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qfljroitick ant) gratmfl.
WEDN ESDAY JANUARY 5, 1876.
THE NEW TEAR.
Sermons are generally very plentiful
about the first day of January, and there
are usually many to moralize upon the
vanished year—its sufferings and it*
sorrows, its neglected opportunities, its
broken promises, its blighted hopes. We
shall not punish our readers with a ser
mon. The year just dead has been neither
worse nor better than its predecessors.
There have been frightful disasters by
sea and land, cruel reverses in business
and many exhibitions of the frailty of
humanity. But we have had neither
war, pestilence nor famine within our
borders, and many good as well as evil
deeds have been done. Sorrow and die
appointment are no new things in this
world. They are the inevitable inci
dents of humanity, and he who expects
to go through the world without en
countering them at every turn will soon
find himself wofully disappointed. The
year just passed had a goodly number;
the year that has just begun has many
in store. Hope is a flower that opens
but to fade; it is only beautiful in the
bud. The hopes of 1876 will wither as
did the hopes of 1875; but we shall be
no worse off when they do than we are
now. Let the illusion last as long as it
will, and then—we can hope again. Con
science bpeaks to many of promises made
and good resolutions formed last New
Year’s day that have been broken and
abandoned during the year. Well, to
tlfßle’ of uS another twelve
months Conscience at the end of that
period will have similar unpleasant in
telligence to impart. For this reason
then shall we determine to make no
more pledges? By no means. Let us make
as many as we will, and keep them if we
can. If we cannot keep them—if the
weakness of poor human nature asserts
itself—let us not abandon the struggle in
despair, but still fight bravely on,
nerved with the consciousness that there
is a forbearance which is inexhaustible.
Let those who have pet scorpions to
strangle—and who of us has not de
termine to commence the work to-day.
If the reptiles are too strong for us, if
our grasp is relaxed and is soon released
entirely, let us not be cast down, but
take heart of grace when another new
year dawns and strive to throttle
them again. Many who saw the first of
seventy-five did not live to see its close,
and many who start with seventy-six
will also drop by the wayside ere the
year has run its course. But Death is
the common lot of mankind and he is
foolish indeed who troubles himself
about that which is inevitable. We sit
and watch the play knowing full well
that when the curtain drops we must go.
But shall the knowledge make us un
happy ? Assuredly it should not. Let
us try, to the best of our ability, to
lead such lives as to rob the grave of
many of its terrors. If we play our part
as best we may we can do nothing more
—the issue must be left to other hands.
A few lines of “ preaching” may be
pardoned. In commencing the new
year let us try “ to love one another.”
Let us have a charity broad enough to
cloak our neighbor’s foibles and faults.
When our brother falls by the high way
let us play neither Priest nor Levite and
pass by on the other side, but rather
imitate the Samaritan and bind up his
wounds. Love One another ! When
that is done all is done.
A NOTABLE CASE.
Since the memorable trial of William
Palmer, convicted twenty years ago of
poisoning a number of victims with
strychnine, no case has created so much
excitement in England as that of the
Brothers Wainwkiqht. After a trial
lasting nine days, engaging the
powers of the Chief Justice, and an
eminent array of counsel, Henry Wain
wrioht has been sentenced to death and
Thomas to imprisonment for a term of
years. The old adage that murder will
out was never better illustrated than in
the case of this foul tragedy. Henry
Wainwright had murdered his mistress,
Harriet Lane, a vyoman, it appears,
who possessed a terrible temper, and
had to his own satisfaction removed all
traces of his guilt. But for the little
boy who detected the remains while be
ing carried to a place of safety the pro
bability is that Henry Wainwright
might have carried the secret to his
grave. In spite of his solemn protesta
tion of innocence, the evidence produced
at the trial was clear, conclusive,
convincing. Tho motive was proven
without a doubt ; the shots tired
on the 10th of September ; the
efforts of the brothers to put an
end to inquiry by false representations;
the purchase of the spade and chopper
twelve months later, and the attempt to
convey the sever il parts of the body
from Whitechapel to the Borough—all
pointed directly and incontrovertibly to
these two men as the guilty parties.
The plea put in by the defense that the
woman committed suicide was directly
contradicted by the medioal evidence;
not a loophole, indeed, was left open
whereby the wretched man could escape.
Previous to this affair he bore a high
character among his he was
a man of fair intellectual capacity, of
some cultivation, and an enterprising
spirit. Having cut loose, however, from
the restraints of home life, and found
himself within the coils of an intrigue
from which he was unable to extricate
himself, in a fit of desperation he re
solved to take the woman’s life. And
so his end lias come.
THE SECRET ORDER.
The New York Tribune , in alluding
to the Herald's exposure of the anti-
Oatholie secret order, says the main
points as to the existence and aims of
the organization are doubtless fairly
stated by the Herald. It says there was
no great secret about it last Fall, during
the canvass in New York State. The
TYibune received letters warning it that
the influence of the order over the vote
of the State was much greater than was
imagined. Some of the leaders of the
secret outer were confident that they
could defeat the'Democratic ticket by a
majority of 50,000. It was, however,
elected by 15,000. The Herald has
sent reporters, during the present week,
to the officers of the different lodges,
and the interviews have resulted in frank
avowals of the existence of the order
and of their purpose to pursue its ob
jects. Some of them deny that it is
anti-Catholie or sectarian, and do not
know of the membership of the Presi
dent or Mr. Blaine. But it is a part of
the system that members may deny the
membership of themselves and others.
They are to “ know nothing ” when it is
desirable not to know anything. In a
country where there is oppression and
the people have no voice in their Gov
ernment, secret societies are justifiable.
But in a country where all questions
should be discussed freely and openly,
with free speech and a free press, and
open political meetings and public plat
forms, there can be no danger from sec
tarian abuses or sectarian influence.
Were the Catholics, as a church, to at
tempt a control of the public school
money or to break up our common
eriools, -they would stand no ckauce to
succeed. Very many, at least, of their
own members would vote against any
such measures. But tbey propose
mothing of the kind. If they, or any
religious sect, ever do make such a pro
posal, it will be time enough to meet it.
Under Die Constitution religious sects
in this country stand upon an equal
footing. Demagogues may attempt to
make religions prejudices and passions,
in order to get votes for high offices.
They appear to be doing this at the
present time, and without just cause. It
is a wicked purpose. And the men who
go into secret lodges to manage, under
oaths, and with grips and passwords, a
secret order, originating and designed for
governing the country, have bad objects
in view.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
They had a lively time in and around
Fort Valley Christmas. The playful lit
tle boys who celebrated the birth of
Christ by shooting I aded muskets in
he streets, killed a colored woman. Mr.
Dcke, “a good and influential citizen,”
beat a colored man on the head with a
stick, and then went for a gun to finish
him, but when the “good and influen
tial citizen” returned he found that he
might save his lead, as the stick had
been sufficient and the man was dead.
Miles Josky, colored, was found hang
ing to the tree by the roadside—having
been lynched by the usual “unknown
parties.” A “good citizen” got drank,
raised a row, beat a man, and when the
police attempted to arrest him, loaded
his little shot gun and stationed himself
in his front porch, where, in the lan
guage of the local chronicle, “he re
mained for an hour and defied the town
to take him. ” The town wisely declined
to accept the defiance, and “our good
citizen” had it all his own way. A few
small fights filled out the day. This
was the way Christmas came to Fort
V alley.
THE DUTY OF THE DEMOCRATS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
We publish elsewhere this morning
an editorial article from the New York
World upon South Carolina, which pre
sents some indisputable facts and gives
some wholesome counsel. The World
plainly proves that the time has come
for an entire change of policy in Sonth
Carolina. The Democrats of that State
must make no more compromises with
the enemy. They have either failed or
been cheated in every bargain that has
been driven. They must bargain no
longer. They must not trade but fight.
They must listen to no more treacher
ous promises. They must accept no
more pledges which the maker is pow
less to fulfill. The World points out
the fruitlessness of fighting Republican
ism with a Republican by instancing the
defeat of Dent and yet again of Alcorn
in Mississippi. Twice did the Conser
vatives of that State attempt to over
throw corruption with a Republican as
their leader, and each time they were
routed. This year they pnt a Demo
crat in the field and rescued the whole
State by a single blow. The moral is
too plain to be misunderstood. The
mistakes of Mississippi have been re
peated in South Carolina, and have been
fully ns fruitful of disaster. Now let
the last step taken by Mississippi be
followed by South Carolina, and the re
sult will be the same in one State as in
the other. The plain duty of the Demo
crats in the latter State is to organize
and discipline their forces; to arouse
the whole people to a sense of their
danger and to a knowledge of the oppor
tunity presented; to adopt a platform
that will satisfy every honest voter; to
put unexceptionable men in the field;
and then to devote their time and money
to the eleotion of these candidates.
