Newspaper Page Text
(Chronicle & £ rntind.
WKIKEBBAT MOBMiIC, BdlBBlK SL
The Colton Tax.
We call attention to the communication j
of “Citizen” on this subject; hut in Join? j
so, we <lo not wish to lie understood as en- j
dorsing his views. lie is a gentleman of
large cxjieriencc as a merchant in this city, \
and one whose judgment wc would ordi- j
narily rely upon with great confidence, i
Ilut, in regard to the Cotton Tax, we still j
think that the easiest solution of the diifi- j
culty will be found in the repeal of the law. j
wish to be perfectly understood in this !
matter. We have said nothing against the |
j.oirer of Council to exact such a tax. j
Neither have we intimated that the tax 1
was either unfair or unjust. We have ad- i
vocated its repeal solely upon the ground !
of expediency. Wc still adh re to that
position. If, however, the amount raised
by this tax is indispensable for the wants of !
the city, and the same or an equivalent j
sum cannot be raised from other sources i
without subjecting our people to greater ;
hardships than does the Cotton Tax, then, j
in such an event, wc could not counsel the j
repeal of the present tax.
We would like to have more light on
this subject, and hope that our mercantile j
friends will follow the example of “Citi- j
z n,” and give us the benefit of their views \
upon it. .
The Proposed Amendments to the Con*
stitution.
So far as we have been able to ascertain
the sentiments of the people of Georgia
upon this important subject, we do not be
lieve that there is a single respectable and
intelligent man in the Hut? who is willing
that our Legislature should give the con
sent of the old Commonwealth to the in
dignity and desecration which are sought
to be put upon her citizens through the
contemplated amendments to the Constitu
tion.
Our Legislature meets in a few days, and
although the members composing it have
been elected prior to the passage of the
proposed amendments by Congress, yet we
feel satisfied that coming fresh from the
homes of their constituents, as they will in
the approaching session, they will be able
to represent and express the true senti
ment of our whole people upon this impor
tant subject.
We have heard it suggested that the
Legislature should take no ueiinitc action
on the question. That if the matter isla'd
before them, as it most unquestionably will
be by the Governor, they should lay it
on the table without action. We hope
that other, and, as we believe, better coun
sels will prevail in that body, and that the
matters embraced in the propositions of
the contemplated amendments will be re
ferred to a joint committee of both Houses,
composed of their ablest and most discreet
members. Let this committee treat the
subject in a fair, candid and dignified man
ner. Let them point out the objections
which the people of Georgia have to these
propositions, and in fitting language lay
before the people of the United States why
the State of Georgia cannot give lier con
sent to the changes sought to be made in
the fundamental law.
We do not propose to indicate, just now,
the line of argument that should he adopt
ed. Indeed we are perfectly willing to
leave this part of the subject to the good
sense and sound discretion of such com
mittee. Wo will add, however, that it is
very important that sound, conservative
and correct views should he presented in
justification of our action. The people of
the North and of the whole Union will
scrutinize the reasons given for our conduct
very closely, and for the sake of the State
no position should be taken in the argu
ment that cannot bo sustained before the
bar of public sentiment in this whole
country. __
Tin- Insanity or the bin press tarlotta.
Foreign journals contain considerable gos
sipabout the alleged insanity ofthe Empress
of Mexico and its cause. It is said she
presented,a petition to the Fope praying
his Holiness to sanction everything that
her husband had done as Emperor with re
spect to religious matters. The story goes
that the Fope positively refused, and that
the Empress then declared she would not
leave the Vatican if her request was not
granted. She retired to the private study
of the Pope, and his Holiness continued
his ordinary audiences; he afterwards
dined alone,. according to etiquette, and
went out for his usual drive, leaving the
Empress with her lady in waiting. She
at length left and dined at the Hotel de
Home, where her Majesty is staying.
The clerical journals of Franco see some
thing awful in the coincidence of the Em
press of Mexico’s insanity with her visit
to the Fope for the purpose of obtaining
conditions which they consider irreconcila
ble with the rights of the Church. The
Avenir National thinks it mockery t
suppose that a judg . jnt of this kind has
been passed on an unhappy princess be
cause she asked of the Count of Rome that
which it has granted to France, Spain,
Austria, and several other countries.
The Echo du Parlanent , writing on
the subject of the health of the Empress,
says: “News received here from Rome
state that the mental crisis has greatly
subsided. Her Majesty has been enabled
to undertake the journey to Miramar, ac
companied by the Count of Flanders.
Wiio is President ok Mexico?—Jua
rez. the Now York World says, was never
“elected President” at all. In August,
1855, Santa Anna ran away from Mexico,
to which he had been recalled from exile in
IS.’).'! and made Dictator. Carrera was
raised to the Presidency and ruled for just
twenty-seven days, being deposed by a
junta, September 12, 1555. After three
weeks of anarchy. Alvarez, the “King of
Guerrero,” was made President. On De
cember 11, 1555, Alvarez got sick of the
business and retired, delegating his author
ity to Comonfort. In January. ISSS, the
army revolted, compelled Comonfort to re
sign. and declared Zuloaga President. The
partisans of Comonfort, however, main
tained that Juarezs who was Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, l*eame President
by the fact of Comonforts resignation, and
Juarez, taking the same view of the ease,
raised an army of “liberals,” and got him
self beaten by Zuloago. He found his way,
however, to \ era Cruz, and there began
the career which has led him through so
many haps and mishaps to the vague but
impressive position which he now holds
somewhere on the I’pper Rio Grande.
A first Kate Appointment.
We learn through our Milledgeville ex
changes that Governor Jenkins has ap
pointed Hon. David -V. Yasou, of Albany,
J Btdgo of the Superior Court for the South-
Western District, vice Judge Clark, who
has resigned, on account of bad health.
Without disparagement to any of the
able and distinguished lawyers of the
South-Western circuit, we beg to say that
a better lawyer, purer Judge, or more in
eorruptably honest gentleman, could not
have been found in that circuit. Judge
\ ason s character aud reputation as a
jurist i> known throughout the entire
State. The excellence of his private char
acter. is acknowledged and appreciated by
all who are so fortunate as to know him.
M e thank Governor Jenkins for this ap
pointment. It shows that real worth and
meric are still recognized and appreciated
by some of our leading men in their selec
tions for office. We congratulate the
people of the South-Western circuit upou
their good fortune iu securing the services
of this “mot/) ' mm and Judge."
We know that Judge Yuson will never
1 owes the dignity or stall.' the purity of the
ermine, by hobnobbing with juries, in or
der to secure their nomination for re-eloc- i
tieu. Such things have been done in our '
day and time bv some men we wot of.
“Aii Exegesis.”
e publish a short religious paper un
der the above head this morning, and take
the liberty of saying, that while short es
says of a religious character are always
■welcome for our Sunday morning paper,
we do not think controversial articles
should be admitted. We therefore sug
guest to our esteemed correspondent, in his
conduct of the subject in hand, to lay it onus
mildly as possible should he trench upon
disputed ground.
“There is no President.”
Whose fault is it that the flag which
stands behind three hundred thousand pa
triot graves and throe thousand millions
of dollars has no i rotcction lor a citizen
under its folds? Whose fault is it that
James Durant cannot walk the streets of
New Orleans? Not President Johnson’s.
It is Lieut. Gen. Grant’s. The most hu
miliating position on this continent to-day
is occupied by Ulysses Grant. Have we
conquered Nc\v Orleans? Is it ours? Then
why are not its streets salt? Is It not Gen.
Grant’s troop--? If not, why doesn’t he ask
Congress? He knew the state of the
Southern communities. If he did not,
then he has not the sagacity and prudence
which lit him for bis office. If he knew
that he did not have the means to make the
flag respected, the,Senate would have given
him (if he had asked; one hundred thou
i sand men to make the flag sate. There is
!no President. He is a deserter, lie has
1 left. He has sworn allegiance to another
i flag. The legislative power is the only ef
fectual and organized power left.
We clip the above extract from a speech |
made by Wendell Philips in Tretuont
Temple, Boston, on the 18th inst., to show
what unblushing falsehoods are* given to
the Northern public by their leading men,
arid the adroit way in which these false- 1
hoods are made to assume the garb of hon
est indignation.
Every intelligent man in this country
knows that the authority of the Federal
Government is fully recognized in every
hamlet, county town and village, from
Maine to Texas. There is no portion of
this great country in which the citizen Is
not protected in all his rights by the power
of the Federal Government, except in the
Southern States, where, in some localities,
the white people are still oppressed, and,
in many cases, inhumanly treated by the
military officials.
[ The charge that James Durant is de
prived of the right of locomotion in New
! Orleans, is equally absurd and false. There
5 is not a more law-abiding people in this
; whole country than the white citizens of
that city, yet the impression is sought to
| be made upon the public mind of the
i North that those who are called par excel
I lence Union ng-n are in daily peril from the
j lawlessness Sti d vengeance of the New Or
leans people.
