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About Weekly chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 1866-1877 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1869)
orotwle & Sentinel.! W KIOKSDAV MIIK.MMi. FEBBIAEI li. Anonymous Communications. —We have recently received several communica tions unaccompanied by the names of the authors. In accordance with an old es tablished rule of journalism, no article will receive attention unless the writer's name I# given. Suffrage—lmpartial or Inlveml. Some weeks since we expressed the opinion that the suffrage question would produce a split in the Radical party, un less through the personal influence of Gen. Grant the whole question could be postponed for a year or two. Recent de velopments in both Houses of Congress seem to confirm our previous views on this subject. 'i he Eastern States are not willing to adopt universal suffrage, while the West, with surprising pertinacity, demands that any change upon this subject, incorporated in the Constitution of the United States by way of amendments, shall go to the full extent of unlimited universal suffrage. | Whether the two sectionacan be harmoniz ed on this question, remains to be seen. New England is not willing that the j property and other qualifications now fixed by their State laws, by which a large number of 1 their operatives and working classes are excluded from the ballot,, shall be annulled by an amendment to the Con stitution. These Puritan law makers are quite willing that in the Southern States suffrage shall be unlimited and unrestrict ed. because by demanding this for our late ignorant slaves they think that they humiliate and humble the Southern whites, but when the same principle is sought to be applied to their own section, they throw up their hands in holy horror at the bare idea of a white, working man being the political equal of their shoddy lords and Ijowell princes. The House of Representatives, by a very largo majority, has passed Wilson s resoluti hih of amendment to be known aa the 15th article, but it meets serious oppo sition in the Senate from the leading Radical Senators. The House bill forbids the denial or abridgement of tho franchise •‘by reason of race, or color, or previous condition of sluvery;” but this provision fails to meet the demands of the West. Senator Morton has introduced a substi tute for the House bill, which seeks to prevent any restrictions being placed on the IranehiHc for any reason whatever' and which he supported in a very telling speech. Mr. Williams proposes to go still further, and leave it in the "power of Congress to abolish or modify any restrictions upon the right to vote or hold office prescribed by the Constitution of any State.” The Democrats in both Houses oppose in toto both and all plans of Congressional or Constitutional intervention upon the subject, on the ground that to the several States belongs exclusively the right to reg ulato the elective franchise within their respective borders. The New York Times, of the Gth inst., has a long and carefully prepared article upon this subject, in which it takes the Eastern view of the question, and attempts to meet the objections of Senator Morton and the Western Radicals to impartial suffrage. We give below the entire article of the Times, in order that our readers may see both sides of this most important subject: The possible application of tho pending Constitutional Amendment, to which Mr. Morton objects, is, we think an argument in its favor. As sanctioned by the House, it makes impartial suffrage national, and impartial suffrage only. Mr. Morton, on the other hand, demands that the impera tive requirement shall be universal suffrage. Nothing less will realize his idea of expe diency and right. Are wo to conclude, however, that uni . vernal suffrage should bo imposed on all the States because in the progress of re construction it has been found a necessity? It was not the first choice either of Con gress or tho Republican Party, even in leg islating for the South. The absence of distinction on account of race, color or previous servitude, was all that was deemed necessary to satisfy jus'ice. Uni versal enfranchisement was an afterthought suggested by the hindrances which recon struction encountered, and forced upon the main body of Republicans with tho help of the Demeorats, who desired thus to ren der the whole plan obnoxious. So far, it must be admitted, universal suffrage in the Southern States has not produced tho disasters which many appre hended. Tho freeduiun, suddenly invested with prodigious power, have on the whole exercised it with singular moderation. But shall wo he therefore justified in incorpo rating universal suffrago iuto tho Federal Constitution? Admitting tha’ from t'.e time, and in relation to the colored people ol'the South, its operations bus not been ruinous or oppressive, is it prudent to as sume that its operations will ho perpetual ly good ? The experience of this City is unfavorable to unrestricted suffrage, which is hero tolerably simple because overborne by the sober sense and superior character ot State. Why may wo not accept as a possibility similar experience in the South, where the principle is yet an experiment? And if wo acknowledge—as in reason we should—the possibility of future evil as a consequence of tho universal enfranchise ment of ignorance, is it not wise to leave the subject open to future legislation, sub ject to the equitable prohibition of tests or qualifications directed against color ? The amendment as it conies from the House seems to us to meet all proper con ditions. It forbids the denial of or abridg ment Os the franohise” by reason of race, or color, or previous condition of slavery. ” It expunges from State Constitutions all provisions directed against the black man, and allows no interference with the tran ohise which is not equally applicable to white and black. What more is needed to secure for the colored citizon political equality with his white neighbors ? Equity dictates this, and nothing more. And with this equality secured beyond the chance of reversal by local legislation, the spirit which has prompted the Congres sional treatment of the colored race would seem to be fully satisfied. The fact that the adoption of an educa tional qualification, as iu Massachusetts, or a property qualification, as in Rhode Island, might entail disfranchisement upon a number of black citizens, does not form a valid reason for rejecting the principle. Poor or ignorant whites would be as much affected as poor or ignorant negroes. The objection to the existing qualification in this State is that it discriminates in favor of unworthy whites. Abolish this distinc tion—place the Bowery boy on the same footing as the colored resident of Sullivan street —and the only tenable ground of com plaint is ended. Besides being as just as universal suf frage, impartial suffrage, as a provision of national law, isinfiuitely safer. It guaran tees equality without making obligatory a principle which in some communities is fraught with peril. The States which now have nominal universal suffrage must make it real, or recede from their stand point, which they are not likely to do ; while the States which at present adhere to a quali fication, must either cease to discriminate, or enforce it against black and white alike. In either case, no rational friend of the ne gro will have cause of oomplaint. Nor Joes the House amendment in any manner jeopardize the interests of the freedmen in the reconstructed States. They already have universal suff rage, and the power which now enables them to wield so large an influence in the State Governments will remain ample for their protection. If these States ever establish an educational qualification, it must be, in the majority of instances, with the concur rcnce of their colored voters. There is little likelihood of danger to the rights of colored men under the new Constitutions. And if, after a time, the majority of them, acting in conjunction with the whites, lose faith in universal suffrage, we do not see why the Federal Constitution should ob- ; struct the change, it would be one from which the mean whites would suffer as seriously as the mean negroes. It may bo well to remember, moreover, that an impartial suffrage amendment is more likely to be ratified by the States than one enacting universal suff rage. The^ form er interferes less with the rights of States, and is less offensive to their pride than the latter, because it leaves them a greater de gree of freedom, while guarding effectually against its abuse. This consideration Is too important to be ignored. The imme diate success of any amendment being con fessedly doubtful, Congress cannot afford to multiply difficulties in the way of its ratification. Bullock's Endorsers.