“BY PARTIES UNKNOWN.”
Miles Jcsey, a notorious negro thief and
desperado, was found hanging by the neck to
a limb.’about four miles from town, this morn
ing. Coroner's jury returned the following
verdict: “Deceased came to his death by being
hanged by the neck by parties unknown.”
The above is a dispatch from Fort
Valley to the Columbus limes. We
have seen several similar paragraphs in
Georgia newspapers during the past
year, and we have yet to learn of the
arrest of any one of the parties who
assume to administer capital punish
ment on their own account. Too many
lynchings have been committed with
impunity. It is time to cry a halt. The
story is usually the same—a “notorious
negro thief and desperado is found
hanging by the neck to a limb,” and the
coroner’s jury promptly return the
stereotyped verdiot of “hung by parties
unknown.” No one is punished, no one
is tried, no one is even arrested for these
murders. There are men in a few lo
calities of this State who have taken
upon themselves the work of regulating
society in accordance with their own
peculiar ideas, and they do not hesitate
to condemn and .to execute those who
fall under-their displeasure. The dis
patch-states, as if in extenuation of the
crime, that Judge Lynch’s last victim
was a “notorious negro thief and des
perado.” How is it known that he was
either thief or desperado ? In this coun
try the law presumes that every man
charged with an offense is innocent until
his guilt be proven in a court of justice.
This man had no trial. If he was a
“notorious thief” why was he not tried
by the courts and convicted of someone
of his many thefts? Is there neither
judge nor jury in Houston county to ad
minister justice to criminals? What
law of the State punishes a man for
being a desperado ?. . Admit that the
statement is correct—that he was a thief
—what law upon the statute books visits
theft with death ? We know of none.
The fact is patent that a delibe
rate, unjustifiable and cowardly mur
der has been committed in Georgia.
The question is, will the perpetrators of
this crime receive the punishment they
so richly merit ? In other cases no
effort, so far as we are advised, has been
made to discover the gnilty parties. The
verdict of the coroner’s jury—“death by
parties unknown”—has been accepted as
final, and the murderers have gone un
whipt of justice. We do not believe
that it would be a difficult matter to dis
cover the men who did this lawless
deed. At all events, search should be
made for them. We believe that the
time has come when it is the duty of the
civil authorities to do everything in
their power to bring these mob-murder
ers to justice. Good citizens are in
jured and reproach is brought upon the
State by the bloody acts of a few irre
sponsible and lawless miscreants. These
men must be made to know that there
are laws and Conrts in Georgia ample
for the protection of the people and the
punishment of criminals. They must
be taught that the negro has the same
rights under the law of Georgia as the
white man, and that the whites intend to
protect him in the exercise of these
rights. We call upon Governor Smith
to condemn this outrage, as it deserves
to be condemned, and to issue a reward
for the arrest of its perpetrators. By
section fifty-eight of the Revised Code :
“ The Governor shall, in his discretion,
“ offer, and cause to be paid, rewards
“ for the detection or apprehension of
“ the perpetrator of any felony commit
“ ted in the State; such reward not to
“ exceed the sum of two hundred and
“fifty dollars in cases of felonies not
“capital, and not to exceed the sum of
“five hundred dollars in capital felo
“ nies.” A capital felony has been com
mitted, and its perpetrators should be
discovered. We bring this matter to
the attention of Governor Smith, and
trust that he will at onoe offer a reward
for the men who have dared to take hu
man life in this cowardly manner. We
have had enough and more than enough
of Judge Lynch’s murderous pranks in
Georgia. It is time to cry a halt.
A resolution is to be introduced into the
House by either Randall or Banning, of the
Military Committee, calling upon the Secreta
ries of the TV ar and Navy Departments to fur
nish Congress a list of the army and navy offi
cers in Washington, with the special duties as
signed them. The same resolution will also
call for a list of all officers absent from their
posts. It is estimated that this list, if correct
ly furnished, will cover fully one-half of the
i officers in the service.
It is stated in Washington telegrams that
Mr. Lamar, of Mississippi. Chairman of the
House Committee on Pacific Railroads, has !
gone home to look after his interests as Sena
torial candidate, and is not expected to retain
until some days after the re-assembling of the
House If he is absent when the States are
next called, Mr. Atxins. of Tennessee, who is
second on the Committee on Pacific Railroads,
introduce a bill in aid of the Texas Pacific
Railroad, providing for the extension of Gov
ernment aid which is asked for that line. The
bill will name two Eastern termini; ene at
Fulton. Ark., and the other at Texarkana, in
Texas The bill will be referred to the com
mittee. and at once taken up for consideration.
GRANT’S INTERFERENCE WITH
JUSTICE.
A correspondent of the St. Louis
Republican gives several instances of
the illegal interference of President
Grant with the Courts where the prose
cuting officers were of a more pliant na
ture than District Attorney Dyer, of St.
Louis. Agangernamed JamesE. Mabh
was convicted before Judge Kbxkxl, in
Jefferson City, of having failed to per
form his duties a few months ago, and
the conviction was heralded by Grant’s
organs as an evidence that the Adminis
tration was determined to wage an un
relenting war against the Whisky Ring.
But the President, this writer says,
through the Attorney-General, has or
dered anew trial. John L. Bittinger
was another ganger stationed at St. Jo
seph, and he was convicted of spiriting
away a witness, and of improper official
conduct. In his case it is said that tly?
Presidenc has, through the Attorney-
General, ordered a suspension of sen
tence, with the promise of anew trial
after the present excitement has passed
away. Abont two years ago, in Topeka,
Kansas, a United States revenue collec
tor named John Speer was indicted for
embezzlements and frail da upon the
United States Treasury to the amount of
8150,000. Justice Mcdlin and Judge
Dillon were in Topeka ready to try the
defaulter, the witnesses were present,
and the people were awaiting the trial
with interest, when the President,
through the Assistant Attorney-General,
at the last moment sent an order that the
cases should be dismissed, and the edict
was promptly obeyed. It was rumored
at the time that Babcock was at the bot
tom of this outrageous interference with
the course of justice. Grant seems to
think not only that he has a perpetual
claim upon the office of President, but
also that his possession of it gives him
him authority to overrule the laws aiid
indulge in the exercise of despotic pow
ers where his political or personal
friends are concerned.
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
We are pleased to observe a growing
desire on the part of the people for a
Constitutional Convention. Some of
the politicians are very much afraid of
the question. They would ignore it.
They cling to established institutions,
especially to the offices which they hold.
They love the people, but they are afraid
of them. The Constitution of Georgia
is unsuited to the people. It was framed
by a body of men who had no confidence
in the people. The deliberations of the
Convention were held under the very
shadow of the Central Government. The
clash of resounding arms had hardly
ceased, and the military influence was
felt in all the land. The provisions of
the Constitution were strongly against
the participation of the people in the
control of the government. The term of
offioe was extended; the power of ap
pointing Judges and of filling many
other places was conferred on the Gov
ernor. He was to serve for four years
all this immense patronage in his
hands, and was made eligible for re-elec
tion. The office of Attorney-General
was created, and the privilege of choos
ing him was conferred on the Governor.
The Legislature chosen by the people,
their direct representatives, could not be
trusted with the election of Judges or
Solicitors, but his Excellency was em
powered to name them. The whole sys
tem needs revision. For our own part
our confidence in the people is stronger
than it is in any of the men who may
fill the places of trust or power under
the government. “Put not, your trust
in Princes,” is an admonition that comes
down to us through centuries, and the
teaching of is that a popular
government is than one where the
ruler, no matte* by what name you may
call him, is entrusted with power for
a period long enough to estrange him
from the people. The people of Georgia
may well be trusted with the power of
framing a government for themselves.
Let us have a Convention.
MIN4FR TOPICS.
The Inter-Ocean invites the Chicago ladies
who intend to receive New Year’s calls to send
their addresses to that office. Was ever any
thing more snobbish.— Rochester Express.
Chicago is fast catching np with Atlanta. The
latter city commenced this snobbish publica
tion last Winter and this year Macon and Co
lumbus follow the bad example.
Hon. Wx. R. Mobbison, Chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee of the House, at
the Congressional election received every vote
in his own county (Monroe) and carried Madi
son and St. Clair (the balance of the Seven
teenth District), by an overwhelming majori
ty, although they are both strong Republi
can counties. He is so popular in his District
that there is a movement on foot to run him
for Governor of Illinois.
William M. Tweed, Jr., rose in his might
and marched boldly out of church when his
minister said last Sunday that a man who
shared in plundering a city should be dealt
with as a felon. Mr. Tweed never heard such
sentiments expressed in the pulpit before, and
be never wants to hear the like again. Where
upon the Chicago Tribune remarks that he
must go to church to hear nice, comfortable
sermons about infant damnation and thieveß
on the cross.
