance in
a southerly direction.
The cholera is decidedly on the decline
in Marseilles. The whole number of deaths
from epidemic in that city up to July 22,
was 235. It. was peculiarly fatal among
children, of whom 171 died in Amiens.
The number of deaths on Tuesday, July
20, was twenty-two, among them Dr.
James, Professor at the School of Medicine
and member c+’ the Sanitary Commission
of this place.
The Italian Govubnhcnt have determin
ed upon a full inquiry into the causes of
their late naval defeat.
Popular demonstrations against Admiral
Pcrsano had been made at Anemia, on ac
count of the naval engagqflfaent before
Lissa.
Letters received from Venice state that
the were removing the archives
and books from Venice. The inhabitants
looked with great uneasiness on the pre
parations being made by the Italians for
the blockade and seige of the city. All
communication with Venice was cut off on
the 19th.
The cholera is on the increase in Hol
land. Up to the Uith there have been 1,-
146 cliolera eases at Leyden, 51 at Delhi,
91 at Rotterdam, and 1,181 at Utrecht.
The Vienna correspondent of the 'Times
says the inhabitants of the country districts
in Hungary show not the least disposition
to serve the State as volunteers.
11 is stated*that the 1 ’russians bombarded
Wurzburg on the 27th, and were repulsed
with the loss of sixteen guns. The town
suffered but little damage.
In the British Parliament, July 27th,
Mr. O’Connor called attention to the treat
ment of emigrants on board steamers be
tween Liverpool and New York, and drew
a lamentable picture of the overcrowding
and deficient food on board these ships,
tracing to their cause the recent outbreaks
of cholera among emigrants. He men
tioned the name of several ships on board
of which great mortality had taken place
on the way fWm Liverpool across Abe At
lantic, and asked how it was to bo accounted'
for that cholera bad broken .out in them,
although when they started on their voy
age it did not. prevail in England?
Frankfort, July 26.—The Senate and
other municipal bodies of that city have
assembled in order to draw up a petition
which N. de Rothschild was instructed to
present to the Kingof Prussia, The Prus
sian commander, refused the necessary
permission.
Burgomaster Fenner has hanged him
self out of despair at the manner in which
the Prussians have acted towards the city
and himself.
The Prussians have had a list drawn up
of the Senate and other municipal bodies,
together with a statement of their landed
and serviceablc’propcrtv.
All the bankers have held a meeting at
which it was declared that if violence of
this kind was resorted to, they would sus
pend payment in Germany and abroad.
The whole amount of the two contribu
tions levied by 1 lie Prussians is twenty
three million florins.
The valuables and plate liave been re
moved to a very large extent.
There hud been a run on tbe banks,
which the bank officers encouraged.
The principal newspapers have keen sup
pressed.
The troops are quartered on the resi
dents.
Mr. Murphy, the American Consul, is
issuing protection papers, exempting from
disturbance American citizens.
The sudden growth of the American
population is astonishing.
Berlin, July 26.— The Official Ga-ettc.
of to-day justifies the course pursued by
Prussia in levying anew war contribution
of 25,000,001) florins upon the inhabitants
of'Franklort, on the following grounds :
The systematic hostility shown toward
Prussia by the Government of Frankfort,
the toleration of the latter of articles in
the Frankfort press insulting to the King
of Prussia, the violation of treaties, tin;
damage done Prussian property, and the
Frankfort participation in the war carried
on by the Austrian coalition against Prus
sia.
The Growing) Crop.— Cotton, to the
extent of our very limited observation,
looks well, though small and backward.
Crop prospects in Central and Southern
Georgia have improved a good deal within
the past six weeks. In Nortlfarn Georgia
there is an extensive drought. The State
is set down in the estimate foi about
200,000 bales cotton, but will not produce
it. Our farming this year, at I jest, will
not balance accounts by a good round sum
—that is to. say, our cotton will not pur
' chase supplies and pay wagbs lor the next
crop. That is our opinion. With even
200,000 bales—if we make it—we should
probably nett, exclusive of tax, say twenty
millions. We have got ten to fifteen mil
lion bushels of com to buy—also an un
known quantity of meat—and wages and <
other expenses, amounting to a third of j
I the crop value, to provide for. The best)
arithmetic a man can bring to tiie solution
of the status will show very unsatisfactory.
| ratal be.— Journal if Messenger.
j War in Abysinia. — ll t'ommcrcio, of
Cairo, under date of July 7, states: “A
tremendous battle is imminent between the
King Theodore If, and Gubassi, who
aspires to the crown, and has risen in op
position to the despotism of Theodore.
Yuhho-Medina, the General of Gubassie,
has placed the province of Tigre under
contributions of men, horses, mid animals
of all kinds, provisions and money. Both
parties are making great preparations for
war. According to the statements of the
Abysinians, there will be no less than
150,000 combatants upon tbe field of bat
tip. Consul Cameron and all the other
European prisoners whom the newspapers
had stated to have been released are still
iu the King s power at Pabretabor. This
news is so bad that wa should wish it to bo
contradicted, but tbe source whence we
have it is one which renders it quite
deserving of credence.”
... The Views of Thaddeus Stevens. —
The Cincinnati Commercial states that
Thaddeus Stevens was recently called upon
in Washington to approve - the redonvoca
tion in New Orleans of the 1864 Conven
tion, the meeting of which resulted in the
recent riot, and he announced in most de
cided terms his opposition to the Conven
tion and its resurrection, as an irregular
body from the beginning.
Match Horses. —lt is no longer usual
to match horses by color; indeed, the pres
ent caprice in teams is for them to differ in
complexion. Horses are matched now by
their gait, endurance, but more especially
by their mouth. Teams which agree in
color are often very unlike in temper,
strength and susceptibility to tbe bridle ;
hence the tendency now is toward diversity
in color, but uniibnuity in the points of a
good horse.