Georgia Historic Newspapers

    010 SERIES -OL. XCI
NEW SERIES—VOL. IL.
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Addreea WALSH A WKIGHT,
Chronicle k Sent-tnix. Angnat^Ga^
Ctjromcle anti Sentinel
WEDNESDAY... JANUARY 26, 1876.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Atlanta, Ga., January 15, 1876.
The business of the present session of
the Legislature promises to be transact
ed expeditiously. There is no reason
why it should not. The actiou of Gov
ernor Smith in reference to the Treasury
troubles and their attendant complica
tions has removed the case of Treasurer
Jokes from the Legislature to the
Courts. This disposition of the matter
is the best that could be made of it.
The Legislature might consume the en
tire session in trying to unravel the
mystery which surrounds the complica
tions of the department under the ad
ministration of Colonel Jones, and still
leave the whole matter in doubt, but as
the case now stands the Legislature is
relieved of the hearing of a cause that
would finally have to be referred for
adjudication to the Courts. Colonel
Jones and his friends express confidence
in his ability to prove his innocence
and to establish the fact that no cul
pable criminality attaches to his conduct
of the affairs of the Treasury.
The bill for a Constitutional Con
vention, introduced in the House by
Hon. H. D. Candleb, of Hall, has
been referred to a committee of nine
one member from each Congressional
District. This committee meets on
Monday afternoon for the purpose of
considering the bill introduced, and if
necessary to frame a substitute. This
measure has gained many advocates
since the last session, but one or two of
its warmest friends are lukewarm, which
arises from an apprehension that the
Convention, if called this year, will give
us trouble in the Governor’s and Presi
dential elections. This is the argument
of the anti-Conventionalißts, who say
that the time is inopportune, and that
our people will be divided on the home
stead and other issues arising out of the
Calling of a Convention, and the forma
tion of a Constitution. The expense iB
alleged as another drawback, but the
scare-crows and bug bears of opposition
are numerous. The Atlantese, who are
disturbed by the capital night
mare, do liot want a Convention this
year, but will favor it next. There
are men who affect to think that our
people aie still angered about the man
ner in which they were treated by tde
reconstruction measures, and that they
might be induoed to do something im
prudeut by way of retaliation. This is
the gruvemen of the argument against
a Convention, and shallow and weak as
it is it may be strong enough to defeat a
measure which has so much to com
meud it. Texas aud Arkansas aud Ala
bama and North Carolina have held
Conventions and the people of these
States have framed their organio laws
without injury to the uuitj of the Demo
cratic party or incurring the hostility or
wrath of the Federal power. Georgia j
can do tho same.
Senator McDaniel has introduced an
important bill, a copy of whiohl enclose, j
in reference to the adjustment of the j
rights of parties in oases where property
lias baeu sold under the homestead.
■This is to counteract the effects of the
reoent decision of the Supremo Court, |
which if not remedied would lead to j
endless litigation and gross injustice to 1
innocent purchasers. Senator Mo-1
Daniel’s object is to refer all cases aris- j
ing from the effects of the decision of j
the Supreme Court to a court of equity,
whore justice will be done to all parties, j
I understand that Mr. McDaniel's bill j
meets with the approval of some of the j
ablest lawyers in the State.
Judge Irwin has introduced a bill j
changing tbe law which allows parties to j
testify iu their owu ease. This is likely
to meet with strong opposition. A simi
lar bill was defeated at the last session.
The legal mind is divided on this ques
tion-some of the ablest lawyers being
iu favor and others opposed to it.
Senator Peayy has again introduced
bis jury bill, making jurors judges of
the law as well as the facts. This bill
passed the House last year, but was de
feated in the Senate.
Several bills have boeu introduced re-1
pealing the acts organizing the Depart- j
ment of Agriculture, the Geological Bu
reau and the State Board or Health.