—The Atlanta Constitution informs us that Col. Farrow, and twelve whites andoue hundred negroes met together and endorse Bullock's thirty- j five thousand dollar trick, as “high and honorable and looking to the interest and dignity of the State.” The sentiments are truly Radical; but is this the whole strength of the Radical party in Atlanta the capital ? Congress l>y Telegraph. It was a witticism of “old Ben Wade’s V in the Jate Presidential campaign, that Grant was the proper man for President, because the country needed peace, and Grant would have peace even if he had to fight for it. We have always appreciated the wit of the venerable President *f the Senate, although with infinite art it was made to tell against us a3 seemingly direct ed against the South and so-called South ern Rebels. -But the illumination whiehjthe Congressional proceedings gives,as reported yesterday and to day, heightens the effect of the witticism, inasmuch as it appears that the venefable President of the Senate opens the fight and Butler stands forth "uncorked” as the opposing belligerent. We are curious to learn whether it is to be fought out on the line indicated by our Telegraphic Dispatches, all summer or not. Butler seem3 to be a "swamp angel. Whether he intends to get up another Fort Fisher affair (with a little cotton in side in jeopardy) or to dig a Dutch Gap, | who can tell ? The promise, however, is ! that after the Ides of March the campaign ; will open vigorously. Big Profit—Who Can Beat It ? From a gentleman residing in Lexing ton, we learn the following facts in relation j to the product of a small lot planted in cotton l>y our old friend J. D. Gresham, last year, in that village. j The lot contained not quite nine-tenths : of an acre, and was bordered on two sides j with a row of large Pride of India trees, which completely shaded the lands for sev -1 eral feet, leaving for cultivation about i three fourths of an acre. Phi3 was | planted, about the middle of April, in i cotton—the seed used being the Moina va j riety The plaDt had three ploughings, j and was hoed twice. The entire yield was ! seventeen hundred and thirty-two pound 8 i of seed cotton, which made a bale weigh ing 550 pounds of lint. The crop was j carefully handled, put up in a neat pack age, shipped to this market and sold for forty rents a pound. The profits were as follows : One hale, 530 lbs , sold at 40 cents per pound $212 00 Forty-one bushels of seed, sold at $lO per bushel 410 00 Total profits from three-fourths of an acre 622 00 The expenses were .- Rent of land $5 00 ! Breaking and bedding land for planting 1 00 j Planting 75 j Thi ee plowings 1 50 j Two hoeings 1 00 j Picking, at 5 cents per pound 8 50 j Ginning, packing and expenses to market 7 25 j Total expenses $25 00 which, deducted from 622 00 leaves as net profit 597 00 Here we have a net profit from three fourths of an acre of land of nearly six j hundred dollars, being at the rate of about ! eight hundred dollars per acre. What a future looms up for the Southern people, j if tl:-y will only be wi-e and industrious iu j the u: e of the splendid advantages which | nature has given them! We do not pre- i tend to say that eight hundred dollars can j be realized for every acre planted in cotton j yet awhile, but we see no reason why, with judicious management and a proper system j of fertilizing and rotation of crops, that i amount and much more may not bo made j in u few years. Let every cotton planter ponder well these figures. They .have a deep and significant meaning. Is Our Legislature a Legal One ? Is our Legislature a legal one ? This is a question which suggests itself by the recent action of Congress, by the repre , sentations of our Expreseelency in : Washington, and by tho action of that I Honorable,body, tbo Legislature itself. The people want it answered so that they may govern themselves according to law. The tax payers want it answered, be cause its burthens fall heavily upon them. Niue dollars a day to our modern moral reform reconstruetionists and mileage twenty | cent each way, going and returning, ab j sorbing, iu half a sessiou, the whole i revenues of the State for a year, aud giv | ing our Expresseleney the power to ab sorb a million more by private Guberuatori j al legislation (we eschew the classical j aphorism as of Radical j origin), need well excite the overburthened j tax payers, when it goes for naught, and presents the prospect of another recon struction at the cost of another half a million. The people and the tax-payers have the right to domand under which i King Benzonian—the Reconstructs, his [ Expresseleney or the Congressional ma | jority. Everybody is perfectly willing to | "reuder unto Caesar all that is due Ctesar.” But which is the Caesar? That’s the | question ! j Our reconstructed Legislature has again . signalized itself by sobering the Supreme Court of the State to be keeper of its j conscience ! The Reconstructed Legisla ture pretends aud affects to aet under the ! Reconstructed Constitution. This Oonsti j tutioii, submitted under Congressional ! Reconstructive authority by officers of the I United States army of distinguished position, and clothed with unlimit |ed discretion, is plain —so plain | that he who runs may read. This | Reconstructed Constitution, from which j all legal authority of those who assume the seats of Law Makers is derived, says that ! each House of the General Assembly shall j be the judge of the elections and qiuilifica \ tions of its own members. What language ! could be plainer? What else is needed? ' The judgment of each House, as to the j qualifications ofits members is final and ] conclusive. There is uo provision for ap peal to Courts, either State or Federal. No other body is nomiuated in tbe bond as referees. No other body is indicated as competent to pronounce upon ks action concerning the qualifications of those who compose it; neither can one House interfere wifli the other. Each has the sole and exclusive jurisdiction over the qualifications ofits members, subject only to their own consciences, and their own interpretation of the instrument from which they derive their powers. The presumption is, whether well or ill founded, we do not say, that each body is composed of our wisest and best citizens, who will always exercise those exclusive powers with due regard to the requirements of fundamental law — the Constitution of the State. This is the theory. The practice is notorious. The resolution lately passed by the Houseof Representatives, and which seems likely to receive concurrence iu that honor- able body—the Reconstructed Senate— virtually asks the Supreme Court of the State to decide whe.her they have done a very wrong thing or not, and to inform their consciences whether they have obeyed the fundamental law or not? Whether with exclusive jurisdiction it was proper under the Constitution for them to de cide that negroes were eligible to office or not: and what thing ought to be done I reverse their action or not 1 This is the attitude ot our lawmakers. If by hasty legislation a wrong had been done it shtu.d be remedied. The demands of the Constitution should be strictly and re ligiou-iy observed. This is the first quali fication of a legislator, solemnly sanction ,cd by solemn oath. With what sort of propriety or decency, then, or self-respect, . is this question attempted to be referred to the Suprtme Court of the State ? Where is the authority for investing a co-or dinate branch of the government with power not contained in the instrument which gives birth and life to each ? Does it belong to the judicial branch to supervise the proceedings ot tl e law-making powers as censors ? Arc they a court of Legislative appeals ? We have always thought that the Radi cal theory was, that all State Legislative powers were derived from the National Congress. That States were to the National powers what counties are to the State, subordinate divisions and powers, to be altered and amended and defined by j National will as expressed by National , legislation. This was the late Mr. Thad deus Stevens’ (that arch apostle of modern Radicalism) outside view of State and Federal relations. Clearly under the Radical reooustfuction theory in these matters the legislature is amenable to , Congress and Congress only; not to the Supreme Court of the State, ncr of the United States ; not to the Executive of the United States ; nor to all combined, nor to the Constitution of the United Stales ; but to Congressional will as to be found in the acts of Congressional power. Why, then, does not cur reconstructed Legislature seud a delegation to Washing ton and honestly and openly petition, that their understanding may be enlight ened, and their conscience instructed. This is the true course for our wayward, and halting, and confessedly ignorant Leg islature to pursue. Let them humbly petition for more light, confessing their ig norance and mcompeteney, saying : May it please your excellencies of the National will we have sought to do that which is right but it has not found favor in your eyes. Please tell us, therefore, what we shall do and how we shall do it, and it shall be done, i If it is your pleasure that our body shall be brown, brown it shall be. If it is your i pleasure that our honorable Representa | tives in the honorable Senate of the United States shall be black, they shall be blacker ! than charcoal, and fragrant and oleaginous. Oh, mighty masters, whatever thou order est, that shall be done; but to none others do we look, for thou and thou £ only art a lamp to our feet,a light to our eyes! The State Legislature. The Legislature has been in session for five weeks, and we have failed to see that any measure of importance to the people or the State has been done. If there is nothing for the interest of the State before the Legislature, we think it high time that tho honorable members composing it adjourn and return to their homes. The people can’t stand the enormous drain on the Treasury. Nine dollars per day and mileage, we admit, is trifling in comparison to the valuable services rendered the State, and it may or not be true that the Honorable Senators aud Representatives are making a great sacrifice in giving their services for so small a compensation: but then the people can’t stand the expense, the pres sure is too heavy. Conceding that the people are anxious for the adjournment of the Legislature, which is a fact, and as the compensation received by the • Legislators is but poor remuneration for the labor ans time consumed, and talent and ability em ployed, we presume it would be satisfac tory to al! parties—the public as well as their servants—to have an early adjourn ment. In the present muddle of Reconstruction and the menacing attitude of Congress, we cannot see what good the Legislature is doing or can do by simply drawing money from the Treasury. If Bullock is disposed to appropriate the State funds by special legislation of his