The Augusta Chbonigle and Sentinel hitß
the nail on the head in saying that the South
ern people do not favor the nomination of Mr.
Tilden, of Tammany, for President. New
York will not control the next Democratic Con
vention ; the West and South will. One reason
for opposing Tilden is sufficient—the virulent
opposition of Tilden and Tammany to the
, Ohio Democracy, whom, without respect to the
enrrenoy differences, it was tbe duty of every
Democrat to support. — Charleston Mews and
Courier. .
A recent article in Harper's Weekly, presum
ably by Mr. Geobqe William Cdbtis, attracts
wide attention among politicians. It points out
that while Gbant may be nominated by the
Republicans, and while there is undonbte ily
danger of it, there are no possible circum
stances under which he can be elected. The
substance of the advice whioh it has to give to
the Republican party, therefore, is to avoid
third termers, but if there are contingencies
which demand them, to try to have them open
third-termers not sneaks, who strive to avoid
committing themselves.
Connecticut is one of the States that hold
their elections in the Spring, and the discus
sion of its next contest has already begun.—
The State, at present, is Democratic, and
nothing but an unexpected good fortune could
enable the Republicans to reconquer it. They
will try, however. Postmaster Jewell, their
old Governor, is the strongest man they have,
and they propose to nominate him, because
they do not know whom else to nominate. The
fact that the Legislature to be chosen in the
Spring will elect a United States Senator to till
out the unexpired term of the late Senator
Febbv imparts zest to the speculations abont
the struggle. The Democrats will renominate
their present Governor, Inokbsoll. elect him,
and then send Him to the Senate, thus having
Connecticut represented in the Senate by two
Democrats.
The combined capital of the Rothschilds,
is stated by Emile Btbnoce, the well known
publicist, to have attained in the present year
to the almost incalculable sum of seventeen
billions of francs, or 93.400,000,000. The sig
nificance of these stupendous figures, says the
New York Sun, may be rudely conceived by
comparison, but there is nothing in the history
of private wealth witharhich they can be com
pared. The capital of the Bakings, the estates
of Lord Dcdlet, the Marquis of Bute and the
head of the family of Gbosvenor, belong rela
tively to a humble category, to which the city
of New York has contributed the fortunes of
Astob, Vaxuxbbilt and Stewart. The finan
ciil resources attributed to the Rothschilds
can best be measured by contrasting them with
the funded debts of the richest countries on
the globe. The capital of this house, as esti
mated by M. Btrnoct, is about equal to the
whole funded debt of Great Britain, or that of
France. and considerably exceeds the national
debt at the United States. A single century,
or tbe possible span of one man’s life, has
sufficed for the accumulation of this fortune,
sod the rise of Us authors from a shabby
rookery in Frankfort to the financial domina
tion of Europe, At the period of Rothschild's
first decisive triumph on the London Exchange
—the day after Waterloo, jast sixty years ago—
John Jacob Astob was already a rich man.
The great fortune which the latter beqneatfted
is aot believed to exceed a t present fifty mil
lions of dollars, while the inheritance of his
Hebrew contemporary has been swollep to
more than sixty times that mm.
At Hudson, New York, the river is
partially open—ioe very poor.
SOUTH IAROLIVA.
The World On the Situation—Bouth
Carolina and Mississippi The
Crowning Ontrage -No More Com
promises—Carolina's Chance—Victo
ry Assured.
|A Teu> York World. \
In their extremity men often find
their opportunity. It was not until tbe
iron of bayonet and negro rale had en
tered deep into the sonls of the whites
of Mississippi that they discovered the
full measure of their courage and wis
dom and resened their State from the
iorrors of anarchy and insolvency. Of
all the Southern States but one other
can ■be classed with Mississippi, for
Louisiana we can now safely count as
oars in fact as well as of right; and
North Carolina, though the contest will
be close, shonld with proper care array
herself once more under the Democratic
flag in 1876. That unhappy State is
South Carolina. Like Mississippi,
cursed with an overwhelmingly large
population of negroes, swayed by a
band of infamous and clever renegades
and carpet-baggers, the burdens laid on
property have been increased to the
limit of confiscation; the State has been
plundered by robbers without even the
decency to attempt to conceal their
crimes, and injustice has been bought
and sold in open Court. The last out
rage upon decency is the election to the
judiciary, among other rascals, of Wil
liam J. Wliipper, probably the most
vicious negro politician in the country,
and F. J. Moses, Jr., certainly the most
debased white politician in the world. —
To either of these men Ames or the
worst of his negro associates, is purity
and patriotism’s self. Whipper in the
Legislature was a bribe-taker and a
gambler; he has been repeatedly charged
with robbing the Sinking Fund and de
nounced by the leader of bis own party
in open Assembly as a man only more
dishonest than he was ignorant. To the
soiled hands of such a creature were
committed by the Legislature the des
tinies of every suitor in the great
Charleston District. 'Moses is a great
deal cleverer and more corrupt.
The election through trick, of
course—of these Judges, following close
upon the heels of the passage of the
Supply bill, proves clearly that if Gov
ernor Chamberlain’s professiGns of a de
sire for reform are honest—as we be
lieve they are not —he is wholly without
power to bring about reform, and that
the Black League of South Carolina,
taking alarm at tbe redemption of Ala
bama and Mississippi, has deemed wise
the bolder course of plundering and
prostituting while there yet remain a
treasury to rob and a function of gov
ernment to outrage. Strong in numbers
and united under able and unscrupulous
leaders, while their opponents are
doubting and divided, they have im
proved their opportunity. It is useless
to appeal to their sense of duty and de
cency. Equally hopeless is it to trust to
the independent Republican broom to
keep out the tide of knavery. For the
past six years the Democrats and honest
Republicans have surrendered their con
victions in the vain hope that by not ag
gravating their rulers their burdens
would be made more tolerable.
What have the Democrats in South
Carolina or anywhere else gained by
furling their flag and selecting a desert
er as their general ? In 1870 they took
up Carpenter, and the Black League
has just placed him on the bench with
Whipper and Moses. Two years later
they matched a carper-bagger, Tomlin
son, against Moses, and were beaten. A
similar course in 1874 left their State al
most the only one not washed of its po
litical filth by the tidal wave. In 1869
the Democrats of Mississippi ran under
the Republican, Dent, and in 1873 under
the Republican, Alcorn, and each time
met the deserved defeat that in 1875 un
der the Democrat, Hemingway, was con
verted into victory. , Are the honest
people of South Carolina less desirous
of reform than were their brethren of
Mississippi ? Is the nessity for revolu
tion less urgent ? Are they less cour
ageous and devoted ? If not, let them
by a similar course achieve tho same
success. South Carolina dwells fondly
upon the heroism of her sons during the
Revolution of a century ago, and pro
poses to invite all who honor courage
and patriotism to meet with her people
at historic Moultrie. A better Centen
nial celebration than this will be the te
demption of the State. The tyranny
against which the free-born men of
South Carolina rose in 1776 was far less
oppressive, far less disgraceful, than
that, under which their descendants
groan to-day.
A BIT OF BECRET HISTORY.
Lincoln's Plans for Reconstruction—
He Would Have Imposed no Hu
miliating Terms, Nor Have Exacted
any Amnesty Qualifications from the
Conquered People.
[Allen B. Magruder in the Atlantic for
January .]
President Lincoln came to Richmond
on its surrender to the forces under Geri.
Grant in April, 1865. He came in the wake
of the invading, victorious Federal army.
He occupied for a short time the late
presidential mansion of Jefferson Davis.
There was no longer any resistance.
No useless signs of despair or defiance
were exhibited. There was silence and
calmness, but no unmanly regrets or re
pinings, no words of reproach or crimi
nations. No people ever behaved.with
more firmness and dignity. The issue
of thejvar —so disastrous to the Southern
cause,* to the hopes and wishes of the
Southern people— had been foreseen and
recognized for days, if not weeks, before
it came; yet in the presence of the actual
event, “the boldest held his breath for
a time.” The late Confederate Presi
dent and his Cabinet had departed in
the rear of Gen. Lee’s retreat. The
Governor of the Commonwealth, the
Legislature, and the officials, both State
and Confederate, with many eminent
and substantial citizens, had followed
in the somewhat general exodus.- Of
course many remained in the Virginia
metropolis because they could not get
away, and many more from a generous
and manly care for and sympathy with
the weak, the timid, and the unhappy,
who feared violence or ill-treatment
from a rude Boldiery, flushed with the
triumph of victory and conquest, and
scarcely capable of restraint. Among
the latter was the calm, patient, self
possessed aud venerated John A.-Camp
bell, of Alabama, formerly one of the
Judges of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and but recently Assistant
Secretary of War of the. Southern Con
federacy. Regardless of his own person
al safety, but full of sympathy with the
citizens of Richmond aud the people of
Virginia, and rightly interpreting the du
ties and responsibilities of the hour, he
went forward courageously and sought
an interview with Mr. Lincoln. This
was readily acoorded.