These several departments have accom
plished great good to the State, and it is 1
to be hoped that the bills introduced for
the repeal of the acts organizing them
will be defeated, as they deserve to be. 1
The Legislature should take no step j
backward. The interests of the people ;
of every class aud calling—agricultural, |
commercial, mechanical, manufacturing
and mining interests—are subserved by '
these departments, and they deserve t-o ]
be liberally sustained by the State.
Several local and one general bill have
been introduced by Mr. Black. One
bill makes the office of Treasurer of.
Richmond county a salaried office, with ;
a salary of §1,830 a year: another to j
compensate Judge Montgomery and:
Judge Snead for services rendered the
State .in National Bank cases, the third
to declare valid the tax ordinances of
Augusta for 1874, and the fourth to au
thorize the Superior Court of Fulton
county to charter corporations propos
ing to do business in any part of the
State. Mr. Glxrek introduced a bill to
prevent the sale of liquor within three
miles of Union Church in Richmond
county.
I send you copies of bills introduced
in reference to the city of Augusta. In
1674 a general law was enacted prescrib
ing the manner in which bonds could be
issued by counties and muuicipal cor
porations. This law requires that two
thirds of the qualified voters of any
county or city shall vote in favor of a
measure before any bonds can bo issued.
In consequence of the work in band at
the time by the city of Augusta, a pro
wiab was inserted in the bill excepting
the Augusta Canal from the operatioga
of the act. The bill introduced is toJMS
peal this proviso.
The bill extending the term of office
of the Mayor ami Members of Council
.to three years, and rendering the Mayor
ineligible at tbe expiration of a full
term for the two successive terms there
after, is not without objection on ac
count of its innovation on estab
lished usage; but the advantages to
ensue from the extension of the time
for which the Mayor and Council are !
elected, and the restriction of the Mayor '
to one term, will fully compensate'
the people for the change. Under the
law as it now stands, a mau who is elect
ed to the office of Mayor may be anxious
to succeed himself for an indefinite
number of terms. This can be readily
done by good management on tbe part
of the Mayor, who controls the ma
chinery and power of the municipal
government. He can do it if he so wills.
And the desire to retain power at the ex
pense of the commnnity leads to an in
efficient and expensive administration.
Where a man is elected but for one term
he can have but one object, and that is
to do hfk whole duty to those who have
to bear tbe burden of taxation that be
comes oneroas and oppressive where
offices are multiplied and salaries in
creased unnecessarily. The bill is in the
interest of retrenchment and economy, j
and an efficient administration of the !
affairs of the city. P. W. j
THE AMNESTY DEBATE.
In apish imitation of tho English Par
liamentary practice, a custom has sprung
up of late years in the Congress of the
United States of having “leaders” in
the House, two prominent politicians
being pitted against each other and the
rank and file of either party standing
obediently at the back of their respec
tive generalissimos. The tendency of
this usage to make discussion a mere
duel between two central figures, with
the representatives of the whole country
humblyplaying bottle-holder and second
on either side, need not be enlarged
upon. It is one of the melancholy im
provements of Republican state-craft,
and we only mention it now as prelimi
nary to some observations on the recent
amnesty debate. As the* Democrat
ic “ leader,” Mr. Randall, intro
duces a bill to relieve all persons
of their political disabilities, a 1
good enough measure in its way '
but of no great practical or theoretical '
value. As far as the practical results of
amnesty go, there are but few gentle
men to be affected by an admission to !
the benign privilege of “standing for
office,” and those mostly men who care
nothing for that great boon and too ,
securely entrenched in the respect and
affection of the people of the South to
be injuriously affected by the attempted
stigma of exclusion. Mr. Davis, Mr.