own, the Legisla ture by simply remaining in session cannot prevent him, because Congress might cry out against the Rebels and denounce them for persecuting a “trooly loil” man, in the august person of Rufus B. Bullock, who signs himself Governor of Georgia. As the Legislature is not doing any good for the State, and as it cannot do any good in the present condition of affairs,the members should adjourn their respective Houses and save to the impoverished Treasury, the heavy outlay which is sure ! to be eatajled by the continuance of the 1 present ;ession of the Legislature. Lot the Honorable Senators .and Repre ! sentatives appoint a Special Committee to j examine into "Executive appropriations” lor special purposes, and adjourn with the i consciousness of having done the best that could be done for tho interests of the ; State in the exiting condition of Congress i ional Reconstruction. Counting the Electoral Vote. The Radicals had a boisterous time in | counting the Electoral vote. In the Balti more Gazette of Februiry 11th, we find the following letter, which gives an inter esting account of tho little unpleasantness between Ben Butler and old Ben Wade: The ceremony of counting the President ial electoral vote, in the presence of the two Houses of Congress, to day drew to the National Capitol au immense throng of spectators At an early hour men, women and children crowded the streets and aveuues, and a vast procession seemed to be moving toward Capitol Hill. The halls, corridors and spacious galleries were by noon packed to their utmost capacity, and by resolution the doors of the House of Representatives were thrown open for the admission of ladies aud gentlemen in the rear of the bar of the House, where they squeezed iu as long ad standing room could be fouud. According to the provisions of a joint resolution, previously adopted, the Senate, headed by the President and Sergeant-at- Arrua, entered at the north door at 1 o’clock, and filing down the main aisle. President Wade took the chair of' the Speaker, who at the same time retired, while Senators became seated on Mr. Wade’s right. The members of the House closed up in front and on the left of the Chair. The scene now became o«e of grandeur, as well as of great interest. Never before, perhaps, was the Representative Hall so completely filled. The spectators number ed thousands all within the walls of the one room, and yet so quiet was the crowd in the great anxiety to hear that a whisper attracted attention, For the first time the diplomatic gallery was full, the foreign Ministers and attach«s turning out in all their strength to witness our democratic manner of choosing a National Executive. On the floor of the hall were noticed most of General Grant’s staff, while the bride | and mother of Speaker Colfax occupied front seats in the eastern gallery. Mrs. | Grant is absent with the General on ! a Northern tour. 1 President Wade having called to order, | the counting of the electoral vote com menced with the State of'New Hampshire. This astonished the uninitiated, as ac cording to no rule could New Hampshire ; come first in the list of States. The secret j of the movement, however, wa? well uu ! derstood among the wire-pullers of the Radical party. It had been determined to reject, it possible, the electorial vote of Georgia, and under no circumstances to allow it to be counted, except hypotheti | cally, and to avoid a contest in the middle i of the Constitutional count, it was arrang ed to place Georgia at the foot of the list. To do this, it was necessary to throw the whole list of States into pi, being certain that Georgia was safely at the bottom. Hence the States were seemingly called at random, as they happened to he reached, and the count proceeded quietly and in order, until the vote of Louisiana was pre -1 seated. At this unexpected scene—one not called for in the bills —was presented by the lion. James Mullens, better known here as "Old Mullens,” ot Tennessee. He objected to the vote of Louisiana being : counted, to the great disgust of the Grant wing of the Radical party, many of whom were heard to exclaim, in most unparlia mentary language, "Old Mullins is a I fool.” Yet his movement was backed by Butler, who headed the anti-Grant faction of the Radicals. The result was the Senate had to be sent back to their Chamber j amid confusion and uproar. This knot in the proceedings, however, was soon untied, and the list of States was gone through with, and Georgia, accord ins to the programme, was reached. Now the war began in earnest, and the Senate was again forced to retire. It will be re membered that only a few hoars previous ly; the two Houses of Congress adopted a ; joint resolution providing specially for the counting, of the vote of Georgia. It was agreed in this joint resolution that if it should be ascertrined that the vote of Georgia did not alter the result, theu the presiding officer should announce that, if the vote of Georgia should be counted,'the result would be thus and so; and if not counted, then it would stand thus and so. : let in violation of this joint resolution Butier objected to the vote of Georgia being counted tor several reasons which he assigned in writing, and the Senate retired to consider the objections. The House by a large vote determined that the vote of Georgia should not be counted, and the Senate came to the op i posite determination. This issue present ed a serious dilemma. General Grant's claim to the Presidency yet depended upon his being declared elected according to the : forms prescribed by. the Constitution. What was to be done in the emergency ? j The Senate determined to take the bull by the horns, and without waiting for an invitation they returned to the Hali of Representatives and resumed their posi tions. Mr. Wade then announced his purpose to declare the result of the vote ac cording to the terms of the joint resolution. This announcement was followed by a scene of the wildest confusion, and so disgraceful did the Butler wing of the party , behave that Speaker Colfax sprang j upon the stand, seized the gavel, , and after a violent rapping brder ed the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest any member who dared further to in terrupt the proceedings. Butler yelled and howled with rage, and poured out his vials of wrath upon the bead of “Old Ben, but all in vain The vote was announced, and Ulysses 8. Grant and Schuyler Colfax declared elected President and Vice Presi dent of the United States. The presiding < officer t hou immediately declared the “joint convention” at an end, and the Senate hastened to escape from the Hall, leaving Butler still rampant and abusive of the venerable "Ben," whom he denounced in terms unsuited to ears polite. “The agony is over and the forms of the Constitution have been compljed wilh; the votes have been counted, and General Grant has been declared President. In calmly reviewing this day’s proceedings he will no doubt find food for reflection, and facts which may, in some measure, control his future action. E. Richmond Agricultural Society. The regular meeting of the Richmond County Agricultural Society was held at the Academy on the Sand Hills at one o’clock on Saturday, 13th inst. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved. John S. Davidson, Esq., then, at the re quest of the President, gave a full report of the proceedings of the State Agricul tural Convention at Atlanta. On motion, the thanks of the Society were returned to Mr. Davidson for his very satisfactory report. On motion, an election for officers was ordered with the following result : President, Gen. R. Y’. Harris ; Vice- President, Henry Moore ; Secretary, W. C. Jones ; Treasurer, John A. Bohler. Executive Committee : Joseph Berk man, Joseph Ware, J. C. Fargo, Dr. J. T. Barton, Goode Bryan, Alfred Baker, George A. Oates. On motion, the following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chair, with the Presi dent as Chairman, to issue a short and succinct address to the planters of the county, representing the objects of the Society and urging them to become mem bers, by pr .perly explaining the benefits to be derived therefrom. The following constitute the committee : Gen. R. Y. Harris, John S. Davidson, P. J. Berckmans, Gen. A. R. Wright, John Milledge. The following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That the Chair appoint a special committee of five, who shall in quire into the feasibility of making a topographical map of the county, show ing the character of the lands, water power, and all that is necessary to exhibit the resources of the county, for publica tion, with power to solicit aid from sub scriptions. Resolved, That the Committee requests the aid of the ordinary of the county for this purpose. Resolved, That the committee be re quested to report to the Executive Com mittee, aud upon their concurrence, to publish the same. Tne committee is as follows : Dr. J. T. Barton, Gen. L. McLiws, Robert A. Allen, Adam Johnson and Herman Rowley. On motion, Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to report a suita ble place to hold the permanent meetings of the Society. The following constitute the Committee : C. W. Harris, Alfred Baker, Robert Douglas. The subject for discussion at tho next meeting is, “The Ramie Plant—lts Nature and Characteristics--Can its Culture be made profitable.” On motion, [the Secretary was directed to luruish the proceedings of this aud the future meetings for publication in the city papers. Meeting adjourned to meet at same place. R. Y. Harris, President. W. C. Jones, Secretary. OIK WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE. [arsoiAL cobbbspjndknc* of tor auocsta chronicle & SENTINEL. I Washington, February 8. The “universal suffrage” question is as prominent in Congress now as the “aboli tion” question was years ago, aud the very individuals who yet remain in either House 1 and who were most earnest in advocating the latter, are foremost now in the ranks of those who protest in favor of the former. The means for accomplishing “universal suffrage’.’ is the rock, however, upon which differences of opinion are found. The pro posed plan of accomplishing it by a consti tutional amendment does not meet with the approval of the extreme Radicals of the party,who are anxious that it shall he made the law of’ the land by Congressional enact ment. Some of the Radicals who are thoroughly in f'ayor of the negroes in the Southern States voting as long and as often as they please, entertain very lukewarm views when their own States are about to have negro suffrage imposed upon them. These are the individuals who want to j punish the Southern States and endeavor j to carry it out by forcing negro suffrage I upon that section. The question of' princi : pie has nothing to do with it. The Senate | will hammer away upon it until something definite is accomplished, leaving nearly everything else to go over until tha next Congress. Reconstruction seems to have been laid aside for the present. Congress wants ideas from Grant on the topic, which it is expected will be conveyed in an inaugural j address. Those indulging in such opinions will most likely be disappointed. It is the I firm belief of some of Grant’s friends that | he will deliver no inaugural, but that he will take the oath of office privately, and j simply assert in his message to Congress | that he is disposed to begin the execution [ of the laws imposed by the Constitution, i Grant lias made one suggestion to the j present Congress in his report to the Sec retary of War, recommending a transfer ! of the Indian Bureau from the Interior to I the War Department, aud it has been I found difficult to pass a bill for that pur ! pose. His suggestions as President will I likely be treated with the same indiffer ! eace should his views not coincide with the majority. There is no indication of any intention on the part of the President elect resigning his position as President of the armies, though he may do so after next Wednes day, when he will be officially declared President of tha United States. Large numbers of petitions have' been presented in Congress from various quar ters asking that, provisions be incorporated in the Constitution recognizing the power and existence of the Almighty God, but, beyond formal references to committees, met with no success. Since the expressions in favor of declar ing that Georgia is not in the Union, the carpet-bag members from that State have had very little to say. They feel that they are just at present mere tenants at will of the Reconstruction Committee, which might turn them out to-morrow. J. C. Casey’s Farmers’Railroad. i Messrs. Editors :In consequence of the j excessive rains on the Ist Tuesday no meeting was held at Lincolnton on that day. I write now to state that a meeting will be held at Lincolnton on the Ist Tues day in March. I notice the proceedings of a meeting held at Luke’s store in Co lumbia county lately, which adjourned • over to the Ist Tuesday. I presume the j meeting was not held at Appling for : cause above stated. I was pleased to ob serve that Eibert county has commenced in the right direction and that Hartcoumy is waking up to tho importance of the movement. Since may last I have con versed with many influential citizens of Lincoln and I feel satisfied that they will engage earnestly in the matter, the I evidence of which they will afford at the next meeting. Everybody is convinced of the utility of the proposed road, and will tender the right of way. I am disposed to regard the construction ;of the road mi fait accompli. When we will have done all that we possibly can, we will then shew the results to the liberal and enterprising merchants of Augusta, who, as you truly say, have never failed to give their aid and influence to any meas ure loeking to the development of the agricultural interests. Yours, &c., L. February 10, 1869. i Death of Thurston Bloom.—We were pained, yesterday, to learn the death, in New York city, on Monday afternoon at 5 o'eloes, from pneumonia, of this well known and highly esteemed citizen of Macon. Mr. B. had been long a resident ’ of this city, and prominently connected with its business and industrial interests. At the time of his death he was largely interested in the completion of the Macon A Brunswick Railroad. His loss will be sincerely mourned by a large circle of incuds here. His remains will leave New York by steamer for Savannah to-day, and will probably arrive here on Sunday.— Macon Journal k Mess ngtr. Sale of the P. k G. and Tallahas- : see Railroads.—The Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, of Florida, have advertised these two roads for sale on the 20th of March, next. The Tallahassee Floridian says : We regret the necessity that forces the step, but we suppose it is j a necessity. There is one consolation con nected with the sale —the Internal Im provement Fund will be released of re* gponsibiiity and thui left free to do some- [ thing toward an extension of the system to , Pensacola. AGRICULTURAL. P. J. BERCKMANS, EDITOR. Augusta, Ga, “ Gabdksixu for the South,” tyWra. N. White: Orange, Judd Cos., Pub lishers: .New York. We are indebted to the publishers for a copy of the new edition of this our most pop ular work on Gardening. The issue of a new edition had been anxiously looked for by ail Souther* Horticulturists, as the la mented author occupied the foremost po sition among them. We did expect a book that would be a still encyclopedia of alt matters horticultural. We confess that the perusal of the work has disappointed us. The matter relative to soils, manures, planting directions, etc., is most suitable, and is all that could be desired, and de- i notes a master hand. But the lists of; Southern fruits is sadly deficient; in fact, the few fruits described are mainly of | Northern or Foreign origin, leaving the impression abroad that we of the South are comparatively dependent upon other counfrii‘3 for select lists of fruits. In ap ples, especially, the list is very incomplete. We observe that our most popular varie ties arc altogether left out, while others of doubtful quality are retained. The classifications of Southern apples, with the list of their numerous synouims, had of late years become a necessity so as to enable tbe public to discriminate in their selections ts fruit. This we had expected to find a main feature of the new work, but it has seen entirely overlooked. In peaches, also; no mention is made of our favorite and everywhere known varieties, such as the Cslumbjp aud others of like renown. W e regret that the lists of fruits have been submitted to the public in such in complete order. There certainly was a wide field to put Southern pomology in a better light before the criticism of Northern and European Horticulturists, as we possess a wealth of Bornological treasures seldom "round in other less favored sections. Horticultural Tourists. We were pleased to give a friendly | greeting, a lew days since, to our eminent horticultural friends, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, of Boston, President of the Ameri can Pomologic&l Society; Messrs. Ellwanger ; and Barry, of Rochester, New York, and: Mr. Robert Manning, of Salem, Massa- j chusetts, who are making a tour in the I South and prospecting the horticultural i riches of our sun-land. While it has ! given us the greatest pleasure to extend I a cordial welcome to these distinguished : Pomologists, their visit has been the oc- j casion of two regrets to us. The first is that ] their visit was so short and so hurried as j to afford them but slight opportunity to glance at the feebly developed mine of horticultural wealth of our section. The second is, that but little opportunity was permitted us to remove the incredulity of the distinguished President of the Arneri ' cau Pomological Society, which challenged j some of our representations, as almost in | credible. For example, we stated that we j could exhibit a Rose Bush twelve inches in I diameter at the butt, seventy feet high, and extending, from the extreme of the branches on either side, sixty feet; and ! that this Rose Bush was a Cloth of Gold, growing in the open air. Now we re-state it, stick to it and put it down in print, ! ! that we have such a Cloth of Gold ; and i i that it is to be found and can be seen by ! | all, trained upon the front wall of the east | building of the Augusta Factory. We in | vite our horticultural friends to revisit us, | and apply their own admeasurements, to j this our Rose Bush, as well as to other ! i things; and we promise,'while enjoying their "goodly cmnpanie,” to spare no pains j to satisfy them on all points, including even | our “opinion of Rogers’ Hybrid.” «■» The Fcacli. j Standard authors refer the origin of this fruit to Persia. Whether or not this origin grows out of the prevailing senti ment to refer all things good to the East, |we cannot say. llealiy, it seems to he in j diginous, so well does it flourish in our 1 soil and climate. The tree grows vigorous i ly like the smaller growth of the forest, re quiring but little care and attention to bring it to perfection, and yields in abun \ dance a luscious, healthful fruit, at a cost so insignificant as to place it within the | reach of the poorest of our population, | not unusually, for the bare effort of pluck j ing. The peach orchard is the necessary adjunct of every farm yard, and in days past its products, while gracing the farm er’s table with delicious fruit, has been | made to play no unimportant part in farm j economy, contributing to furnish bacon for homo consumption. Peach-raising has again revived. In the future it bids fair to become an important and lucrative business along the main lines of Railroads in our State. The limits to