Judge Campbell said in substance:
"The war is over. The Southern peo
ple have lost their cause, without any
hope, I suppose, of redemption. This is
neither the time nor the occasion to
consider the right or wrong of the con
flict, or the merits of the questions in
volved in it. You are here in triumph,
and are certainly the victorious master
of the situation. No resistance will be
attempted further by those who remain
in the city. It would be fruitless if it
were designed or intended, but it is not
even desired by any of the people of
Richmond. I have felt myself at liberty,
indeed impelled, in the interest of peace
and humanity, to seek this interview
and acquaint yon with the spirit and
temper of the people here, and to ven
ture to remind you of what I am sure
you will not forget, that with really
great and good men the hour of victory
and triumph is also the hour of modera
tion and magnanimity. Though not a
Virginian myself, I know the people of
Virginia to be brave and honorable, and
they will scrupulously respect any pledge
or promise they may make. They accept
the result of the war without sullen re
sentment on the one hand or unmanly
desoair on the other, and will abide
in good faith by any fair and equitable
terms of pacification and adjustment
that may be offered them.” He added
that he had sought this interview in or
der to learn the President’s views as to
his course, and that of the Government,
toward the people of the States lately at
war with the Federal Government, and
particularly in respect to the people of
Virginia, now that the war on her terri
tory had ceased.
President Lincoln (who had listened
with interest and earnestness) replied
that he was so mnch impressed with the
words of Judge Campbell, that, in order
to consider his reply maturely, he would
relinquish his intention of returning by
steamer that evening to City Point, on
James river, and give the subject a full
night’s reflection. Accordingly, another
and final interview took place the next
morning on board the Malvern, moored
in the river below Richmond. The
particulars of this meeting were perserv
ed in a paper written by Judge Camp
bell very soon after the event, to which,
by his leave, the writer has had access.
As the subject is one of snch curious
interest and importance, and possesses a
rare historical value in view of the quick
ly succeeding tragedy of President Lin
coln’s death, and the events both politi
cal and social which followed, it seems
every way proper that Judge Campbell’s
narrative, hitherto unpublished, shonld
appear. He says: “I had recommended
that he shonld sanction a meeting of the,
prominent, influential, leading men in j
Virginia at Richmond, and have their i
counsel and co-operation in reconstruct
ing its political and social system so as
to meet the new and extraordinary con
ditions of society. But the calling to
gether of the ‘rebel Legislature’ was the
suggestion of Mr. Lincoln’s own mind.
He mentioned it for the first time in our
second interview as a matter he was con
sidering, and that was desirable in many
points of view, whioh he specified, add
ing that if be came to a satisfactory con
clusion he would make it known to Gen.
Weitzel on his return to City Point, by
letter. The general principles I had ex
pressed included such a proposition, and
I was grateful that the President had
been led to its consideration but I did not
intimate such a course in any remarks
of mine before he suggested it.
“At the interview on the Malvern
President Lincoln produced a memoran
dum in writing, which he read over,
and commented on the various clauses
as he read them. When ho had conclud
ed, he gavo me the paper. It is not
dated, signed or addressed. The mem
orandum is: ‘As to peace, I have
said before, and now repeat, three things
are —First—The restor
ation of the national authority through
out all the. States. Second—No re
ceding by the Executive of the United
States on the slavery question from the
position assumed thereon in the late
annnal message and in the preceding
documents. Third—No cessation of
hostilities short of an end of the war and
the disbanding of all force hostile to
the Government. That all propositions
coming from those now in hostility to
the Government, not inconsistent with
the foregoing, will be respectfully con
sidered ana passed upon in a spirit of 1
siuctre liberality. I now add that it
seem* useless for me to be more specific
with those who will not say they are
ready for the indispensable terms eveu
on conditions to be named by themselves.
If there be any who are ready for the
indispensable terms on any condition
whatever, let them say so and state their
conditions, so that the conditions can l e
distinctly known and considered. It is
further added that the remission of con
fiscatioi being within the executive
power, if the war be now further persist
ed in by those opposing the Government,
the maMug of confiscated property at
the least to bear the additional cost will
be insisted upon, but the confiscations
(except in case of third-party interven
ing interests) will be remitted to the peo
ple of any State which shall now prompt
ly and in good faith withdraw its troops
and other support from further resis
tance to the Government. What is
now said as to remission of confiscation
has no reference to supposed property
in slaves.’
“The President, after reading and
commenting upon the various passages
of this memorandum, noticed that he
had said nothing on the subject of fines
aud penalties as applicable to individ
uals. He said, in reference to this, that
he supposed that he onght not to force
a pardon upon any person who did not
want it; that, for instance, ‘lf Mr. Dav
is, whom w familliarly call Jeff'. Davis,
will not take a pardon, we ought not to
press one upon him.’ But this he would
say, that ‘almost anybody could have
anything of that kind by asking for if.’
My intercourse with President Lincoln,
both here and at Hampton Roads, im
pressed m* favorably toward him. I
believe that he felt a genuine sympathy
for the bereavement, destitution, im
poverishment, waste and overturn that
the war had occasioned at the South, and
he fully and exaclly discriminated the
wide difference, both in reason and pol
icy, between the mode of proceeding in
reference to the disorderly or criminal
acts of individuals which disturb the
security of the State, aud the course to
be taken in regard to those civil dissen
sions and commotions which arise from
the agitation of great questious involving
the social and political contitution of a
great empire, composed of distinct and
in some respects independent communi
ties. My direct interview with Presi
dent Lincoln terminated with my visit
to him on the Malvern. I never spoke to
him or wrote to him afterward. The
following day Gen. Weitzel sent for me,
to read the letter of President Lincoln
to him on the subject of calling togeth
er the Virginia Legislature. Mr. Lin
coln in the course of his conversation
had expressed his object in desiring
them to meet and to vote. It was desir
able ttat every Legislature should recog
nize the national authority. It was
‘the situation of a tenant between two
contesting landlords, who was called up
on to attorn to the one who had shown
the better title.’ This was his re
mark.”
Here was no humiliating terms of sub
mission imposed on a brave people; no
amnesty qualification exacted; no ban
ishment or confiscation laws; no test
oaths, to incite to perjury or foster the
resentments of war. On the contrary,
relief and protection should be denied to
uone, while the common rights of fra
ternity and citizenship should be freely
accorded to all. In propounding these
conditions the President showed a just
appreciation jol the Southern people.
Had the policy thus declared been car
ried out faithfully, what untold misery
and sufferings would have been prevent
ed. The humane and generous heart of
President Lincoln repelled with horror
the cruelty and weakness which would
involve in punishments and penalties a
whole people. Such wrongs and in j uries,
such injustice and impolicy, were reserv
ed for those less moderate and magnani
imous, who, on his violent and deplora
ple death, succeeded to the reins of Gov
ernmentj The President returned to
Washington filled with joy that the war
was ended, and satisfied with himself at
having secured, as he supposed, just
and generous treatment to the vanquish
ed, who had suffered so severely in the
late strife. His cruel death, so lamenta
ble in itself, and so disastrous in its
effects, which occurred only a few days
after these generous overtures of peace
and kindness, inflicted new sorrows on
the already crushed and smitten South.
We willingly draw the vail over the un
welcome picture, and remit its harsh
features to the verdict of impartial his
tory or to that oblivion of wrong and
folly which, happily for mankind, time
and our better nature will ultimately
bring.
Already there is a gratifying change of
feeling springing up between the respec
tive sections; a change of Northern sen
timent as to the real condition and dis
position of the Southern people, and a
change in Southern sentiment as to the
men of the North. Thus anew era of
feeling and sympathy, the ties and
associations of a common ancestry and a
kindred destiny, will arise and be fos
tered until the wounds of the past shall
be cicatrized and forgotten, and the re
moval of suspicions and prejudices can
makß the. two sections again one, and
enahle the people of each to see not the
worst but the best phases of their re
spective disposition and character.
HON. B. H. HILL.
What He Has to Say About the Geor
gia Delegation.
Hoa. B. H. Hill, member of Congress
from the Ninth Georgia District, was in
the dity yesterday. A reporter of the
Chronicle: and Sentinel called on him
at the Planters’ Hotel and had a few
minutes’ conversation with him. The.
reporter called his attention to the state
ment in the Atlanta Constitution that he
would represent ex-Treasurer Jones be
fore the Georgia Legislature.
Mr, Hill—“I represent him before the
Courts, but I do not know that there
will ho any occasion for me to represent
him before the Legislature.”