! The attack upon Gen. Grant is equally
without foundation in truth. The fault of
Gen. Grant’s administration of the military
authority of the United States in the
South, has been his unauthorized interfer
ence with the civil authorities, in his efforts
to give protection to the negroes and their
Yankee friends in the Southern States. If
any portion of the people of the United
States have reason to complain of General
Grant’s conduct of the military forces of
the' Government since the war, it is those
of the Caucasian race who reside in, or
arc natives of the South. Ilia General
Older No. 44, current series, shows very
arly that in enforcing protection for the
negroes and Northern men who may be in
the South, he is utterly regardless of all the
constitutional provisions in favor of the lib
erty and property of the citizen.
Wo think it very unjust to Gen. Grant
that the Radical leaders should arraign
him before the Northern masses upon
charges so utterly groundless and untrue,
yet, perhaps, it is no business of ours to
enter into his defence, and we should not
have done so, but for the fact that our si
lence and that of the Southern press might
be taken as an indication of the truthfulness
of the charges thus made.
We do not exactly understand the New
England fanatic, when he says: “The most
humiliating position on this continent is oc
cupied by Ulysses Grant. ’ 1 Gen. Grantoccu
pies a position before the country and the
world, immeasurably superior to that of
any of his Radical detractors. If he is not
conceded to be the first among the military
chieftains of the age, in this or any
other country, the doubt upon that subject
is confined almost exclusively, to the ora
tors and philosophers of puritanical New
England. If he is not esteemed and re
spected by the people of the North for his
herculean efforts in the cause of the Union,
thatfact but proves their ingratitude and in
famy, while it in no wise detracts from his
merits and ability. The representatives of
the Northern people could not find a gift
under the existing laws of the country,
sufficiently high and honorable, fully to
express their gratitude for and apprecia
tion of the great services which General
Grant had rendered the Union cause, and
hence they created anew office —that of j
General—to bestow upon him in recogni- i
tion of his great and important services.
The real poinf made by Phillips, in the
extract which heads this article, is con
tained in the following short, but terse and
expressive sentence “there is no Presi
dent. ’ ’
It has been the constant aud persistent
aim of Phillips, Sumner, Forney & Cos.,
during the last four or five months to pro
duce upon the popular mind of the
North, the impression that the President
of the United States, Andrew John
son, has, by the exercise of illegal and
improper powers, forfeited his official po
sition and power. He has been charged
with having betrayed the Union men of
the South—of having failed to execute the
Civil Rights’ Bill—with complicity in the
M emphis and New Orleans riots, and of
usurping the proper and legitimate func
tions of Congress in his efforts to restore
the Union. These and numerous other
similar charges have been, with great in
dustry and persistance, kept prominently
before die public mind of the North and
West, with the view to prepare the people
there for the violent, bold and illegal action
of the approaching Congress. The people
will have become familiar with the inten
tions and designs of the Radical leaders,
and will not, therefore, feel much aston
ishment at anything they may be likely to
enact. It is mainly with this view such
utterances are given to the public as the
extract under review.
We can entertain but little hope for the
stability and perpetuity of our Govern- j
moot, when its leading and influential eiti- j
zons speak thus flippantly and disrespect- j
fully of the highest officers known to our j
laws, and ignore the existence even of the ’
Chief executive of the Government. Such j
sentiments show very clearly that if the j
Radicals dare do so, they would find no
legal or constitutional difficulty in driving
not only the President from his office, but
all those high officers of the Government
who do not agree with them in their revo
lutionary designs.
New Railroad Car.
[ The New Yoi k papers contain a aescrip
, tionofanew style of car which has been
! recentlv built for the use of the roads lead
! ing from that city to Chicago. They are
| called the "Silver Palace” ear. and from
the descriptions given of thorn we conclude
that they are by no means inappro
i priately named. An exchange speaking
; of these new cars, says :
Three of the new “Silver Palace” ears
| of the Central Transportation Company,
tendered lor the use of the party which
I left New York last night to join in the
i celebration of the opening of the Union
! Pacific Railroad, from Omaha westward,
, were yesterday afternoon run out to Eliza
| both, on the Jersey Central, and back, on
a trial trip. A number of gentlemen con
nected with the various railroad offices of
the city participated in the pleasures of
the trip. The "Silver Palace'" cars area new
thing in their way, coabining in their con
struction both the day and the night ear.
j They are built thus, in order to be run
through from New lerk to Chicago with
out transfer. They were designed by
i Jonah A\ oodruff, “Superintendent of the
Central Transportation Company, and are
f magnificent specimens of workmanship.
■ Each ear contains ten sections, each of i
: which section comprises two luxurious j
| -cats, which tan be changed at night into
; one single and two double beds, thus pro
viding accommodations for forty-eight per
sons. There arc also two state rooms in
each car, and wash room and water closet, j
besides a small smoking ref' 131 w ’* f h easy j
chairs by itself. Everything in the j' alaee [
cars is otxho most costly and beautiful
make ; Hack walnut is the material of the
wood work, profusely ornamented with sil
ver mountings. Two of these ears were
built at the workshops of the Fort Wayne
Railroad at Alleguauy city, and one at
Altoona. Five more are to be added to
the hue, and one will start each day from
New York and run through to Chicago.
Another English woman—Lady Her
bert. of Lea—is preparing a volume of
sketches ol .Spanish travel.|
Misplaced Confidence.
A correspondent of the Mobile Reg
ister, writing from New York, says:
A ludicrous ease was tried yesterday in
the Superior Court. Both plaintiff and
defendant wore merchants in this city.
Last January the plaintiff leased a house
in 12th street, and gave possession to
a Miss "Gardiner, formerly an actress. The
lease was made out in the lady’s name,
and she shortly afteropened the house as a
boarding house. The plaintiff boarded in
the house, and claims that Miss Gardiner
was engaged to him in marriage. It seems
he went to New Orleans a short time ago
on business, and during Lis absence the
defendant became very attentive to Miss
Gardiner. When the plaintiff returned,
he found the defendant sitting by Miss
G., and ordered him out of the house. He
refused to go, and the plaintiff then became
very abusive, both to the lady and her new
lover. The lady finally asked the latter
to put the plaintiff out of the room. This
request was not exactly complied with, but
| the plaintiff was grasped by the throat and
frightened into good behavior. For this
treatment lie commenced a suit against
I his rival, laying his damages at $5,000.
The lady “wentback on him,” and show
ed that the lease belonged to her. The
i Judge informed the Jury that she had a
right to order the plaintiff out of the house,
and the Jury rendered a verdict for the
defendant The latter is a Connecticut
Yankee ; the former a French Canadian.
Both are now married. Odd, isn’t it,
j that men in good circumstances and social
1 standing will drag their most delicate pri
! vate affairs before the public !
Superstition of Sailors.
The World, in giving an account of the
death at sea of John Yaffßuren, relates the
following incident, as illustrative of the pe
culiar superstition of sailors in regard to the
preservation on ship-board of dead bodies.
It says : The weather, almost immediately
after Mr. Van Buren’s death, became tre
mendously stormy. The Scotia was just
sailing into the gale then raging along our
eastern coast, The coincidence of Mr. Van
Bureu's death with the occurrence of the
hurricane had an effect upon the minds of
some of the workingseamen, which, though
not novel, considering their superstitious
tendencies, is interesting to relate in refer
ence to the present occasion, The sailors
esteemed it very bad luck to keep the
body on board, without instantly commit
ting it to the deep, and were chagrined at
the noble resolve of Commodore Judkins
to bear the remains to our shore for inter -
ment. They requested Its sea burial. It
was refused. Still the storm continued,
and the seamen considered the unconsdlous
corpse a Jonah in their midst. It is stated
that a movement was frustrated by detec
tion, which they had covertly considered,
if not determined, to out the ropes that
held the boat on the port side, in which the
coffined remains had been placed. The
conduct of the officers of the Scotia , in
this circumstance, will be duly appreciated
by the thousands to whom the regular in*
tennent of the body of Mr. Van Buren,
among the scenes and associations of his
home, is in no small degree the mitigation
of personal sorrow occasioned by his un
timely loss,
City Tax on Cotton.
Mr. Editor : I notice you are anxious to
have a “mode” adopted to relieve plan
ters from paying the City Tax on cotton
sales, and suggest that the City Council re
peal the law.
That certainly would be a very direct
way to accomplish it. But the cify has
made up its Tax Digest for the year,
and cannot now well amend it in the man
ner you advise, and raise the necessary
amount in some other way. Besides) it
seems to me that there is no just reason
why cotton sales should not pay tho small
tax they now do, it being only one fourth
the amount levied on other produce and
merchandise. The city is at a very heavy
expense to keep up a Fire Department and
Felice to protect cotton and other proper
ty. Cotton should pay, at least, the small
amount levied on it.
J I would suggest that you refer planters
I to the advertisement of J. L. Fleming,
| Esq., who proposes to sell cotton at one and
a half per cent, commission, and pay the
j city tax himself, thereby saving the planter
! one dollar and sixty cents per bale commis
j sion, and forty cents city tax, allowing
cotton to bring one hundred and sixty dol
lars per bale. Mr. Fleming would realize,
besides storeage, one dollar and eighty
cents per bale, being three and three-fifths
times as much as was charged before the
war. Citizen.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Important Revelations if True!
