Newspaper Page Text
For the relief ot W. J. William*. —
Lost.
To change the line,between Johnson and
Emanuel counties Passed.
Adjourned to 3 o'clock, p. m. . "j
The Supreme t’eurt met in tins
city this morning. All the Judges u
present. Ttf- docket oft he South West- ,
ern circuit will be fir-t taken up. I nottt'e
Hon. R. F Lvnn. Col. Mark Blauford.
Mc- rs. Wright, Irwin and Morgan, ot
Albany. Cos!. Sam. IJ.JI and Hon. James ;
L. Seward in attendance.
I will furnish voti. from day to dar, with
the minutes of points decided. U U
HOUSE —sfcPntHSQOB SESSION.
>1 spay. Jleceml>er3.
SENATE HILLS (>N THEIR PASSAGE.
To incort rate Lumpkin Man ifactunng
Company. Passed.
To prevent the distillation of cereals and
--i<r,ir cane seed into spirituous liquors, j
£o amend the laws of equity fur marshal
in; the as-ct* ofdeceased persons. House
insisted on its amendment
For reiief of Albert Field. Passed.
Toohang ■ 1 Orion 25'n of the Code (al
low, Administrators, Executor* -and
Guardians to compromise claims.) 1 asset!
To regulate sessions of the Supreme
Court. .
To modify the law, relative to lotteries.
(T. allow money to bo raised by lottery lor
educational purposes.) Maj. Moses, of
\| liscuifcG. said in a previous debato thi.s
day, lie had said we propose to open the
(l(M»r of the treasury to humanity , that
oraru* might enter. Now chanty pro
poses to influence our Legislation that
peculation may enter. He concluwd bv
proposing that the names of Mrs. W. H.
T. W alker. Mrs. J. J. Williams and Mrs.
Geo. Polos be put in the bill as associate
corporators. Mr. Harri-on moved to iri-
S'Tt the name of Mrs. Ph “be 1 emtier. Ihe
ladies names were inserted and the bill was
passed.
SENATE.
Tuesday, December 4.
The Senate met at 10 o'clock, a. in.
•; 1 K R '
Mr. Barw clt introduced a bill to au
th lira 1 a re- urv yof lands' in th State, in
Pike county.
Mr. O. if. Beall: A bill to make val
id ami legal the tax.--levied by the Jus
tie- -of the Inferior Court of Randolph
county, fur county purposes for the year
1860.
HILLS ON THEIR PASSAGE.
Bill to incorporate the Rutherford Min
ing, Company.
Bill to provide fur the settlement of the
question of removal of county site from
Marion to JefFersonvill, I wiggs county, by
the citizens of said county. Passed.
Bill to change the line between Twiggs
and Jones counties. Passed.
Bill to authorize the Inferior Court of
Bibb county to i.,.,ue bonds for the purpose
of building a court house ami jail for said
county. Laid on the table for the present.
Bill to amend Section 980 of the Code
by sfrieking out the words “of which he is
a resident.”
Bill to provide for selecting a judge in
case the incumbent is a party to the suit,
ft provides that the parties nay select
from the attorneys present a Judge to pre
side. Passed.
Resolution in.- j g current the change
bills is-uud during the war by the
Western and Atlantic Railroad. Referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
THE SPECIAL ORDER.
The bill to incorporate the Albany and
Atlantic Railroad—was taken up. The
bill was amended so as to connect with
Columbus, Ueorgiu, and passed.
Bill for the pardon of Creed T. Wise, of
Butt.- county. Passed, 111 to 5.
The bill to provide for the renewal of
old bonds that fell due during the war, was
under consideration the remainder of the
morning.
HOUSE —MORNING SESSION.
Tuesday. December 4.
RECONSIDERATIONS.
Mr. Dorsey moved to reconsider bill
(lost yesterday. ) To compensate Messrs.
Bnui-iiton, Nisbet k Barnes lor printing
done in 1X1)4 and 1865. Lost.
Mr. Ridley moved to reconsider tire bill
(lost yesterday ) to prevent persons from
iishimr ami limiting; on lands of others
without Tier mission
Mr. Brock moved to reconsider bill
(passed yesterday) to pay Hon. W. W.
Holt bis last quarter’s salary. Motion pre
vailed.
Mr. Glenn moved to reconsider the bill
(rejected yesterday) for the relief of W. J.
Williams. Motion lost.
Mr. Moses moved to reconsider the bill
(passed yesterday) to modify the laws of
this State relative to lotteries. Motion
prevailed.
lieu. L. J. partrell was tendered a seat
on t lie floor.
Mr. Russell offered a resolution to ad
journ this General Assembly on Monday',
Joth inst. Not taken up.
THIKI* READING
To pay W. W. Holt his last quarter’s
salary. Tabled (bribe present. ,
To modify the laws of this State relative
to Lotteries. Amended and lost.
To prevent persons from hunting and
fishing on enclosed lands of others without
permission. Applies only to Burke,
Troup, Bryan, I’.mnghani, Fulton, Bald
win, llaneoek, Randolph. Paulding, Jef
ferson, Stewart, (lamphell, Manuel, Tlionx
sn, Muscogee, Bullock. Elbert, Chatham,
Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Camden, Johnson,
Mclntosh, Liberty, and Lee counties.
Lost.
| At this point the Speaker gave notice to
the House that it was just 12 o’clock m.,
and the House was just where it left off at
the same hour yesterday; and, if they
would make the calculation, they could de
cide when they could adjourn.]
To allow non-resident executors and ad
ministrators on estates of deceased persons
in this btato to qualify and act as such.
Passed.
For the relief of widows and orphans of
indigent soldiers. Referred.
To give State aid to the Muscogee Rail
road Company, to enable it 'to connect its
road with Barnesville. (The connection is
already made from Barnesville to Thotnas
ton ) Lost,
House adjourned to 3 o’clock p. m.
1 enclose the message of Gov. Jenkins,
accompanying his notice of approval of the
hill to aid the Macon and Brunswick Rail
road.
The Supremo Court heard the argument
yesterday on hut one case. The decision
was not rendered. Messrs. Bedford and
Kutnph were admitted to practice in the
Court. L. C.
SENATE.
Tuesday, December -4.
The Senate met at 3 o’clock p. in., and
resumed the consideration of the unfinished
business —a bill to provide tor the State’s
issuing new bonds to supply the place of
old bonds that matured during the war.
The lull was lost by a vote of yeas 11, nays
24.
Mr. Bedford introduced a hill to define
the manner of scaling Confederate debts.
Mr. Grisham: A hill to (jive lumber
dealers a lien on the building tor the value
of the lumber furnished.
The remainder of the afternoon was
spent in reading bills a second time.
Wednesday, December 5.
The Senate met at 10 o’clock a. m., pur
suant to adjournment.
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Flynn.
Mr. Kenan introduced a hill to increase
th'rty-three and a third per cent, the fees
of the Clerk of the Superior Court and
Sheriff ot Baldwin county.
Mr. Owens: A hill to repeal section 2194
of the Code.
Also, a hill to give encouragement to the
laying of a telegraphic cable from some
point on the Georgia coast to the Bahama
and other West India islands.
The hill to incorporate the town of De
potville, in Ware county, was passed.
Bill to incorporate the Richmond County
Agricultural Society. I’as-cd.
Bill to incorporate the Allatoona Mining
and Manufacturing Company. Passed.
Bill to increase the capital stock of the
Madison Petroleum Company. Passed.
Bill to authorize the City Council ot
Bainbridee to issue $20,000 worth of
bonds. Passed.
Bill for the relief of Lizzie Glover, ot ;
Campbell county. Passed. , 1
Bill to amend the charter of the Plan-I
tors’ Tjoau and Banking] Association.
Passed.
Bill for the relief of James IT.l T . Bryan, of
Fu.ton county. Passed.
Bill to increase the jail fees of Dougherty
countv. Passed.
Bill to change the time of holding the
Interior Court oi Polk, Paulding, "Floyd
ami Campbell counties. Passed.
Bill to change the name of the “Augus
ta Quoit Club” to the “Augusta Club.”
] hissed.
Bill to exempt from the opoTatoiu of
the stay law, taxes imposed by municipal
corporations. Passed.
Resolution for the State to subscribe
for copies of A. 0. Bacon's Digest.
Adopted.
The special order was taken up—a House
hill to extend the aid f the State to the
Air Line Railroad. The bill was p>assed
by a vote of 24 to 9.
Bill to prescribe that the salaries of offi
cers of tiie Western and Atlantic Railroad
shall be the same as those paid by other
railroads for similar services. Passed by a
vote of 14 to 10.
Bill to continue in force for fifty vears
the act incorporating the Atlanta and \V est
Point Railroad Company. Passed.
Bill to incorporate the Cherubbee Manu
facturing Company, Passed.
Bib to incorporate the Xosgill Manu
ficturing Company of Baldwin county.
Passed.
The reconsidered bill providing that
persons interested may give evidence.
Passed.
Bill tor the relief of H. G. G. Williams.
PiWM'-d. _ H
Bill to change the time of holding the
Su trerior Courts of Macon county. 1 ’assca.
