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About Weekly chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 1866-1877 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1874)
pPltonicle anft pEDKESDAY. DECEMBER 16,1874. MICHIGAN. There hu been so muoh rejoicing over the conversion of snch sinners ns Massa chusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana that sufficient atten tion has hardly been paid to the politi cal repentance going on in other States. The election in Michigan, especially, does not seem to have received the significance which its importance de serves. Fall returns of the election have been received which show enor mous gains for the Democracy. The votes cast number two hundred and twenty-one thousand or four thousand more than were cast in 1872. In the Presidential election of that year Gen eral Gbant and the Republican tioket received a majority of over fifty-five thousand. This year the Republican State ticket is elected by only eighteen hundred majority. In the House the Democrats elect forty-eight members of 100—a gain of forty-three; and in the Senate fourteen of thirty-two—a gain of thirteen. From a majority of 120 on a joint ballot of 132 votes the Republi cans have been reduced to a majority of eight. Chandler, if re-elected to the Senate, will go through by the akin of his teeth and may be defeated by a coalition of the Democrats and honest Bepablicans. DEMOCRATIC BUTLERISM. The Tribune quotes Mr. Fernando Wood as publicly declaring that in the candidacy ior Speaker of the House of Representatives he cares not what charges are made against a man, or what unwor thy acts he may have done. He only asks that he shall be able to lead the party, and manage it in sncß a way as to secure success two years hence.’ Such sentiments would do credit to General Butler, and the words would easily pass for the utterances of the great De feated. The Essex statesman never lost an opportunity to sneer at hon esty, to exult capacity over morality, and ’to profess his contempt for pub lic opinion. But he discovered to his sorrow that the people were not educated up to his corrupt standard, and it seems to us that Mr. Wood would be wiser to consider him a warning instead of an example for imitation. More especially should he have refrained from the utter ance of sentiments so shocking to tho moral sense of the country in view of the fact that he is understood to be a candidate for the Speakership and an aspirant for the leadership of a great political party. According to his teach ings it should make no difference to the Democracy whether their General be a thief or a profligate so he be a man of ability. He may plunder the people, of whose property hois the chosen guardian, at his pleasure, and he shall be entitled to the highest honors which his party can bestow if he be an adroit politician and skillful party tactician. With all deference to Mr. W< od’s great expe rience in politics, and to his conceded ability, wo do not think hie doctrine will do. He can never make his party adopt it, and if he would have tho respect and confidence of his political associates he must believe more in honesty and less in capacity. We hope that he will promptly disavow the language which he is charged with having uttered. Mr. Wood should remember that the recent defeat of the Republicans was, in a great measure, duo to the prevalence of such sentiments in that party. They supported and sustained perjurers like Colfax and Patterson; thieves like Cameron; profligates like Carpenter; corruptionists like Butler; and drunk ards like Chandler because they were “smart” men aud skillful party leaders. Hut the masses of the people did not understand or approve the homage paid ■to iatellectual knavery, and they de clined to follow leaders who covered their cause with infamy and contempt. One of the great objects of the war against Radicalism is purity of govern ment. If Mr. Wood thinks that the people will overlook in one party that whioh they have just so signally re buked in another he has not the sagaoi sy whioh he thinks is the equivalent of morality and honesty. A CONSTITUTION AJ, CONVENTION. The LaQrange Reporter, or.e of the most influential and ably conducted of the Georgia weeklies, declares that it is not opposed to the holding of a Consti tutional Convention, but simply doubts tho policy of the movement and the power of a Convention to frame a Constitution whioh would not be rejected on ac count of the difference of opinion ex * isting among the people wijh regard to the removal of the capital, the reduc tion of the homestead exemption, and • perhaps other questions. The Reporter confesses that it “ does not dearly see what is the best plan to prevent the pay ment of the bonds ” —as two Legisla tures, four years time, and subsequent ratification by the people of a Constitu tional amendment will soaroely answer. We say to the Reporter that there is but one way in which to defeat the recogni tion and the payment, either in whole or in part,of the millions of fraudulent bonds issued, endorsed and negotiated by Bul lock and Company. A constitutional inhibition against their payment must be adopted within the next twelve months, and this oan only done through the instrumentality of-a Conven tion of the people. This is the shortest, safest, most satisfactory and effectual method of protecting the people against tho spoliation contemplated by the Bond Ring of Wall street and their allies. The difficulties which the Reporter suggests are, we think, easy of removal. The delegates to the Convention will be elected directly by the people, and their views upon important questions will be ascertained before their election. The probabilities are that their action will reflect the sentiments and receive the ap proval of a large majority of their con stituents. If, however, it is evident that on any important issue there is a serious difference of opinion among the delegates and those whom they represent, why then a . remedy will be found in a separate vote. That is to say, let the people vote separately upon the disputed clauses. For instance: if any attempt should be made to dimin ish the homestead exemption now estab lished by law, or to remove the seat of government from Atlanta to Milledge ville, and it should appear that the people and the delegates are nearly evenly divided upon these points, the propositions could be submitted at the sometime with the Constitution, but to a separate vote. The returns from each county would be “for a Convention" so many votes, “against a Convention” so many votes, “for removal of the capi tal to Milledgeville” so many votes, “against removal” so many votes. In this way the Constitution would run no risk of being defeated as a whole, while each voter would have an op portunity of expressing his opinion upon the separate clauses without being re quired to condemn theentire instrument. In the meantime we reiterate, what we have stated so often before, that the ques tion now is, not whether the Constitution will be adopted or rejected when sub mitted for ratification, or whether it is expedient to hold a Convention, but airnply this : Do the people wish a Con vention? The advocates of a Conven tion au iv ask that the people of the State shall be allowed to pass upon the measure. If hey decide in favor of a (Convention then? is little doubt that they will accept| labors. If they de cide against it there is an end to the matter. We only ask the Legislature to (allow their ’ constituents to page upon the question ior themselves. The South Georgia Methodist Con ference in session at Savannah adopted the fcemperanas resolution by a vote of 61 to 40, THE EXILES 'The Georgians who sought refuge in the congenial clime of South Carolina when the election of a Democratic Leg islature and the flight of Bullock ren dered this State an unsuitable field of operations, are rapidly becoming a pow er in the country of their adoption. Their influence has been sufficient to bring the new Governor end his Senate into collision, and to give the Executive his first check. The Blodgetts have had sufficient influence with the ring to cause that organization to make Blod gett the younger their candidate for Auditor of Newberry county. Chamber lain declined to nominate him, and sent to the Senate the name of D. R. Phifer, which was promptly rejected. The ring Senators are said to be determined that Blsdgett shall have the place, and the Governor will either have to accept him or wait until the Legislature adjourns, when he may appoint whom he pleases. THE EDGEFIELD MEETING. We are far from approving the action taken by the citizens of Edgefield coun ty at their meeting held last Monday. We do not believe in either the efficacy or justice of lynch law, and we should hate very much to see it adopted in any section of the South. We do not be lieve that the people should take the law in to their own hands. We do believe in courts and juries. Lynch law is a “species of wild justice” which while redressing one wrong perpetrates an other and a greater. Soon or later it recoils upon those who administer it, and the mischief which it causes is greater than that which it seeks to pre vent. At first it may be executed by good men, npon real criminals and for offenses which require severe and summary punishment. Rut sooner or later it is administered by bad and violent men, who resort to it without sufficient justification and prostitute it. to the redress of per sonal wrongs and the purposes of private hatred and revenge. In the hands of these it is made a scourge to the good as wefl as the bad and becomes a worse evil than that which it sought to prevent. Even when most