ZhrontfU atm Stntinrl.
WEDNESDAY...DECEMBER 9,1874
SLAVERY IN GEORGIA.
The National Republican still con
tiuues to shake the bloody shirt. Its
last attempt is to prove that slavery has
been re-established in Georgia, which
its loyal editor thinks he does by quo
ting that section of the Code of Georgia
which permits the hiring of convicts to
private individuals. The law has been
on the statute book for several years,
thongh recently amended so as to in
clude persons convicted of misdemeanor
and sentenced to work on the chain gang.
Perhaps, however, the Republican is too
busy waving the bloody shirt to remem
ber that Bullock and a Republican Leg
islature first authorized by law the hir
ing of convicts to contractors ; and that
the same Legislature invariably declined
to redress complaints of harsh or cruel
treatment. It has also forgotten that
the law applies to white as well as col
ored men, and that its provisions are en
forced towards both races. •
HON. JAMES B. BECK.
Some of the Kentucky papers are
agitating the election of Mr. J ahes B.
Beck to the United States Senate. Mr.
Beck is a member of the present Con
gress but declined a' re-election. He
has been in Congress for the past eight
years and would undoubtedly have been
elected Speaker of the next House had
he chosen to continue a member. He
is a man of great ability, is prudent and
practicable. He has resisted boldly and
manfully every violation of the Consti
tution attempted by the Republicans,
and has been the prime and unwavering
champion of the South during all the
dark days of reconstruction laws and
enforcement acts. There is no man
more popular in the South, and if Geor
gia, *or Virginia, or Alabama, or any
other Southern Democratic State had
a voice in the contest, his election
would be certain. Kentucky will do
honor to herself in honoring this her
most illustrious son. With such a rep
resentative in the Senate she would take
the position due to her wealth and
power, while the whole South would
have an advocate and a defender capa
ble of successfully coping with the mas
ter spirits of the Republican party.
STOP TAXING.
We should like to have a provision
put into the Constitution forbidding any
county, municipal or other corporation
to impose any taxes, except such as are
indispensably necessary to defray the
ordinary expenses thereof, unless the
amount and object of such tax shall be
first submitted to a vote of the tax-pay
ers to be affected thereby, and shall be
sustained by a two-thirds vote of all the
said tax payers owning a majority of all
the taxable property on which said tax
is to bo imposed. Our experience dem
onstrates the necessity for putting an
effectual check upon the taxing power,
and of putting this check in the hands
of those who have the taxes to pay.
The above is taken from the last num
ber of the Rome Commercial. There
are many persons who recognize the
necessity for placing some restriction
upon the taxing power—the highest pre
rogative of. government. There must
be placed some limitation upon the
p<fwer of the Legislature, of county
authorities, and of municipal govern
ments to impose taxes. There must also
be a limitation of the power to issue
bonds and contract indebtedness. It is
safe to assume that one-half of the gross
amount of taxes —State, county and
municipal—levied in Georgia this year
is required to pay the interest on, and
such portion of the principal of
the bonded debts as mature dur
ing the twelve months. Each year
the debt increases and the taxes in
crease. It is very desirable that some
thing should be done to check the
growth of an evil which is rapidly as
suming such vast proportions. But the
check can only be given by a constitu
tional inhibition. We must have a Con
stitutional Convention. We must have
anew Constitution, which will restrict
and define the powers of government and
afford protection to the tax payers.
The Rome Commercial contains the
following editorial notice of the poem
by Mrs. H. H. Colquitt which appeared
in the fiust number of tbe Sunny South
and which was re-published ifi*" the
Chronicle and Sentinel^.
"We aro willing to risk our taste by
commending to the reader the poem,
“Soap Babbles," which appears in our
Poet’s Corner, ou the fourth page, in
to-day’s issuo. We knew the authoress
in the years gone by, when she was a
school girl; and as we read ' the poem,
we see again the girlish face, with its
expression of indescribably sweet sad
ness, the large, dreamy, soft grey eyes,
and the mobile lips—aud seeing all this,
perhaps we are not an impartial critic
of the poem. It may be that some of
our readers in Cave Spring knew the
writer, who, when she was Miss Mel
Redmond, was a pupil in Mrs. Ford’s
aohool, in our neighboring village. Far
abler critics than we, think “Soap Bub
bles” would have done credit to England’s
poet laureate, Alfred Tennyson. Read
it and see if it isn’t a gem.
The telegraph first announced in the
most positive manner that the Philadel
phia Press had been purchased by Mr.
jMoClurk, and on the flr3t of January
would become a Liberal Republican or
Democratic newspaper. Mr. McClure
was interviewed, and stated that Mr.
Forney had cabled an acceptance of his
offer, and he considered the trade closed.
Now Mr. Forney publishes a statement
that he has not sold and does not intend
to sell the Press. These conflicting
statements are reconciled by a telegram
from Washington published this morn
ing. It appears that the sale was
, about closed when the Republi
cans became alarmed and bribed
Mr. Forney to retain possession of the
paper and wriggle out of his bargain.
Mr. McClure seems no way dishearten
ed, and promises to commence the pub
lication of a first-class Democratic paper i
in the city of Philadelphia next January.
Max Adeler says: “I find in the pa- j
pers two items'which appear to me to \
possess thrilling interest. One states
that ‘there is an epidemio among the j
goats of Asia Minor/ and the other in- *
forms us that ‘Terra Del Fuego is for
sale.’ When I reflect upon the almost |
pathetic interest that is felt in this
oountry in the sanitary condition of the
goats of Asia Minor, and of the vast
number of Americans who do not sleep
at night because of their great and irre
sistible yearning to buy up Terra del j
Fuego at auction; and when I remember
that ’American newspapers lately have j
paid for several costly cable dispatches ■
which informed them that Cardinal Ax
toxelli’s goat is better, and that the j
Earl of Yarborough was drunker than
usual, I feel that if it wasn’t for a free j
and independent press the people of this j
country would soon collapse again into
darkness and ignorance and hopeless. !
chaos.”
With refreshing coolness the Atlanta
Hem, in a custom house editorial,
speaks of the “the little city of Augusta
with a trade much inferior to our own.”
yet in the very next line the Netvs
do übts if Atlanta, the Southern leviathan,
pays as much duties as ihe little city
aforesaid. JWhen we get our custom
house we expect to do all the business
of the Atlani* importers in onr “little
city” and even then storage will only be
required for the metropolitan merchants
to the extent of a do2t.'U pocket knives
and a cask of ginger ale. Jnttle city in
deed ! We would like to that re
mark repeated.
The New Jersey State prison is man- i
aged so well that it pays a handsome
sum over and above expenses. Last
year the net profits of the institntioa
amounted to forty-five thousand dollars.
Why cannot the criminal labor of Geor
gia be managed in a penitentiary just as
profitably, and thus break np the chain
gang contracts?
IMPROVEMENT OP THE HiVAN
NAH RIVER-
Some time since Mayor Estes con
ceived the idea of improving the naviga
tion of the Savannah river so as to per
mit steamboats to ascend the stream
from this city to Andersonville, South
Carolina. Bast August the matter was
brought to the attention of the City
Council, and that body passed a resolu
tion authorizing a preliminary survey of
the river by an engineer, for the purpose
of ascertaining the practicability and the
approximate ccet of the contemplated
improvement Mr. W. W. Thomas, a
skillful and experienced civil engineer,
was employed under this resolution to
make the survey. Mr. Thomas fin
ished his labors and submitted a re
port of their results to the City Coun
cil some two weeks ago. Mayor Estes
referred to this report in his in
augural address last Thursday, and gave
some intimation of its character, but the
reading of the document was postponed
until the regular meeting of the City
Council next Monday. We presume
that in view of the importance of this
matter and the interest felt in it by the
people, Council will order its publica
tion in extenso. In the meantime, as
the natift-e of the report has already
been alluded to, it may not be amiss to
give a brief synopsis of its contents.
Mr. Thomas reports that in order to
obtain a complete view of the existing
obstructions to navigation and to become
acquainted with the present system of
navigation and its wants, a “Petersburg
boat” was employed from this city to
“Craft’s Ferry,” in Hart county. At
this point the volume of water was so
small and the obstructions in the stream
so great and so numerous that the re
maining distance had to be traversed in
a batteau. From Augusta to Petersburg
the engineer expresses the opinion that
steamboat navigation would prove diffi
cult. Within a space of about four
teen miles seven dams would have to
be constructed with locks varying in
“ lift ” from four to nine feet. Besides
these, between the points mentioned a
canal of five and a half miles in length and
having four locks would have to be cut
for the purpose of avoiding the danger
ous shoals known as “Ring Jaw”—now
the terror of boatmen. Above Peters-
burg the difficulties to be surmounted
are still more formidable. The shoals
follow each other in rapid succession
and there is very little smooth or deep
wafpr. The fall is great and but few
boats of any character are able to navi
gate this portion of the stream. The
river has a fall of nearly four- feet per
mile all the way from Petersburg to An
dersonville, or a total fall of one hundred
and eighty-five feet in fifty-one miles.