Reporter—“But in case of an im
peachment ?”
Mr. Hill—“ Well, an attempt might be
made to impeach him, but it would not
be successful. In the event that such a
movement was made I should represent
him as counsel before the Legislature.”
Reporter—“ Could he be impeached
after dismissal from office ?”
Mr. Hill—“ Yes; there is a provision
of the Code on the subject. But Jack
Jones cannot be successfully impeached.
He is innocent of taking any of the
State’s money as the angel Gabriel him
self. Ho is an honest, upright man, and
I know he did nothing wrong. That
8172,000 of the people’s money has dis
appeared is a fact, bnt Mr. Jones had,
nothing to do with it.”
After some further conversation on
this point the subject of Congress was
brought up. Mr. Hill said Georgia had
undoubtedly a solid delegation. Every
member of the delegation voted for
Kerr for Speaker. Three, including
himself, first voted for S. S. Cox as a
compliment. While they admired Mr.
Randall they saw that he was the favor
ite of tie subsidy and the railroad rings,
and that, together with the fact that he
was an old protective tariff man, pre
vented any of the Georgia Congressmen
from supporting him. Mr. Randall
himself was a sterling patriot, honest
and upright, above reproach, but his
being the favorite of John Morrisey and
the rings, militated against him. The
Georgia members were all hard money
men.
Mr Hill said that the Southern mem
bers were now the Conservatives of the
House.
Mr Hill left, last evening, for Atlanta.
He will be in Washington when the
Congressional recess comes to a close.
THE OLD STORY.
A Quarter of a Million Short.
Bctfalo, December 30. —Jas. Book,
the Treasurer, has decamped. He
is a defaulter for a quarter of a million.
His bond filed with the City Clerk
amor at* to S3SO,QPj), and is signed some
of th most prominent and wealthy citi
zens. Before his departure Book made
a gen :ial assignment of his property,
amor iting to 8650,000. He has been a
very xtensive real estate operator, and
boiKtup the eastern part of the city.
MY LATE SENATORIAL SECRE- 1
TARYSHIP.
By Mark Twain.
I am not a private secretary to a
Senator any more, now. I held the
berth two months in security and in
great cheerfulness of spirit, but my
bread began to return from over the
waters, then—that is to say, my works
came back aud revealed themselves. I
judged it best to resign. The way of it
was this. My employer sent for me one
morning tolerably early, and, as soon as
I had finished inserting some conun
drums clandestinely into his last great
speech upon fiuance, I entered his
presence. There was something por
tentous in his appearance. His cravat
was untied, his hair was in a state of
disorder, and his countenance bore
about it the signs of a suppressed storm.
He held a package of letters in his teDse
grasp, and I knew that the dreadful
Pacific mail was in. He said: “I
thought you were worthy of my confi
dence ?” * I said: “Yes, sir.” He said:
“I gave you a letter from certain of my
constituents in the State of Nevada, ask
ing the establishment of a post office at
Baldwin’s Ranch, and told you to an
swer it, as ingeniously as you could,
with arguments which should persuade
them that there was no real necessity
for an office at that place.”
I felt easier. “Oh, if that is all, sir,
I did do that.” “Yes, you did. I will
read your answer, for your own humilia
tion :
“ ‘Washington, November 24.— Messrs.
Smith, Jones and others —Gentlemen :
What, the mischief do yon suppose you
want of a post office at Baldwin’s Ranch?
It would not do any good. If any let
ters came there, you couldn’t read them,
you know; and, besides, such letters as
ought to pass through, with money in
them, for other localities, would not be
likely to get through, you must perceive
at once; aud that would make trouble
for us all. No, don’t bother abont a
Eost office in your camp. I have your
est interest at heart, and feel that it
would only be an ornamental folly.—
What you want is a nice jail, you know
—a nice substantial jail and a free
sohooi. These will be a lasting benefit
to yon. These will make you really
contented and happy. I will move in
the matter at once. Very truly, etc.,
Mark Twain,
“For James W. N. , U. S. Senator.’
“That is the way yon answered that
letter. Those people say they will hang
me if I ever enter that district again ;
and I am perfectly satisfied they will,
too.” “Well, sir, I did not know I was
doing any harm. I only wanted to con
vince them.” “Ob, well, you did con
vince them, I make no maimer of doubt.
Now, here is another specimen. I gave
yon a petition from certain gentlemen of
Nevada, praying that I would get a bill
through Congress incorporating the
Methodist Episcopal Church of the
State of Nevada. I told you to say, in
reply, that the creation of such a law
came more properly within the province
of the State Legislature; an to endeavor
to show them that, in the present fee
bleness of the religious element in that
new commonwealth, the expediency of,
incorporating the church was question
able. What did you write ?
“ ‘Washington, November 24.— Rev.
John Halifax and others — Gentle
men: You will have to go to the State
Legislature about that speculation of
yours—Congress don’t know anything
about religion. But don’t you hurry to
go there either; because tho thing you
propose to do out in that new country
isn’t expedient—in fact, it is ridiculous.
Your religious people there are too fee
ble iu intellect, in morality, in piety—
in everything, pretty much. You had
better drop this—you can’t make it
work. You can’t issue stock on an in
corporation like that—or if you could it
would only keep you in trouble all the
time. The other denominations would
abuse it, and “bear” it, and “sell it
short,” and break it down. They would
do with it just as they would with one of
your silver mines out there—they would
try to make all the world believe it was
“wildcat.” You onght not to do any
thing that is calculated to briug a sacred
thing into disrepute. You ought to be
ashamed of yourselves, that is what I
think about it. You close yourpotition
with the words: “And we will ever
pray.” I think you had better—you
need to do it. Very truly, etc.,
Mark Twain,
“ ‘For James W. N. , United States
Senator.’
“That luminous epistle finishes me
with the religious element among my
constituents. But that my political
murder might be made sure, some evil/
instinct prompted me to hand you this
memorial from the grave company of
elders, compising the board of alder
men of the city of San Francisco, to try
your hand upon—a memorial praying
that the city’s rights to the water lots
upon the city front might be established
by law of Congress. I told you this was
a dangerous matter to move in. I told
you to write a noif-committal letter ted
the aldermen—an ambiguous letter —w
letter that should avoid,.as far as pos
sible, all real consideration and discus
sion of the water lot question. If there
is any feeling left in you—any shame—
surely this letter you wrote, in obedience
to that order, ought to evoke it when its
words fall upon your ears:
“ ‘Washington, November 27.— The
Hon. Hoard of Aldermen, etc.—Gen
tlemen: George Washington, the rev
erend Father of his Country, is dead.—
His long and brilliant career is closed,
alas ! for ever. He was greatly respect
ed in this seotion of the country, and his
untimely decease cast a gloom over the
whole community. He died on the 14th
day of December, 1799. He passed
peacefully away from the scene of his
honors and his great achievements, the
most lamented hero and the best beloved
that ever earth hath yield unto Death.—
At such a time as this you speak of
water lots !—what a lot was his !
“ ‘What is fame ? Fame is an acci
dent. Sir Isaac Newton discovered an
apple falling to the ground—a trivial,
discovery, truly, and one which a mil
lion men had made before him—but his
parents were influential, and so they
tortured that small circumstance into
something wonderful, and, lo! the sim
ple world took up the shout, and in al
most the twinkling of an eye, that man
was famous. Treasure these thoughts.
‘ Poesy, sweet poesy, who shall estimate what
the world owes to thee!”
* Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as
snow—
.And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was
sure to go.’
Jack and Gill went up the
To get a pail of water;
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
Aud Gill came tumbling after.’
For simplicity, elegance of diction and
freedom from immoral tendencies, I re
gard these two poems in the light of
gems. They are suited to all grades of
intelligence, to every sphere of life—to
the field, to the nursery, to the guild.
Especially should no board of aldermen
be without them.
“ ‘ Venerable fossils ! write again.
Nothing improves one so much as friend
ly correspondence. Write again—and if
there is anything in this memorial of
yonrs that refers to anything in particu
lar, do not be backward about explain
ing it. We shall always be happy to
hear you chirp. Very truly, etc.,
“ ‘ Mark Twain,
“ ‘ For James W. N—, U. S. Senator.’
“This is an atrocious, a ruinous epis
tle ! Distraction !” “Well, sir, I am
really sorry if there is anything wrong
about it—but—but —it appears to me to
dodge the water lot question.” “Dodge
the mischief ! Oh !—hut never mind.
As long as destruction must come now,
let it come complete. Let it be complete—
let this last of your performances, which
I am about to read, make a finality of it.
lam a ruined man. I had my misgiv
ings when I gave you the letter from
Humboldt, asking that the post route
from Indiana Gulch to Shakspeare Gap
and intermediate points, be changed
partly to the old Mormon trail. But I
told you it was a delicate question, and
warned you to deal with it deftly—to an
swer it dubiously, and leave them a lit
tle in the dark. And yonr fatal imbe
cility impelled you to make this disas
trous reply. I shonld think you would
stop your ears, if you were not dead to
all shame:
“ ‘Washington, November 30.