Bill to incorporate the TlawkinsviHe
Manufacturing Company. Passed.
Bill to allow owners of mills to draw
water through intervening lands, provided
the -asue does not injure the said lands.
Passed.
Bill to repeal section 1,391 of the Code.
Pus-ed.
Bill to consolidate the offices ot Clerk of
the Superior and of the Inferior Courts of
Henry. Twiggs and Clayton counties. —
Passed.
Bill to amend the road laws of the
State. Passed.
Bill to authorize Guardians, Adminis
trators and other- holding trust estates to
compromise their claims. Passed.
Bill to amend the charter of the town of
Fairburn. Passed.
Mr. Moore offered a resolution, which
was adopted, providing for the appoint
ment of a joint committee, to ascertain
how many bills are now before the Gen
eral Assembly riot acted on.
The House bill to amend section 2204
of the Code, so as to createfrom the Judges
of the Superior Court a Chief Justice.
Passed.
Bill to pay maimed soldiers value of a
leg or arm in case such soldiers do not take
the artificial limb. Passed.
Bill to authorize the City Council of
Thomasville to issue Passed.
Bill to amend the charter of Mt. \ er
non Institute. Passed.
Bill to amend the charter of Ilawkins
ville.
Adjourned.
HOUSE—AFTERNOON SESSION.
Tuesday, December 4.
SENATE BILLS ON THEIR PASSAGE.
To compel Judges of the Superior Court
to read their decisions from the bench.
Lost. ... , T ANARUS, .
To add additional sections to the Penal
! To aivTa ■ n 3,764 of the Code.
l ining ii f A; \ - 4*~c
1 To preve'' v e destruction ,ot §
T> relinqui s atingent ot
I Passed.
To repeal 1,437 th section of the Code.
! Lost.
To repeal Ist section of an Act altering
4,248 th section of the Code. Referred.
To repeal so much of an act relative
to assessing a tax on cotton as merchandise.
Passed.
To repeal an act repealing an act rela
tive to the civil jurisdiction of Magistrates
in the city of Savannah. Amended and
; passed.
| To authorize a vote of the citizens of
j Mclntosh county to settle the location of
| the county site. Passed.
! To alter the tiire of holding the County
i Court in Stewart and Schley counties.
: Passed.
The County Court bill was read a second
time, and made the special order for Mon
j day next.
House adjourned till 7 o’clock this even-
I mg.
EVENING SESSION.
HOUSE BILLS ON THEIR PASSAGE.
To amend the charter of the Cotton Hill
' Academy. Passed.
i To amend the charter of Valdosta.
| Passed.
To change lino between Dougherty and
! Worth. Passed.
i To amend Charter of Brunswick. Pass-
I ed.
| To amend Charter of Dahlonega. Pass
; ed.
j To repeal an act so far as relates to Mc-
I Intosh relative to the road laws-Bryan,
Liberty, Glynn, also included in the pro
i visions of the bill. Passed.
For relief of Frederick Cox and Harrison
Rogers. Passed.
Fur the relief E. P. Loyless.
(All the three last named parties are re
lieved from penalties for issuing change
bills.) Passed.
To incorporate the Van Wert Quarrying
and Mining Company. Passed.
To revise and declare of force tlie act iti
| corporating Waynesboro. Passed,
j To legalize the sale of tlfe Bainbridge
I Academy lot. Passed.
To incorporate the Merchants’ & Plan
| ters’ Bank of Augusta.
| To incorporate the Town of Senoia.
I Passed.
| For the relief of G. W. Pijckett. Passed,
i To change line between Catoosa and
I Walker. Passed.
! To change line between Carroll and
| Heard Passed
For relief of Albert II Kendrick. Lost.
For the relief of Mrs. T. Turner. (She
j wants pay for the land on which the stock
i ado at Andersonville is located. The Cou
! federate Government seized this land for
; the stockade ami paid nothing for it. The
■ Doited States Government lias taken it
j and will pay nothing for it. She now asks
j Georgia to pay §2,000 for it.) Bill with
drawn.
To change the time of holding the County
Court in Forsyth county. Tabled for the
present.
To amend the Charter of Fire Company
No. J, at Athens. Passed.
To change the line between Worth and
Colquitt counties. Lost.
For the relief of M. A. Drakeford and
Helen Lapham. Passed.
To make valid the issue of scrip by
Lowndes.
To change the line between Wilcox and
Pulaski counties. Passed.
To change the litre between Jasper and
Putnam. Lost.
Wednesday Morning, Dec. 5.
RECONSIDERATIONS.
Mr. Wonible moved to reconsider the
hill (lost yesterday) to aid the Muscogee
Railroad Company. Motion prevailed.
.Mr. McCullough moved to reconsider
the hill (lost yesterday) to c-hauge the line
between Jasper and Putnam counties.
Motion lost,
BILLS ON THEIR PASSAGE.
For the relief of Nancy Heald Lost,
To amend the act fixing the time of
holding the sessions of Supreme Court.
Lost. |
To aid, by State endorsement, the Mus
cogee Railroad. Passed —yeas, 76 ; nays, j
t)l).
Declaratory of the law relative to con- j
tracts, liens, Ac., entered into prior to Ist |
day of May, 1865. Tabled for the present, j
For relief of John C. Dumas' estate)
Passed.
To lix time of holding the Supreme
Court (makes the time Ist Mondays in
June and December.) Passed
To amend the Ist Section of an Act ap
pointing vendue masters in this State.
Passed.
To define the liabilities of debtors in cer
tain eases. 'This bill was introduced by
Mr. Moses, of Muscogee, and created con
siderable discussion, and was postponed
indefinitely, its advocate contending that
it established a rule of equity, consistent
with the devisers of the Supreme Court,
which declared that a warranty of a slave
for life ceased with the emancipation act,
the same act necessarily modifying the con
tract to the extent of the failure of consid
eration ; its opponents contended that it
was a repudiation of private debts. The
mover of the bill has always and is still an
active opponent of all measures tending in
that direction, and insists that this is but a
rule for the fair and equitable adjustment
of contests arising out of slave property.
The bill was indefinitely postponed on a call
of the yeas 7s. and nays 52.
The ibilowing is the bill in full:
A BILL
To l<e entitled an Act to define the lia
bility ot debtors in certain cases.
lie it tnactni, That, whenever any
resident of this State shall be indebted for
any person hitherto held in slavery,
whether by bond, bill, note or open ac
count, it shall be lawful for the debtor to !
plead the failure of the consideration by |
reason of the emancipation of said person. ]
And upon due proof made that the person 1
se servile t - . . .
bility was incurred, basin fact been email- !
eipati ■!. the verdict shall be rendered for j
so much as the service of said person was !
worth during the time lie or she continued i
to be enslaved.
Adjourned till 3 o clock this afternoon, i
Is C. ]
M epnesday, December 6.
.SENATE.
f)n yesterday, after the closing of the
report, a bill to provide for Georgia a sys
tem of common school education was pas-
On to-day the Senate was opened with
i raver bv Rev. Mr. Mattson of the Senate.
‘ The bill tor the relief of Seago, I miner &
Cos. was reconsidered by a vote ot 2 1 to In.
and a committee consisting ot Messrs. J.
A. W. Johnson, Strozier. Maqson. 1 arris
and Turner was appointed to investigate
the claim. , TI
The stay law as amended by the House
was taken up and passed.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW MATTER.
Mr. F. H. Johnson introduced a resolu
tion requesting the Governor to pardon
McMahan confined in the Penitentiary for
life, in consideration of his having reveaieu
a plot of prisoners to escape.
Also, a bill to authorize the levy ot an
extra tax not to exceed 200 per cent- on
the State tax in Richmoud county tor
i county purposes.
third reading of senate bills.
Bill to incorporate the Hall Chestatee
Mining Company. Passed.
Bill to make valid and legal tax levied
by the Justices of the Infetior Court of
j Randolph county. Passed.
Bill to allow the transfer of retail licenses
lin Stewart county. Passed.
Bill to incorporate the Lumpkin Ches
tatec Mining Company. Passed.
Bill to .increase to nine the Directors of
the Savannah, Griffin and North Alabama
Railroad Company. Passed.
Bill to amend section 19X0 of the Code.
Lost.
Bill to define and fix tho time when the
late war closed. It fixes the time at June
Ist, 1 565. Passed.
Bill to provide for the confinement of
convicts in the county jail, and to fix the
fees I>r the same. Passed.
Bill to change the time of holding the
Superior Courts of Houston county. Pass
ed.
Bill to amend the several Acts incor
porating the City Court of Savannah.
Passed.
Bill to define in what newspapers Ordi
riarieSheriffs, and Clerks may run their
advertisements. Passed.
Bill to require ministerial officers to
observe as prima facia constitutional all
hills passed over the veto of the Governor.
Passed.
Bill to authorize the Inferior Court of
Crawford county to levy an extra tax to
pay off the indebtedness of the county. —
Passed.
Bill to prohibit Executors, Administra
tors and < i uardians to relit or lease real
estate for a longer period than one year,
without obtaining, first, leave of the Ordi
nary. Passed.