Between these points Mr. Thomas en
countered nineteen named ledges and
shoals, varying in length from one-quar
ter of a mile to seven miles. Besides
these, inummerable obstacles for which
there are no names present themselves
“at every turn of the river.” Of the
51 miles “not less than 35 are
shoals of the most dangerous character
and, unless under charge of an ex
perienced pilot, would not be safe to
travel in a life-boat. ” The improvement
of this portion of the Savannah for
steamboat navigation would cost not
less than two millions of dollars—a cost
which at once exterminates any scheme
of improvement by the city government.
From the canal locks to Petersburg Mr.
Thomas thinks the river can be made
navigable for small steamboats at an ap
proximate cost of half a million—in
cluding canal, dams, locks, dredging
and excavations. But even this im
provement Mr. Thomas does not re
commeud for reasons which appear to
us sound and convincing. The great
fall of the—river at one shoal being 84
feet in 5§ miles—ami reaching 255 feet
in 115 miles is the principal obstacle.
Without dams and locks the shoals
could be changed but not removed. A
channel cut through the shoals would
prove impassable on account of the
velocity of the current, and a shoal, per
haps one of more formidable character,
would appear higher up the river. The
shoals can only be successfully avoided
by means of dams and locks—what is
known in engineering as “slack water
navigation.” This system would prove
costly, slow, tedious and uncertain. It
would bo liable to “serious damage and
numerous accidents” by reason of the
liability of the river to sudden rises and
freshets necessitating frequent and cost
ly repairs. Mr. Thomas, therefore, re
ports as the result of his survey of the
Savannah river: (1) That its opening for
steam navigation above Petersburg is
is impractible at any reasonable cost;
(2) between Augusta and Petersburg it
| can be made navigable for steamers of
150 or 200 tons capacity at a cost of $500,-
000, but that this improvement, on
account of the uncertainty of its
results and the proportionately small
benefits to be derived, is not advisable.
The report closes with a brief but
interesting sketch of the system of navi
gation now and for many years past
in operation on the Upper Savannah by
means of Petersburg boats, and a recom
mendation of its improvement and ex
tension by the oity government of Au
gusta. Mr. Thomas says that to accom
plish this it would only be necessary
“to make the navigation of boats of
double the capacity of those now in use
both easy and safe by the removal of
such a part of the shoals as would give
a straight, unobstructed ‘sluice’ for
loaded boats coming down stream, and
another more shallow channel, with less
momentum of water, for passage up
stream.” This, he thinks, could be
done at an expenditure of $200,000 for
the entire distance from Augusta to An
dersonville, or $60,000 from Augusta to
Thompson’s Factory on Broad river and
to “Trotter’s Shoals,” a point on the
Savannah five miles above Petersburg.
Such improvements would give a safe
passage all the year round to boats ca
pable of carrying one hundred bales of
cotton.
Mr. Thomas’ report is ably and care
fully written, and is a most interesting
paper, and no one can doubt the candor
and sincerity of the writer. The great
trouble experienced in most works of
public improvement is tbe getting of a
trustworthy survey and report. Many
engineers make their fignres and con
clusions conform to what they think the
views or wishes of those by whom they
are employed, while others are tempted
to make incorrect statements by a desire
to have a costly work commenced which
will give them a lucrative situation for
some time to come. Mr. Thomas has
performed his work faithfully and given
a correct statement of its results. He
does not believe that the proposed im
provement of the Savannah river is
practicable, save at an immense cost, or
that the benefits to be derived from it
would be at all proportioned to the ex
pense, and he gives his conclusions
plainly and emphatically and the facts
and reasons upon which they are based.
The New York Journal of Commerce
: is a paper which haa for many years
been considered the highest commercial
authority in the country. It has recent
ly had occasion to speak of usury and
usury laws, of which it says: “All
classes would be benefited in any and
every community by the repeal of those
unwholesome restrictions. The usury
i laws are always inoperative to prevent
‘extortion,’ and are never enforced ex
cept by a rogue who wishes to avoid an
honest payment. They are therefore,
in every instance, powerless for good
and only effective for evil. Whatsoever
risi there may be in loaning money at
more thad the legal rate, the borrower
!*#s extra for* \?hen money is scarce,
and the imitation keeps' money scarce
wherever it is # all operative. It the
usury laws were atoeljsbfid throughout
the United States, thus iavitwg the on
restrained use of foreign capital,
doubt if the average rate of interest
would ever again reach the old legal
limit.”
THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS.
The new city government was inaugu
rated yesterday. In our local columns
this morning we pnbliah in full the in
augural address of Mayor Estes. It
treats of many things of interest to our
citizens, and should receive a careful
perusal. Every one will agree with the
Mayor in his statemeht that neither per
sonal nor political considerations should
govern appointments to office, and we
hope to see the rigorous enforcement of
so wise and wholesome a principle. With
competency the only test and merit the
sole recommendation in the selection of
officers, we would be given an excellent
administration of government, and the
people would have no cause of com
plaint. We hope that Council will fol
low his advice and make prompt prepara
tions to secure the munificent bequest
of the late G. B. Lamar. With
reference to the Street Railroad,
the Mayor is evidently not satisfied
with the settlement made by that
Company with some of the railroads
terminating in this city and wishes
another appeal made to the Legislature.
He has also discovered that it will be
very difficult to raise enough money to
pay the ordinary expenses of the city
goverment unless there is “a repeal or
material modification of the law of 1874
regulating municipal taxation.” The
law to which he alludes was framed for
the purpose of checking what was
thought to be a growing evil, and the
tax payers would hardly be willing to
have it done away with unless convinced
of the pressing necessity for repeal.
According to the Mayor’s figures the
canal enlargement has so far cost more
than half a million of dollars—a sum
largely in excess of the estimates —and
the work is still unfinished. When com
pleted we shall not be at all surprised if
the cost of the enlargement does not
reach the neighborhood of seven hundred
thousand dollars—actnal cash expend
ed—besides the discount on the bonds
which have been sold to pay for some of
the work. The contemplated improve-
ment of the Savannah river seems to
have been brought to grief by the report
of Mr. W. W. Thomas— the engineer se
lected to make a preliminary survey.
Mr. Thomas has found unexpected ob
stacles in the way of the success of the
scheme, and his figures indicate that the
expected return would not balance the
immediate outlay. The Mayor agaia
expresses himself in favor of such amend
ments to the charter of the city as will
require the Mayor and Aldermen to be
elected for a term of three years, in
stead uf for one year as at present. At
present we have nothing to say as to the
propriety of amending our charter,
thongh doubtless that instrument could
be altered for the better in many partic
ulars. But we think that if any changes
are to be made the charter should be re
vised by a committee of our best citi
zens, chosen at a general meeting of the
people, and that after the revision has
been passed upon by the Legislature it
should be submitted to a vote of the
people for final ratification. The com
pliments paid to the officers of police
and the Fire Department are in the main
fully deserved, and will be heartily en
dorsed by our citizens.
The Galaxy magazine f raises the
question whether or not a newspaper
article should be signed with the name
of the writer, and the affirmative
side of the discussion is taken by the
author. We do not think that his con
clusions will find general acceptance. If
an editorial on an important subject ap
peared in the New York Tribune or the
London Times above the signature of
its writer, John Doe or Richard Roe, it
would be received and esteemed as the
individual utterance of Doe or Roe. If
it appeared as the expression of the Tri
bune or the Times it would have weight
proportioned to the standing and in
fluence of those great journals. The
public care very little to know the
writers of articles, they care a great deal
for the articles themselves. Personal
journalism exists only in France, and
the journalism of that country < bears
the same relation to the journalism of
England and the United States as the
civilization of Pekin bears to the civili
zation of Paris.
Kind deeds and generous words are
becoming so common on both sides of
the Potomac that there will soon be no
bloody chasm left to shake hands aoross.
