Georgia Historic Newspapers

    OLD SERIES, VOL. LXXVI.
(Chvonttlf & Sentinel.
iiemiy Mooni;,
A. It. WniGHT.
PATRICK WAI.SII, Associate Editor.
TKK.MH OF SUBSCRIPTION.
A t <. I STA. «IA !
H EDNEEDAY MOKMXgTjIJLY I."
Notice.
Rooms Central Executive Com., )
National Dem. Party op Georgia, r
Macon, Ga., June 19,1808. ]
lam authorized, by Messrs. Octavus
Cohen & Cos., to announce that the Line
of steamers known as the “Black Star
Line," will transport Delegates to the Na
tional Democratic Convention, from Sa
vannah to New York and hack, free op
charge. The steamers sail on Saturday.
E. G. CAKANIBB,
Cli’n Central Ex. Com. Dem. Party of
Georgia.
The Augusta “Whitewashed.”—
\V illiam Gibson, Joseph P Carr, James
N Mils, Ephraim Tweedy, William Doyle.
Mr. 8 tan bury.
A correspondent of the New York
World suggests Mr. Stanbury as a candi
date for the Presidency. Mr. S. would
make a good President, and, if nominated
by the New York Convention would receive
the cheerful support of the Southern De
mocracy.
Ihe Columbus Prisoners.
A call has been made through the Press
upon the people of the State for means to
aid in defence of the citizens of Columbus,
now in prison in Atlanta, and to furnish
them with necessary comforts during their
incarceration in Torquemada Meade’s
military hastile.
We are glad to learn that a few of our
enterprising merchants have taken the
matter in hand, and that lists will be open
to-day at No. 7 Warren Block, where such
donations as our people may feel able to
make will be received and forwarded to
proper agents in Atlanta.
Governor Johnson and Mr. Stephens.
By private letters received from the
North and West we learn that the pres
ence of the two distinguished Georgians,
whose names appear above, is most earn
estly desired in the approaching Conven
tion. We believe their attendance there
would be productive of much good, and
that they should overcome all personal
objections which they may entertain to
such a course. Both Mr. Stephens and
Governor Johnson are very popular with
the Western Democracy, and doubtless
could render valuable service to the coun
try by attending t,he Convention. Wo
sincerely trust that they may he induced
to attend.
The Prospect In Massachusetts.
The Gibraltar of Jacobin Radicalism is in
danger. The home of Philips, and Sum
ner, and Wilson, and Banks, and Garri
son is tainted with Conservatism. The
Jacobin column is broken, and the fearless
and solid cohorts of Democracy aro gath
ering for the final charge upon the shat
tered ranks of the Radical revolutionists.
The honest masses in the Bay State are
becoming more aud more disgusted with
the illegal, corrupt and infamous conduct
of the Loyal Leagues, who, with an or
ganizationoxtending through every hamlet,
and town, and city, have undertaken to
rule or ruin the affairs of the State. The
Springfield Republican (Rad), alluding
to the eonduet of the Loyal Leagues, says
that it is “sure to give the Democratic
“candidate for Governor, again to bo that
“half-Republican, young Mr. Adams, a
“greatly increased vote, and a fair chance
‘ ‘of an election next fall. These are not vain
'’'expectations. There is deep and vtide
“spread demoralization among the Massa
“chusetts Republicans as a State party.
“They can only recover tone aud unity
“aud strength by a courageous rnove
“ment that shall bring new men and new
“politics into dominance, and thrust aside
“alike those who have debauchod its
“ranks.”
The South In the New York Convention.
The following extract from a private let
ter written to the editor of this paper by
ono of tho ablest and most distinguished
and experienced Statesman of Pennsyl
vania, will be read with interest. It will
he seen that tho writer completely ignores
the idea that the pretcuded State Govern
ments fastened upon the people of the
South, by tho Reconstruction acts of Con
gress, are legal or binding upon us, and
that it will become the duty of the Federal
Government to relieve us from their intol
erable exactions and degrading disfranchise
ments. 11c is also clearly of tho opinion
that the Southern Delegates to the New
Y ork Convention, should enter that body
clothed with powers as full, and privliges
as complete as those from the Northern
States.
But to the extract.
“1 believe the delegates from the South
"ought to present themselves and take
‘part in the National Convention as Re
presentatives, not of the Reconstructed
“States, but of the original States
“as they existed ante helium. I would
“ignore Reconstruction utterly. 1 believe
“all that legislation to be null and void,
“aud that the judicial tribunals will, some
"day,declare it so.”
The Union Pacific Railroad is being
built more rapidly this year than ever.
The word is, “ToSalt Lake by Christmas.”
Sis hundred and forty miles are now in
running order, and a hundred miles more
are nearly ready lor the track. Brigham
Voung has five thousand men at work in
Utah, and says he is not afraid of the
Gentiles. It is probable that the locomo
tive will go through to the Pacific in 1869
instead of 1870, and will carry along with
it an immense train of passengers and
freight, uow awaiting that happy event.
Contrary to the usual experienee of rail
road companies, the Union Pacific has an
abundance of ready money, and pays cash
for everything. Its First Mortgage Six
per Cent. Gold Bonds are eagerly taken
throughout the country by parties of sound
financial judgment. The sales have already
amounted to seventeen million dollars.
President Johnson Looming up as
a Candidate.— The Charleston Daily
News contains the following special:
Washington, June 21. —There is quite
a flutter to-night among the knowing onee
in Democratic circles.
The friends of the President here claim
that he will certainly receive the largest
vote on the fir-( ballot at the Democratic
National Convention. They turther an
ticipate that within the next three or four
days some official demonstration will be
made, the effect of which w ill be to secure for
him the nomination. They are all the
more confident of his chances, because
until now he has not been spoken of as a
candidate, and has not, therefore, incurred
the antagonism of the partisans of the
leading aspirants. It is claimed'hat Mr.
Johnson’s gallant stand for the Constitu
tion entitles him to the gratitude and la
ruble consideration ot the Democratic
party, and that some bold stroke of ex
ecutive policy is all that is needed to insure
him the requisite two-thirds vote. Hence
it is confidently stated that important
events are near at hand. The current con
jecture is that there will be a general am
nesty.
The National lnteUigencer says that
Mr. Evarte has declined the position of
Attorney General, tendered to him by the
President.
The Cincinnati Gazette and New York
Sun, both leading liadica! papers, speak
very favorably of the proposed appoint
ment of Mr. Groesbeck as Secretary of
the Treasury.
The Democratic Platform on Negro
Suffrage.
There is an evident disposition on the
part of some of the leading Democratic
journals to pretermit the expression of aDy
opinion by the New York Convention in
this, to us, all absorbing question of negro
suffrage.
The New York World has so far re
calcitatcd from the advanced position taken
in its article of the 3d inst. as to insist now
that the platform shall leave the question
of suffrage as it has been fixed by the Re
construction Acts, subject to the future
regulation and control of the people of the
several States. The Chicago Times, an
other leading Democratic journal with
strong Republican proclivities, in its issue
of the 18th inst. has a leading article on
the reconstruction question, in which it
cautiously aDd adroitly argues that, while
the Democratic party are, and have been
from flie first, opposed to the reconstruction
measures, that the Southern States, acting
under their authority, have organized State
governments, which Congress recognizes
as lawful and binding upon the people,
and that, therefore, the Democratic party
should take no action —incorporate no
creed in the national platform which would
pledge the party to aid in the overthrow
of those bogus State governments. This
idea had been previously thrown out by the
World , and is thus fully endorsed by the
Times.
If the Democratic party adopts the ad
vice of these two leading journals and,
while denouncing the Reconstruction Acts
as illegal, unconstitutional and void, shall
declare that the governments set up and
organized under the provisions of those
Acts are legal, constitutional and binding
upon the people of these States, we say
that the South can have no lot or place in
that party. Such a position is infinitely
worse than that of the Radicals.
