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OLD SERIES—VOL. LXXVJII.
GUpnule & Sentinel.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
DAILY.
One month 1 00
Three month* 2 50
One year 10 00
TKMVEEKI.Y.
One year $ f. f‘o
Hi* month* 3 50
Three month 2 00
VVEKKLY.
Three months I 1 00
Mix months 1 50
One year 3 00
WKDmUAY MORWMn, AKIItf 9.
THK YVASHIWifOV ii.47.KfTK A\ D TilK
JihW DKI'AKTI'KK.
The Washington Gazette wakes up, io
its issue of the 28tb cf July to the "errera
of the New Departure,” and is extremely
solicitioua lest the readers of the Chroni
cle & Sentinel— “unsophisticated peo
ple—might think that the Chronicle had
become too cautious upon the great issues
now before the country.” For the infor
mation of the Gazc'te, we state, what the
readers of the Chiionicle it Sentinel
well know, that so early as the 28th day of
May last, immediately after Mr. Vallan- I
dighacn promulgated his New Departure,
tho editors of the Chronicle <sc Sentinel I
WQTO prompt to #ivo dooiJoti oMproonioo |
of their opinion upon the policy of this
new movtmen*. We must confess, how
ever, we have no heart for a fight in which
tho guns are not to be directed against
the common enemy, but against friends
and allies in the Democratic racks, partic
ularly in the present juncture of affairs.
KKfiILATINU BAILItOiDS BYLAW.
A bill for the regulation of railroad pas
senger fares, prepared by the Railroad
Committee of tho Connecticut Legislature,
has been submitted to that body with a
recomrncodaii in from the committee that
it be accorded immediateaod favorable con-
Lderatior. The pill is modeled after that
which went into operation in the State of
Illinois on the Ist instant, provides in ef
fect that no company shall charge more
than four cents per mile, per head, for the
transportation of passengers and baggage
over its road. Over roads oarning profits
to tho ameunt of 8 per cent, per annum,
tho limit is fixed at three cents per mile,
per head ; and on roads earning annual
profit to the amount of 10 per cent., two
and onc-half oents is the legal maximum
charge. Ac exception to this rule is
mado in the case of way passengers, which
may bo charged leu cents between any
two stations, without regard to distance.
For any violation of this law the com
panies arc punished by a fine of S2O;
onc-half of which goes to the person over
charged. All companies aic required to
post in conspicuous places in all their
ticket offices and public waiting-rooms,
printed schedules, showing the rates of
faro oharged between ail poiuts to which
tickets are issued, under a penalty of a
fine of $5 fer each day’s neglect. It is
probable that tl.ii law will pass, as it has
boon favorably reoeived by the Legisla
ture, and it is also probable that, as in Il
linois, its enforcement will bo resisted in
the Courts.
Wo regard suoh laws as additional
stimulus to “ stock watering.” Kxpcrt
“Jim Fiskcs” will tako delight in all
such enactments, and tho ol jeot of the
legislature, which is cheap transporta
tion; will not bo reached. This can be
only attained by competition.
COLLKUKS IS OKOUtiIA.
In that remarkable conglomerate public
document entitled Report of the Com
missioner of Fiducation made to the Sec
retary of the Interior (of what ?) for the
year 1870, with accompanying papers, ”
Georgia is mado to rank as th# fifth State
of tho Union as to tho number of colleger.
Tho wholo number of colleges enumerated
is threo hundred and sixty-nine, of which
Georgia claims twenty-sne. Thtso twenty
one are as follows : Tho University of
Georgia, Emory College, Mercer Uni
versity, Bowden Collegiato Institution ;
OglethorpeUnivcrsitv, Atlanta University,
Wesleyan Femalo College, Cuthbert Fe
male College, Southern Female College,
Hamilton Female College, LaGrange
Femalo College, Griffin Female College,
Forsyth Femalo College, Perry Female
College, Masonio Femalo College, Cov
ington; Femalo College, Amerious; Ma
sonio Femalo College, Lumpkin; Madison
Femalo College, Marietta Femalo College,
La Vert Femalo College, Atlanta Female
College. This is a vciy creditable array ;
but tho most creditable appearing is the
effort displayed for tho education of
females. Hut we venture tho assertion
that tho aggregate endowment funds of
all those oolloges does not equal the en
dowment fund of Harvard or Yale, or
Dartmouth, or Princeton, or the Uni
versity of New York, or of Illinois, or
the Cornell University, and others that
might bo named. With us there is great
offoit greatly diffused ; but North and
East of us concentration and combination
is the characteristic ; and this brings suc
cess and influence.
The distribution of tho three hundred
and sixty-nine colleges is as follows : Io
Alabama, 4, Arkansas, l ; California, 15;
Connecticut, 3 ; Delaware, 2 ; Georgia,
21 ; Illinois, 28 ; Indiana, 19 ; lowa, 13 ;
Kansas, 7 ; Kentucky, 10 ; Louisiana, 7 ;
Maine, 4 ; Maryland, 10 ; Massachusetts,
6 ; Michigan, 7 ; Minnesota, 2 ; Missis
sippi, 5 ; Missouri, 14 ; New Hampshire,
1 ; New Jersey, 6; New York, 27 ; North
Carolina, 10 ; Ohio, 35 ; Oregon, 4 ;
Pennsylvania, 34 ; Rhode Island, 1; South
Carolina, 7 ; Tennessee, 20 ; Texas, 4 ;
Vermont, 3: Virginia, 11; Wisconsin,
14; West Virginia, 3; District of Co
lumbia, 1 ; Utah Territory, 1 ; Washing
ton Territory, 1.
MICOK AND KNOIVILLK BAHBOIO.
Iu a recent letter, Mr. DeGraffenried, the j
President of a company formed under the j
charter for this projected road, points out >
the fact that tour of his dirco'ors arc from
the Central and Southwestern II tilroad
Companies, and makes special acknowledg
ment of essential aid afforded by them to
defray the cists of survey. Just now the
peoplo of Kncxville, Tennessee, are agita
ted upon the subject of anew line cf rail
road direct from Macon, Georgia, through
Polk county, Tennessee, to Knoxville.
This road, it is justly claimed, wott'd pass
immediately by the copper mines of Polk
county, and through a very rich part of
East Tennessee. There is, however, an
other project on foot, which proposes a
different route, vi* : a grand trunk road, tc
leave Polk oounty on the west acd pass
through Murphy county. North Carolina,
which should be the joint property of all j
the reads having their termini at Clayton, ;
Rabun oounty, Georgia. Aeeo'.ding to ]
the latter plan, this tvou'.d be made a com- ,
mon centre for the Blue llidge Railroad
from Charleston, S. C-, and any other
railroads in Georgia desirous of obtaining
the trade of East Tennessee and the North
west, which would all have to terminate
at Clayton, and then jointly build and
own the proposed Grand Trunk Road
from that point to Knoxville, Tennessee.
This latter plan would seem to be rather
complicated and dependent upon too
many contingencies, while the former is
both direct and feasible. The initiative
must, in either case, be taken in Georgia
in concert with the Bine Ridge Railroad
of South Carolina—the latter road owning
the charter from Clayton to Knoxville—
and as a centra! part of Tennessee is worth
gaining by any railroad in Georgia or
South Carolina, leaving even out of con
sideration the trade of the Northwest.
We may expect shortly, says the Wash*
ingtop, (D. C.) Patriot, to hear that a com
pany has been chartered and operations
actively commenced, whieh, when com
pleted, will prove of the greatest impor
tance to that section of the South.
A BEMAKKABLB CONFKSSIOX OF A
RADICAL FROM THK SCAFFOLD.