Bill to declare how the Judges shall he
appointed, in case any one of them voted
for dors not receive a majority of the votes.
Passed.
Bill for the relief of Administrators,
Executors and Guardians. Passed.
Mr. Strozier introduced a hill to compel
persons having claims against the State
that originated between January Ist, 1861,
and June 25th, 1865, to have the same
passed upon by the courts.
The bill to protect the rights of married
women was passed.
Adjourned till 3 o’clock this afternoon.
HOUSE —MORNING SESSION.
W ednesday, December 6.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
J. J. Jones : To make it penal to liunt
| or fi.-h on enclosed lands in Burke county.
Also, To make it penal to preach or ex
hort without a license from the church.
Also, To define sedition and make it
! penal- fr ,
Al,o To amend section 1670 of the ('ode.
Dart To aicciiu 1 Ij.jj section of the
7 Mr. Hffl%hds flfW
'■ate to aid in clearing the channel of
Savannah River ($70,000 worth to he
Mr Russell: To change name of Young
j America Fire Company of Savannah.
HOUSE BILLS ON THEIR PASSAGE.
To carry into effect an ordinance of the
i late Convention relative to evidence. Pas-
I sed.
i To amend section 4112 of the Code (com -
pels Judges of Superior Court to appoint
I masters in equity.) Lost.
To alter and amend act authorizing ad
ministrators of J. V. Young, deceased, to
I sell property of said deceased. Withdrawn.
A resolution authorizing the Governor
j to employ suitable person to investigate
i the title tocertain reserved lands. Adopted.
To amend the 3883d section of the Code.
| Passed.
For the relief of indigent widows and or
| phans, and wounded and disabled soldiers
!in this State. Laid on the table for the
| present.
The following resolution, offered by Mr.
| Hill, was taken up and agreed to :
! Whereas, The citizens of Kentucky
have voluntarily contributed about one
hundred thousand bushels of corn and
other supplies for the use of the destitute
poor of Georgia, in the name of the widow
and orphan, the General Assembly of the
State of Georgia, desiring to express its
grateful acknowledgment ot tills exalted
charity, and for the purpose of making tho
same available, therefore,
Resolved, That tho General Assembly of
this Slate will make such appropriation
as shall be necessary to pay the freight
upon the same from Kentucky to conven
ient points of di.*tribution in this State.
To amend section 1815th of tho Code.
Passed.
An act concerning Sheriff’s sales. Pass
ed.
To amend the charter of the South
ern Insurance and Trust Company. Passed.
For the relief of Geo. Downing. Passed.
To authorize W. F. White to practice
medicine. Lost.
To repeal an act pointing out tho mode
of paying the Solicitor General in the
eastern circuit, &c. Passed.
To amend the 2135th section of the Code.
Passed.
I For the relief of Strother Watkins (to
pardon him out of the Penitentiary.)
Lost.
For the relief of Cyrus Price and A.
McArber. Withdrawn.
| To alter the time of holding the Superior
; Court of Blue Ridge Circuit. Passed.
To incorporate Island Manufacturing
Company. Passed.
The Standing Committee on the Peni
tentiary reported adversely to tho removal
of the institution, and a resolution request
ing tho Governor to pardon Mr. Gonnley,
one of the convicts.
The House adjourned to 7 o'clock this
evening.
HOUSE —EVENING SESSION.
BILLS PASSED.
' To incorporate the Grand Lodge o
| the Knights of Jericho.
' To change the time of holding County
| Court in Clay county.
I The residue of the evening session was
| occupied in reading Senate hills first and
j second times.
HOUSE—MORNING SESSION.
Thursday, December 6.
RECONSIDERATIONS.
Mr. Byrd moved to reconsider the bill
j (lost yesterday) to define the liability of
1 debtors in certain cases. After a short
| speech by Mr. Byrd, in favor of his motion,
! the previous question was called, which
j cutoff further debate. Upon a call, the
i ayes were 56, the nays were 7-7; so the mo
' tion was lost.
The Special Committee on the bill to
i purchase the Stone Mountain for anew
Penitentiary, reported and recommended
the appointment of a Committee to inves
tigate and report to tho next Legislature.
SPECIAL ORDER.
The bill to alter and amend the act or
ganizing the County Court.
Mr. Ford offered as a substitute a hill to
abolish the County Court.
The special order was taken up by sec
tion-!. Three hours were spent in perfect
ing the hill, when
Mr. J. N. Jones offered a substitute for
both the original bill and the substitute of
Mr. Ford.
Mr. Jones withdrew his substitute.
Mr. Ford’s substitute was decided out of !
order by the Speaker, when
Mr. Glenn offered a substitute which j
proposed to strike out all of the original:
bill organizing the County Court, except j
the enacting clause. Pending action on
this substitute, the House adjourned till 3
o’clock this afternoon.
Thursday, December 6.
SENATE.
The Senate met at 3 o'clock P. M.,
pursuant to adjournment.
Mr. C. 11. Smith introduced a hill to in- j
corporate an Iron Mining Company in Dade
county.
Mr. Overstreet: A bill to repeal the I
oath prescribed for retailers of spirituous |
liquors.
>Jr. O. P. Beall: A bill to incorporate
the National Loan and Banking Associa- j
tion.
BILLS ON PASSAGE.
Bill to allow disabled soldiers to peddle
without license. Passed.
Bill to allow the city authorities of Savan
j null to regulate the building of walls and
! fences in said city. Passed.
, Bill to authorize the Inferior Court of
I Bibb county to issue $20,000 worth of
! bonds in order to build a Court House and
; Jail. Passed.
Bill to give lumber dealers a lien for
their protection. Lost.
Bill to authorize a re-survey ot land in
certain cases. Lost.
Biil for the relief of James C. Adams
and James M. Hall. Passed.
Bill to incorporate the Southern Rail
road Company. Passed.
Bill to define the amount to he collected
on judgments for debts contracted prior to
June Ist. Im’io, and to prescribe the mode of
scaling the same. Referred to a special
Committee of 5.
Bill to change the time of holding
Superior Courts of Richmond county.
Passed.
After reading a number of hills the se
cond time, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE—AFTERNOON SESSION.
Thursday,, December 6.
The House resumed the consideration of
the unfinished business of the morning
viz : The consideration of the bill relative
to the County Court. Mr. Moses made
an earnest appeal in favor of retaining the
Court. On motion of Mr. DodstJn, the
: previous question was called, when the I
• vote was taken on Mr. Glenn s substitute,
i which abolished the Court in toto. The !
substitute was lost by a vote of veas 04
nays 76. The House then passed the
; Senate bill as amended.
Mr. Dodson introduced a resolution to
adjourn this General Assembly at 12 M.,
on" Thursday the loth inst. Mr. Rucsell
j cf Muscogee moved to insert Monday 10th
’ a: midnight.
Mr. Gertrell moved, as a substitute, the
Senate resolution, appointing a joint Com
mittee to examine Into aud report upon
the condition of the Wsiness before the
General Assembly—which subetitute was
! adopted. , , ,
The House then took up the general
appropriation bill. After spending the
] entire afternoon in considering this bill,
the House adjourned till 9A. M., to-mor
row.
SENATE—MOSSING SESSION.
Friday, December 7.
The Senate met at 9i o’clock A. M..
pursuant to adjournment, and was opened
with prayer by Rev. S. E. brooks.
Mr. Turner moved to reconsider the ac
tion o? ths Senate yesterday, in passing a
i bill to stay executions, &c. The motion
was lost. Yeas 12, nfys 28. Those who
votpd to reconsider *r- Messrs. Butler. ]
Carter. Crawford, Gresham, Kenan, Man
son, Moore. Owens, Quillian, Redding, O.
L. Smith, Turner.
Mr. >Lx)re, from a joint Committee, re
ported that the matter before the Gen
eral Assembly was in such a condition as to
1 forbid a fine die adjournment bcliaro Friday
next A resolution was introduced by the
; Committee that the Genera! Assembly will
adjourn fine die on Friday the 14th instant
at 12 otelodk M. Adopted.
“Mr. Ezzard introduced a resolution to
refer the question of the continuance of
the County Court to the people at the next
i election for members of the General Yssem
: bly. Lost.
The Senate concurred in the House
amendments to the Countv Court bill
j Kill to incorporate the Savings Bank of
1 t orsyth. Passed.
Bill to incorporate the Lewis Manufac
turing Company. Passed.
Bill for the relief ot' J. J. Anderson an
j employee on the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. Passed.
HOUSE—MORNING SESSION.
Friday, Dauber 7.
I Mr. J. J. Jones moved to reconsider
hill (passed yesterday) to amend the act
organizing the County Court. Lost,
i Feats on the floor were tendered to
Hons. Henry L. Pennine and David Irwin.
BILLS ON THEIR PASSAGE.
] To change the line between Stewart and
I Quitman.
To amend the penal code—to define and
; punish sedition and insurrection. Passed.
| The House resumed consideration of
the general appropriation bill—which was
taken up by sections. After making the 1
• usual appropriation' to the officers off the
i Government, the following appropriations
; were made : To the Speaker of the House
1 and President of the Senate each §l2 per
I day, and $9 per day to members. Mr.