They pretend and declare that the Re
construction Acts are Constitutional, and,
therefore, must be obeyed. The Herald
and Times would have the Democracy
declare that they are unconstitutional
but must be obeyed. On this question
the highest ground is held by those who
would enforce legislation because it is legal,
and not by those who would enforce it, be
cause, by so doing, they may benefit their
party.
On this point there can be no compro
mise which will bo acceptable to the peo
ple of the South, or which can bo made
without a violation of the plain provisions
of the Constitution. If the Reconstruc
tion acts are illegal and unconstitutional,
then all action taken or had under and by
virtue of the force or authority of these
acts, must be likewise uneoastitutional and
void.
A compelled acceptance of a portion of
the people of Georgia—ari l that accept
ance made by a class of individuals who,
by the laws of the State, were excluded
from the privilege of voting—of the terms
of reconstruction, offered in the military
bills is not binding, oil) er in law or morals,
upon the white people of the State, and
does not estop them from asserting and
ro-assutuing their lost prPvileges as soon as
under the forms of law they may be able
to do so. They cannot stultify themselves
by the support of a party platform which
surrenders all hope for a future restora
tion of their rights.
If the Democratic party fails to take
bold, decided and advanced ground in
condemnation of the reconstruction acts;
if it intends to take the back track on the
question of negro suffrage ; if it is willing
to yield the right of Congress to fix the
qualifications for suffrage in the Southern
States, the contest becomes a mere scram
ble for spoils, in which the South can take
no interest whatever. We can see no good
reason why Mr. Chase should not receive
the nomination of the party, if the contest
is to be made on such a platform ; and,
really, it would seem that General Grant
would himself fulfil all the conditions
which such a code of principles would re
quire for an appropriate standard-bearer.
What would the South—what would
the country gain by a change of adminis
tration made upon issues which both
parties accept as the fixed poficy of the
Government ? As far as the South is
concerned, we believe that the white peo
ple would be perfectly indifferent in such a
contest, while the negroes and scalawags
would certainly adhere to their side of the
controversy. In the North we believe
that the only question which can arouse
the people and excite them to vigorous
exertions in the coming canvass is that of
open, decided, determined and unyielding
opposition to the unconstitutional legisla
tion of Congress in relation to the South
ern States. The open and flagrant viola
lations of the Constitution, in destroying
the civil governments in ten States of the
Union, and the erection upon their ruins
of cruel, despotic and tyranical military
dynasties, have awakened the fears of the
true men of the North and opened their
eyes to the dangers which threatened them
selves and the whole country in the con
summation of such despotic and revolu
tionary legislation. Upon this question
the people of the North are prepared to
make the fight*, and any action of the Press
or leaders of the Democratic party which
''would weaken their confidence or lessen their
zeal in the cause, by any surrender of prin
ciple or adroit avoidance of living and vital
issues would insure their complete over
throw and defeat
We warn the weak-kneed, luke-warm
negro suffrage stricken conductors of the
Northern Democratic Press that they can
not succeed in the approaching canvass by
any shulflug, namby-pamby, double-faced
expediency policy or programme. The
people are tired of platforms which have
two faces—one looking South and the other
North —they are tired of the uncertainty,
anxiety, discontent and universal stagna
tion of business growing out of the present
state of affairs, and demand a bold, manly,
decided and unequivocal declaration of
hostility to Radical misrule in all its
phases and bearing. The great heart of the
Nation is still sound upon these vital ques
tions. The true men of the North and
West want no compromise of principle,
and will accept none for the paltry purpose
of securing strength among those who have
been and arc still, opposed to them on the
vital issues of the contest.
We do not presume to dictate to the
people of the North the line of policy
which they should adopt. We do not wish
even to subject ourselves to the charge of
wishing to influence Northern Democratic
sentiment upon this point. All that we
wish to do on the present occasion, is to
warn them against the adoption of a policy
which not only surrenders an essential liv
ing and vitally important principle, but
which would force the great body of their
white brothers of the South into a posi
tion of cold neutrality, or at best of luke
warm acquiescence.
The South, it is conceded, will be the
main battle ground in the coming canvass.
The respective parties are so equally
balanced in the North and West, as to
throw the balance of power into the hands of
the Southern States. The Radicals have
adopted a platform which will insure the
loss ot three-fourths of the Southern elec
toral votes unless the Democratic party in
a foolish attempt to ooneiliate and win the
negro vote, shall yield the high ground it
has heretofore occupied on this suffrage
question. If the Democratic leaders de
sire to strengthen their party in the South,
they must not attempt to throw out baits
for negro votes. The true way to secure
that vote is to adopt a platform containing
correct principles, run a candidate who
presents a consistent record in favor of
those principles, and thereby arouse theen-
thusiasm, excite the activity, and strength
en the determination of the white people
to win the race at all hazards, even if in
so doing it became necessary to use the
illegal black voter in favor of law and order
and the constitution of the country.
Augusta-Present and Future.
Owing to our geographical situation and
the peculiar location of the Georgia Rail
road, every feasible new enterprise or ex
tension of Railroad facilities for the in
crease of the trade of the city must nec
essarily benefit the former as much or
more than the City of Augusta. We say
feasible, because one of the most important
improvements for the trade of this place,
would require more money and more of
energy and enterprize than we fear can
be very well furnished by the city, at least
so r several years to come. We allude to
the construction of the Savannah River
Valley Railroad, a most favorable charter
for which was granted by the Legislature
several years ago. This is the only new
line necessary to the welfare of Augusta,
the completion of which would not benefit
the Georgia Railroad and increase its
revenue. Leaving out of view, then, for
the present, the Savannah River Valley
Railroad, let us see what is the next best
thing that can be done to improve our
condition, or at least prevent us from ret
rograding from our present, to say the
most of it, very unsatisfactory condition.
For many years previous to the war, the
people of Cincinnati and the great West
were straining every nerye and appropri
ating every surplus dollar of their capital to
secure a short, cheap, practicable and di
rect communication with one or more of
the South Atlantic ports. The far-seeing
merchau's of Charleston had the sagacity
to perceive the vast interests which would
accrue to that port on the Atlantic which
should become the eastern terminus of
the great line from Cincinnati, and entered
warmly into the scheme for connecting
their city with the valley of the Ohio by
means of the Blue Ridge and Rabun Gap
Railroad. At that time Augusta was
pushing her connections with Nashville
and Memphis, and took little orno interest
in the Cincinnati and South Atlantic
route.
It was thought that the completion of
the lines of railway from Chattanooga to
Nashville and to Memphis, by way of De
catur, Tuscumbia and Huntsville, would
pour into this city over the line of the
Georgia Railroad, an amount of busi
ness, which added to that to come from
Montgomery and beyond, would be fully
equal to the capacity of the latter to trans
port. The lines from Mobile and New
Orleans, which now reach up to and tap
the Memphis road, turning a large amount
of that business down to the Gulf, were
then in their infancy, and many of our
wisest railroad men gravely doubted
their ultimate completion. The line from
Chattanooga via Cleveland, Knoxville and
Bristol to Richmond and Norfolk, al
though often spoken of, was thought to be
nothing more than the illusory dream of a
brilliant imagination. Time has shown
the wisdom of those who projected these
roads, and has given us painful proofs of
their injurious effects upon the Georgia
Railroad and the trade of Angusta.
If the Directors of the Georgia Railroad
and the people of Augusta had entertained
the slightest fear that the large sums
of money which they were called upon to
subscribe, and did subscribe for the com
pletion of these great Western lines, would
only develop a trade which, exciting the
cupidity of Mobile and New Orleans
merchants, and stimulating them to make
exertions to secure it, would force into life
the great competing lines from those
cities, they would never have projected or
aided in the completion of these Western
lines.
