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Uvoniclc & Sentinel
WEDNESDAY MORXUS'G, NOYIMBEB 1.
from \ \:\\ vokk!
[from our own correspondent.]
Tlic March of Kvent*—Free Speech—Free
Soil—Free l.ahor—Free Trade— But
not Free Suffrage— Politie*— Finance,
Cotton, *c«
New York, October 28.
Dear Ciiromci.e : It is customary to
speak of the march of events. Hie phrase
may define correctly enough the political
movements of the old world, where the
people are biased by traditions, and con
trolled bv well established systems of checks
and balances and circumlocution offices.
This is probably true, at least, up to the
] ite Prurso-Austrian war. Put the phrase
utterly .ails to characterise political move
ment on the American continent. Certainly
within tlie limits of the empire of the l nit
cd State- political events arc not controlled
and made to move in the measured tread
of the march ; but they appear to ru.-h
forward with fearful rapidity. It becomes
a difficult matter therefore cither to mark
the direction or measure the volume ol the
s<. ies of actions —social, religious and com- j
mereial which modify or contribue to de- j
tennine results. This is especially difficult j
from ilur.-iand point of citizenship en
vironed as it neces-arily is by interest and
prejudice A retrospect of the past, _ how
i ver. *i- ;lo- s a regular progression iri the
ideas of the nation, marked by the rallying
cries of free speech, free frees, free
son. and FREE LA»o a. The inevitable
sequence would seem to be free trade ;
but at this particular juncture the public
mind is distraught by the diversion which
certain interests seek to make by UNIVER-
SAL suffrage. Your correspondent hav
ing recently journeyed quietly and leisurely
from considerations of health from Cairo to
Portland and from Buffalo to Poston im
proved every opportunity to mingle with
the people and to learn the popular views,
livery where it was manifest the doctrine
of universal suffrage in its broad extent is
not only unacceptable, but absolutely re
pugnant to the public mind. The univer
sal desire was expressed to maintain the
supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon—or rather
the white race. The people have no other
idea. A proposition to extend the right of
suffrage to females as well as males—to
Coolies, Chinese and Hindoos; to Africans,
Me-tizzoes and lingoes, Mexican, Aztecs,
and Sioux Indians, would be peremptorily
rejected by the popular vote from Maine to
Caliafbniia. A strong feeling, however,
exists to do something for what remains ot
the 160,000 negroes who were enlisted to
play the part of hulkt-stoppers in the war.
The general expression is “we ought to
do something for these people—we ought
to elevate them.” If this feeling could be
met and satisfied there would be no further
difficulty on that question.
The moderate ltcpublicans, and a ma
jority of the Republican party, will be
satisfied with what they term impartial
suffrage, or legislation without distinction
as to color. The laws of the State of New
York give tin- right of suffrage to such as
hold real estate of the value of 250 dollars.
The enactment of a similar law by the
Legislature of the State of (ieorgia, to be
made the organic law of the State, will
meet the demand—take the negro ques
tion out of politics, and would have the
Ikjsl effect upon the financial projects of
I,nth the Stain andpeople.
the constitutional amendment
is pressed by many Republicans, because
they say representation without taxation is
unjust in itself, and allows too great power
to the Southern States in Congress. The
real reason which is admitted in private,
they are convinced that the South will not
extend the right of suffrage to the colored
population, and the diminished representa
tion will enable the Republican party to
maintain their supremacy and govern the
country. Uis urged by the Radical Re
publicans that they have acquired a rifle
tith' to the South—its lands and posses
sions—that they will dictate tho laws, and
, ht i. ■
in allowing them to retain their lauds t oat
on- thousand out of four thousand
u,l .| • . >..«r ftnqxoiv. Butler, Banks
Burnside, .ue An the Ku. t Wade
acknowledged leaders. Butler aspires to
lie the chief, and with good show of suc
cess. He will certainly ho elected. His
political headquarter is a Major General s
marque, in the chief town of his district.
Money is spent freely, for the Republican
party is rich. It is affirmed creditably
that the central organization at Washing
ton have over half a million in the Treas
ury, and that the Association of Massa
chusetts have a quarter of a million more.
Very many who belong to this wing—
openly affirm that the South was not
worth fighting for, but that it was neces
sary—because without war, disintegration
would have gone on to so great an extent
as to produce anarchy, or at best ten. or a
dozen feeble republics. This wing boldly
announce 4hat the true principle is “To
the victors belong the spoils,” in war and
in polities—a Christian right, I suppose.
The recent elections have emboldened these
leaders, and they openly, on the stump
and in the lecture room, in public and in
private, proclaim
THE PROGRAMME
to be : I'iwst, At thmopening of Congress
to alter the present law regulating the
sessions of Congress, so that the 40th
“Congress, shall assemble on the sth of
March, 1867.” The Parliament of 1688,
in the History of England is cited as the
precedent Sains Kcipubliav sitpremer
Ic.r, is the law. Secondly, To impeach the
President for high crimes and misde
meanors. Tiddly, The articles of im
peachment are to have the effect of sus
pending the functions of the President (so
it was deliberately anddistinetly announced
by Mr. Phillips in his Boston lecture, and
received by a very large audience with
rapturous applause), until he proved his
iun<urine. Fourth, To enact a law, which
will prohibit the representation of the
Southern States until after the Presiden
tial election of 1869. How much of all
this is gasconade, it is impossible to say.
These men look and speak, and act as if
they were in earnest. A salesman in a
large and respectable clothing house told
your correspondent that contracts had been
entered into with hi> house for 3,000 blue
uniforms, to be sent to one State, and 5,000
for another, during the past week.
All sorts of fire arms are in good demand,
and this looks like business. In the mean
while. although the South suffers, she
should upon every consideration avoid the
complications of national politics.
FINANCIAL.
money is easy on call for collaterals with
ample security. Sixty and ninety days
paper not in much favor, for the reason
that commercial transactions are so largely
effected by polities. Southern paper gen
erally eschewed. k
COTTON.
the general estimate of the cotton crop
is 1,500,000 bales, but buyers, full of the
experiences of the past season, generally
base their transactions on short time or
upon liberal estimates —say two million.
There is great desire to form estimates up
on the labor employed. The usual rea
soning is, this: theblacks numbered 4.000,-
000 before the war. one half of that num
ber still remains, and is employed in tbe
cnlture of cotton. The former production
was a bale per capita. Therefore, there
must be 2,000,000 bales of cotton produced
this year. M.
Personal Income. —Several of the
papers in Southwestern Georgia have
published the names of all persons in that
collection district whose income is fob 000
or upward. The whole number is 114, of
which Bibb county reports forty-eight,
Muscogee twenty-one, Dougherty ten.
Sumter eight, Upson four, Talbot and
Taylor three each. While this gives a
lively idea of the poverty of the tiiate.
we cannot endorse the custom of thus
spreading the private affairs of individuals
before the public, and hope that the pub
lication of names in this connection will be
discountenanced by the press.
Wendell Phillips says, even a.- a boy, be
waß w e,ided to truth and philanthropy.
But how long it is since he divorced him- j
self from his two wives. j
FKOII MILLEDOKYILLE.
Special Correspondence Chronicle *v Sen
tinel.
Millediieyille, October 31, 1866.
Rut few members of the legislature I
have yet arrived. The afternoon and
evening trains will bring a quorum, and so
no doubts need be entertained but that
the (j overnors message will be read to
morrow, and the public business be en
tered upon. So intimations of the con
tents of the message can be obtained —
Governor Jenkins preserving an importur
balile silence whenever approached on the
subject. The committee on Pul,lie Educa
tion, appoint*-,] last Winter, is here and in
session to day. For years thus subject has
perplexed the minds of Legislators and
i educators —thousands of dollars have been
-pent, and but little real or permanent
! benefit has resulted. The difficulties in
! the way of accomplishing an event so de
' voutly to be desired, viz : the education of
the masses, increase in size andimportance
; as they are approached, arid the heart of
the Christian and philanthropist sinks
1 within turn as the huge mountains of diffi-
I culty rise up and obstruct his way. The
j emancipation of slavery has but erected
another obstacle to the inauguration of a
| common school system. To overcame this
will require more tact and ingenuity than
I fear is possessed by the ‘present Legisla
ture. I honestly believe that none of them
have any objection to the education of the 5
negro, but the idea of mixing the whites :
and black - promiscuously in our schools is
not to be thought of. I presume the
efforts of the present Legislature in this
direction will result, as heretofore, in the
production of but little real good.
Since tho last session, many much need
ed improvements and repairs have been
made on the public buildings here. The
eapitol has been newly roofed —the halls
have been replastered, and painted, and
! furnished with gas and water. The halls
I are really handsome, needing nothing to
I complete their elegance of appearance but
| carpets in the place of the dingy, dusky
! bagging with which the floors are now
covered. The various offices need repair
ing and re-furnishing, and it is to be hoped
this session will appropriate funds for this
purpose.
The debris of tho old Arsenal and
Mag azinehavebeen cleared away and some
progress has been made in beautifying and
| adorning the squares. This is as it should
i be, arid it is to be hoped that these iin
| provements will go on till the squares shall
j become an ornament to the State and the
seat of government.
