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010 SERIES—VOL. LHII
NEW SERIES—VOL. XXXVIII.
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Address WALSH ft WRIOHT,
Cfjromcle an& Sentinel.
WEDNESDAY.. .DECEMBER 9,1874.
MINOR TOPICS.
Senator Gordon, of Georgia, is out with a let
ter advocating an increase of greenback cur
rency, hoping also to see them made inter
changeable with bonds at a low rate of inter
est. The Richmond Whig, which presses his
view of lbs case upon the Virginia Congress
ional delegation, says that three of its mem
bers have already declared themselves in favor
of inflation, or, as the Whig expresses it, “of
this great measure of popular deliverance.”
Tllden, Thurman, Allen and Hendricks are
already entered for the Presidential sweep
stakes in 1876. They are all ancient Demo
crats, tried men, who never held a military
commission. The Democrats, in selecting
from such a list, will be troubled with em
baratt ties richestes. Three of them are Gov
ernors of great States, and one is a Senator,
and has been Chief Jnstice of one of these
States. It will be a bright day for the Re
public when any one of these shall be chosen
to preside over its destinies.
The Philadelphia Chronicle publishes the
substance of Gen. Gordon's remarks at the
late glorification at Atlanta, Ga., over the
Democratic victory, and adds : "Unlo-s faith
in human nature is to be abandoned, what
other conclusion can be reached than that the
people of the South are fully prepared to do their
part toward the restoration of National peace
and prosperity. Such sentiments do not savor
of Ku-Klux, or of outrage upon the rights of
the negro. It would be well for some of our
rabid contemporaries to imitate their spirit,
and thus assist in allaying strife instead of pro
moting it, as they are now so earustly endeav
oring to do.”
The President's new organ, the Chicago
Tribune, in an article on “The Differentiation
between Republicanism and Democracy,” says
that “the Republican party is the incarnation
of an idea, and that idea is the supremacy, au
thority, uuity and majesty of the nation repre
sented by the General Government.” Stuff.
If you will ask Boss Shepherd’s opinion on the
subject—and the Boss seems to be the privy
counsellor of the present Republican adminis
tration—he will tell you that the Republican
party is the incarnation of an idea, and that
idea is “the largest profits to the lsast number
of men that can possibly be compressed into
limits of a ring.”
One of the meanest misers lives in the neigh
borhood of Bnffalo, N. ¥., and hie name is A.
Paxon. Ho is rich, and his art of beooming
so is in saving where others would have to
spend. A short time ago he was summoned as
a juror. He was in attendance four weeks at a
dollar and a half a day, receiving a total of
thirty-six dollars. While on this duty he took
lodgings in a filthy quarter, for which he paid
fifteen cents a night. He then bought a tin
plate for twenty cents, and every day he filled
it at a soup house that had been opened for
the benefit of newsboys and bootblacks. He
returned Eoiie with a clear gain of thirty-one
dollars and sixty cents.
At one of the gates of Puis the collectors of
the octroi were not satisfied in regard to a
vehicle which came in every day. There was,
generally, not much in the cart, but it was al
ways drawn by two enormously strong horseß,
with enormously heavy harness. Bo an officer
in disguise was appointed to follow the man.
He obtained no precise information, save that
something unusual was done when the horses
were stabled that required at loast two men
and two hours' time. Next day thoy examined
the horses and ripped open the harness. In
the hoavy harness were found fifteen hnndred
cigars.
Some dirty, debased and ignorant looking
man eame in to vote in a township of Michigan.
Said one of the ladies, offering him a ballot,
“I wish yon would oblige us by voting this
ticket.” “What kind ol i ticket is that ?" said
he. “Why,” said the lady, "you can see your
self." “But I can’t read,” liq answered.-
“Why, can't you read the ballot you have there
in your hand, which you are about to vote 1" the
lady asked. "No,” said he "I can't read at
all." “Well,” said the lady, “this ballot means
that you are willing to let tho women as well as
the men vote.” "Is that it ?” he replied; “then
I don’t want it; tho women don’t know enough
to vote.”
Some conception of what has been achieved
by the iron dscipliue of the German army may
be had from this description of the German
military bow: "Imagine an oak plank, six feet
in height, with a hinge in the middle, draw
itself up to a perpendicular, and with a quick
movement snap the hinge so that the upper
part suddenly springs forward and baok again,
and you will have some idea of the graceful
ness of the executed movement, and of the
shock one has at first, when he fears that the
performer has been seized with a sudden
cramp that is abont to get the better of him at
the very moment he is being introduced, and
you wish to play the agreeable."
The Convention which met at Indianapolis
on Wednesday to form a National paper money
party was called together by the State Central
Committee of the Independent party, which
made its first appearance in Indiana during the
last State campaign. The party's ticket was
reconstructed so often, owing to the resigna
tion of nominees, that at the time of the elec
tion only one of the original candidates re
mained. The highest vote polled for any of
its candidates was betweeu 19,000 and 20,000.
and the general impression in the State, after
the 13th of October, was that the end of the
party had come. The new movement, it is re
ported, is thought to be mainly intended to
bring James Buchanan, editor of the Indian
apolis Stan, prominently forward as a can
diate for the United Statos Senate.
The statistics of emigration certainly do not
show that the natives of Qreat Britain feel any
frantic eort of adoratiou for her. During the
past sixty years she has seen a popmletion of
exactly 7,871.897 depart to other lands. In
1873 alone the number of emigrants was
310.611. The greater part of these people
came to this country, while the rest tried for
tune chiefly in Australasia. It is curious how
completely French sentiment is the feverse of
English on the subject of emigration. Only
about 130,000 French people have settled in
Algeria, and France has had possession of that
country for forty years. French population is.
however, constantly decreasing. During five
years, and for reasons independent of emigra
tion and the cessation of Alsace, it has de
clined by half a million.
Bolckow! Such is the hideous name of a
minor town on the line of the Maryville branch
of the Kansas (Sty and Council Bluffs Bailway.
It is a thriving business village, and many let
ters are sent to its poet office, though it must
be by large good luck that some of them reach
their destination ; for a statistical clerk in said
post office has observed that within thirty days
letters came there addressed in thirty-three
different ways, viz: 1. Bolckow. which is
orthodox; 12, Balca; 3, Balka; 4, Boko; 5,
Blowkow; 6, Bullcow (good gracious); 7,
Blucko; 8, Boeow; 9, Balcah; 10, Balcko; 11,
Barlcow; 12, Blokow; 13, Baca; 14, Bicow; 15,
16. Barlchow; 17. Bolke; IS, Bolk;
19, Balcoo; 20, Balckow; 21, Balcho, 22, Balkow;
23, Balkorr; 24, Bowlkow; 25, Bollchow; 26,
Balcklow; 27, Bolckla; 28, Balclia; 29, Borckaw;
30, Bolekow; 31, Balklow: 32, Molbolckow: 33,
Polka.
Evidence is accumulating of a plot at New
Orleans to so manipulate the election returns
now being canvassed by the lie turning Board
ae to create a Bepublican majority in the Leg
islature and elect a Bepublican United States
Senator. The retention of United States troops
at New Orleans, the arbitrary examination of
returns out of their usual order and the delay
in deciding contested cases ail have a sinister
look. Brother-in-law Casey is announced as a
candidate for the Senatorahip. The Demo
crats of New Orleans assert there is an organ
ised conspiracy to elect him and the more im
pulsive make threats of bloody work in ease
Kellogg and his crew succeed in again nullify
ing the choice of the people. We trust better
counsels may prevail and that the long suffer
ing people of Louisians will wait a little longer
for their day of deliverance.
THE ERA OP SPEECH MAKING.