While then we were looking with so
much promise of to the completion
of those important liiles to the Mississippi
and Cumberland valleys, we overlooked or
rather were indifferent to the progress
which Cincinnati, Knoxville and Charleston
were making to the east and north of us to
force a connection by rail between the
former and latter city. Augusta felt secure
in her trade and commercial importance.
Her merchants were active, enegetic,
wealthy and popular. Her capitalists lib
eral, public spirited and generous. Her
city government administered with fidelity,
honesty and economy. All was prosperity
around us, and we seemed to be floating
easy and pleasantly upon the full tide of
eminent success.
But this dream is over. One by one,
year by year, have we seen these flanking
movements upon our trade and commerce
made by our vigilant and active competitors
in the race for superiority, until at last the
truth flashes upon us in all the fulness and
clearness of a midday sun, that our pres
tege is waning and our influence about to
be lost by our own supineness and inactivity.
The line from Cincinnati has been com
pleted via Louisville to a point but a short
distance West of Knoxville, and will, in a
short time, be finished to the latter place.
From Knoxville the work is progressing
eastward, and is already completed to
Maryville, twenty odd miles this side of
the former place. From there to Locust
Stake on the North Carolina line, we
believe the work is all under contract, and
progressing with much activity. From
Locust Stake to Clayton, a distance of
seventeen miles, the road is graded and
ready for the iron, A charter was granted
by the State of Georgia several years ago
for the latter road, and it is an indepen
dent enterprise in the great link from Cin
cinnati to the Atlantic. Let Augusta and
the Georgia Railroad move promptly now,
and push the Athens branch of the Georgia
Road up to Clayton and there connect with
the great line direct to Cincinnati. The
Blue Ridge Road which is intended to con
nect with the Cincinnati line at Clayton
halts by the way. The poverty of Carolina
is such that this great work, so essential
to her prosperity, lags for the want of
means to complete it. Now is Augusta’s
opportunity. If she can be aroused to a
true sense of her danger and the vast re
sults to be obtained by a speedy connec
tion with Cincinnati, by the way of Athens,
Clayton, Rabun Gap and Knoxville, her
future prosperity is fixed and assured. To
falter now will bring disaster to her trade
and destruction to her commercial impor
tance.
The line from Athens, for which a char- .
ter was granted iu 1853, has been survey
ed and the route found to be an ex- ;
tremely favorable one. The grades can
easily be kept within the maxima of the
Georgia Road and the cost for bridges j
and trestle work is exceedingly insignifi
cant. The grading can be done for one- |
half stock and the other half money, and,
we believe, that if proper efforts were
made and the matter taken in hand at
once, the aid of the State could be secured
to the extent of ten or twelve thousand
dollars per mile. The people of that sec
tion of Georgia are, on strict principles of
justice, entitled to receive the fostering
care of the State. They have voted money
and paid taxes for years past to aid Middle,
Southern and Northwestern Georgia.
They now call upon the people of those
sections, which have already received aid
from the State, to do them justice by
extending the same amount of aid to their
seetion.
Augusta must help in this work.
Help them with her influence and help
them with her money. The Georgia Rail
road must invest a portion of the stocks
and bonds of other companies, which it now
holds as a reserve fund, in the completion
of this work. The increased trade and
travel which this extension of her line
would bring to her road would more than
repay her for the insignificant loss she
might sustain in selling her securities at
less than their par value.
We urge the President and Directors of
the Georgia Railroad, the Board of Trade
and our citizens generally, to take im
mediate action for the . commencement of
this work. It will be too late to commence
when the Blue Ridge Road has made its
connection at Clayton and established its
influence there. If we succeed at all it
must be done by prompt and energetic
action.
Note In our former article on this
subject we were led into an unintentional
error in regard to the statement which we
asserted had been made by the President
of one of our largest corporations. We
found the statement as we gave it, in a
newspaper report of the speech, but we
have since been informed that the report
did that gentleman injustice. Wecheerful
ly make the correction for two reasons.
First, because it is due to the gentleman
himself, and second, because it can be no
longer quoted as authority against the
Georgia Railroad and the interests of
Augusta.
Out-Flanked Again.
IV e notice in a Macon paper the state
ment that passenger trains are now to run
through from Montgomery to Macon and
Savannah without change or stoppage,
and that freight trains will also be run
through without breaking bulk, while be
tween Montgomery and Atlanta there will
be two changes of cars.
While the President and Directors
of the Georgia Baiiroad have been
quietly sitting in their office parlor
sucking their fingers and playing the part
of a mutual admiration society, the Cen
tral Railroad has gone to work, after re
building and making new the whole of the
line of their road, at a cost of over a mil
lion of dollars, and have bought up a
sufficient amount of the stock of the Mont
gomery and West Point Road to enable
them to get complete control of it. As
soon as this little purchasing job is accom
plished, we find the line from Montgomery
to Columbus made the main trunk, and
the portion which leads to West Point
made a branch of the Savannah line.
If the stock which the Georgia Railroad
owns in the Atlanta and LaGrange Rail
road—nearly a half a million of dollars—
had been sold, and the proceeds appro
priated to the purchase of the Montgomery
and West Point stock, the Central Rail
road would never have been able to get
absolute control of that important connec
tion. But, while we are fast asleep,
dreaming about our past importance, a
rival road, wide-awake to the importance
of continued activity and energy, steps in
and bears off the prize. Sic transit gloria
Augusta!
The Southern Delegates In New York.
vV e presented to our readers yesterday
the opinions of a leading Pennsylvania
Democrat upon the policy which ought to
be adopted by the Southern Delegates to
the New York Convention. It affords us
much pleasure to be able to lay before
them to-day the following extracts from a
private letter, received lrom one of the
ablest members of the present Congress
from the great West. The writer has
been an acknowledged leader in the-House
of Representatives for several years, and,
like Brooks, of New York, Munger, of
Ohio, and Woodward, of Pennsylvania,
has never quailed before the power of the
Radicals, or ceased his hostility to their
revolutionary legislation. He has been a
strong, firm, able and consistent Democrat
upon principle, and is not now prepared
to surrender principle for availability.
Here is what he says :
“1 am decidedly of the opinion that tho
Delegates from the Southern States
ought to go into the Convention, and
take part from the beginning to the end,
aiding, by their counsel, in bringing the
Convention to a judicious result.”
“ I agree with you fully in your choice.
Pendleton is my first choice. At the same
time I would not have the Southern dele
gates so act in the Convention as to force,
by their action, a nomination upon the
Convention. I think it would be unwise
to give to the Radicals the opportunity to
charge that our nomination was made by
‘Southern rebels,’ as they will not fail to
style all those who act with the Northern
Democracy.
“Grant can be beaten, if we can har
moniously agree upon our candidates—
upon a frank, short and plainly-to-be
understood platform. I wish we might
make the ticket 1 Pendleton and Han
cock.’ ”
Oatli of Members of the Legislature.
We see it stated in some of our ex
changes that the Legislature of this State
will be very soon called together at At
lanta, preparatory to putting in operation
the recently elected State government.
A question of considerable moment was
sprung during the recent canvass by
Torquemada Meade, evidently with the
intention of promoting the Radical cause
by throwing doubt and uncertainty upon
the right of many Democratic candidates
to take their seats in case they were
elected. We refer to the statement that
it was probable that all the members
would be required to take the test oath.
We believed then, as now, that no such
requirement would be made, and although
the statement was made officially, that the
members might be required to take the
iron-clad oath, we knew that General
Meade would not attempt to enforce any
such rule.
Happily for us and for the State, Gener
al Grant has taken such action as will
prevent Torquemada from attempting to
carry out his threat even if he were in
clined to do so. In a recent telegram to
General Buchanan, commanding at New
Orleans, he says: “He leaves to General
Buchanan the details of installing the new
officers (of Louisiana), suggesting, how
ever, that only the oath prescribed by the
new constitution should be required .”