The Washington correspondent of the
, New York Herald writes as follows :
The Designs of the Radicals.
! Washington, Oct. 22, 1860.
When President Johnson was on his late j
trip in the West, a United States Senator ;
and two Major Generals of the army, who ’
belonged to his party, were approached at j
Indianapolis by a prominent conservative j
republican, who had been colonel of an In- |
diana regiment during the late war and j
who is now a captain iti the regular ser- j
vice, and who made the following j
startling statement: He had been mak- !
ing speeches for the republicans in Indiana I
in August last, and at the request of Gov- j
ernor Fletcher, of Missouri, visited that ;
State and made one or two conservative j
speeches. lie was told by Governor |
Fletcher that his speeches were too tame ; !
that the most radical of declarations were j
wanted in Missouri; that the people must
be told that the republicans had decided j
that the rebels should not vote, and that
the State was to be carried by force of
arms if necessary. Governor Fletcher also
told him that he had thirty thousand
muskets in the State in loyal hands, and
that they should be used if necessary- to
carry the State. The Indianian told Gov- j
ernor Fletcher that he was a republican in j
principle, but did not approve of such j
measures and would not advocate them. ■
Governor Fletcher thought him merely I
weak kneed, aud answered him that he
would come into the harness after a 1
while. A few nights subsequently he was
present on invitation at a secret meeting
of radical leaders at the Lindell Hotel.
About fifty prominent radicals were pres- I
ent. including Governor Fletcher, of Mis
souri: Governor Oglesby, of Illinois, aud
Senator Yates and John A. Logan, ta' Illi
nois. The whole plan of the impeaemnent I
of the President wae discussed, even to the
arrangement of fitting Washington with an
armed force of “Boys in Blue” to protect j
Congress, and also to decide who should j
succeed Johnson in case Vico President
Foster, as his successor, should not prove j
equally positive, and pliable to the will of J
the Jacobins. Butler, Governor Morton, j
of Indiana, and others were discussed. \
Butler was looked upon as lacking in cour
age. and Morton was feared as being too I
ambitious for the purpose of the conspira- |
tors. General Grant was mentioned as too |
conservative, and Sherman was scouted as j
a copperhead. Finally Senator Yates was j
decided upon as possessing more stamina .
and less scruples than any other available i
man. If President Johnson offered serious
resistance, and Foster did not act vigorous
ly. Yates was to be put in to control af
fairs.
When he was about leaving St. Louis
the informant in the case was requested by
Governor Fletcher to ask Governor Mor
■ I ton. of Indiana, what number of arms he
| could spare to Missouri. Governor Mor
ton replied, when the message was deliver
• ed, that he could not say that he had any
to spare; that there were about one hun
j dred thousand stand, with plenty of am
munition. in the arsenal: he would see
; what could be spared, and confer with
Governor Fletcher. Out of this corres-
I pondeace grow the conference of the Gov
? eruors at Philadelphia, which it is now
i well known was for the purpose, among
| others, of distributing, arms throughout the
I country.
j Outside of the statement of this officer
j there is indubitable evidence in the hands
of President Johnson of the secret distri
bution of large quantities of arms through
out the Northwest on variety pretexts, ail
of which, however, are legal and plausible
I enough.
; While the startling character of this
! story comes upon us like a thunder-bolt
i from a cloudless sky, it is nevertheless in
| credulously received by many —the char
•''-Usr of flic officer making the statement,
"y , —v) desperate characters of the j
the knoe_ -a [jie scheme, and
leaders implicate.. received.
much corroborative e\.. * -ns
it to be generally believe.. i
the resident s adherents
Airs. John Paul, relict of Air. John Paul, i
late of Augusta, deceased, died at her home |
in EHcefield District, South Carolina, on
Alonday last. Airs. P. was, for a number
oi years, a resident of Augusta. Her rec
ord a> a true-hearted, Christian lady, is un- j
spotted.
History of Longstrcet’s Corps.
A\ e cheerfully lay before our readers the
following circular which we have just re
ceived from Gen. Alexander in reference to
a compilation which he proposes to make
of the part taken by the old first corps of
the Army of North Virginia, in the stir
ring scenes and thrilling events of the late
war.
We are glad to hear that Gen. A. ha3
undertaken this important work. We
know that he will give a fair and faithful
account of the glorious deeds of the “ old
First,” and the public may rest satisfied
that no partial or unfair treatment will be
accorded to the troops of any particular
State or organization.'
We trust that all persons having mate
rial which will aid the General in his
contemplated work, will promptly forward
it to him at Columbia :
Columbia, South Carolina, 1
September 12, 1366. j
At the request of General Longstreet,
and with his assistance, I have undertaken
to prepare for publication a History of his
Cominandduring the war. The task was
assumed with diffidence and reluctance,
and it can only be completed with very
considerable aid from those who took part
in the operations to be detailed. This aid
I now appeal for, with every confidence
that those who gave the Corps its reputa
tion will take the little trouble necessary
to place its action on record. It is not in
tended to produce a general history of the
campaigns, or to criticise the grand ope
rations oi the army, or even to narrate
them any further than will be necessary
: to an understanding of the marches and
battles of the First Corps. Such a history
; will doubtless be prepared by au abler pen.
1 propose to write for the Corps, and to pro
: duce a simple but detailed narrative of the
, part borne in the various campaigns by
[ every organization in it—one in which
i each man may trace out his career to his
I children.
To accomplish this, I require the official
reports of every division, brigade, regi
mental, and battery commander, or equiv
alent narratives from those competent to
furnish them. I have already those offi
cial reports of tho battles of 1862, which
were published in two volumes by the
Confederate Congress, and which probably
embrace all which wore actually made";
but I have none , and I want all of date sub
sequent to December, 1862. I therefore
earnestly bog the co-operation of everyone
who may be able to assist me in obtaining
help in any of the following forms :
1. Official reports of every organization
for every battle, skirmish, and campaign
since 1862, or equivalent accounts. They
should always include statements of the
position in which the command was en
gaged, (with dmgrarn, if possible,) of what
troops were on the right or left, the hour of
the action, tho effective strength of the
command, the numbers killed, wound
ed, and captured, tho names of tho officers
and men complimented for gallanty, and
incidents of general interest.
2. Accounts of prominent events in the
history of the corps w ritten at the time,
either for publication or for private refer
ence, by those who saw or participated.
3. Particular accounts of skirmishes not
mentioned in general reports, including
those in 1862.
4. Topographical sketches of the ground
occupied in battle, showing woods, houses,
streams, roads, etc., however roughly.
5. Brigade, regimental, and battery his
tories,
A statement at least of’the regiments
comprising brigades, and of the command
era of regiments and batteries at different
actions, is very necessary; and many
other things may bo well added, if circum
stances permit—such a characterof arms at
different times, number of rounds fired in
engagements, original strength, number of
recruits and conscripts received, and total
number of thoso killed, wounded, captur
ed, died, discharged, and deserted during
the war. Interesting statistics can be pre
pared from such data.
AU papers sent me will be carefully pre
served, and returned if desired, Any re
lating events in 1802 should be forwarded
as soon as possible. Those of later date
may be sent at any convenient period be
fore January next.
My address is “University of South
Carolina,” Columbia, S. C.
E, P. Alexander,
Late Chief of Artillery, Ist Corps A. N. Y.
The Baltimore Police Commissioners.
A Baltimore correspondent of the New
York World , alluding to the difficulty with
the Folice Commissioners, says :
They (the Commissioners) have selected
judges of elections exclusively of their own
party, and men who have neither proper
ty nor character to lose. Tho judges have
stated their determination not to permit
any of the newly registered voters to vote
at tho coming election, knowing, as they
do, that out of the 24,000 registered this
year at least 23,000 are Conservatives, At
thelast (Mayoralty) election, not withstand-,
ing tho fraud perpetrated by them, the
Radicals polled but 5,500 votes. The Con
servatives, in consequence of the clear
violation of the law by the Radicals,
and of the villainous performances of the
Police Commissioners, framed a memorial,
to which the signatures of nearly ten thou
sand of our most respectable citizens were
attached. This memorial was supported
by more than one hundred affidavits, and
was an appeal to the Governor for tho re
moval of the commissioners.
It was in response to this appeal that
the Governor summoned tho Commission
ers to Annapolis, where their trial was
postponed to yesterday. This summons
was the occasion for the most formidable
preparations for resistance by tho friends
of tho Commissioners.
Several meetings of the organization
styling themselves “the Boys in Blue,”
were held, and they tendered their services
to the Police Commissioners in any emer
gency ill which they might be needed ; and
a Committee of two from each Ward was
appointed on Friday to enlist all who were
willing to join them. On Saturday night
this Committee reported, as the American
states, that over 5,000 men were ready and
willing to sustain the Commissioners in the
discharge of their duties, and to act for
the preservation of the peace and good or
der of the city. Commanders for the or
ganization were appointed, there being one
for eacli Ward, and all having served as
officers in Maryland regiments during the
rebellion. The American also gives a re
port that Major General John K. Kenly,
Major General Dennison and Brigadier
General Woolley have visited the Mayor
and Commissioners, and tendered their
services in any capacity.