.....* 1 00
.... 1 50
.... 3 00
Ned Meyers and Lewis Coppedge, both
ntgroes, were Lung, having been convicted
of the murder of James W. Redfearn, a
white man and an estimable citizen, on
the twenty-first instant, at Wadesboro,
Anson county. North Carolina. Thefacts
relative to this muider, as elicited on the
trial, are as follows: On Thursday, the
18th of M;y last, the design was broached
to Liwis, by Ned Meyers, who solicited
his co-opcratior. This proposition was
rejected by Lewis, heat the same time in
quiring of Ned his motives for the com
mission of the deed, and Ned replying
that Mr. liedfearn was in the possession
of a large amount of money, which would
contribute greatly to replenishing their
pockets. Lewis tcid him that he thought
he could devise a plan by which they
could get the money without resorting to
marder. He proposed, when Mr. Red
fearn was absent from the store, »o break
in and abstract the money from the
drawer. But Ned, doubting the rcafzi
tion of uiuih profit from this plan, insist
ed upon Killing Mr. Redfcarn, as first
suggested. After a little, Lewis consented
to become a partner in his crimp. The plan
they devised was on the next night to con
ceal themselves—Ned behind the well curb
and Lewis behind a house a short distance
from the store, so that when Mr. Redfcarn
left the store he would pass within a few
*eet of them. Something occurred to mar
the execution of this plan on the first
night agreed upon. On the following Sat
urday night, between eleven and twelve
o’clock, Ned and Lewis proceeded to carry
out the diabolical scheme they had con
trived. About midnight Mr. Redfcarn left
his store, went to the rtable, as was his
usual custom, and fed his horses, and then
started for homo. Ho had no*' advanced
very far before Nod approached him from
the well curb and attacked him from the
rear. Ned having stealthily advanced
within striking distance, struck him
three blows on the head with a piece
of plank about one inch thick and
about three or lour inches wide, whieh
ho had broken off a fonco near by. Lewis
then approached the senseless body and
inflicted still another blow. After the
deed was accomplished they commenced
to reap tho fruits of their crime. They
completely rifled the pockets of Mr. Red
fearn, abstracting therefrom $470 in green
backs and a Smith & Wesson pistol.
Lewis, to escape detection, fled to South
Carolina, but Ned remained in the neigh
borhood. Early Sunday morning Dr. Mc-
Rao discovered tho body lying on the
ground. Having given information of the
fact, many neighbors were immediately
summoned to the spot. Their suspicions
soon centered on Lewis Coppedge as the
perpetrator of the deed.
Posters were printed and sent to Cberaw,
South Carolina, whither Lewis had gone.
There, under the assumed name cf
Lewis Chavcrs, ho purchased a large
quantity of goods from Mr. W. S.
Reid, a merchant in that place, and
Mr. Reid thus discovered that Lewis was
ia pooocjniuu of’nu unnsuallv large amount
for a negro. He interrogated Lewis as to
what was the secret of his great fortune.
Lewis not being able to give a satisfactory
reply, Mr. Reid procured bis arrest, sus
pecting that ho was the murderer of Mr.
Redfearn. Lewis protested his innocence.
Through the assistance of the United
States troops then stationed at Cberaw lie
was delivered into the hands of the offi
cers of tho county. On his way from
Cheraw to White Store, the place to which
lie was carried, he made a full confession
of his participation in the crime, at the
same time implicating Ned Myers, Jim
Coppedge, George Chambers, Lottie My
ers and Lewis Henry.
A Court of Oyer and Terminer was held
by Ralph P. Braxton, one of the Superior
Court Judges, for the trial of tho five ne
groes charged with the murder, on the
20th of May, of Janies W. Redfearn. Ned
Myers ami Lewis Copperge were clearly
proved guilty and sentenced to be banged
on Friday, the 21st day of July.
At tho time appointed for executing
tho sentence of tho law, while both of
tho convicts wero upon the fcaffjld, the
Sheriff gave pci mission to Lewis to “make
some remarks” to tho spectators, in ac
cordance with a wish that he had pre
viously expressed, who delivered himself
as follows:
lewis’ speech.
“I say, I went to the store on Wed
nesday night, aud I stayed there until
Saturday night, and I killed Mas’r Jim
Redfcarn. I had a mother then, and from
ber I got soiii''thing to rat, and then it
was that I told her goodby. She know
nothing about my going to kill Mas’r Jim-
I think that she thought I was gone over
the river. I stayed there until Saturday
night. I killed Mas’r Jim myself, and
none but God and myself knows anything
about it. They say that I wantod to kill
Sam Redfearn, and that I said I warted
to kill him. That ain’t so. I never did
say ar.y such thing. My brother Jim and
Ned Myers, who now stands by mo on the
gallows to be bung, bad nothirg to do
with it and knew nothing about it. Where
is Mas’r Townley Redfearn ? I knows
that I wronged the Itedfoarns. I knows
I wronged them badly, and cow I ask
their forgiveness for it. I abused them by
my acts and I know 1 did wrong, and I
ask forgiveness. I hope they will all for
give me, as I am soon to go to meet my
Gcd. Thero was nobody there but me.
I tell all you black folks yoa must never
steal anything, and if you have stolen
anything never steal anything more.
Never go where there is bad men,
WICKED MEN. LOOK AND SEE WHERE IT
HAS BROUGHT ME. THERE IS A PARTY
THEY CALL THE UNION PARTY—TIIS
Radical party. They never do us no
good. They no us harm. They make
us do mean things. No Radical ever
come to me and S3y, Lewis, here is some
thing before you die. I advise you all to
take care of yourselves. Good many of
you tnav ihiuk my brother Jim and father
had something to do with it, but the God
on high knows that no one else had but
me. I picked up a piece of plank, slip
ped up behind him and knocked him
down. I took his money. It was all he
had. 1 hope to meet you all in the king
dom. I know there is a Saviour on Hi
throno that will save me. lam not afraid
of them ropes aad this platform. I«m
afraid of my 9onl. My time is short, but
I hope to meet you all at a better day.
This dying confession of the misguided j
negro is particularly remarkable for the
warning which he gives his fellows. Id
the face of tho awfol doom which awaited
him the next minute, while penitent to
watds those whem he had cruelly wronged
in the ermmission of a foul deed, he is
yet anxious that his advice and example
should be of benefit to his race. He warns
them not to go where bad men are. and tells
where they are to be found—in “the
Union party—the Radical party.” This
is the calamity which he would aveit
from his race—the Union party—Radical
par( y_ w here thieving and robbery and
murder is planned and executed. Our
colored population would do well to heed
the dying declarations of Lewis Coppedge,
whose life of Radical association ter
minated upon tho gallows.
A foot race between freedmen for a purse
of SSO, distance three-quarters of a mile,
was to take place in Columbus on Satur
day. There were numerous entries and
much fuu anticipated.
Letter from Baltimore.
[SPECIAL corhespondence of toe chron
icle k SENTINEL. 1
Editors Chronicle <fc Sentinel:
The great Wharton poisoning case has
had its day of scc3ation and horror. People
do not talk much about it any more, but
are patiently awaiting some other topic for
gossip. The women arc all in favor of
hanging Mrs. Wharton ; the men, while
generally believing in her guilt, are willing
to await the developments of tbe trial.
Meanwhile, the public mind is bemg care
fully prepared for the plea of insanity, the
most peculiar phase of whieh hmge3 uj od
the intimate connection existing between
epiiepi-y and homicidal mania. If this the
ory be correct, I, for one, will takcespeciaj
pains to avoid any friends subject toepilep
sy, and never, under any pretense, takemilk
punches or frosted pies at their houses.
In Mrs. Wharton’s case there seems to be
a prodigious amount of method in her
madness. All who are supposed to have
been poisoned were creditors, save one,
and lie bad liis life insured for a very large
arnouut. The poison used was a terrible
instrument of destruction. The least bit
of tarter-emetic applied to the external
skin, as an ointment, makes fearful sores.
Think of twenty grains taken into the
delicate recesses of one’s stomach ! I don’t
wonder poor Gen. Ketclium mutilated bis
cheeks and abdomen in uncontrollable
agony. Tbe great consolation with the
Baltimore people is that Mrs. Wharton is
tt rViJIID.) 1 nuiiittu aud UUO Us Uj© ** trOOiy
loll.” "
Following appropriately upon the Whar
toD imbroglio is a spasmodic attempt to
get up a Know Nothing party. Several
obscure and disappointed office-seekers are
just now engaged in a furious but, I think,
futile attempt to array the Protestant ele
ment against the Catholics cf this city.
Their great grievance seems to bo the
political power of the Catholics, and a fear
that the “sacred right of parade” is iu
imminent jeopardy. The political power
of the Catholics is consequent upon their
numbers. As this is a tree country, so
called, and as numbers are supposed
to be requisite for carrying elections,
the Catholics cannot bo blamed if
they do here as people generally do
elsewhere, viz : look out for number one-
As to the “ sacred rights of parade,” if
men were half as tender and auxious about
“6acred rights,” iar more important, it
would be a deal better for the country at
large. Straining at a gnat and swallow
ing a camel is nothing to fussing about
the “ sacred right of parade” and pas
sively permitting the sacred lights of Con
stitutional Libcr t y to go to the dogs. The
men who are now agitating this folly are,
no doubt, like the New York rioters, poor
Christians and worse citiz.ms. It may
help Radicalism, but cannot help Democ
racy. The people here are disposed to
let it severely alone. If they do, this
pestilent “new movement” will die out
or fizzle out very promptly. Polities and
religion are bad mixtures; but dema
gogues and effiec--lookers will always try
to make havoc out of the most solemn
things.