In all other matters of organization he
leaves General B. free to act upon his own
judgment, but in relation to the oath to
be taken he expressly limits him to that
required by the constitution of the State.
All the white members of the Legisla
ture who can subscribe the following oath
prescribed by the 3rd article of the new
Constitution, are, according to General
Grant’s authority, authorized to take their
. seats:
Article 111. Sec. X. “Every Senator or
Representative before taking liis seat
shall take an oath or affirmation to sup
port the Constitution of the United States
and of this State; that he has not practiced
any unlawful means, directly or indirect
ly. to procure his election, and that he has
not given, or offered, or promised, or
caused to be given or offered, or promised,
to anv person, auv money, treat, or thing
of value, with intent to affect any vote, or
j to prevent any person from voting at the
election at w hich he was elected.”
Sad Affair. —We regret to learn that
Mr. Wm. M. Nolan, son of Judge Q. R.
Nolan, of Henry County, Ga., aged about
18 years, accidentally killed himself in
McDonough, on Monday evening, the 15th
inst. A letter from that place to a gentle
man in this city, conveying the melan
choly intelligence, states that the young
man was walking with his aunt, in one of
the streets of McDonough, playing with a
repeater which he held in his hand. His
aunt remonstrated with him in regard to
his careless handling of the pistol, to which
he jocularly replied. While thus engaged
his thumb accidentally slipped and dis
charged the pistol, the ball entering his
temple. He lived about an hour after
ward, but was entirely unconscious.
The bereaved family will have the heart
felt sympathy of many friends, in this
and other communities.
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 1, 1868
General Beauregard on the Situation.
General Beauregard, who is now in New
York, says, in reference to the probable
eourse of the Southern delegations in the
Democratic National Convention, that it is
extremely improbable that the vote of a
single Southern State can be cast for the
Democratic candidates—and, therefore,
the Southern Democracy have no right to
advise, much less insist, upon the adop
tion of any special nominee by their
Northern allies. The duty of the South is
this: Accepting its situation, it will do its
utmost to sustain whatever candidates
shall appear most available and mest like
ly to secure success in the judgment of
the Northern delegations. For General
Hanc >ck all the white men in the South
would turn out and work with great zeal,
if he should happen to be nominated ; but
if, in the judgment of the Northern dele
gations! success could only be secured by
the nomination of Salmon P. Chase, upon
any other platform than absolute negro
suffrage, then the Southern white Demo
crats would gladly work for his election
also. But if, unfortunately, the Northern
delegations should put up such a platform
as the Pendleton people of the West pro
poses out-Heroding that of the Republi
cans on the suffrage question, then the
whites of the South would stay at home
and let their Northern brethreiritake their
chances of success or defeat without their
assistance. Such are the views of General
Beauregard aud those whom he represents.
— dav. Rep.
We have notiied in several of our ex
changes similar statements of the views of
Gen. Beauregard, all founded upon the
authority of a local reporter of one of the
New l r ork papers.
We refer to it simply to say that we do
not believe there is one word of truth in
the whole story. General Beauregard is
a gentleman of too much modesty and
good sense to set himself up as an oracle of
Southern political opinion. Neither do
we believe that the General has studied
the politics of the coutry so closely for the
last few years as to be able to decide what
individual or which party is strongest in
the South.
The views attributed to him in relation
to the friends of Mr. Pendleton, are so
grossly absurd and unfounded, that we
are surprised at their publication. The
Pendleton people of the West have never,
in any way, or at any time, proposed a
platform on the qustion of negro suffrage
which would not be entirely acceptable to
the white people of the South. They are
as widely removed from the Radicals on
this question, as are the white people of
the South from the scalawags and carpet
baggers.
General Beauregard seems to have fal
len under the peculiar spite of these lying
newspaper reporters. They have kept up a
system of lying and misrepresentation of
his position on various questions, which
has more than once required from him an
absolute denial of their slander. We feel
confident that we are not ourselves more
surprised at the statements contained in
this extract than the General himself.
Sound Views.
The following letter, while not intended
for the public eye, so clearly speaks the
views of a large majority of the people of
the State and, we believe, of the South,
that we violate the pledge of private con
fidence and lay it before the readers of the
Chronicle & Sentinel. We hope that tho
motives which induce us to make his letter
public may excuse us with our correspond
ent for the liberty which we take. The
writer is a gentleman of much experience
in political affairs and is one of the clearest
and most profound thinkers of the day :
Columbus, Ga., June 23,1868.
Dear General : — I have been thinking
a great deal over the subject of your late
letter, especially that portion of it which
refers to the action of the New York Con
vention. I do not suppose your back
needs strengthening, but, if it does, per
mit me to assure you that, the more I
have reflected upon it, the more thoroughly
am I satisfied that tho should
lay down a plain, square platform and put
Pendleton upon it. We will act unwisely
if we attempt to trim our sails to catch the
popular breeze. The people are already
far ahead of their leaders in their desire to
return to original principles, and to bring
back the government to the practice of its
earlier and better days. There should be
no equivocation about the platform. And
if the platform should be a square-out
Democratic and Conservative piece of work,
I do not see how Judge Chase could give it
his cordial approval. In other words, do
not let us have a platform looking in one
direction, and a candidate looking in
another.
Judge Chase deserves well of the coun
try for his recent course, and, if nominated,
he would certainly carry a majority and,
probably, all of the Southern States. This
is a great advantage for one candidate to
have over another. But what he might
gain here, I fear he wouldlose at the North.
The Northern people could not be brought
to harmonize and concentrate upon him as
fully and cordially as upon Pendleton. In
other words, Pendleton is, in my judgment,
not only the best man spoken of for the
office, but the strongest and most deserving;
and I hope the delegates from Georgia, if
they vote at all, will give Mm their united
support.
I wish it were in my power to go with
you and your friends to New York, but
business engagements will prevent. *
Congressional Items.
From the Herald of June 20 th
APPLICATION FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE
HOE PATENT FOR PRINTING PRESSES.
The Senate Committee on Patents has
given a hearing to Colonel Hoe, of New
York, on a proposition to extend his
patent for printing presses, which is about
to expire. The committee has under con
sideration the propriety of taking from
the Commissioner of Patents the power to
extend patents, and putting it in the hands
of a board of examiners. It is alleged
that the power now lodged with the Com
missioner is too great and affords strong
temptations to partiality and corruption.
THE NEW INDICTMENT AGAINST JOHN H.
SURRATT.
The first count in the new indictment
against John H. Surratt charges him with
conspiring with Booth, Paine, Harold,
O’Laughlin, Arnold, Atzerodt and Mrs.
Surratt to murder Abraham Lincoln. The
second count charges him with conspiring
to capture Mr. Lincoln and deliver him as
a prisoner into the possession, custody and
control of certain persons whose names are
unknown to the Grand Jury.
GOVERNMENT CLERKS WRATHY WITH THE
RADICALS.
Avery strong feeling of resentment has
been aroused in the government depart
ments against the Radical party, in con
sequence of the tabling of the bill granting
the continuation for another year of their
additional twenty per cent. Since yester
day the conservative element in politics
has gained a large number of converts.
LAND GRANTS ASKED FOR A NEW TELE
GRAPH LINE.
Certain parties interested in the bill
granting lands to aid in the construction
of a railroad and telegraph line from
Lawrence, Kansas, to the boundary line
between the United States and Mexico in
the direction of some ports on the Gulf of
California, had a hearing before the Com
mittee on Pacific Railroad to-day. As the
project does not require money, bat mere
| ly a grant of public lands, the committee
! is rather favorably disposed toward it.
Father Lambert Y oung, the Catholic
priest who has been confined in the Louis
ville (Ky), jail for declining to testify in
the Frankfort negro lynching case, before
the United States court, was released on
Monday last by Judge Ballard, on bond.