Someone has said that the “Ameri
cana are a nation of orators.” The aa
, thor of this assertion would have been
i nearer right had he said that “Ameri
cans are a nation of speakers.” We do
not deny that has produced
i many great orators—more eloquent men
| than any nation of ancient or modern
history, not excepting the Rome of
Cicero or the Greece of Demosthenes.
Bat while conceding this we think
many persons will agree with us that
there is alao no other country in the
world where there are so many speakers
and so many superfluous speeches.
Oratory is a good thing; bnt an orator
must have a subject, an occasion and an
audience. He must have something to
speak abont, a place to speak at and
people to speak to. Not always are
these conditions observed in this favored
land. We have a great many speeches
about nothing, delivered at the most
inopportune times. The country has
had a surfeit of speeches, and they are be
ginning to be thought a bore. The orators
do not like to speak and the people are
growing weary of listening. Of coarse
onr remarks do not apply to speeches
political. They are always in order,
and, as long as the country has to be
saved and republican institutions pre
served every two years, they will con
tinue to be in order. Bat even of these
the people seem to be growing a little
weary, and it is only the biggest of big
guns who will draw a crowd when he
mounts the hustings. At other times a
large proportion of the citizens stay
away from even political gatherings, and
young Spout, the rising lawyer, and old
THUNDERGUsr, the war horse of his par
ticular militia district, ward or county,
soar aloft and circle in the bine empyre
an with but few to listen to their patri
otic ontbnrsts or to be blinded by their
blazing rhetoric. Bnt unfortunately
speech making is not confined to the
periods when the salvation of the coun
try is closely intertwined with the
election of a Congressman or when
the permanence of republican in
stitutions depends upon the selec
tion of a proper candidate for
County Constable. It is a hideons
fiend—ubiquitous, irrepressible and all
annoying. No place is secure against its
intrusion. Every occasion serves its
purposes, no matter what its char
acter, herw trivial it may be, how
convivial, or how solemn. It hovers
around the cradle and the grave. It ap
pears at the christening feast, and at
memento mori meetings. It intrudes
upon the oysters and champagne of a
convivial gathering. It haunts presen
tations and receptions and drills and
parades. No one desires its presence,
yet no one has the courage to turn it ont
of the house. It perches above the
door like Poe’s Raven, darkening every
face and extinguishing all pleasure with
its baleful shadow. It grins like a
death’s head from the festal board, warn
ing the guests of,_the transitoriness
of their enjoyment.
We are informed that in the
small city of Bunderclnnd—situated
we believe in Texas, on the line of
the Southern Pacific Railway the
files of the two daily papers show
that 1,080 speeches have been made
or “ delivered,” as the reporters
properly term this birth of words,
during the past twelve months.—
When we reflect that the returns of the
very latest census only give Bnnder
clund twenty thousand inhabitants, we
can form some idea of the prodigious
amount of speech making done there
during the year. About one-half of the
population are colored people, whose
speeohes have not been reported. At
least two-thirds of the remaining half
are women, who as yet do not speak in
Texas, and children, who only speak un
der compulsion in the schools. This
would leave abont sixteen hundred and
sixty men to do the speaking. But we
are also told that in Bunderclund there
is an element, comprising thirty percent,
of the “speakable” males, which does not
attendpublic gatherings of any kind; so
that from about eleven hundred men the
thousand and eighty speeches are ex
torted. It is said that in this sin
gular city there can be no sort of
gathering without speeches—that they
are as necessary concomitants of a ban
quet as whisky or pickles. If the Bun
derolund Hose Company holds a meet
ing to celebrate the winning of a prize,
the birthday of the organization, the
election of officers or for any other
sufficient reason; if the Bunder
cluud Invincibles are presented with e
banner, a sword or a plume ; if the So
ciety for the Encouragement of Insolvent
Newsboys get funds enough on hand to
afford a spread, they invite their friends
aud acquaintances, the Mayor and Al
dermen, the leading politicians and
lawyers, and the editors and reporters of
these two well known and influential
journals, the Trumpet Tongue and
Bugle Blast, to be present. It is well
known what these invitations portend.
Each guest is aware that when the oys
ters and the whisky, or the woodcock
and the champagne, as the case may be,
have been consumed that there are to
be speeches. He eats with the sword
of Damocles suspended above his
head, and knowing full well that fall
it must so soon as the eating is
ended. The signal for speaking is
given by the tap of a knife handle upon
the table. The officers of the organiza
tion speak ; the Mayor speaks ; each
of the five, six, seven or eight Aldermen
speaks ; the leading legal lights speak ;
the rising young lawyer and the promi
nent young men speak ; the editors of
the Thunder Trumpet and Bugle Blast
speak ; the reporters for those papers
are compelled to drop their pencils and
note-books, with which they have been
recording the speeches of others, and
speak themselves; until at last the calls
go round the table like the sleeping-cup
at a Highland banquet- and every guest
has had his whack. Bnt, some of our
Augusta readers will say, “What in the
name of Heaven do these Bunderclund
men speak about, what can they speak
about ?” Nothing, readers, nothing 1
They do not wish to speak, they have
nothing to say, they realize none of the
pleasure of the occasion because of the
speakiDg, bnt they submit to custom,
just as the Bnnderdund women heap
towers upon their heads and humps
npon their backs because it is the
fashion for their sex to make
themselves hideous and uncomfortable.
Of course it is absnrd to suppose that
the Mayor and Aldermen, and lawyers,
and politicals, and editors and report
ers, and other gnests at the entertain
ment, can feel inspired by such an occa
sion or that they are able to do them
selves or their audience justice at such
a time. We doubt if Demosthenes could
have made any reputation for himself at
the anniversary meeting of the Athens
Hose Company No. 11, or if Cickbo
would not have lost his laurels at a
helmet presentation to the Praetorian
Guards.
It is true that we are not as bad in
Augusta as they are in Bnnderclnnd,
bnt can we truthfully say that we are not
making rapid strides in the Blunder
clund direction ? Is it not time to stop
before we reach the pitiable condition
of onr sister city? Is not the voice of
the orator heard too mncb in the land,
and are not some of onr festivals trans
formed from places of innocent pleasure
and enjoyment into ideals of boredom
by this abominable practice? Why
Bhould we not make an organized re
sistance to the Demon of Gab ? As we
have temperance associations to put
down drinking, aud Christian associa
tions to elevate the cause of morality,
and societies for the suppression of vice,
why should we not also have a Society
for the Suppression of Superfluous
Speaking ?
AN OLD EDITORIAL CHAIR.
The old readers of the Augusta
Cbboxicle and Sentinel are familiar
with the name of Jambs W. Jones, de
ceased, who so long and so ably edited i
that paper. After the great Whig vic
tory of 1840 his friends presented him
with an editorial chair. Asa compli
ment to the Chronicle and Sentinel
editors, Messrs. Walsh and Weight,
for their services in the recent campaign,
Dr. W. S. Jones, the brother and part-1
ner of James Jones, has presented those i
gentlemen with the same old chair.
Glorious associations cluster around
that relic. The old Whig party was
composed of a noble race of men. -The
“dark and bloody ground” holds the re
mains of its leader, the world his fame,
and his countrymen his virtues and ser
vices.
The great Harry is in his grave ;
After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well;
Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor
poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing
Can touch him further. [Macon Star.
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Another grand jury has spoken in
favor of a Constitutional Convention.
The grand jury of Spalding county
speaks as follows :
We respectfully ask the General As
sembly to have such steps taken as will
bring about a State Constitutional Con
vention, to take into consideration the
propriety of reducing our representation
in the Legislature, and at the same time
so arranging the services of the same so
as to do away with the enormous drain
imposed upon the country by too much
legislation.