'flic Executive Mansion has undergon 6
elaborate repairs—has been refurnished
from cellar to garrot—been furnished with
gas and water, and in all its appointments
rendered a suitable mansion for the Chief
Magistrate of our State. One of the great
events of the present session is the anticipa
ted levee ot Gov. Jenkins. In days “long
ago” a Governor’s levee was as regular as
an annual session ; hut under Gov. Crown
arid the pressure of the war, was thought
to be “more honored in the breach than in
the observance. ’ ’
The Penitentiary, about which there was
diversity of opinion last winter as to its re
moval, abolition or improvement in its
present locality, is prepared to make a good
showing. The present P. K., Col. Ander
j son, says in his report, it is not only self
sustaining, but with a small appropriation
for buildings and machinery, might,
under an energetic superintendent, be
rendered a source of revenue. There are
now 205 convicts, 134 of whom belong to
the “chain gang” of the different counties,
and should never have been sent to the
Penitentiary. The sentences of this “chain
gang” vary Irom sixty days to twelve
months, and the discharges in a short time
will about bal&nce the arrivals. Two-thirds
of the convicts are freedmen, who are decid
edly more obedient and better laborers
than the white convicts.
The annual spasmodic efforts of the
town at improvement which generally ex-
I pends itself in a little whitewash about
hotels, boarding houses and barrooms is
! visible in every quarter, Judging from
lit* whitewashed trees .Ye., rto would sup
pose every other ousu w.%- prepared to
furnish cheap boar ling **.
i Uesmurants and bar-room i are plentiful;
’ tv. : '-Mi Tin i. use lager beer
me", ui. moii intoxicating beverages to
the thirsty multitude.
The MilleJgeville Hotel, under the pro
prietorship ol' the! . MeOomb, is in
“applc-pio" order, an I ti, , nests may
bo sure of comfortable garters, a good
table, and attentive rcnqjm;-.
In the business of town con
siderable aetivit i Mien. All the stores
have heavy stocks, and seem to bo driving
a lively business. About fifty bales of
cotton are sold here daily, at full prices.
It is bringing to day 314 cents.
This certainly cannot be a very long
session. There are no elections, save that
of Public Printer, and but little very im
portant business. The bank question, the
Stay law. the disposition of the Peniten
tiary, the inauguration of an Orphan’s
Home, and the tax bill, are the prominent
questions which will encage the time of
tlie Legislature. As usual, however, the
ordinary batch of private and local bills
will be introduced, and the forty days, at
least, will be consumed. Nine dollars per
day and mileage pays better than the busi
ness of most men at home. It is impossi
ble to get a copy of the message—will
forward it to-morrow. L. C.
The Fenians.
Our Canadian neighbors are pursuing a
very foolish, if not a very inhumane policy
in their proposed punishment of a few
straggling fellows who were caught' during
the late Fenian raid. They could not
adopt a measure so efficient for raising
men and money for, that adventurous
brotherhood. Their absurd failures had
disgusted nearly all sensible people with
their visionary projects, and their circles
were almost everywhere rejected. Eveu
in Boston, where there are thousands of
brave and impulsive natives of the Green
Isle, it was difficult to get up a respectable
crowd to listen to their speeches. This
persecution of a few alleged conspirators is
infusing anew zeal into tlieir ranks. A
meeting in New York was attended by
50,000 people a day or two ago—a grand
ball in Philadelphia was numerously at
tended, and in Cincinnati enthusiastic
meetings have been held. Boston, too
is moving—and men and money are being
supplied for a grand "movement,” which
is said to be ou toot. James Stevens is
reported about to sail for Ireland, and is
pledged to start the ball on the old sod
before the first of January next The ex
acting policy of the Canadian authorities
will send thousands of recruits to his
standard.
A\ bile we sympathise with Ireland in
the wrongs imposed on her by' the British
Government, we have no faith in the
movement for her relief, as proposed by
the Fenian leaders, and deplore any influ
ence that adds to what we deem a hope
less infatuation. If Canada would put a
damper upou the Feuian furor, let her
show a magnanimous spirit towards those
implicated in the late foolish invasion of
her soil.
Retrenchment.— The |Xational Intd
li:j< <>,' says it is not yet known what pro
gress has been made by the Committee on
Retrenchment appointed by the last Con
gress. The duty of the committee is not
only to inquire into existing leaks and ex
travagances. but to suggest means for pro
tecting the Treasury in future from the
cupidity and rapacity of Congress. It is
from the legislation of Congress that a
great increase of extravagant expenditures
ir apprehended.
If Congress insists upon burdening the
people with tax.s to sustain political partv
interests, they must find means to expend
the money thus wrung from the people.
Retrenchment mc_: begin by curtailing
; the revenue to the strict wants of an eco
nomical government. A surplus revenue
will necessarily tend to wasteful expendi
tures.
The tunnel under the Alps has reached
<2015 feet in length oh the French side, and
ll.Jsoon the Italian. At the present rate
ot progress live years will be required to
complete the work.
Governor Jen kin's Message.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 1 ;
Milt.edoevllije, Ga.,Nov. Ist. 1866. (
Senator* ami Represent at ires :
Although, during the year now drawing
to a close, the seasons have been unpropit- j
ions to the husbandman, trade disap;
pointing to the merchant, and the signs ot j
the times discouraging to the patriot, i
bles-ings,- not wholly "in disguise have |
come to all. The true believer recognizes j
the hand of an over-ruling Providence as
weii in seeming evil as in positive good. |
It becomes a)l men, of every age and j
every clime, to accept adversity as merited
chastisement, and offended
Deity bypepeatance and reform.
FEUEP.AL relations.
Since your last adjournment, little pro
gress has been made either in the recon
struction ot a dismember 1 Government,
or in the restoration of material prosperity
to that portion of the country desolated by
the reeent civil war. However produced, trie
fact is indisputable, that the Government
of the United States this day stands be
fore the civilized world in the lamentable
condition of dismemberment. Four of the
thirteen .States that originally took part
in the formation of the Union, and six
: that have been added in the progress of a
marvelou- development, are now totally ex
I eluded from participation s its legislative
and administrative functions. It is true
that the now excluded State- did volun
i tariiy abandon such participation, by
what was designed as a peaceful and per
manent withdrawal : but the right so to
do was denied to them, and upon that
question of l ight the war ensued. The
■ party denying the existence of the right,
maintained that the Union was indissola
j ble by such means, that it still existed in
i full force, and nothing more was necessary
that the suppression of irregular resistance
Ito its authority. That resistance having
been suppressed, after a struggle of five j
years’ continuance—the resistants having |
grounded their arms —submitted in word
and act to the authorities *of the United ]
States—rescinded all constitutions, ordi j
nances, laws and resolutions asserting in- 1
dependence of, or antagonism to that
Government—declared its Constitution j
; their supreme law, and elected Senators
| and Representatives to the Federal Con
| gress —the logical conclusion from the
| premises of the victors is, and the practi
! cal result should be, that the attempt has
i failed and that the Union stands unshaken.
| All that the resistants may have done to
wards dismemberment, they have undone.
The temporary breach they made, they
have repaired. Why, then, are they not
in the Union a- formerly ? The answer is,
that the dominant States, through their
representatives in Congress, positively re
fuse their admission to the national coun
cils. and the conclusion is inevitable, that
from this refusal the present dismember
ment results. Reasoning upon their own
theory, if the Southern States be not now
within the pale of the Union, .they have
been ejected by this Congress. If they be,
their constitutional right of representation
is denied them by flie same authority.
The President of the United States,
second to none in devotion to the Union,
though placed during 'the war, by the in
tensity of that feeling, in opposition to his
native section, consistently illustrates it in
restored peace. He distantly affirms the
right of the Southern States to representa
tion in Congress ; and, for this adherence
to principle, has been abandoned and de
nounced by those who placed him in power.
The Legislative and Executive Depart
ments of the Government are thus brought
into conflict, seemingly irreconcilable and
daily increasing in bitterness.
The people, too, of the dominant States
now wielding tho whole power of the Gov
ernment, are themselves divided ; and we,
the excluded, against whom they recently
presented the unbroken front of relentless
war, though now passive and unresisting,
have suddenly become to them an apple
of discord. In this contest, our position,
our motives, and our purposes are severely
scrutinized. These are all flagrantly mis
represented by unscrupulous demagogues,
and many, very many, well meaning per
sons are undoubtedly deceived by tliem.
The pending issue may not find a very
early solution. Meantime, we pass through
an ordeal thoroughly adapted “to try
mat's souls." Rut we must be true to
ourselves, to those, who, though not of us,
are fighting our battles, and to the coun
try ; we must steadily and calmly pursue
the course upon which we have started,
neither betrayed into error by false repre
sentations of the malignant and consequent
injurious suspicions of the credulous; nor
yielding to humiliating demands, against
which justice exclaims and manhood re
volts. Pursuing this course, wc shall, in
time, live down both detraction and delu
sion, and achieve a moral victory far’ more
enduring and ennobling than any mere
triumph of physical force.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTIU-
Asgermain *o the subject already dis
cussed, I cal', your attention to another
.prop "sod .'uteuiiment of the Constitution
oi tv United States, transmitted to me by
the S ‘.rotary.of State, and accompanying
this communication. The fact , tint your
action upon it is thus invoked imposes on
you an obligation to consider it respect*
fully.