carefully administered the innocent as well as the guilty are liable to punishment, and it is better that a hundred guilty men should escape than that the blood of one inno cent man should be shed. But while all this may be true, and while we may regret that the citizens of Edgefield have solemnly determined to resort to so dangerous a remedy, still we cannot but admit that if there was ever a sufficient excuse for people taking the law into their own hands the citizens of Edgefield are justified in what they have done. Before they are condemned for declaring that they will no longer seek justioe from the Courts but will them selves pass and execute sentence of death upon any person who may be detected in the commission of a certain crime, the wrongs which thi-y have suf fered should be "remembered and con sidered. Their county officers are in competent, corrupt and animated by a blind and malignant hatred of the re spectablo white people of the county. Asa general rule, their judicial officers are men in whom they can have no con fidence, and for whom they can entertain no respect. Their juries are composed principally of the lowest and most igno rant class of population,and their verdicts are based upon prejudice and color. If by any fortunate chance the conviction of a criminal was secured a corrupt Gov ernor has stood ready to extend Execu tive clemency and to turn the felon loose upon the community to repeat his crimes. They have a whole race array ed against them, and have been alarmed by more than one armed insurrection. But while they oould oonfront the enemies who showed themselves in the field, and oppose force with force, lat terly they have been assailed in a quar ter aud a manner calculated to cause the most serious alarm. Their enemies now attack them by night instead of by day, and with the torch instead of the rifle. During the past month scarcely a night has passed whioh did not witness the burning of a residence or gin house belonging to a white citizen, and in every instance the flames were kindled with the torch of an incendiary. Men leave their plantations for a few days and return to find their homes in ashes and their families houseless. Women and ohildren lie down at night trembling with fear, and the apprehension that they will be roused from their beds before the dawn by burning roof tree and flaming rafters. All sense of security, all feeling of safety has fled, and people know not how long they will have home or property. To give some idea of the con dition of affairs existing in Edgefield county we will state that, according to the Edgefield Advertiser, thirteen dwell ings, mills, or gin houses have been burned tvithin a radius of twenty miles in twenty days. In only one case has an arrest been made. In no case has any punishment been inflicted. Is it any wonder then that white citizens have banded together for protection ? tha t they have despaired of obtaining justioe from the Courts ? that they have determined to meet the torch with the oord ? If this resolution be carried out the results of their action cannot but be attended with the most deplorable con sequences, cannot fail to inflict the most serious injury upon the peace and pros perity of .the country. I)ut they say that unless they do act they will be ut terly ruined, and that they mast make some effort to protect their property, their own and their families’ lives from the midnight incendiary. We repeat that we do not approve the oourse which they have thought proper to pursue. We believe that under no circumstances should lynoh law be pro claimed, but at the same time we are not disposed to censure too severely a peo ple whose patience has been so sorely tried, and who have been offered such great ami continuing provocation to vio lence. We hope, however, that Gov ernor Chamberlain will carry out the fair promises of his inaugural and take ■ such action with regard to Edgefield as will give the people of that county pro tection and induce them to abandon the resolution which was adopted last Mon day. Quotations from Scripture on the usury laws have become common. The Rome Commercial thus answers Gen. Toombs: “ Jesus Christ, “the great philoso “ pher,’ did not condemn those engaged “in the practice of taking usury any “ more than he did those engaged in the “ harmless occupation of selling doves, “for he dealt with both with equal “severity. The offense committed by “ the parties so summarily dealt with “ consisted in selecting an improper “place for plying their various call “ ings. The Great Philosopher, on the “ contrary, approved the practice of “ taking usury. We need but refer the “ great commoner to the parable of the “ talents, as fonnd in the twenty-fifth “chapter of Mathew:” Thau oughtest, therefore, to have put my money to the exchangers, and then, at my coming, I should have received .mine own with nsniy. “ And then again, to tbs nineteenth “ of St. Luke Wherefore, then, gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? ' Tax Administration has come to the rescue of the safe burglars. The Attor ney-General has ordered the case against Harrington discontinued and there will be no second trial. While Habsinstoe was undergoing trial he was the invited guest of the White House. The ring thieves in the District of Oolnmbia are perfectly safe so long as General Grant is at .the head of the Government.’, The Atlanta peopla object to ootton on sidewalks. A HEAVY LAW SUIT. The Sumter Republican gives the his tory of an unusually heavy and some what singular law suit which has been commenced in Americas, Georgia. There is in the Code of the State an old and hitherto neglected statute, requiring every salesman, or other person, weigh ing ootton or produce to take an oath before some proper officer that he will faithfully and honestly weigh all pro duce brought to him for that purpose, and a true return make to the owner of the same. This oath is to be filed with the Ordinary of the county. To enforce the provisions of this statute it is far ther enacted that where this law has not been complied with both the factor, or merchant, and the party employed by him as weigher are liable, each, in the sum of twenty dollars for every bale of cotton, two dollars for every tierce of rice, twenty-five cents for every bushel of corn, and for one-third of the value of any other product weighed for or by them. These damages are to be recov ered by suits in the Superior Couit of the county, one-half of the amount re- 1 covered in each case to go into the edu cational fund of the county, and the other half to go to the informer, or per son prosecuting the suit. Under this statute a young man named Roberts Wheeler has brought suit against Har hold, Johnson & Cos., a large factorage firm, and their weigher, for four hundred thousand dollars damages for violation of the law daring the last season, and sail against the same firm for a similar amonnt for violations of the law during the present season. The Farmers’ Club and Grange Warehouse Company, of the same place, has been sued for two hun dred thousand dollars, and the South western Railroad will be sued for a mil lion. Eminent counsel have been re tained by both sides, and a lively legal fight may be expected. GRANT AND KEMPER. The Richmond Enquirer complains that Gen. Grant has insulted the Gov ernor and the State of Virginia. Last Summer, when Attorney-General Wil liams ordered his subordinates to sta tion troops in the oity of Petersburg, the Governor, giving voice to the senti ments of his people, addressed a spirit ed protest to the President against the outrage perpetrsto'* b* his law officer. When the Legislature of Virginia as sembled a few day" _a<ro the Governoi communicated the w ‘rhich his pro test had elicited Ti as follows: Hon James I. Kemper, Governor, Richmond, Vet.. Sir— l have the honor to inform you that the President has received your letter of the 17th instant, referring to my instructions to the Marshal of the United States for the Eastern District of Virginia as to the alleged disturbances in Petersburg, and has handed the same to me, with the request that I would aoknoweldge its receipt. Very respectfully, George W. Williams, Attorney-General. The Enquirer says if anything could be more 0001, contemptuous and insult ing than this brief document it cannot conceive of it. It is at a loss to deter mine whether this outrageous insult was intended to be personal or was meant for the Stafe of which Gov. Kemper is the Executive. It goes on to say : “ The Governor addresses the President “ in person, using language respectful “ but equally as spunky as any that “ Bob Toombs ever uttered. Grant “ hands it over to his lackey, and the “ lackey addresses the Governor to “ this effect: ‘The President is aware that there is such an individual as yourself, and that you are called Governor of Military District No. 1 : but does not think you have said anything worthy of his notice.’ Did we not know that the Governor had visited Grant and that they have always been supposed by some to be on the most confidential and intimate terms personally, the Governor himself hav ing informed the public that they had indulged in a confidential conversation ‘which was equally creditable to both parties,’ we should be strongly inclined to think that this was intended as a per sonal affront.” We agree with the Enquirer that the Governor of a State could not well receive cooler or more contemptuous treatment. The conduct of the Execu tive is the more inexplicable when it is rembered what warm friendship seemed to exist at one time between General Grant and Governor Kemper. They appeared to have organized a mutual admiration society, never 'grew weary of praising each other, and were con sidered Arcades ambo —third-termers both. Perhaps, however, the secret of the Presidential coolness may be found in the result of the recent elections. Radicalism, the third term project and the guerrilla schemes of Southerners of the Mosby stripe came to an untimely death to gether, and were buried in a com mon grave. General Grant has saga oity enough to see that he cannot cen summate his ambitious desires by means of Southern influence, and is seeking as sistance in another quarter. Conse quently Governor Kemper is cast aside contemptuously, and there is no more talk of “Grant and Kemper” as a third term ticket. And now the anxious inquirer writes from Shelby, North Carolina. He is in terested in cotton raising, and he has experienced the usual difficulties in find ing the post office address of Mr. Hyack Bellyminoer and discovering the locality of Soap Floating Springs, Florida, where the famous Asiatic Orange Cotton is cultivated. Ho is desirous of ascertaining Mr. Bellyminoer’s poet of fice, the real name of the correspondent who wrote np the Asiatic OraDge Cot ton, the county in which Soap Floating Springs are situated, and the name of the county town. We regret that we are unable to furnish any of the geo graphical or other information desired. Our contract only extended to bringing this wonderful cotton into notice. All the particulars concerning its cultiva tion, etc., will be furnished by the senior I editor of the Telegraph and Messenger, Maoon, Ga., who has accepted the gen eral agency for the Southern States. Tun Newnan Herald thinks.that it is about time for the newspapers to begin abusing Hon. B. H. Hill again. He has done the Democracy immense service daring the recent campaign, but there will be no further need of him until 1876, and he can be assailed very severely for the next two years. There is a good deal of truth in the Herdld's sarcasm. When there was any work to do Mr. Hill has been appealed to for assistance. When the work was finished he was dismissed, not only without thanks, but with reproaches. We believe th it in the last campaign he did more tba’i any other man to rescue tha Second District from the Radicals, and he is entitled to the thanks and the gratitude of the peo ple of Georgia. Thb good work in Kentncky against duelling still goes on. Thomas C. Joses, who was elected Clerk of the Court of Appeals, has not only been deprived of his office but has been indicted at Ftupkfort for usurpation. He is the present clerk and held tbe office when he was ineligible under t e Constitu tion. At a Republican meeting in Indiana, the other day, a speaker named Long, responded to a land call, and took the stand. But a big, strapping fellow per sisted in crying ontin a stentorian voice, “Long, Long?” This caused a little confusion; but, after some difficulty in making himself heard, tbe President succeeded in stating that Mr. Long, the gentleman honored by the call, was now addressing them. “Oh, be be d—d,” replied the fellow;- “he's the little skemicks that told me to call for Lon <* ” This brought down the hoose. THE MISSION OF THE DEMOC RACY. Judge Black’s Letter to tlie Demo cratic Banquet In Philadelphia Last Thursday Night. Philadelphia, December 2, 1874. Gentlemen —l am honored by your invitation to the dinner of Democrats to-morrow evening at the Continental Hotel, and I beg you to believe that nothing prevents one from attending but an imperative duty which calls me else where. I think I can understand how sincere ly you all rejoice over the great political events of the last two months. If you wish to know what my feelings are I must decline to tell, simply because 1 cannot do justice to the subject. Democ racy—which is the common sense and common honesty of the nation organized for public purposes—was supposed by its enemies to be effectually killed. It was but natural that the heart of every patriot should burn within him when he saw it rising again, facing the oppressor with a front as determined as ever, and denouncing corruption in high places with the same mighty voice which in former times went over the land like the tones of a trumpet. But let ns pot merely congratulate ourselves upon the recent past. Think nothing done until the work is finished. The victories of this year will pnt only one House of the Federal Congress into our hands, and we mast wait a year to realize even that. Our perfect indepen dence must be achieved iu 1876 by a struggle which will prove that we are worthy to be descended from the men whg proclaimed the rights of the States and the liberties of the people a hun dred years earlier. If we fail we must sink into a servitude even more degrad ing than that which we have endured for the last dozen of years. If we suc ceed, then will this puissant nation, like the awaking Samson, “Shake her invincible locks,” and start the new cen tury under auspices so grand that noth ing can arrest her free career. Wc must always bear it in mind that the triumph of Democratic principles means the restoration of constitutional government on a basis which will give absolute security to the rights of men against the mights of men. The broken walls of the Constitution are to be built up anew and made too strong to be thrown down again by the ruffians of the “higher law.” Our opponents them selves will become reconciled to the principles of American liberty when they pass into the minority and find the' magnanimous Democracy taking every possible precaution to guard against the oppression which they inflicted npon us in the days of their power. Peace will conje, too; sectional strife will be ended, and the public robbers who now swarm over the Southern States will cease their nefarious occupation when we revoke the license which the “ap propriate legislation” of the last nine years has given them. But we cannot reasonably hope to ac complish the object of our mission with out much labor and faithful exertion af ter the machinery of the Government shall be put into our hands. Fifteen years of domination by an anti-consti tutional party has utterly demoralized every branch of the publio service.— These corruptions have become so numerous and so diversified, have sent down their tap roots so deeply, have been practiced so openly, and have be come in a certain sense so respectable, that for many of them a mere change of administration will not speedily furnish a remedy. But the abuses may be end ed by tbe impulsion of the same moral force which.carries their authors out of public life. %When’Hercules undertook the task of cleansing the Augean stable he did not use the fork or the shovei, but turned the current of a river upon -it and so swept all its filth into the sea. The stream of publio opinion, if rightly directed, will in like manner aid a Dem ooratio Administration. This hydraulic method of reform being necessary, the freedom of the press and the untram meled right of the people to speak their sentiments—everything that lets the water on—should be sedulously encour aged and securely guarded. So nay it come to pass iu due time that we will re member the days of the gag law, the practice of kidnapping freemen, and the murder of innocent people by military commission, as we remember the years of mildew and potato rot and cholera— to only shudder at them and try to pre vent their recurrence. If I should close here you might mis understand me, I have not the least idea that we ought to unsettle anything which has been fixed and determined, or take from any human being a right vest ed in him by existing laws. We propos* no counter revolution. While we mean to be just, we are determined also to be liberal in the broadest sense of the word. The faitli of the Government, no matter by whom pledged, is irrevocable The whole civilized world knows that the public credit is safer with us than with our opponents, and this is shown Oy the fact that since the November elections American securities have riser in every market. We submit to the amendments of the Constitution, though they were carried by fraud and force, and the two last were intended to take away onr inheritance of self-government and give it to another race of men with out right and withont ability to hold or use it. But wo will execute the whole instrument, amendments and all, in a way that will save the rights of the honest white man, as well as those of the abolitionist and the negro. Another thing : A large and most re spectable body of men who, until lately, aoted with the Republican party, voted for our candidates last month. We are not to forget how much we owe them. The debt can be paid by showing that we deserve thpir confidence in our mod eration and fairness to all classes of the people. lam faithfully yours, &c. J. S. Black. GRANT AND THE SOUTH. [From the New York Tribune.] General Grant gives notice to Con gress and the oonntrythat he finds noth ing to regret in his past treatment of the South, and has no change to promise in his policy for the future. He has exe cuted the Enforcement laws according to their letter and their spirit, and he will repeat the transactions of the recent campaign whenever the occasion arises. He firmly believes in the stories of the Hon. Charles Hays and the Chattanooga Convention. He approves of Beach, Hester and Hodgson. He denounces the Southern whites with great bitterness for the crimes of murder, outrage and intimidation by whioh they have at tempted to control the vote of the freed men; and while he admits that they have had to live under rather “trying” governments, he intimates that they grumble altogether too much. This is not a cheerful declaration from our Chief Executive, but it is precisely what might have