Toombs, and others of that class might,
perhaps, even prefer no removal of dis
ab:lities, the retention of this disquali- '
fications even at this late day being an
implied and weighty compliment to
their power. To keep them still under
bar is as much as to say that they are
giants still, and therefore to be still
kept iu chains. As to the theoretical
advantages of a general amnesty
we fail to see how any act of
Congress, however sweeping, would
wash out the stigma, so far as it
is a stigma, upon the South implied in
the existence of disqualifications upon
any part of her people. Let every liv
ing ex-Confederate be thoroughly reha
bilitated in every right of American ci
tizenship ; let tbe legislation of Con
gress go still further, and acquit the
very shades of the dead of any tinge of
political iniquity—just as the British
Parliament has in times past reversed
bills of attainder against men whose
heads had long rolled upon the scaffold
—and yet there remains imbedded in
the Constitution itself, beyond the reach
of any ordinary act of legislation, be
yond the power even of a unanimous vote
of both houses and the most hearty ap
proval of the President, an inflexible
testimony that the stigma was inflicted
and the disabilities were imposed.
A full and perfect amnesty, one that
shall be a real and true act of obliviou,
can only come when, by the voice of tbe
whole American people, that monument
of civil war, testifying to the downfall
of one brother and the unseemly exulta
tion of another brother over his ruin,
the XIV. Amendment (saving the first
clause of the first section) shall be blot
ted out from what should be thebond of
Federal Union, but, as it now stands, is
the sigu manual of anfraternal triumph.
Till that day oomes there can be no ab
solute amnesty iu the UDited States,
and believing that it will come in the
fullness of the future time, we think the
chronic pother every now and then aris
ing in Congress on snch bills as Mr,
Randall’s a mere scuffling over side is
sues, and not at all likely to overturn
either of the great parties or more than
momentarily disturb the poise of the
Repul lie.
Mr. Randall, the “leader” on the one
side, haviug introduced his bill, Mr.
Blaine, the “leader” on the other,
moves a destructive amendment, and
thereupon the subalterns on either side
wheel into line and deliver their fire,
Mr. Hill, of Georgia, makes a speech,
which is as impetuous in the way of
oratory as the charge of the great Na
poleon’s forty thousand steel clad cui
rassiers at the battle of Essling. His
enemies are stricken with rage and
astonishment; and his friends are for
the most part appalled. There was no
answer to the facts and arguments of the
; great Georgian’s speech, because there
oan be none. The facts were drawn from
the records of the Government of the
United States,and the arguments adhered
to the facts as the soul clings to the body.
; Tbe impossibility of an answer deepened
the rage of “leader” Blaine and his
side : and this very excess of exaspera
tion reacts upon “leader” Randall and
i his side to fill them with new apprehen
sions as to the result of such unparal
leled onslaught. These apprehensions
have spread, and it is not to be denied
I that the popular verdict is that Mr.
Hill made a great speech and a great
mistake.
*Te do not concur in these wide-j
spread apprehensions. To our view the
speech was impolitic. The course for '
the Democracy to have taken upon Mr. j
i Blaine’s invitation to beoome enraged
and indulge in heated oratory was to
; have treated the provocation with the
| onntempt it deserved. A reasonable
| time should have been allowed “leader”
B. and bis followers to dilate in their
own way on their own proposition. The ,
j Democracy should then have voted it;
serenely down and adopted a resolution
to the effect that the people of the
United States are weary of this stale,
old inflammatory stuff; that the best
proof of their disgust and disrelish for
i it is the tremendous Democratic ma
jority they have returned to Congress,
and that in fulfillment of the popular
wish the House would put the stamp
of flu reprobation on any attempt to re
inflame the expiring passions of the past
and proceed forthwith to business. Snch
being our view, we regret Mr. Hill's
speech and Mr. Cox's speech and all
the other Democratic oratory in this de
bate. The plea that tbe truth of history
must be vindicated ia not a good one.