It will be remembered that the Repre
sentative elect from Spalding county is
Judge Alexander M. Speer, one of the
ablest men in the State aud the strong
advocate of a Convention. We have no
doubt that his services in the Legisla
ture will contribute greatly to the suc
cess of the measure.
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
The Borne Courier advocates the en
actment of a law by the General Assem
bly requiring every voter to register in
his own precinct, such registration to be
allowed only upon presentation of the
Collector’s receipt for payment of
taxes ; and requiring voters to vote in
the precinct in which they reside and in
which they are registered. We agree
with the Courier aB to the necessity for
such a law, and hope that the General
Assembly will consider the matter fa
vorably. There are two good reasons
for its enactment. (1) We believe such
a law will in a great measure put a stop
to fraudulent voting at elections, of
which there has been too much iu this
State since LLa reconstruction acts went
into operation. If every voter was re
quired to register in the precinct of his
residence at least sixty or ninety days
before the election ; if the registration
lists were published, so that they could
be easily examined by every citizen ;
and if only those persons were allowed to
vote whose names were upon the lists;
fraud would be rendered almost impos
sible, save by the connivance of all the
managers, and even this would avail
nothing upon a comparison of the tally
sheets with the registry lists. If any
person should register who is not en
titled to that privilege the publication
of the lists would at once expose the
fraud. The adoption of this system, to
gether with the requirement that no
citizen should vote out of his precinct,
would effectually prevent anything like
repeating or colonization. (2) The pas
sage of such a law would greatly increase
the revenues of the State and facilitate
the collection of a tax now difficult to
collect—the tax upon polls. Every man
who offered to register would have to
exhibit the Collector’s receipt for his
taxes. There would be no delay or
trouble on the day of election. Every
man on the list would be a duly qualified
voter, and no man not on it would be
allowed to exercise the elective franchise.
Political corruption has greatly increas
ed in the South since the war and the
extension of the franchise, and while
Georgia may have suffered less than any
other State she has suffered fully
enough to make prevention desirable
and necessary. It is of the utmost im
portance that so long as we have uni
versal suffrage there should be every
precaution taken against frauds upon
the ballot box. We do not believe that
any system would give absolute security
and perfect protection, for no law was
fever yet framed which the ingenuity of
pascals could not evade or circumvent to
a certain extent; bnt a safeguard like
the one proposed would only fail when
assailed by an adfoitnes which but few
knaves possess. The future necessity
for such a law is recognized in the Con
stitution of the State, and express sanc
tion is given by that instrnment to its
enactment.
The quotations of municipal securi
ties show that the credit of Augusta
stands higher than that of any other
Sonthern city. In New York last Friday
the quotations were as follows ; Mobile
B’s, 33 bid; Montgomery B’s, 55 asked;
Savannah 7’s, 81 bid;Macon 7’s, 75 asked;
Charleston 6’s, 50 bid; Columbus 7’s, 65
bid; Atlanta 7’s, 72 asked, B’s, 75 bid;
Angnsta 7’s, 83 bid. It will thus be seen
an Augusta seven per cent, bond is
worth two cents on the dollar more
than a Savannah seven; fifty cents more
than a Mobile eight; eighteen cents more
than a Montgomery eight; eight cents
more than a Macon seven; thirty-three
cents more than a Charleston six; eigh
teen cents more than a Colnmbns seven;
eleven cents more than an Atlanta seven
and eight cents more than an Atlanta
eight.
The New York Herald gives an ac
count of a recent earthquake in Massa
chusetts, which “ severely shook ” Es
sex county, and caused “ great con
sternation along the Cape Ann coast.”
We are afraid that the usually enter
prising Herald is behind time for once.
The earthquake in the Bay State, par
ticularly the “ severe shaking in the
Essex District of Massachusetts,” oc
curred on the third of November.
We are requested to state that a mass
meeting in the interest of the Spartan
burg and Asheville Railroad will be held
at Union Court House, S. C., on Satur
day, the 12th of December. Speeches
are expected from Hon. C. G. Memmi.v
gkb, Governor Z. B. Vance, and other
distinguished citizens. The people of
Angnsta are invited to be present.
By reference to a notice published in
our local columns this morning it will
be seen that an important agricultural
meeting will be held in Atlanta the 15th
of next month. Patrons of Husbandry,
delegates from county agricultural so
cieties, leading agriculturalists and stock
holders of the Direct Trade Union are
invited to be present.
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 9, 1874.
THE ÜBURY LAWS.
We regret to see that some of the
Georgia newspapers are agitating the
re-enactment of the usury laws. Two
years ago they were repealed be
cause public sentiment condemned
them as nnwise and mischievons. Be
fore a sufficient time has elapsed for the
people to perceive the effects or to
judge the wisdom of repeal a clamor is
raised for their re-enactment. It is
said that their repeal is either wholly or
in part the cause of all our financial
troubles. It is charged that repeal has
impoverished the farmers, the merchants i
and the laboring classes. It has brought j
about “hard times;” has made money
“tight:” has enriched the capitalist j
and impoverished the men of mod- j
erate means; made the rich richer j
and the poor poorer. This is i
a formidable bill of indictment. If,
we could be convinced that a single
| one of these things had been caused by
the repeal of the usury laws, we should
cheerfully favor their prompt re-enact
ment. If we thought that such laws conld
remove or abate the evils complained of
and from the effects of which the coun
try is suffering so severely we should
advocate their rigorous enforcement.
But until some argument is produced
which will demonstrate the evils of re
peal and the wisdom of a return to the
old policy we shall oppose any attempt
by the State to fix a price upon the
property of its citizens. So far as we
are able to judge there is no evidence
whatever that the repeal of the usury
laws has injured any class of our people.
On the contrary, we believe that it has
been of great benefit to them. Instead
of making mon j y dearer it has tended to
make it cheaper. Notwithstanding the
panic and the cry of hard times which is
heard all over the country, but which is
loudest in the States where usury laws
are in operation, we believe that in
Georgia the bank rate for money is
lower than, or as low as, it has been
since the surrender. Repeal has brought
money into the market—the property of
private individuals—which otherwise
would have been looked up in stocks
and bonds,, and the amount of capi
tal to loan increased to that
extent. The re-enactment of this
law would drive this increase of capi
tal from circulation. The timid
capitalists would withdraw their funds
from the market and place them in se
curities purchased at such a discount as
to yield usurious interest without in
curring the penalty of the statute. The
lenders who evaded the provisions of the
law would have less competition in the
business and be enabled to demand
higher rates from borrowers. Any at
tempt to fix by law the price of a given
commodity must necessarily prove futile
and unavailing. The Legislature has no
power to make money bring a given in
terest any more than it has power to
fir the price of a bushel of corn or a
bale of cotton. Trade and commerce
have their own laws as fixed and immu
table as those of the Medes and Per
sians, and it is folly to attempt to nul
lify their effect or change their opera
tion. This principle is as well settled as
one can be, the truth of which has
been fully tested by time and experience.
Every man in Georgia knows that when
the usury laws were of force in this
State money could not be obtained at
seven per cent. —the legal rate of inter
est. Merchants and planters during the
six years following the war and prior to
the repeal of the usury laws paid for
money what it brought—from ten to
thirty per cent. When money is scarce
and times are hard, its price will be
regulated by tlielaw of supply and de
mand, and if usury was made a capital
offense it would still bring more than
the arbitrary rate prescribed by legisla
tion.
We are opposed to a usury law be
cause its provisions cannot be enforced.