These preparations gave rise to fears
that a bloody issue would result, but the
telegraph on yesterday announced that ar
rangements to insure order had been per
fee!cd.
The Herald s Baltimore special of the
, 23d says:
Great excitement still prevails, which is
. not lessened by General Canby’s visit to
i ihc city to-day. There are rumors to-night
: that'the plug uglies of the town are organ-,
j izing for an attack on Radical headouar
. | ters in West Baltimore street, The Rad
j icals have made every preparation for a
■ i vigorous defense. They have stored an
armory of revolvers and rifles in the build
ing, and a very strong body of police, and
; two or three hundred armed boys in blue
remain within ear shot. There is a belief
among the supporters of the police com
| missioners that the Radicals of Pennsylva
nia are ready to march to their assistance.
; Forney’s visit to the city yesterday has
much to do with this impression. This is
. the threatened invasion to which ve nor
Swann alluded to in his remarks at Ann ip
olisthisA. M. A st-eet tight oecuired in
i West Baltimore on the announcement of
1 the Governor's intention to go on with the
case. One man who cheered for Johnson
I was knocked down; five others were found
in the melee, and some of them were se
| verely handled. The timely arrest of all
i the parties prevented the fracas from
J spreading into a riot. In some of the
wards the old rowdy organizations, which
existed before the war. are being moved,
and calls are published in the papers for
j every delegate to prepare for action.
The following proclamation has to-night
; been issued by Governor Swann:
State of Maryland, )
Executive Department, j
Whereas, it has come to the knowledge
! of the Executive that military and other
i combinations are now forming in the city
, of Baltimore for the purpose of obstruct
: ing and resisting the execution of the laws
1 of this State, and whereas, there is reason
to believe that similar combinations are at
tempted to be organized in other places ,
'with the intention of invading the soil of j
5 the State of Maryland to deprive her citi- j
; zens of their just rights under the constitu- |
I tion. and to control the people of the State
i bv violence and intimidation.
I 'Now, therefore, I. Thomas Swann, j
Goverpor of the State of Maryland, do, by !
. this, my proclamation, solemnly warn
I the leaders of all such illegal and revolu- j
tionary combinations against the peace and
dignity of the State, that in the event of I
riot or bloodshed growing out of those J
] revolutionary proceedings, they will be
held to the strictest account, and the pow
jer of the State wifi be exhausted to
bring them to prompt and merited punish-
: ment.
Given under my band and the great
; sealot the State of Maryland, at the city
; of AnnapMis, the 23d day of October, A.
! D., 1866.
Tiros, Swann, Governor.
M. Carter. See'y of State,
j There has been considerable excitement
j in the eitv to-day. in reference to the ease
! of the Police Commissioners, upon the
announcement of the fact that the Gov
-1 ernor maintained !u» jurisdiction in the
I iffy, and his determination to iafpstigate
* charges of official misconduct,
anu .. —‘•uiiv-JSiions °f ,excited .
Some ‘ slight in. -on Wftj knocked I
feeling took place; one pei-, * * j
down near the headquarters of urn .
ditioual Uuion party. Nothing more se
rious than the slight affair has occurred
however, and there is at present no reason
to expect that the public will be disturbed |
further.
Beware the Ides of November!
Professor Fergbsson, of the Natioual Ob
servatory at Washington, has been inves
tigating the causes, history and character
ol the meteoric showers which have occur
red heretofore, with the view of determin
ing by what laws, if any, they are governed
and controlled. He has arrived at the
conclusion that there will he a recurrence
of the extraordinary meteoric showers
which occurred in 1799 and again in 1833,
on or about the 12th proximo.
A\ e do not ourselves indulge in any ap
prehensions that there will be a collision
between any of these shooting asteroids
with our little cockle-shell Globe, but in
the present condition of affairs on this con
tinent, and particularly in the Southern
States, we do not believe that-we would be
much icorsted by such an event. If we
should collide , the probability is that the
shock will be sufficient to settle all our po
litical and social troubles.
Those who think the time has come for
a general winding up of mundane affairs
had better begin to east up their accounts,
for the Professor says “there is some reason
to believe" that a collision may oceur.
The National Intelligencer gives the fol
lowing account of Professor Fergus son’s in
vestigations on this subject:
“The appearance of shooting stars is
quite common, but in the months of Au
gust and November of' each year they are
seen in greater numbers, generally about
the 10th of August and the 12th of No
vember. The great meteoric shower of
1799 seems to have drawn the attention of
astronomers more particularly to this sub
ject, and from that time to the recurrence
of the meteoric showers in 1533, and up to
the present day, they have been endeavor
ing to refer the different phases and char
acteristics of the phenomenon to known
laws, and to establish the exact anniver
sary of its appearance.
Thus far the more brilliant of these me
teoric showers have occurred at intervals
of thirty-three years ; that of 1833 was es
pecially distinguished by the immense
number of moving meteors to be seen at
once, and for the remarkable size and
splendor of many of them. Among the
myriads of blazing meteors visible on that
occasion, one was seen at several places on
this continent. It was recognized by sev
eral observers by its extraordinary size and
brilliancy, as well as by the length of time
its train remained visible, which was about
i ten minutes. The luminous train seemed
; to follow the meteor in a serpentine course,
and finally disappeared in a vast nebulous
cloud, many times larger than the moon,
and which continued to move onward with
: a velocity greater than the clouds.
The meteoric displays of 1799 and 1833
were characterized by the fall of meteorites,
which, rushing towards the surface of the
earth with a loud noise, penetrated beneath
it several feet. The periodicity of these
starry showers is not so definitely ascer
tained with regard to the day as the year.
: They have occurred to a greater or less de
I gree in the months of August and Notem
j ber, from 1833 to 1839; but the mostre
| markable of them have appeared on the
[ 12th of November, or between that nay
and the 14th.
The next appearance of the meteoric
phenomenon, therefore, is expected on oi
about the 12th of next month. Tho ob
servations of astronomers have demon
strated that the shooting stars are more
numerous between midnight and sunrise,
and the majority of them agree in fixing
the radiant point—that point in which the
lines described by the meteors in their
flight centre—in the constellation Leo, lim
iting the area of radiation to the immediate
vicinity of Regulus, in the neck of the lion.
Others assign the radiant point to the con
stellation Orion.
The theory most generally accepted in
accounting for the regular occurrence of
meteoric showers is that an unusual aggre
gation of these asteroids exist in the plane
which is reached by the earth at that point
of its orbit, and through which the earth
is several hours in passing, although ob
servations have not been sufficiently nu
merous to establish the exact period of the
earth’s arrival at this part of its orbit.
During the flight of meteors in November,
1833, much apprehension was manifested
from the fear that one or more of these as
teroids would come into collision with the
earth; but hitherto no disastrous conse
quences have ensued from this grand celes
tial display, and although there is some
reason to believe that an event of this kind
is possible, scientific men unite in the
opinion that such a calamity is not within
the bounds of probability.”
Amcrica-i Gipsies.
According to Mr. Simpson, who has
written a history of the Gipsies, there are
Gipsies in America —many more, in fact,
than people are aware of:
Gipsies may be said to Lave been in
America almost from the time of' its settle
ment. We have already seen how many
of them found their way there, during the
Revolution, by being impressed as" sol
diers, and taken as volunteers, for the
benefit of the bounty and passage; and
how _ they deserted on landing. Tented
Gipsies have been seen about Baltimore
for the last seventy years. In New Eng
land, a colony is known which has existed
for about a hundred years, and has always
been looked upon with a singular feeling of
distrust and mystery by the inhabitants,
who are the descendants of the early emi
grants, and who did not suspect the origin
till lately. These Gipsies have never asso
ciated, in the common sense of the word,
with the other settlers, and judging them
from their exterior, seem poor and miser
able, whatever their circumstances may be.
They follow pretty much the employment
and modes of the same class in Europe;
the most striking feature being that the
bulk of them leave the homestead for a
length of time, scatter in different direc
tions and're-ftnite periodically, at their quar
ters, which are left in charge of some of the
feeble members of the band.
i Perhaps the foundation of the American
I broom manufacture was laid by the British
Gipsies, by whom it may be partly carried
on at the present day ; a business they
pretty much monopolize, in a rough way,
in Great Britain. We will doubtless find
among the fraternity some of those whit
tling, meddling Sam Slick peddlers so of
ten described. I have seen some of these
itinerant venders of knife sharpeners, and
such “Yankee notions,” with dark, glisten
: ing eyes, that would “pass tor the article.”