Mrs. Sherman, wife of him who march
ed through Georgia, and who was the
greatest soldier in the Northern armies,
has a sympathetic word for onr Catholic
Fair and sends some articles which are
to be disposed of for its benefit. Her
kindness is as gratefully acknowledged
as it has been gracefully tendered. We
publish in our local columns this morn
ing the pleasant and very womanly let
ter which accompanied her donation.
Chamberlain’s inaugural address
reads very well. He seems to realize
the situation, and makes fair promises
of reform. In South Carolina, however,
works and not words are desired. The
people of that State have seen so many
promises equally as fair come to naught
that they are excusable for declining to
put much faith in protestations until
furnished with some evidenoe that they
will be supplemented with a just and
honest administration of the govern
ment.
We are glad to see that the Richmond
Bar has taken action with regard to the
wholesale exemptions from the perform
ance of jury duty which now interfere
so seriously with the proper administra
tion of justice in this county. There is
neither reason nor justice in them and
the sooner they are abolished the better.
A committee from the negro emigra
tion Convention in Atlanta was sent to
interview Gov. Smith. The Governor
told them that they could get better
land in Middle and Southwestern Geor
gia and for less money than in Missis
sippi. “But how about the Ku-Klux,
Governor ?” said the Chairman. He re
plied : “It has been my duty ns Gov
ernor of Georgia to carefully watch
these things, and to jealously guard the
liberties of all my people, and I say to
you solemnly and assuredly to-day, that
there has Dot been a single Ku-Klux
outrage in this State since I became
Governor. You have never been Kn-
Kluxed ? Neither of yon ? No! nor
neither of yon ever saw a man Ku-
Kluxed? No! The whole outcry is
raised simply by designing men to in
flame your simple people. I tell you, as
the Governor of Georgia, that there are
no Ku-Klnx outrages attempted or
permitted in this State; and you
know that I tell you the truth.”—
“What do yon advise us to do,
Governor?” asked the Chairman.—
“I advise you to go home and go to
work. Quit holding the foolish conven
tions, and get down to honest, hard
work. You can’t make an honest living
by hanging around conventions, and
making false speeches to your simple
and credulous brothers. This conven
tion has done your race great harm. I
suppose you have a thousand colored
people hanging around it and attending
it. 'Most of them are hardly able to buy
their bread, and yet here they have lost
three days making silly speeches. You
people think you can live without work.
That’s where you are mistaken. Now,
my advice to yon is, to go home and be
quiet, honest, hard working citizens,
and let me protect you. Til guarantee
every laborer in the State, white or
black, all the protection that the richest
man gets.”
Total registration in Maoon, so far,
I,699—whites, 974; colored, 725.
The Greene county colored people
are holding an agricultural fair in
Greenes boro.
On Tuesday last the gin house of R.
D. Cole A Bro., of Newnan, was destroy
ed by fire, together with about ten bales
of ootton. Lora, $2,000.
An election in Muscogee costs the
oounty exactly SBS. The two held this
year—one for Congress, the other for the
Legislature—costly exactly $l7O.
Red Oak Church (Primitive Bapitet),
jp the upper ninth district of Berrien
county, op New river, was destroyed by
Stfcai*y eight, the 28th ult.
The Nekton county Dfijgocraey has
Ap<wAnA to makt* no nominations for
oounty officers. Every man who desires
an offioe wißbave to look out for him-
LOCISIUA.
Mr. Stephens’ Reply to the Mobile
“Register.”
Washington, D. C., Nov. 24, 1874.
7b the Editor of the Register ;
I have just received a copy of the is
sue of yotlr paper of the 17th inst., and
notice in it an editorial arraignment of
myself before your readers, which I
cannot permit to pass in silence—es
pecially as my attention is called par
ticularly to some matters in it. Be as
sured all I ask of you, or your readers,
or of the world' is simple justice.
When I am arraigned for public censure
or condemnation, let it be for some
thing that I have actually said or done,
and not for unfounded sentiments or acts
never entertained or dreamed of by me.
The editorial referred to, for instance,
commences by saying:
“A few days ago we alluded to a re
cent letter from Hon. A. H. Stephens,
declaring that Judge Durell had juris
diction in the case made by Kellogg for
the overthrow of the elected State gov
ernment of Louisiana.”
Now, you must allow me to say that
very great injustice is done me in the
very outset of this article. I did not in
that “recent letter” to which you allude,
nor on any other occasion, ever say that
Judge Durell had jurisdiction over any
case “for the overthrow of the elected
State govemmentof Louisiana.” Never!
So monstrous a was an
nounced by me, and cannot be justly
imputed to me, from anything ever said,
written or done by me. The unjust im
putation of such a doctrine to me in the
extract given would have clearly ap
peared to your readers if you have given
them the “recent letter” in full alluded
to, and from which you gave them only
such parts as seems to have suited a
partisan purpose. My object is truth,
justice and right in all things. In that
letter, and on divers occasions, I have
maintained, and do maintain, that
Judge Durell, of the United States
District Court, did have jurisdiction,
under the detestable “Enforcement
act,” so-called, of the question of the
election of Governor of Louisiana in
1872—in the oase brought in said Court,
by Kellogg, so far as it related to his
rights to the Governorship of that State
under that election—the State Courts
also had concurrent jurisdiction of the
same question by the same most iniqui
tous act. My “recent letter” showed as
clearly ns language could show that
neither the Federal nor State Courts,
even under that abominable act, had
jurisdiction over the question of the
election of members to the State Legis
lature. How, then, in the face of these
facts, you could impute to me such doc
trines as you have in the editorial refer
red to, I cannot imagine, except upon
the supposition that your object was to
do me injustice, and to represent me
unfairly in the premises before your
readers.
After quoting tbe language of the
House Jndioiary Committee, in condem
nation of the extraordinary character of
an interlocutory order, or decree, of
Judge Durell in the proceedings in
equity instituted by Kellogg, in the
United States Court for the establish
ment of his rights to the Governorship
of said State, etc., you go on to say:
“It is one of the wonders of the present
day to hear such language from the lips
of men like Butler and Wilson, and at
the same time to hear a man like Alex.
H. Stephens taking issue with their con
clusion and vindicating the legality of a
course which has been condemned at dif
ferent times by both houses of Congress
and by evdfcy distinguished lawyer in the
land.”
Now, is it not quite as great a wonder
that the Mobile Register should have
indulged in such gratuitous, as well as
injurious language towards me ? When
and where have I ever taken “issue” with
the Judiciary Committee in their “con
clusion,” upon the extraordinary charac
ter of the order issued by Judge Durell
referred to ? When and where have I
ever defended the action of Judge Durell
in this matter, further than to coucede
his jurisdiction under the infamous
“Enforcement act,” so far as related to
the Governorship ? This, the counsel
on both sides conceded, as well as the
constitutionality of the act, while it is
well known that I have ever held the
whole act to be utterly unconstitutional.
But in that very “letter” alluded to
I said: “So far as relates to the judg
ment or order of Durell, suffice it to say,
that I have no hesitation in declaring it
as my opinion, as a lawyer, that it was
wrong /” In “my recent letter” refer
red to, I did defend General Grant from
the charge of “usurpation” as set forth
in oertain resolutions,etc.,butneverhave
I defended the tightfnlness of the de
cisions, judgments, orders, or decrees of
Judge Durell in the case instituted in
his Court by Kellogg. When you give
your readers the whole of that “recent
letter” they may be better able to judge
for themselves whether I was right or
wrong in all the positions therein taken
by me. All I want is a full and fair
hearing before an intelligent public.
Very respectfully,
Alexander H. Stephens.
The “Register's” Comments.
It will be observed thaWMr. Stephens,
in his present letter, contends that Judge
Durell had nq jurisdiction so far as the
General Assembly was concerned, but
that lie had jurisdiction of the case, to
use the language of his former letter,
“over the suit so instituted by Kellogg
for the establishment of his right to the
Governorship of Louisiana.” Mr. Ste
phens must know .that the Republican
party could not have sustained Kellogg
in his position as Governor without also
establishing a General Assembly at the
point of the bayonet. The midnight
order of Durell therefore overthrew
the General Assembly, as elected, and
put into power the Kellogg As
sembly at the point of the bay
onet. General Grant lent himself to
this usurpation. The overthrow of the
General Assembly was a part of the con
spiracy. Mr. Stephens appears to im
agine that the President did nothing
more than to furnish a posse for the
Marshal to carry into effect some order
relative to Kellogg’s claim to the Gov
ernorship. Just here he is in error.—
Dnrell’s olaim to jurisdiction over tlie
case has been denounced in every re
spect to have been illegal, even under
the law which Mr. Stephens quotes. All
the foremost lawyers in the United
States concur in that denunciation.