Several weeks ago a prominent politi
cian here told me who would be the nomi
nees for different offices in this State. Sure
enough, when the nominating convention
met, the very meu he picked out were the
fortunate candidates. I asked my friend
how he was able to name the favorites.
“0,” ho answered, “a few .of us fixed all
that a year or two ago!” It is a fact
that while the people think they are run
ning the machine, it is really put in mo
tion and managed by a very few adroit
politicians. The most noted one hero is
named Fowler. There appeais to bo no
escape from bis capacious net.
Here, as elsewhere, the money-ohangor?
and moDev-rine favor tbe “ new depart
ure” of Vallandigham. They want silt
cess for the spoils it brings. As to princi
ple in politics, I don’t think they
comprehend its significance. I know, for
certain, that the men who aro most de
lighted at the “ new departure” aro
Radicals. These are never weary of con
soling themselves that if Democracy
should possibly succeed on the Vallaodig
ham platform it is a triumph of Repub
licanism , but your shrewd Radical never
for a moment doubts that Grant or any
other man oan boat euoh Democracy os
that into everlasting smash.
From present indications, Augusta will
presently have anew railroad, that pro
jected from Sumter, S. 0., to Augusta, via
Columbia. I know that the parties con
trolling tlie Wilmington and Weldon and
Wilmington and Manchester Railways are
men ot' immense wealth and unflagging
enterprise. Their engineers are now sur
veying the route from Columbia to Au
gusta, and if they determine to accomplish
this projeot, I do not see what can prevent
them. They come southward as lona fide
capitalists, and not as State-aid adven
timers. So far as tbe people of Augusta
are concerned I presume that they will
welcome all the roads that choose to push
toward them, especially when built by
men who are willing to risk their own
money in the expirement.
Roundabout.
Reconstruction.—Several of cur ex
changes have published a paragraph
giving the statistics of the cotton factory
at Augusta, Ga., but none seem to have
appreciated their full force as argu
ments in favor of tho protective policy, Dor
their influence in bringing about a peace
ful and satisfactory solution of the vexed
reconstruction problem.
Tho gross earnings of these Augusta
cotton mills, together with i'ne interest for
tbe year ending June 10th, were $196,-
649 53, and gross expenses $51,108 79,
leaving as net earnings $145,504 84, from
which four dividends of five per cent, each
have been paid, amounting to $120,000,
leaving $25,540 84 to go to profit and loss,
and making $258,836 17 tho amount now
standing to the credit of that acecunf.
During the year 6,851 bales of o„tton, av
eraging 440 pounds each, at an average
cost of 15.26 cents per pound, were con
sumed, the product of which was 10,185
bales of goods, measuring 5.525,728 yards,
of which 10,121 bales were sold during tbe
year, leaving on hand at date of report 64
bales. It was resolved to build anew
mill with 15,000 additional spindles, at a
coast of $450,000.
This presents one among the numerous
and now rapidly increasing instances in
which the policy of protection is at this
hour vindicating itself and bringing con
tusion to its enemies. Hero is real, prac
tical, genuine and satisfactory reconstruc
tion —reconstruction which will be perma
nent and far-reaching. Let us now hold
fast to the present f-ysten , in spite of the
British manufacturers and their allies in
this country, and the day is not far distant
when almost the entire cotton crop will be
manu r actured in‘o yarn before leaving the
South. With the increased prosperiiy
which must corns to her from this and
other diversified industries, she wi:l forget
her wounded pride, become as truly loyal
as Pennsylvania, and marvel at her own
madness in having warred against the
Union.— Philade’phii lYess. y
The Witness Taliaferro.—Col. Sal
fold, of the Selma Times, speaking ot this
infamous fellow, says :
We helped to lury. one Sabbath after
noon in the fall of 1564, at our eld home
in Madison, Gr., fivu Yankee prisoners,
whom Capt. Taliaferro and two other as
sassins like himself had foully murdered.
Well do you remember his tolling us of
how four of the men had pleaded for
their lives, telling him that they were his
prisoners, that they were soldiers, that
they had their wives and little ones at
homes, and that they ought not to be
killed for doing nothing else than defend
ing their flag ; then we remember how
one brave spit it told him to kill, that
he was an iefamous hound, destitute of
all heart and soul, of courage and man
hood, and that he could kill whenever he
got ready, that a man had bat one time to
die, and that the tied prisoner without
any chance for his life would show Lim
how a man could die. The infamous
Taliaferro placed a pistol to the heart of
' the brave fellow and fired; not satisfied
! with kilhrg the prisoner, he mutilated him
• by firing three or four shots into his head
and face. Taliaferro told us this himself
j before we went to where the prisoners
. were dead ; and the fact of the killing
! sustained his statement of the butchery.
Georgia Female College, Madison,
f* 4 - The next academic year of this col
lege begins Monday, September 18. It is
situated in the delightful town of Madisoc,
a place noted for its healthfulness and good
society. Tee college is presided over by
Rev. Geo. T. Browne, a gentleman of high
attainments, and who is assisted by an ex
cellent corps of instructors. The course
of studies is very complete, and young la
dies are offered every facility for acquiring
a liberal education.
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 9, 1871.
[From the Cincinnati Commercial, July 24.]
A Brilliant Achievement.
Gigantic Work on the Ohio and Missis
sippi Road—The Gauge Changed in
Seven Hours —How it tezs Accomplished.
Between the hours of 4 and 11 a. m.
yesterday the Ohio and Mississippi Rail
road (main line) from Cincinnati to St.
L mis was translb'med from a broad gauge
io a Darrow gauge. Io seven hours 2,500
men reduced the gauge of 340 miles of
railroad fifteen inches—seven and a haif
inches on each side. Even to those
actually engaged in the work this seemed
an impossibility. Up to 1 o’clock yester
day morning broad gauge trains were
rushing over the road, east and west,
seeking yards from whieh they were Dover
to roll again on the wide trucks ot the
pa.-t. By 11 o’clock a- m. yesterday new i
engines, drawing the wide parlor cars
mounted on narrow trucks, were travers
ing the entire length of the transformed
road.
HOW TOPS CHANGE WAS ACCOMPLISHED
we will endeavor to explain as clearly as
possible- The road was divided into sixty
eight section®, of five miles each ; aod an
average force of iorty meD to the section—
-2 720 men in the 340 miles —was secured
to jump to the work simultaneously, at all
points on the road, at daybreak yesterday.
All along the line between thL city and
East S‘. Louis these working gangs com
menced at daylight yesterday. Each
section gang was divided into two parties
that worked towaid each other from the
extreme points of their five miles, aiming
to middle, making two and
the time cccupied by forty average werkers
in changing five miles would be the time
devoted to the whole work by the entire
force-
OUR OBESRVATIONS
of this vast but quick work were made by
special train from this city to Seymour.
A big, new freight engine, No. 100, run
by N. Robeson, and drawing a post office
car and a drawing room car, conveyed T.
D. Lovett, chief engineer of the entire
line; T. Van Name, superintendent of the
Eastern and Louisville division ; A. Hay
ward, chief operator, Vincennes office, and
our reporter. Tbe men on the first sec
tion worked west from tbe city and east
from the ancient and renowned stink fac
tory of the great and only Si Keck, meet
ing opposite D. Thew. Wright’s residence
at 7:40 a, in. At that point Mr. Hayward,
the train having slowly followed tho men
working west, tapped the wire and tele
graphed the time of the completion of the
section to both this city and St. Louis.
Even at that early hour reports of the
completion of sections were being tele
graphed from many points west. The Os
good section was reported finished at 7 a.
in. *
DETAILS OP THE WORK.
The task of the day was to move the
rails inward seven and a half inches on
each side and spike them firmly to their
new place—altogether 080 miles of rails
of the main lino, beside many miles of
switches with their frogs. Already, in
the course of two months of easy work
the new lines for the rails on both sides
bad been fixed by the driving of the inside
spikes, under the tops of which the inside
“web” or shank of the rail could be im
mediately fitted. Maoy miles of new rails
which it was thought necessary to lay at
tbe curves on the outside bad already been
put down, rendering it unnecessary to im
mediately move the old outside rails. The
“dentists,” as they might appropriately be
called, two on each side, led the van with
their big claw leavers, jerking out the in
side spikes of tbe broad gauge. After
them, two on each side also, came the
“liners,” whose business it was to push
the nails inward to the new lines and “line
up” the rails firmly, while the squad of
“spikers” that followed drove the spikes
firmly in over eacli “web,” on about every
other tie, leaving the completion of tbe
spiking to be accomplished in a more leis
urely manner.
RAPID WORK.