Father Young was dangerously attacked
with erysipelas about three years ago, and
his confinement in jail caused the disease
to break out again. The bond was fixed at
SI,OOO for ten days,or such time as he may
have fully recovered.
The Constitution announces that it made
a mistake in describing the dungeons at
Atlanta, in *hich thirty or forty gentle
men from Alabama are incarcerated. In
stead of their dimensions being 8 by 3 feet,
they are just 10 by 2.
The police arrested in the city of Macon,
on Saturday night last, the negro, Monroe
Bloom, who attempted, recently, the rob
bery and rape of a lady living some five or
six miles in the country. "We hope justice
will he meted to the miscreant.
Special Correspondence of the Chronicle «£ Sentinel.
New 1 t ork, June 19, IS6B.
Dear Chronicle:
Reporters, escorts, delegates, and friends
of the different candidates named, begin
to pour into the Metropolis. The usual
estimates of the number that will be added
to the population of this great Gotham, so
far transcends the power of notation of a
pineywoods Reb, as to produce only a
staggering effort of comprehension, in an
endeavor to reach, by an association of
rustic standards of the indefinite—such as
hairs of one’s head, troops of blackbirds,
et id omne genus ; but all without avail.
Engagements for “quarters” are being
made on the largest scale —not only in the
city, but in the adjacent towns and villages,
for miles around. To afford your readers
an idea of the scale upon which arrange
ments are being made, it will be sufficient
to say, that a Peudleton escort of 10,000
men from the single Western State of
Ohio will attend the Convention. The
various railroad and steamboat companies,
with that prompt facility in management
which characterizes them, will contribute
to swell the numbers, by reducing their
rates of fare to exceedingly low rates. The
heads of these corporations expect to
realize a rich harvest by such policy,
add to their revenues a large sum from an
extraordinary source, and makeup for the
present and prospective dullness in travel.
The attendance will not be confined to such
as style themselves Democrats. It is as
serted that a very largo—an unusually
large number of professed Republicans
will visit this city; indeed, many from
distant points are already here. These are
generally of the bond-holding class, or con
nected with bank interests. The fact be
comes apparent, from intercourse with
all parties, that question which
causes tho greatest anxiety to ail
parties is the financial one. The
wealthy Republicans are by no means satis
fied with theattitudeassumed by their party
at Chicago. The rich classes of the North
and Northwest feel under great obligations
to General Grant for relieving them by his
success from impending dangers at a time
when little else than destruction seemed to
await their interests. They express them
selves in this wise, openly and candidly,
but are by no means satisfied that he will
or can longer protect those interests.
They freely assert that his ambition is un
bounded, and in his desire for personal suc
cess he would not hesitate to sacrifice
them, and in accordance with his predomi
nent trait of character, “will fight it all the
summer’.’ on a line which gave promise of
success without regard to cost. The great
cry which comes up from the West, is for
peace and down with money monopolies. Ask
what this means and you are told that the
great mass of the people of the West, with
out distinction as to party find themselves
drifting into just such a dependent slate
as that which existed before the war. That
the East is again assuming the control of
their lines of transportation ; that their
leading railroad lines are now controlled
by purchase of stock by New York and
Boston and that their policy is controlled
and, in many instances, officers elected by
Eastern stockholders ; that their markets
are under the control of Eastern rings, and
that the source of this power is the bond
ed and bank interest, whose accumulations
are the growth of the war.
Again there is an exceeding great dis
trust of the semblance of military power.
The great mass of the people believe that
the war might have been avoided, and
have a vague indefinite idea that many
secret influences were set in motion and a
great deal of information withheld and
great misrepresentations made, by which
war was precipitated and continued merely
to increase the fortunes of certain politicians.
The popular demand is that the policy of
the government shall not be entrusted to
those whose sole ideas of government are
the order book and the bayonet.
Caucusing is very-active. The ease and
rapidity with which the proceedings at
Chicago were controlled and managed,
suggest similar action in July. Besides
this, there is, as I believe, a sincere desire
to harmonize and strengthen the Demo
cratic party. There is every indication
that this will be successful. There is an
effort being made, chiefly through Repub
lican intrigues, to revive agitation and
foster discontent, by asserting that South
ern members will demand ‘"a platform of
principle."!,” and the right to dictate a policy.
Frequent reference is made to tho ante
helium Charleston Convention. Disguised
Radicals are active in disseminating such
views for a result so desirable to them.
But it will fail. Both, Pendleton men and
Chase men, affirm that the present contest
and all future contest, will be between the
West and the East, and all that is requir
ed of the South is—hands off. All shadow
of political opinion in the Democratic ranks
are indignant at the late action of Con
gress in perpetuating the Freedmen’s Bu
reau. It is freely conceded that the object
for which this bureau is continued, is to
manipulate the returns. It is expected
that fraud and skill will accomplish all
that is needful for Radical success. This
action of Congress is acting admirably upon
the advocates of the different candidates,
and will contribute no little to compelling
harmonious action. It is rumored this
evening that the South will unite in a private
caucus, under the lead of Gen. Steadman,
and present the name of Andrew Johnson,
and there rest, leaving the North and
West to decide between the respective
merits of Pendleton, Chase, Hancock and
Hendricks. There is a desire which your
correspondent finds to be, so far, almost
universal, to leave the nomination of Vice
President to Pennsylvania, although there
exists a very kind feeling towards Adams
of Massachusetts, and Steadman of Ohio.
Immigration is immense, with every
prospect for increase. The character of
emigrants is far different now from what
it was some years ago. The recent arri
val from Germany of over eight hundred
were of a class which we of the South
seldom see, sturdy, healthful and well
dressed, giving every evidence of in
telligence, and energy, and self-reliance;
and all of them possessed of moderate
wealth. The average cash in hand
in the possession ol the company was
$1,200. A few minutes conversation with
one of these who had learned English suf
ficiently well for practical life, gave me
some insight into the manner by which
this emigration business is managed. _ The
emigrant is attached by.the statistical and
topographical information spread abroad
by means of agents in Europe. These
agents generally charge the emigrant a
small commission and furnish him with
information as to routes, what he should
carry, where he is to buy needful articles
for house building and house . furnishing,
and the prices thereof; what railroad routes
he shall pursue and how to make his ex
change. He provides cheap maps upon
which are designated the plats for sale or
purchased.
To an inquiry as to what they thought
of the South ? And why emigrants did
not look for homes in that direction. This
reply was given, with a significant shrug
of the shoulders —ah no, you have those
horrid negroes. Upon further interroga
tion, it came out, that plates representing
huge woolly heads massacreing white peo
ple were scattered abroad. Wonderful
tales of outrage and cruelty, to deter emi
gration, were circulated at a mere nom
inal price. This very individual with whom
I was conversing had a copy of Uncle
Tom’s Cabin, purchased at the low price
of eight cents —not enough to pay for the
paper. I found him very curiously examin
ing me, after hearing that I was from
the South, again and again, full of incre
dulity repeating, “you from the South.”
I gave him a card, and asked him to call
and see me, upon his declaration that he
should see the South, “soon, not very
long.”
The control of this country in the future
is in the hands of the foreign population.
It is admitted that the foreign vote con
trols New York—both city and State—at
the last session of the Legislature, it is
said that out of an appropriation of' $169,-
000 for benevolent institutions $163,000:
the control of foreign citizens.