This amendment, designed, like all of
recent origin, to operate especially on the
Southern States, contains several sections
to some of which I invite special attention.
1. The prominent feature of the first
is, that it settles definitely the rigjit of
citizenship in the several States, as politi
cal communities, thereby depriving them
in the future of all discretionary power
over the subject within their respective
limits, and with reference to their State
Governments proper. It makes all per
sons of color, horn in the United States,
citizens.
2. The second changes the basis of
representation in the popular branch of
the Congress and in Presidential electoral
colleges. It provides that, in apportion
ing representation among tbe States, all
persons (except Indians not taxed) shall
be taken into the enumeration, unless the
elective franchise be denied in any State
to male inhabitants, being citizens of the
United States, and twenty-one years of
age, or be in any manner abridged (oth
erwise than as a punishment? for crime,) in
which event the representation shall
be proportionally reduced.
Whether the object in proposing this
change be the extension of the elective
franchise to persons of African descent;
(nearly all cf whom are notoriously un
qualified for it,) or a further diminution of
the already relatively small weight of the
Southern States in the administration of
the Government, the adoption of this
amendment will certainly force upon them
a choice between those evils. If the for
mer be the real object, the latter alterna
tive must be regarded simply as a penalty
for refusing it. In tills view, it is not
difficult to expose the flagrant injustice of
the proposition. Let us consider briefly
how the amendment will affect States
wherein slavery did not exist prior to the
war, and bow those wherein it existed. In
the former class, the selection of the one or
the other alternative will bp only a matter
of taste, no great public interest Jjejng in
volved. If the franchise be extended, the
number thus newly admitted to the ballot
will be* so small that no appreciable effect
upon popular elections can result, If re
fused, the number excluded from the
enumeration in fixing the ratio ot repre
sentatation will still be so small that the
consequent reduction would not be seriojjs
ly felt, and in some instances would proba
bly be merely fractional, producing no
curtailment at all. Now, look to the other
class of States, There the number of vo
ters proposed to be enfranchised, and
wholly unprepared for the trust would be
immense, and the disturbance in the mo
tive power of republican machinery incal
culable. There, too, on the other hand, if
the franchise be withheld, the reduction ot
representation would be vast. Is there
fairness, is there justice in a proposed
change so differently affecting different
portions of a country, united under a com
mon government for the common weal !
Would the enforcement of such a change by
a majority, it could not liut m. upon a mi
nority it must ruin, bespeak magnanimi
ty ?
It may be said in reply, that the Con
stitution does not respect sectional differ
ences—that it was designed for the pro
tection and advancement of personal
rights. To a large extent this is an egre
gious error. The Union was originally
designed mainly for the conduct of foreign
affairs and common defeuse, leaving to
the States the regulation of their domestic
concerns. The Constitution resulted from
a compromise of sectional interests, with
out which it could not have been formed,
indeed, in that compromise; the rights
and interests of the Caucasian as affected
by the presence of a very large African
population m some of the States, were
considered and adjusted. The African
element, whether bond or free was com
puted alike with reference to this identical
subject of representation, and alike ignor
ed regarding the elective franchise. ~
The objection now urged against the
amendment is, that it will fall upon eiti
zens inhabiting one latitude Like an ava
lanche from its mountain perch, crushing
where it settles ; whilst upon those of an
other latitude it will alight unfelt like a
feather floating instil! air.
a The thirl section engrafts upon the
e A law anew disqualification for
fundament... -4 disqualffica
offiee, . tate audits to Lt- done
non not the result of any at. *■ but
after the adoption of the amendment,
consummated before its conception. The
act entailing disqualification for office con
sists in haying heretofore taken an oath to
support toe Constitution of the United
an “ having thereafter encaged in j
rebellion or insurrection against the same,
or having given aid and comfort to the ■
enemies thereof. Considering the num- !
Ut ot our citizens who have taken the i
oath under the circumstances set forth,
tue number personally engaged in the wai, j
and the breadth of ground covered by the !
words “ giving aid and comfort to the ene- \
tides thereof." we can readily perceive the
weeping character of the disqualification.
It is as distinctly proscriptive as if the per- !
softs to be 'affected had been ascertained 1
and their names in erted.
Let it be noted, a: o. that the proscribed
are all dwellers one side of a certain geo
graphical line whilst the authors of the :
proscription have their local habitation on
the other side.
It is quite remarkable, moreover, that
there is iu the entire section no saving
clause in favor of those who, in the inter
val between the cessation of hostilities and
the adoption of the Amendment, may have
received the amnesty of' the Government. 1
Pardoned they may havo»boeD, but dis
franchised they will be.
ion are asked to give your eonsent that
such a fate be visited upon many of your
best citizens, who have long enjoved the
public confidence, and some of whom now
fill important public trusts. Can Georgia :
spare all of these from her sor' ice ?
5. The fifth and last section empowers
the Congress "to enforce, by appropriate
legislation, the provisions of the Amend
ment. It will lie contended that they are
the proper judges of what constitutes ap
propriate legislation. If. therefore, the
Amendment be adopted, and a fraternal
i Congress, from which the Southern States,
I chiefly interested in it, are excluded be
I empowered “to enforce it by appropriate
| legislation ,” what vestage of hope remains
■ to the people of those States? Nay, more,
j what semblance of Republican Government
; can the true patriot of the North discern in
| such a state of affairs ? Yet, that is the
: point which we seem to be drifting , for
1 there is no assurance whatever that even
| this concession will ensure our restoration.
I Amendments have already been proposed
to and accepted by us, which it was beleivcd
j wbuld effect that result ; but hope is still
I deferred, right still denied.
1 will not further analyze this Amend
ment, equally novel and unjust.
I a»k you to consider, however, why it.
is that you are called upon to vote upon its
adoption, whilst your State had no voice
in its preparation ? The Constitution se
cures to the States the one right as dis
tinctly and as positively as the other. Had
your Representatives, and those of other
States |imilarly situated, been present,
aiding in giving substance and ibrw to it,
possibly it might him' come before you a
less odious thing. The policy seems to
have been, first to push it, without their
participation, beyond the stage of amend
ment, and they say to them, accept our
bantling or take the consequences. The
omission of any material part of the pro
gress of amendment, makes the amend
ment itself, unconstitutional, null and void.
Should the State especially to be affected
by this amendment refuse their assent to
it, it cannot be adopted without excluding
them from the count and placing its ratifi
cation upon the votes ot three-fourths of
the now dominant States.
It is said, however, that unless this con
cession be made, the now excluded States
will be kept out of the halls of Congress in
definitely. Were the Amendment pre
sented with such a menace distinctly ex
pressed, a higher motive (if possible) than
any hitherto suggested would prompt its
rejection.
At the termination of hostilities, it. was
right and proper that the previously re
sting States should, in the most une
quivocal and formal manner, abandon such
resistance —should rescind all they had
done in antagonism to, and do whatever
was necessary and proper to place them
selves in constitutional relation with, that
Government. All this, wo» believe, Geor
gia has done. Reyond this, in acting upon
any proposed change in the fundamental
law, even in this critical juncture, my ad
vice is. that her legislators act with the
same unflinching firmness, that they would
have exercised in the past, or would ex
ercise in the future, when in full connection
and unambiguous position. Any other
rule of action may involve sacrifices of in
terest and of principle which magnanimity
would not exact and self-respect could not
make.
To submit to injurious changes in the
Constitution, when forced upon a State,
according to the forms prescribed for its
amendment, would be one thing ; to par
ticipate in making them, under duress,
against her sense of right and justice,
would be a very different tiling. The dif
ference, in principle, is as broad as that
which distinguishes martyrdom from
suicide. Far better calmly await a return
ing sense of justice, and a consequent re
flux of the tide now running strongly
against us.
The military rule to which, as a people,
we have been subjected during the past
eighteen months, so different from all pre
vious experience, must necessarily be more
or less prejudicial to our interest and
wounding to our feelings. Y r ou are well
aware, however, that it has been greatly
mitigated during your recess. The Ad
| ministration, I think, have become
i thoroughly convinced that the sword
| and the bayonet are not necessary to the
i'enforcement of law and order in Georgia.
!
j tary force within our borders than have
i often been stationed here in times of per
j fectspeace. Our people, with rare excep
tions, such as occur everywhere, have been
quiet, orderly, and devoted to industrial
pursuits. The officers of the army and
agents of the Freedmen’s Bureau, station
ed among us, have, with few exceptions,
manifested a growing confidence and a dis
position to relax their authority and leave
the administration of the laws to the civil
courts. Vexatious interferences some
times occur, usually traceable to_ impru
dent conduct on the part of misguided citi
zens, or to the officious intermeddling of
injudicious or evil-disposed _ subordinates.
Due allowance being made for honest dif
ferences of opinion upon questions arising
in a novel state of affairs, the President
and heads of departments have manifested
a gratifying determination to deal justly
and kindly with our government and peo
ple. With a view to the adjustment of
some points of difference, tho more rapid
restoration of mail facilities, and the pro
curing of action upon the application of
our citizens for amnesty, in which they
naturally felt great anxiety, I made a short
visit to Washington, and had abundant
reason to be gratified by the kindness
shown towards our people in word and in
act.