Moses moved to strike out §9 as the per
diem and insert §6, hut it was lost. §l2
per day to the Secretary of the Senate and
I to the Clerk of the House in addition to
' the $590 salary allowed bv tho rode. sl°
i per da vto the reading -fin- if
and the Senate, atnl.? . : day to the sub
ordinate Clerks —$15,000 to the A . :uui i
for the blind — s2s,9oo for the Pudt< ntiary ■
e —for 4g>j-ifs oft! <' aa lode, t
which is >« inprepat-ttiot! for the press.
The * mmittee to examine and report :
on the business of the Genera] Assembly, i
repoittd 3tX) Gills hclurc Uiu iiou.-i, ;o; ac
tion—some of them, yet read but once;
130 in the Senate, besides resolutions.
By a vote of 84 yeas and 47 nays, the
House refused to concur in the resolution
of the Senate to adjourn sine die on Friday
next.
House adjourned till afternoon.
__ w _ L. C.
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS,
REPORTED FOR THE CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL.
Milledgeville, December 6,1866.
The following cases have been decided
by the Supreme Court.
The Court has gone through with the
docket from the Southwestern Circuit, and
is now engaged on the Chattahoochee Cir
cuit :
Crawford and others |
vs. | PUT in error.] |■ Equity from Sumter.
Brady and others, j
Walker, J.
1. The absence of a party in tho military
service did not, under the act of 1861,
oblige the Court to grant a continuance.
It was subject to discretion.
2. The bond in this ease created a right
in the husband as trustee of his wife, and
a Court of Equity will carry out the trust.
3. This not being a settlement made by
the husband upon the wife, was not, there
fore void against his creditors because not
recorded.
4. The facts do not make a case of re
duction to posse; sion by the husband in his
life-time, and therefore the wife’s right of
survivorship was not lost. Judgment
affirmed.
For plaintiff iu error, McCoy. B. Hill,
contra.
Cook )
vs. j- In Equity from Dougherty.
J enkins. )
Harris, J.
1. Where, under an arbitration, one
partner Is putin possession of all the assets,
with an obligation to pay all the debts, a
Court of Chancery will interfere, in a proper
case, to secure such assets and see that the
other partner is protected against the
debts.
2. It seems that the answer of a defend
ant, even when discovery is waived, should
bo full, and may he excepted to by the
complainant; but the Court only intimate
this, they do not adjudge it. Judgment
affirmed.
Samuel D. Irvin, for plaintiff in error.
Strozier & Smith, contra.
vs. [Plff in error. I Sin ,f c f from
The State. ]
Lumpkin, C. J.
1. The charge of the Court was not based
upon an assumed state of facts, hut upon
the evidence.
2. The evidence showed a wrongful tak
ing by the prisoner.
3. The evidence showed that the prose
cutor was deprived of the possession.
4. There was more than an attempt to
steal—tho larceny was consummated. It
is immaterial that the prisoner held posses
sion but a short time. Judgraent affirmed.
Strozier k Smith, and G. J. Wright, for
plaintiff iu error. Warren, Solicitor-Gen
era!, contra.
Manderville ) ~ , r „
vs. | Plff in error.] CaVe !' t fmm Clmj
Manderville. j c0, " ,1 - l/ -
Harris, J.
1. Interrogatories acquiesced in by a
party accused—at least they cannot be
urged in tho appellate Court, unless ob
j jeeted to in the Court below.
I 2. Letters of administration may be
i granted to others than the original appli-
I cant mentioned in the citation. Judg
! ment affirmed.
A. Hood, for Plaintiff in error. J. E.
; Bower, for Defendant in error.
I i>f,y 0 (' -i Complaint from
vs * crror ' ] j Calhoun county.
Walker, J.
1. The formal words of the jurat to the
! answers to interrogatories, may follow the
| names of the Commissioners as well as
i precede them.
2. Anew suit should not be awarded if
! there be evidence enough to uphold aver-
I diet for the plaintiff. Judgment reversed.
Samuel Ila'l, for Plaintiff in error.
| P. J. Strozier, for Defendant in error,
j Ga. Land & Cotton C 0.,) Arbitration and
vs. [Plff in error. | > award from
Thos. J. Flint. j Dougherty.
Lumpkin, C. J.
In this case the award was correct,
whether the contract for stipulated dama- ‘
ages, made a case of penalty or not as the j
actual damages proven was as much as ,
the sunt awarded. Judgment affirmed. I
Samuel Hall, for Plaintiff in error. :
! Wright and Warren, for Defendant in
I error. L. C. j
I Martin aud Johnson]
vs. Decatur.
Blood. j
Walker, J.
Ist. A cause dismissed during the late
war on the ground that the plaintiff was a
] citizen of the United States, and therefore
j an alien enemy, may be reinstated on
i motion. Judgment affirmed.
Bower for plaintiff in error. Lyon and
] Irwin contra.
: Launy Cox ct al )
vs. Application for Doicer
Stewart. j from Webster.
Harris, J.
The heirs at law have a right to contest
the report of commissioners appointed to j
assign dower. Judgment reversed.
Blanford and Miller for plaintiff in error, j
Lyon and Irwin contra.
Olive Simpson |
vs. )• In Equity from
W. H. Robert and Wife.) Lee.
Ist. When the word "said” or “afore- ;
said” is used, it refers generally to the last :
antecedent, but this may be otherwise if
the context requires it , j
2d. The Sheriff may take the recogni
zance of an offender confined in the jail of ;
his county to answer for a crime commit
ted in another county. i
3d. A recognizance to appear at the
next term of the Court and remain there t
is not substantially different from one to I
appear at such term and from term to \
term thereafter. _ j
4th. One accused of crime and giving ]
bail may indemnify his bail_ with property.
This is not contrary to public policy.
sth. The wife and children of a person
who has created a hen upon his property j
may secure their interest in the same by j
proceeding under the insolvent laws with- j
out resort to equity. Judgment modified. I
Jno. West for plaintiff in error. P. J-
Strozier contra.
Dudley ]
vs. • Proceeding against holding over, j
Love. )
Walker. J.
Ist. A Court of law in a pioper
case, grant a continuance to allow a party
who ha- an equitable defence to enjoin the
proceeding at law.
2d. If a material witness be a surety on 1
the tenant’s bond, the Court hearing the
case should allow anothef surety substi
tuted, to make the witness competent.
Judgment reversed.
•J. E. Brown for plaintiff in error. A.
Hood comm.
Smith ]
vs.
Beil. )
Lumpkin, C. J.
Ist A plaintiff by paying cost, present
and future, into Court, and assigning all
his interest in the case, may become a com
petent witness.
2d. Such assignment may be completed
by depositing in Court the instrument
making it, up
I whose acci tanci w r presumed. I
Judgment n | , e ,j
B’auford , Njq; . ■ a in error, i
Met 'ay and | .. L. C.
tfluonj ' Wt finch
LED.VESDA .){•.. , , ; MBUR 12*
" 4-. .r ■
T
The iiies.ssj IVi-skPat Johnson is j
j brief and senLj! TANARUS: : e lently the
work of stud} ; ;r * “ i> equally evi- ;
. 'lent that t| ■ e . : has been j
closely direct . ro av Mei 'sing the j
exciting top|, of polit' -t which
. agitate tho who... o far as 1
it was ; c x,, with the
; demands off. ,
Our
hare questiorjof living i ■ a decided
interest in na ' equestion
| of bread, sust viiy upon
a majority of ;n ,• the utter j
i exclusion of u~:~M ■ yal public j
policy. Nat]-, . | • attention j
will be confined !i A t >f themes-1
sage which ti ot T nt anoma
j I°RS political . ;i , ting their i
materia] inter ts qplyf Sing all the
evils ot a coi J u., they are
without any'j . • fi.Sii; a colonial
| condition. Tc, , . fij, n for the j
I burthens oftr a t,if tlSy are without the j
Union for th< nurp , f., iv,.r saltation
They are « An . objective i
legislation, h # ;,p. in case of:
hardships f editions of exile are
imposed upon -hot * c cp: tout of re
moval. The; . m a. of giving
expression to ;u >r makiug known ;
wants. The rer>r station of
any kind th; , c country
, av and • emanates
dtoui, or is > . , Executive I
- Malisif,. A. 'j r i-;,.. thote
fore, to this matter of
C!10 deepest it'* IV
domestic politics— imc status of the South
ern States—the message bears abundant
evidence of having been constructed with
all possible rega'd to a position of political
antagonism. I presents no salient points
for a renewed attack, and scrupulously
avoids ail thatcan irritate opponents. It
reiterates, in a calm, moderate and per
suasive tone, ill the arguments in favor of
a speedy rctoration of the constitu
tional rights .o the excluded States. It
sets forth elealy, but without any rhetori
cal display, tie object for which the war
was wared—“the maintenance of the
Union.” It affirms, without emphasis,
but distinctly, that this was tho only ob
ject, and that it has been so asserted and
recognized, rtpeatedy, and with great dis
tinction and unform consistency, by all the
co-ordinate blanches of the government—
Legislative, .Judicial and Executive. It
points out the fact that Congress did not,
and has not, proposed any plan for con
ciliation and reconstruction, and narrates
calmly and succinctly the history of Execu
tive action since tho surrender of the Con
federate forces. The narrative of the
action of the Southern States is equally
calm and clear: 11 All of the States in
which the insurrection had existed
promptly amended their constitutions so
as to make them conform to the great
change in the organic law of the land ;
declared null and void all ordinances and
laws of secession ; repudiated all pretended
debts and obligations created for the revo
lutionary purposes of the insurrection, and
proceeded, in good faith, to the enactment
of measures for the protection and ameliora
tion of the condition of the colored race.”