Who is “leader” Blaine that the many
I millions of people whom he asperses in
the person of their Chief Magistrate,
must vindicate themselves before Atm f
The South is at the bar of a far mightier
tribunal and before an ineffably greater
judge. Her motto was Deo Y indice,
and whatever political “leaders” may
say or do, whether amnesty be conferred
or withheld, despite cowardly taunts
upon the one 6ide and infuriated recri
minations on the other, the full and
final justification of this country is safe,
| perfectly safe, in the awful presence of
1 that sublime and infallible Referee,
j But the great and main point in this
debate is not any possible indiscretion
or lack of state-craft on the Democratic
side. The debate itself will be a nine
days wonder and then, pass into limbo
with a thousand other things that in
their day have been talked about and
then forgotten. But this one fact sur
vives—that in the view of its Congres
sional “leader” the only hope of the
Republican party is an issue upon which
at tbe last general election the party
was overwhelmingly defeated. In order
to fire the Northern heart for the Con
gressional elections of 1874 the Repub
lican majority galled and irritated the
Sonth all through the Summer of that
year until in Louisiana there was ac
tu illy a resort to arms. Ah ! how the
brethren rejoiced then! They saw a
most brilliant victory already within
their grasp. The clash of steel in the
streets of New Orleans was a sweet
presage to them of the success which
would infallibly crown their efforts at
the November polls. But what was the
result ?
On the morning after the election it
was knowu that the sceptre of Republi
can supremacy was broken. A most
amazing revulsion of Northern senti
ment was manifest. The country went
overwhelmingly Democratic and the Re
publican leaders were assured as plainly
as if it had been written opon a page
that the policy of hate, discord and en
mity would no longer do.
And yet this pitiful, threadbare, con
demned line of action on which they
have already been beaten out of sight is
the only one the wit of the Republican
leaders can now devise for future gui
dance. Jeff. Davis and Andersonville,
“ rampant rebellion” and “ unpardon
ed crime,” form the dingy paraphernalia
of their equipment for another trial of
strength. As plainly as words can
speak, the Northern people have inform
ed “leader ” Blaine and his lieutenants
that this poor trumpery can gull them
no more, aud yet the wheezy organ
grinds out no other tune.
We watched and waited at this session
of Congress to see what new device the
Republican minority would excogitate.
They form on the same ground on which
they have already had one Waterloo, and
if no other policy is to be adopted, the
friends of good government all over the
United States may say as did Cromwell
when his opponents took untenable
ground at the battle of Dunbar, “ The
Lord hath delivered them into our
hands.”
FAILURES IN 1875.
From the just published annual trade
circular of Dun, Barlow & Cos., of New
York oity, it appears that the numberjof
business failures in this country for
1875 was 7,740, with total liabilities
amounting to §201,000,000. This is the
largest number for any year on record,
although the liabilities are less than the
report of 1857 indicate. The following
table shows the number of failures and
liabilities since 1857 :
Year. Number. Amount.
1857 4.932 *291,750.000
1858 4,225 95,749,000
1859 3,913 64.394,000
1860 3,676 79,807.000
1861 6,993 207,210,000
1862 1,652 23,049,000
1863 495 7,899,000
1864 520 8,579,000*
1865 530 17,625,000
1866 1,505 63,783,000
1867 2.789 96.666,000
1868 2,608 63,694,000
1869 2,799 75,054,000
1870 3,546 88,242,000
1871 2,915 85,252,000
1872 4,069 121,056,000
1873 5,183 228,499,000
1874 5,830 155,239,000
1875 7,740 201,000,000
The reports for 1862, 1863, 1864 and
1865 are for the Northern States only.
The following shows the number of fail
ures and liabilities in the four great geo
graphical divisions of the country for
1875:
No of Amount of
Failures. Liabilities.
New England States 1,335 $40,015,164
Middle States 2,395 82,522,346
Western States 2,336 36,473,864
Southern States 1,833 36,277,777
The Tribune points out the fact that
in a commercial crash the large houses
are struck down first, then the smaller
houses, and finally the miuor industries
of the masses are reached. According
to this, the average liabilities will de
crease while the number of failures will
increase during a period of business dis
tress. Iu 1873 the number of failures
was 5,183, with average liabilities
amounting to §44,000; in 1874, 5,830
failures and §26,000 average liabilities ;
in 1875, 7,740 failures and only §25,000
average liabilities. From this it is in
ferred that we have seen about the worst
of the business reaction.