New Yorkers say that it is impossible for '
a native to gain office. The foreign popu- !
lation of this city is now estimated at fifty
per cent by the last census it is put down i
at 47.00, or 364,000, out of a population j
of 806,000* A recent census of Chicago
shows that Americans constitute but a
little more than one-third of the entire
population ; whilst at the last census the
foreign population did not exceed fifty per
cent. increase has been chiefly
among the Germans, they having become
I four times as numerous as at that time,
the Irish having only doubled. The ten
j dency of foreign emigrants is almost whol
j ly to Western citizens, ten thousand ar
rived at Detroit week before last. It will
j be a curious problem if the Radicals pre
-1 vail in establishing universal suffrage to
make the boundaries of the two opposing
currents from the east and from the west,
from the hive of four hundred millions of
brown celestials from China with the pig
tails, and nearly an equal number
from the great European hive, nearly
equal in numbers. W hat will be the effect
upon the destiny of the great republic?
How will the national halls look with pig
tails, Mereochaums and wooly heads all
gravely determining national laws and
national policy ?
As an iudex of the betting books and pub
lic estimate, I mention that bets were hook
ed last night as follows : S2OO to 50 that
Chase would not get the nomination, $75
to 50 that Pendleton would not, $l5O to
S2O that. Hancock would not, and SIOO to
$lO against Seymoie. Hendricks, Packer,
Parker and English, five to one that the
successful candidate could not be named.
Georgia Plains.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Baltimore Gazette.
RADICAL CORRUPTION.
The corruptions of the Radicals, through
the Treasury Department, arc beginning
to tel! against that faction as the real facts
beerme developed. It haslong been known
that the money of the public has been
lavished with an unsparing hand upon
favorites and by them distributed to cun
ning wire-pullers behind the scenes. Hon
est claimants have for years been compelled
to submit to the shameless extortion involv
ed in the adjudication of their claims out
side of the Treasury and placed by 'he
Secretary into the hands of irresponsible
umpires, totally unknown to the law. Men
who, at the close of the war (or at least
since a year or two after its commence-
ment), were not worth a copper, have be
come millionaires , through the double
process of monstrous retainers paid by the
Department and extorted fees from those
to whom the Government were, beyond
question, justly indebted. Doubtless the
officials in the legal pay of the Treasury
were and are unfit for their positions. It
might from thence be possibly urged that
legal ability otherwise to be obtained, WclS
requisite, to protect the Government from
the admission and payment of dishonest or
ill-supported claims. But in that view a
substitution ot honest and capable men for
the delinquent office holders was the prop
er remedy. What, therefore, will be thought
of a recent, exposition of ex-Minister
Fogg, a Radical himself of the deepest
dye, implicating his fellow-patriot, the
recent Assistant Secretary of tho
Treasury? The public very innocently
thought that the Treasury Department
was finally rid of the presence and depre
dations of the shaper, William E. Chan
dler, when he ostentatiously resigned his
position as first Assistant Secretary. It
was during his administration of the
Treasury Department that the practice
was initiated of employing outside attor
neys to decide claims assumed to be be
yond the legai ability of those inside,
among whom he himself was included,
But it seems the wand of the dexterous
Secretary was perfectly able to metamor
phose him into a very erudite lawyer,
abundantly able to grapple with the most
abstruse intricacies of the mystical pro
fession. Mr, Fogg—excellent authority
with Radicals at least—has unearthed the
hidden fact that Chandler was clandes
tinely, at the instant of his resignation,
‘ Retained by Mr. McCulloch as (outside)
counsel for the Tresury on a larger pay
than he received as Assistant Secretary.”
At the same time he was “retained by
certain railroad combinations at a still
larger pay for services, past as well as
future, in getting money from the United
States Treasury and to this double and
very convenient capacity Mr. Fogg
charges that Chandler enjoys the compre
hensive privilege of practicing as a pro
fessional claim agent before the very de
partment from which he has gone out
with a knowledge of all the corruptions
and corrupt men with whom he has been
associated. Surely if this accomplished
financier and expert politician does not add
to his present colossal fortune (made in
double quick time) the total balance in the
Treasury “not otherwise appropriated,”
it will not be for the want of opportuni
ties. Acting as umpire (without appeal)
for both claimant aud defendant, and with
a thorough knowledge of “all the corpora
tions and corrupt men” on cither side, and
perfectly conversant with the available
means of each, if he leaves claimants or
the Government, the shells of tho oyster,
he deserves to be embalmed in tho annals
of Radicalism as the very personification
of forbearance itself.
THE COLORADO SWINDLE.
The fiat has gone forth that Colorado,
with a population not equal to that of one
of your wards, is to be admitted without
delay. The Senate will thus be strength
ened by the addition of two more availa
ble .Radical voters, the House with one.
The '‘constitutional amendment” will re
ceive the valuable acquisition of another
vote, and the influence of New York,
Pennsylvania 1 and Ohio still further dilut
ed. When three more States shall have
been carved out of Texas, and other
Southern States subjected to the same
process ; when San Domingo and other
Islands shall be admitted, perhaps the
leading States of the North and West may
begin to open their eyes, and perchance
demand representation in the Senate ac
cording to population—but it will be too
late.
“tiie wards of the nation.”
The “ Clerk’s bill” as it is called, pro
posing to allow employees in the depart
ments 20 per cent, additional upon their
prescribed sallaries for the current fiscal
year, was defeated this morning by a very
small majority. This tergiversation (for
the House had passed the bill on Monday
by a handsome majority) cannot be satis
factorily accounted for. Yarious reasons
arc freely assigned, however. I have
heard a report that General Grant inter
fered directly, through his man Friday
(Washburnc,) alleging that he could not
bear any additional burthen —especially in
the way ot expenditures. lie was not in
the city when the bill was at first passed.
The Freedmcn’s Bureau bill was a neces
sity in order to carry the South—but for
this bill, although it appropriated but one i
million instead of twenty, no such excuse
could be given. It will be remembered
that he one day when ad interim , recom
mended the passage of this bill, but the
very next sent into the House a retraction.
Others allege that the applause in the
gallery upon the passage of the bill on
Monday, so shocked the delicate sense of
propriety of certain members that it was
deemed imperative to rebuke such out
rageous indecorum in the most marked
manner, although the negroe- applauded
the passage of every Rureau bill without
shocking their nerves. Others again say
that the clerks did not “ fork over” as pci
agreement and hence the disaster. So
there are doubts and mystifications all
around. This matter was the main fea
ture in the proceedings of Congress to-day,
and being one of the utmost importance to
the bulk of officials here, it has created no
little stir in that circle.
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE AND HIS PLATFORM.
In conversation with prominent Demo
crats yesterday Chief Justice Chase men
tioned that the following propositions had
been stated to him by different gentlemen
of the Democratic party as elements of a
platform likely to unite all Democrats and
others opposed to the present tendencies
of the Radical party, and observed that he
saw in them nothing to which reasonable
objection could be made. The conversa
tion was not private, and your correspond
ent is authorized to give publicity to the
propositions in the language in which they
were stated by the Chief Justice. Univer
sal suffrage is a recognized Democratic
principle, the application of which is to be
left under the Constitution of the United
States to the States themselves. Universal
amnesty and complete removal of all dis
abilities on account of participation in the
late rebellion is not only a wise and just
measure of public policy but essentially
necessary to the beneficial administration
of good in the States recently involved in
civil war with the United States, and to
the fuff and satisfactory re-establishement
of the practicable relations of those States
with the other States of the American
Union.
No military government over any State
of the Union in times of peace, which is
incompatible with the principles of civil
liberty established by the Constitution,
nor can the trial of private citizens by
military commissions be tolerated by a
people jealous of their freedom and de
siring to be free. Taxes should be reduced
as far as practicable, collected impartially
and with strict economy ; also, portioned
so as to bear on wealth rather than on
labor, and while all national obligations
should be honestly and exactly Slled.no
special privileges should be allowed to any
classes of individuals or corporations.
The report that Chief Justice Chase
called on the President on Tuesday even
ing to induce him to retain Secretary
McCulloch in the Treasury Department,
is authoritatively pronounced a fabrica
tion. Judge Chase has had no interview
lately with President J hnson on any sub
ject whatever, nor and e3 he propose to
interfere with Executive appointments or
1 removals.