' Sonic of them would live by less legitimate
business. I entertain no doubt, what from
the general fitness of things and the ap
pearance of some of the men, that we will
find some of die decondants of the old Brit
ish mixed Gipsies members of the various
: establishments of Messrs. Peter Funk & Cos.
of the city of New York, as well as else
where. And I entertain as little doubt
that many of those American women who
tell fortunes, and engage in those many
i curious bits of business that so often come
j up at trials, arc decondants of the British
j plantation stock of Gipsies in respectable
| spheres of life. It would be extremely
! unreasonable to say that the decondants
I of the colonial Gipsies do not still exist
| as Gipsies like their brethren in Great
Britain and other parts of the Old
World. The English Gipsies entertain no
j doubt of it; the more especially as they
have encountered such Gipsies, of at least
two descents. I have myself met with
such a Gipsy, following a decidedly re
| spectable calling ; whom I found as much
j one of the tribe, barring'the original habits.
|as perhaps any in Europe. There are
! mazy Hungarian and German Gipsies in
j America; some of them long settled in
Pennsylvania and Maryland, where they
own farms. Some of them leave their
farms in charge of hired hands during the
summer and proceed South with their
tents. In the State of Pennsylvania there
is a settlement of them on the J river.
a little way above H , where they have
saw mills. About the Alleghany Moun
tains there are many of the tribe, following
somewhat the original ways of the race. In
the United States generally, there are rnanv
Gipsy peddlers, British as well as con
tinental. There are a good many Gipsies
in New York—English, Irish and Conti
nental —some of' whom keep tin, crockery,
and basket stores; but they grepll mixed
Gipsies, and many of them of fair com
plexion. The tinware which they make is
generally of a plain, coarse kind ; so much
so that a Gipsy tin store is easily known.
They frequently exhibit their tinware and
baskets on the streets, and _ carry them
about the city. Almost ajl. if not all, of
these itinerant cutlers and tinkers to be
met with in New York and other American
cities, are Gipsies, principally German,
Hungarian and French. There are a good
many Gipsy musicians in America.
A Hundred Babies in a Stable.—
An English paper says: An old stable
with one hundred little babies nestling in
the horse troughs is something of a novel
ty. but the spectacle is daily to be seen in
the locality of Union street, Borough road,
London. The work has been somewhat
recently undertaken by the Rev. George
Aldington, who at his own expense secur
ed an old stable to form nursery, and
fitted it up for taking care of the babies of
women obliged to go to char or work away
from home. The hay cribs remain and
serve as cradles.
~ Trotting Race at Fittsburq.— Pitts
i burg , October 19. — The most exciting ,
race ever known in these parts, came off at i
1 the Oaklatd Park here, this afternoon, be
tween the j22<?ns trotting horses Dexter ,
i and Patcbm, and the pacer HcGousier, t 0
trot in harness best three in five. Great 1
! exeitemeit prevailed, and a iatgc crowd i
I was in attendance. Among the visitors !
m vas ifiO -lon. Lafayette Foster,
tiresce. ; nf tjjg United States. The ;
\ ice President , .
first heat was won by Metaou—: -I, the j
second, third and fourth heats by Dexter, |
2:21|, 2:231 and 2:32. 1
Recruiting in Louisiana.
A gentleman writing to a friend in New
Orleans, from Alexandria, complains that
squads of negro troops have been visiting
plantations, fully armed and equipped, and
unattended by any commissioned officer or
white person, enter the quarters or fields
where the hands are at work, and without
heeding or consulting the manager or pro
prietor, halt the men at their work and
make speeches to them of the most false
and incendiary character. The hands- are
told that they must enlist or they will
be drafted, and further that if they do
not enlist, in two years the rebels will
have them back in slavery. The result is
the laborers are leaving in large numbers,
and the gathering of crops sadly delayed.
The writer expresses the belief that Gen.
Sheridan will promptly stop the recur
rence of such scenes when notified, and it
was in this view that the latter was writ
ten, and the influence of the person to
whom it was addressed wa3 sought in the
premises. The Editor states that a sub
sequent letter from the same party reports
other plantations visited, and also states
that Col. 31. Fadden had sent back some of
them, but the loss of labor had been se
rious, and could not be repaired even if all
went back.
Flower’s Grape.
Dr. Jackson, the eminent Boston chem
ist, llev. Dr. Deems, editor of the New
York Watchman, Gen. D. 11. Hill, in his
magazine, and many others, pronounce the
scuppernong the best grape in the United
States for either eating or wine-making ;
but Dr. C. G. Wyehe, of Whitesville N.
C., writes to the Charleston News that the
l-lower’s Grape, for luxuriance of growth,
profusion of fruit, and adaptation to wine
making or table use, more than equals the
scuppernong. He says :
Though of the same species, it ripes
about a mouth later, and does not fali off
like that grape, thus greatly prolonging
the vintage, and enabling a person to mani
pulate for wine twice thequantity of grapes
otherwise possible. The two kinds ought
therefore to be planted iu the same vine
yard, as one crop does not interfere with
the other in harvesting. Black, solid,
sweet and juicy, with an odor similar to
that ofthe scuppernong, though less strong,
it makes a beautiful wine of any shade of
red desired. From a space of six by nine
feet, on an average portion of my arbor,
I gathered this season forty-six pounds of
grapes, equivalent to 37,000 pounds per
acre, and intelligent men acquainted with
the grape consider a crop of 'fifteen tons
as a reasonable yield to be expected iii
favorable seasons. These grapes will not
mature at the North, and as they yield so
much more than other species, and are not
subject to so many disasters, surely we
have every reason to embark largely iu
their cultivation.
Freedmeii’s Schools in Georgia.-
The October number of the America#,
Freedman gives a statistical account of the
number of schools in each Southern State
for freedmen. The whole number of these
schools in Georgia is 79 ; number of teach
ers 113 ; number of scholars 7)792. The
report says:
“During the last six months the schools
it Georgia have more than doubled their
lumber of piqiils, and under a vigorous
superintendence aro in a very satisfactory
coidition. Thirteen schools have been
opened in new places during the last quar
ter, and a completesystemisnoworganized
throughout the State. The expenses are
Paid mainly by charity, but the freedmen,
with their I own labor and niuiiey, are
making very commendable efforts in the
education es themselves and children.
“Progress in study has almost univer
sally been good, and it is estimated that
not les3 than three thousand pupils are
now readers who six months ago scarcely
knew the alphabet, while the influence
brought to bear upon the moral improve
ments of both children and parents is be
yond human calculation.”
If these schools are managed by teach
ers who arc not inimical to the white peo
ple of the South, they do great dood, both
in elevating the blacks, and in cultivating
good feeling between the races. Wo fear
that many of them are in the hands of nar
row minded fanatics, who exert a very
mischievous influence.
Important if True. — W e have the state
ment in our dispatches that there is a
prospect of a settlement of the Mexican
question in a pacific and, on the whole,
satisfactory manner. The French and
Maximilian will withdraw,and the United
States assume a protectorate of the Mexican
republic. Our Government will guarantee
the payment of the debt which Mexico
owes Franco, and, in reward for its good
office, annex Lower California and extend
the southeastern border of Arizona.
A glance at the map will show that such
an addition gives us water communication
with this important Territory, without pas
sing, as we now have to do, through a
foreign country. We are not inclined to
take much stock in rumors of this kind, and
it seems very improbable that Napoleon,
who started out with the design of helping
the Latin race and checking the progress
of the Saxons, would consent to a scheme
which would effect just the opposite of his
plans. Still, the result of the late rebel
lion has made marked changes in the di
plomatic world, and a suspension of opin
ion is perhaps the safest position for the
public to take. — Louisville Courier.
Tiie Sentiments of the Regular Ar
my.—A Washington correspondent states
that the President has received from Gen.
Sherman a very important letter, not yet
published, in which the General gives in
his adhesion without reserve to the Presi
dent’s policy of reconstruction. General
Sherman was prompted to this course, as
is stated and believed, by a feeling of re
sentment at Beast Butler’s threats to wipe
out the regular army if it should support
the President or obey his orders when
Congress shall unconstitutionally and arbi
trarily arrest, suspend and deprive him of
his office. It is confidently aseerted that
the whole army, embracing all its promi
nent General officers, resent Beast Butler’s
menaces. Gen, Grant, it is likewise said,
is even more indignant than Sherman at
the conduct of Butler.
Cotton Coming Eastward.—We are
told, says the Columbus Enquirer , that
trains now run directly through from
Montgomery to Savannah, and return the
same way. Cotton appears to be seeking
the Atlantic coast, and it comes from as
far west as Selma, Ala. The demand for
the shipment over the Montgomery and
M ost Point Hoad is now greater than the
capacity of the transportation. There is a
probability that in a short time a reduc
tion of freight from Montgomery and
other points to Savannah will be made.
This will greatly add to the large amount
of cotton which is now being moved from
Alabama to Savannah.
Santa Anna.—The Ilcrald says that
Count Nostity, who served for some
time in our own war on the Union side, has
just returned to the United States, from
Mexico by way of Havana, and had an
| interview with Santa Anna. Count Nos
' represents the chances for Santa Anna
i as favorable, since most of the lower elass
| of the people of Mexico are opposed both
; to Juarez and the Empire, being fomented
thereto by the emissaries of other chiefs.