FINANCES, STATE DEBT AND TAXATION.
You are fully aware of the difficulties
that have beset the fiscal operations of the
Government during the past year. There
has been no relaxation of the pressure upon
the Treasury since I eame into office.
Empty when the process of reorganizing
the State Government commenced, and
the ordinary sources of supply suspended,
it has been called up to meet large arrear
ages for the year 1865, demands originat
ing anterior to that year, the expenses of
the Provisional Government, (except the
salary of the incumbent, of this office,) ex
penses of the Convention of 1865, those of
the re-organized Government, repairs and
refitting of the Western and Atlantic Rail
road, the supply of corn for the destitute,
and other appropriations made at the late
session of the General Assembly. As was
anticipated and provided for, these heavy
demands could only be discharged by re
couree to the credit of the State.
The authority given me at your last ses
sion to raise money by the sale of the bonds
of the Stete has been partially executed.
After careful consideration and advisement
with those more versed in financial affairs
than myself, I determined, in the exercise
of the discretion reposed in me, to issue
bonds with the ample security afforded by
a mortgage of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad." Tbe delay incident to the pre
paration of these bonds, and the annexation
of the mortgage security, rendered a resort
to temporary loans necessary.
Avery liberal spirit was manifested by
moneyed corporations and individuals of our
own State ; but in this time of prostration,
barely enough could be realized from these
sources to defray ordinary expenses and
pressing arrearages. To obtain the means
of purchasing corn for the destitute, and
making repairs upon the Western and Atlan
tic Railroad,it was found necessary to resort
to localities where money was more abundant
and States and individuals less needy. _ In
New York, the great commercial emporium
of the country, the required relief was
; found. Loans for four and three months
were negotiated at the rate of seven per
cent, per annum. Qnly in two or three
instances, (within the State) for small
amounts comparatively, when there re
mained no other resources to meet the ex
penses of your last session, rapidly draw
ing to a close, was more than seven per
cent, paid for these temporary loans. All
of the shore loans thus far negotiated by
myself, and all negotiated by the Pro
visional Governor, that have matured, have
been paid in full. The immature loans
contrated by him amount, in the aggregate,
to fifty-three thousand three hundred and
thirty-three and one-third dollars, payable
in gold or its equivalent in currency. _ I
found the indications clear and cheering
that, notwithstanding the great diminution
of the material wealth subject to her tax
ation, her bitter experiences, and her pres
ent prostration, our good old State enjoys
an honorable and enviable credit. I euter
tain not a shadow of doubt Unit, if permit
ted to enter into the money market upon
her own merits—the ban of the Federal
1 Government, which beclouds her future,
removed—her securities would command
more than par ip the present circulating
medium. Notwithstanding the palpable
depression resulting from this cause, (pure
sJy political.) I look with confidence to their
. appreciation, and therefore have avoided,
| *s for as possible, precipitancy in the sale
tiiem. Jf seemed to be a foregone eon
v. *\ut utuiley centre, that Georgia
elusion, ” foold at eighty-five in
bonds would be wu -” r >uiieed to
the hundred, and so it was a^_
Tfo The prompt and decided rejection o,
ai. offers below ninety in the hundred
't. brou sflt them to that point, at
which, however, no larger amount than
1 ' r hT U T neces sity required, was sold.
ihe bonds authorized by the Convention
ot lb t>o—amounting to and limit
ed in time to five years—Were not well re
ceived by capitalists. 1 Jje time was too
jhort to invite permanent
for that reason unsuited ta spfcculatlon. The
J ro visional Governor effected sales of them
only to the amount of £50,040 AH>. But
this difficulty wa.- overcome in a greatmeas
ure by incorporating in them a provision
making them convertible, at the option of
tne holder, into such bond-, on longer
time, as the General {Assembly might au
thorize. The sth section of the act on
this subject, approved 12th March. 1866, j
placing the bonds authorized *by the Con- '
volition, in all respects, on the same f.*ofc- j
mg with those provided for in the preeed*!
me sections, fully sustained this expedient. j
\ ery cheaply prepared, in a style and with
material corresponding -to the short exis
tence intended for them, they aided the
JLreasury materially whiGt more available
bonds were in preparation. Looking to the
, uostitution of the latter for the former at
i an early day, I caused bonds to be prepared
1 conforming to the" provisions of the act
| above referred to, as follows:
| L nuer the Ordinance of the Con
vention as qua hv the act
| of the Legislat •; : • £ 500,000
| Under the Ist see, of the act • 1,500,000
j u nder the 7th sec. t , provide : *r
I payment of the Fede-al tav • 60-',OOO
t under Bth see. tt fuadpaet du<
bonds and couvam • lit, ooo
Under 11th sec appropriation
act to purcha-o tort f • ti:
destitute ; ” i 200.000
%
A* f 0,000 j
The assumptif: r r the Fedc—i! . x not |
having been permitted, and its susp msion !
having dispensed with the n.ce>sity for !
such assumption, the bonds a- -Go and for !
this purpose, t not
been executed, a- ii I in the i
Treasury. ID; covered, :r, by
the mortgage on tm, \\ 1; _ vtlantic
■ 11 . ■ 1 i. p] ay in
perfectly good fa': - 4 . ,visible,
order them executed and issue’ .‘or any
other purpose and with ut adit nal ex- !
pense.
No boncW havftybeei sold at a lower!
price than nine:;'cent • the ar, and 1
very lew above it. Th ; s report
will advise you "! . 'cm \i c and the
proceeds. It w U i . dispose
of the entire i u ft and
prepared for s. t : ..iir price
can be obtainc i , ents have
been made wl. , i> 'eased cost
to the State, v ;; G he ; cessity of j
forced sales be their 1 n -ket value, j
The sales not . » U . _pleted and
the bills for material and work in prepara j
tion ot the bonds not having been render- j
ed, the expense attending this particular I
service cannot now be stated.
Evidence having transpired that there i
are_extant, bonds of the State not register- |
ed in the Treasurer’s office, and of exceed- !
ingly doubtful genuineness—and one hav- j
ing been presented for refunding which ma 1
tured several years since and is marked !
paid on the registry—it lias been deemed I
necessary to proceed with great caution in
the process of funding. All bonds past
due are required to be presented for that
purpose at the Treasury, and any coupons
past due wherever payable may bo funded
there. Coupons payable in New York or
in London, are fundable in the former
city, but all others, only at the Treasury.
That business is now in progress at both
points.
The amount of bonds authorized to be
issued for this specific purpose is $530,550.
Os this amount $234,000, it was estimated,
would be required to refund past due
bonds leaving to be applied to interest due,
the sum of $596,550. The precise amount
of past due coupons, then reported to the
General Assembly was $596,000, which
added to the amount of past due bonds
made an aggregate of $830,000 —showing
clearly in my opinion that the General As
sembly intended to provide for no inter
est other than was evidenced by past due
coupons. Iu this view no provision was
made for the payment of interest accruing
on past due bonds, after their maturity. I
know not whether this omission was or
was not intentional. It is very true that,
under ordinary circumstances, if the holder
of such a security fail to present it at ma
turity for payment, he is held not entitled
to interest. This rule has been applied by
sundry corporations, private and public, to
bonds maturing during the war, 1 submit
to the consideration of the General Assem
bly, whether such application, under the
circumstances, is just and equitable. It is
very certain that after Confederate and
State Treasury notes had filled up the
channels of circulation, the presentation
of such bonds for payment in the medium
contracted for would have been an idle
ceremony. No less certain is it that the
holders of many of thesu bonds were cut
off from access to the place of payment by
the existing war, and therefore could not
make demand. I recommend as more con
sistent with the honor and dignity of the
. State that provision be made for the pay
j ment of this interest.
Evidence bavin,c in :n presented to this
i -department, that since the last paym.
by the State on Us subscription in c 1..-
! stock of the Aiiutme and Guff 11.-ii4r.fU
| additional 'nst.ilm: its have been pa :
i byth- privat. .• t*>ci- holders, which by ‘.’m
i terms of the act new pirating the con ,
panj, approved 27< i February, 1856, su
jected the State to the payment of $134,-
500 on her subscription, I have, in obe
dience to that act, caused to be executed
and delivered to the company, bonds of the
State for that sum.
When all of the bonds authorized by the
act of the General Assembly, approved
12th March, 1866, (except those intended
for the assumption of the Federal tax,)
shall have been disposed of as contem
plated, the funded debt of the State will
stand thus:
Bonds issued anterior to 1861
and not pet due, $2,676,500
Mortgage Ronds issued in 1866,
above mentioned, 3,030,000
Bonds issued to the Atlantic
and Gulf Railroad in 1866, 134; 500
Total, $5,840,000
Os this amount $176,500 will mature in
1868; $334,500 in 1869; $164;500 iu 1870-
making a total of $675,500. The latter
sum, therefore, must be provided for with
in four years from this time. I recommend
that the bonds before mentioned, prepared
to meet the Federal tax, but as yet unexe
cuted, be placed at the disposal of the
Governor, with authority to use them as
occasion may be presented by sale or ex
cliadge if deemed advisable, in redemption
of the bonds to mature in and before the
year 1870. The public debt will not thus
be increased in amount and may be some
what diminished.