Judge Cooley, in a note to the last edi
tion of his work upon “Constitutional
Limitations,” denies the right of the
Federal Courts to assume jurisdiction in
such a case.- The Senate and House
Committees declared that the attempt
by Judge Durell to overthrow one State
government and to establish another
under the pretense of a suit to preserve
testimony, was unwarranted even under
the Enforcement acts and in every re
spect unconstitutional and void.
For Mr. Stephens to say now that Du
rell had jurisdiction at the outset so far
as to declare Kellogg Governor, but that
he had no jurisdiction to order the
ejectment of the rightful Legislature
and the establishment of the Kellogg
Legislature, is to trifle with the great
question which threatens the rights and
liberties of all the States. To exhibit
the absurdity of his letter we have only
to ask him the following question : If
Durell had the right to establish Kellogg
as Governor, how could he sustain him
in that position without manufacturing
a General Assembly who would recog
nize him ? Certainly Mr. Stephens
would not contend that the President’s
bayonets must sustain Kellogg, even
though the General Assembly might
impeach him. Durell and Grant saw
very plainly that they must not only turn
McEnery out at the point of the bayonet,
but must also turn out the McEnery
Legislature, so as to preclude the possi
bility of a return of the legally elected
Governor. Mr. Stephens contends, in
the face of the Judiciary Committee re
port, that Durell could put Kellogg in,
and that the President must use his
troops to keep him in; but when it,
comes to manufacturing a General As
sembly, without which the bogus Gov
vernor could not retain his seat, Mr.
Stephens flies the track and says that
Durell had no right to call upon the
President to cross his bayonets in front
of Mechanics’ Institute. It is difficult
to uuderstand what force or effect an
order in the case of Kellogg would have
had unless it had been followed up by
an order overthrowing the legislative
department as well as the Executive. —
We dismiss the subject with an approval
of Mr. Stephens’ denial of the right of
Durell to interfere with the Louisiana
Legislature. It must follow that if
Judge Durell had no right to decide
who were the members of the Louisiana
Legislature, the President had no right
to order his bayonets crossed in front of
the halls of the General Assembly. If
the President had no each right he is
not the man to serve a third term, and
Mr. Stephens is not the man to defend
him as having done no wrong in the
Louisiana ease.
The Grangers are determined to oust
the middlemen. At a meeting in New
York it was stated that flour costing in
the market eleven dollars a barrel was
bought direct for the Grangers for seven.
On butter the saving was ten cents a
pound; on clothing, from ten to fifteen
per cent., and sewing machines which
retailed at seventy-five dollars were ob
tained at from thirty-five to forty-five.
An attempt to get coal at one dollar and
fifty cents a ton deducted from the mar
ket rate was defeated. The price was
agreed on, but subsequently the dealer
said he was satisfied, was making money,
but he added that he had received wan
ing from the coal combination, of New
York not to sell the organization any
more coal, or they would not sell him
any. He must either break with the
combination or break his ooatract.
L. Q. f. LAMAR.
The Speakership—His Views on the
Situation.
[Macon Telegraph.]
In couversation yesterday with the
Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, the distinguished
Representative from Mississippi, allud
ing to some talk in the Southern news
papers about his posible candidacy for
the Speakership of the next Congress,
he said it amounted to nothing as an in
dication of probable or posible events.
It would be so extremely injudicious on
the part of the majority to put forward
a Southern man for that position, that no
such idea conld be seriously entertained;
and his own convictions of its impolicy
were so strong that he would consent in
no event to be a candidate, or even ac
cept the position if tendered. He wish
ed it distinctly understood that the sug
gestion of his name for that distinguish
ed position was entirely without his con
sent or sanction, and unwelcome to him,
as affording some quasi support to the
industrious efforts to play upon the
jealousies and suspicions of the people
of the North.
In nis judgment, the Southern Demo
crats had no design or desire to assume
the position of leaders, even were it
possible for them to occupy it. That
duty devolved properly on the other
great sections of the country, and the
South would be more than content to
follow their lead in every wise measure
for tbe restoration of national prosperity
and harmony. The recent elections
were unexampled in the magnitude of
their results and the popular calmness
and equanimity which attended them.
They amounted to a well considered and
qniet verdict of the intelligent voters
that the interests of the country de
manded a radical change in the public
ad ministration. They placed the South
ern States once more iu harmony with
the great majority of the States of the
Union, and it should be our study to
strengthen the ties of good fellowship
in every way consistent with propriety,
dignity and the public interest.
FREE MONEY,
General Toombs ou Usury and Usury
Laws
[Atlanta Herald.]
Reporter—What are your views upon
the expediency of the re-enactment of
the usury law?
Gen. Toombs—My opinions upon that
subject are very decided, and I have often
given them to the public. In a few
words, let me say that I am violently
opposed to this great extortion that
money-changers are practicing upon the
poor people. It has been condemned
by the great philosopher, Jesu3 Christ.
He never committed “ assault aud bat
tery" bat once in bis life, and that was
when he overthrew the thieves who were
swindling the people in God’s house.
The idea of money being free anyhow !
It is not free now even. It is made a
grand monopoly of. There is an old
maxim that a meaner or inferior cur
rency will always drive out a better or
superior currency. It was the case with
the Confederate scrip. The Yankee rag
money has driven out the gold and sil
ver, and now these ragged bank notes
are taking the place of the Yankee rags.
Well, we have as a circulating me
dium, therefore, nothing, scarcely, ex
cept paper money, and the Yankee gov
ernment has refused to give us any more
of that; so what there is of it can be
monopolized. There is no doubt of it.
These same facts go to show that money
is not an article of commerce, according
to the common acceptation of the term.
Corn, cotton and bacon can be furnished
to suit the demand. If there were to be
a great demand for shoes here in At
lanta all at once, an immense cargo
oould be shipped from Boston in a short
time. It is not 90 with money, for
there is a limited quantity of it in ex
istence. Then, according to the very
nature of things, money is a medium,
and nothing more.
Reporter—General, do yoa think any
law on the subject could reach the evil ?
Gen. Toombs—Yes, certainly it could.
It has done so in the past. In England
the usury law was ever in existence,
until 1866. About then it was abolished,
and what was the consequence ? Why,
things went on from bad to worse, until
the Court of Chancery actually took up
a case where a man had been charged
fifteen per cent. Now, there was at that
time no law in existence prohibiting
usury at all; none to prevent a man from
charging one’ thousand per cent, even,
and yet the Courts found themselves
compelled, as a mere matter of equity, to
interfere to protect the people from ab
solute extortion. Now, what has been
the ultimate result of all this ? The
Parliament of Great Britain has found it
imperatively necessary to restore the
usury law. Yes, the arguments for
what is called “free money” is plausible,
but it is all fallacious. The entire
theory is unsound; the practice is a
gross oppression, and the people ought
to be protected against its tyranny.
Governor Hendricks on the Political
Reaction.
St. Louis, December I.—The Bepub
ean to-morrow will contain the following
letter, written by Governor Hendricks,
of Indiana, to a friend in this city :
Indianapolis, November 18, 1874.
My Dear Sir —l thank yon for your
kind note of the 7th, which I received
upon my return, after an absence of a
week. I think your suggestions are of
the greatest importance. Although the
political change has extended over the
whole country, and appears very posi
tive, yet a reaction will surely set in if
we disappoint the people in their just
expectations. To make our success per
manent we must observe moderation
and wisdom. The Republican party
cannot destroy us, but we can destroy
ourselves. Very truly yours,
T. A. Hendricks.
THE COTTON CROP OF 1874.
Report of the Memphis Cotton Ex
change.
Memphis, December 2.— The Cotton
Exchange crop report for November, is
sued this morning, gives the following
summary, derived from 107 responses
from West Tennessee, North Mississippi
and Arkansas: North of Arkansas river,
64; report damage by frost, 43—no
damage; average damage by frost, 3*
per cent.; average decrease by acreage,
lj per cent. Due exertions are being
made to save the crop. The average
closing of the picking season last year
was January 14th. This year it will
close about December 7th. The crop is
being marketed unprecedentedly fast.
The corn crop of this district is about
32 per cent, short of the average of the
past two seasons. The aggregate of
responses does not indicate any change
in the morale of laborers. The pros
pect is, that the entire crop will be
saved in a better condition than ever
known. The committee are of opinion
that the decrease of the cotton crop in
this district from last year will be about
35 per oent.