Furthermore we are told, that an offer
will be made to Santa Anna to-day—or at
leat at his office, No. 45 Beaver-street —to
furnish him ten thousand Enfield rifles at
i‘lo apiece,
An Impostor.—A young man of good
address and rather prepossessing appear
: anee is now traveling Southward, passing
himself off as the son of the Rev. E. T.
J“ kler - He gives his name as E. T.
1 ''inkier, Jr., hails from Baltimore, and
• sa -' s - le is a wounded Confederate prison
er ’ on his way home, without means and
needing assistance. He succeeded in im
posing on the Rev. Dr. Fuller, of Balti
more. and other friends of the Rev. Mr.
j inkier. On his left hand is a represen- j
| tat,on of a Confederate flag, tattooed in
i Indian ink.
' Brought Down a Peg.—A spread-
I eagie orator of the torch and turpientine
school was .ately addressing some of his
brethren on the universal freedom question,
when he exclaimed, “0, that I had the
wings of an eagle ! that I might fly into
every town, and city, ever} 7 village and
hamlet in this broad and glorious country,
and proclaim equal rights to black and j
white !” At this poipt he wilted, when a i
naughty boy in th%crowd called out, ‘'Dry j
up. you oidfool, you'd get shot for u goose ;
before you flew a mile. 1 I
Another Schleswig-Holstein Imbroglio.
1 fussia having disposed of the democra
cy of Holstein, is now turning her attention
to the more pretentious Saxons, with a
prospect, near or remote, of a trial of her
needle-guns on a combination of foes more
formidable than those who disputed her
prowess iu the late conflict. On this sub
ject an intelligent Berlin correspondent of
ihe New 3 ork II arid writes as follows :
The movements ot these Saxon plenipo
tentiaries, and every rumor of their Sybil
like proceedings, excite not a mere passing
excitement, but the most serious and pain'
ful anxiety. A deep conviction begins to
prevail here, that unless peace be very
speedily concluded with the Saxon King
dom, the apparently unimportant “diffi
culty” may ultimately involve a far weight
ed- issue than the one that is visible on the
surface. There is an analogy between the
position now occupied by Saxony and that
which was once held by the Duchies of
Schleswig-Holstein, which is well under
stood and nervously meditated upon
throughout Germany. In November, 1863,
in reply to a question in the Chamber of
Deputies respecting his intentions with re
gard to the Elbe Duchies, Count Bismarck
replied: “All thatis obtainable under actual
or future circumstances the Prussian
government will obtain.” And he said all
he could say ; more he knew not himself.
Were Count Bismarck asked what his in
dentions were with regard to Saxony, he
might reply: “All that I can get by a
course similar to that pursued in Schles
wig-Holstein, I will get!” In Schleswig-
Holstein, the motive which impelled • Bis
marck to seek annexation was the posses
sion of the sea coast. In Saxony, the all
powerful motive for incorporation is a
strategical frontier. In Schleswig-Hol
stein, _ for the sake of her own security,
Prussia could not allow the independent
existence of a hostile and agitating demo
cratic party. In Saxony it would be a still
more fatal imprudence to give free and un
controlled latitude to a set of aristocratic and
courtly intrigues, who bitterly hate the
very name of Prussia, and who would leave
no Mono unturned to fling her down from
the high pedestal whence she directs and
controls the destinies of Germany. In
Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia was compelled
at every step to consult the wishes and
listen to the objections of her Austrian
ally. In Saxony the Gorman nation is
insulted and Prussia’s aims are thwarted
at every turn by the impertinent interfer
ence of France. In the Schleswig Holstein
question the negotiations, so long pending,
led to war. In the Saxon question—but
stop, let me not rashly prophecy so great
a calamity, but when you would laugh at
us for our anxiety in this Saxon difficulty,
remember what the issue may be that is at
stake ; remember that this Saxon question
may some day prove the immediate if not
the true cause of a struggle in which the
encounters .will throw tar into the shade
the bloody battle field of Sadowa, a struggle
which, delay it as you will for this Exhi
bition, or that new ueedle-guu, must and
will come at last —the struggle for the su
premacy ot Europe.
Extraordinary Relics of a Pre-Adamite
Race.
The following remarkable communication
from a well known gentleman of Middle
town, Ct., appeared lately in the 3lainq
Farmer:
Messrs. Editors .-—As you arc somewhat
interested in geology and its kindred branch
es, and have endeavored to interest your
readers in these things, allow mo briefly to
call your attention to the geology of this
locality. Here in Middletown, and on the
opposite side of Connecticut River, in Port
land, is found the red sand stone. This
rock, I think, extends from Amherst, Mass.,
to New Jersey. But this particular basin
to which I call your attention is about eight
miles In width, and 5,000 feet in depth.
On the west of this basin, the trap rock
has been lifted up through the sand stone,
and on the east there is a granite ridge, a
part of the White Mountain range, whitdi
is thought also to have come up through
the red saud stone, though not at so late a
date as the trap on the west. _ While the
granite and the trap were rising, one or
both, the sand stone was slowly sinking. I
say slowly, for it was, I think, thousands
of years settling down to its present level.
On the east side of the Connecticut arc
the Portland stone quarries, which have
been worked for 150 years. At present
in the three quarries, about 1,000 men are
at work, and thirty or forty vessels are
employed in carrying the stone to the great
markets. Those excavations, which have
now reached a depth of 105 feet below the
surface of the water in the river, have re
vealed untold wonders. The stone is said
to be full of fossil remains in its lowest
depths. I might call it a great charnel
house, but this is too gloomy a term to ap
ply to it. It is rather God’s great Book of
Uncords, which has been here carefully
preserved and hermetically sealed up till
withirrthe last few years. On the count
less leaves of this book are found the re
cords of the past ages. They tell us of the
climate, of the seasons, and of the storms,
of the birds and animals ; and more won
derful still, they tell us ofthe men of those
ages, show us their implements, and shad
ow forth something of their customs.
They also open to us their graves, and
show to us their modes of burial, the men
lying in one posture and the women in
another. These men all had three fingers,
and a thumb, and four toes.
Washington News and Gossip.
Washington, October 21. —There are
important rumors in circulation to-day that
1 have traced to an authority, which, if
not official, justifies me in sending them
to you. The President and Cabinet, in
stead of changing the domestic policy of
the Administration, in obedience to the
will of the people as expressed in the Oc
tober elections, are now intending to create
anew and popular foreign policy, to affect
the November elections. At the last
Cabinet meeting it was resolved to demand
payment at the hands of the British Gov
ernment in full for all the outrages com
mitted by the rebel privateers which were
fitted out in England. This is said to have
been the decision of the Cabinet, and to
carry out this decision instructions were
sent to Mr. Adams last Thursday. If
England suggests the propriety of calling
a commission, our Government will not
acquiesce.
It is also stated, on the same good au
thority, that on Wednesday last President
Johnson. General Grant and Secretary
Seward held a meeting; and it was de
termined to recommend, as a measure of
the Administration, that we should pay
the French claims in Mexico and receive
Mexican territory in exchange, probably in
the neighborhood of Guaymas. Lew
Campbell will shortly depart for Mexico.
The Juarez Government will be re-organi
zed, and no other. As I have said, Ido
not give this information as official, hut as
rumors coming from high authority and
generally believed. jThe Administration
hopes by this change of policy to make
amends with the people for its disgraceful
course on the reconstruction question.—
Cor. of the N. Y. lribune.
The nealtli or Napoleon—Medical Opln
lon.
The following authoritative statement
appears in the London Lancet , a high
medical authority :
Prom accounts which we receive from
authoritative sources, we are able to ex
press the belief that the sinister omens
which have been drawn from the recent
indisposition of the Emperor of the French,
may in all probability be pleasantly falsi
fied. The benefit which the Emperor had
derived from the waters of Nicby, induced
him, contrary to the wishes and advice of
Bayer, to resort again to their use. Like
many other persons who had to repent the
injudicious and untimely use of the water,
the Emperor suffered a severe momentary
aggravation of the symptoms, to which ac
cidents were unfortunately added. This
has been wholly conqeured, and the most
troublesome symptoms were those of a
temporary and accidental character. There
is nothing in the condition of health in
which the Emperor now is to warrant any
appreher.son which might not as justifia
bly have been entertained in the past;
there is nothing incompatible, with pro
longed life and activity. Fresh air, quiet
ness and change, will probably fortify the
Emperor to meet satisfactorily all the pos
sible physical and mental demands of his
most important andlaborious functions. It
would he obviously improper to enter into
details on such a subject, but we speak se
riously and with a knowledge of the medi
cal detals of the ease.
Letter from the Pope - Spiritual Condi
tion of the Freedmen.