its expansion are the facilities for cheap, proper, and speedy transportation as fruit, j Peaches in this section, ordinarily, can be j laid down in New York in seventy hours, and will net a handsome profit to the cul -1 livator. We have early Georgia varieties I vastly superior to most of the Northern ! varieties, whether grown here or farther North; but they are too tender in texture to stand carriage. Clingstone are unfit to carry to distant markets with our present facilities. They can only be appreciated | when plucked fully ripe from the tree, j j Early varieties are tha only ones which it j is advisable to plant for Northern markets, : the object being to get the bulk of the crop | shipped and sold before that of Delaware j and Maryland is ready for market. The j | best varieties for shipping are Early I | Tillotson, Large Early York, Early and I j Late Crawford, Stump the World and j ! Columbia. Hale’s eirly bids fair to be the ! | mo3t profitable kind. Besides this branch of the peach-trade, j immense quantities are grown for distilling j and drying. We have no means of esti- j mating the amount of dried peaches sent ! forward for the supply of Northern mar kets, but from the inspection of the sup- j plies shipped by two or three large dealers | we are quite sure our people have but little j idea of the great revenue which this branch of the trade alone brings our State. For drying purposes, freestones are most desirable, as giving the least trouble in handling and preparation as well as keep ing best. For distilling, the clingstones are preferable, as they yield more juice than freestones. Three bushels of good clingstones will yield, on an average, one gallon of proof brandy, whereas, the ma jority of freestones will not yield one half ' that quantity. Durmg the past year, anew branch of ! the peach trade has been successfully opened up in our State —that of canned fruit. This branch has been particularly developed at At lanta, Covington and Athens. The | statistics of the Atlanta Trade place the amount canned there per day during the peach season at fifteen thousand cans. The supplies, a= now furnished, are confined to the demands of Northern markets. There is no reason why canned peaches should not become a large item of Georgia’s I foreign exports. The operation of canning 1 is not difficult or complicated, and we are quite sure that Europe will readily take, ! at remunerative prices, all that we can furnish. Off of the lines of railroads ' orchards, in this way, can be made profit- ; able —by canning the fruit. This branch of the peach trade promises to be largely and profitably developed. | Our State abounds with seedling peaches, j j The mass of these are inferior ; but there j are several types which reproduce almost identically by seed. We have large or j chards of seedlings, every tree of which are ! nearly alike and of good quality. Os such types are the lodian, Lemon cling, Heath i types, Ac. Os the Indian types there are many varieties. Some are yellow free stones like the Columbia, others blood red clingstones, or white clingstones; all, however, have the peculiar brown red ' stripe upon the fruit which characterises the type. This typp is much esteemed, as it seldom produces an infeiior peach, and, ; strange to say, it seldom hybridises with other varieties. The Lemon cling seldom varies by seed ; it Dever produces a free stone. It ranges from pure white to dark orange flesh, and is always red at the ; stone. The Heath type is very popular here. Its varieties are numerous, but all j have a family resemblance, and are white to the stone. In general all clingstone peaches whose flesh is white through are sweet; and those red near the stone, acid or subacid. The peach will produce the second year 1 from the seed, and when properly cared ! for will live from twenty-five to thirty years. The great fault of most cultivators is that they allow the tree to overbear at the extremities ot the branches, the weight of the fruit causing these to split and break off. An nual shortening in, is, therefore, of the utmost necessity and, unless this is attend ed to, the tree will soon decay. Late Spring frosts are often very destructive to the peach crop. The practice of building fires, so as to create a dense smoke at in tervals in the rows of the orchard, has been successfully resorted to in frost seasons. By this means many crop3 have been saved. The peach tree in our State is free from disease, aud, except the Borer, from insects also. The yellows are unknown here, and it is a remarkable fact that a contaminated tree, brought from theNorh, regains its vigor so soon as transplanted here. The only remedy for the Borer is the knife ; it must be cut out aud destroy ed. The exuding gum tells readily where it may be found. But the attacks of the Borer are easily guarded against by hilling up the earth around the trunk early in the Spring, aud leaving this cone undisturbed until November, then leveling off again; repeating this process yearly. The hard bark of the trunk prevents the insect from penetrating it and depositing its eggs. Orchards thus treated have been free from worms lor years. The eurculio of late has been destructive to the peach. No variety seems to be free from its depredations. It is said that when hogs have the run of an orchard, the eurculio disappears. The season of maturity for the peach in this section begins June 10th to Juno loth; and some varieties keep umil the 10th of November, a period of nearly five months. The Borer and Cureullo. An esteemed correspondent of Cobb county sends us the following remedy for the Borer, and ail of the insect tribe which depredates upon our fruit trees and fruits: ►Saturate thoroughly an old piece of cloth c- sufficient size, with common lye; place the saturated cloth in the lower forks of the tree, and press it so that the lye will run down the bark to the roots freely. If this process is performed effectually, our correspondent says the result will be that all insects that have taken refuge in the bark during the autumn will be destroyed, old hark will slough, and anew one form, and the tree will grow off vigorously. Our Northern cotemporaries speak favor ably of the application of a carbolic acid soap. Carbolic acid is nearly allied to kroosote, in its characteristics, and efC : ts, which are destructive to vegetable as well as animal life. We sup pose the carbolic acid soap contains the acid in such diluted form as to avoid all evil effects upon the tree. We have alreauy given a very simple remedial guard against the borer which iias been practiced with great success. This is simply to hiil up well around the base of the tree after haying removed with the knife and destroyed the borer in the earlv spring, and to leave these hillocks or .•ones until the frosts of November, and then level them off again, repeating this process yearly. We should like to see the remedy of our correspondent tested thoroughly this season and well authenti cated reports made of the tests and re sults. We have so much faith in it as to recommend its trial. As to the eurculio, «e have no faith in any remedies, such as washes of any de scription. Fruits destroyed by the curcu .lo fall prematurely to the ground before the grub is full grown. The grub remains in such fruit, feeding upon it for some time, often many days before it drops. Horses, hogs and cattle will all eat such fruit if they have a chance, and this will destroy the grub. The grub of the eurculio, it has come to maturity, passes into the ground a few inches, there to undergo its transformation —changing from grub to beetle. It has been ascertained, satisfac torily, that if the earth is perfectly dry when the fruits drops, the insect will perish. Hence after dry years orchards are comparatively free from the eurculio. Various expedients have been suggested as guards against aud remedies for the eurculio. In some Northern orchards the fruit is gathered as it falls and fed to stock. But we know of no less expensive or more effectual method, than bv giving > )• a and poultry the run of the orchards. The Cotton Trade. The cotton market (says the New York Commercial and Skipping List), presents a strong contrast with the corresponding period in T 808. It may be remembered that about a year ago the price was de pressed by a combination of circumstances to fifteen cents for Middling Upland, which enabled English operators to secure liberal supplies, after which the staple gradually advanced to thirty cents at the close of the cotton year, August 31st. The result was highly prejudicial to American interests, for the nation not only suffered in its ex port trade, but our cotton manufactures were subject to sharp competition from British goods niade from raw material, ob tained at exceptionally low prices. This year the position of affairs has been al together different, and while the English operators have adhered pretty closely to the tactics adopted last year, 'hey have been effectually “cornered.” With very small stocks at Liverpool at the commence ment of the season, English orders were limited to about eight pence half penny to nine pence accompanied by lugubrious re ports about the state of trade, the strong probability of the mills being reduced to the extremity of short time, &e., for the evident purpose of frightening holders into selling out. But the American operators had made up their minds that the mistake of last year should not be repeated. The planters are stronger, and under less ad vances than last year. The tax has not only been removed, but the planters re member the rise after their sales last year, and have sent forward their crops with moderation ; and now the stocks of Eng land are running low, and she is obliged to enter the market, her movements being already foreshadowed and heralded by a rise of the price to upward of twelve pence. A prominent feature of the