Messrs. Perkins, Wagner, et a’.—Gen
tlemen : It is a delicate question about
this Indian trail, but, handled with
proper deftness and dubiousness, I
doubt not we shall succeed in some
measure or otherwise, because the place
where the route leaves the Lassen Mead
ows, over beyond where those two
Shawnee chiefs, Dilapidated-Vengeance
and Biter-of-the-Clouds, were scalped
last Winter, this being the favorite di
rection to some, but others preferring
something else in consequence of things,
the Mormon trail leaving Mosby’s at
three in the morning, and passing
through the Jawbone Flat to Blucher,
and then down by Jug-Handle, the road
passing to the right of it, and naturally
leaving it on the right, too, and Daw
son’s on the left of the trail where it
passes to the left of said Dawson’s, and
onward thence to Tomahawk, tins mak
ing the route cheaper, easier of access
to all who can get at it and compass
ing all the desirable objects so con
sidered by others, and, therefore, con
ferring the most good upon the greatest
number, and, consequently, I am en
couraged to hope we shall. However, I
shall be ready, and happy, to afford you
still further information upon the sub
ject, from time to time, as you may de
sire it and the post office department be
enabled to furnish it to me. Very truly,
etc. “‘Mark Twain,
" Tor James W. N—, U. S. Senator-’ 1
“There — now, what do you think of ■
that ?” “Well, I don’t know, sir. It— 1
I well, it appears to me—to be dubious I
enough.” “Du—leave the house 1 I
am a rained man. Those Humboldt
savages never will forgive me for
tangling their brains up with this
inhuman letter. I have lost the re
spect of the Methodist Church, the
board of aldermen—” “Well, I haven’t
anything to say abont that, because I
may have missed it a little in their
caseß, but I was too mnch for the Bald
win’s Ranch people, general 1” “Leave
the house 1 Leave it for ever and for
ever too !” I regarded that as a sort of
covert intimation that my services could
be dispensed with, and so I resigned. I
never will be a private secretary to a
Senator again. You cant’t please that
kind of people. They don’t know any
thing. They can’t appreciate a party’s
efforts.
THE COURSE OF COTTON.
Weekly Review of the New York Mar
ket.
[New York Bulletin.]
Business has not been very extensive,
and the market developed no new or ex
citing features. The crop prospects ap
pear to form the pivot upon which
operations at present are hinged, and
the position nicely enough balanced to
prevent any great swing up or down. —
The arrivals at the ports have been
pretty full, and with the call for con
sumption, shipment and investment all
comparatively moderate, there has been
a fractional average in favor of buyers.
The opposing element, however, ap
peared to have sufficient strength to
successfully resist aud prevent all at
tempts to bring abont a serious break
on values, and thus, with a few unim
portant changes to be recorded from
day to day, matters seemed to be held
in abeyance, awaiting some clearer indi
cation calculated to afford a solution of
the problem as to the extent of the pro
duct of the present season and its dis
posal. On the first, the disposition is
more general now to raise the estimates,
and four million two hundred thousand
bales is frequently named as the prob
able crop figure. On the last, opinions
are all more or less variable, and few
operators have come to any decided con
clusion, though we think the feeling
leans toward a belief that with the turn
of the year the wants of the looms will
increase. The European continent has
already drawn liberally for supplies,
and though England is behind and our
spinners move in a cautious manner,
there is a strong hope that deficiencies
on these outlets will gradually be made
good.
On “spots” we have, for a week or two
past, found it necessary to call attention
to the difference of tono on quality, the
high styles of cotton ruling strong,
while the poorer descriptions were weak,
unsettled, and, at times, almost entirely
nominal. The most noticeable feature
during the period now under review was
a revision of quotations, reducing the
lower grades l-16a5-16c iper lb., thus
widening out the range, and giving fig
ures approximating more closely to the
actual values of the various styles. From
about low middling downward the sup
ply has been plenty, but tho grades
above were scarce at all times, and diffi
cult to reach except at full ruling quota
tions, with now and then a fraction more
paid for the sake of securing some par
ticularly desirable parcel. The demand
has not been very active, but fair, and,
iu the main, from exporters, until to
ward the close, when they withdrew and
left the movement confined to the ordi
nary distribution on domestic account. In
“free on boards” at the Southern ports,
there has been a fair business at some
what irregular rates. The opening was
pretty firm at 12}o. and 15-32d. freight,
followed by a drop to 12}c. At this fig
ure the attention of shippers were divert
ed from our market and a number of
parcels secured, but afterward the rate
was again advanced to 12J0. and firmly
held, causing a lull in the operations.
On contracts, with a few moderate
fluctuations, the market has worked off
a trifle and shown no great amount of
activity. The weakness was due, as
near could be traced, to the pretty full
run of supplies at the ports and a some
what unexpected shading on the Liver
pool quotation, though neither in
fluence was of sufficient power to throw
a decided influence into the hands of
the “bears.” The receipts, indeed, had
been partially discounted the preceding
week through the indications received
by the movement at the interior towns,
and private foreign advioes, coupled
with the attentive manner of shippers
toward all really desirable supplies,
,Joere construed as sufficiently favorable
, tf i check feelings of alarm. The ten
dency of many of thp smaller operators
to close up their engagements with the
year was also again found to act as a
partial support, amffit was further inti
mated that the leading “shorts, 1 ’ who
intend remaining ‘fin,” were adding
their influence to prevent a shrinkage
nntil they were more fully prepared for
JMhe break. At the best, however, busi
ness has been stupid throughout, aud
frequently dependent entirely upon
brokers’ manipulations for what little
vitality it possessed, and no one ap
peared to anticipate much improvement
unil after some week or two had been
reached in the coming month.
MISSISSIPPI.
The Trouble at Summit.
Vicksburo, December 31.—A special
to the Herald from Summit, Missis
sippi, the place to which the troops were
ordered, says no armed band of men
were in Summit at any time. Wednes
day before Christmas several young men
from Amite county on a drunken spree
talked a good deal abont Redmond) in
tending to annoy and frighten him.
Redmond had a personal difficulty with
one of the men, when he became fright
ened and telegraphed for troops. The
dispatch says the citizens of Summit
are able and willing to protect Redmond
in the discharge of his duties.
Riotous Conduct of Drunken Negroes
at CHnton—Oue of Them Mortally
Wounded—Wounding of a White Cit
izen.
Memphis, December 31. —A special from
Vicksburg says the two Caldwell broth
ers, black, went through the streets of
Clinton, intoxicated, and challenged the
whole town to fight. They finally re
tired, unmolested. About sundown,
Chas. Caldwell, an ex-State Senator, ap
peared on the streets much intoxicated
and declared himself afraid of no man.
A pistol was accidentally fired in the
rear of a store into whioh Caldwell en
tered. He ran into the cellar. As the
citizens rushed into the store Caldwell
commenced firing. At the second fire
Dr. E. G. Banks fell, seriously wound
ed. The citizens returned the fire mor
tally wounding Caldwell. Fearing more
trouble the Mayor telegraphed to Vicks
burg for assistance. At 9 o’clock last
night 100 men left that city on a special
train. No further trouble is apprehend
ed.
DEATH ON THE BREEZE.
Terrific Tornadoin Kentucky—Several
, Persons Killed—Death and Destruc
tion in its Track.
Nashville, Tenn., December 30. —A
terrific tornado passed twelve miles east
of Hickman, Ky., on Sunday evening,
sweeping down whole forests in its path
way. The force of the wind was so
great that persons can now walk over
trunks of trees where before were dense
woods. Twelve dwelling houses and
barns were blown down, some shattered
into fragments, the inmates barely es
caping with their lives. Worm fences,
from the bottom rail, were all lifted and
blown away. At Mayfield two persons
were crushed to death under the ruins
of houses. A negro was killed outright
at another point. A man named Chuck
and a Miss Searcy were killed and the
latter’s sister was badly crippled. The
hotel at Reeifoot Lake was blown down,
the guests barely escaping; some were
badly braised by flying timber. Death
and destruction left their mark along
the entire track of the tornado, which
made a noise heard for miles.
CRIMES.
A Heavy Diamond Steal—Harder by a
Jealous Darkey.
New York, December 31.—During
last night thieves effected an entrance
into Benedict Brothers’ jewelry store,
under the Grand Central Hotel, and on
some pretext managed to disarm the
suspicions of the men in charge, chloro
forming them when a favorable oppor
tunity occurred, and robbed the safe of
$25,000 worth of jewelry and diamonds.