Such is the narrative—plain, unvarnished
truth ! We cannot but think that, reach
ing, as it will, for the first time,
the masses, it will hive a marked influ
ence upon the good sepse and intelligence
of the American pcopk The effect of ad
mitting Southern Representatives is clearly
portrayed: “It wquld tend greatly to
renew tho contidcnee of the American
people in the vigor and stability of their
institutions. It wouldlSnd us more closely
together as a nation, an.l enable us to show
the world the inherent and recuperative
power of ;t Gov ernmert founded upon the
will of the people, and istiilffished upon the
principles ofliberly, jusice and intelligence.
Our increased strength would irrefragibly
demonstrate the fallacy of the arguments
drawn from our recent national -disorders
by the enemies of lioptblican Government.
The admission of loyal members from the
States now excluded from Congress, by
allaying doubt and apprehension, would
turn capital, now awaiting an opportunity
for investment, into (ho channels of trade
and industry. It would alleviate the pres
ent troubled condition of those States, and,
by inducing immigration, aid in the settle
ment of fertile regions now uncultivated,
and lead to an increased production of those
staples which have added so greatly to the
wealth of the nation and the commerce of
the world. Now fields of enterprise would
be opened to our progressive people, and
soon the devastations of war would be re
paired and all traces of our domestic differ
ences effaced from the minds of our coun
trymen.”
Profoundly silent on the new issues raised
by Congress, the message is full of warning
against tiic evils of consolidation. Citing
the words of Washington, Jefferson and
Jackson “the teachings of men whose
deeds and services have made them illus
] trious, and who, long since withdrawn from
the scenes of life, have left their country
j the rich legacy of their example and their
patriotism”—it calls upon Congress to
] draw frcsli inspiration f-oui their lessons,
i and to emulate their love of country
! and respect for the Constitution and the
j laws.
! The whole tone of the message is firm
j and decided, hut eminently conservative
; and conciliatory.
Jfcw Fttgland Immigration.
; We see, by several New England papers,
j the oft asserted and as oft refuted assertion,
that New England men are not only re
] ecivcd at the South with animosity, hut
1 are actually in danger of losing life and
j limb, at the hands of the Southern people,
j It is with sonic reluctance that wc notice
| the charge. Oar columns have so often
j conveyed refutation of this calumny—so of
| ten contained assurances oi’ safety, and
j even extended welcome to all who will
make the South their home, and that, too,
i the expressed wish and desire of those
; whom it is customary at the North to
I style “blood thirsty secessionists”—that we
! almost begin to think the task of disabus-
I ing the Northern mind hopeless and u-e
--! less.
j In days of yore, Georgia received a con
-1 siderahle increment to her population
; from the Eastern and Northern States.
1 Much of this has been highly valuable to
her. It was not the chief source from
which she derived her best citizens. Scotch j
i Irish—lrish Scotch —and Huguenots, toge- j
: thcr with immigrants from Virginia.
1 North and South Corolina, have formed the :
, basis of our population. But yet even in I
| the days of the revolution, the days of
! Greene and Ha!!, she received from this ]
| source many who were loved and esteemed I
in private, and honored with her highest ;
gifts in public. They came to Georgia as set- !
tiers and citizens, not as adventurers. With j
the constancy of Ruth, they identified them-■
selves with her name, her fame, and her j
fortunes —illustrating the bench, the bar,
and pulpit, and all the avocations of life j
with the thoughts of their clear heads, and ]
adorning society with their noble courtesies,
enforced with characteristic energy. The ;
names of many of such men, dead and
living, will recur to tjie memories of our 1
readers; we cannot particularise them, but
- single little New England town will afford |
ample illustration.
In the small town of Litchfield, Conncc
ticut, there stands a grand old house with
its quadrilateral- hipped roof, shingle-cov
ered sides and doric portico. The walls of
its rooms are wainscotted. The tidy kitch- j
en. laundry, summer and winter pantry,
wood- house and well—and ah the conve
niences of comfort, oi ample dimensions
are compactly joined under one cover. It !
sets firmly and gracefully, guarded in front
bv a row of venerable elms, and surrounded
on all sides by a breadth ot green grass as soft
as velvet topistry. This ancient mansion, j
that has braved the
wind and the drifting snows of one hundred
and six winters, recalls the name of the
head of the Litchfield Law School —citrrum
I' vcna-nbile noiitcn —Janies Gould. From
him Georgians, as well as very many other
Southerners, learned the true principles of
Law and Justice and Equity. His son, for
nearly two-scorc years our fellow citizen, is
thoroughly identified with the history of
the Bench and Bar of Georgia, and with
the history of Augusta—illustrating the
teachings of the father, both as a preceptor
and practitioner.
Passing up through the streets of this
same little town, over among the high hills
whose acclivities, almost mountainous, dis
close charming prospects and beautiful
landscapes—up, from where the stoue-post
bears date 1700, to the farther end —brings
1 the traveler to the stone wall of the village
grave-yard. The moss-covered head-stones
recall the names of familiar patronymics.
To some they will suggest the name of
John M. Adams, a merchant, whose sterl
ing integrity and cool sagacity, combined
with genial generosity, has caused his name
and memory to be cherished with esteem
and affection in Augusta, the city of his
adoption. Toothers, now in the meridian
I of life, there will spring up, uusuggested,
from the days of youth the name of one
whose kindly words promoted and encour
aged youthful pleasures and enjoyments,
and bring back to memory the “halcyon
days of Tom Parmlee.”
But if much was gained by this immigra
tion, much of it—very much of it—was
hurtful and injurious. Avery large num
ber —after laying the foundations of fame
and fortune—gathered up the fruits of their
adventure in the morning of life, and; with
the prescience of the loaded homy-bee,
l old hive from .which they swam •and. It
1 to the annual assessed vad^o'r»ur
| property for any dread ■ of years Tor ■ J§.m T
the State. There are very many and large
enterprises based upon capital so transfer
red, and reputations thus achieved, in the
Middle, Northern and Eastern States.—
Some were actuated by fear—fear growing
out of the institution of slavery. But,
making all due allowance for the number so
actuated by timidity, the class is quite nu
merous of those who, having so converted,
transferred and secured their profits ac
quired either from trading in slaves or in
slave labor, are active and blatant in the
crusade against the very laud from whence
they drew the source of their prosperity.
It is hardly necessary to say that this class
of Bohemians arc not in favor. But the
honest settler is welcome now, as he lias
ever been.
The Street Railroad.
Some months have elapsed since our City
Council granted to this Compauy the right
of way through our streets,, and entered
into a formal contract guaranteeing to the
Railroad Company all the rights, privileges
and immunities which they asked for.
This action of the Council met the ap
proval of the people of the city, and it was
hoped at that time that the application
made in good faith, and with the view
to the speedy construction of the contem
plated railway. Indeed, the parties inter
ested in securing the assent of the city au
thorities, assured members of Council that
if the privileges asked for were granted, the
Iload would be built at once. Good faith
required that at least some effort should
have been made towards the fulfilment of
their pledges.
The people would like to know what has
become of this .project. Is it dead, or what
is equally as bad, is it sleeping ? What is
the reason that nothing has been heard of
its progress since the contract was signed
by the City Council ? Does it languish for
want of enterprise in those who have its
management, or is it because the necessary
funds cannot be raised to accomplish the
work ?
We thought, last Summer, when appli
cation was made for the right of way, and
wc still think, that with proper efforts, a
sufficient amount of funds could be raised
iu this city and Summerville to build and
equip the Road. But if this has been tried
and without success, our people would like
to know thatfact. If the present Company
cannot build the Road, we suggest that a
proper regard for the interests of the city
should induce the Directors to let that fact
be known.
We have been applied to recently by- a
number of our citizens for information on
this point, and we hope someone connect
ed with the enterprise will give to the peo
ple the reason why the work hangs fire. If
it is because the citizens of Augusta refuse
to subscribe for the Stock, and aid the
ltoad, let this fact be known.
The gentlemen whose names are associa
ted with this enterprise have the entire
confidence of the public. It is due to
themselves that something should be done
to relieve them from the seeming indiffer
ence, which many think is shown to the
proper and speedy organization and con
struction of the lload, and if the fault lies
with our leading men and capitalists, let
that fact be known, so that the blame for
the failure may fall upon the proper
parties.
Our Position.