ARKANSAS.
A Curdling Chapter of Crime—The
Black Deeds and Doom of a Black
Fiend.
Memphis, December 2. —On last Satur
day night Isaac Ruffin met Malissa
Adams, both colored, in the woods near
Marion, Ark., and, after outraging her,
attempted to kill her with a knife. In
the scuffle which ensued she knocked
the knife oat of his hand, and he was
unable to find it in the dark. After
beating her till he thought she was
dead, he went to the house of her father,
near by, and told him that Malissa was
waiting at the gate for Maggie, her
youngest sister, to help her carry her
basket. He then left, and Maggie went
to the gate and found Ruffin there, who
violated her person and then fled.
Monday morning he was arrested in
Memphis and agreed to go back to Ma
rion without a requisition, and was
taken back, and after a preliminary ex
amination was committed to jail to an
swer, the proof against him being posi
tive. On Monday night fifty or sixty
armed negroes went to the jailer, and
forcing him to bring Ruffin out, took
him a short distance from town and shot
him to death, his body being literally
riddled with bullets.
JUDGE DUBELL.
He Says He is a Victim of a Bad Law.
New York, December 4.—A dispatch
to the Herald says Walker Fearn, who
has been appointed Durell’s successor,
is a relative by marriage of the Presi
dent. Judge Durell, who is now in this
city, was interview by a Tribune re
porter, by whom he is represented as
saying he is a victim of party exigency;
that the head and front of his offending
is a literal construction of the Enforce
ment act—a bad law, known to him as
such, passed by a Republican party,
but which he found on the statute book
and executed impartially. He gave in
detail his objections to the law as strong
as its worst enemy could desire, and
said when its unpopularity and inex
pediency had been exposed he was de
serted bj those who passed it, and by
them accused of overstepping his au
thority.
The Greenesboro Herald says Mont
gomery Shepperd, a Union Point rioter,
was killed near Social Circle on Decem
ber Ist. It also notes the fact of the ar
rival in Morgan county from Alleghany
county, New York, of a family who had
traveled all the way by wagon for the
purpose of settling there.
OCR ATLANTA LETTER.
An Interview With Gov. Smith—The
Governor’s Views on important
(Questions—He Opposes Recognition
of the Fraudulent Bonds—And Fa
vors a Convention—He Advocates a
More Rigorous Vagrant Law.
[Special Correspondence Chronicle and Sentinel .l
Atlanta, December 4, 1874.
An Interview With Gov. Smith.
I met with Gov. Smith this evening
after he was through with the official
duties of the day, and, thinking it a fit
opportunity, sought his views on some
of the leading State topics of the day.
I told him that there were in circulation
conflicting rumors touching his views
on the policy of Calling a Constitutional
Convention, and also on the question of
paying the fraudulent Bullock bonds,
and desired to have an expression of bis
opinion on these two questions for pub
lication. The Governor made no objec
tion, and with that candor and earnest
ness for which he is celebrated, pro
ceeded:
The Fraudulent Bonds.
“I am astonished,” said he, “to learn
that there is any controversy regarding
my views on the question of paying the
fraudulent Bullock bonds. My views
on this question have been made public
time and again. I was one among the
first, if not the first man, in Georgia to
dispute the legality of the Bullock bonds,
and my convictions concerning their
legality have never been altered. lam
absolutely and uncompromisingly op
posed to the payment of any bonds which
have been proven or can be proven
to have been fraudulently or illegally
issued.”
Correspondent—Do you regard the
proposed amendment to the Constitu
tion prohibiting the payment of these
bonis defective ?
Governor—l do. Its phraseology is
so defective as to exclude some of the
most important of the bonds from the
prohibition. I observed this defect
when it was presented to me for my ap
proval, and had the Legislature been in
session I would have called the atten
tion of that body to this serious omis
sion; but the Legislature had already
adjourned, and I signed the bill for
what it was worth.
Correspondent Governor, do you
think it competent for the approaching
Legislature to perfect this amendment ?
Governor Smith—As a citizen and a
lawyer, I do. There are, however, in the
State a number of able constitutional
lawyers who disagree with me. I think
myself that it is clearly within the power
of the approaching Legislature to per
fect this amendment. I, however, de
sire that this question be settled in a
manner satisfactory to every citizen of
Georgia, and I would prefer to have it
settled positively and unequivocally by
a power, and in a manner, which would
give rise to no future controversy on the
subject. lam anxious that it be settled
as soon as possible, so that it may never
again become an issue in our State elec
tions. I wish to see men elected to the
Legislature for other qualifications than
that of opposition to the payment of
these bonds.
A Constitutional Convention.
Correspondent—Governor, this sub
ject suggests another question which is
attracting much attention at the present
juncture—that of a Constitutional Con
vention. Do you think the time has ar
rived wheD we can properly and safely
call a Constitutional Convention ?
Governor Smith—As a citizen, I do.
While I make no recommendations as
Governor, my private opinion is that we
can safely call aConvention without fear
of consequences. Our people are con
servative and cautious and will not act
rashly or injudiciously, and in making
any alterations in our organic law will
be influenced by a desire to promote the
good of every class of our people. The
time has come when we need apprehend
no Federal interference, when we will be
allowed to regulate our own affairs un
interrupted by the dictation of Federal
authority. While our present Constitu
tion is a very good one and was framed
in some measure by men of patriotism,
it has several grave objections, and I
think the sooner they are remedied the
better. I have but one slight apprehen
sion in regard to the results of a Consti
tutional Convention at this time; I am
somewhat fearful it may produce issues
which may divide our people at the next
Presidential election. .I, however, be
lieve that the white people of Georgia
are so thoroughly united that they will
not permit local issues to divide them in
a national election when so much is at
stake; and I am willing to risk a Con
vention at this time.
Correspondent—How do you think,
Governor, it should be called ?
Gov. Smith—l think the question of
whether or not we shall have a Conven
tion, should be submitted to the people.
I wish to consult their wishes in this
question. Including both white and
colored voters I doubt whether there
are a majority of the people of the State
who favor a Constitutional Convention.
If they, however, desire one, I see no
reason why they should not have it du
ring the approaching Summer. It has
been urged that a Convention would be
too expensive, but I am of opinion that
if it be worth the while it is certainly
worth the expense to call it. If the next
Legislature should see proper to submit
the question to the people it should
make provision for a speedy assembling
of the Convention. It should specify
the time for the Convention or authorize
the Governor to do so ; appoint a time
for the election of delegates and for de
ciding the question of a Convention by
ballot simultaneously, and authorize the
Governor to issue his proclamation for
the same. Some time during the Summer,
when the mass of the people are not too
much employed, would be a proper time.
Emigration and Immigration.
Correspondent—Governor, have you
any recommendations to make to the ap
proaching Legislature on the subject of
immigration and emigration ?
Governor Smith—None of a positive
character. As regards immigration to
Georgia, there has as yet been devised
no practicable scheme to promote
such a movement. As regards the emi
gration of the negroes from Georgia, 1
entertain very decided and emphatic
opinions. If they really desire to leave
Georgia I want them to go. My ob
servation and information teach me that
they are, as a class, becoming more
worthless every year. They are already
a burden to the white people. The
white mau in the course of a few years
will have to support them, unless there
be enacted a stringent law against va
grancy. Why, sir, to illustrate: The
Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Janes,
has returns from about three hundred
of the leading planters in every section
and community of the State, in response
to direct questions on their system of
labor and its success and prospects. On
these three hundred plantations there
are employed eleven thousand, colored
people, and out of this number more than
eight thousand are reported to he idle,
from which it may be inferred that
more than two-thirds of our negro popu
lation are vagrants. The negro will never
make a valuable citizen until he acquires
property, and this he cannot do unless
he work. They desire to leave Georgia;
or if they don’t they all pretend to. The
recent expression of opinion through
the press that the people want them
to remain has made them feel very im
portant, and they possibly wish to make
the most of it. I, however, think that a
number of them will leave ; not in suffi
cient numbers, however, to perceptibly
affect us. They will gradually abandon
the State, and I think will ultimately
all return to Africa. When they are
gone we can utilize our cotton fields by
converting them into sheep pastures, and
thereby introduce anew, pleasant and
profitable industry.
Let the Erring Sisters Go in Peace.