The object of such a statute is to enable
borrowers to obtain money at a given
rate—six, seven or ten per cent., as the
legislative power may determine. We
hold that it is impossible for the
Legislature to accomplish this ob
ject. It may frame as many laws
as it pleases against the taking of
more than a certain rate of interest,
but how can it regulate discounts ? and
it is by means of discounts that nine
tenths of the money borrowed in com
mercial transactions is obtained. The
law may say that when Smith borrows
money of Jones it shall not be lawful
for Smith to charge more than seven
per cent per annum on every hnndred
dollars. But the law cannot fix the
price at which Jones may sell Smith’s
note for ready money. Asa general
rule the bank does not lend money di
rectly to the borrower. Jones makes a
note payable to the order of Smith,
Smith endorses it and the bank dis
counts the paper. The rate of discount
is governed by the condition of the
money market—by supply and demand.
Here .interest does not enter into the
transaction and the statute does not ap
ply, yet it makes practically but little
difference to Jones whether he pays
thirteen per cent, interest or thirteen
per cent, discount. He loses so much
blood whether by the process of bleed
ing or cupping. Take the purchase and
sale of railroad or municipal bonds
and the matter is still farther simplified.
No one ever held or, so far as we know,
attempted to hold, that the statute
against the taking of usurious interest
applied to the purchase of bonds at such
a price as to yield the purchaser more
than seven per cent, interest on his in
vestment. A man owns a city bond hav
ing so many years to ruu, and bearing
interest at the rate of seven per cent.
He is either unable or unwilling to wait
for payment until the maturity of the
obligation. He offers it to a broker
or capitalist. The latter is governed in
his purchase by the condition of the
money market, and by the standing and
resources of the maker. He gives say
seventy cents on the dollar, and his in
vestment brings him in ten per cent, per
annum, or three percent, per annum
more than the legal rate of interest, yet
there is no usury in the transaction. So
Smith takes Jones’ note, payable so ma
ny days after date, to the bank, and asks
what discount they will charge to antici
pate the maturity of the paper by imme
diate payment. The bank discounts it at
the rate of thirteen per cent, per annum,
nor is there any usury in this transaction
which comes within the purview of the
statute. Bnt one can readily see that it
makes very little difference to the city
of Angnsta whether the operation is
called interest or discount; the fact is
patent that the corporation is paying
usurious rates for the loan of money.
So too it makes little difference to Smith
what the Bank President may call the
process by which he accommodates him;
the fact is patent to him that he has
paid usurious interest for the use of the
money which he receives. So long as
there is such a thing as discount usury
laws will be of no avail. They will al
ways be evaded and disregarded.
It is not by legislation that money can
be made cheap or times easy. We be
lieve that the history of this country
and of this State will show that no law
framed for the purpose of affording “re
lief*—from repudiation down to stay
laws—has ever benefitted those in whose
interest it was enacted. Snch legisla
tion has invariably worked more harm
than good and the effect of many of
these measures has been mischievous in
tho extreme. There is bnt one way to
cheapen money, and that is by the ces
sation of borrowing. When the de
mand ceases the rate of interest will fall
and the supply will increase.- If every
man will determine to live within his
means; if he will cut off every unneces
sary expenditure; if the farmers will keep
their smoke houses and barns on the
plantation instead of in the West, there
will be plenty of money and cheap
money. But legislation can never make
money either cheap or plentiful.
GEORGIA STATE COLLEGE.
From a circular just received from this
College we extract the following de
scription of the new Laboratory, the
donation of the city of Athens to this
new institution :
I This beautiful building, designed as a
Laboratory for the State College—the
gift of the city of Athens, at a cost of
$25,000 —is now nearly ready to be occu
pied. It is 100x50 feet; three and a half
stories, with Mansard roof. It contains
rooms desigued for four Chemical Lab
oratories; (1), for qualitative' analysis;
(2), for gravimetric quantitative anal
ysis; (3), for volumetric quantitative
analysis; (4), for private Laboratory of
Professor; one for Physical Laboratory;
one large Lecture Hall; two Class Lec
ture Rooms; two Drawing Halls for
Engineering Department; three offices
for Professors; three rooms for Appa
ratus and Models; one for Spectroscopic
and Microscopic examinations; one for
Reference Library; one Furnace room
for metallurgical processes, a Battery
room, and a Work room. Water and
gas will be supplied throughout the
building. It is designed, as funds can
be obtained, to equip each Laboratory
with all improved modern appliances re
quired for illustrating and teaching
science. Every student will be required
to do actual work in the Chemical and
Physical Laboratories, beginning with
that of an elementary character. He
will be thus occupied from one to six
hours each day, according to his course
of study—engaged in the study of things
and not words.
With pleasure we call the attention of
those who have the educational control
of youths to the advantages presented
at this College to all who desire a scien
tific training, presented in accordance
with the modern methods of teaching
science, and that, too, without charge
for tuition. These working laboratories
are intended to familiarize the student
with things and not with words only, to
teach him not how to handle apparatus,
not simply how to measure and weigh
accurately, but are rather intended to
form within the student this habit of
careful, accurate observation that will
be of inestimable value to him in all
the walks of life.
This laboratory is a noble gift of the
city of Athens to the youth of the State,
and now it behooves the State to come
forward and generously supplement this
donation by a similar amount for the
purpose of furnishing the required
equipment.
We are assured by the President of
this College that with $30,000 to equip
this building with the chemical, physi
cal and mechanical apparatus needed to
illustrate modern science, Georgia can
have the best equipped science College
south of New York. We hope the
friends of modern education will make
earnest efforts to secure the amount re
quired. Surely it is something worth
striving for that Georgia should have
confessedly the best equipped science
College in all the South.
Chancellor Cooper, of Tennessee,
has decided that the affairs of the Freed
man’s Bank can bo investigated in the
State Courts, notwithstanding the as
signment of the assets of the corpora
tion to the three Commissioners in the
District of Columbia. The rents of the
corporation in Nashville were attached
by some of the depositors, and after
hearing argument on the subject the
Chancellor decided that the citizens of
Tennessee who have become creditors of
the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Com
pany, by dealings with its branch at
Nashville, are clearly entitled to come
into the Courts of the State for the pur
pose of having their rights against this
company declared, and subjecting its
property in that State to the satisfaction
of their debts. The government in
which property is situated will never
extend its comity so far as to prejudice
its own citizens, no matter what may be
the laws of its owner’s domicil.
The Macon Telegraph states that
some years since a Judge who was hold
ing Court in Dooly county tried a man
who had been indicted for wife beating.
After hearing the evidence and the ar
gument the Conrt charged the jury that
every man was the head of his own
household, with power to enforce his
authority. That when a termagant wife
needed correction the husband had an
undoubted right to administer it with
“due moderation,” aud could only be
punished when proven guilty of cruel
treatment. The Telegraph thinks that
the women ought to have returned
thanks last Thursday that such a con
struction of the law no longer obtained
in Georgia. This may have been proper
enough for the women, bnt does the
Telegraph think that the men have any
cause to be thankful on this account ?
Savannah groans uuder the enormous
jury exemptions which obtain in that
city, and it is probable that a vigorous
effort will be made at the next session
of the General Assembly to do away
with them entirely. Other cities be
sides Savannah have cause of complaint,
and equally as good reason to seek re
dress from the Legislature. We can see
no reason why there should be so many
exemptions from the performance of one
of the most important dnties of citizen
ship. At least two-thirds of the citizens
of Augusta liable to do jury duty are on
the rolls of the fire companies and mili
tary organizations. This is all wrong
and should be remedied. We need good
juries and should have them.