Ronds amounting to $154,000 will ma
ture in 1871, and others amounting to
$721,500 in 1872,_ the aggregate being
$875,500 to be provided for in six years.
To meet this and subsequently accruing
liabilities I recommend that the sum of one
hundred and twenty thousand dollars bo
annually set apart as a sinking fund accu
mulative.
If the first class of Ronds (to mature
within lour years,) be provided for in the
manner suggested, and the sinking fund
proposed be allowed to accumulate until
1872, at 6 per cent, interest, it will be ade
quate to the payment of the Bonds matu
ring in 1871 and 1572._ But, if in the then
existing financial condition of the State, it
should be deemed advisible by your succes
sors to meet the liabilities of 1871 and 1872
by sale of the State s stock in the Atlantic
and Gulf Railroad, or by applying any
other resource available at that time) and
permit the sinking fund to go on accumu
lating, the entire debt of' the State may; in
the progress of _time,_ be easily ptovided
for, and her credit maintained. In urging
you -o look thus far into the future, and to
provide means or initiate a policy for the
accomplishment of ends so desirable, I
think I but present a case of clear duty. It
is true, that during the immaturity of State
securities, if the annually accruing interest
be faithfully paid, the holders have no
legal right to ask more. But I would press
upon your adoption the scheme of a sink
ing fund, as one of the surest _ props to
State credit, and as an act of justice to pos
terity ; and for these reasons, as a great
measure of State policy. Its great advan
■ i.tes tee ' 'A- in o ; -
. payment equa’ly over a series of years;
and. indeed, the sum to be provided in
each year will be so small, as scarcely to
merit the appellation of a burthen. TV hen
soever a forge amount shall mature in any
oue year, without -each provision, either
the tax payers of that year must be op
pressively burthened, or anew debt must
be incurred. Should this occur when mo
ney is scarce, it may be difficult, if not im- :
practicable, to place anew loan, thus I
bringing the General Assembly face to lace j
witli the alternative of oppressive taxation ■
or dishonor of the State’s obligations. The |
escape from this dilemma, now proposed, j
is so easy, that I think it will commend it- .
self to the Favorable consideration ot the i
General Assembly. The debt of the United j
States Government is so large, and her j
credit sustained by resources so ample; that ,
her outstanding securities will always
ford facilities for the investment _ o. a.e
sinking fund and its abcumuiatmg interest.
I reiterate the conviction expressed in
my first message to vou, that the \\ estern
and Atlantic Railroad, put m a condition
of thorousrh repair, and furnished with j
adequate rolling stock, will m the future j
with proper management, sustain itseu
and yield a revenue, whicti, increased by
diviuends that may reasonably be expected
from the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, will
always render unnecessary, onerous mxa-
The reports of the Treasurer and Comp
troller General will furnish you detailed
information relative to the finances oi trie
titate, and with statistical information ot
an interesting character. I commend to
v.tur s,.i foils ioasidefation the suggestions
' -•■- u. ; . •
of the iai^.
the reveuue laws. _ , , , ”‘ on
The collection of the Federal tax ife
lands having been suspended beror
progress had been made. I did not fee! au
thorized to suspend that imposed ior the j
support of the State Government I re- ,
srret exceedingly that any portion of our '
iellow-eiuzens .-Uould have been required to
pay the Federal tax, but not believing that j
your legislation contemplated partial sus
pension of the State tax, I could not come
to their relief. The State tax, ad valorem
is very light, being only one-sixth of one
per cent.
The tax upon the sale of spirituous li- I
quors seemed by its terms to embrace the j
first quarter of the present year, which had i
nearly expired before the tax was ini- j
posed. Being retroactive, the seller was :
deprived of the opportunity to add the tax !
to the price, in his sales. Besides, many
merchants had during that quarter sold
the article for non-residents, on commis
sion, and made final settlements with the
owners. Had the tax been exacted of
them, it would have exceeded largely their
commissions, and subjected them to serious
loss, without fault on their part, For
these reasons I suspended the tax for the
first quarter, and now invite your atten
tion to it.
The people of Georgia have always been
lightly taxed, and I see no indications that
the State Government will be constrained
to make this burthen onerous in the
future.
EDUCATION.
Tiie reopening of the University, after
an unavoidable suspension, has elicited
the most satisfactory evidence of public
approval. Many of its most ardent friends
entertained the apprehension that causes
connected with the war recently terminat
ed, and chief among them the utter im
poverishment of some, and the straitened
circumstances of others, formerly both
able and willing to educate their sons,
would occasion such diminution of patron
age as would render the effort abortive.
The result has been far otherwise. The
number of applicants for admission, very
respectable at first, has rapidly increased,
and is still increasing. There are now
matriculated considerable more than one
hundred. It offers to the people of Geor
gia. very great educational advantages,
whilst the tone of moral and religious
opinion and feeling is decidedly high, with
out the slightest taint of sectarian bias. •
We live in an age when educated mind
must take a leading part in affairs of State.
Any people neglecting to provide cither
elementary education for the mass, or to
atlbrd facilities for obtaining such higher
and more extended knowledge as will
enable their youth, passing into manhood,
to master in due time difficult problems iu
political economy and in State policy, will
assuredly fall behind in the competition of
States and nations for superior develop
ment.
Prejudices which in former times found
voice in our legislative assemblies against
liberal education, we may well hope, have
been dissipated by experience. Georgia
has profited too much by the service of Iter
educated sons, in all departments of public
employment, not to see clearly how largely
her future prosperity and greatness de
pend upon the enlightenment of the rising
generation. The third clause of the fifth
section, second article of the Constitution,
clearly indicates that, in the opinion of
the Convention of 1865, the present en
dowment of the University of Georgia is
inadequate to its necessities. Mindful of
the serious losses our people have recently
sustained, and the temporary depression
of their material interests, I forbear urging
you at this time to increase the endow
ment. My object in adverting to the sub
ject now is to congratulate you and your
constituents upon the good use which is
being made of the limited aid heretofore
and still extended to this venerable institu
tion, and to ask that her past and present
usefulness be accepted as an earnest of the
fruit that may be anticipatedfrom a larger
endowment in more prosperous times.
There is, however, a measure by which
the usefulness of the University may be
greatly increased, and a great public trust,
now devolved upon the General Assembly,
judiciously executed, without imposing
any burden upon our impoverished peo
ple. A large extent of public lands be
longing to the United States has been, by
an act of Congress, devoted to the estab
lishment of agricultural colleges in the
several States. At your last session you
accepted, for the purpose indicated, such
land as might be allotted to Georgia under
that act, and your acceptance has been
communicated to that Government. This
resource can be applied to no other pur
pose whatever, and the question arises
how it can be most advantageously em
ployed for that. If a separate independent
institution be established, much expense
must be incurred, which might be saved
by making it an appendage of your Uni
versity. The term University is expressive
of the idea of divers schools and colleges,
each devoted to some particular branch of
science, and all united under one general
government, and constituting a grand
seminary of learning. This was the object
contemplated in the establishment of the
University of Georgia, though the means
for its full development have never been
f ind,-lied. There are now connected with
"part from the ordinary collegiate
urscj i sd: ■ ; of civil engineering, a i%w
* of, and"a dSuariffieut of agricultural
■ Lemistry. A. the University is a rotate
listitution and as the agricultural college
: usi A-o be under the 8 <'■■■ ir.anageiin nt.
respe tfully recommend that the latter
be organized as a distinct department of
learning in the former, care being taken
that the specific endowment now referred
to be devoted exclusively to the main
tenance of that department.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
There is no subject demanding your at
tention, of greater importance to the State,
than that of common school education.
In so large a population there must
always be a considerable number to whom,
without government aid, even elementary
education must ever remain forbidden
fruit. If these be regarded simply in their
individuality, their destitution of mental
culture must appeal strongly to the sym
pathies of their more fortunate fellow
citizens. But the interest in the subject
arises immeasurably when they are looked
upon as future members of the body politic,
under a constitution, extending general
suffrage of male citizens.
A conscientious man, wholly uneducated,
always feels much embarrassment in
choosing between rival candidates for popu
lar suffrage, and whatever bo his natural
endowments, and however prominent his
virtues, is conscious of his own want of
qualification for public service. No plainer
proposition can be stated than that a peo
ple who govern ought to be an intelligent
people.
Experience has shown that it is difficult
to organize and keep in successful opera
tion, a system of common school education
where the population is sparse. But the
difficulty should not discourage effort.
Persistent trial will expose errors and sug
gest remedies. Even our imperfect sys
tem, has, like all other useful enterprises,
suffered suspension. I remarked with
pleasure, that at your last session, you had
raised from your own bodies a joint com
mittee to consider, during your recess, and
on your re-assembling, to report upon this
great subject, llelying upon your fidelity
and ability, as your own chosen deposita
ries of so grave a trust, I venture upon no
suggestions as to details.