The returns to the Commissioner of
Agriculture from the leading planters of
Georgia indicate that they are tired of
the question; that they are not disposed
any longer to beg the negro to remain
in Georgia; that he is becoming more un
profitable every year and that a majority
of them are now supported by the white
people of the State. They are more
over becoming, I fear, more hostile .to
the white people of the South. They are
all united in their hatred of our people,
and this hostility will become greater
possibly through the instrumentality
of colored leaders who are now succeed
ing the defunct carpet-bagger. They
won’t work, they won’t be educated to
the duties of good citizens, and they
reject the advice of the white
people. They are a poor, iguor
rant, deluded people. I pity them
and fear that under the influence of
leaders of their own color, whose mo
tives are vengeance and hostility in
stead of a desire to make money out cf
them, that they will suffer untold evils.
I told the leaders of the recent colored
Convention that they were injuring their
people. The great mass of them be
lieved that the Convention would pro
vide them all with fortunes, and leaving
their families to beg or steal they flocked
to|Atlanta, ragged and dirty, to see what
was to be done, losing time, to be
come disappointed, and to return dis
contented to steal and to beg. These
negro leaders came here parading their
so-called grievances and I told them
that the white people had a grievance
which was a grievance, and which I
would complain of at the next session of
the Legislature; and that was that
thousands of colored people were leading
a life of idleness, and a law should be en
acted requiring them to be arrested and
tried for vagrancy, I told them one thing
which I think impressed them, ana
which if heeded will greatly benefit us.
I advised them if they left Georgia to
do so only on condition that the “leaders
who now are endeavoring to persuade
them accompany them.” ;In the event
they do this we will be ridden of these
inflammatory spirits to whom more than
anything else must be attributed their
present discontent. •
Such are some of the views of Gov
ernor Smith—he of the iron will. Your
correspondent thanked him and retired,
thinking that the negro was an elephant,
his condition an anomaly, and his des
tiny a mystery ! Halifax.
LOUISIANA.
An Uncertain Condition of Affairs in
the Crescent City—Kellogg Desirous
or Quitting His Trust—Probability
of a Congressional Investigation.
New Grlkans, December 2.—The
Herald , of Saturday, giving the in
trigues of the various parties in this
State, and indicating the Presidential
polioy, arrived here to-day and caused
considerable comment. The declarations
of McEnery. Kellogg, Warmoth and
Pinchbeck attrated general attention, in
view of the belief that no politician
knows “what a day may bring forth.”
In this State there are a great many
trimmers. Warmoth is evidently one of
them. The lines are closely drawn be
tween McEnery and Penn for the repre
sentatives of the people, and Kellogg
and Packard as the representatives,
first of the State and second of the Na
tional Government. Congressman Shel
don and others, adherents of the Grant
interest in this State, admit that Kel
logg’s government is a failure. Every
representative of the Federal Govern
ment of this State, including Collector
Casey, the brother-in-law of the Presi
dent, is understood to take the same
view.
Governor Kellogg, on Sunday night,
bought palace car tickets for Washing
ton aud New York, with the open declara
tion of bringing down a Congressional
committee to prove that he and Gen
eral Grant were elected in 1872. Mr.
Kellogg for weeks has been making bets
that he would have, a week after the
meeting of Congress, a Congressional
committee sent here to investigate
Louisiana affairs, and has boasted that
this committee would vindicate him.
His intended visit to the capital was for
this purpose, but he suddenly abandon
ed it, and he will remain here, Micawber
like, for something to turn up. Kellogg
is now negotiating for the sale of the
property he has acquired in the State,
and when he loaves it will probably be
never to return. He is sick 'of a fight in
which his friends desert him, and will
willingly retire from his office and thus
permit the people to speak.
JUSTICE AT LAST.
A Legally Elected Senator Who Was
Kept Oat of His Seat by Arbitrary
ltulers Accorded His Rights.
Montgomery, Decembers.—The State
Senate has ousted Miller, Republican,
and seated Martin, Democrat. As this
affair is of national importance the fol
lowing review of the facts is given: On
the organization of the Attorney-Gene
ral’s compromise the Legislature in Jan
uary, 1873, a quorum of the .Court Boom
Republican representatives was seated
in the House. In 4he Senate the Re
publicans wanted one Senator to make a
quorum, and entered a contest for Mar
tin’s seat. The matter was referred to a
committee, who reported that counting
all the votes Martin, Democrat, was
elected by 269 majority, and that count
ing only the legal votes he was elected
by 265 majority, but by arbitrary
rulings Lieutenant-Governor McKinstry
seated Miller and ousted Martin without
allowing the Senate to vote whether he
should bo seated or not. The Demo
crats fearing that if they did not sub
mit the Republicans would again with
draw, set up anew Court Room Legis
lature and secure Federal recognition,
contented themselves with seeing that
the journals stated tjie facts as they oc
curred, and with a formal protest en
tered at large therein. It was this seat
ing of Miiler which gave Spencer his
sole claim to the seat he occupies in the
Uuited States Senate. After the last
election, the Senate holding over, Mar
tin petitioned for his seat. The peti
tion was referred to a committee, which
reported the foregoing facts, aud recom
mended that the Senate resume the pro
ceedings at the point where they had
been broken off by McKinty’s arbitrary
ruling, and proceed with what was in
fact a suspended contest. This was
agreed to and Martin was declared en
titled to the seat.
Parisian Clime.
We have just received word of one of
those romantic robberies that turn up
from time to time in every country. A
certain Teschemacher, German by birth,
has long enjoyed the entire confidence
of a great Anglo-French firm, Messrs.
Poiaset, of Bradford and Paris. Though
but twenty-eight years old, and boyish
of appearance, Teschemacher occupied
the position of chief cashier, and was
even trusted with the authority to sign
for the firm. Just before the war, iu a
public place, he made the acquaintance
of Marguerite Chauvin, a young person
of some attractions and of superior edu
cation. Led for her sake into large ex
penses, he began to gamble on the turf
with such luck as to win nearly £4,000
in a very short time. Thereupon he
bought two ponies, a basket carriage,
aud other knicknaeks of the sort and
hired a charming little house in the
Avenue Bourdon, a neighborhood very
retired. There he sat up a staff of ser
vants, passing under the name of Baron
Alphonse. Speaking English excellent
ly, he was supposed, in the Avenue
Bourdon, to be a wealthy and eccentric
milord, whose ruinous expenses were a
subject of gossip. Going out early in
clothes of the latest fashion, he passed
the day at his desk in a coat almost too
ancient for respectability, dined for a
franc and a half, and returned home
late, fashionably clad, as he had set out.
His bachelor chamber, modest beyond
what his position authorized, was known
to all iu the office at 81 Boulevard Ma
genta. But fortune changed. Cards
and horses turned against the cashier.
He began to falsify his books. But for
three years the double life was led with
out discovery, though the servants of
Baron Alphonse are wonderfully suspi
cious afterthefact. A fortnight since came
the warning of a catastrophe inevitable,
though so long deferred. M. Poisset
arrived from Bradford and proposed to
go over the books. Teschemacher saw
his game was up, opened the safe, took
out £12,000 in notes, and caught the
night mail to London. Having taken
care to balance the book' l , he still left
no suspicion behind, until non-appear
ance cajised alarm. Before the tele
graph overtook him he had taken shin
for Quebec on board the Prussian. Eft
companion even was too late to catch
him, having delayed too long over her
trunks. She came back to Paris, and
was arrested with 22,000 francs upon
her. There are policemen looking out
for Teschemacher at Quebec. — Corres
pondence of the London Telegraph.
lOPICS OF THE STATE.
Partridges sell in Columbus at 12 \
cents each,
The grand jury of Spalding county
recommend the calling of a State Con
vention.
W. C. Kelly, a married man of Web
ster county, eloped with another man’s
wife the other day.
The Fort Valley Mirror says a man
died in that place the other day from
reading one of Watson’s poems.
The South Georgia Conference will
convene at Savannah on the 6th of De
cember. Bishop Pierce will preside.
Married, at Duluth, on the 29th No
vember, 1874, by John F. Brown, N. P.,
and ex-officio J. P., James .T. Herring
ton and Mrs. Winnie M. Barnett, all of
Gwinett county. The bridegroom is
seventy-five years of age and the bride
fifty-six.
The following named gentlemen have
been appointed trustees of the Lunatic
Asylum : James F. Bozeman, of Fulton
county ; L. N. Whittle, of Bibb county;
John Hammond, of Baldwin county,
and R. L. Mott, of Muscogee county.
They will hold office for two years from
the first Monday in December, 1874.
Affidavits were received Tuesday by
the Governor, from Gordon county, re
citing . certain irregularities in the
Seventh District Congressional election.