Our reporter vouches for the active and
energetic work of such squads as he had
an opportunity to observe in their opera
tions. They made a full mile to tho hour,
each squad followed by a hand-ear bearing
tools and by boys who carried buckets of
water Ibr them. Oue following tlieae men
and watching their work closely would
have to stop out briskly at times to keep
up with them. Their progress seemed
almost incredible as they pushed forward
with constantly rising and falling mauls
and tho incessant ring of continuous blows
on spikes and rails. At a distance from
them the metalic click, click, click, that
raDg from the shifting rails aod was caught
up by the iron lines far ahead seemed to
come fiom under the earth, making a
perfect acoustic illusion. The reader will
boar in mind that with the Fish-joint the
rails form a continuous lino, and were
Bhificd in that form, the work of the
“liners” being directed first on tho joints
and then at the middle of the rail '. Look
ing ahead over a space cot yet completed
by the laborers there could always be seen
a strip of the old gauge suddenly narrow
ing into the new.
COMPEIITORY ENERGY.
The majority of the men thus employed
at 25 cents per hour seemed to partake of
the spirit of tho occasion, and to work
with enthusia-m as well as for pay. They
seemed to realize that they were engaged
as actors iu one of the greatest transfor
mation scenes of the age. A scene at
Delhi will suffice to illustrate. In one-tof
the gangs working to a junction there
a small, rather iflim Irishman who seemed
possessed of the genius of energy. Ho
kept three or four meu on tho keen jump
to follow him in adjusting a frog and
switch. He was very dirty and quite
slimy with perspiration, and his hands
were bleeding from several rough cuts re
ceived in the work. Looking up and
noticing a squad of men stealing a
moment’s rest he was completely over
come- “ Luck at thim luiers,” said he.
“ D—n ’em, they’ll niver Deed to change
their gauge ; they’re small onus now” —
and away he went to help “line up close”
ahead. The work from Cincinnati to Os
good, as reported by Roadmaster Burke,
was all completed by 9 o'clock.
ALONG THE ROAD
the people flocked to tho various scenes of
industry and watched the proceedings
with much interest, and at the stations
crowds collected and cheered “the first
narrow gauge train.” One of the most
interested spectators was Father Kline,
the Catholic priest at Aurora. He joined
the party on tho train after the hundred
men that lie bid sent to the work bad
done tlieir full duty ; and in a glass ot
champagne toasted tbe “narrow gauge,”
“for,” said he, “you know it is a narrow
road that leads to Heaven, and the broad
one leads to—well, too far south.” The
Vice-President of tho road, Mr. A. M.
Chrystie, who bail overtaken the train on
a locomotive, drank to this toast, together
with the others —“To the narrow gauge
that at least leads to tbe haven of finan
cial security.” Father Kline was the
most enthusiastic man over tbe change to
be found. A fast lriend of the road ever
since it hauled the first stone to build his
church many years since, he had done all
iu his power to secure men to work on
“my section,” and had driven tLe first
spike.
THE LISES OF THE NEW ROAD,
as presented to the view from either front
or rear of the train, were four in number.
There were the long straight lines and
curves of the rails, and outside ot them
the two light streaks in the weather-bat
tered ties that marked where they had
rested of old. As the engineer of No.
100 squinted along them, and noticed the
response of his iron horse, lie remarked,
with much satisfaction : “ This work is
mighty well done, as well as quickly.
This engine never did any work before ;
she s raw, and the way she acts tell how
the road feels to her.”
WHY THE CHANGE WAS MADE
it is hardly necessary to tell; but it cm be
done in a lew words. The wider the track
the heavier the rolling stock, the faster
the destruction of the costly rails, ami the
more the expense of keeping up a good
road-bed —all of which count up in big
figures in a year. Aud there is the ad
ditional original cost ot running-gear and
bodies of cars and of repairs, together
with many other items. In this country
breed gauge roads are a pronounced finan
cial failure, and must, for the present
reach of railroad foresight, at least, yield
to the narrow. Some three years ago the
managers of the Ohio and Mississippi
decided on the change, and went largely
into the work of preparation, purchasing
many cars- They were forced to abandon
the enterprise for a time, but revived it a
year ago, and pushed it vigorously to the
success attained yesterday.
THE EQUIPMENT.
The task of narrowing the road was not
the only heavy one. They had to obtain
(by changes of trucks and works and by
purchases of new rolling stock) the com
plete narrow gauge equipment for this
long line, of which tire following is an
approximate list;
Eoginp? + 127
Box freight earr.q 1,000
Coal cars * 375
Flat car? 275
Stock cars a 100
Fasseager oars, lirf-class 46
Baggage car? * 18
Express cars 6
Mail cars 5
Parlor cars 4
Wrecking cars— 4
Officers’ car 1
Paymaster's car... 1
Total 1,972
TOHESGINE3
of this road are rerfectly uniform in ap
pearance. They c mbeT up to 127 inclu
sive, and the numbrs are all ia full. They
are plain—“painfiilly plain,” a lady on
the road remarkd yesterday. Much
money has been swed in dispensing with
unnecessary paint, but there they are,
great, black, heary, puffing, grunting
monsters, ready t< tug faithfully ud tie
heavy grades arotnd the " canals” and
dash over the jniries of Illinois, with
their heavy burden of living and inani
mate freight. Tho? can get along very
well without fancy jaiutieg, aod the names
of railroad Presidmts and Superintend
ents, ani towns and cities.
Over ihe road.
On all the divisions of the road engines
were drawing cars containing the officers
yesterday inspectirg the work. ' These
trains ran east fran St. Louis and west
from this city, ineetng those in both di
rections from Vincjnnes. By 4 p. m.,
evert foot, of Lonn tested and
round perfect anA teaflrfor l ‘ ie trains to
start out on their usnai tune table to-day,
and make time everywhere. I>y the time
this reaches the eye of the reader, trains
will be running east and west just as if
nothing had happened. The indefatigable
W ier, of the Adams, proclaims as follows:
“The first through car of the Adams
Express Company, from New York to St.
Louis, via tbe narrow gauge Ohio and
Mississippi route, arrived in this city last
night, and will go forward on (he first
train this morning.”
| COMMUNICATED.]
Editors Chronicle & Sentinel:
Some time since, after you hail published
the speech of Dr. Casey, made before tbe
Stockholder’s Convention of the Augusta
aud Hartwell Railroad, you say, tho pre
face thereto would not have been publish
ed owing to tho strictures on Charles R.
Abbott, if you had read them before pub
lishing. Now, as I understand this to
mean, that you know nothing against
Abbott, I propose to enlighten you and
your readers as to what the author of that
preface meant, especially as Abbott is
filling a public position—that of Secretary
of an important railroad enterprise ; aud,
moreover, tho acknowledged tool and ex
ponent of Geo. D. Chapman, whom you
have frequently exposed and denounced.
The writer of tbe preface knew just
enough ot tlie history of Chas. R. Abbott
to convince him, as “ strong as proofs of
holy writ,” that he had “ many a time
aud oft,” for dishonest purposes, left un
done those tilings which he ought to have
done, and done these things which he
ought not to have done, anil that there
was no honesty in him. I, however, claim
to bo in possession of several documents
and facts, incoutrovertable, and I purpose
giving them to the public, in order that
they may know what “ manner of man”
they have in their midst, and what cre
dence to give anything he may do or say.
The people of the South, ever siocc the
sur ender, have been the victims of
adventurers and carpet-baggers of “low
degree,” but in no single instance have
they been more grossly outraged than by
tho presence of this maD. Ho is the con
fidential friend of the notorious Geo. D.
Chapman, and right well does he play his
part. Chapman knew his man- He can
never kick at any work however dirty, for if
does ho i3 instantly reined up and has
flourished over his head, in terrorem, his
former dark deeds, which, like Baminn’s
ghost, will never down, Out will forever flit
before his mental vision.in apparitions cf
this complexion:
City of Philadelphia, ss.
The Commonwealth of Pesnsylvavia.
To any Constable ana to the Keeper of the
Philadelphia Corn,tg Prison, Greeting:
f,—■—. 1 These are to authorize and re
■< L. S. > quire you the said Constable,
(■—) toitbwith to convey and deliver
into the custody of the Keeper of the said
Prison, the body of Charles H. Abbott,
charged before Joseph Eaew, Recorder of
the said city, on tho oath of O. 11. R-im
buger, with a misdemeanor —emb?zzlem(nt
of $3,827 05, as Treasurer of the Passen
ger Ra-lroad Relief Association.
Aud you the said Keeper arc hereby
required to receive the said Charles R.
Abbitt into your custody in the s aid pris
on, and him there safely to keep until the
next Court of Q. Sand O- TANARUS., or until he
shall theDce be delivered by due course of
law. And for so doing this shall be your
sufficient warrant.
Given under my hand and seal, this 13tb
day of December, 1804.