Baltimore. October 18. —Two later
letters from the Papal See to the Ameri
can Roman Catholic Bishops, signed by
Cardinal Caranbo, Prefect of the Propaga
tions, have been laid before the Council
now in session in Baltimore. In the first
are contained instructions concerning
church government in America, the last of
which is translated as follows :
8. Finally, it is the wish of the Sacred
Congregation that the Bishops of the
United States, in fulfillment of the charge
which has been intrusted to them of feed
ing the Lord's flock, should consult together
respecting some uniform method of pro
viding for the Christain education of the
emancipated blacks. This question has
been brought up, and it is one, indeed, of
the first necessity, and unless they speedily
take action on it, and gather thi3 great
harvest into the Lord’s granary, this peo
ple will suffer irreparable injury,, from the
wiles and cupidity of the enemy.
1 The New York Journal of Cojxunercc
! thinks that all violence, coarseness and
' vulgarity in society is not confined to the
! South, and invites Northern people to look
i around them, and see how the war has
scattered had habits and violent manners,
particularly among the young men.
Summer Vying.
On the scarlet mountains yonder,
Summer lies down to die ;
She gathers her robes of splendor,
Around her royally.
Her tender, purpling mosses
Pillow her royal head;
Her myriad, gentle grasses
Are weeping about her bod.
It failed, the precious promise
Os her beauty's goiden reign,
It came, the loss, the longing,
The silence and the pain.
She was cruel in her splendor,
She mocked us in iu reign;
She held her careless carnival
Above our idol slain.
’Tis not the hand that crowns us,
The hand hold out to bless ;
t!le * uuu * t!l at robs and wrongs us,
That we oftenest caress.
Still, o, beguiling Summer,
We o’er thy beauty loan;
Thou did'st rob us, yet we love thee,
Discrowned, wo hail the queen.
All passionate fevor faded,
With eyes at last serene,
Turned towards thy conqueror, Autumn,
, , * ou , a D dying, O, our queen 1
that tlsou gavest to us,
« M lv morning's gracious glow,
All thou hast taken from us
Only God can know. ’ M. C. A.
TISCUMBIA TOURNAMENT.
The Editor of the Huntsville Indepen
dent concluding an account of the recent
tournament at luscumbia, in which the
number of contestants for the prize wero
narrowed down to two Knights, one of
them an officer iu the Federal army, (“im
promptu,”) and the other a native “home
boy,” (“O’Jlalley,” thus describes it:
Returning to the two contestants, we
find them girding themselves for the con
test. O’Malley leads off, and again cuts
three. Impromptu dashes round and the
figures are headless. Spectators are in a
perfect blaze. Sympathies are largely in
favor of O’Malley, for he is a home boy,
and Impromptu is a son of the North.
No disrespect or unfairness is shown to
the stranger, however. All is fair. Again
the champions mount their steeds, and
dash for the coveted prize. Their burnish
ed blades gleam for a moment o’erheard
ere the fatal stroke is made. Enthusiasm
bursts forth now like a tornado as O'Mal
ley again sweeps the head.
31on toss up their hats into the air and
ladies rise to their feet and wave their
spotless linen, and clap their hands. The
decorous and sedate M. of Q., catches the
enthusiasm —and drinks to the health of
the rivals. Impromptu follows after, and
the heads roll again into the arena.
Everybody gets glor'ously frenzied with ex
citement now. Anew rule is agreed on
between the contestants, and the necks
must be cut off without touching the
heads. All felt that this tilt would close
the contest. O’Malley lead off and cut the
pin smoothly, but his show clothes ruined
every thing. The hilt of his sword caught
in his scarf and he could not recover
the perfect use of his arm, and lie passed
the others without touching them.
The audience wilted, nary’kerchief wav
ed, nor hat tossed. It was a great disap
pointment. We felt it, but we doubt not
O’Malley felt it keener than wo did. There
is not a man who would not, say it was ex
pected lie should. The without previous
sturdy Knight gracefully and easily cut
oil the heads for the fourth time. The
audience couldn’t stand this. The thick
est ice must melt. Cheer after cheer burst
forth for the knightly victor. The Judges,.
the President, Gen. Forrest, and K. of Q.
said hurrah for him and took him by the
hand.
The silver spurs were his, there was not
a dissenting voice. And just'here we have
the pleasure of recording sh impromptu
act by the off-hand Knight, which does
credit to the heart. Through General
Forrest, lie announced to the crowd that the
spurs were offered as a present to the As
sociation for the cause of sepulture to the
Confederate dead. Well done, son of the
North. You fought for your side iu the
war, we for ours. You are a peaoe man
now, and no one can say you have not
acted the gentleman throughout, and at
times when one’s patience would be sorely
tried.
Mr. Editor: While you refuse to en
dorse the views of your correspondent
“Citizen” on the subject of Cotton Taxa
tion, we are inclined to think a little reflec
tion would convince you that he is not so
far wrong as might be supposed. When
we take into consideration that our city is
heavily in debt, and every other branch of
business compelled to contribute to its re
lief, why should cotton factors be exempt
more than any other class of the commu
nity ? Brokers are.laxed five hundred dol
lars for the privilege of dealing in bonds
and uncurrent funds, why should not com
mission merchants he taxed for selling cot
ton, and why should they not charge it to
profit and loss like other H'
you send your factor one hundred bales of
cotton to' dispose of, and he charges you
fifty cents for weighing, and 2J per cent,
commission for selling, he can well afford
to pay all other taxes except the three
cents per pound unjustly imposed by Con
gress, which the poor unfortunate planter
is compelled to submit to. In all con
science, this, with the present enormous
commission, is surely enough for those who
wish to “live and let live, ’ without stick
ing on an additional charge of taxes f, in an
obscure corner at the bottom of the sales,
as though the factor himself was ashamed
of its identity. If wo mistake not, this is
all the taxes paid to the city, State or Gov
ernment by our cotton factors. Let them,
therefore, in future, open a tax account in
their books, and place it where it justly be
longs, without saddling it on their custom
ers. Landlords have been accused with
charging enormous rents, and branded as
Shylocks, yet the most avaricious have not
advanced in proportion to these modest,
unassuming warehousemen. What would
they say if landlords were to demand from
them the amount of city tax in addition to
the rent agreed upon? yet it might be
done with die same propriety. Let the
City Treasurer, therefore, proceed to col
lect the tax, and let it be paid by those
who pocket the commissions, then there
can be no complaint from any quarter, and
planters will be satisfied to pay customary
storage and commission for selling,
Another Citizen.
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
The Allied Fleet Make an Attack and
are Repulsed—.An iron Clad Blown up,
Etc.
New York, October 22.—The Herald’s
Rio Janeiro correspondent, of September
25th. announces important movements of
the allied army in its advance to Paraguay.
On the Ist of September, the allied fleet
moved up the Parana river to operate with
tho army in ith attaak on Fort
an outpost of Fort Ilumata. They oQHIf
upon a masked battery, with which u!c
fleet became engaged. The iron-clad Rio
de Janeiro, which wasjn advance, was dis
abled by a sixty pound shell, and the fleet
drew oil to wait lor morning. On the 2d
the battle was resumed, and during the
day the Rio Janeiro was blown into frag
ments by an explosion of torpedoes. All
the crew perished, either by the explosion
or at the hands of the sharpshooters of the
enouiy.
On the 2d of September the army moved
forward and assaulted the fort, carrying it
at the point of the bayonet. Up to the
latest dates, Sept. Bth, no further advance
had been made.
The Emperor of Brazil closed the session
of' the Assembly on September 18th. In
his imeech he informed the members that
the United States of North America had
given to Brazil the most complete satisfac
tion for the violent capture, in the port of
Bahaia, of the privateer Florida by the
war steamer Wachansell.
Dilemma. —The Norfolk Virginian pro
poses the following plain questions, which
place the inconsistency of Radicalism in an
incontrovertible light:
Was Virginia in the Union when a bill
passed the National Congress for admis
sion of the State of West Virginia ? The
Constitution clearly requires that the as
sent of a State through the legally consti
tuted Legislature shall be necessary to the
dismemberment.
_ If Virginia was not in the lUnion at the
time of the passage of this bill, is West
Virginia a State now, ora part of the pro
vince known as Virginia to-day ?
If Virginia was not in the Union at
that time, how is it that both Houses of
Congress admitted to seats upon their
floors Senators and Representatives from
Virginia, (as also, it will be remembered,
members from Tennessee and Louisiana ?)
If Virginia was in the Union then, 1862,
when her armies were forcing their way
through Manassas, over Rope's army, to
Maryland, and her representatives were
in Congress, how can Virginia to-day be
out of the U nion, and her Congressmen he
properly denied their seats !
Is Booth Dead ?—An actress connect
ed now with a Chicago Theatre declares
that J. Wilkes Booth is still living. She
states that while on her way to Ford’s
Theatre, where she was engaged, on the
evening Lincoln was killed, she met Booth
on the street, talked with him for some
time, and on parting with him gave him a
letter to read which she had that day re
ceived. Six weeks ago the letter was re
turned to her through the post office,
with a private mark on it which convinces
her that it came from Booth.