The Governor replied that they were re
ceived too late, as no notice of a contest
had been received when the votes had
been counted out by the Secretary of
State, and the commission was already
issued.
The Rev. Father Enaresboro, better
known as Father Patrick, long connect
ed with the ’Bishop's household in Sa
vannah, took leave of the congregation
of the Cathedral on Sunday last. He
takes his departure from the city to
morrow, on an extended tour through
Europe, visiting all the prominent cities,
including Rome, and will finally settle
in London.
The Columbus Enquirer says: The
cotton editor of the Atlanta Constitution
estimates the cotton crop at 4,150,000
bales. He is a poor man we hear. If he
knows all about it he should be rich.
H%saya the receipts at the ports for
eight years, for the first three months,
was 271-10 per cent, of the total crop.
This ratio the present season would
make port receipts, 4,668,000, to which
add 330,000 for overland and Southern
consumption and we have a crop of
3,000,000 bales. On account of a fair
Fall he drops 900,000. Bosh for Buch
estimates.
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Appropriation Bills.
Washington, December I.—The un
pleasant fact has transpired that the ap
propriation bills have been prepared
without the aid or supervision of any
of the Democratic members of the
Committee on Appropriations, except
Mr. Swann, of Maryland, who has not
been able to give continuous attention
to the subject. Messrs. Marshall, of
and Hancock, of Texas, both
Democrats and worthy gentlemen, are
members of this committee, but for
some cause oc other are not present in
their places. The result is, that, when
these bills shall come up next session,
there will not be a single Democrat of
the committee acquainted with their de
tails and able to point out the jobs and
rascalities they may contain.
The Civil Rights Bill.
There are grave apprehensions that
there will be a nnmber of Democrats
absent for the first, few days of the ses
sion, and that the Administration
leaders will take advantage of their ab
sence to pass the Civil Rights bill with
or without sohool feature. The only
danger of passing the bill is at the be
ginning of the session, and the consti
tuencies should mark the Democrats
who may be at home when they ought
to be in their seats. The Democratic
members of the present House comprise
a number who seem, like Grant, to re
gard their office as a perquisite, and not
as a public trust.
Reorganization of the Senate.
An effort is on foot to call a cauces of
the Senate early iu the session, with a
view to reorganize Hie Senate commit
tees. This is a direct movement to dis
place Cameron from the head of the
Foreign Relations Committee, and also i
fill that of Education and Labor with a
more fitting Chairman than the illiterate
Flanagan, of Texas. The latter commit
tee did comprise, during his life. Sum
ner, and still retains Morton and other
prominent Senators. Owing to the mani
fest ignorance of its Chairman, no meet
ing of the committee as it is now consti
tuted has ever been held or ever will be
while Flanagan is at the head of it.
The Unfinished Business of Congress.
The order of business in both branches
of Congress, for the opening of the ses
sion on Monday next, has been made
out, and sent to the printer. The cal
endar of the House includes at least 200
private bills, notwithstanding the very
large number disposed of at the end of
at the last session. The Civil Rights
bill remains the first thing on the Speak
er’s table, and after it comes the bill for
the relief oi contractors for war vessels;
extending the Bayfield and St. Croix
land grant, and the Senate bill to pro
tect troops in the United States reserva
tions. At least 100 bills appear in the
list referred to the committee of the
whole, nearly every one of which is as
good as dead. Among these are Mr.
Dawes’ bills for the repeal of the taxes
on bank checks and friction matches;
Mr. Garfield’s bill to consolidate and
revise the legislation relative to appro
priations; the postal savings bank bill;
Bromberg’s quarantine bill; Woodford’s
bill for the reorganization of the cus
toms service; bills for the reorganiza
tion of the State aud Treasury Depart
ments; and last of all, the bill remit
ting duties on goods destroyed in the
Boston fire.
In the Senate the “Little tariff bill,”
which was voted down in the House,
near the end of the last session, stands
at the head of the order of business,
the question being on asking a further
committee of conference witlrthe House.
It will be passed over and flever heard
from again. The list of general orders
embraces some 200 bills, most of which
are of a private character. At the head
of the list are Mr. Sherman’s bill to au
thorize the organization of national
banks without circulation, and the gen
eral amnesty bill, passed by the Houso
last session. Mr. Carpnnter’s bill to re
store the rights of the State of Louisi
ana stands 11th on the list, but, should
aotion be taken on it, the first question
will be ou referring to the Privileges
and Elections Committee. Among tho
more important bills on the calender
are the bill for the payment of the
French spoliation olaims, which has
be m reported favorably upon by the
Foreign Relations Committee; the bill
to reorganize the general land office,
the postal telegraph bill, the bill to es
tablish a bureau of internal commerce,
and bills for the admission of Colorado
and New Mexico as States.
The President's Message.
The President, at the meeting of the
Cabinet to-day, submitted portions" of
his message, particularly that part relat
ing to the finances and the national ma
terial prosperity. Those who pretend
to be in the President’s confidence and
have announced that he would, in a
measure, weaken in his hard money
ideas, will find themselves further from
the facts than ever before. He will
speak in the strongest language in favor
of a specie basis for all transactions at
home and abroad, and will urge Con
gress to take some steps to that end, be
fore it is too late. He will also urge a
liberal policy toward home industries,
in order to encourage the laborer and
bring business back again to the fur
nace, the ship yard, and the factory.
He will especially urge the necessity of
encouraging and fostering ship building.
The Secretary of the Treasury read to
the Cabinet portions of his report on
the financial situation, and his position,
of course, agreed with that of the Presi
dent. The message will be considered
again on Friday, and on Monday morn
ing a final session of the Cabinet will be
held to consider it before its transmis
sion to Congress.
The Russian Mission.
A report was ourrent about the city
to-day that Colonel John W. Forney
would be tendered the Russian Mission,
and as this report was a matter of com
ment at the White House after the ad
journment of the Cabinet, it found many
believers, especially when it was cou
pled with the statement that his Penn
sylvania friends had urged this appoint
ment in consequence of Colonel Forney’s
course in connection with the Press.
There is the authority of three members
of the Cabinet for the statement that
his name in that connection has never
been considered by the President, and,
therefore, had never been before the
Cabinet. Colonel Forney stands no
possible chance. Since the declination
of James Russell Lowell, the names of
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Oliver Wen
dell Holmes have been considered by
the President and Secretary Fish, but it
is not probable that either will be ten
dered the appointment. A gentleman
who has occupied exalted positions, not
only in the Republican party, but in the
State and National Governments, of
great wealth and high commercial and
social standing, but not a resident of
New York, will be next offered the place,
and should he decline, the office may be
tendered to Secretary Robeson or some
other person of purely political promi
nence.
A full Cabinet and a prolonged session
upon the message. All quiet in Arkan
sas. Governor Kellogg has abandoned
his visit North upon the suggestion that
a colored person would not be agreeable
to the Knights Templar as chief in the
courtesies which Louisiana proposes to
accord to the Knights.
It is stated that Butler will not press
the Civil Rights bill, which is second on
the Speaker’s table, unless instructed to
do so by the Judiciary Committee, of
which he is chairman.
No successor to Judge Durellhas been
positively named.
Interference in Lonisiana and Ar
kansas.
Washington, December 2.—A strong
delegation of Republican politicians has
arrived here from Lonisiana, and the
telegraph announces to-day that “Gov
vernor” Brooks and “Poker Jack” Mc-
Clure, of Arkansas, are on their way to
Washington, so that the vexed ques
tions in both those States will be thrust
upon the attention of members of Con
gress at the very opening of the ses
sion. The present indications are that
those people will knock at the doors of
Congress in vain this Winter. The few
Republicans who have already arrived
express a disinclination to interfere in
the local affairs of the States unless it is
absolutely necessary; and, so long as
peace prevails in Arkansas and Louisi
ana, the present indications are that
they will be left severely alone. Sena
tor Morton, who expected to remain in
California all Winter, will leave San
Francisco for Washington to-morrow.-
He comes at the request of the Kellogg
party to Louisiana.
The discontent among Republican
Congressmen with the President, that
was so noticeable a year ago, has evi
dently greatly increased in the last few
months, and the anti-Administration
wing has grown to formidable propor
tions. The course of the President in
his continued affiliation with, and active
friendship, for, the members of the Dis
trict Ring and Supervising Architect
Mullett, is most severely criticised.—
Another cause of seriour disoontent is
the fact that the President permits him
self to be used by such men as Mosby in
much of his political course, and in
many of his appointments. Many com
plain that Grant is determined that if he
cannot be the next President no other
Republican shall be if he can prevent it.