been expected from his obstinate character, and we have not the slightest doubt that he will carry out his rough policy to the end, unless he is checked by Congress. He is right, of course, in his determination to execute the En forcement laws so long as they remain upon the statute books; that is his plain duty; but he has allowed the partisan zeal of his officers to carry them far be yond the authorization of the law and to commit the most dangerous excesses in the sacred name of justice. These are wrongs about which Congress will prob ably have something to say before an other opportunity js presented for their commission. In respect to Louisiana the President is complacent and resolute. He repeats what he said long ago in his special message, that after once recognizing the Kellogg government he shall feel justi fied in sticking to it until it is upset by a resolute- of Congress, He cannot ex cuse his support of the usurpation on anv such ground as this, for it is a fa miliar rale of law that no man may take advantage of his own wrong. Kellogg was originally set up by a fraud, which Gen. Grant was one of the chief movers, and it is monstrous to pretend that the President is not at liberty to recognize the ‘true government because he has heretofore unlawfully aided the false one. But tL determination, wrong as it is, throws upon Congress a responsi bility which that body cannot afford to disregard. Gen. Grant would undoubt edly be very glad to get rid of Kellogg. The Republican party likewise feels that it has carried that dirty burden quite long enough, that it must lose no time in unloading, ifit ever means to run another race. We bpow of few things that would give the party ©.ore valuable help with less trouble than the parsing of an act immediately for the re lief of Louisiana. Upon the whole Ye take it to be clear from the message that the South has nothing to hope from General Qrant He has learned nothing from the elec tions. has no idea of making any change in his cal campaign were to to-morrow he would give the and his deputy marshals longer rope than ever. The sufferings of the Southern whites do not touch him; he does not comprehend them; he never did. And if Kellogg’s Returning Board muster courage enough to cheat the people out of the enaction of last month as they did ont df that ot iajf, they ma J depend npon the Bnpporfc of there is to be any help for the pro&train. States this Winter it must come irom Congress. Are none of the Republican leaders shrewd enough to take care that it shall come from the Administration side? ‘ " A fire in Charleston, West Virginia, j Wednesday night, destroyed property to j the amonnt of $200,000— mostly insured. I OUR ATLANTA LETTER. v A Georgia Farmer—Her. C- W. How ard—llls Spritiit Bank Farm—Sheep liaising in Georgia—Turnips, Lu cerne, Cotton—A Yisit from the Com missioner of Agriculture. [iSjw'aal Correspondence Chronicle anil Sentinel.] Atlanta, December 9, 1874. Rev. C. W. Howard, of Kingston, Bartow county, is recognized as one of the most learned agriculturists of the United S f ates. By some he has been considered a theorizer—a fine writer and not a pratical man— not a suoeess. What I am about to relate will, I think, show that this opinion is An Error, And is anjnst to him. He once had a handsome fortune and lost it at one blow by endorsing for a near and good friend. He bongiit a small bit of land where he now resides, at Spring Bank, for which he pdid a horse. He went to making lime and preparing his land for grazing pur poses. Before the war he nad nearly one thousand acres of land, with good flouring and com mills and saw mills, and his land cleared up and enclosed bt some twelve to fifteen miles of fencing He brought np a most interesting family, to whom he gave a finished education. There are but few ladies in Georgia who are more talented, learned or useful than his daughters. Mr. Howard, not withstanding his age, raised a company and went into tbe Confederate army, where he did gallant service. His home was in the line of Sherman’s march, and he came to it at the close of the war wounded, enfeebled with age and hard ship; his stock all gone, no provisions on hand, not a dollar in money, ten miles of fencing burned up, and a wife and several daughters to support. He, however, had a brave heart, and his" wife and daughters are wonderfully blessed with energy and a resolute and independent spirit. They bravely gave their assistance to his efforts, and now plenty and prosperity smile and bless the happy home of Rev. Charles Wallace Howard, The eminent and learned divine, scholar, soldier and patriot. Many persons ac cumulate money for themselves, but do nothing for or for their country. But few persons deserve much from mankind, and these do not always make money ; they generally fail to accumu late anything. Mr. Howard can show results demonstrating that he has pros pered financially, while freely contribut ing a very large amount of goods to tbe world in which he lives. His pursuits have not heretofore been of that kind are calculated to secure aecumula tions of property. He has been a min ister, a college professor, an editor, &c., a great portion of his life. Agriculture is his hobby, aud his writings are recog nized as standards of authority and in formation. It is only for a few years past that he has devoted himself closely to his farm. He is succeeding wonder fully—but few doing better. He is making money. He is specially de votiug his attention to Sheep Husbandry, Believing it to be one of the most agreeable and profitable branches of bu siness in the line of the husbandman. He is now making a most interesting experiment—the first time such a thing in its full N extent was ever attempted in Georgia. A number of his friends have been watching it with the deepest interest, and it promises to give the most astonishing and encouraging re sults. I trust your readers will care fully consider the following facts, and profit by whatever valuable lesson they may teach. Capt. Howard has Six Acres in Turnips, Which he planted in rows, two and a half feet apart and one hundred feet long, and fertilized with the ammoniat ed phosphate of the Stone Phosphate Company, nt the rate of 400 pounds to the acre. The preparation of the ground, the fertilizer and the putting in of the seed Cost $lB Per Acre. Tho phosphate was dropped in the furrow', where the seed was sowed with a drill, between the first and tho tenth of September. They were sowed later than they should have been—and then a good stand was not secured—because of the drouth, but there is in this field not less than Three Thousand Bushels Of turnips, or 500 bushels to the acre— this result being satisfactorily establish ed by measuring the turnips in a fair average row. They are the Flat Dutch variety (the red top and the white) and the Globes, and are certainly as fine turnips us ever were seen in Georgia, if they are to be judged by samples now' in this market, eagerly bought up as fast as they can be supplied. They have large, healthy, perfectly formed and de licious roots, with a very small quantity of “tops.” They have had tho proper culture, fertilized with a specific ma nure to produce them, and every way treated so as to make perfect turnips. They were planted on a rather thin up land, which last year made ten bushels of corn to the acre. This year it had a crop of oats, the stubble of which was turned under with a two-horse plow— then well harrowed and twice rolled; and the seeds sowed as before stated. These turnips he has raised for feeding his sheep, and is now using them for this purpose, with almost no trouble. He has constructed a MoveableFence, Which is partly his own invention (no patent on it) and is cheap, practical and a perfect fence. With this he encloses ten rows of his turnips, and puts about 125 bead of sheep in the enclosure—say 30x100 feet. In 24 hours the turnips (roots and tops) in the fold 'are con sumed, and tho ground made richer than almost any in the State, and the sheep are then put into a fresh enclosure of the same size. The six acres of turnips will feed the flock for more than two months—say till the middle of Febru ary. The great advantages are that there is no labor of gathering and feed ing the turnips to the sheep, and then the land is enriched to a degree that but few spots ever have the benefit of, all without the labAr of collecting, hauling and spreading the manure. There is no labor about it, except to move three sides of that little enclosure once a day. Mr. Howard has set aside one acre of these turnips for market, which he is selling in this city at - Fifty Cents Per Bushel. They will pay him forty cents per bushel net. This will make S2OO cash, or $92 more than the entire cost of the six acres; from which it will be seen that he gets 125 sheep as well fed as it is possible to feed them for more than two months in the hardest of the Winter and will have five acres of ground made richer than it is possible to make it by any other process for absolutely noth ing, except the trouble of moving tbe fence daily and will have a clear profit of $92 besides. And to give an idea of the value of this fertilizing: Three years ago he had three-quarters of an acre in turnips, adjoining his present six acres. He turned his flock of sheep on them at large and let them remain till they had eaten ail they would.— The next year that spot of ground made sixty bushels of corn; last year it produced five hundred pounds of lint cotton and pine-bushels of corn.