The LaCrosse, (M is. i Democrat states
positively that John Wilkes Booth, was
alive on the 15th of July 1866, and de
clares earnestly and certainly that Booth
never was taken to Washington, either
wounded or dead,
Myriads of dead fish have recently been
thrown on the shores of Brazos and l'adra
Islands, supposed to be the result of vol
canic action.
Georgia.
W. Tv. Alley, Esq., one of the o m
and most respectable citizens of Haber
sham county, died suddenly on the'6th
instant. 3lr. Alley was one of the first
settlors ol the county - having emigrated
from North Carolina many years ago. At
the time of his death, ho was in the 82d
year of his age.
3\ illiam fenced, Esq., of Washington
county, died at his residence on Monday
the 15th instant. Mr. Sneed was an old
and much esteemed citizen.
We learn that all the arrangements have
been made, on the removal of the quaran
tine of Savannah, for the establishment of
a daily line of steamers to run between
that city and Charleston.
The Washington Gazette notices the
amount of cotton picked by eleven freed
men and women on the plantation of James
Harris, Esq., which foots up 2,381 lbs, or
au average of 238 lbs apiece. Three of the
eleven wero women, and two were boys
twelve aud fourteen years old.
The same paper states that an iron safe
belonging to Samuel Barnett, Esq., was
taken from his premises, when he was
ahseut, on Sunday last, ar.d hauled a half
a mile into a.thicket and broken open. A
small sum of money was taken. All his
valuable papers were left undisturbed..
The Washington Gazette says that a
heavy frost occurred there on Wednesday
night last, the first of this season. The
thermometer, on Thursday morning, stood
at 33 degrees, and ice was found in some
places. Cotton, and all tender vegetation
is killed.
Opening the Savannah River.— The
City Council ol Savannah at their last
meeting, took this subject under conside
ration, and turned the whole matter over
to the Mayor and the Commissioners of
Pilotage, with authority to purchase the
necessary machinery for clearing out and
deepening the river channel. A resolution
was also adopted authorizing the Mayor,
in conjunction with such persons as he
may appoint from the Commissioners of
Pilotage, to proceed North at once to select
and purchase such dredging machinery.
The corn and cotton crops in Henry, and
adjacent counties are exceedingly short.
Indeed, not more, than one-fourth of the
usual crop has been made, and consequent
ly the farmers are very gloomy.
There was a slight frost in Columbus on
Wednesday morning.
The 3lacon Telegraph says there was a
heavy frost in all low places in that city
and vicinity Thursday morning. Tender
vegetation of every kind was nipped, and
wilted under the influence of the sun. In
localities below 3lacon, where there was a
heavy fall of rain a few days ago, no doubt
the destruction was much more extensive.
Wm. 11. Peck has sold the Georgia
Weekly to Messrs. Newsome & Thornton,
who will issue a weekly paper at Talbot
lon, to be called the 117*1 Georgia Gazette,
R. T. Castellaw is the editor.
John F. Ezzard, of Atlanta, died on
Wednesday.
The Middle Georgia News says that
Henry Everett and Wm. Lane, had a dif
ficulty about a dog near Eutledgc, on
Wednesday, when Lane received several
cuts in the head at the hands of Everett,
from which he died. Everett is in jail to
await his trial.
The Macon Telegraph says that the frost
was severe enough between 31aeon and Al
bany to confine the crop of cotton to what
it is at the present time. There can be no
more maturing of bolls.
The Dawson (Terrel C 0.,) Journal says
the frost in that vicinity was not severe
enough to injure cotton seriously.
3laj. Wm. C. Anderson, of Nlilledge
ville, has taken charge of the Eatouton
Hotel, as lessee.
The Air Line Eagle says that every few
days emigrant wagons going from South
Carolina to Texas pass through that place.
The Sun says that of the five cotton
wareliouses in Columbus, which were de
stroyed by Wilson’s raid, four have been
rebuilt, and are now more substantial
structures than before.
Five hundred and eighteen members
were added to the churches of the Flint
River Association during the past year.
The Express is agitating the question of
building a railroad from the thriving go-a
head town of Cartersville to Vanwert, in
Polk county.
The Atlanta Christian Index of the 25th
says that “ a killing frost occurred last
night in this vicinity. Farewell to further
vegetatablc growth this fall. No more ex
panding cotton bolls in this region. Crop
estimates may now be made out.”
Fire hi NaslivlUe. *
The Nashville Patriot , of the 24th, re
ports a destructive fire taging at the time
it went to press. That paper says:
“The fire broke out in the drug store of
Messrs Yaryan & Cos., southeast corner of
Cherry and Cedar streets. Being fed by
the combustible chemicals, the fire spread
with fearful rapidity to adjoining buildings.
The engines were soon brought into play,
but the fiery element has, up to the hour
of writing, (2 o’clock a. m.) set every mor
tal effort at defiance. Already half the
block hounded by Cedar, Cherry and Deade
rick streets, and the Square, lias been gut
ted. Qn all sides the fire is still racing
with uncontrolable fierceness. On Cherry
street it has devoured its way to Dr. Cole
man’s office. On Cedar it has reached
John Miller’s. On Deaderiek it has en
veloped the old frames on the north side
and threatens the Banner office opposite.
The rear of several buildings facing on the
Square is in flames. Indeed it will be for
tunate if the conflagiution he confined to
the block. It is impossible at this hear to
estimate losses. Already they exceed hun
dreds of thousands of dollars.
F. S.—The fire has crossed Deaderiek,
and the. Banner office is in ruins. Boh
Eves’ is iri’flanics. The Fire Department
is utterly inadequate to cope with the emer
gency, notwithstanding the superhuman
efforts of every member and a large corps;
of citizens.
The Commercial Hotel caught fire but
has been extinguished for the nonce.
The Dispatch contains a report of the
fire up to 4 o’clock, at which time it was
still raging, hut had spent its force. The
loss was estimated at a million of dollars.
The following embraces a list of the busi
ness houses and offices destroyed :
On Cherry Street —J. C. Burch, J. W.
Childress, J. F. Dunlap, Sam Donelson,
1 Thomas 11. Malone, N. D. Malone, John
I Marshall, Stubblefield & Rankin, D. F.
I Wilkin, James Chamberlain, D. Campbell,
I IL H. McEwen, Jr., Player Martin, Willy
Haywood, E. Scott Symraes, A. D. Mc-
Nairy, J. B. White, K. F. Mulloy, Win. C.
Bunts, Henry Stone; the offices of Dr.
Coleman, Dr. Mcnees, and the office of the
Tennessee and Cumberland Oil and Mining
Company.
Houses on Cedar Street —Yar ;an & Cos.,
Druggists; Morse’s Gallery of Cumber
land, buildings formerly occupied as the
Gayeties Saloon and Theatre, lower part
unoccupied ; R. D. Biura, watchmaker and
jeweler; Chris. Vaupcl’s beer saloon;
Louiseau’s billiard rooms; H. W. Hass
lock’s drug store.
On Deaderiek Street —Banner office;
Thomas McCarty’s magistrate’s office, also
occupied by Win. Southgate, surveyor and
engineer; Michael O’Brien’s saloon; A.
Johnson’s paint shop; Barkhorn’s saloon ;
F. J. Bitterlich, gunsmith; Whitley house.
New Scientific Toys.—The London
Lancet describes some new scientific toys,
which are taking the place ot J’haraoh’s
serpents and the magic photographs. It
says: An eminently popular toy just now
—the “rainbow bubble” —Is a passing re
sult that was obtained in the course of cer
tain abstruse experiments on the refraction
of fluid media. It is of exquisite beauty,
but its resources as an amusement are not
half developed. Thus it is easy to blip,
one bubble within another by simply
thrusting a fine glass tube charged with
the fluid through the very materia) of the
bubble itself, and then blowing an inside
sphere. So, also, the finger, similarly
moistened, may be introduced, and the.
bubble left to hang on a digit, like one of
the fruits in Aladdin’s garden.
The Knoxville and Kentucky Rail
road.—We learn from Col. McGhee,
President of the Knoxville and Kentucky
Railroad Company, that he has been^ for
mally notified by the Louisville and Nash
ville Railroad Company, that they have
directed their Chief Engineer, Col. Mc-
Leod, to place under contract immediately,
that portion of the extension of their Leba
non Branch which lies between Crab Or
chard and London, reserving until next
summer the letting of the lighter work on
this side of Loudon. As the Knoxville
and Kentucky Railroad is now under con
tract to within thirty-three miles of the
State line, the letting of the above section
of the L. & N. Railroad will leave less than
eighty mile3 of our long desired connection
with the Ohio River not under contract,
and the engineers of our own road are now
j engaged in locating the remainder of their
line with reference to commencing work
upon the heaviest portion of it as soon as
possible.
We congratulate our readers upon the
certain prospect of their soon enjoying the
advantages to be derived from a direct
railroad connection with, Louisville and the
great Northwest —• Knoxville Commercial.
21 st. t
A married gentleman, present at a spirit
rapping circle, being informed tliat the.
power depended wholly on the will, begged
that his wife might try it, as he had never
seen anything resist her will.