It will, of couase, occur to you, and will
doubtless have commanded the attention
of your committee, that the sources whence
the fund for this purpose was derived,
have almost entirely failed. The Bank
Stocks owned by the State, and applied to
this object, have been lost. The Western
and Atlantic Railroad has yielded no
revenue within the past two and a half
years—and in all probability, until it shall
have thrown off the war-imposed burdens,
can do little or nothing for this cause. Its
revenues are now pledged to the payment
of interest on, and a sinking fund lor the
public debt, necessarily considerably in
creased within the past financial year, j
Notwithstanding all these difficulties, I re
spectfully suggest that attention to, and ■
provision for this public interest, does pot j
admit of delay. I doubt not that your I
constiuents will cheerfully bear, even now, j
such contributions as may be demanded of !
them, to foster it.
THE WESTERN AND ATLANTIC RAILROAD.
1 transmit herewith a copy of the re
port of the Superintendent of the B estern
and Atlantic Railroad, accompanied by re
ports to him of subordinate officers, and
sundry tabular statements.
From a careful perusal of these docu
ments, not only general results, but de
tailed information relative to the different
branches of service, and a clear insight
into the general management of this im
portant interest, may be really obtained.
The very great improvement "made since
the road passed under the management of
the present superintendent, in the track
itself', in the motive power and other roll
ing stock, and in the general service,
whether stationary at the termini and at
the intermediate depots, or moving with
the trains, reflects the highest credit upon
him and his subordinates. These docu
ments disclose the facts that reconstruc
tion, renovation and increased capacity to
meet the demands of travel and commerce,
were required at all points and in all de
partments. and that large arrearages oc
curring between the 25th September. 1865,
and the Ist of April, 1866, have been met
since the latter day. Accidents and losses
are now of' very rare occurrence, and
failures or delays of trains almost un
known.
7 During the first six months of the year
the business of the road was very large,
owing to the fact that many roads in the
Eastern line of connection with the North
ern cities were not in operation. They,
having been put in working order during
the spring, have again drawn to themselves
much t ravc-l and transportion formerly en
joyed and properly appertaining to them.
This circumstance, and a general, though
it is believed temporary falling off during
the summer months of this business, have
greatly curtailed the gross receipts.—
Should tLf,re note.- a revival in the activity
1 *'ro«polity of the country, now slowly
recovering n6ni the exhaust,on oi long
war, railroad business will revive witn j
them. The location and connections of
the Western and Atlantic railroad, as well
remarked by the Superintendent, ensure it
a large participation, any circum
stances, in the general travel and trans
portation. he they great or Imall. Should
the good time hoped for tome, there is
every indication that this riad will be in a
condition to do its part in tie general ser
vice promptly and efficiently It was esti
mated when you were last in session, that,
to put the road in ail respecis in thorough
working condition, it would be necessary
for the State to contribute from half a
million to seven hundred thousand dollars.
The aid, so lar extended, really exceeds
very little the sum of three kindred thou
sand dollars. It will probably be necessary
to add to this sum two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, being an aggregate of
about five hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars, moderately exceeding the smallest
estimate. To make this further advance,
j you have already provided the means.
There h angs, however, over the road a
heavy debt to the United States Govern
ment, contracted in the purchase of sup
j plies and railroad property by the provis
j ional superintendent, for the payment ol
' which a year lienee, the faith oi' the State
jis pledged. The State of Georgia has a
claim upon that Government for the use
and occupation of the road and its rolling
stock and other items, which may or may
not be so far liquidated and acknowledged,
by that time, as to be set off against that
indebtedness. Every effort will be made
to effect a full and amicable settlement,
which will ease the State of this burden;
but, in any event, the faith of the State
must be kept.
Looking to the contingency of this pay
ment having to be made, if it.be thrown
upon the road no reliance can be placed
upon it for revenue to meet the current
expenses of the Government during the
year upon which we have just entered.
The precise amount of this debt has not
been ascertained, in consequence of a fail
ure to deliver some of the cars purchased.
But, deducting from the whole amount
of tha. invoice, payments made, the re
maMoer will exceed sonn*hat four hun
dred thousand dollars.
If be given the Executive to
make payments upon this debt from time
to time, out of any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, (failing all
efforts at settlement,) it may be arranged
iu the course of the year, and the amount
of interest meantime gradually reduced.
My belief is that if the net profits from
the road bo even fair, the sum estimated by
the Comptroller General, to arise from
that source, may be deducted and this
debt discharged without creating anew
loan.
I concur in the suggestions of the Su
perintendent, relative to the inadequacy
of the salaries of the Treasurer and Audi
tor. If the ability and skill required to
fill those offices properly, and the amount
of labor and responsibility attending them
be considered, it would seem very clear
that the present salaries, in times like
these, are not compensatory. I request
the General Assembly to give just con
sideration to this subject.
During the existence of the war au
thority was given to the Superintendent to
isssue change bills for a stated amount.
Os these there are now outstanding from
seventy-five to eighty thousand dollars.
That the holders of these change bills are
entitled to payment by some rule, can
scarcely bo questioned. They were not
issued with any view to aid in the war,
but to relieve the road and the people from
one of the inconveniences of the war—the
difficulty of making change. For this
purpose they were interchanged with
Confederate treasury notes in settlements,
and the question is, whether they should
be redeemed at their nominal value or at
the then value of Confederate notes, (on
the level of which they stood,) at the time
of their issue, or on what other scale ? It
is a small matter, but the Superintendent,
wishing'to do wliat is right, has felt some
embarrassment. There is little doubt that
they have been to a considerable extent
counterfeited, and, therefore their payment
in currency at some set value would be
much safer than their absorption for fare
or freight on the road. The matter is sub
mitted for your determination.
TIIE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
One of the most grievous evils to which
our race is subjected is the deprivation of
human reason. The greatest alleviation
of this terrible malady is found in the
establishment of asylums for the stricken,
where their wants are cared for, their evil
propensities and their power for mischief
controlled and their disease skilfully
treated. Georgia has established one of
these institutions, devised by advanced
civilization. It is in successful operation ;
is, I believe, well managed, and is dis
pensing a noble charity to the indigent,
and a more than compensatory blessing to
the wealthy, whose misfortunes bring
them to its doors. The report of the Su
perintendent and Resident .Physician will
he ’ .-for- y*>ii. id vising you in detail of its
' "iidLlou and management, its wants and
misci.v ibilily oi improvement. Your com
mittees ol scffiuuSo professional men and
financiers will look into these subjects with
more capacity to enlighten you than I can
bring to bear.
)n Coo point, however. 1 deem it my
duty 1 ~■! your serious deliberation.
The Code requires that persons of color
shall be admitted into the institution ; but
another section of the same Code enjoins
it as an imperative duty on the Superin
tendent to keep patients of the white and
African races separate, a provision found
ed in the wisest sanitary policy, I am in
formed by the Superintendent and Resi
dent Physician, that with the present
accommodations and plan of the build
ing, and the . number of white patients
there and likely to be there, it is
impossible to comply with both re
quirements of the Code. Something
must be done for the enlargement of the
building, or colored people must be ex
cluded continuously from it. The latter
alternative, allow me to say, should not be
contemplated for a moment. The infor
mation. brought to me, induces the belief
that this fearful malady is on the increase
among that people. Heretofore accustom
ed to be cared for, themselves uncaring,
they have been free from very many anxie
ties and responsibilities, which often har
rass and craze those in higher social po
sition. Now, suddenly, after many years
of irresponsible, unsolicitous life, they find
themselves invested with the boon of free
dom coupled with the burthens'of self-pre
servation and family provision, whilst their
evil propensities, previously kept in check
by wholesome home government, are left
unbridled. Among them insanity most
assuredly will increase. Heretofore when
it has occurred, home provision has been
made for it, but home, such as they once
enjoyed, remains to them no longer. Will
the State abandon them to all the miseries,
sufferings and. perils that wait upon insan
ity? Humanity to them and safety to the
public alike forbid it. Either in the State
Asylum or in county poor houses, imme
diate and efficient provision should be made
for the case. . Your attention is earnestly
requested to it.
THE ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND.
The school for the instruction of unfor
tifnates deprived of the sense of sight, is in
successful operation. It is one of those
benevolent institutions which commends
itself to the support of governments and of
individuals. It is truly an interesting en
tertainment to hear those long shut out
from light of day—some ofAvhoiu never en
joyed its perception—reading fluently and
accurately from the Word of Life, or from
uninspired though instructive books. This
art generally extended to such sufferers,
and the number of books adapted to their
use multiplied, how wide a held of enjoy
rucut and improvement will be oi>ened to
those otherwise doomed to lives cheerless
and almost useless, But it is not alone
mental cultivation and literary enjoyment
that are put within their reach in this
Academy. There are simple branches of'
manufacture, for which they are entirely
competent, if only instructed by those
blessed with sight, and which may afford
many the means .of making a livelihood,
who must otherwise depend upon charity,
ouch instruction is now being imparted in
this institution, greatly redounding to the
creuit of the managers, and increasing its
usefulness. The annual report of the Brin- |
cipal will be before you, and to your favor
able consideration I commend the institu
tion.
j ACADEMY for the deaf and dumb.
In the exercise of the discretion given
j me by the General Assembly. I have not
j caused this institution to be re-opened.
HaU it been in operation, I should have
relt it a duty so to continue it. But being
already m a state of suspension, it would
; doubtless have required prompt pecuniary
i to enable it to resume its functions.