— This year it was sowed in oats, which grew so rank that they all fell down and had to be ent with a blade ; and now it has a splendid stand of volunteer clover on it, which is a permanent thing ; it will be left with only the elover crop for years to come. Mr. Howard will turn under all the land where the sheep have eaten the turnips soon after they are faken off it—thus taking in and holding permanently all the manure left npon the ground. Next year he will plant a crop of onions on a part of the ground and cotton on the remainder. He has never planted any cotton, but intends to experiment on this fertilized ground, believing that, with favorable seasons, he will make Two Bales to the Acre. He says that with a favorable season and earlier sowing he can make one thousand bushels of turnips to the acre. Yesterday Dr. Thomas P. Janes the Commissioner of Agriculture, accompa nied by Col. Thomas C. Howard, Clerk of the department, and Mr. J. Henly Smith, the Statiscian, went up to Mr. Howard’s, upon an invitation kindly ex tended by him, to look at this experi ment, walk over his farm and barn yard, and spend a few bonrs wRh him and his family at his Spring Bank home. They returned perfectly delighted, and do not hesitate to say it a most agreeable and highly interesting visit, where they saw that which no farmer could see with out learning a most valuable lesson; aud Jhey all express the hope that thousands of Southern farmers will examine this subject and adept similar policy. Dr. Janes is one of -the’jnosi; (successful and practical planters that ever pursued the business in Georgia, and he gives the jßxpcjrimept of Capt. Howard an unquali fied endorsement, expressing the opinion that the method IS S effectual one in supporting sheep in Winter, and fertilizing the land. But time would fail roe to recite all that these gentle men report of what Capt. Howard is doing. He has a Summer bouse on the too of Look Out Mountain, where he intends fp carry his sheep in Summer, and bring them hi to Soring Bank in Winter. He planted: ofci acjY q: Isud on the top of that mountain, in Irish potatoes, this year. The clearing cost 810. It was not manured; and he sold in Atlanta S9B worth of potatoes from this acre, besides bountifully supplying his family for the Winter He has one acre of Lucerne, sowed in March last, from which he cut this year 4,760 pounds/of wpII cured hay, mowing it three times. He had this acre well plowed, quite deep, and put npon it 800 pounds of Yielle’s Ceriqute fertilizer. T have exhibited this communication to Dr. Janes, and he endorses the state ments I have given of the turnip crop, and the manner of folding the sheep upon it, as correct, and authorizes me to say that he heartily recommends this system of raising and feeding sheep and fertilizing our lands to the farmers of Georgia. Halifax. GENERAL JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON. An English View of the Cofifederate Leader. [From the London Saturday Review, Aug. 29.1 The fame of General Lee has so com pletely overshadowed that of all the other military chiefs of the Confederacy that probably few of the European pub lic now remember that there was a com mander of the army charged with the protection of the Southern capital be fore the great soldier who has linked his name in undying glory with the de fense of Richmond. And yet General Joseph E. Johnston —for, of course, it is of him we speak—gave evidence of abilities which entitle him to no mean reputation as a strategist. On the field of Bull Run he was the senior officer, aDd as he was the first chosen to beat back Northern invasion, so in the last de cisive struggle, when Shermau had scat tered the army of Georgia, and was be ginning his famous march to the sea, it was to Johnston again that the Copfede rate Government turned as the only bulwark of the Carolinas. A history from his own pen, or, as he more mod estly styles it himself, a narrative of the military operations* directed by this eminent soldier in the greatest of modern civil wars, cannot but be highly interest ing to the military student. In a brief introduction of less than three lines it is unpretendingly offered as a contribu tion of materials for the use of the future historian of tha war. And it is written in the tone and spirit we should expect from one who had borne himself so steadily against tre mendous odds. There is no vain boast ing of the superiority of Southern sol diers, and no • disparagement of North ern courage. On the contrary, the Gen eral goes out of his way on more than one occasion to bear testimony to the gallantry of the foe. And even when writing in self-defense—for the book is essentially a defense of the General against the strictures passed upon him —he never forgets the dignity which be comes his character and antecedents.— At the same time the fact that the work is an apologia, a justification of his military operations, somewhat detracts from its value; while the omission to supply maps very seriously impairs its usefulness. It is impossible for a reader to follow intelligently the details of a battle, and of the movements which pre ceded it, without a plan of the field be fore him. And we would urge upon the publishers of the “ Narrative ,” wlierf preparing for a second edition, to sup ply this strange omission. Like his more famous chief, Gen. Joseph John ston was a Virginian, and like him, too, he held a commission in the United States army at the outbreak of the war. General Johnston devotes a brief space to justify his recognition of his commission, and his passing over to take service with the Confederacy. Un doubtedly it is a very grave step on the part of a soldier to range himself on the side of an insurrection, and ono which is rightly judged on tho most rigorous principles. But the cases of Generals Johnston and Lee are entirely different from such a desertion as that of the un fortunate Col. Rossel, or, indeed, from that of any other officer in a European army. The result of the civil war has decided now that a State has not the right to withdraw from the Union. But when secession took place that was not the received doctrine. This is not the place to enter into the constitutional ar gument, and, indeed, it is sufficient to remark that the whole South repudiated the doctrine in the most practical man ner possible, while in the North the Democratic party at least openly main tained that the South was acting within its rights. If, then, Generals Johnston and Lee erred, they erred in common with the vast majority of Americans in holding that a State had the right to se cede,, and that to his State a citizen owed his first allegiance. As long as Virginia remained in the Union both officers retained their commissions and did their duty. As soon as Virginia seceded, both resigned their commis sions and hastened to place their ser vices at the disposal of their State. General Joseph Johnston had been the senior in rank in the United States army. At the time of his resignation he was Quartermaster-General, with the commission of a Brigadier-General, whereas Lee had been only Lieutenant- Colonel. But on Johnston’s arrival in Richmond he found that Lee had been appointed Commander-in-Ckief of the army of the State, with the rank of Ma jor-General. Johnston was at onee given the same rank, and entrusted with tho training of the State levies. On the accession of Virginia to the Confede racy, however, General Johnston enter ed the Confederate service, and received from President Davis the command of Harper’s Ferry, while General Beaure guard was appointed to the Confederate command at Manassas, Lee still remain ing in the service of Virginia. The first serious attack was made by the Federal army under General McDowell against Manasses. Johnston at once hurried to the relief of Beauregard with a portion of his army, leaving the remainder to hurry after him as quickly as it could. He arrived in time to consult with Beau regard, and agree to the plan suggested by the latter. But before the plan could be carried out the Federal General at tacked, and Bull Run was the result. This great victory secured Virginia from invasion for the remainder of tho year. McClellan was appointed tq the com mand of the Northern army, and he de voted the Autumn and Winter to the work of properly organizing and discip lining it. Early in the following Spring he moved his forces by water to Fortress Monroe, and thence advanced up the peninsula to invest Richmond. Gen eral Johnston assumed the direction of the operations undertaken against him. Johnston strongly urged upon President Davis to fall back upon Richmond, col lect there the whole military force of the Confederacy, allow McClellan to ap proach the city, and then, when he was at a distance from his base, fall upon him, and inflict such a blow as would 'decide the war at onoe in favor of the South. A council of war was held, at which Lee was present, and, mainly by Lee’s advice, as Johnston states, the plan of the latter was set aside. Under these circumstances General Johnston determined to delay the advance ot the enemy by every means in his power, without, however, bringing on a general engagement too soon. Accordingly he occupied in force a defensive line constructed by General Magruder, which stretched from York town to Warwick Court House. The line was too long, and besides admitted of being turned, but the Federal General sat before it, and erected siege batteries. When they were ready, the Confederates retired. At Williamsburg Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, to allow time for the removal of the baggage and ammuni tion, engaged a portion of the Federal army and inflicted a loss twice as great as these divisions suffered themselves, and then the army once more fell back slowly to the neighborhood of Rich mond. McClellan’s foroes in their ad vance were divided