Joseph Enew, Recorder.
Bail demanded, $5 000.
I certify the above to be truly copied
from the original commitment.
JoiinMirkie, Sr.,
Keeper of the Philadelphia County Prison.
Discharged by the Clerk of Quarter
Sessions, January 7, 1805.
City of Philadelphia, ss.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
To any Constable and to the Keeper of the
Philadelphia County Prison, Greeting :
r ) Thesf, are to authorizo and re
?l.s. > quire you, tho said Constable,
(—• I forthwith to convey and deliver
into the custody of the Keeper of the said
Prison, the body of Charles R. Abbott,
charged before Joseph Enew. Recorder of
said city, on the oath of James West,
President, with forgery, in falsely and
fraudulently issuing a certificate for seven
ty-nine shares of the strek of the South
wark & Frankford Passenger Railway
Company.
And you the said Keeper are hereby re
quired to receive the said Charles B. Ab
bott into your custody in the said prison,
and him theresafely to keep until the next
Court of Q S. and O. TANARUS., or until he shall
thence be delivered by due course of law.
And for so doing this shall be your suffi
cient warrant.
Given under my hand and seal, this 19th
day ol December, 1864.
Joseph Enew, Recorder.
I certify the above to be truly copied
from the original commitment.
John Miricie, Sr.,
Keeper of the Philadelphia County Prison.
D'seharged January 7, ’65, by the Clerk
of Q. Sessions.
In regard to vlio above writs of com
mitments, I would state that gentlemen of
responsibility, well-known in this com
munity, have seen a letter from the State’s
Attorney of Pennsylvania, in which he
asserts that Abbott was discharged solely
by bis friends pecuniarily satisfying the
wrong and causing the prosecutors to
withdraw.
And. now then, sad as ’his “ sorry sight”
would bo to a “ contrite heart,” it has
no such effect upon him, for, with a brazen
affrontery, almost sublime, this carpet-bag
ger deliberately sits down in our midst ard
thus writes ol the purest of men, when we
were mourning him as a dead hero aDd
Christian gentleman:
* * * * ♦ *
“Gen. Lee is dead and the papers are in
black, and the Mayor recommended a
general suspension of business to day, bnt
I have not seen the suspension yet. The
idea, the hero of a hundred battles! and
yet they were used up. The Christian gen
tleman ! Ahem; remained on General
Scott’s staff until he was informed of all
his plans and then took command of the
army against us. High-toned, honorable,
F. F. V., alias traitor. Write soon.
Truly, vours, Abbott.”
* * * * * *
Can carpet-bag impudence go father
than this? Can the patience and for
bearance of a people be more fully estab
lished? I think not. But briefly, Ido
tbink if the Ku-Klnx were the horrid peo
ple they are represented, he would long,
ere this, have adorned a lamp-post in il
lustration of their summary justice.
Northerner.
Despotism vs. Republicanism.— The
Teue IssrE befoie the country is thus per
spicuously stated by Judge Trumbull, the
(Republican) Senator from Ilinois ;
The question is whether we are to revolu
tionize this Government, and no longer
have a Republic composed of separate
States, but a centralized, consolielaUd
Government—to strike out thirty-seven
stars, and have but one.
Letter from Crawfonlville.
Crawfordcille the* to a Barbecue in
Wilkes county —The Wagon Crowd—
Crops by the Wayside—The “Cue" —
Gen. D. M. Du Bose s Speech on Poli
tics.
Crawfordvili.e, July 27, 1871.
Editors Chronicle & Sentinel :
At half-past seven this morning, a com
pany seated in a two horse wagon belong
ing to Hon. A. H. Stephens, started en
route to a barbecue at Philips’ Church,
Wilkes cou-ty. This was thimmortal
wagon crowd of whom the distinguished
were Judge Hammack, Mr. Mercier, Air.
Wilberforce Daniel (of your city), Mr.
Hargrove and yours to command or drive
—tbe writer.
Some were seated upon chairs placed
upon the floor of the wagon body, while
others made themselves comfortable, rest
ing themselves upon pieces of plank laid
upon the sides and reaching across the
wagon body. In this style the driver
having cracked Lis whip, and taking his
course in a northwardly direction, we set
out. Before aud behind us, plebian bug
gies filled the road, each cairyicg two
persons, who demeaned themselves as if
tLey had the cares of the world and a
Radical Congressional Ku-Klux Commit
tee on their shoulders aud in tlieir hearts.
Not so with us. Our journey was a
pleasant one, enlivened throughout its
length by discussions between a cotton
dealer and a bacon dealer, relative to the
importance of their professions to the coun
were now and again seasoned with jokes,
bringing infinite merriment and provoking
laughter. Occasionally our Judge’s opin
ion was evoked to decide between the talk
ist?. This was always given fearlessly
and boldly, with that dignity and candor
which distinguishes his character, never
forgetting to refer to the most excellent
cotton gins of his manufacture, nor omitting
sorrowful regrets at the blindness of the
miserable Ku-Kluxed generation that pat
ronize Gullet and other Ku-Klux manu
facturers of Northern cotton gins.
The crops on the road side of our jour
ney are very good. They begin to show,
however, the need of rain.
Upon our arrival at the church we found
a largo assembly of ladies and gcntluneD,
Washington, Raytown, and other neigh
boring towns, sending full representations,
scattered in groups under the oaks, or
seated in the house—all enjoying them
selves in friendly converse, discussing fate,
free will, taxation. General Grant, and the
price of tho next cotton crop. Thus
passed the hours until dinner was an
nounced. Tbe ladies, in accordance with
Georgia’s custom, were the solo partakers
at the first table; after them came the
sterner and “worsest” sex. The “cue”
could not bo surpassed. The wagon crowd
did themselves and it full justice.
After dinner the crowd assembled in the
ohurcb, and called upon General D. M.
Dußoso for a speech. At first modesty
hesitated, but afier a while consenting,
was introduced to the audience by Mr.
SlataD, and spoke for half an hour upon
the political topics of the day. He told
several jokes on Beast Butler and other
Radical Congressmen, which received loud
applause from tne audieDoe. He said he
believed that the leaders of the Radical
parly arc working for a centralized gov
ernment. He believes in States Rights,
ignores the K. K. bill, believes the New
Departure to be Radicalism under anew
name, and agrees with the policy expressed
by Mr. Stephens in his paper, of ignoring
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
to the Federal Constitution. I think Gen.
Dußose represented tbe sentiments of tbe
greater part of tho audience. After his
speech several others were called upon but
refused. The crowd new began to dis
perse, and buggies and carriages might be
seen going in every direction. Everybody
wa3 well pleased, and there was no one
who regretted his trip.
Our wagon crowd met, got into our
wagon and went home over the same road,
thanking the good people of Wilkes for
their kindness, and hoping to be able to
return the compliment. J. W. R.
Receipib of Wheat at St. Louis.—
The Bt. liOuis Democrat publishes somo
interesting tables comparing the receipts
of wheat at Chicago and St. Louis, as
follows:
RECEIPTS OF WHEAT FOR A SERIES OF
YEARS.
Chicago. St. Louis.
4 852 937,436 1,645,387
1853 1,687.465 2.075 872
1854 3,038,955 2,126,272
1855 7,535,097 3,312,854
1856 8,867,760 3,747,224
1857 10,554,761 3,218,410
1858 9,639,614 3,835,759
1859 8,060,766 3,568,732
1860..’. 14 927,083 3 555,871
1861 17 385 002 2,654,738
1862 13,978,116 3 550,336
1863 11,408,161 2,621,020
1864 12,184,977 3 315,828
1865 9,266,410 2,452,722
1866 11.978,753 4,410,305
1867 13,695.244 3,571,593
1868 14.722 094 4 353,591
1860 16 876.760 6,736,454
1870 17 394,409 6,638,253
1871 (6 months) 4,339,675 3,322,756
Though this table does not show that
St. Louis ha3 gained what Chicago has
lost (for a considerable portion of it is
going by way of Duluth from Mississippi
river points), still, it will be seen that the
receipts at St. Louis have about doubled
iu the last six years, and, with a reduction
in the oost of transportation on the Lower
Mississippi, a further increase may be ex
peoted.
The Confederate Monumental As
sociation. —We learn that the police
organization of this city and the city offi
cers have determined to subscribe to the
Confederate Monumental Lottery. When
the list was presented to our worthy
Mayor, Charles Estes, E.-q., he subscribed
for twenly ticket?, or SIOO, his name being
first on the list.
We aro also pleased to chronicle the
fact that “Jennie Woodbine” (Mrs. Par
due) has accepted tbe agency of the Asso
ciation, tendered her by the General
Agent?, and will canvass our city and
county.