SPECULATIONS —THE COMMING MAN.
The excitement in relation to the New
York Convention is becoming very intense
here, and politicians begin to talk in earn
est as to the probable nominee. Chief
Justice Chase has loomed up considerably
within the last few days, and his friends
regard his chances for the nomination as
quite flattering. The platform which was
telegraphed you last evening, and which
was prepared by the Chief Justice himself
NEW SERIES VOL. XXVII. NO. 2«.
is the topic of general discussion here. On
the other hand the friends of Hancock and
Adams or Hancock and Hendricks arc
sanguine of their tieket. A leading Radi
cal politician who has just returned here
after an extensive tour through Western
New York and Northern Ohio and Indi
ana, reports that Hancock’s ticket would
sweep the soldiers’ vote through all that
region.
It is stated here that Pendleton’s influ
ence will probably be thrown for Hancock
in the event of a failure.
The impression is that Senator Hen
dricks, of Indiana, will be the man. If
Mr. Pendleton is not the nominee* his
friends will be fully able to control the
nomination.
Facts have come to light here which
show the apprehensions of the Radicals on
the currency issue. Thad. Stevens says
that Pendleton’s greenback docrines are
correct; that our currency is our lawful
money and that gold is a commodify
in the market. He gives this as his private
opinion but thinks it would be impolitic
for his party to announce it as part of their
platform.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
VETO OF THE ARKANSAS BILL.
The President lias transmitted to the
House the following message, returning,
with his objections, the Bill for the admis
sion of Arkansas:
lo the House of Representatives :
I return without my signature a Bill
entitled “An Act to admit tho State of
Arkansas to representation in Congress.”
The approval of this Bill would be an
admission on the part of .the Executive
that tho “Act for the more efficient gov
ernment of the rebel States,” passed March
2, 1867, and the Act supplementary there
to, were proper and constitutional. My
opinion, however, in reference to these
measures has undergone no change, but,
on the contrary, has been strengthened by
the results which have attended their exe
cution.
Even were this not tho ease, I could
not consent to a Bill whic.i is based upon
the assumption either that by an act of
rebellion of a portion of its people the
State of Arkansas seceded from the Union,
or that Congress may, at its pleasure,
expel or exclude a State from the Union,
or interrupt its relations with the Govern
ment by arbitrarily depriving it of repre
sentation in the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives. If Arkansas is a State not
in the Union this Bill does not ad
mit it as a State into the Union.
If, on the other hand, Arkansas
is a State in the Union, no legislation is
necessary to declare it entitled “to repre
sentation in Congress as one of the States
of the Union.” The Constitution already
declares that each State shall have at least
one Representative;” “that the Senate
shall be composed of two Senators from
each State;” and “ that no State without
its consent shall be deprived of its suffrage
in the Se.ace.” That instrument also
makes *ouch House “tho judges of the
elections, returns, and qualifications of its
own members,” and therefore all that is
now necessary to restore Arkansas in all
its constitutional relations to the Govern
ment is the decision by each House upon
the_ eligibility of those who presenting
their credentials, claim seats in the res
pective Houses of Congress. This is the
plain and simple plan of the Constitution ;
and believing that had it been pursued
when Congress assembled in the month of
December, 1865, the restoration of the
States would long since have been com
pleted. I once again recommend that it
be adopted by each House, in preference
to legislation which I respectfully submit
is not only of at least doubtful constitu
tionality, and therefore unwise and dan
gerous as a precedent, but is uuneefssary,
not so effective in its operation as the mode
prescribed by tho Constitution, involves
the additional delay, and from its terms
may bo taken rather as applicable to a
Territory about to be admitted as one of
the United States than to a State which
has occupied a place in the Union for up
ward of a quarter of a century.
The bill declares the State of Arkansas
entitled and admitted to representation in
Congress as one of the States of the Union
upon the following fundamental condition :
That the Constitution of Arkansas shaii
never be so amendod or changed as to de
prive any citizen or class of citizens of the
United States of the right to vote who are
entitled to vote by the Constitution herein
recognized, except as a punishment for
such crimes as arc now felonies at com
mon law, whereof they shall be duly con
victed under laws equally applicable to all
the inhabitants of said State. Provided,
That any alteration of said Constitution,
prospective in its effect, may be made in
regard to the time and place of residence
of voters.
I have been unable to find in the Consti
tution of the United States any warrant
for the exercise of the authority thus claim
ed by Congress. In assuming the power
to impose a “fundamental condition” upon
a State which has been duly admitted into
the Union on an equal footing with the
original States, in all respects whatever,
Congress asserts a right to enter a State as
it may a Territory, and to regulate the
highest prerogative of a free people—the
elective franchise. This question is re
served by the Constitution to tho States
themselves, and to conccdo to Congress
the power to regulate this subject would
be to reverse the fundamental principle of
the Republic, and to place it in the hands
of the Federal Government (which is the
creature of the States) the sovereignty
which justly belongs to the Statos or the
people, to their true source of the political
power by whom our federal system was
created, and to whose will all is subordi
nate,
The bill fails to provide in what manner
the State of Arkansas is to signify its ac
ceptance of the “fundamental condition”
which Congress endeavors to make unal
terable and irrevocable. Nor does it pre
scribe the penalty to be imposed should
the people of the State amend or change
the particular portions of the constitution
which it is one of the purposes of the Bill
to perpetuate, but leaves them in uncer
tainty and doubt as to the consequences of
such action, when the under
which this constitution has been brought
to the attention of Congress are considered.
It is not unreasonable to suppose that ef
forts will be made to modify its provisions,
and especially those in respect to which
this measure prohibits any alteration- It
is seriously questioned whether the con
stitution has been ratified by a majority of
the persons who, under the Act of March
2, 1867, and the aots supplementary there
to, were entitled to registration and to
vote upon that issue. Section ten of the
schedule provides that “no person dis
qualified from voting or registering under
this Cons itution shall vote for candidates
for -any office, nor shall bo permitted to
vote for the ratification or rejection of the
Constitution at the polls herein authoriz
ed ” Assumed to be in force before its
adoption, in this disregard of the law of Con
gress, the Constitution undertakes to im
pose upon the elector other and further
conditions. The fifth section of the eighth
article provides that “all persons, before
registering or voting.” must take and sub
scribe an oath which, among others, con
tains the following clause;
“That 1 accept the civil and political
equality of all into, and agree not to at
tempt to deprive any person or persons, on
account of race, color, or previous condi
tion, of any political or civil right, privilege
| or immunity enjoyed by airy other class of
men.”
It is well knowD that a very large por
tion of tho eleotors in all the States, if not
a large majority of all of them, do not be
lieve in or accept the political equality of
Indians, Mongolians or negroes with the
race to which they belong. If the voters
of many of the Stales North and West
were required to take such an oath as a
test of their qualifications, there is’ reason
.to believe that a majority of them would
remain from the polls rather than comply
with its degrading conditions.
How far and to what extent this test
oath prevented the registration of those
who were qualified under the Jaws of Con
gress, it is not possible to know ; hut that
such was its effect at least sufficient to
overcome them all, and give a doubtful
majority in favor of the Constitution, there
can be no reasonable doubt.
Should the people of Arkansas, there
fore, desiring to regulate the elective fran
chise so as to make it conform to the Con
stitutions of a large proportion of the
States of the North and West, modify the
provisions referred to in the “fundamental
condition, what is to be the consequence?
Is it intended that a denial of representa
tion shall follow ! And if so, may we not
dread, at some future day, a recurrence of
the troubles which have so long agitated
the country? Would it not be the part of
wisdom to take for our guide the Federal
Constitution, rather than resort to meas
ures which, looking only to the present,
may in a few years renew, in an aggravated
form, the strife and bitterness caused by
legislation which has proved to be ill-timed
and unfortunate ?