Two years ago the people of New
York, disgusted with the corruption and
profligacy of Tammany Hall, and un
willing to trust the Republicans with
the government of the city, repudiated
the candidates of both parties and
elected Mr. Havemeyeb, who was re
commended to their suffrages by a com
mittee composed of seventy of their
best citizens. Mr. Havemeyeb shared
the fate of most independents, who act
only according to the dictates of their
consciences. He rendered himself un
popular with both parties, and his recent
sudden death only anticipated by a few
weeks his ejection from office.
The election in the Seventh District
is again under discussion. The point
has been raised that the vote of Gordon
county ought to be thrown out because
the tally sheets were not signed and cer
tified as required by law. If this should
be done Dabney would have fifty ma
jority. Governor Smith states that the
fact was not brought to his knowledge
until after the certificate was given to
Mr. Felton. If there is no better ground
for a contest than this it should be
abandoned. Felton seems to have been
fairly elected and is entitled to his seat.
John B. Peck has been appointed
manager of the Air Line Road next after
L. P. Grant Grant is cleaning oat the
concern, and hopes to be able to at least
make the road pay off itß washer women
bills hereafter—something it never did
before.
EMIGRATION.
Romulus Moore’s Convention—Small
Number of Delegates—Atlanta Run
ning the Machine —Colored Men Go
ing Back on Republicans and Car
pet-Baggers They Wish Equal
Rights—James’ Speech.
[Special Correspondence Chro' .i le and Sentinel .]
Atlanta, December 1, 1874.
Romulus Moore’s Convention of ne
groes, assembled to consider the condi
tion and prospects of Georgia negroes in
general and emigration in particular,
has been in session in the hall of the
House of Representatives ever since
Monday morning, including a night ses
sion last night. Delegates are present
representing about thirty counties and
number about sixty or seventy. Dr. H.
E. Baldwin, a colored physician of this
city, was chosen President. A commit
tee on credentials was appointed, and
daring its absence the Convention was
entertained by some loud, declamatory
harangues from several negroes, in which
the Republican party was severely criti
cised for its short-comings and bad faith
towards the negroes. Carpet-baggers were
denounced as selfish, corrupt adven
turers who sought power end riches
through the instrumentality of the credu
lous negro. The leading spirits of the
Convention are Dr. Baldwin, Romnlns
Moore and R. H. Carter, of Fulton; W.
A. Pledger, of Clarke; W. H. Miller, of
Bartow; and Jack Heard, of Greene,
each one entertaining dissimilar views
on almost every question sprung before
the sable body. They all seem to be
agreed in only one thing, and that is
that they are not admitted to full par
ticipation in administering the laws of
Georgia. They complain that they are
not allowed to sit on the juries, that they
are not given separate accommodations in
railroads, that State and United States
officials are not prompt and efficient in
arresting and punishing participators in
outrages, and in fine that the millenium
expected to be inaugurated by the passage
of the Civil Rights bill has not come.
The Convention has taken no action yet
on any question, and has given expres
sion to no views on the policy of emi
gration. A multitude of resolutions
have been introduced, but have all been
referred to committees. One resolution
by Pledger, of Clarke, complained of
the partial and unjust administration of
the laws of Georgia, whereby the colored
people were deprived of their rights and
privileges, and closed by appealing to
Congress to pass a law removing the
jurisdiction of cases from the State
to the United States Courts, where
it could be shown that the pris
oner or accused was deprived of a
fair trial by reason of his condition
and color. Another resolution, by Dr.
Baldwin, of this city, appeals to Con
gress to pass the pending Civil Rights
bill to enable the colored man to obtain
his rights, arraigns the Democracy for
outrages in the recent Congressional
elections, and for conduct in direct con
flict with every principle of liberty. Dar
ing yesterday afternoon Hon. John H.
James, of this city, upon motion of a
delegate from Fulton, addressed the
Convention, and advised the negroes to
remain in Georgia. He told them that
all the emigration agents who tried to
persuade them tc leave Georgia were in
terested only in making money out of
them; that they did not have the happi
ness and welfare of the negroes at heart.
He advised them to save their money,
and in a few years they would be able to
buy all the land they wanted. All this
part of Mr. James’ speech was very well
received, but when he asked them if
they did not desire that their late mas
ters should receive compensation for
them, they exclaimed aloud, “No ! no !”
Last night the Convention wbh address
ed by H. P. Jacobs, of Mississippi, a
colored member of the Legislature of
that State. He at the outset disclaimed
all intention or desire to interfere in the
discussion of politics or Civil Rights.
He desired simply to present to them
inducements to come to Mississippi if
they desired to leave Georgia. He
did not advise them to leave Georgia,
if they were well situated, but if they
were determined to emigrate he assured
them that in Mississippi they would
find equal rights and fertile lands. Jacobs
is quite an intelligent negro and a very
ready speaker. The President of the
Convention also delivered an address, in
which he complained that the white peo
ple of the State were inflicting upon
them wrong in refusing them places
on the juries, and that they were
everywhere endeavoring to crash the
manhood out of the colored people.
The Convention has been squabbling all
of to-day without adopting any measure.
A committee on outrages was appointed,
and endeavored to report, but because
it selected only a few reports of outrages
as specimens, the Convention refused
to receive its report, intimating thereby
that every case reported by every mem
ber of the Convention must be em
braced in its report. Resolutions were
introduced favoiing emigration, favor
ing the policy of remaining here and
giving the “Democratic Legislature a
chance,” and also one to memoralize
Congress. The Convention re-assembles
to-morrow morning a 4 nine o’clock. The
Representative Hall is crowded all the
while with colored spectators, who look
to the proceedings wiih the deepest in
terest. The Convention itself is the
scene of much confusion and disorder,
and amusing blunders are almost mo
mentary, What these colored mal
contents will do it is impossible to
predict.
The Proceedings of Tuesday.
From the Atlanta papers of yesterday
we learn that by invitation (Governor
Smith addressed the Convention. He
advised them to “go to work, stay at
home and attend to yonr own business,
save your earnings, and 'in a few years
you will be happy and enjoying as rich
blessings in good old Georgia as you can
anywhere else on the face of God’s green
earth. A man who will not work can
not do any better out West than he can
here. Look at these men who mope
around the towns and stand upon the
corners of the streets and talk politics,
and about the affairs of the nation.
They never work, yet they wear fine
clothes, sport a gold watch chain and
drink whisky ! What are they to so
ciety ? how do they make a living ? I
tell you, my colored friends, I never
yet knew a man who kept on trying to
break in jail but what they eventually
let him in. Yon can’t become rich by
going from one county to another. If
you want to participate in these bless
ings stay at home. The most infamous
people in the world are these political
tricksters, One word more and lam
done. History ought to be worth some
thing to us. We find there that no gov
ernments are stable. The great secret is
to know how to govern right.
“Before leaving this country, ask your
self the question, am I going to do bet
ter or worse? What guarantee have
you got that you will do better out there
than you will here ? Don’t leave unless
you know you will be benefited, and if
you will, then go ! If yon are not cer
tain of being benefited, stay at home
near the remains of yonr fathers. I
have administered the law impartially
for the benefit of the black man the same
as I have for the white, and I have
never known an innocent man punished
in Georgia, but I have known several
guilty ones to go unpunished. If you
can’t live where you have got laws that
must be obeyed, go where they have no
laws. I want you to do your duty to
yourselves. In parting I must say,
make these men who are trying to get
you off go with you. ” [Cheers. J
A resolution was adopted protesting
against the reduction cf wages by the
Grangers. The following was also
adopted :
Resolved, That we most earnestly ap
peal to the white people of Georgia to
protect us in onr civU and political
rights; that we request the Georgia
Legislature to take into consideration
at its next session the outrages that have
been perpetrated upon the colored peo
ple of Georgia for the last year; that we
are not insensible of the fact that many
colored men have gone to state’s prison
from want of a fair trial, and there
treated with inhumanity: that while we
would like to live in Georgia, while we
wonld like to cultivate these same old
hills that we cleared of yore; while we
love the soil of onr birth place; while we
wonld love to linger around the scenes
of our childhood; in short, while we all
would like to live in Georgia, because
we have learned to love her and her
people, but unless there is a change in
treatment of the colored people of Geor
gia; unless we can receive a reasonable
compensation for onr labor; unless we
can be represented in the jury box; and
therefore have a just and fair trial in
the Courts, we will go to some land
where we can get these rights, hot be
cause oppression and necessity compels
us to go where we can be free regardless
of race, color or previous condition of
servitude. Halifax.