In this conueotion, we are authorized
to state that those courteous offietrs of the
Southern Expr ss Company, General Su
perintendent, M. J. O’Brien, and State
Superintendent Hugh Dempsey, E q®.,
have tendered to the General Agents of
the Monumental Association, L. & A. H.
McLaw?, the privilege of sending pack
ages free of charge to any part of the
South.
We corgratulate the Association upon
the generous conduct of the Southern Ex
press Company, which will materially re
duce their necessary expense?.
Stamp Tax.— The number of adhesive
stamps issued by the Commissioner of
Interna! Revenue daring the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1871, was 411,603,888,
representing a value of $15,019,074, as
follows : Documentary stamDS, 100,786,-
432, value, $10,820,066 ; proprietary
stamps, for matches, patent medicines,
etc., 304,877,456, value, $4,199,007. The
result, as compared with the previous fis
cal year, is as follows : Decrease in the
number of documentary stamps issued,
58,011,278, and the money decrease on the
same is $2,096,100 ; increase in proprie
tary stamps, 7,184,870; the value in
money increase, $24,047 ; aggregate de
crease, 50,826,418, end $2,072,052, mainly
io the two and five cent, denominations,
formerly used to stamp receipts and pro
missory notes of a less sum than SIOO, the
tax upon which was abolished by the Act
of July 14, 1870.
Cotton Stealings. —The Commercial
Advertiser says the cotton dealers are cast
ing about to find some remedy for the im
mense loss of weight, occasioned by pilfer
ing from the bah by vagabonds, big and
little. One plan suggested is the concen
tration of the cotton at a few points, where
it can be under surveillance all the time.
It is proposed to establish gieat ware
houses at Communipaw, Red Hook and at
the Atlantic docks in Brooklyn.
The Furvey of the line of the Griffin,
Monticello and Madison Railroad was
oommeneed on Saturday,
The Ku-Klux MHk committee.
TOUGH STORIES FOR STOUT RADICAL
STOMACHS,
Tho sub-Ku Kiux Committee, consist
ing of Senator S:ott and Representatives
Stevenson and Van Trump, visited Wash
ington tc-day, returning from a sojonrn of
four weeks in various parts of South
Carolina, "here they have been in po t
ing Ku-Klux outrages on the whites
where they occurred. They first visited
tho capital, Columbia. Moro than one
hundred refugees, who had fled from vio
lence in various ooumies, were there ; but
after examining witnesses for two days,
tho committe determined to go to the
scenes of alleged violenco, and went to
Spartanbuig. They expected to remain
there only threo or four days, but stayed
eleven. When word git out throueh
Spartanburg county that they were there,
whites and negroes, the victims of vio
lence, came in by scores every day, from
all directions. Murders and cruel whip
pings by Ku-Klux bands had so terrified
them that in many neighborhoods nearly
every negro man and Republican white
man had Uept in Hie woods for months
every night. They showed scarified
backs, gunshot wounds, maimed ears, and
other proof's of violence they had suffered.
In L’mestone Spring township 118 cases
of whipping were proved. The commit
tee awoke every morning to find in tho
yard, by the hotel, anew crowd of victims
of the Ku-Klux, some ineluuing whites
who had suffered outrages which canmt
be described with decency, after being
whipped. The victims, well known per
son?, were often commanded, under pain
Vs '“U,’"' nnhlish a card renouncing tho
Republican party. In a hie ol the boutn
Carolina Spartan, a Democratic nows
paper, forty-two such cards were found,
recently published. At Uunionsvillo the
committee remained two day?. Not rn
avowed white Republican was found iu
the place, though a member of the com
mittee was privately assured by a tew that
they would avow themselves if protected.
The terror of the negroes here is complete.
The last election was carried by a Republi
can majority, but the Republican county
officers received Ku-Klnx notices and all
resigned or fhd. Tho policy there has
been more towards murder and less to
wards whipping. Tho killing of ten
negroes, taken from jail by several hun
dred Ku-Klnx, aoiing under a military
organization, was investigated. A promi
nent lawyer, on cross-iximinatioo, stated
to the committee that he believed almost
every respectable unmarried mania
the county belonged to the Ku-Klux,
and be believed a thousand Ku Klux
were within a few days’ march of the vil
lage. A negro Methodist preacher,named
L. Thompson, who had an appointment,
June 11, at Goshen Hill Church, Union
county, received a Ku-Klux notico in the
usual form not to preach. He preached,
notwithstanding, to a very few, most of
the congregation fhomg when they saw
the notice. In the evening a klan of
twenty mounted Ku-Klux came, tied him
and whipped him, led him off several
miles, dragging him part of the way tied
to the horses, and whipped him again
until his death ; mutilated him in a way
that cannot, with propriety, bo described;
hung him and threw tho body into tho
Tiger river, leaving a notice forbidding any
one to bury him. Before the oommittee
returned, Senator Scott sent Thompson’s
brother, now a refugee, from Columbia to
Union oounfy with a letter, to insure him
a strong guard of United States cavalry,
to go to bury tho body which is reported
to be still lying half decomposed on the
water’s edge. Two more days were spent
in examining witnesses in Columbia on
returning from SpurtaDsburg. Ono day
was occupied in hearing tho statements
and general views of General Wade
Hampton and General Butler, the Demo
cratic candidate for Governor last fall.
The committee then visited York
county, where they remained nearly
a week. They discovered at Yorkville a
bitter spirit among the association after
supper at the hotel. The evening of
their arrival, Major Jas. Berry threw a
pitcher of milk over Hon. A. S. Wal
lace, the Representative of the district,
and Hon. T. Stevenson. The ocmrnittee
were just seating themselves at tho table
and not a word had been spoken. Mr.
Wallace jerked out a revolver and raised
it to shoot Berry, the ladies screaming,
but the landlord threw himself before
Berry, and Mr. Stevenson coolly caught
Wallace’s hand and ordered the landlord
to take that man out of the room. Half a
dozen friends gathered around Berry and
he went out. In the course of half an
hour several citizens of prominence called
to apologize in ample manner in behalf of
Berry, who was willing to go on his knees
for what he alleged was an unintentional
affront to Mr. Stevenson. It was subse
quently ascertained that the business had
been discussed by Berry and his friends,
during the afternoon it was to be carried
out, and that Berry had proposed to use
hot coffee, but'finally concluded on milk.
A colored band serenaded tho committee
later in the evening. A crowd of young
white men fflled the porch of the
hotel, and were about the band, fre
quently cursing tbe negrues and Yankees
in an insulting manner. As the band
went away, the crowd followed and near
ly filled the sidewalk. Tho band and
those with it, negroes, were kept by two
village policemen from the sidewalk. One
Degro was thrust off by a policeman, who
says the negro resisted and struck him. A
negro and two men close by, say the negro
struggled to get away from the grip of tho
policeman, who seized, cursed and struck
him. Trio policeman tired at tho negro,
and continued firing until ho had inflicted
five wounds. The man wa3 still livitig
when the committee left. Tho testimony
showed that the policeman and tho Mayor
were membors of the Ku-Klux, as no one
was arrested. Tho community in York
county were found in almost utter social
and political demoralization, the civil au
thorities being a helpless farce and mock
ery. Co 1 . Graymcn, in commr.nd of a
small force stationed there, an officer of
high character and great energy, laid be
fore tho committee details of sixty-eight
cases of outrages whieh he had investi
gated, some of them most revolting and
horrible. It was found impossible for tho
committee to examine more than a small
part of the crowds of whipped, maimed or
terror-stricken wretches who had fl icked
in upon hearing of their coming. When
the committee adjjurned, the buildiDg
in which they sat was filled-stairs, halls
and porches—with those waiting to be
heard. The usual course pursued on ar
riving at a place was to divide the time
they expected to remain between the ma
jority and minority of tho committee.
Judge Van Trump usually called two or
three of tbe most prominent lawyers, who
each occupied several hours, setting forth
the Democratic view of affairs, giving
their opinions on the two races, the ineffi
ciency and corruption of the Stale govern
ment, and the feeling < f the white people
toward the General Government. They
always said they had of Ku-Klux,
but never saw one. Generally they seemed
to regard them as a virilance committee
or irregular local police, and did not con
sider them under any genera! organization,
but simply to repress outbreaks. The ma
jority then called for those who had seen
and felt the Ku-K!ux. The oaths and
forms of proceeding in the Klan councils,
and modes of operation when on raids,
were fully developed. Scores of men,
whom the proof showed to be Ku-Klux,
were examined, all of whom, except a
few, whose disclosures were full and im
portant, denied any knowledge whatever
of Ku Klux. One who was shown to have
been at several outrages, swore he had
never heard of the existence of Ku-Klux
in his life. Judge Van Trump subjected
all the witnesses called by the majority to
a most searching cross-examination.