Andrew Johnson.
Washington, June 20, 1868.
State News.
In the list of graduates at West Point
appear the names of three men classed as
Georgians: Geo. M. Harriss, Sumner
Bodfish and J. J. Conlins.
Private dispatches received in Colum
bus from Atlanta, are of such a character
as to justify the assertion that General
Meade has been removed from his com
mand.
. A stabbing affray occurred on the 19th
inst. at Fort Valley, between Mr. Hall and
Mr. Flournoy in which Hall was fatally
stabbed in the region of the heart. Flour
noy escaped uninjured.
(Thursday afternoon, while salutes were
being fired for Ex-President Buchanan
in Macon, one of the cannoD fired while the
charge was being rammed home, blowing
off the arm of one of the soldiers in gar
rison there.
The harvesting of wheat is nearly over
in the Northern section of the State. The
weather has been favorable and the crop
is now safe. We believe that over an
average crop has been made.
A stranger, a Belgian by birth, and rep
resenting himself as on his way to Au
gusta, was arrested by a mob of negroes
m Hancock county, and confined in jail.
No charges were made against him.’ It
was merely a piece of lawlessness on the
part of the negroes.
Forney’s Press finds the following para
graph in the Columbus Sun, indicative
of Grant’s assassination:
“ We don’t know who the Radicals will
nominate, and we don’t care. The un
happy wretch will never wear Presidential
robes. ’ ’
A grateful rumor comes to us from At
lanta, to the effect that “sharp and quick”
llulbert has been removed from his po
sition on account of his famous letter to
Duer, of Columbus.
A correspondent of the Macon Daily
Telegraph suggests the name of Col. W.
F. Hall for Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives, and states, from his own
knowledge, that Col. Ilall does not belong
to the Radical party, although claimed by
them.
It is reported on good authority and
generally believed that as soon as the Om
nibus &\\ becomes a law, Bullock will is
sue a proclamation convening the Legisla
ture on the 4th of July, to put the ma
chinery of civil government in operation
once more.
The citizens of McDonough and vicinity
were shocked on Monday evening last, on
hearing that W. M. Nolan, a promising
young man of that piaee had shot himself
while handling a Navy revolver, and died
within an hour afterward.
It is thought that Harriss, the renegade
Scalawag Senator elect from Newton, will
be ousted from his seat on account of the
overwhelming evidences of fraud at the
late election. The Chairman of the Reg
istration Roard, testifies that hundreds
were illegally registered and many names
unjustly stricken from the lists.
Two more Columbus prisoners arrived
in Atlanta on Friday—one of them was a
mere boy—and were forwarded to the Bar
racks, there to swelter and probably die in
dungeons which, by mathamatical precis
ion, have been reduced to the dimensions
of & by 31 feet for the especial accommoda
tion of Southern gentlemen.
The trial of William L. Brannan, late
Deputy Sheriff, for the killing of S. It.
Sanburn, negro,during the recent election,
commenced in Bainbridge on the 15th of
this month, before a Military Commission
of which Col. T. F. Flint,of the 7th Inf.,
is President.
The Custom House returns of shipments
from Savannah,for May, 1868,shows 10,349
bales of Uplands; and 141 bales ol Sea
Islands, valued at $1,482,583, coastwise ex
ports 3,313 hales valued at $2,207,700'
Lumber of all sorts $1,563,876.
General News.
The late storms have generally damaged
tire crops in Central Ohio.
There were three hundred and ninety
two deaths in New York last week.
John Hopkins, ol' Baltimore, has given
to the city $1,500,000 for educational pur
poses and $1,000,000 for a hospital.
Wilson Barlow has been arrested in
Chicago for poisoning his wife and two
children, in Muenville, last January.
The annual tobacco fair will be held in
Louisville on July Bth. Over $3,000 in
premiums arc offered, and this amount
will be doubled, it is thought.
It is a well established fact that Chief-
Justice Chase had an interview with the
President on the 17th, and urged him to
retain McCulloch at the Treasury.
Mr. Hastings, a New Orleans druggist,
has been sued for $35,000 damages for
an error in putting up a prescription,
whereby, it is alleged, a lady lost her eye.
A Cheyenne dispatch says Lieutenant
W. W. Bell, ofitho Eighteenth Iniantry,
was shot dead at Fort Sanders on Sunday,
by a private, who was arrested and subse
quently shot.
The New Albany Commercial cautions
people against eating squirrels during the
locust season, as their flesh is poisonous
from eating the dying pests. Anybody
that would eat a squirrel at this season
ought to be poisoned.
The Scientific American argues that the
mission of cholera has terminated, and this
terrible pestilence will scourge the earth
no more. The chief reason is the dis
covery that carbonic acid will prevent the
spread of the epidemic.
The number of arrivals from New York
by steamer, during the last month, at San
Francisco, was six thousand; the largest
number ever known in the same time.
Theirs Said recently to an Englingis h
man that if another Dante should write
another Inferno he has no doubt he would
inention among the dreadful penaiiies in
flicted in that hot place the reading of
“Scott’s Life of Napoleon” and “Allison’s
History of Europe-”
Pure sodium has an enormous explosive
power when a small amount of water is
poured upon it. A spoonful of water
poured upon two hundred ounces of so
dium, would occasion an explosion equal
to that of five thousand pounds of gun
power, or five hundred pounds of nitro
glycerin. *
The Scientific American thinks the
abolition of tho apprenticeship system and
the general adoption of machinery are the
causes of the present scarcity of first class
workmen in various branches.
It is stated that Coburn and McCoole
cleared $9,000 apiece from railroad tickets.
They chartered the train in partnership.
At Pittsburg, last Sunday, Charles
Walters, a lad of thirteen, was drowned in
the Aleghaney river. A young man
Ballou, in attempting to rescue him, was
also drowQed.
Three Massachusetts children, attempt
ing to pour coal oil on a fare, exploded the
can, throwing its blazing contents over
them and igniting their clothing, were
burned to death a few days ago.
In Pittsburg, on Monday night, a man
named Peter McFarland, while under the
influence of liquor, assaulted his wife with
a hatchet, inflicting injuries which will
probably prove fatal, lie was arrested.
A violent rain-storm passed over the
States of Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin
on Monday evening, destroying a great
amount of property and damaging the rail
roads in that section considerably.
Two brothers, Silas and Charles T.
James, were convicted at Worcester,
Mass., last Friday, of the murder of J. G.
Clark, a gambler. The Court sentenced
them to be hung—the date to be fixed by
the Governor.
Walter Arnold, the clerk who stole some
SIO,OOO from the Rhode Island State
Auditor’s office, to spend in Providence
brothels and gambling houses, has been
pardoned out of the State prison by the
Rhode Island General Assembly, after
about a year’s confinement.
The reports from Ogdensburg, New
York, and other towns on the frontier of
the State, about storage of Fenian arms
and gathering of Fenian warriors in those
neighborhoods, are pure fabrications.
They are ascertained to be so by officers of
the Government who were sent there to
investigate them.
The locusts in the vieinity of Indianap
olis are doing more injury to the fruit
trees by boring the small twigs to deposit
their eggs than by eating the foliage. Some
fruit growers state that their young or
chards have been set back three years by
their operations.
There is intense excitement in Sullivan
county, Indiana, growing out of the mur
der of Paul Lindsay, a notorious thief, who
lived on an island in the Wabash, opposite
Meram. He was assaulted by a gang of
regulators and shot like a dog. His wife
was driven away and the house burned.
In the Ohio Congregational Conference,
at Pamesville, a very earnest discussion
was held on the 13th inst., over the report
denouncing the Masonic and other socie
ties. A report was finally adopted, as a
compromise, denouncing the Masonic and
all other oath-bound organization i,but not
excluding members from the Church.