THE EDGEFIELD TROUBLES.
CITIZENS’ MEETING AT THE
COURT HOUSE.
Speeoh by Gen. M. C. Butler—Readu
“2s® Adopted—The People Spurn
with Indignation the Charges Made
Against Them.
The recent arbitrary arrests in Edge
field county, South Carolina, have ex
cited a deep feeling of indignation
among the white people. The slander
ous charges made against them in the
Columbia Union-Herald, a Radical
sheet, they declare to be utterly false
and malicious and without a single fact
to rest upon. In order to give expres
sion to their feelings in regard to the
matter, a large meeting of the white citi
zens of the county was held in the Coart
House at the village yesterday, at 12
o’clock. A reporter of,the Chronicle
and Sentinel was present and obtained
a full report of the proceedings.
On motion, Dr. H. A. Shaw was called
to the Chair, and Captain Lewis Jones
requested to act as Secretary.
General M. C. Butler said it was very
well known that Edgefield had been in a
state of excitement, brought about by
the outrageous and injustifiable arrests
made by the United States authorities.
The whole air had been filled with ru
mors of warrants. The movement was
made by these miserable creatures for
the purpose of intimidating the white
people. It had been rumored that there
was a warrant out for him because he
had presumed, in his own county, to en
deavor to throw off the yoke of the worst
government the world ever saw. If he
had violated the law he* was amenable to
the lawss and responsible to it. But he
did not intend to be responsible to the
vile, miserable detectives who were in
their midst, trying to alarm the good
people of Edgefield. What had they
done to violate the law ? It was said
that he had been at the head of an
armed band of Democrats, who broke up
the ballot box at Currytown. He would
show that for one violation of the law by
white people there had been a dozen on
the part of the negroes. The object of
the Radical scoundrels was to bring
about a collision between the United
States soldiers and the white people of
the State. But in this they had been
foiled. The United States officers were
gentlemen, and had no sympathy with
the vile crow at Columbia. The Union-
Herald said armed clubs at Shaw’s
mills—the Sabre Chibs and Rifle Clubs
—were present and prevented the ne
groes from voting. He denounced that
statement a malicious lie. He was at
Shaw’s mills on that day, and everything
was as quiet as on the streets of Edge
field now. Not more than thirty white
men were there, and every negro voted
without molestation. He went to Co
lumbia, and sent word to the United
States Marshal that he was in town,
and would acknowledge the service of a
warrant if one was out against him. He
went to the office of the Columbia
Union-Herald and demanded the name
of the author of the base slander pub
lished in that paper. He was told that
Thompson, the editor, was absent. He
afterwards received the following note :
Columbia, November 23d, 1874.
Sir —Mr. Thompson returned some
time on Friday, but I was not able to
have any communication with him until
very late on Saturday night.
In answer to your inquiry he requests
me to inform you that the statement in
regard to the troubles in Edgefield on
election day was brought to the office by
United States Marshal Wallace. It was
a verbatim report of the Deputy United
States Marshal, who had been sent to
Edgefield Court House on the day pre
vious to its appearance.
Yery respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Thos. Cavender.
Gen. M. C. Butler.
He advised the people of Edgefield
that if they were charged with violation
of law to stay at home and not flee,
thereby giving color to the base lies
against them. It would be the height
of cowardice if when the negroes were
organizing militia the white people too
did not organize for the protection of
their families. He wanted to accord to
the negro every right given him by the
law, but in doing that he did not want
to give up his own right. Let them
meet in mass ’ meeting and say to the
United States' authorities if there have
been violations of law point out the vio
lators, and we will assist you to arrest
them. But do not send a set of vile
United States Marshals throughout the
country arresting citizens indiscrimi
nately. Let the good people of the
county meet next Monday and put the
facts before the world, facts showing
how false the slanders against the county
have been.
Mr. John C. Shepperd said he desired
that the people should put upon record
a denial of the vile charges made against
them, and at the same time express
their honest indignation that such
charges should have been made. Was
it to be attributed to wicked motives
that a people should endeavor by all
lawful means to carry an election upon
which all their interests depended ? The
prosecutions were based upon a totally
false statement to the officials, and it
was for this reason that he thought it
best a meeting should be held and the
real facts placed before the world. He
moved that a committee of three be ap
pointed, and that they be requested to
report at a meeting to be held next
Monday a true statement in relation to
affairs in Edgfield since and during the
election.
Gen. M. 0. Butler said he was re
quested by the managers of the election
at Johnson’s to say that the negro killed
there was killed three hours after the
election; was several miles from John
son’s; was not of age, and, therefore,
could not have voted at all and was not
killed until he had caught hold of the
bridle rein, on the highway after dark,
of the horse of the young man by whom
he was shot. In regard to the election
at Shaw’s mills, he would say there were
no armed men there on that day. He
saw only two guns and they were bird
guns. The emeute at Currytown was
commenced by the negroes themselves,
who fired upon the whites. The latter
were not anticipating anything of the
kind. They returned the fire so wanton
ly began by the negroes. Gen. Butler
offered several resoluiions in regard to
the appointment of a committee te in
vestigate Radical outrages since the
election and report at a meeting to be
held next Monday.
Major W. T. Gary said there had been
five political arrests in the county. Not
a single charge had been sustained, and
all the parties had been released. Did
not that show that a gross outrage had
been committed somewhere ? Could the
United States Marshals go about drag
ging peaceable citizens from their
homes ? If there was no law in Edge
field county let the civilized know it.
Let them prosecute these vile officials
who had acted so lawlessly, and if they
were convicted and afterwards pardoned,
the people will at least have put the true
state of the case before the world.
General M. W. Gary suggested as an
amendment to the resolutions that the
committee appointed be instructed to
find out how many gin houses, dwellings
and barns had been burned since the
election.
General Butler accepted the amend
ment.
The resolutions thus amended were
read as follows and unanimously adopt
ed:
Resolved, 1. That this meeting ad
journ to meet at this place on Monday
next, sale day, at 12 o’clock.
Resolved, 2. That a committee of nine
be appointed by the Chair, whose duty
it shall be to.procure evidence of fraud,
intimidation, violence or lawlessness by
the Radical party* in the late election,
and report the same at the proposed
meeting on sale day, with an address to
the people.
Resolved, 3. That the said committee
be charged with the duty of aseestain
ing the number of gin houses, barns,
and other buildings which have been
burned since the election, and report
and recommend a remedy for the pre
vention of incendiarism.
Resolved, 4. That the Edgefield Adver
tiser be requested to publish in its next
issue notice of the proposed meeting,
requesting every good citizen in the
county to attend.
The Chairman appointed the following
committee: General M. 0. Butler, J.
C. Shepperd, P. B. Waters, Robert B.
Watson, Wyatt L. Holmes, George
Bhepperd, Jas. L. Mathews, J. H.