Little Bock, December 31.—A dar
key named Hockersmith this evening
shot bis wife and another darkey named
General Scott, killing both. Cause,
jealousy.
The Murder at Enterprise, Indiana.
Cincinnati, December 31.—Investiga
tion concerning Mrs. Gordon and chil
dren, at Enterprise, Ind., indicates that
the victims were murdered and thrown
into the burning building by unknown
persons. Mrs. Gordon had in the house
the proceeds of the sale of a cow and
some farming implements. House and
barn were quite a distance apart. Both
were burned,
People np town have been considera
bly disturbed recently by the appear
ance of a couple of men, one of whom
grinds out affiiction from a hand organ,
while the other goes round the back way
aqd tries the kitchen windows and the
side doors. People living in seclnded
spots are learning to play the accoiffeen
as a means of defense.— Norwich Bul
letin.
THE STATE.
THE PEOPLE AND THE PAPERS.
This is Centennial year.
And Leap Year. Girls, now’s your
chance 1
Happy New Year to the People and
tbe Papers !
Mr. Ranse Sellers has left Cartersville
for Atlanta.
Mr. D. P. Ellis has moved from Co
lumbus to Atlanta. ,
Church suppers and Christmas trees
are all the go in Atlanta.
A number of new houses were built in
Newnan during last year.
Capt. Jno. W. Anderson has been
eleeted city sheriff of Savannah.
Burke county raises the curtain on a
hundred and one year old darkey.
Don’t you think this is a good time to
swear off and turn over anew leaf ?
Mr. John C. Woolfolk, formerly of
Colnmbus, has gone to Opelika, Ala.
The Atlanta Herald earnestly urges
that no wine be offered New Year callers.
Rev. H. J. Harvey, of Macon, lost a
package the other day containing $219.
The young ladies of Waynesboro gave
a calico party the evening of December
30th.
They had a Christmas tree in the Bap
tist church at Crawfordville Wednesday
night.
The indications are that New Year’s
visitors in Atlanta will get no wine this
year.
Mr. Conley has appointed Samuel
Sheats Deputy Collector in the Rome
District.
The ladies of the Atlanta Benevolent
Association gave a Christmas dinner to
the poor.
And now here comes the Georgia
Home Journal and calls it the “dynastic
explosion.”
Colouei OlisSy of fclio Ntuxm Ll'nlc
grapix doesn’t wish the women of Geor
gia to vote.
' Col. Hewitt aud Capt. Lee will open
the National Hotel, in Atlanta, Monday,
January 3d.
The lightning rod men have invaded
Waynesboro. The citizens are in great
consternation.
W. D. Ellis, Esq., is a candidate for
reappointment as Solicitor of the City
Court of Atlanta.
We guess a good many of the people
wrote “5” where they ought to have
put “6” yesterday.
Song of tho Atlantese: “The carnival’s
coming, oh ho, oh ho ; guitarriug and
strumming, oh ho !”
They had watch night services at
Trinity and First Methodist churches in
Atlanta December 31st.
Maj. W. A. Wilkius has purchased the
Waynesboro Expositor, aud Mr. W. S.
Hubbard becomes its editor.
F. T. Lockhart, Esq., of Augusta, has
been appointed Commissioner of Deeds
for the State of South Carolina.
You may not have thought of it, but
yesterday was decidedly tho mo'st beau
tiful day we have had this year.
The Atlanta Herald wishes tho ram
pant rowdyism of Christmas stopped in
the future. To which we say Amen !
An old negro man named Albert Jones
died iu Burke county the Other day
while kneeling to pray at a prayer meet
ing.
We thought it would be best. Macon
will issue some eight per cent, bonds.
Why not make the interest twelve per
cent.?
Hon. James W. Green, a Superior
Court Judge under Bullock, died sud
denly at his home in Upson county re
, cently.
The senior editor of the Washington
Gazette denies the truth of the report
that he is to retire from the practice of
: medicine.
A package for Mrs. M. C. Fulton,
1 Thomson, Ga., is in the office of the
Macon Telegraph, The owner can get it
by calling. •
The citizens of Monroe are to meet
on the first Tuesday in January to pass
resolutions in favor of a Constitutional
Convention.
The Atlanta Herald was not issued
to-day. It took holiday yesterday in
stead of New Year’s day, in order to
have a Sunday paper.
An incendiary fire burned tho crib of
Mr. J. T. Redding, of Monroe county,
together with five hundred bushels of
corn, one night last week.
Augusta and Savannah are the only
old fogy places where the papers do not
publish the names of the ladies who
will reoeive calls New Year’s Day.
Thirty-six sugar yam potatoes, grown
by Hon. Reuben Jones, of Baker county,
made two bushels. Mr. Jones will
gather about 400 bushels from an acre.
Victor Hugo Sturm, who married Mrs.
Eppie Bowdre Castlen, of Macon, and
about whom there were so many scanda
lous reports, has moved lo San Fran
cisco.
Mathew Pulliam, a highly respected
citizen of Elbert, died a short time ago,
in his 88tli year. He was probably never
out of the county more than a half dozen
times in his life.
We have seen a letter from Mrs. Wil
son (Miss Evans) in which she says she
prefers that the name of her last novel
be pronounced “Infeleechee”- the Ital
ian pronunciation.
Savannah has abolished the offices of
Recorder, Assistant Treasurer aud Sec
ond Lieutenant of Police. The retrench
ment plan she has adopted will save her
nearly $15,000 per annum.
Thieving is prospering in Columbus
in the chicken, provisions, spoons and
crockery line, but the dry goods boxes
on Broad street remain in statu quo, as
they are well guarded by the police.
Judge Wm. B. Flemiug, of Savannah,
was thrown from a carriage near Walt
honrville, Liberty county, last week,
and greatly shocked and considerably
bruised, though not seriously injured.
Riley Hays, a son of Washington
Hays, of Butts county, accidentally shot
and killed himself while hunting on
Christmas day. This is the third son
Mr. H. has lost by accidents from gun
powder.
If Governor Smith appoints J udge
Richard H. Clark to the City Court
Judgeship in Atlanta it will be one of
the best appointments Governor Smith
ever made, or ever will make, or ever
can make.
Dr. of tbe Washington Ga
zette, is a tffisiness man. Besides being
an editor he runs a pill shop, a general
news agency, a stationery shop, and, in
off hours, acts as agent for the Eureka
Guano Company.
The Cartersville Express says: “A
very respectable gentleman of this coun
ty attempted suicide on December 22d,
by taking strychnine, which was pre
vented by the timely services of Dr.
Lindsey Johnson.”
The jail of Camden county was set on
fire by a negro prisoner, on Monday
evening, and burnt. The prisoners were
all rescued by hard work, but if there
lfcd been one exception justice would
not have been greatly wronged.
The last grand jury for Calhoun coun
ty denounced tho night traffic in seed
cotton and other country produce; re
commended a reduction in the pay of
jurors to one dollar per day, and addi
tional legislation to lessen the taxes.
Mr. R. M. Orme, of Milledgeville, is
moving his printing material to Savan
nah where he will start a daily paper
under the name of the Free, Press.
No one can doubt Mr. Orme’s pluck,
but there will be some question as to
his judgment.
Tne ship H. L. Richardson brought
in chains to Savannah a negro named
John Bull, for the murder of another
negro seaman on the high seas. The
accused was examined by a United
States Commissioner and committed to
jail for trial before the United States
Court.
The “ Big Foot,” the new steamer in
the Chattahoochee, has made her first
trip to Columbus, carrying up 244 bales
of cotton. She is said to be the hand
somest boat on the river. We hope she
will break np the monopoly so long en
ioved by the Central Railroad line of
boats.
The grand jury of Early county re
commend the consolidation of the offices
of tax assessor and collector, and also
of the Clerk of the Superior Court and
County Treasurer. They also urge the
General Assembly to pass a law that
will tax dogs, guns and pistols.
One of Mark Twain’s funny stories is
that of a Scripture panorama, the pro
prietor of which engaged a pianist to
play appropriate music. The musician,
when the picture of the “Prodigal Son”
was passing, struck up “When Johnny
Comes Marching Home 1” which excited
the indignation of the moral lecturer.
The Savannah News says: “Mr. John
Sweeny, the engineer who was killed by
the accident on the Central Railroad,
was President and one of the first or
ganizers of the Machinists’ and Black
smiths’ Union; he was also a member of
the Central Railroad Employees Bene
volent Society.”
From the reading of the communica
tion concerning Mr. Stephens in the At
lanta Constitution, of Wednesday last,
signed “D.,” many may infer that Mr.
Stephens is opposed to the two-thirds
rale in all nominations—Federal as well
as State. This is not tbe case. Mr.