into two parts by the Chickahominy. General John ston took advantage of the separa tion to direct twenty-three out of his twenty-seven divisions against the Fed eral left wing, consisting of two corps, or about two fifths of the entire Federal force. The battle of Seven Pines, which ensued, was indecisive, as night fell be fore the Confederates could improye the advantage they gained, and General Johnston, having received a severe wound, was never able to resume the contest. A few days later Gen. Lee was appointed to his command. Before Johnston had completely recovered, he was ordered to the West to superintend operations in Mississippi and Tennessee, but want of means compelled him to look on helplessly while Gen. Grant re duced Vicksburg and Pemberton’s army. The disasters experienced by Gen. Bragg next summoned him to the command of the army of Tennessee. In a campaign of seventy days, opposed to an army under Sherman more than twice as- numerous, Johnston boasts—and the boast is corroborated by two of his corps commanders —that constantly fighting partial engagements, and skir mishing day after day, he never lost an action, though he abandoned much ter ritory, and handed over the army to his successor improved in morale and effec tiveness. He adds that he had brought the enemy to the neighborhood of the position where he intended to make a rtnal etand, where they would not be able to avail themselves of their supe riority of numbers,' whe*e, if defeated, they would be far jrom their base, and Where, if hg himself suffered a reverse, he bad a strong position jfco fall back upon. However, the government was dissatisfied because be retired persist ently before Sherman, and he was re moved from the command. He retired into private life, whence he did not again emerge until the army of the Ten nessee had been shattered to pieces un de? Ecod and Sherman had penetrated - ’Narrative of Military upe/i-tiom directed during the late War between the State*. By i Joseph E. Johnston.. General, C. S. A. New j York : Appleton A Cos. Looclm : Trttbner A j Cos. 4 ' to the heart of the Confederacy. Then he was once again snmmoned into the field, but it was only to have the melan choly honor of beiDg the last Southern General who surrendered an army to the conqueror. CENTRAL RAILROAD. Report of President and Directors. Office C. R. R. and Ban’s Cos. of Ga., ( Savannah, Ga., September 1, 1874. \ To the Stockholders: The termination of the fiscal year of the company on the 30th of November rendered it difficult to bring up the ac counts in time to prepare and publish the annual report for the meeting of the stockholders in Dece’ iber. and to reme dy this the Board of Directors, by reso lution, changed the date for closing the accounts to the 31st of Angnst. This change gives ample time, at a season of the year when business is slack, for the officers of the company to make np the accounts and prepare their reports. It also has some advantage in terminating the fiscal year of the company with the commercial year. This report, there fore, will only embrace nine months’ earnings, as follows: Central Railroad. Savannah divis ion $1,102,725 80 Central Railroad. Atlanta division. 449.913 09 Central Railroad Bank 36.478 67 Southwestern Railroad 506,621 51 Upson County Railroad 6,368 82 Total for roads and bank $2,101,107 88 The expenses for the same period have been for Cen’ral Railroad, Sa vannah division $689,658 83 Centrall?ailroad,Atlan lanta division 371,346 85 Central Rail’d Bank... 22.385 92 Southwestern Bail’d... 439.498 01 Upson County Rail’d.. 6.972 30 —l —51,529,861 91 Leaving $ 571,245 98 The result of our operations up to the 31st May showed net earnings, which, in the opinion of the Board, would war rant a dividend of 4 per cent., and a di vidend was therefore declared and made payable on the 20th of June. In past years it has been usual for the road to earn the December dividend after this date (Ist September), but should we be so fortunate as to do so this year, the Board do not think it would be good policy to make a dividend in the face of payments that we shall be called npon to meet. The reports of the General Superin tendent of the Central Railroad, the Superintendent of the Atlanta division, and the Engineer and Superintendent of the Southweatern Ra’lroad shows fully the condition of your property, aud the results in detail of our business for the past nine months. It will be seen that both Mr. Rogers and Mr.' Powers refer to causes which have operated to reduce onr earnings. Competition for the limit ed business of the country has frequent ly been referred to in previous reports, but it has now become intensified.— Short crops and financial embarrass ments of the country we may reasonably hope will not continue, but competition from new lines and bad faith in not maintaining rates agreed npon, appear to have become the order of the day and from this the Board can see no immedi ate hope of relief. The report of W. R. Garrison, Esq., agent for the management f the com pany’s steamships, is hereto annexed. By reference to it, it will be seen that there has been a fund of $121,838 10 ac cumulated from their earnings. With this and future earnings of the ships added to the proceeds from the pro posed sale of two of the old ships it is proposed to build two new ships, and it is believed that their construction should be commenced within the coming year. It lias been demonstrated that recent improvements in the model of ships and construction of marine engines have been made which greatly reduce the ex penses of running, while the carrying capacity is largely increased. We could, therefore, by the construction of new ships not only improve the line, but at the same time work it with greater economy. At the time this company purchased these ships the Board were advised by its counsel that the legal right of the company to own ships was questionable, and it wa=s therefore thought best to ask from the Legislature of Georgia a char ter for a company having said right and granting to the city of Savannah, this company, the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad Company, and all chartered banks in the city of Savannah the right to own stock in the steamship company. Such a charter was granted by the Legisla ture and approved 26th August, 1872. Recently it lias been determined by the Board to have a steamship company organized under the charter, and if car ried out the ships will be sold and trans ferred to the steamship company, the Central Railroad Company subscribing for and owning so large a proportion of the steamship company’s stock as to make it still the virtual owner of the ships, and as effectually control their management as though they stood in the name of this company. Such an organi zation will not only relievo this company from any question as to the legality of owning steamships, but will afford an opportunity of enlarging the sphere of the steamship company so as to enable it to build ships for a foreign trade whenever the commerce of the city will warrant. The cashier’s report and balance sheet from the books of the bank show the result of our banking operations, which, for want of capital, have been reduced to little more than acting as a fiscal agent for furnishing funds with which to move cotton and transact tho general business of the company. Respectfully submitted, Wm. M. Wadley, President. THE AUGUSTA AND,HARTWELL RAILROAD. Meeting of Directors. Pursuant to call a meeting of the Di rectors of the Augusta and Hartwell Railroad was held in this city yesterday, at 12 o’clock, at the Augusta Club Room. Present: Col. F. E. HarrisoD, Presi dent, and Col. E. M. Rucker and Messrs. N. A. Crawford, Eli Lockhart and D. Biemann, Directors, and H. J. Lang, Secretary. Judge Wm. Gibson and Maj. J. B. Cumming were present by invitation. The President stated that the object of the meeting was to make some pro vision for settling the claims of the creditors of the road on the first of January; to devise some plan of opera tions, and to ascertain what coulcf be done in the way of subscriptions from Augusta. Another question to be look ed into was that of State aid. Under the charter of the company the State guaranteed to endorse its bonds to the amount of $15,000 per mile, upon cer tain conditions. By act of the Legisla ture subsequently passed all State aid to railroads was repealed, except where rights had vested and contracts been made in view of said State aid. The question now was whether that act af fected the Augusta and Hartwell Rail road, or had the amonnt been secured by rights having vested under contracts. This was a very important matter. One of the Directors called upon Maj. Cumming for his opinion in reference to the matter. Maj. Cumming said that not having examined the act granting State aid and the subsequent repealing act it would be impossible for him to give any authori tative opinion on the matter at the present time. Col. Rucker hoped Judge Gibson would give his opinion on the subject. Judge Gibson said the granting of the charter by the State, the accepting of the same by the company, and the making of contracts under it, secured State aid. They certainly would have no difficulty in getting State aid if they built ten miles of road, and bona fide subscriptions were received. Col. Rucker said State aid to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars per mile would secure the completion of the road. Col. Harrison said the people along the line of the road would do nothing unless Augusta would lend her aid. The country people would subscribe liberal ly if the city would give assurance of aid. South Carolinians would provide for their end of the road if Augusta and the Georgia counties through which the road passed would build the Georgia end. Col. Backer thought it was hardly worth while to appeal to the city as a city for a subscription. Perhaps a large subscription might be obtained from public spirited citizens, but he thought it perfectly useless to ask the corpora tion for anything. Judge Gibson concurred with Colonel Backer that any application to Council would be useless. We had a nice, gen tlemanly set of Councilmen, but Mayor Estes was really the Mayor and Conn ciL He had the management of the city government, and no aid could be obtain ed unless Mr. Estes was in favor of it. Mr. Estes was opposed to granting any aid to the road. His one idea was the canal, and even if that work was not on hand he would be opposed to the road. Jhfe only way to obtain aid from Augusta was to apply po the citizen* privately for subscriptions. He thought if the people of Angusta were assured beyond a doubt that persons living along the line of the road would build twenty or thirty miles, they would subscribe enough to bnild ten miles at any rate. It was morally certain that no aid could be expected from Council. Maj. Camming thought with Judge Gibson, that the company wonld have to depend for subscriptions from Augusta upon private individuals, .... . 