Brooks, J. T. Culbreath.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
After the adjournment, L. Simmons,
colored, a former member of the South
Carolina Legislature, came up volun
tarily to the reporter and made the fol
lowing statement:
“I don’t think as much intimidation
was used on the day of election by the
white people as by the colored. I have
beared colored men say that the shoot
ing at Currytown was commenced by
colored men. It was done for a purpose.
I believe that the present state of excite
ment has wrought up the colored peo
ple, or the majority of them, to such a
pitch that they don’t want peace. They
tell me that they don’t want anything to
do with me if I am for peace.”
Simmons evidently speaks but the
truth. The high-handed measures
adopted by the United States Govern
ment officials, the arresting of citizens
upon the affidavits of worthless negroes,
have given the latter such an opinion of
their own importance that they want
everything their own way. As General
Butler said in his remarks, the white
people of Edgefield are kindly disposed
towards the negroes, and desire to ac
cord to them every legal right, but are
not willing, at the same time, to surren
der their own rights.
The Federal soldiers stationed in
Edgefield left for Columbia last Friday
night, and with them departed
States Commissioner Eaton and the in
famous Hubbard. It was rumored yes
terday, however, that an officer and ten
men had been ordered back, and that
more arrests would be made upon their
arrival.
The _ whole proceeding, it is said, is
very distasteful to the Federal officers,
bnt they are obliged to obey orders. To
what complexion have we come at last,
when the army of the United States is
used as a constable’s posse, a guard for
such fellows as Hubbard and Eaton,
dragging quiet, inoffensive citizens from
their homes and families. Thank Hea
ven this cannot last always. The mills
of the gods grind slowly, but they grind
very fine.
The Old Age of Lexington.
Nine miles from Frankfort, on the
road to Lexington, stands one of the
finest and richest farms in Kentucky
that owned by Mr. Alexander. On this
superb stock farm we saw 300 blooded
horses, ranging in rank from old “Lex
ington,” the monarch of the turf, to the
kittenish and frisky yearling. Here also
Mr. Alexander has collected SIOO,OOO
worth of cattle, comprising some of the
finest stock in the world, and peeping
into the enclosure where the costly cat
tle were kept, we saw one diminutive
heifer worth $27,000, and a variety of
foreign creatures whose value seemed
fabulous. On this farm are bred the
great majority of fine trotting and run
ning horses which appear in our parks
during the racing season. Mr. Alex
ander’s estate, which is admirably stock
ed with fine farm houses, barns and
stables, and which is more like a ducal
manor than the ordinary American
farm, extends over 3.200 acres. Nearby
is old John Harper’s modest farm of
2,000 acreß. The roads, the stone walls
and the fine lawns covered with massive
shade trees, make a series of delightful
pictures.- The annual sale of horses on
the Alexander farm occurs in June.—
Only yearling colts are sold. Hundreds
of people from all the country around,
and from every State in the Union, flock
to this sale. An immense barbecue is
held, and high wassail marks the con
clusion of the occasion.
Wo paid a respectful visit to old
“Lexington,” the mighty sire of a
mightier equine family. He is now
quite blind, a veteran of twenty-two,
afflicted with goitre, and stood gazing in
the direction from which our voices
came, a melancholy wreck of his former
greatness. The princes of the race
course of the present galloped by, neigh
ing and pawing the ground, as if an
noyed at our presence. One of them,
named “Asteroid,” so far forgot his
princely dignity as to charge inconti
nently upon the fence where we were
seated, and. the artist has depicted the
result in a spirited sketch. The negro
men who manage these erratic brutes
undergo all sorts of perilous adventures,
but they seem to possess as many lives
as a eat, and, like that animal, always
land on their feet, no matter how far
the plunging and rearing horses may
throw them.— Edward King; Scribner's
Jor December,
Meeting of the National Grange in
Charleston. The National Grange,
Patrons of Husbandry, of the United
States, will commence its annual session
in Charleston on the first Wednesday in
February, 1875. It will be a great oc
casion for this city, for the State of
South Carolina, and for the South gene
rally—indeed, we may say, for the
whole country, since it will promote, as
nothing else could, the true unity of the
Republic and fraternal feeling and kind
liness among the people of all parts of
our land. It will bring here representa
tive men from every State and Territo
ry of the Union, and from the British
Provinces, all working together for the
common good, and all bound to each
other by the most sacred obligations and
the closest brotherly ties. The specta
cle will be impressive, and its signifi
cance of the gravest import. The rep
resentatives of the Granges come here
for work, and that work will be of the
most serious and important character.
We trust it will be wisely performed.
But we believe in recreation as well as
in work, and the Patrons of Charleston
and of the State intend to provide such
means of reoreation as will make the
visit of our brothers and sisters from
abroad as pleasant as we have no doubt
it will be profitable. Next month we
hope to be able to give our programme
of reception and entertainment in full.
In the meantime, brothers and sisters of
the North, the South, the East and the
West, be assured that a warm, hearty,
fraternal welcome awaits you in this fa
mous old historic “City by the Sea.”
We open the doors of our homes and our
hearts with true Southern hospitality to
all who come with the pass words and
signs of the “Noble Order of Patrons.”
—Rural Carolinian for December.
The Coliseum. —A correspondent of
the London Times has written a singu
larly interesting account of what may
fairly be called the disinterment of the
Coliseum, now proceding under the
direction of Signor Rosa; and the pic
ture which it presents of the engineer
ing ingenuity, as well as architectural
splendor, which the Romans devoted to
their truculent sports, is rather awful.
The excavations have now laid bare part
of the arena, which is proved to have
been a solid floor, paved with herring
bone work, and not a movable platform.
Upon the arena converged a number of
large tunnel-shaped corridors, having a
series of lateral chambers vast enough
to accommodate scores of animals, and
with an adjustment of gates such that,
without danger to the keepers, even the
hundred lions, recorded by Vop ; scus as
having bounded on its floor together,
might be shown to the 87,000 lords of
creation in the amphitheatre. A mag
nified corridor, not yet perfectly clear
ed, but having evidently no lateral gal
leries, doubtless represents the passage
through which the gladiator emerged to
his duel and the martyr to his cross.
Through it, too, it would seem, were re
moved the slaughtered corpses and car
passes, while the applause of the au
dience and the bellowing of the other
beasts waiting for their gates to swing
round most have made terrible liar
monies.
Governob Smith on the Greeley
Movement. —Below we give an extract
from Governor Smith’s speech at the
late jollification at Columbus. Governor
Smith said: In 1872 the Democratic
party made a self-denial and abnegation
unequalled, and so took their life-long
enemy, the man who fought us—an hon
est man, to be sure—bnt we took him as
an" evidence of our honesty, and so
showed onr devotion to principle. Oth
ers went for Greeley, men who were
willing to act with their enemies, who
were willing to sacrifice past hates for
national success. These men acted with
Greeley in the party they were fighting
for, and we honor them for their sublime
self-denial. Some cry out "its a great
mistake! Never vote for a man that
don’t belong to the party 1” But let me
say that our success to-night is all due
to the sacrifices we made in ’72. Tell
me not that snch sacrifices do not count.
This pledge on the altar of country has
won, for it is a law of Heaven that such
virtue ever wins. It bore not fruit then.
We now thank God the little leaven has
leavened the whole lump.
A writer in an exchange says that if
the emigration movement succeeds in
carrying off the idle loafers around
Georgia cities and xowns it will do a
heap of good. But the trouble is, kick
these sort of folks down stairs and they
will get up and walk straight back.
Judge Winburn, of Gainesville, has
established “Clubßates” for marrying
people. Single pair, $2 50; two, $2;
five, 75 cents; six, 50 cents; seven, 25
cents, and the privilege of kissing the
handsomest bride— invariably in ad
vance. Services free to all getters np of
Clabs,
NUMBER 49.
THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
A Quiet Day—The Regular Democratic
Ticket Elected. .
The annual election for Mayor and
members of Council of the city of Au
gusta took place yesterday. The polls
were opened at 8, a. m., and closed at 2,
p. m. There was no opposition to the
regular Democratic ticket except in the
Fourth Ward, where Dr. M. J. Jones
ran as an independent candidate for
Councilman. Everything was conduct
ed in the most orderly manner.
• First Ward.
The polls were opened at the Scale
House, by G. A. Snead, J. P., Wm. R.
McLaws, Esq., and Mr. J. W. Rigsby.
The total number of voters registered in
this ward was 389—whites, 357; color
ed, 32. The total number of votes cast
was 164, as follows:
For Mayor—Clias. Estes 153
J. F. Burnett 8
Jno. Davis 1
For Counoilmen—Jas. F. Thompson. 164
Geo. R. Sibley 159
Jno. U. Meyer 156
A. M. Brodie 1
Messrs. Burnett, Davis and Brodie
were not candidates.
Second Ward.
The polls were opened at the City
Hall, by Fred. Williams, J. P,, Henry
Myers and Charles G. Goodrich. Num
ber of registered votes, 390—whites,
353; colored, 37. Total number of votes
cast, 115, as follows:
For Mayor—Chas. Estes 108
J. F. Burnett 2
For Counoilmen—J. K. Evans 11l
J. B.’ Pournelle 11l
Thos. G. Barrett 106
Wm. P. Bottom 2
Messrs. Burnett and Bottom were not
candidates.
Third Ward,
The polls were opened at Vigilant
Engine House, by E. M. Habersham, J.
P., Wm. H. Goodrich and Dennis
Owens. Number of registered voters,
389—whites, 355; colored, 34. Total
number of votes cast, 181, as follows:
For Mayor—Charles Estes 170
John Vaughan 2
David Lyons 3
0. G. Butler 1
For Councilmen—Alex. Philip 172
Wm. Bennett 166
Dr. DeS. Ford 163
J. O. Mathewson 15
F. Spears 4
W. H. McKinley 1
E. T. Miller.. 1
W. J. Blair 1
Messrs. Charles Estes, Alex. Philip,
Wm. Bennett and Dr. Ford were the
only candidates, these gentlemen being
the regular Democratic nominees.
Fourth Ward.
The polls were opened at Citizen En
gine House, by E. D. Wingard, J. P., T.
W. Olive, and John Brislan. Number
of registered voters, 551—whites, 411;
colored, 140. Total number of votes
cast, 429, as follows :
For Mayor—Chas. Estes 418
John Davis 1
For Cnuncilmen—M. E. Hill 383
T. W. Car wile 336
H. M. Boardman. .289
M. J. Jones 151
M. M. Hall 1
G. W. Conway 1
Doris 1
W. W. Jones 1
Messrs. John Davis, M. M. Hall, G.
W. Conway, Doris and W. W. Jones
were not candidates. Messrs. Estes,
Hill, Carwile and Boardman were tho
regular nominees, and <Dr. M. J. Jones
an independent candidate.
Recapitulation.
For Mayor. Jst. 2d. 3d. 4th. Total.
Chas. Estes 153 108 170 418 849
J. F. Burnett... 8 2
John Vaughan..
David Lyons —3 —3
C. G. Butler....
John Davis 1 l2
Members of Council Elected—First
Ward: James F. Thompson, George R.
Sibley, John U. Meyer. Second Ward:
J. K. Evans, J. B. Pournelle, T. G. Bar
rett. Third Ward: Alexander Philip,
Wm. Bennett, Dr. DeSaussure Ford.
Fourth Ward: M. E. Hill, T. W. Car
wile, H. M. Boardman.
Total number of votes registered in
the city, 1,719; total number of votes
cast, 889.
Mammoth Cave—A Scene in the Star
Chamber.
The “Ball Room” is a mighty cham
ber, admirably fitted for the dance, with
even a rocky gallery, in which an or
chestra lias, from time to time, been
placed, when gay parties from Louis
ville and other neighboring cities have
engaged in festivities with music and
torches. A short distance beyond looms
up a huge mass of rock known as the
Giant’s Coffin. Passing the deserted
chamber, the “ Wooden Bowl Cave,”
where oxide of iron and lime are sprin
kled. on the floor, and crossing the
“Bridge of Sighs,” we came at last to
the “Star Chamber.”
Here our guide had prepared a gen
uine surprise for us. "Mysteriously com
manding ns to be seated in a dark cor
ner, he suddenly seized the lights, and
saying that he would return to find ns
on the morrow, withdrew. We heard
his sonorous voice echoing along the
galleries as he hurried back over the
pathway, and while we were yet wonder
ing" what was the object of this sudden
manoßUver we saw above us twi kling
stars, and seemed to catch a glimpse
of the biue sky from which we
had thought ouiselves shut out by
the solid rock. Indeed, so strange was
the illusion that we fancied we could
feel the fresh air blowing upon ns, and,
for a few moments, imagined that the
guide had conveyed us by some rounda
bout way to the mouth of the cave, and
then had hastily left us, that he might
enjoy our surprise. But presently we
heard his voice, confessing the cheat
which he had practiced upon us. The
dark ceiling of the Star Chamber is cov
ered with a myriad sparkling incrusta
tions which resembles the stars, and the
artful guide, by a careful display of his
lamps and the use of Bengal lights, had
produced a magical effect. The ceiling,
which was not more than forty feet from
our heads, had seemed remote as the
heavens. It was like the early dawn,
when the stars seem no longer to belong
in the sky, and when they are gradually
fading away. The guide, in the dis
tance, imitated to perfection the crow
ing of the morning cock, and then burst
into loud laughter as, removing the
lamps, he took away with them the de
ceit, and returned to us .—Edward
King ; Scribner's for December.
TOPICS OP THE STATE.
H. B. Lightfoot, of East Macon, is
dead.
Judge Weems, who was paralyzed at
Macon, is no better.
Dr. Irvine delivered a sermon on tem
perance at Thomson on the 25th.
Rev. L. G. Steed, a Baptist minister
of McDuffie county, died on the 27th
ult.
There is one and one-quarter candi
date for every one hundred voters in
Bibb county.
Since September Ist to last night Co
lumbus has warehoused 31,616 bales of
cotton, against 23,851 last year, showing
an increase of 7,765.
Since the suspension of the Street
Railroad, which charged five cents, sev
eral hack lines have started up in Ma
con at the low rate of fifty.
And McDuffie has a brass band
“though very recently organized, and
all the members totally inexperienced,
they have already acquired a proficiency
in music highly creditable.”
Boully, of the Hamilton Vindicator,
is just beginning to crow over the late
election. He puts up a huge chicken
which looks like a reversed rainbow with
feet stuck in it, but altogether heroic.
Groveling at the feet of this Goliath
bird is a miserable little dead bantam.
To take a level month to crow over an
election is what we call sober, conserva
tive and honest Democracy.
The McDuffie Journal: On the morn
ing of the 26th of November last, Mr.
Daniel P. Marshall, of Columbia coun
ty, was found dead in his room, with a
bullet hole through the heart, and his
pistol, a common Colt’s revolver, lying
near him on the floor, with one barrel
discharged. The unfortunate young man
was a Confederate soldier, lost one arm
in the service and at the time of his death
was living on the place of the Misses
Crawford, near Appling. He was found
lying on a pallet before the fire place. It
has been suggested as a probable solu
tion of the affair that he may have been
engaged in loading or repairing his pis
tol, in doing which, having only one
hand, he usually held his pistol between
his knees, and met his death by the ac
cidental discharge of the weapon,