While giving place to the communica
tion, which we do most cheerfully, of our
correspondent Forty-Ekuitii Georgia, in
relation to the canvass for Judge of the
Superior Court of this District, we do not
intend to commit this journal to either of
the candidates. We shall take pleasure in
admitting into our columns such brief
statements of the claims of both the candi
dates as their friends may desire to make,
provided they arc couched in proper lan
guage, and betray no fierce partisan spirit.
W c are determined that this paper shall
not bo made the vehicle for the personal
abuse or detraction of either of the gentle
men who arc announced as candidates for j
the important position of Judge of this
District. At bile we have our individual j
preferences, and shall exercise what little j
ol influence we may possess in favor of our |
choice, each for himself, we shall hold the I
columns of this paper equally open to the '
friends of both.
Indians Still in Florida. —The St. j
Augustine Examiner says: It is reported i
that there are a large number of Seminole I
and Uchec Indians still remaining in Flor- |
ida, variously estimated at from one to four j
hundred—men, women and children. The
country occupied by them is in the vicinity
of Indian river Inlet, then south to Jupiter
and Hillsboro Inlet, then west through the
Everglades, coming out on the Corlosahat
chie river. The Examiner says Colonel
Sprague, commanding that District, has
made arrangements to communicate with
them, and will proceed down the coast, in
the United States Revenue Cutter to the
points referred to, when it is expected that
fhock-10-turtenugge, the Chief of the hand. ;
will be induced to visit St. Augustine.
A Smart Youth.—The New York
Herald has a lively correspondent, says
the Macon Messenger, at Quitman, Oa.,
who laughs to scorn the ‘'misrepresenta
tions of the Southern press in relation to
the cotton crop. He has seen a great deal.
He has seen all over Georgia and Florida,
and he warns cotton buyers not to he de- :
luded by the stuff published in the South
ern press. The crop will be over two
millions of bales. True, it does not come
forward as fast as it ought to, to sustain
these figures: but it is held back from the
market by producers, waiting for a rise.—
All that we have to say in response to this
writer is, that sagacious men in the cotton
trade Lave Leon gradually reducing their
figures as the season advances and the
true state of the crop is disclosed. Fifteen
hundred thousand bales is now an outside
estimate, and many contend for a much ,
smaller sum total. The result will soon
tell who is right.
The Canadian officials claim that James
Stephens left New York on Saturday for
-.Atrpx„. accompanied by a largo military j
sta “’ w,l ° were all disguised. Stephens |
dressed in black citizens’ clothes, and
nac. his whiskers shaved clean from his ;
r vf’j *ore accompanied by an Eng- .
ash detective, who is Inch in the confidence j
of the Head Centre.
Com jih'A, S. C. November;.:, !>>'.«
IF II ’ /■
phut.
Mv Dear Sir.: Iu your reply to my
letter on the Constitutional amendment, j
yojj express the opinion that ‘thismeasure
will be dropp- and by the raditnls for one
which they deem more humiliating to the
peop.e ot the South, viz : universal suf
frage. Hon. Horace Greeley (the most
prominent candidate for the 1 npeu States i
Senate from the State of New York) writes
roc jis follows : 'ln my judgment, the true !
basis of settlement of all our troubles is
universal amnesty, with impartial suffrage, i
In other words, 1 would have all disabili- !
ties because ot rebellion and because of
color, utterly and absolutely abolished;
and (coming to the point) 1 strongly hope
and trust that a settlement on this basis I
will be made at Washington this winter.’ j
This he wrote in reply to a latter 1 ad- j
dressed to him, in which T put*the ques- j
tion as to whether the Southern delegates I
to Congress would be admitted, in the !
event of their respective States adopting ;
the amendment.”
Ido not believe, as it is rumored, that
President Johnson intends to abandon his
policy of reconstruction, or that he will
attempt to interfere with any of the States
in regulating, as they [may seem proper,
the right of suffrage. N«r do l see any
reason to hope that the present or* he next
Congress will accept of any compromise
without universal suffrage lor all the ne
groes in the Southern States. 1 am, like
wise, unwilling to believe that the South
ern peofle will adopt any compromise
which will disfranchise one-fifth of the
white votes, for the purpose of enfranchis
ing a Jew hundred negroes in the Southern
States.
Impartial suffrage may be accomplished
by permitting all persons, black and white,
to vote who are twenty-one years old. This
the Southern people will never consent to,
as it would degrade the right of suffrage
and demoralize the Government and so
ciety. It liny he accomplished by restrict
ing the right of suffrage in the Southern
who have a property qualifies. : *.n amt can
read and write. This would disfranchise
(►about one-fifth of the present number of
j wfcUwvotcrs, and.eoi <>f *”■-
i frage on a few hundred negroes who j»vn
disiranehise and uciiiUuo vine mm *.il ti.a..
selves, and elevate a few hundred or a few
thousand negroes above this fifth in all po
litical rights and privileges '! Ido not think
so.
According to the last census, there are
over 200,000 white males over the age of
twenty-one in the Southern States who
cannot read and write. Many thousands
of this number fought gallantly tliroug hunt
the whole war for the right pf self-govern
ment. Are they now to he voluntarily de
prived by their comrades-iu-arms of this
inestimable right, and reduced to a level
with their former slaves ? it may be that
their freedmen, having the qualification of
property and can read and write, will be
placed above them ! They will have the
mortification of seeing themselves excluded
from the polls, whilst their former slaves
are permitted to vote !
Every Southern man knows that there
are a great many men of substance and
character in the Southern States who can
not read and write, and especially old
men. They are men of intelligence, pa
triotism and excellent judgment, and as
capable of exercising prudently the right of
suffrage as any one, no matter how well
educated he may have been. They have
enjoyed this right, too, throughout their
manhood, and valued it as sacred and in
estimable.
It is well known, too, that there are
hundreds of thousands of young men in
the Southern States who were gallant sol
diers and officers in the army, destitute of
the property qualification requisite to en
title them to vote. They have been well
educated, and are tiie sons of many of
our most respectable citizens, and some of
them have been Colonels and Generals in
the Confederate army. Are they, with ali
their respectability, virtue, education and
distinction, to be disfranchised by this com
promise and placed upon an equality with'
the negro, or below him, as to the right of
saffrage ?
At the organization of the State Govern
ments, during, and immediately after the
American Revolution, there were a great
many restrictions imposed on the right of
suffrage. The example of Great Britain
had its influence on tho judgment of our
ancestors in regulating this right. But as
time progressed, and republican principles
were better understood and more highly
appreciated, these restrictions were all
swept away, except in one or two States,
by a more enlightened, liberal and just
public opinion., All free white male per
sons,. over the age of twenty-one, have been
allowed to vote in all the States, for many
years past-, who are citizens. No other
qualification is required. In my opinion,
this is right and proper, and should he ad
hered to, as sacred to republican principles.
Its abandonment at this time, and the dis
franchisement of two or three hundred
thousand voters, would boa sad grievance.
They are liable to taxation, to work on
the roads, do military and police duty, and,
when necessary, to defend their country at
the sacrifice of their lives.
If the proposed compromise simply en
franchised negroes, who could read and
write, and had a property qualification,
without disfranchising white persons, it
might, with reason and propriety, be ac
ceded to by the Southern States. There is
sound philosophy, public policy and justice
in permitting, as they do in some of the
Northern States, negroes to vo(e who have
a property qualification, and can read and
write. It would be a stimulus to their
good conduct‘and elevation, morally and
intellectually. It would boa safety-valve
to their superior intelligence and industry.
Such negroes in the Northern States, as a
friend of mine recently informed mo, “gen
erally vote with the least radical party.”
In North Carolina, when such negroes
were allowed to vote in that State, Mr.
Stanley declared in tho House of Repre
sentatives, “always voted with the gentle
men.” In Connecticut, very recently, this
class of negroes, voted against conferring
general suffrage on their whole race. They
said, “let them show themselves worthy of
suffrage, as we have done, and they can
obtain it.”
The proposed constitutional amendment
disfranchises all in the Southern States
who had ever taken an oath to support
the Constitution, and afterwards aided or
countenanced the war in any way. The
unanimous opinion of the South has been
that such terms were dishonorable and
self-degrading. I would ask, in all candor
and sincerity, if those of impartial suffrage
are not equally so ? If it be dishonorable
to deprive two or three hundred thousand
prominent men in the Southern States of
the right of holding office, is it not equally
dishonorable and degrading to deprive the
same number of humble, though worthy
men, who have fought through our strug
gle for self-government, of the right of
participating at all in the government
under which they have to live ? In my
opinion it is worse. They who are sacri
ficed by the amendment are allowed to
vote ; but they who are to be sacrificed by
“ impartial suffrage” arc deprived of this
right altogether. This exclusion, too, is
to apply only to the Southern States. In
the North, the same class of persons are
allowed to exercise the right of suffrage.
I know it has been urged that this quali
fied impartial suffrage will only exclude j
those who arc not so well qualified to vote, i
and thereby improve our representatives :
and civil officers. Dr. Franklin illustrated \
his views on this subject by stating a case.
In bis day and time, there was a property {
qualification of $350 for a voter in Penn- !
sylvania. A man had a jackass worth this j
sum, and lie was allowed to vote. Before j
the next election his jackass died, and lie j
could not vote. “Query,” said the doc-j
tor, “ did the man or the jackass vote?”