001. Harrison said the country people would not subscribe another dollar un til Augusta gave aid. The company could then hope for success. The iron companies would furnish iron for bonds of the road. Col. Rucker said subscriptions to rail roads in the United States, now, were only a bonus. Five hundred thousand dollars would grade, cross-tie and bridge the road. That amonnt would have to be divided between the city of Augusta and the people in Lincoln, Columbia and Hart counties in Georgia, and Ab beville county and a portion of Edge field in South Carolina. The iron could be obtained afterwards in the manner suggested by Col. Harrison. Major Camming said that as he had before suggested, it was no use to apply to Council for aid. Just at this time, also, it would be equally useless to make application to the citizens individually for subscriptions for several reasons. To make application would oertainly be to meet with refusal. But there was no reason for despondency. Later on, in the Spring, there would be a better chance. The question of State aid could be fully investigated, aud other things looked into. In the Spring application might hopefully be made to the citizens of Augusta for individual subscriptions. The maximum amount to bo expected was two hundred aud fifty thousand dol lars. He thought that sum could then be raised, particularly if the instillments were made easy. People in the Country could subscribe cross-ties, stringers, Ac. Nothing should now be doue to wards obtaining subscriptions, and at the same time nothing looking to the abandonment of the enterprise. Major Cuminiug was requested to examine the act granting State aid and that repealing it, and to give his opin counsel entered in cases 237 and 238, denying the right of a claimant’s wife who has a general power of attorney to come before the Court, was overruled.— Mr. Beaman was counsel in these cases. The Committee on Banking and Cur rency was in consultation to-day with the President. Senator Lewis is sick. The President sent nearly a column of nominations to the Senate. They in cluded Orlando H. Brewster, Supervis ing-General of the United States for Louisiana. Adjourned Meeting of Directors. Pursuant to adjournment the Direc tors of the Augusta and Hartwell Rail road met at the Augusta Club Room at 10 o’clock yesterday morning,. President Harrison in the Chair. The President said it was important that they should arrange for their pro cedure until the annual meeting of the stockholders in May. Col. Rucker moved the appointment of a committee of three whose duty it shall be to prepare as strong a presenta tion of the importance of the road as possible, aud go before tho citizens of Augusta for subscriptions, said commit tee to report at the annual meeting of stockholders in May, 1875. Adopted. Col. Rucker suggested that Major Cumming head the committee. The Chairman requested Maj. Cum ming to suggest tho names of two other citizens for the committee. Maj. Cumming suggested the names of Messrs. Robt. H. May and Thos. S. Morgan. The President thereupon designated Maj. Cumming and Messrs. Robt. H. May and T. S. Morgan as the committee. The President said the next thing iu order was the report of the auditor in reference to the claims of creditors. Col. Rucker said lie thought those stockholders who had already been as sessed ten per cent, would be unwilling to pay any further assessment until those who had only paid two per cent, had been put upon an equality with them. They said if the two per cent, men had paid their additional eight per cent, all obligations of the company could either have been paid or would now be in process of settlement. The President said the question was whether those who had paid ten per cent, could legally be made to pay any more until those who had only paid two per cent, had been put on an equality with them. Colonel Rucker asked Major Cum ming if stockholders who objected to paying tho further eight per cent, on the ground that certain conditions had not been complied with, were not estopped by having paid two per cent. Major Cumming said that no condi tion would hold good as against credi tors. Stockholders were liable to these for the amount of their subscriptions. The subscription created an obligation on the part of the stockholder. Mr. Remsen offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the Secretary be in structed to inform the creditors of the company of its action in relation to the compromise offered and accepted, and that they be requested to grunt further indulgence until the t<* case now in suit against stockholders who have paid only two per cent, of the ten per cent, assessment will have been determined. Mr. Remsen moved that the auditor be instructed to bring suit against bona fide subscribers who have paid no in stalments on their subscriptions. Col. Rucker moved that the annual meeting of the stockholders of the com pany be held in Augusta on the second Tuesday in May, 1875. Adopted. The President said if he determined to call a special meeting of the Board he would advertise it in the Weekly Chronicle and Sentinel. Col. Rucker moved that the Board of Directors return their thanks to Judge Gibson and Major Cumming for their services at this meeting of the Board. Adopted. The Board then adjourned. Too Many Newspapers. —Newspapers are, in their place, good things; but like many other good tliiugs of this life, may be “run in the ground.” Mapy persons suppose that all that is neces sary to insure success is to procure a press and types and locate at some vil lage, water taDk .or wood-station on a railroad; and hence it is that weekly papers are springing up like mush rooms. A little experience will teach many of these new beginners that it re quires, in this sparsely settled country, a larger area to support a newspaper than a blacksmith shop, and more capi tal to buy a printing office than a shoe shop, and more money to meet weekly expenses than a barber shop. Of the large number of weeklies now issued in this State, we venture tho opinion that not one-fourth of them are re munerative. It requires years of pa tient industry—the expenditure of large amounts of money, and, above all, the possession of peculiar tact, to build up a newspaper business that will pay, even in a large unoccupied territory. Many men of superior talents, learning and genius have failed as newspaper edi tors. A failure of this sort is no evi dence of a lack of intellectual ability or culture, but it shows a want of “tact.” But few men are qualified for tho posi tion by nature ; but this is not sufficient to secure success—they require also spe cial training. Poets may be “ born ” editors have to be “made.” Frittering away on a hundred weekly papers the support which is necessary to make twenty good ones, is just as bad policy on the part of the public as it is for a farmer to attempt to raise a hfmdred head of hogs on the quantity of food necessary for twenty.— Athens Watch man. Mr. Peter J. Bellew, of New Haven, was an exceptional man. He was travel ing for a house in New York, and lately returning from a tour he found a dis patch stating that his wife had fallen dead in the streets of Buffalo, and that her corpse was waiting for him in New Haven. He went to the funeral, and leaving his children returned to New York. He refused to eat or sleep, or speak to any one, but sat with his face buried iu hi3 hands. His 14 year old son came to get him to return to New Haven, and Bellew roused himself and started to the business house of his em ployers to get the money, leaving his son at the hotel. .He reached the house and fell insensible to the floor. He was supposed to be drunk, and was carted to a police station, where he died in five minutes. Ac the morgne tho doctor said that pneumonia was the cause of his death. All his friends know better. He died of grief for. the loss of his wife; very few do it, but his is certainly an ex ceptional case. Don Manuel Martinez Negrete, a Mexican grandee, went to New York to find a wife, and married a society belle of that city two or three years ago.