-Not until a very late period could such aid
• nave boon furnished, nor can it even now
without increasing the fiscal embarrass
i ; ufcuts Pressing upon the State. I trust,
however, that at the commencement of
another year, this may be done, and that it
will be the pleasure of the General Assem
bly to provide for it. This is another of
i i“°se great humanitarian enterprises which
t 1?? , n undertaken by the State.
; should not be suffered either to fail or to
ianguish.
industrial pursuits.
The failure in agricultural pursuits dur
mg the year 1866, resulting in part f'rotn
the indisposition to steady labor of the
freedmen, but chiefly from unpropitious
.•scaspn?;, has doubtless exercised a depress
ing influence upon the energies of our peo
pie. It is to he hoped that they will
speedily rally, and rise above despondency.
It should be assumed that neither of these
causes will prove continuous. It rarely
happens, in the dealings of Providence,
that two seasons, decidedly unfavorable to
the cultivation of the soil, come consecu
tively, in the same locality. The next may
reward the husbandman with abundant
harvests.
N or should the people of the South yield
readily to discouragement in regard to the
labor of the negro in his new status. All
reflecting minds cannot fail to perceive
that the first effect of sudden manumission !
must be unfavorable to his wtil-doiug and
to his well-being. Unaccustomed to wir
ing for himself, he is prone to believe that
the freedom with which lie has been invest
ed involves freedom from labor, which was,
in his eyes, the distinctive trait in the con
dition of slavery. It is not to be expected
that he would, at once, rdason correctly as
to liis surroundings and prospects, or adopt
promptly the reasoning of the late proprie
tary race. Experience alone can teach
him wisdom, and what her teaching will
be is not a subject of speculation; we all
know what it will bo. In addition to all this,
there is abundant evidence that he has
indulged most extravagant and unfounded
expectations of benefits to be conferred un
on him by the Federal Government. He
has expected from that source a free grant
of land in his own right, and has been in
disposed to cultivate the land of others.
If driven to it by present necessity, he has
regarded it as a temporary expedient, and
went to work predisposed to shirk it. Time
will dissipate these delusions. It would
be both just and kind to wait for and to
assist his awakening from them. Many
who have hurried into courses of vice and
crime, will probably prove irreclaimable.
These must be committed to a just and im
partial administration of the law, as is
practiced with the vicious of our own race.
But the great mass of these people, under
good influences, may be made useful to
themselves and to the country.
The planting interest in Georgia can
never again be what it has been. Few, if
any, will be able to prosecute it on as large
a scale as some have done in the past.
But agriculture ran t continm t h< the
chief industrial pursi • iff Hu
return of prosperity will only be r< tarded
by inconsiderate at ai- main ol it under
a feeling of despv ntei S. fa • -is the
great staple for exi >r. L , i neom t. :....uy
will probably be si., p;i>.A .it flu • e. uuiaiy
results, even in tlii ' ... : year. 1 v
price of the article «• mot ♦ban liace
ibid that of the veumi' es teniiei-veai>;
whilst the product. -A via S-c ful
ly one-third of thai . >,:x< >i -c > us
We cannot derivi ; lie -.a co,— ition.
to the full extent, regardu g the provision
crop. That will i ill short
required to subsi.-i th people#.'! tin
State; and whilst time who eo'.ul-. .ed
with it the culture A''•<> v.’dl he abini
dandy able to su >!y ' i >••• li.*
poorer classes, who \m- r -vev a, -•.••mod
to produce more than a livelihood, will be
greatly straitened. But such as has been
always their experience uuder like circum
stance, and they must be helped, as here
tofore, by those more favored. Surely it
will be so. Especially should the creditor
| class favor the debter thus unfortunately
i stituated. He who, under such cireum-
I stances, would coerce payment, hy legal
compulsion, beyond his positive necessities,
would be a monster, even in the family of
Mammon.
Good policy and wise forecast undoubted
ly require diversity of pursuits. Resources,
other than agricultural, which are abun
dant in Georgia, should be developed.
And there arc those who have pecuniary
ability, without adaptation to husbandry ;
and others who Lave brain, or bone and
muscle, or all combined, who have neither
land nor the means of purchasing it, to
whom these other fields of enterprise are
especially inviting. But agriculture is at
last tho leading and the mostdesirable pur
suit, and those having experience in it, or
adaptability to it, combined with the pos
session of land or the means to purchase
it, should struggle with all possible energy
and persistence to overcome all obstacles
to success. In view of material prosperity,
the most gloomy picture of these gloomy
times is productive land lying fallow. Let
all holders of arable land cultivate the
freedman, in order that he may cultivate
the soil, to the great advantage of both
parties. And if, at last, he prove untract
able and unavailable, let the pauper popu
lation of other countries be sought after.
But, come what may, let our bread acres
be tilled. There lies, for us, the broadest,
and deepest and most reliable source of
subsistence and of wealth. Whatever the
General Assembly can do to encourage and
foster this branch of industry, 1 earnestly
urge upon them. They are themselves
chiefly of this class, and may be supposed
to comprehend its wants. At the same
time, doubtless, they will be disposed to
do all they can legitimately to promote the
introduction and development of other in
dustrial pursuits.
THE PENITENTIARY.
The Penitentiary of' the State has been
this year passing through a trying ordeal.
Subjected during the war to the torch of
an invading army ; at tho commencement
of the present political year it was in a
state of great dilapidation—scarcely an
available tenement on the premises, its
workshops destroyed, tho largo ccll-build
ing roofless, and otherwise injured—every
thing wearing the aspect of ruin, with no
funds, and few convicts to aid in the work
of reconstruction. The appropriation made
for repairs and for support of the institu
tion was, in my estimation, very inadequate
to its necessities. Yet, 1 think those who
will charge themselves witli personal in
spection will find that, by ccouomy, energy,
and a wise use of limited means, very much
has been accomplished in the way of reno
vation. The cell-building, essential to the
safekeeping of the inmates, has been put
in excellent condition ; some workshops
have been constructed ; the tapnery and
shoe manufactory have been put in good
working order ; a large eating-room, with
kitchen and smoke-house appurtenant,
has been built de novo ; the barracks for
the guard have been made not only habita
ble, but comfortable; the steam engine
has been repaired and made subsidiary to
many useful purposes, and the debris of
the fire has disappeared. There remain
ruins not removed, because susceptible, at
moderate expense, of useful reno
vation. Asa Georgian, I regret to
add another evidence of its prosperity as
an institution, viz : the large increase in
the number of its inmates/ I willingly
bear testimony to the fidelity and ability
with which the Principal Keeper and his
assistants have discharged their duty.
The Report of tho former will be before
you. Your communities will scrutinize it.
inspect the premises, and look into the
general management of the institution. I
deem it unnecessary to reiterate the views
presented to you in my first message rela
tive to its continuance as a State instution,
and the extension to it of such fostering
care as its necessities may require.
In conformity with a resolution of the
General Assembly, Messrs. Ilowell Cobb,
Mark A. Cooper, and John 11. Fitten,
were appointed commissioners “to examine
and report upon the propriety of removing
the present Penitentiary and locating it
elsewhere, or of establishing an additional
one. ’ ’ Tlieir report has not yet been re
ceived, but, I am informed, will be soon
presented. When received, it will he
transmitted ; and until then I reserve any
other views I may desire to present on this
subject.
THE CHAIN-GANG.
By an act of the General Assembly, en
titled “An Act to alter and amend th«
Penal Code of Georgia,” approved 20,th
March, 1866, a large number of offences,
previously treated as felonies, were re
i d'aced below that grade, and were made
j punishable, in the discretion of the Judge,
by sentence, “to work in a chain gang.”
And by another act, entitled “An Act to
Regulate the manner of convicts laboring
upon public works, and to define the pow
ers and duties of the Inferior Court and
Governor of the State, touching the same,
andfor other purposes therein mentioned.”
(approved on the same day,) it was left
discretionary with the Inferior Courts of
the several counties to employ such con
v«# on the public works of the county, or
to report them to the Governor, to be
othewise employed. When so reported,
it was made the duty of the Governor to
send a guard for them, and to employ them
diligently on the Western and Atlantic
Railroad, or upon such other public works
or improvements as he might judge to be the
best interest of the State, and as shall best
subserve the ends of justice. Sentences
of this character have been very numerous,
and in nearly all cases, the Inferior Courts,
declining to employ them in the counties
wherein they were convicted and senten
ced, have reported them to the Executive.
The performance of this duty has been
attended with great difficulty, embarrass
ment and expense. I made early examin
ation into the practicability of employing
these convicts safely and advantageously
on the Western and Atlantic Railroad,
and became thoroughly satisfied, that, al
though such labor might be very profita
bly used in constructing a railroad where
there were excavations and embankments
to be made, it was entirely inadapted to
any work to be done on a railroad finished
and in operation. In ordinary employment,
as depot or train hands, or track-men, or
in any other work of which they are capa
ble, they require more freedom of action
and more dispersion than would be com
patible with secure confinement, without
employing almost as many guards as la
borers. That, therefore, was not available.
There are no established public works,
except within the walls of the, Penitentia
ry, where mechanical arts are chiefly prose
cuted. For, these, the term of punish
ment usually prescribed for chain gang
convicts is too short, and in them convicts
sentenced tor felonies can be more profita
ble employed for the State and for them
selves. The expense of transporting them
to the seat of government is very heavy.