trade, dur ing the present season, has been the com paratively new system of selling short Quite a large proportion of the sales in our market during the past four or five months has been for delivery two or three months ahead, but, in nearly every instance, the shorts have been compelled to cover at a considerable loss. The receipts and exports at the latest mail dates, in round numbers, stood as fol lows: T ANARUS, . , , I*6B. 1869. Receipts, bales 1,250,000 1,343,000 Exports 752,000 676,000 While Great Britain has taken only -412,000 bales this year, against 522,000 last year, I ranee has increased her pur chases, having taken 140,000 bales this year, against 104,000 bales last year. The North of Europe has also takeD 103,000 bales, against 81,000 last year. Lastyear the average weekly consumption and ex port of cotton at Liverpool was 65,000 bales, and this year it will probably be equally large, and Liverpool must meet our market, as her supplies from other sources bid fair tobe considerably reduced. The position of the market may thus be re garded as a strong one. The largest cotton crop ever raised was in 1559’60, which approximated 5,000,000 bales, realizing at. SSO a ba1e,5250,000,000. This year the crop, it is thought, will be about 2,500,000 bales ; it is worth, at a low estimate, say SIOO a bale, and in the aggregate $250,000,000, or as much as the crop of 1859-’GO. Now to the profits of this year’s cotton are to be added several important items. The South has, for the first time, raised food enough for its own consumption, and, consequently, the pro ceeds of the cotton crop will not have to be exchanged for bread and meat. HeDce the present cotton crop will bring more money into the South, than ever was re ceived from this source in her palmiest days. The last Circular of Murray, Ferris &. Cos., of New York, presents the following table of weekly receipts at all the ports in the United States for the months of Jan- i uarv, February and March in 1868, and for the month of Januarv. 1869: 1868. 1869. j January 1 95,500 70,000 January 8 : 80,000 74,000 I January 15 80,000 73,000 ! January 22 86,000 84,000 1 January 29 86,000 56,000 : February 5 89,300 February 12 95,000 February 19 92,000 February 26 91,000 March 4 79,000 March 11 66,000 March 18 60,000 March 25 44,000 The Cow Pea as a Fertilizer. In a letter written to the Cultivator last j year, Mr. David Dickson gives some prac- j tical hints upon this subject. We repro duce them now that the readers of the Chronicle & Sentinel may make the ; necessary arrangements in time for the j Summer sowing. Mr. Dickson says : Ti.e benefits of growing green crops, ! i and burying them in the soil for the benefit | of future crops are too well understood to | be questioned by any one, but it has open ed a question in agricultural economy that has not been settled so satisfactorily. The English farmers formerly used half a ton of ground bones per acre to grow a single crop, but they haVe found by dissolving 200 pounds of bones in acid, at a cost of 50 per cent, on the price of hones (making the whole cost equal to that of 300 pounds of bones), that it will produce the same effect at an outlay of only 30 per cent, on that of the former mode, the latter method giving them the means of returning the same amount of manure to the land next year as the former did, by producing the same amouut of hay, turnips and other forage to feed stock. Now, admitting that it will pay to grow peas and clover, to be turned under as fer tilizers, the following questions arise • At what time should they be turned under to insure the greatest benefit? Would it pay better to feed them off the land than to cover them with a plow, and what do they lose by drying before being turned under? ' Here again the question of soluble and in soluble manures is involved. I have al ways taken the side of soluble manures as being the most economical. Dry pea vines and clover will soon become soluble. I will give you my practice. It is one that will pay, although l will not say that it is the best. First, keep your laud in good heart; let the field that you iutend to sow peas on remain fallow, until you lay by your corn —say from the Ist to the 20th of July. Vou will then have a large growth of green weeds to turn under. Start your teams with good turn plows, running off the land asneaily level as you can, and go round and round until the land or cut is finished. Start, the pea dropper after every third plough, and the hand with the manure after the pea dropper. Drop the manure within four inches of the peas. If you find the peas will make from seven to fifteen bushels per acre, turn stock in upon them, placing salt in places over the field, to cause the most of the manure to be dropped on the field. Then invest all the profit arising from feeding stock ou the field in bones and Peruvian guano for the next crop, and you will find this system will pay. I have adopted it with both wheat and cotton, with good success. If the peas fail to fruit, turn them under whilst green Second Plan. —Plant peas the first of April, same as above: turn under before the stems become very woody, and plant and manure a second crop at the same time that you are turning under the first crop of vines, and treat the second crop as you did the first. The true policy is to secure the greatest amount of soluble vegetable mold you can accumulate with the least cost. Very truly, yours, Davip Dickson. N. B.—l prefer peas planted and culti vated on a level, both for the land and crop, and fora sowing of small grain after the pea crop. Value or Figures to site Agriculturist. In preparing ground for sowing or plant ing, farmers often desire to make applica tion of some special manure, as superphos phate, plaster,_ compost, &c , so as to ap- Eortion a certain amount to a given surface, tow to do this, and to do it. properly, is a I subject too often litne considered,' or if I considered, so imperfectly understood as to be of little practical benefit. One farmer I makes application of too little, and another j uses too much. In both cases, he works at ' random, and is likely to reap the fruit of | his tabor, either in no visible effect what j ever, or in a serious damage to his crops. I This has often been the experience of those who have been tempted to make a | trial of fertilizers, whose utility they had [ not previously proved, and its effect has I been to impress them with the belief that I the fertilizer used was worthless, if not in- I jurious, and in many cases has led them to ; make bitter complaints against those en j. gaged in its sale or manufacture. ; in many of these cases, there is doubt j less just ground for complaint. Unprinci | pled dealers have swindled the farmers ; with worthless compounds, and they do right in calling attention to such dealers, and cautioning the public against them. But in many other cases, these complaiuts are made in reference to fertilizers of known I value, and against honest and reliable deal ; ers. In such cases, it is safe to suppose | one of two things, that the manure was not | properly applied, or was not suited to the i soil. This being the case, it is a matter of I moment first, to know what manure to ap ; ply to particular soils, tbeQ in what quan j tities to apply it, and finally— a very im portant sequent, how to ho guided in its application so as to apply the quantity do j sired—neither more nor less. J The first of these questions must be de | termined by a thorough knowledge of the ■ necessities of the soil. The last, which is the one we would call attention to at this time, must be determin ed by figures. Suppose, for example, that it is desired to apply five hundred pounds of super phosphate per acre, in turnip drills. How shall it be done so as to apportion the amount applied, equally, oyer the entire surface of the field '? Obviously this must be ascertained by an accurate estimate of the amount to be applied to some given portion of the field, and the result of this estimate must be used as a guide in apply ing it to the remainder. Avery simple and easy method of doing this, is present ed by the Register of Rural Affairs, and is something as follows : The drills are sup posed to be twenty-eight inches apart. This gives their entire length on a single acre, at about 1,120 rods. At the rate of 400 pounds to the acre, this would give about seven ounces to each rod. Let these seven ounces be divided into portions and i scattered upon a few rods of the drill, and with a little observation, and with ordinary skill and care, the one making the experi ment will, have no difficulty in giving to each ensuing rod, almost exactly the por tion its due. If he wishes to use only half this quantity', or two hundred and fifty pouuds per acre, the experiment and esti | mate can be made with equal ease. If a fertilizer is to be applied in hills in stead of drills, as in a cornfield, a simitar mode of calculation may be readily adopt ed. If the hills are put three feet and a half apart each way (which is generally considered the best distance), they will average 3,500 to the acre, and will require a little over two ounces to the hill, at the rate of 500 pounds to the acre, or a little over one ounc", at the rate of 250 pounds per acre. Some accurate test can also be applied in sowing fertilizers broadcast. For in stance, in sowing plaster by hand at the rate of 100 pounds per acre, the operator should only take the tenth of pound for each handful, for if he covers a space five by ten feet at each throw, it will take nearly one thousand to go over the acre, as can be readily proved by a few experiments, and a little figuring. The same mode can be used to advantage, in sowing grass seed, to determine the amount of seed for each handful. Each throw will cover, as before, from five to ten feet, and whatever quantity is \ used for an acre should therefore be di