A Stormy Session Ahead.
There are many questions of a trou
blesome nature to come up at the next
session, and the fact that this Winter
will witness more wrangling and useless
quarreling in Congress than any other
for yean is clearly foreshadowed,
The Workingmen's Inflation Scheme.
The Executive Council of the United
Order of Workingmen gives out that
that Order has determined to use all its
influence this Winter in favor of infla
tion legislation. The Secretary of tho
Order claims Unit there ate 74,000
Lodges already organized in the coun
try, aud that these Lodges constitute a
compact formidable secret political or
ganization. The financial policy of the
Order consists in a proposition to abolish
the national banking svstem, and to is
sue a greenback currency which shall
not be based on gold, but upon the real
and personal property of the nation.
The Executive Council claim to be able
to control several prominent men, and
state that henceforth the Order will be
an important element in politics.
The Civil Rights Bill.
Gen. Butler will, on Monday, insist
that the House shall come to a yea and
nay vote on the Civil Rights bill, which
i3 No. 2 on the calendar, and of which
he claims to have special charge. It
require considerable parliamentary
skill, in view of thS position of the bill
on the calendar, to prevent some formal
vote upon it. Its present position gives
it|*he key to the situation, and, if fili
bustering is attempted to evade a vote,
the friends of the bill can compel the
House to waste a great deal of time.
The bill, in all its features, is the origi
nal Sumner bill. It contains the ob
jectionab;e provision regarding mixed
schools, Some of the friends of the bill
are endeavoring to effect a compromise
which shall result in striking out the
mixed school provision. Gen. Butler
does not favor any compromise, -"but in
sists upon a direct vote upon the bill as
it stands on the calendar. '
What Butler Thinks About It.
General Butler has at last declared
himself privately to some of his friends.
He tells them that, in liis opinion, the
Republican party, as such, has cast its
last Presidential vote; that disorganiza
tion is certain. He is looking forward
to other th’ngs, and the two great mea
sures upon which he intends to plant
himself are a protective tariff and paper
money. The first with an eye to the
East and the last as a bait to catoh the
West.
Court in the general term decided
that the grand jury which indicted Har
rington and others for safe burglarly
was illegal and quashed the indictments.
This decision jt is understood relieves
Harrington and those implicated with
him from further treuble.
Printers’ Tournament.
The printers tourtiament, being a con
test in type setting, took place to-day
with the following result: There were
eight entries iu the first class, the type
nonpariel and time three hours. Tho
prize, a solid gold composing stick, was
won by S. N. Bennerman, who set
5,070 ems; R. A. McLean wo,u tho
second prize, a solid silver composing
stick, full newspaper size, who set 4,998
ems; W. W. McCollum won the third
prize, Menamin’s Encyclopedia of Print
ing, 4,720 ems. Second class, time one
hour aud thirty minutes, W. W. Malo
ney, silver composing stick, newspaper
size, 2,278 ems; Frank A. McGill, 'Ger
man silver composing stick, full Bize,
2,251 ems; H. W. Hartman, Harpel’s
Typograph, 2,187 ems. Long primer
class, time one hundred aud thirty min
utes, J. R. Mcßride, first prize, solid
gold composing stick, breastpin size,
2,128 ems; G. J. 8. Hunnicutt, Ameri
can Encyclopedia of Printing, 2,037
ems; H. C. Tarleton, a thermometer,
1,988 ems. The tournament took place
in the National Itepublican office. The
decision was in accordance with the
rules previously established, and none
were present except the judges, referee
aud ' proof readers. The tournament
was closed with a banquet to-night.
FOREIGN NEWS.
Alsace and Lorraine.
•London. December 5. —It is reported
that the Deputies from Alsace and Lor
raine were so incensed at Bismarck’s
speech of the thirtieth ult. that they
threatened to withdraw from the Reich
stag and quit Berlin, but their friends
remonstrated with and induced them to
stay.
Marine Disaster.
A ship supposed to be the Podteac
from Sunderland*, for Bombay, has been
burned at sea, and twenty-six of her
crew perished.
MacMahon’s Message.
Paris, December s. —The general im
pression is that the message of Presi
dent MacMahon made no change in the
political situation. The Legitimists are
firm in their refusal to vote for the con
stitutional bills. A meeting of the Left
Centre to-day rejected a proposition
that the immediate discussion of the
bill be moved in the Assembly, and re
solved to await an iuvitatiou of the
Right Centre and the Government.
Bismarck and the Ultramontanes.
Berlin, December s. —At the conclu
sion of Bismarck’s speech, alluding to
Kulman, who confessed that he attempt
ed the assassination in the interest of
his church, and addressing the Ultra
montanes, said: “You may thrust Kul
man away; he nevertheless belonged to
you.” Here the house burst-into cheers,
which were loud and long continued.
As this applause subsided cries of
“Pfui” were heard from the Ultra
montane benches. The President de
clared these exclamations unparliamen
tery. Bismarck—“l have no right to
censure such exclamations. (Pfui is an
expression of disgust and contempt.) I
myself am not a stranger to these feel
ings, but hope I am too polite to so
express them.” Windhorst, Ultramon
tane, rose and said that in his speech
from a balcony in Kissengen after Kul
man’s attempt, Bismarck gave the signal
for an attack of the Centre. It was
wrong to incite one party against an
other. They were drifting without that
towards war. Bismarck repelled the ac
cusation. He pointed to the continued
incitement in the Ultramontane press,
and to events which led to the attempt
of Kulman on his life, and added:
“Were I to believe half of wbat the Ul
tramontane papers say against me, who
knows what I should do.” Lasker de
clared Windhorst’s remarks about incit
ing to war unworthy of a representative
of the people. The President called
Lasker to order.
The Cuban War.
New York, December 5.—A Havana
letter states that Puerto Principe ad
vices of the 24th ultimo say that great
suffering there is feared the coming
Winter, as the troops have not been paid
for four months. The same letter states
that the village of San Geronimo was
captured recently by the insurgents, the
garrison of a hundred and fifty men,
after a severe fight, capitulating, with a
loss of sixty killed and a large number
wounded, including Major Branas, com
manding the Spaniards. The insur
gents under Gonzales captured a hun
dred and fifty rifles, twenty-five thou
sand cartridges aud a quantity of cloth
ing. Insurgent loss, two .killed and
fifteen wounded.
The Debate In the Reichstag.
London, December s.—The Daily
News' correspondent in Berlin tele
graphs that the debate in the Reiohstag
continued until a late hour, amid scenes
of great excitement. The evening pa
pers issued editions (a sign of unusual
enterprise), giving reports of the pro
ceedings down to adjournment.
Congratulations.
A deputation of Roman Catholic lead
ers from England have arrived in Mun
ster. They come to congratulate the
Westphalian Countesses, who were re
cently fined for a seditious address to
the Bishop of Paderborn, sympathizing
with him i t his imprisonment for hia
resistance to ecclesiastical laws.
Livingston’s Journals.
The foreign office has a dispatch from
Aden, dated November 28th, stating
that Livingston’s journals have reached
Zanzibar in safe hands.
Troops for Cuba.
Havana, December 5. A detach
ment of 255 soldiers arrived here to-day
from Spain.
Terrible Mortality.
Montreal, December s.—The num
ber of deaths here the past eleven
months was 5,290, of which 6J>l were
from small pox. This is only for the
city proper. Outside the limits there
have been 1,029, of which 139 were from
small pox. This makes the death rate
of Montreal 46 per thousand, fifteen per
thousand more than New l r ork and twice
as heavy as London, England. The
Star which gives the above figures, calls
on the Catholic clergy to advocate vacci
nation in opposition to the French doc
tors who oppose it..
ELECTRIC SPARKS.
King Kalakana and suite left San
Francisco yesterday morning in a special
palace car for Washington.
Tennie C. Claflin and Mrs. Woodhull
were arrested yesterday morning, at the
instance of Mrs. Freeman, oh the charge
that their bail was not up in the Buii
she had against them. It being shown
that their bail had been duly furnished
the charge was dismissed.
Philadelphia Dots.
Philadelphia, December s.—Hawley
and Ritter, proprietors of the Reading
Eagle, were to-day fined one thousand
dollars for the libel on Mr. Ross of
which they were recently convicted ’
A clerk in the foreign department of
Drexel & Cos., bankers, is a defaulter in
$26,000,