There are thousands, as every one knows, j
who are poor, and yet more wise, and vir- !
tnous, and patriotic, than those who are j
rich.
The last State Convention in South Car
olina abolished all property qualification.-; j
for holding office, as well as of voting.— 1
There is at this time a great reformation (
in progress in England as to the extension
of the right of suffrage, And can it be
that we are now disposed to turn back the j
clock of civilization and republicanism one
hundred years, and commence again where ;
our ancestors started in 1776?
I have said that I do not believe the j
present or ensuing Congress will accept !
anything but unqualified negro suffrage j
from the Southern States. This alone j
will give them, as they suppose, power and
influence in the Southern States, and ena
ble them to control the Government in a!!
time to come. “Impartial suffrage” will'
not do this, as it would exclude, with few ,
exceptions, the whole negro race, Horace
Greely proposes too kind a mode, and is j
too generous and liberal in his views, to be ;
any longer the representative and expo- ,
nc-nt of the ultra radical parly. This hon
or has devolved on the Chief Justice, and :
such men as Gen. Butler, Sumner arid i
Stevens. _ .
In order to induce the Southern people .
to adopt “impartial suffrage,” it is pro
posed to connect with it a general and
universal amnesty. This h certainly a
most desirable boon for the Southern
States. But I do not see that they are j
in any great peril. Almost every one :
has been pardoned by taking the amnesty !
oath, or by special application for Execu
tive clemency. There is no danger of
prosecution for treason or confiscation, !
whilst President Johnson remains in office. :
No matter what unconstitutional legisla
tion may puss Congress, it cannot be en
forced, except through the President, j
Exclusion from Congress will continue ; ;
but this is no great vital for the j
Southern people to make. Their mem- j
bers once voluntarily withdrew from Con- j
gress, and it has been six years since we i
were represented there. A\ e should be in
country. \\ e should devote all our cnc™
gjes to the material improvement of the
South, and abandon politics, until the
: times are more propitious and there is a
returning sense of justice at the North.
It is possible that a national convention
of all the .States, composed of their best
and wisest and greatest men, might revise
our Federal Constitution, and adjust all ;
j difficulties between the two great, sections i
: of the republic. If such a proposition
i was made by the North, the South would
; accede to it.. This grand tribunal would
I command the respect of both sections, and
! be worthy of settling all difficulties between
thirty six sovereign States. The association
of wise, patriotic and virtuous men, from
i all parts of tlje country, convened for the
purpose of restoring peace and harmony to
| the nation, would have a salutary influence.
I No danger could possibly result from such
1 a convention, for their action would have
i to be submitted to the States for their
adoption, and be ratified by three-fourths
i of them, before it becomes a part of the
Federal Constitution. If two-thirds of the
State Legislatures will make the applica
: tion for such a convention, the Constitu
! tion makes it imperative on Congress to
order its assembling.
1 Ido not, never have, and never will
despair of my country. There is too much
j intelligence, virtue and patriotism in tho
j American people, for the rule ot passion
and revenge to continue always. The
| growth, prosperity and happiness of one
section of tliis great Republic is most inti
, niately blended with and dependent on
j that of the other. Like the limbs of the
i human body, when one is broken, paralyzed
j or injured, it must affect the whole system.
| This truth will soon be seen and felt at the
| North. I am, with great respect,
Yours, &e..
B. F. Perry.
Report of Use secretary of e Treasury.
This document has been waited for with
an interest second only to the desire to see
the President’s Message. It opens with
the favorable statement of the relative re
's and ex: en.-c- of the government for
the ! •• iis A year, which we have already
p; e. • 1 ’• makes the decrease of the
that year amount to
■>*"! f ml for tho succeeding four
'lonth:^'. ending Oct 1, 1800,) §99,114,-
‘ livreasc the debt from tho
t $206,379,565. The
Secretary thinks that, with proper econ
omy, a reasonable deduction may be made
both in direct taxes and duties on imports,
and yet tho whole debt be paid by the gen
eration that created it. lie assumes the
sole responsibility for ordering the sales of
gold, but throws any blame for favoritism
or mismanagement of this business upon
those who have executed his orders.
He assumes (we think without sufficient
data) that this country is still largely in
debted to Europe. lie gives the official
returns of-foreign trade lor the last fiscal
year, from which we have compiled with
some care the following tables :
IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED STATES YOU TIIE
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1866.
Dutiable merchandise, - $368,508,051
Free merchandise, - - 58,801,759
Specie, - - - - 10,329,156
Total imports, - - $437,038,966
EXPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES FOR
TIIE SAME PERIOD.
Domestic produce, - - $408,040,903
For. dut’ble goods, $9,434,203
Foreign free do., 1,907,157 —11,341,420
Domestic specie, 82.643,374
Foreign specie, 3,400,697 —86,044,071
Total exports, - - $505,426,394
In the report these returns are jpnixed
and the imports being gold values, and
the exports being mostly currency values,
are assimilated by calculation, so that the
Secretary estimates the balance against us
at $8,009,577. We have preferred to pre
pare a clean tabic as above, which we con
sider the most valuable thing in the whole
Beport, and our readers, having thus the
raw material before them, can estimate the
balance of trade to suit themselves.
The Secretary estimates the amount of
United States bonds in Europe at $350,-
000,000, Stateand municipal bonds at $150,-
000,000, and all others, including railroads,
at §100,000,000, giving a total of six hun
dred million dollars.
He lays down his financial policy in five
distinct propositions:
I st. A. central par redemption of the
National Bank note currency.
2d. A curtailment of the currency to tho
amount required by a legitimate and
healthful trade.
3d. A careful revision of the tariff, re
lieving raw materials, and removing other,
opppressive burdens.
4th. The issue of 5 per cent, bonds, with
interest payable abroad, in England and
Germany, sufficient to absorb the six per
cent, bonds now there, and to meet any
foreign demand for further investment.
sth. The rehabilitation of the Southern
States. .
Each of these propositions is explained
and commended by brief practical argu
ments. The First is one we have long
urged upon public attention, and it ought
to meet a hearty approval even among the
banks themselves’ if" their managers under
stood their true interests. The Second is
eminently'proper iu its time, but it is not
the first thing in importance. Nor do wc
at all admire the method of substituting,
as preparatory to a contraction of the cur
rency, more National Bank notes for the
greenbacks now iu use. The Third is too
general in its statements, but mainly in the
right direction. The Fourth we are op
posed to in toto. It is not becoming in a
great nation like this to undertake the
payment of annual interest in a foreign
State. We have passed through a gigan
tic war without resorting to such foreign
aid ; and as there is now no pica of neces
sity, we hope the United States will not
be thus humiliated. Yv r e cannot but think
the “commissions to the agents through
whom the exchanges might be made” have
Had more to do with this suggestion than
any probable advantage to the country.
The report, as a whole, is unusually
practical and clear in its statements. The
great omission is any feasible plan for fund
ing the present floating debt, preparatory
to the contraction in the currency so earn
estly recommended. The foreign loan is j
not proposed for this purpose ; and if’ it
were, is not desirable. It is evident that
the agents and confidants of the Treas
ury Department have no direct interest in
a sweeping movement to fund the seven
thirties and other outstanding obligations
at once ; but this is the great need of the
country, and we regret that it is not fully
met in the report.—A'ctc York .Journal of
Commerce.
The Cotton Crop.
The relation of sup ply to demand, in cot
■ ton, engages, at this time, the attention of
every Southern planter, and the statements
made concerning the crop of the present
j year vary so greatly, that it is nearly im
! possible to arrive at any sound or satiJiic
; tory conclusion. One estimates the crop
j at 1,000,000 bales, while another appears
| to prove incontestably that it will reach i
i 2,000,000 bales, and the contending parties j
only concur in agreeing that the crop is far
j below the average. They feel that the po
i sition of this country is changed, and know 1
| by statistics that the United States do not j
now furnish more than one-fourth of the ]
i cotton consumed in Europe, so that the
I effect of a failure of the crop in this coun- -
I try would he likely to produce general dis-
j tress and general deprivation.
1 Messrs. Neill & Cos., who have paid par
! ticular attention to the question, have
| made a careful estimate of the yield for t'»e
i current year. Alabama is set down, not
withstanding a large planting, fora return
! of only 29 to 35 percent, of the crop of
i 1859, with 250,000 to 300,000 bales against
j 813,000 in that year. In Louisiana and
j M ississippi the loss is also represented to
, have been very severe, and although other
I and more fortunate districts help to swell
; the aggregate at New Orleans, that port is
| estimated as likely to receive only 750,000
to 050,000 bales against 2,140,000 in the
! cotton years 1859-'GO, or 35 to 39 per cent.
Jof the then aggregate. And these
.States are very much the worst. I'r-m the
I Carolinas and Virginia 250,000 to 275,000
bales are expected, or 41 t 045 percent, of
) the receipts of 1859-GO: and from Georgia
I and Florida 350,000 to 375,000. or 51 to 54
per cent, of the same year. But turning
1 to Texas and Tennessee, the prospect may
:be described as exceedingly favorable.