— There was a big wedding, and a rousing time as always happens when an Ameri can girl marries a Cupid with a noble name. Negrete’s wife went with him to the city of Mexico, and in due time a noble scion came of the union. Then Don Manuel disappeared, and went to Gaudalajara, where be married another woman, leaving hjs lawful wife and boy beggars in Mexico. Negrete’s relatives tried to pursuade the deserted wife to take her offspring to the poor house where they would be well taken care of, bat Catherine Baker Martinez Negrete, who appea?s tp£e a spunky Yankee wo man, announces publicly her intention of fighting for her marital nghfe on Mexican soil; and in the high courts of the land. Tha papers say giye hup the butt end of the law till he can’t rest. Nine yonng men of geDteel appear ance, destitute from want of employ ment, were yesterday committed to the House of Correction at Philadelphia, at their own request. FROM WASHINGTON. Congressional, Washington, D. C., December 12. In the House the day was spent on the bill extending the patent to Rollin White for fire-arms, which wns rejected. A war rant was issued for R. B. Irwin, agent of tho Pacific Steamship Company, who dis posed of $750,000 in connection with the additional subsidy for the China mail he having failed to appear before the Committee of Ways aud Means, which is investigating that subject tid Mon day. At a meeting of the House Judi* ciary Committee this morning a sub committee was appointed to draw np another civil rights bill. It is under stood that the oommittee are instructed to incorporate all (he essential features of the Senate bill now on the House cal endar, omitting therefrom the cemetery and school sections. The Senate was not in session to-day. Grant and Louisiana. Washington, December 11.—In re sponse to urgent requests that the Pres ident place troops iu the Louisiana State House, he is quoted : “I will not provide against a threat ened danger, but if violence occurs I will suppress it.” Tlie Alabama Claims Court. Alabama claims Court, case 118, Gordon vs. the United States, came up for discussion to-dav on the de murrer entered by Gen. CresweJ], coun sel for the Government, demurring to the petition on the ground that the said Gordon, at the time of the alleged loss, although serving on an American vessel! was a British subject. The case was ar gued on the part of the claimant by Henry C. Bliss, of this city, and for the Government by Gen. Creswell. The ar gil nent developed the fact that the questions were tho most important that have yet arisen iu this Court, and intro duced important law points connected with citizenship, naturalization and ex patriation. The argument occupied the entire day. A decision will probably be rendered early next week. An im portant case was set for a hearing next Monday, being that of Whiting vs. the United States. The nature of the case will cause it to be interesting to every seaman captured by Confederate crui sers. W biting, who was an American sailor on board the Levi Starbuck, was captured by the Alabama, and, as al leged, received such treatment on board that vessel that he lost the entire use of his hands and feet, and as compensation claims $50,000. Payment for Slaves. Washington, December 10.—Attorney- General Williams has signally failed to report the latest Southern outrage. The case is that of a distinguished Alabama Radical of African descent, who has made a speech demanding that the Uni ted States Government shall pay a rea sonable compensation for all the slaves which were enfranchised, with just com pensation therefor, one-half of the money to be paid to the master or owner, and one-lialf to the negro. The idea is ex pected to take among the colored Repub licans of the South, and the question arises what will their Northern allies do about it. The Last Desperate Resort. There are very decided indications, also, that the Republican Congressmen here are seriously alarmed at the pros pect of ,a large Southern Democratic vote for President in 1876, and are re solved to take as many Southern States as possible by the throat, and so recon struct and annul their State govern ments as to fix their vote two years hence to an absolute certainty. Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi are all believed to be in daiiger from these desperate conspirators. Their object is to carry the Presidential election, either, by fair means or foul, and to this end everything else will be subordinated. Is the President a Falsifier f Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, made a very severe onslaught on the President’s message to-day, wherein it was attempt ed to whitewash the late Board of Pub lic Works. The President had attempt ed to convince Congress that Boss Shep herd and his associates had not incurred a debt exceeding $10,000,000. Mr. Randall to-day took up the figures fur nished by the Board of # Audit, which demonstrates that the* District debt really exceeds $20,000,000. The special champion of the President, little Hale, of Maine, attempted to reply to Mr. Randall, but it was an utter failure, for Randall asserted that he had' official figures for the statement made by him, and he defied anybody to demonstrate his inaccuracy. Mr. Hale, having charge of the resolution which affords the op portunity for Mr. Randall’s attack, called the previous question, and then out off all further debate. Not being able to answer the facts as presented against the President, therefore the only way to stop unpleasant disclosures was to choke Mr. Randall off. As was very pertinently remarked, the time is com ing when the truth can’t be suppressed. The Freedman’s Barings Bank Swin dle. The Hon. Washington C. Whitthorne, of Tennessee, will introduce at the ear liest practicable opportunity a bill directing the Commissioners in charge of the assets of the Freedman’s Savings and Trnst Company to institute suit against the Trustees of said copipany, with a view of holding them personally liable for the deposits. The bill refers to the act of 2d of March, 1865, incor porating the company, and tlie several powers and duties conferred upon the Trustees; the efforts made by them suc cessfully to obtain larger powers; how two millions of dollars were collected from thefreedmeu, and authority for new modes of investment procured from Congress without consulting the deposi tors, and the suffering occasioned among the latter by reason of the failure to make dividends. The bill thon goes on to enact that the Commissioners direct ed to wind up the affairs of the bank shall make dividends as often as they collect five per cent., and employ coun sel to bring suit on behalf of the deposi tors against any of the trustees or offi cers of the bank who may be found to have violated their trusts, with with a view to hold them personally liable to the depositors for the full amount of their deposits. Among the trustees named are Peter Cooper, W. C. Bryant, A. A. Low, and a number of the promi nent Radicals of the country. The bill will make a fluttering, but the negro must not imagine that these distinguish ed Republicans will agree to let it pass Congress. The President’s Message. Washington, December 12. —0n the distribution of the President’s annual message among the various committees of the House on Wednesday last, that portion of it referring to the tronbles in Arkansas was referred to a select com mittee already existing on that subject, and that portion of the message Telating to troubles in Louisiana and the other Southern States (excepting Arkansas) was referred to a select committee of seven to be appointed by the Speaker. This committee has not yet.been ap pointed. It is very probable that after it has been appointed and organized it will proceed to take testimony through the sub-committee or otherwise in rela tion to the disturbed condition of affairs in Mississippi and Louisiana. Of course any announcement of what has been or bas not been determined is premature and unauthorized so long as the com mittee itself is not actually iii existence. Grant and Louisiana. General Grant is quoted as saying, “If further troubles occur in Louisiana he will send someone there who will hurt." He is said to have in view for this busi ness either Gen. Sheridan or Gen. Ter ry. Senator West and Congressman Darrel were not present when applica tion was made for troops in the State House at New Orleans. BOLD BANK ROBBERY. The Institution Entered iu the Day time—slo,ooo Secured—Details of the Operation. Nashville, Tenn., December B.—A dispatch from Corinth, Miss., .says: A bold robbery was committed here at half-past one o’clock p. m., yesterday. Four well mounted men rode up to the Tishomingo Savings Bank, two entered and locked the door and two remained outside. The two who were inside demanded the safe keys, which President Taylor refused, whereupon they attacked him with knives aDd com pelled him to submit. They took over $5,000 in currency and as much more in watches and diamonds. Mr. Taylor was not badly hurt. A colored man was in the bank making a deposit at the time, and was not permitted to leave until the robbers retired. They were in the bank fifteen minutes. Those who observed the bank supposed Mr. Taylor had gone to dinner. The bank is in an ouj; of thp way place and not much notioed:by' the public. The robbers had been larking about the town and county for two weeks. They fired several shots as they departed, and made off at full speed in the direction of the Tennessee river. The sh-'Hff, with a large posse, has gone in pursuit. Bank Robbery- Cincinnati, December 12. —The latesj; from the Corinth Bank robbers states that the Sheriff’s posse is in hot pnrsrii):, bqt ape nearly twelyp hours bebinfi thefib The robbers were making fop the San<| Mountains of Alabama. About two hundred sailors paraded the streets of Philadelphia yesterday with flags and banners, and headed by a band of music. They are on a strike against the proposed reduction of pay by shipping masters.