A Democratic Fusion op Holland
and Belgium. —The Peuple Beige says :
We are informed that a vast associa
tion will be formed, having for its object
the fusion of Belgium and Holland under
the name of the Federal Republic of the
Netherlands. It appears that this idea
meets with numerous adherents in the two
countries. The union of Belgium and
Holland under a truly regublican govern
ment would be, indeed, an immense ad
vantage for their common prosperity. Bel
gium would bring to the association her
flourishing industry : Holland her rich
commerce and her colonies. Uaited, they
would soon form a powerful republic,
which other nations would be obliged to
respect.
Bullock’s Bonds and the Testi
mony Before the Ku-Klux Committee.
Washington, July 31.—Bullock's finan
cial agents in New York are movmg
heaven and earth to counteract the effeot
produced by the testimony of Generals
Wright aod Gordon and Treasurer Angier,
before the Ku-Klux Committee. The pub
lication of the testimony played the devil
with Bullock’s bonds.— Special Dispatch
to Savannah Advertiser.
Some of the upper counties of the State
are flooded with Kimball Bhio-plasters.
NEW SERIES—VOL. XXIY. NO. 32.
Tbe belief Law.
Important Decision of the Sapreme Court
—The Law Sustained.
[Reported Specially for the Atlanta Daily
Sun.]
Yesterday we published the Head Notes
ot the decision of the Supreme Court io a
case involving the constitutionality of the
Relief Law passed by the late Legislature,
in which that law is held to bo constitu
tional.
Wc take the earliest opporlunity to lay
before our readers tbe full opinion of the
Chief Justico in this highly important case,
that the legal fraternity and the people
everywhere may see the reasons given for
sustaining that law:
James B. Walker, ) Relief—Aot
vs. >of 1870 Baker
Wit. H. Whitehead.) County.
Locurane, C. Ji
Plaintiff brought his action for the re
covery of a note due him from, defendant.
The Court dismissed the case on the ground
that the plaintiff had Dot filed his affidavit,
required under the second section of tho
act of 13th October, 1870, and granted an
order dismissing said action, which judg
ment was excepted to.
It is contended that the act in question
is unconstitutional, upon the various
grounds which have been argued and re
argued before this Court, until tbe path
has both weakened down and the general
authorities become familiar to every court
and lawyer. In tbe view which we en
tertain of this case, it would be a waste
of time to review these various lists of
authorities, which have been presented,
in relation to the inlringement or impair
ment ot contracts. tins question lias
been adjudicated under the previous acts,
so far as principal and analogy render them
applicable to the case at bar. But we do
not think that the case arising under the
act of October 13, 1870, invokes any re
view ot tbe principles of these former de
cisions. The Legislature of Georgia has
declared by the act in question that onr
courts shall be closed to tho enforcement
of claims, until the legal taxes due thereon
shall be paid, and more than six months
wero allowed within which parties plain
tiff designing to use the processes of court,
should conform to the requirements laid
upon them. Had the State of Georgia,
through her Legislature, the constitutional
power to pass this act? If she had, then
this question is settled.
Before expre«siug an opinion upon this
general proposition, let us first see what
the act does. It requires a party, before
using the processes of our courts, to pay
all legal taxes chargeable by law upon
such claims. Need we discuss the general
power of the Legislature?
Section 5, article one of the Constitu
tion, Code § 5145, declares, “ The Gene
ral Assembly shall have power to make all
laws and ordinances, consistent with the
Constitution, and not repugnant to the
Constitution of the United States, whioh
they shall deem necessary anil proper to
the welfare of the State.” This grant of
power, delegated by the people in conven
tion to the legislative branch of the gov
ernment, is as broad as the limits of the
State, aud as exten-ive as the public in
terest or public welfare, in the opinion of
tlie Legislature, may demand. It is aright
restrained in its terms by only two limita
tions : first, tbe Constitution of the State
itself, and second, the Constitution of the
United States.
By reference to the Constitution of
Georgia, the power of taxation is declared
to exist over tho whole State, and shall be
exercised by the General Assombly. Ibo
Constitution of the United States conlains
no prohibition upoD this exercise of tho
sovereign power of the State ; nor, in
deed, could it be in any manner invaded,
without an infrignment of the social com
pact. If it then be conceded as a right
that tho State has power to impo?o tax,
it follows as tho primary proposition, that
she may also provide the means of their
collection, and impose penalties upon all
whs* may fail in their compliance with hor
legitimate demands, and the power, there
fore, to impose tax and collect tho same,
is one which can be questioned by do au
thority whatever ; nor is it in Ihe pro
vince of the courts to pass upon the wis
dom or policy of the Legislative acts, or
restrain their enforcement, exoept thero
be a clear violation of some constitutional
provision.
We, then, go to the Constitution of tho
United State?. Articlo 1, 8 lotion 10,
Code $ 5023, oontains the limitations of
the powers of tho individual States ; and
it declares, among other thingp, that no
State shall pass any law impairing the
obligation ot contracts. Does Act in
question fall within this constitutional in
hibition ? The preamble, whioh is the in
tent of the Legislature of Georgia, as to
the character and purposo of this Aot,
declares it to be “an Aot to extend tho
lien of sot tff and recoupncnt, as against
debts contracted before tho first day of
June, 1865, and to deny to such debts the
aid of tho Courts until tho taxes thereon
have been paid.” Thus it will be seen
that the declared purpose of tho Act, so
far as tho Legislative declaration is con
cerned, is not to interfere with tho con
tract in any manner whatever, nor to im
pair its obligation, but is simply in tffoot
to oompcl parties to pay tlieir legal taxos
chargeable by law, or to deolare tho samo
to have been paid, htfjro tho Courts of
Georgia will give the benefit of its pro
cesses and powers and the use cf tho legal
offices, to enforce the contraot or obliga
tions.
But it will bo said this law is -’unningly
dovised to afford debtors some relief against
the payment of their debts, because of the
right of tho State Court to dismiss cases
where the legal tax has not been paid ; as
a legal proposition, it is not denied that
the State may imposo a tax upon such
claims. Tho United States has passed
laws for the collection of taxos, and a
paper failing to bear upon its faco tho
proper stamps that are due upon suoh
contracts or promissory notos will be re
jected id evidence, and the United States
Courts will not entertain juiisdiction. The
law of Congress has not nrcscribcd for the
dismission of suoh actions, but will not
allow the Federal Courts to enforce them ;
and such denial is not considered an im
pairment of the obligation of contracts,
but arises from the fault of tho plaintiff id
not affixing to tho evidence, in the manner
prescribed by the laws of tho United
States to the instrument which ho brings
into Court and invokes the processes of the
Court, to enforce if, the stamp or tax re
quired by law ; and this general pnociplo
iu the law shows that the Legislative
power of the State or National Govern
ment has the right to prescribe not only
the rules of evidence in relation to the
payment of such taxes, but to direct the
dismissal of such suits as may fi-ll within
the rules of evidence thus proscribed. We
arc accustomed to take too limited a view
oi the great powers which are legitimately
in the Legislative departments of tbo
Government. While in theory the other
departments, judicial and executive, are
oc-ordinate, yet the people look to the
Legislature as the fountain of power,
whose right it is to direct the action and
enlarge or limit the powers (xercisod by
the others. The Supreme Court of the
United States may adopt rules to-day
which the Legislature will tc-morrow re
voke, and this Court, it its plentitude of
power, is alike the lulject of State legisla
tion.
And when the Legislature, by the Aot
of 1870, prescribes that it shall be the du
ty ot the plaintiff to file his affidavit that
all legal taxes chargeable by law on con
tracts have been duly paid, and that he
expect; to prove the same on trial, And
upon failure to file such affidavit, the suit
shall be dismissed, it only laid down a rule
of evidence, incumbent on the plaintiff,
the neglect of which will result in the dis
missal of his suit, and this rule is in con
sonance with the others equally arbitrary
and equally disastrous, if not complied
with. Case after case, involving great le
gal righte a few terms ago, are dismissed
for non-complianoe with 000 of the rules
of this Court, and to-day, the failure to
file a bill of exceptions in proper form and
in proper time, or to furnish the proper
briefs, would be visited with equally dis
astrous consequences.. Mistakes in plead
ing or a misconception of duty would en
tail the same resultp. The Legislature
prescribes the machinery of the Court,
the mode and manner of bringing actions,
the times within which they must be
brought, the rules of evidence governing
them and the form in which theo must te
presented—and we may here remark that
great substantial changes have been made
in the judicial system of our State, which
are recognized as beneficial.