; Texas is valued at 200,000 to 225,000
: bales, or 79 to 89 per cent, of the large
I crop year referred to; and the up river
; shipments from Memphis, Nashville, etc.,
: arc estimated at 250,000 to 275,000, or
! considerably more than those of that year.
By adding the preceding figures together,
a total estimate is arrived at of from 2,050-
1 000 to 2,300,000 bales, or from 44 to 49
per cent, ol' the crop with which we are
comparing—amounted to 4,675,000 bales. ;
Deßow, however, in arguing the same
question, says, ‘hat in 1867 manufacturers i
will require 5,500,000 bales, viz: 4,000,000 ■
for Europe, 1,250,000 for the Northern ;
and 250,000 for the Southern States. This
is to be supplied from the old sources as j
follows:
United States bales, 2,000,000
East Indies 600,000 ,
Brazil 130,000
Egypt 300,000 ;
Total 3,030,000 i
This calculation results in a deficit of
more than 2,000,000 bales from the re
quirements of manufacture. The recent
reduction in price is ascribed by the same
authority to the large stock on hand and
cn royie from India, to the amount by- j
pothecated, and to English expectations
of a great crop in this country. These are |
expected to pass away, and then, the
Southern planter, by holding his stock, j
can make his own price.
This view is strongly (contested by the ■
New York Economist , but finds a deciple !
in the Shipping List , which says :
“The growth’of the staple in the East
!""« !lK . c ,. a 1 11 approximation to ihe truth
lro,u pabushed statement.-, and the only
COUl ’7: to ,Al ol,t “ t 0 " :,it “id watch
euiiis. Cotton cannot go lower, and
thero is every reason for its rap'd advance.
b v.l it is well known that the early part
01 tho season was cold and then wet and
grassy, and tins was followed by a terrible
drought of about three mouths duration,
tins is a certainty, and U e crop cannot
possibly bo anything but very small. This
! I*: ol j-'ourse, a favorable time for buyers.
1 hey know that planters require money to
| settle with they hands and meet factors’
j advances, and try to keep quotations down
-so as to take advantage of forced rates
| After these forced rates have been made
cotton must rise to its real value—Chm
t lestov Mercury.
MACON AND BRUNSWICK RAILROAD.
Message of the Governor.
Executive Department, 1
Milledgevilie, Ga,, Dec. 4, 1866.)
To the House of H<prcnsetatives:
I have assented to and signed “An Act
to extend the aid of the State to the com
pletion of the Macon and Brunswick Rail
road, and for other purposes;” and also
j certain resolutions explanatory of said act,
both of which originated in your body.
Ihe two were signed at the same time,
being taken together as one complete legis
i itr>c act. It is duo to myself, and to pre
vent erroneous inferences, that I here
present my views in regard to State aid to
such enterprises generally, as a system,
ami the considerations which have con
trolled me in this particular case.
Georgia, as a State, has already invested
m the construction of railroads$10,000,00(),
and this has been done so judiciously as to
dispense the benefits of her investments
among all existing railroads, and through
them among the people generally. The
chief investment has been made in the
estern and Atlantic Railroad, wnich is
the connecting link between other railroads
in the State and those of the West and
Northwest. This I regard as the most
safest and most comprehensive plan of ox- i
tending State aid to the whole system,
and to the citizens, with their diversi
fied pursuits and interests. A portion of
the debt converted lor its completion is
still unpaid, and a considerable one has
recently been added to repair the ravages
it sustained during the war. Having done
this much for the cause, it would be very
unwise to embark in a general system of
aid in tho form of credits. Certain recent
occurrences which need not lie mentioned
here, present necessities, and her uncertain
future all admonish her to be chary of her
credits. Its indiscriminate or lavished ex
tention to private corporations, would un
questionably give it a stunning shock.
Your journal shows that several of these
are now asking of her such aid. You have
already determined by your action to avoid
both extremes, that of granting all such
applications and that of refusing all. 1
frankly confess that in my judgment the
better course would have been the latter
for the present, at least, you have determin
ed in passing upon them tc discriminate.
Aside from the present embarrassed condi
tion of our affairs, it might be conceded
that there are exceptional cases, and even
nowin deference to the General Assembly, I
yield my preferaiice to the general policy
to be pursued, on this question, and will
carefully consider the merits of each as it
may rise. The bill and resolutions have
been assented to for the following reasons :
The Macon & Brunswick Railroad con
nects an important interior commercial
city, with one of the best ports on tho
Southern Atlantic coast —a port confessedly
better than any now in general use on that
line. Such a port is of incalculable
value —if made aecessable to a fer
tile interior region. The railroad com
munications which Macon enjoy with every
portion of the State and with coterniiuus
States, are well known. With two such
termini, argument is not needed to prove
that this road will be a most important
commercial highway.
On_c million of capital has been recently
paid in by the Company and expended on
construction. Three hundred thousand
dollars of additional capital has been sub
scribed and, though not yet paid in, is con
sidered entirely secure.
Fifty miles of the road has been finished
and in daily operation. Seventy miles
more have been graded and made ready
for the superstructure. Before the full
amount of the State’s endorsement can be
obtained, eight hundred and fifty thousand
dollars of additional capital must be bona
fide subscribed and paid m. 'Aggregating
the present capita! paid in and subscribed,
and the means which this Legislature will
place in the hands of the Comj any, 1 am
satisfied, after careful investigation, that
the road will be completed without further
aid from the State—a most important con
sideration. The facts and strong proba
bilities as apprehended by me are these:
1. The road is a very important one to
the Sate.
2. It has now lona fide capital paid in
and subscribed exceeding one third of its
entire cost and equipment.
3. More than one-fourth of it is finished
and in operation.
4. More than one-third in addition is
graded for the reception of the superstruc
ture.
5. Without the aid asked from the State,
its completion will be indefinitely post
poned ; whilst, with it, an early completion
may he expected—tho necessary means
having been secured.
6. The title to the property purchased
with the State’s aid will be in the State,
and on all the property there will be a lien
with the right of entry, and user, or of
sale.
7. A limit is placed upon the price at
which the endorsed bonds may be sold.
8. A contingent fund of two percent,
upon the State’s endorsement is to be an
nually invested in tlie State's bonds proper,
and deposited with the Governor for the
redemption of the endorsed bonds.
Having made such security, I have come
slowly to the conclusion that an exceptional
case bus been made out, and I will not dis
sent from your action.
Allow me, however, most respectfully to
add that it is equally incumbent upon the
General Assembly and the Executive to
subject each case that may be presented to
like scrutiny, that there may be neither
peril to State credit nor risk of further ap
plication for State aid, and no doubt of the
success arid general utility of the enterprise.
(Signed) Charles J. Jenkins.
j Suspected Murder in Ijaltimore.—
i Baltimore , December 4.—James Welsh a
member of the Columbia (Jommandery of
| Kniglits Temp'ar who was missed by his
| associates on the night of the recent de
| monstration in this city, and for whom a
large reward was offered by the Masons,
j was found to-day, or rather bis body, in
j one of the docks in front of the city, under
j circumstances which leave no doubt
: that he had been foully dealt with. His
clothing had all been taken from bint ex
j cept an undershirt. The deceased was
from Wa-liing-tcn. and is believed to have
been robbed and thrown into the dock.
[advertisement.]
To the Aotcrs of the Middle Judicial
Circuit.
In consenting to become a candidate for
■ the Judgeship of the Middle Circuit, I do
not intend to canvass for an election. Were
I assured of the propriety of such a course,
neither time nor means would permit ine to
i adopt it.
The past ten years of my life have been
almost exclusively devoted to the service
{ of the State. This service lias been in both
i military and civil life—in the legislative
! halls and on the battle-field—in war and in
peace. I have always endeavored to dis
i charge my duty faithfully, honestly, honor
ably. Whatever I have accomplished, I
have been made to feel that it has not ad
vaneed my pecuniary interests. I desire to
abandon the field of politics, and sincerely
trust that the tocsin of war will never
j again be sounded, at ic-ast in our 'day and
: generation. I wish to pass the remainder
> of my life engaged exclusively in the duties
of that profession to which I have been at
tached from youth. Age, physical condi
j tion, and consideration for the interests of
|my family, demand it of me; but I shall
, ever feel proudly grateful to the generous
; and noble people who have so often honor
i ed me with their confidence and support.
I It is not without diffidence and distrust
that I have submitted my name as a candi
| date for the Judgeship of the Superior
j Court of this Circuit. Pure and impartial
I justice and a firm administration of the
j laws demand the highest qualities of the
i head and heart. I can oqly promise an
i honest and constant endeavor to discharge
faithfully the duties of the office, and to
: preserve the sanctity and dignity of the
I position so long, so well, and so worthily
filled by the late lamented Judge Holt—•
the model Judge.
Relying upon the active and generous
support which the brave soldiers residing
wnhin the circuit have ever given me and
upon thatconfidencewith which the people
have so often honored me, I trust to your
active sympathies for support, at the elec
tion on A\ ednesday, the 2d dav of January
next. " J
our fellow-citizen.
. „ Wm. Glßßo>’.
Augusta, T)*«. g, jgsg_