It sometimes happens, and may often
occur, that a gn'rd is sent from the scat of
government to a county most remore from
it, for a single chain gang convict, and
within a month has to be sent to the same j
or an adjoining county for another, and.
perhaps, neither may have been sentenced i
for more than sixty days. U hen brought j
here, there are no pre-arranged facilities 1
for employing, keeping or guarding them. 1
To overcome these difficulties, I have con
nected this branch of the public service mor< '
or less closely with the operations of the '
Penitentiary. This made the transporta- j
tion cheaper, because often the same guard j
would bring^onyictTTfoloniesan^y
v,ers Os nnsdo.nr.nnnrs.. Within the walls
°, itl,u cuifoutjary, 1 Have also found it
cheaper and rto confine t»m at
night , and whenever their labor could bo
employed profitably to the Penitentiary I
have causou.to be soused, and clftrged
that institution with it. At the same
tune, 1 been compelled to impose
upon it the lodging, guarding and subsist
ence of them, and of course to allow rea
sonable compensation for them. They
have been, as far as practicable, employed
in out-door work-in doing, carrying and
lifting, necessary in the repairs on the
Executive mansion and State House in
clearing away the ruins of the demolished
Arsenal, in improving the grounds of *e
Public Square, iu improving the streets
of Milledgeville at very moderate hire, in
making brick in the Penitentiary bric-k
yard, in quarrying granite, which may be
useful to the State, or saleable. as the
number increases—and it does so rapidly
the difficulty of employing them and the
incidental expense increases dispropor
tionately. If the policy of throwing them
upon the hands of the Executive be con
tinued, it is indispensably necessary that
some regular continuing public works,
adapted to their capacity, be inaugurated,
and that a system be adopted for this
whole service. I recommend, however,
that their employment upon the public
roads of the several counties, and in ma
king brick for the erection of court houses
and jails, and in building bridges, be made
compulsory upon the Inferior Courts of the
saveral counties. There is open to those
Courts a wide field for their employment,
in every county, which, with good man
uld i 1 ' Ivantage
ous to it. Nothing more is wanting than
a spirit of enterprise and improvement™
The roads and bridge: of the State, wit™
rare exceptions, are proverbially bad. liH
many counties, court houses are wanted:
,tid, in a vast majority, sate and commo
dious jails. Here is an opportunity to
command free labor for such useful pur
fposes. Many shrink from it. because, in
(he beginning, the laborer* are too few to
Ire profitably employed. But the indica
ttons are. that this would be only tempora
ry. An i ffieient gang once made up \\ uld
undoubtedly be fh&jataincd as regardsnum-
Lbors. Where itbeSme necessary provision
| might be made for consolidating ilianas
i of two or three ml joining countnPSk and
• work : t'*n alteruat !y m the eTm q
. tire other.
After much reflection and a little expe
rience, lam satisfied of three things. Ist.
That owing to the short terms of punish
ment, no general system of State employ
ment of these convicts can be devised which
will at all compensate for the expense of
transporting, subsisting and guarding
them. 2d. That tho employment of them
in the counties where convicted can bo
made to. relieve the planting interest gene
rally of an onerous public service, (the
working ol the roads) and in every way
prove beneficial to the counties. 3d.
That not hing short of legal compulsion will
induce the courts of the counties to em
bark in the enterprise.
This subject, in my judgment, demands
the serious consideration of the General
Assembly.
MAIMED SOLDIERS.
Considerable delay has, I regret to say
attended the completion of arrangements
for the supply of artificial limbs to maimed
soldiers. No general inconvenience, how
ever, has resulted from it, iu consequence
of tardiness in returns made to the Comp
troller General; less than one hundred ap
plications having been made by the first of
September, of which one-fourth were in
formal. and only about one-half the coun
ties having been yet heard from.
I appointed as a board of surgeons to
examine specimens of various patents
which were put in competition for the
work ordered by the General Assembly,
Drs. L. A. Dugas, 11. H. Steiner and L.
D. Ford, of Augusta, having personal
knowledge of tlieir professional attainments
and skill, and believing that the examina
tions and consultations could be made with
more deliberation and less delay by select
ing those resident in the same place.
A call was also made through the ga
zettes, as directed in the act, lor proposals
from manufacturers exhibiting specimens,
which elicited quite a number. Consider
ing together these proposals, the report of
the surgeons upon the relative merits of
the limbs submitted to tlieir examination,
and the directions given in the first section
of the act as a guide to the Executive, it
was very clearly my duty to accept the
offer of Dr. Douglass Bly. To him, there
fcfp, the contract was awarded, and it has
boen duly executed; he naming Macon as
the central point where the limbs were to
befitted. The price of these limbs will be
seventy dollars for each leg, and for each
arm where the amputation was above the
elbow, and forty dollars where it was
made below that joint.
The report of the Comptroller General
will inform you of the whole number ol ap
plications that have been made and of the
probable total. The sum required to sup
ply all applicants who bring themselves
within the provisions of the act, will prob
ably somewhat exceed the appropriation
made, but it will doubtless be your pleas
ure to increase it so as to leave none
destitute. Adequate information will
probably be at your command in time to
act. ».
Prom information collected, I am satis
fied tnat the benefit to be derived by the
wearer of this admirable invention, will
depend mainly upon himself. Early
experience in the use of the most perfect
and best adapted artificial limb will be dis
appointing, but proper caution and perse
verance will so familiarize the wearer with
its action, as to make it speedily a wonder
fully useful substitute for the lost mernbei.
It is to be hoped that the brave men who
have suffered mutilation will, by the exer
cise of pa tience, care and persistence, de
rive all the benefit you have designed for
them.
CORN APPROPRIATION.
After careful enquiry, 1 became satisfied
that the coni could be most advantageous
ly supplied the destitute with the appro
priation of the last sc>. ion by sending an
agent to the Northwest, and that St. Louis
was the best point for his operations. Col,
Maddox was accordingly appointed and
dispatched so soon as the necessary funds
could he obtained. Through the liberality
of companies engaged in transportation by
steamboat and railroad between St. Louis
and Chattauoaga, half freights only were
charged for bringing this corn to tlm wes
tern terminus of tiie State Road—which
enabled me to expend in the purchase at
least $35,000 more than could otherwise
have been done. The different railroad
companies of this State, with their accus
tomed public spirit in the furtherance of
good works, have done their part in the
transportation with promptness and fidel
ity, free of charge. To avoid delay I up.
pointed Col. Peterson Thweatt, Agent, tq
receive tho corn at Chattanooga and to
distribute it to the counties, thus carrying
on the purchase and distribution simulta
neously.
The Superintendent and other officers
and agents of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad have also materially aided the
operation, The purchasing and distribut
ing agents have displayed a high degree of
businoss capacity, promptness, and fidelity
in the discharge of their duties. The re
sult is, the purchase and distribution in
round numbers of 185,000 bushels of corn,
being four and a half bushels to each bene-,
ficiary reported, at a cost (all expenses in
cluded) a little less than one dollar per
bushel. There are some items not yet re
ported, which prevents a more precise
statement, hut when all expenses shall
have been paid, there will remain in the
Treasury, of this apnropropriation, about
$15,000. Reports oi the agents accom
pany this communication.
1 cannot dose this Subject (relief to the
destitute and suffering people of Georgia,)
without making this public acknowledg
ment of certain noble benef'aciion3 from
the charitable of other States, (partly in
provisions and partly in money,) which
have been and are being distributed;
through my instrumentality. In these
munificent charities the nable women of
our country have, as usual, been the chief
actors. Ladies’ Southern Relief Associa
tions of Baltimore, of St. Joseph, Mo.,
and of Woodford, Ky.; the Florissant
Southern Relief Association of St. Louis,
Mo., and citizens of St. Louis, Mo., acting
through a committee,, are the doers of
these good works. We can give them only
our poor thanks. May lie who is love,
and wholovetha cheerful giver, bestow
upon them a better reward.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
The State house has been re-roofed, and
I trust, made secure against leakage ; and
the legislative halls have been renovated.
Water has been introduced into the build
ing. The cupola is represented to be in
an unsafe condition, requiring some repairs
which could not be made with the existing
appropriation. For this reason I have not
had the clock repaired Wi.ich stands within
it, and coaid not be expected to run well
until those repairs shall have been made.
The Executive Mansion has been put in
secure and comfortable order ; but, owing
to the high prices of furniture,
labor and freights, and the discovery of
greater decay and dilapidation than was an
ticipated, the appropriation proved insuffi
cient for the object, and the excess has
been paid out of the contingent fund, of
which, notwithstanding other unexpected
j drafts upon it, there remains a considerable
| unexpended balance. I refer you, for de
j tailed report and suggestions, to the ac
companyingreportoftheengineerin charge.
EXEC L TIYE DEPARTME NT.
My experience in this Department in
daces the belief that two Secretaries will
be adequate to its business. I dispensed
with the services of the additional Secre
tary employed during your last session very
soon after your adjournment. If, however,
the outies be performed by two, as 1 think
they can be by the present efficient incum
bents, their labors will be arduous; and
this, together with the very great cost of
living at this time, entitles them to a mod