Much has been said io_ argument as. to
the character of this legislation as being
against tha policy oflhe Federal Constitu
tion, which we do not feel called upon to
decide. By reference to the powers ol the
General Assembly, we find they are invest
ed with the power to maze such laws as
they deem neoessary to tho welfare ot the
Htate ; as to what may be tho wcllare of
the State, they are constituted the sole
judges. Nor is this anew power, found
only io the Constitution of 1868, but it is
found iu tho other Constitutions preceding
it, and belongs to a series of Legislative
acts, oommenoing with the great revolution
through whioh we pasted, and designed
to protect the peoplo on the little that had
been left from a disastrous war. It was
considered propor and legitimate for tho
Legislature to save what could bo from
the wreck and ruin, and intorpose its
power against exactions by thoso
who, with tho process of the Courts,
would have plunged the uofortunato deb
tors still further into ruin. To logislato
for tho publio welfare, whioh was a Con
stitutional duty of tho Legislature, invoked
tho very highest degree of statesmanship.
With singular unanimity they and their
successors have endeavored to preservo
tho public wolfaro and to protect tho in
dividual and save what oould bo saved out
of the unfortunato rosults of war. This
last Act under review is more Constitu
tional as to tho legitimate powers exercised
under the Constitution, in view of tho
publio welfare, than the legislative ordi
nance of 1865, whioh has been held by this
Court to be Constitutional. In Slaughter
vs. Culpepper, 35 Georgia ltoports, pago
27, this Court, in construing tho scooud
Section of tho Ordinance of 1865,. and in
replying to tho argument that this Ordi
nance was violative of tho Constitution of
the United Slates, whioh forbids any State
from passing any law ‘‘impairing the ob
ligation of contracts,” says: ‘‘Wo oan
not think this olauso of tho Or
dinance obnoxious to the objcotioD.
It docs no more, really, than chango
a rule regulating tho admission of testi
mony in Courts of law.” _ “Who is pre
pared to deny,” savs this Court, by a
unanimous dcoision, “ that tho Logislaturo
may not, at its discretion, alter and amend
old rules of evidence —establish now l
Who, that it may not obliterate all dis
tlnuMuua wUloti m»v* vjtiuirictcii-o «mo*loy of
prooeduro in Courts of law andTlourts of
equity, and to oommand, if they ro enact,
that tho broad and liberal principles upon
whioh justioo is administered on tho equity
side of our Suporior Courts, shall apply to
and oontrol tho vordiots ot jutios on its law
sido?” May not tho Government thon
demand the payment of tho legal taxos
due, before its Courts shall be used for the
enforoomeut of suoh contracts upon which
legal taxes are duo and ohargeable, and to
grant timo within which suoh taxes shall
be paid and to prcscribo tho tnodo by
whioh suoh facts shall appear ? Away
back of 1865, we found the same prinoiplo
of publio well'aro incorporated into tho
publio acts of this State, finding its ex
pression in laws intended to protect tho
people ftom tho cxigonoios by which they
were then surrounded. This scries of en
actments has no wdrd of import to vary
the obligations of oontraots, but simply to
impose now rules of ovidonco by whioh tho
conditions arising out of tho war may bo
established by testimony. Tho condition
into whioh tho State was plunged by tho
war invokes the samo legislation for tho
Sublio wolfaro. Slavery was abolished.
Ivory speoies of property bad mingled in
the general ruin. The protection of prot
erty had been neglected by tho law.
Tho crops wero mado contributory to tho
Confederate Commissioners. Our peoplo
wero heavily in debt. Tho ourrcncy of
tho Unitod States, in which these debts
might havo boon paid, was prohibited
oiroulation under a penalty, and nothing
was left undamaged, savo tho cvidcucos of
debt, which had been regarded as worth
less, while tho oorfliet was ragmg, but
came to light by the restoration of peaoe,
and whioh, by their enforcement, would
have left the Stato of Georgia a republic
of paupers. Wo think tho legislation
propor, and demanded by tho publio wel
fare; that it exhibits tho wisdom of tho
Legislature, and should bo sustained by
the Court, to protect the people from over
whelming ruin. Unless restrained by tho
constitutional prohibition, they should bo
sustained on tho ground of constitutional
right ; and in the oaso at bar, wo havo no
doubt. As to tho particular aot, wo think
the Legislature had tho right to deny its
processes and tho powers ot its own courts
to all persons who lail to pay the legal
taxes due and chargeable thereon, and de
clare to the people wliut shall be tho evi
dence that this is done, and we ooofirm
tho action of tho Court below, in dismis
sing the case. Those taxes ought to havo
been paid to the Comptroller Genoral, and
tho party mado affidavit as prescribed by
the statute, aod upon bis failing to do so,
and filing the affidavit, it was only carry
ing into cffcot tho plain prescribed term&
of tho aot itself, to dismiss the case and
grant an order ot dismissal.
Nothiug can to clearor than that tho
oontraot shall remain untouched. Thcro is
not a word of the act impairing the con
tract, nor is tho remedy providod by law
denied. Both tho obligation and the
remedy nro distinctly left as they existed,
nor is thcro any unroasouable burden im
posed. Tho duty to pay tax is one of tho
highest duties of citizenship known to tho
law, and whon any olass of men evado
their payment, tho act is not only in vio
lation of law, but imposes upon others an
additional burden of taxes to make good
the default. Wo do not see why tho
plaintiff or owner of tho noto should com
plaio. If ho has paid tho legal lax duo
and ohargablo thereon, then ho is entitled
to his contract, and tho Courts are opon to
him ; but if ho has not paid it, why should
tho Government opon its Courts to ono
who has confessedly failed to comply with
his duties as a citizen, and has failed to
pay his legal taxes due to tho Stato. It
it is a sovereign right to prevent tho citi
zen from voting, who fails to pay his tax,
has not the State the samo right to pre
vent him also from the enforcement of his
claims in her Courts, until tho taxes on
them arc paid?
It is said that it is ex post facto. By ref
erence to tho act itself we find tho answer.
It imposes no new taxes, provides no for
feiture. Amplo time is allowed —six months
aro given within which this law may he
oomplied with, and after a consideration of
the whole caso, we havo como to tho con
clusion which I shall now read as tho
judgment of this Court in tho ease at bar.
Brazil. —New York , July 26. —A pri
vate lotter received by last stoamor from
an American resident at Para, Brazil,
dated July 4, says tho yellow fever lias
assumed a very malignant form at Para ;
nearly every stranger in this oity has died.
The English Consul died a few days ago,
and I hear to day that his wife is dying.
Drs. Lamar, Watohcr, Guadcraß and
Laßas, and all tho other Brazilian phy
sicians, are losing nearly all their patients
with yellow fever. All strangers aro liable
to tako tho fever in Para, and nearly
overy Portugese who emigrated to Para in
the last six or oight months has died.
Several steamers which lately arrived at
New York from Para, havo been quaran
tined in tho lower bay; tho last stoamcr
from Rio was permitted to reach hor dock,
though she had touched at Para.
Nashville and Chattanooga Rail
road Suit Compromised.— Tho suit of
tho United States vs. Tho Nashvillo and
Chattanooga Railroad Company, which has
been pending since Novomber, 1869, in
the Circuit Court of the United States,
has been compromised. The railroad com
pany pays to the United Stales $1,000,000
in bonds oi the company, bearing 4 per
cent, interest, and running twenty and
forty ycarp. The amount in controversy
was about $1,750,000, and was the amount
claimed by the Government for rolling
stock, material and improvements whioh
tho road received during and at tho closo
of tho war.
An Elegant Extract.—Ah compli
mentary opinions of Gen. Grant are now in
order, aod lest there be any mis akc in re
gard to Goo. John A. Logan’s chaste
ideas of his availability, wo transcribe
them from the Chicago Republican :
“ Our soldier Senator was asked a few
day* ago, in his room at the Treraonl,
how he thought Grant would run. 'Run I’
said he, ‘he’d run like h—l, with a tin
kettle tied to his tail.’ ”
In the matter of delicate appreciation
and eloquent expression, Gen. John A.
Logan is evidently a worthy representa
tive of a Republican Slato iu the United
States Senate.
Southern Claims Commission. —Tie
Commissioners have so ohanged tho rule
concerning the taking of testimony as to
provide that in any case not over $3,000
in amount, claimants may apply to any of
the special commissioners appointed iu
the Southern States to take the testimony
in their ease for the use of the Commis
sioners at Washington, and that applioa
tiou need no longer be made to tho Com
missioners themselves. Tho application
must be a written one, and contain infor
mation best expressed in a form prepared
by the Comaiissioners, of whioh speoimon
copies will bo ready for thoso concerned in
a few days,