Stephens has always favored the rule in
nominations for the Presidency and
Vice-Presidency,
It is thought probable that the follow
ing companies will attend the Centen
nial: Savannah Volunteer Guards; Al
bany Guards; LaGrango Light
Republican Bines; Chatham Artillery
and Savannah Cadets, of Savannah;
Oglethorpe Infantiy, of Augusta; City
Light Guards, Columbus; Columbus
Guards; Cadets, Governor’s Guards and
Fulton Bines, Atlanta.
The Columbus sexton reports that
from December 20th, 1874, to December
20th, 1875, there have been buried in
Columbus 105 whites and 113 colored
residents—total, 218. Of non-residents
there were 64 whites and 70 colored—
total, 134, which makes the total burials
352. There were 19 white and 69 color
ed paupers. These burials come from a
population of 15,000 souls.
Columbus Enquirer: “A farmer from
a county near here was going to Texas.
He had sold out all he had. He owed a
Columbus firm for provisions, had made
partial payments, and had his family
and trunks in this city ready to go
West. A bailiff was employed. He
watched at the entrance of a hotel a
number of hours. Finally tranks came
down and officer levied on them. Result
was merchant got his money.”
The subject for the next debate by
the Young Men’s Library Association of
Savannah is: “Is the question of State
rights settled in America?” We liopo
that discussion on Morton’s resolutions
in the Senate may be postponed until
after this debate, so that Senators may
have the benefit of tho new light it will
shed upon the subject before they launch
out upou it. Is it possible that it was to
await this debate that Senator Gordon
postponed speaking on Morton’s resolu
tions ?
It is stated that the suits against ex-
Treasurer Jones’ bondsmen will be com
menced iu Bibb, whore C. A. Nutting,
who is on the first bond resides, and in
Cobb where J. D. Waddell, who is on
the second, resides. Attorney-General
Hammond, General Toombs and Mc-
Cav and Trippo will represent the State;
B- -H- Hill S- San and O. A. Loohrane
appear for the defendants. Judge
Lochrane’s retainer of $2,500 has al
ready been paid.
We had the pleasure of meeting yes
terday Col. Geo. A. McCleskey, of Sa
vannah. He has just returned to the
State from a trip to the West. While
away out in Missouri he came near be
ing arrested for Boss Tweed, whom the
natives thought ho resembled very
much. He was closely watched in more
than one town, and was even followed
from Mexico, Missouri, by a man who
felt pretty confident that he had the
SIO,OOO reward in his grasp.
The Rome Commercial says that the
last shipment of machinery for Trion
Factory has been carried to Trion. The
machinery weighs over one million
pounds, aud it has taken the wagons,
from nine to eleven six-horse teams,
each carrying some five thousand
pounds, and making two trips per
week, fully five months to carry it to its
destination, they having commenced in
the early part of August. The machine
ry was received just as needed and put
in position immediately ou its arrival af(
the factory. Over $12,000 has been paid
by the company for freight alone.
The Atlanta Republican thinks Ben
Hill’s eagerness to display his oratori
cal powers and “astonish tho country”
will be certain to betray him into saying
something imprudent and injurious to
the Democracy before the present ses
sion of Congress closes. We hope aud
believe the Republican will be mistaken.
We have noticed that, from the moment
of his election, Mr. Hill’s course seemed
suddenly to ehaugo, and, instead of
rushing into print anil before the foot
lights on every possible occasion, ho has
seemed desirous to avoid “speaking iu
public on tho stage.” Mr. Hill may yet
develop a “judgment’ which ho has
heretofore been supposed to lack.
Col. E. Young Clarke aud Col. J.
Clarence Stephens were on the train from
Atlanta Thursday. The former went to
Washington, Ga. The latter started
from Crawfordville for Augusta, but,
getting off at Thomson “to takea look at
the evening star,” looked too long, and
was left by the train. Capt. Jim John
son, the popular conductor, says this
makes about the dozenth time Colonel
Stephens has been left at Thomson just
that way. Wo hope the Colonel will
succeed in getting here at last. If he
does we think wo can show him a “star”
here so much brighter than the one he
stops at Thomson to look at that he
won’t be left there any more. Come on,
Colouei, and see “the twinkling stars
’a laughing, love.”
Ou the 30th instant the Governoi is
sued the following order: “Whereas,
Burnetta Helton, who has been confined
in the penitentiary since the month of
May, 1871, on a conviction of voluntary
manslaughter, in Fulton Superior
Court, is represented to mo as having
conducted herself with great and uni
form propriety during her term of im
prisonment, and the offense of whioh
she was convicted having been commit
ted under circumstances of great provo
cation, and being the ouly white female
now confined in said institution, upou
the recommendation of the Principal
Keeper, it is ordered, that said Buruetta
Helton is and she is hereby fully par
doned, and that she be set at liberty on
the first day of January, 1876.” This
will be a most acceptable New Year’s
gift.
Albany Hews : “We are glad to an
nounce that the question of a supply of
labor is causing no uneasiness whatever
in this section. So far as we havo been
able to learn from planters, there is no
difficulty—the freedmen are as anxious
to get places as the proprietors of plant
ations are to secure their labor, aud they
are generally willing to enter into rea
sonable and equitable contracts; The
tenant system is gaining popularity and
the onus of paying a part of the crop is
fast being shifted upon the laborer.
There is no doubt but the system of
renting to laborers, with tho reserved
right of supervision, is the best yet re
sorted to, and will gradually approxi
mate reliability and profitable results.”
We learn from the Savannah News
that during the past week petitions in
bankruptcy have been filed by the fol
lowing parties through tho solicitors
named: Wm. S. McComb, Milledge
ville, Baldwin county; Wm, McKinley,
solicitor. John H. Crouch, Dawson,
Terrell county; C. B. Wooten, Albany,
solicitor. Emanuel W. Jones, Ameri
cas, Sumter county; T. J. Simmons,
Macon, solicitor. George W. Bateman,
Sandersville, Washington county; W. T.
McKinley, Milledgeville, Solicitor. Al
exander Alexander, Augusta, lticbmoud
county; J. S. A W. T. Davidson, solici
tors; Louis Roseufield, Augusta, Rich
mond county; Thadileus Oakman, solici
tor. Joshua V. Jarrett, Forsyth, Mon
roe county; A. D. Hammond, solicitor.
Atlanta Herald : It has been a long
time since we heard anything from the
Colonel, nntil yesterday, when glancing
over the Chicago Herald, we espied the
following notice: “We notice that Dr.
Benjamin D. Lay, of the Granges’ Life
Insurance Company of Mobile, has been
promoted to be a Colonel. This infor
mation has been obtained from an ex
tremely able-bodied puff of that distin
guished gentleman in the New Orleans
Bulletin, which refers to him as ‘Col.’
Benjamin D. Lay. We presume that
this promotion was earned by the gal
lant services of the heroic Colonel on
the bloody field near Green Bay, Miss.,
just about a year ago, where and when
ho shot dead a near-sighted man, named
Tardy, who couldn’t have hit a barn
door at six paces. Tardy’s widow and
children were left in almost destitute
circumstances. Let Lay shoot another
blind man or run a bowe-knife into a
cripple, and he will be a Brigadier Gen
eral.”
Atlanta Herald : “ A Polander named
Konopatsky is in tho city looking for
his brother, who he says is farming in
this neighborhood. He told a reporter
of the Commonwealth that he was a lieu
tenant in a company of zouaves, which
were a part of a regiment commanded
by his father, who was the Colonel. He
says that in the battle of Sedan—which
took place on the 2d of September, 1870,
he received five wonnds, one in the
head, which destroyed his senses of
hearing and speaking, two in his arm,
one in the body, and one in the leg. He
writes four different languages—French,
German, English and Spanish, and is
master of the professions of siver-smith
and painting in oil. He says that he
has not heard from his brother in three
years, and has not seen, him in ten;
when last heard of, his brother was
running a farm in the vicinity of Atlan
ta, but he does not knowin what county.
Any one who can give this gentleman
any information, by which he can find
his brother, he will be very thankful.
Call on him at Peter Berron’s Schiller
House.”
ELECTRIC SPARKS.
The Bloomington, 111., paper bag fac
tory has been burned. Loss, $30,000.
Edmond H. Johnson, a noted thief
and express robber has escaped from
the Nashville penitentiary through means
of bribery.
A fire at Piedmont, West Virginia,
consumed twenty buildings, ten of
which were stores. The court house
and post office were also destroyed.
Miss Maggie H. Davis, daughter of
Jefferson Davis, was married yesterday
morning, in Memphis, to J. Addison
Hayes, Cashier in the State National
Bank.
A Sioux City dispatch reports that
four hundred hostile Soux are encamped
at Old Ponce agency, and settlers are
fleeing. It is expected the agency will
be attacked.