vided, Sin sowing it, into about a thousand parts. A peck of clover seed for i example, weighs fifteen pounds, and to cover an acre, each handful should be a little less than the fourth of an ounce. The previous use of a pair of scales for weigh- j ; ing off a few of these portions would en able the operator to hit at once, with con- j siderable accuracy, upon the right quanti -1 ty, instead of beine compelled to make j random guesses for days,; or even years, j before acquiring proper experience, j The same valuable system of figures can 1 j also be applied in reference to the fodder upon which stock are to be wintered. The amount of hay put into barns may be easily estimated as it goes in, after the careful weighing ot a few loads. If the farmer has neglected to do this, he may ascertain the amount uearly as well by measuring bishays, and allowing an average of 500 cubic feet per ton, if timothy; 600 feet if J part clover, or 700 feet if all clover, per | ton He will thus be able to learn, very nearly, how much hay he has on hand. The next question is to know how much | hay his anima's will eat. If he has provid- I ed good racks, to prevent them from tread ing hay under foot, and has given them fair shelter, he may adopt the following rule with a good deal of certainty: De teriniue the weight of his animals, and j allow three per cent, of the we'ght of his horses for their daily food in ha/, and two and a half ier cent, for cattle. Multiply this daily allowance by the whole number , of animals, and again by the number of days which he expects to give them dry food, and then compare it with the quan tity on hand, and he may strike the balance, one way or the other, with considerable 1 accuracy. Os course these estimates pre- j eume upon the farmer’s possession of i ; warm and comfortable barns and'stables- j i We believe that this system of calculation, I adapted not only in reference to the mat- ' ters indicated, but applied to farm matters generally, would be the means of paving j yearly not only waste of time and much vexation, but material losses.— Exchange. COUXTINU THE ELECTORAL VOTE. IRREGULAR MODE OF COUNTING. Scenes In the Senate and House. BUTLER, WADE AND COLFAX. WILD CONFUSION. From the Baltimore Gazette. COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE IN THE ! SENATE. At ten minutes to one a message was received from the House announcing their readinoss to receive the Senate to count the electoral vote. The Senate then proceeded to the hall of : | the House. VOTE OF LOUISIANA. At 1:30 P. M. the Senate, preceded j by the Sergeant-at-Anus and with Vice 1 ; President V ade at its head, re-entered | its chamber. Ihe President pro tern. j took his chair and directed the Secretary i : to read the objection. The Secretary then i j read as follows : Objection was raised to any count of the j ! vote certified from the State of Louisiana, ! and raised the question in regard to them, j that no valid election for President and ! Vice President of the United States has 1 been held in said State. Mr. Hendricks—l move that in the i judgment of the Senate the vote be counted. Mr Trumbull thought it had better be put in the form of a resolution. Resolved , That it is the opinion of the Senate that the vote of the electors of the State of Louisiana ought to be counted. Mr Howard—Before the Senate pro- S eeeds to act upon that I wish to inquire j whether the validity of the election in j Louisiana admits of any proof or discussion | here. ■ The President pro tern. —No debate is j admissible. i Mr Conuess asked for the reading of | the objection, which was again read, i Me Howard inquired whether that was all the evidence on the subject before the Senate. The Chair replied that it was all. Several amendments were here succes sively offered, changing the phraseology of the resolution, wiiere..n the Chair re marked, amid the laughter of the Senate : I We are going to have a nice time, let i everybody prepare an amendment. Mr Morton moved the following sub stitute : Resoloed, That while we have reason to | believe from common report aud information that the latp Presidential election in Louis iana was carried by force and fraud, still, there being no legal evidence before the Senate on the subject, the electoral vote of Louisiana ought to be counted. Yeas—Messrs. Cameron, Cattel, Chanc ier, Couklmg, Harris, Howard, Kellogg McDonald. Morgan, Morrill of Vermont, Morton, Nye, Osborn, Pool, Ramsey, lliee, Robertson, Spencer, Stewart, Sum ner, Thayer, Tipton, Warner and Wilson —24. Nays—Messrs. Abbott, Anthony,Bucka lew, Cole, Conness,Corbett, Cragin, Davis, Dixon, Doolittle, Drake, Edmunds. Ferry, Fessenden, Fowler, Frelinghuysen,Grimes, Harlan, Hendricks, Howe, McCreery, Pat terson, of New Hampshire, Patterson, of Tennessee, Boss, Saulsbury, Sawyer, Sher man, Sprague, Trumbull, Van Winkle, Vickers, Whyte, Willey, Williams ami Yates—3s. Mr. Sprague offered a substitute as fol lows : Resolved , That it is the opinion of' the Senate that the votes of the electors of tlte State of Louisiana for President and Vice- President be counted. Mr. Sumner moved as a substitute a resolution similar in form to the one adopt ed to meet the case of "the State of Georgia, which was ruled out of order. The substitute was then adopted by a vote of 51 to 7, the negatives being Messrs. Chandler, Howard, Nye, Robertson, Sum ner, Thayer and Wilson. A message was received from the House announcing its decision that the vote of Louisiana he counted. Mr. Buckalew submitted an erder, which was adopted, that the House be notified of , the decision of the Senate, i The Senate then, preceded by its officers, j returned to the Hall of the House. VOTE OF GEORGIA. At, 2:55 P. M the Senate again entered I its Chamber. The President pro tern, directed the read- ! ing of the objection made to the vote of the j State of Georgia. Mr. Sherman then submitted a resolu tion that the vote of tiie electors of the I State of Georgia be counted as iu the man ner provided tor iu the concurrent rcsolu- I tion of the Bth inst. Mr. Edmunds asked if the Senate were to consider the appeal of the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Butler) or were they to consider the admissibility of the j vote of Georgia? The Chair stated that the objections of the gentleman from Massachusetts were of j a different nature than were supposed to : have inspired the passage of the resolution i of February 8. That gentleman objected that the vote of Georgia was not east on the day prescribed by law. | Mr. Doolittle asked what was done in the 1 case of the vote of Wisconsin in 1856, which j alto was not east on the day prescribed by j law? Mr Trumbull said objection had been raised to the vote of Wisconsin which, as in the case of Georgia now, did not affect j the result, but, there was never any decis- ' ion on the subject. Mr. Conkling read from the (Hole the ! proceedings in 1850 of Congress in count- j ing the electoral vote, and he held that | the vote of Wisconsin was included in the i count. Mr. Trumbull road from the official j journal of the Senate of the date which | chronicles that James Buchanan received 1 184 votes, and John C. Fremont 109, and ! the five votes of Wisconsin, which were not given as included in his eouut, but mentioned afterward. Mr. Drake offered a substitute for Mr. Sherman’s resolution, that upon the first | ground of objection to the counting of the I doctoral vote of'the State of Georgia it is ! the judgment of the Senate that the vote 1 sfiould not be counted. Mr. Howe moved a resolution that in the judgment of the Senate the electoral vote of the State of Georgia should not be counted. Mr. Hendricks submitted a question of; order, that the Senate could not amend or ! | abrogate the concurrent resolution of the ; two Houses, which had already provided i the manner in which the vote of Georgia should bo received. The Chair sta'ed that iu his opinion it. was not competent for either House to amend the concurrentresolution referred to. But the gentleman from Massachusetts had gone hack of the concurrent resolu tion and raised an objection which was not i pertinent to that resolution. A message was received from the House, auuouoing its decision that the vote of the : State of Georgia should not be counted. Mr. Howard moved to take up the House message, with a view to concurring I in the same, which was declared out of j order. Mr. Hendricks again raised the point of order that the Senate cannot modify the concurrent resolution of February 8. The Chair said if the pending resolution was a concurrent resolution, then it was in | order, but if not, it was notin order. Mr. Williams moved to lay the whole subject on the table, which was not agreed to. Mr. Hendricks held that pending the counting of the electoral vote no proposi tion to arneud the concurrent resolution which prescribed the mode of counting j this vote should be considered. The Chair then decided that the propo sition of Mr. Howe was not in order. The Chair, in the joint convention, would have enforced the concurrent reso lution but for a doubt that the objection of the gentleman from Massachusseus (Mr. Butler) went back of and was independ ent of that resolution. Mr. Doolittle said the concurrent resolu tion covered everything, and the Chair should have enforced it. The Chair then also ruled out of order the motion of Mr. Drake. Mr. Edmunds submitted a resolution that under tho special order of the two Houses respecting the electoral vote of the State of Georgia the objections made to counting said vote are not in order. Mr. Nye asked if the vote of the State of Georgia could be counted when the j House objected. Mr. Trumbull said the House could not decide for the Senate. Mr. Edmunds said the rule said no vote should be counted that was objected to. j The resolution of Mr. Edmunds was agreed to, as follows : Yeas —Messrs. Anthony, Buckalew, Cattail, Conness, Corbett, Cragin, Davis, ; D‘Xoo, Doolittle, Edmunds, Fowler, Fre- I linghuyseo, Grimes, Hendricks, Kellogg, McCreery, Morrill of Maine, of j Vermont, Morton, Patterson of New Hampshire, Patterson of Tennessee, Ross, Saul-bury. Sawyer, Sherman, Sprague, Stewart, Tipton, Vickers, Whyte, and Williams. Nays—Messrs. Cameron,Chandler,Cole, C'oukiiog, Drake, Ferry, Fessenden, Har lan, Harris, Howe, McDonald, Morgan, Nye, Pool, Ramsey, Rice, Robertson, Spencer, Sumner, Thayer, Trumbull, Van’ Winkle, Wade, Warner, Willey and Yates j -26. The Chair asked if the two Houses did m*t agree, what announcement should be I made to the joint convention ? Mr. Edmunds said all that was ucccssary , was to announce the actiou of the Senate to the House, aud he moved a message to that effect. Mr. Sherman thought the action which had been taken was very dangerous. Noth ing could he doue without the concurrence or tho two Houses, and it would be in the power of the Senate or House to defeat 1 an election for Preside ip r.f . r 7 States. ' u 11 doSnow? inqniied WW ™‘o be Mr Trumbull said the proper course v .? g° bac H ln convention and resume u: thc votes, and rids matter Mr. Howard "obiunt,,] , re „, lutK . ;&»"***«* thatD,)? liila , ms . ra ' sed she point of "ord > The Cl air ,W! °W* “ 0t be in order. du:!arod the resolution to 1, ion'of Oil'PL™ 3 a? P ealed from the decis ion ot the Chair, when the decision of U Chair was sustained by ayes 27, nays 25 lutten npvf tl °ti Was ', hcn taken on the reso y IIoWa A rd - whl ‘» it was rejected: ! n .i- ‘Messrs. Abbott, Camoron Colt* irrink Hows nk How C | a u iler ’ H ruke ’ Harlan, Har ! Nve We ’ Kel ’ McDonald, I Sawl-er q lW - Hobart*. ! „ Sp n e - a f° r ' Stewart, Sum er, Thay : er t Made, Wilson and Yates 25 | . a ys— Messrs. Buckalew, Ci uness, Cor- Dett, , ragin, Davis. Dixon, D- dit •!.» KJ. munds, Ferry, Fessenden, iW,!,.,, lVel n huysen, Grimes, Hendricks. M-Ureerv Morgan Morrill of Maine, Merrill . Ver mont, Morton, Patterson of New Hamp shire 1 attersun of Tennessee, Pool. Ross Sauisbury, Sherman, Sprague, Tipton,’ Trnmbuil YanWmkJe, Vickers, Warner, byte, Willey and Williams—34. Mr. Ldmunds then moved that tli- Senate proceed to the Hall of the I lou- M, r - Conkling—For what purpo-< ! The Chair put the motion, declared it earned, and the Senate one 1 more rotur; - ed to the Hall of the House. COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE IN THE mi o , HOUSE. I tie Speaker announced that the Hons, would now prepare to meet with the Sen ate in joint session. He caused to 1. read the joint rules of the House for the meet mg ot the two Houses in joint session, in accordance with which the members oecu pying seals on the right of the Speaker, lor five seats back, moved into the thr > ■ sections to the right of the 8 eater's chair. 1 1 resident pro tevi. of the Senate Wade occupied a seat on the rig u of Speak,. • j Colfax. i 1 resident jtro tcvi , \\ . .u* then called the joint session to order, and directed the | tellers appointed by the two llou-.s t., ! take their places. Messrs. Senator Conklin, tnd Represent . Wives Pruyu and Wilson, of I >a tin | tellers, took their places at the Clerk s desk. President pro tern. Wade then proceeded to open the packages containing the electo ral votes for President and \ ice President The first opened was from tin- -tors c i i the State of New Hauohiie. Tim eertifi j cate of’the Governor of’the Sou >. velativ. I to the choice of electors wasrou 1 -it length, and the vote was announced'. The certili cate of the electors set forth that five votes had been east for U. S. Grant, of Illinois, for President of the United States, and five for Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, for ' Vice President. ; Mr. Wade then said that the reading oi i the certificates would be dispensed with l unless called for t»y some member. The votes were then annouuced in the j following order: l Massachusetts,result announced by Sen ator ConkliDg—U. S. Grant, 12; Schuyler i Colfax, 12. Rhode Island, announced by Mr. Wil son—U. S. Grant, 5; Schuyler Colfax, 5. 1 Connecticut, announced by Mr. Wilson I —U. S. Grant, (i; Schuyler Colfax, 6. : Vermont announced by Senator Conk I ling— Grant, 5; Schuyler Colfax, 5. j New York, announced bvMr. Pruvn Horatio Seymour, of New York, 33: Fran ; cis P. Blair, Jr., of Missouri, 33. | Buzz, j and some laughter. ] j New Jersey, announced by Mr. Pruyn— i Horatio Seymour, of'New York, 7; Fran cis P. Blair, of Missouri, 7. | More buzzing and laughter, at which the presiding offi cer called the joint session to order, j Pennsylvania, announced by Senator Conkling—U S Grant, of Illinois, 20; Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, 26. Delaware, announced by Mr Pruyn— Horatio Seymour, of New York, 3; F 1* Blair, jr, of Missouri, 3. [There was considerable laughter when Delaware was announced]. j Maryland, announced by Mr Pruyn— j Horatio Seymour, of New York, 7; FP Blair, of Missouri, 7. Jlhis anuuunce j ment was also received with laughter, ; amid which the presiding officer rapped ; vigorously to order]. North Carolina, announced by Mr Vv'il sou—U S Grant, of Illinois, 8; Schuyler Colfax, of Indiaua, 'J. South Carolina, announced by Mr Wil i son —U S Grant, 6; Schuyler Colfax, 0. ; Kentucky, announced by Mr Pruyn— i Horatio Seymour, of New York, 11; F p Blair, jr, of Missouri, 11. [Much laughter J Tennessee, announced by Mr Wilson —U ; S Grant, 10; Schuyler Colfax, 10. Ohio, announced by Senator Conkling - U S Grant, 21; Schuyler Colfax, 21. Louisiana— When tiiQ vole was about to be an nounced, Mr Mullins, of Tennessee, oh jected to its announcement, and called for the reading of the certificates. The certificates were read by Mr Pruyn. President Wade then caused the Clerk to read the 22d joint rule of the two Houses, which sets forth that if any ques tion shall arise relative to the counting of a vote of any State, the Senate shall at once retire to its own Chamber, and each house shall decide the question without debate. Mr Eldridge, of Wisconsin, raised the question of order that this rule was a viu lation of the twelfth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The chair declined to entertain the point of order, as the rule had been adopted by both Houses. Mr Woodward, of Pennsylvania, sub i mitted that the objection of'the gentleman ! from Tennessee (Mullins) must fie specific. | Mr Wade—The objection will be present- I ed in writing. Mr Sumner, of Massaeii u :-U , inquired | if the count might not proceed and the ; case of Louisiana he laid over informally. | Mr Wade—No debate is in order until | the question now before the joint session is decided. Mr Mullins, of Tennessee, then sent, his : objection to the Clerk's desk, audit was ; read by Mr Wilson, as follows: I I object to any count of the vote of the Electoral College of Louisiana, and raise the question in regard to that State, that no lawful election for President and Vice President of the United States hi been held in the same. The Senate then retired to their own Chamber. Speaker Colfax called the House to order and again caused the Clerk to read the twenty-second joint rule. The House, he said, would decide the q n stion raised by the gentleman from Ter.nr- ,-,ee without de bate. Mr Washburno. of Illinois, inquired if it would be in order to to lay the ob jection on the table ? The Speaker replied tba‘ it would not. Mr Nihlack, of Indiana, called for the reading of the crodcntia's of Louisiana. The Speaker—They arc in the posses sion of the joint session and cannot be read to the House alone. Mr Jones, of Kentucky, demanded the yeas aud nays on the question and they were ordered. The v.,t r-jilt, y-as 136, nays 63. So the liou-n decide I that the vote should be counted. Mr Schenek, of Ohio, off'*: J the follow i ing: Resolved by the House of Representa tives, That no proof beipg made to sustain the objection to the counting of the elect oral vote of the State of Louisiana, the | House therefore affirms that as no rca m appears to the contrary, the vote of that htate shall be counted. Mr Wood, of New York, objected. Mr Shanks, of Indiana, offered the i’ol -1 lowing: : Resolved, That in the opinion of this House, tho acceptance of the electoral vote of Louisiana for President and Vice President of the United States will cu ■ u'- age criminal— Mr Glossbrenner, of Pennsylvania, at this point objected. Mr Lawrence, of Ohio, a iked that his question of order might be entertained. Objected to. Mr Randall, of Pennsylvania, demanded the regular order. The Speaker—There Ls nothing in order until the House receives a message from the Senate. t Mr Mullins, of Tennessee, amid much laughter, asked unanimous consent for five minutes to make an explanation. Hail'a dozen objv : />;(■_ ferent parts of the if >u-c, a:»4 the S-.eakcr rapped Mr Mullins to order. At 2 o’clock and 15 minutes the Secre tary of the Senate appeared and announced that the Senate ha l agreed that the elect oral vote of the State of Loui.-iana ;-hould be counted. MrSchenck, of Ohio, moved that a message be communicated to the Senate that the House is now ready to proceed with the counting of tho electoral vote. Agreed to. A few minutes afterward the Senate again appeared. President pro tern, of the Senate, Wade, resumed the chair, and announced the joint actiou ot the two houses. The tellers are directed tq resume their places, and proceed with the epunt of the vote. The count was then proceeded with in the following order : Louisiana, announced Mr Pruvn— Horatio Seymour, of New York, 7; F P Blair, jr, of Missouri, 7. Indiana, announced by Senator Conklin;; —U 8 Grant, 13: Schuyler Col tax, 18. Illinois, announced by Mr Wilson—U S Grant, 16; Schuyler Colfax, 16. Alabama, announced by Mr Coukling— Grant, 8; Colfax, 8. Maine,announced by Mr Wilson—Grant, 7; Colfax, 7. Missouri, announced by Mr Wilson— Grant, 11; Colfax, 11.