MINOR TOPICS.
The case of S. L. Hogs who holds a seat
from the Third South Carolina District, will
be takeu up next Saturday by the Committee
on Privileges and Elections. The district is
not composed of contiguous territory, as is re
quired by an act of Congress. The committee
have requested the contestant, Hon. W. H.
Tkrscot, to direct his argument to the point
whether the present Constitution of the Third
Congressional District does not involve a re
districting of the whole State, and consequent
ly tho unseating of the entire delegation.—
Hooe will doubtless be unseated, and the other
members of the delegation flflom South Caro
lina seem to be somewhat disturbed at the
idea that they may have to enter the field
again after having taken their seats in Con
gress.
In his recent leeture. General Dix con
gratulated his hearers that justice was now
better enforced in New York than it was five
years ago. We think he is right, though there
is still room for improvement. Had E. S.
Stokes been tried this year he might have
thought himself fortuoate in getting off with
imprisonment for life. He is ungrateful
enough to be impatient of the restraint of his
four years' confinement, and has just petition
ed Governor Tilden for a pardon, having still
a year or two to serve. He told a piteous tale
of his failing eyesight, prematurely gray hair,
and broken constitution. Governor Tildes
remembered, however, that the young man's
| hand was stained with blood, and that he had
sent his father broxen-hearted to the grave,
| aud very properly refused to grant his request.
GoTernor Hartbanft, of Pennsylvania, be
lieves the most efficient remedy for municipal
extravagance in large eities lixe Philadelphia
is to be found by dividing then} into a number
of small municipalities, joined in a central
government for certain specified and limited
j objects. The separate municipal government
should have the power of taxation for local
purposes, snch as schools and street improve
ments, while the general city government
should confcol the police, the fire department,
water works, and. perhaps, have the care of
the principal thoroughfares and sewers. If
every ward raised by taxation the money spent
within its borders and disbursed it through a
local organization of its own election, the
Governor thinks the officials would be held to
a much greater accountability, and a degree
of economy would prevail that is now un
j knowu.
Minister Washburns, who is generally con
: sidered to be ths second choice of the third
' termers for the Presidential nomination, is
apparently not ambitions to haye himself
pushed into the front rank of would-be candi
dates. In a Utter, under date of Paris, No
; vember 8. 1875, to a friend in Washington, he
wye that hs is not rain enough to suppose that
his name can ever figure seriously in the di
rection for a nomination for the Presidency,
and adds: "No party would ever undertake to
carry a candidate with such old-fashioned no
tions as I have, and whose record is loaded
down in opposition to all the great interests
that control political conventions. While I re
ceive many letters of the same kind tone as
yours, I am so impressed with what I have here
written, that I decline all action in the way of
candidature, ami. in the end. when the Con
vention comes off and my name is never men
tioned, yon and other friends will say that I
have been wise.”
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 26, 1876.
“O TEMPORA, O MORES!
Editors Chronicle and Sentinel :
Plutarch in his biographical sketch of
Cicero, says of him: “He was, indeed,
the man who most effectually showed
the Romans what charms eloquence can
add to truth and that justice is invinci
ble when properly supported.” This
great Roman was the only barrier pre
sented to the covert attacks of the
bloody Catiline and the impudent Len
tnlns. Have we in America, in this
Centennial year, a Catiline and a Len
tulns? Who can reflect npon the bare
faced insolence of Blaine and Morton
without answering in the affirmative.—
Are the times and the manners of to-day
parallel with the times and the manners
of Rome, when those arch conspirators
were striking at the liberty of Republi
can Rome ? Let us refer to history and
extract enough to test the parallel. The
same author to whom I have already re
ferred writes thus concerning the causes
which led the people to elevate Cicero
to the consulship: “Yet for the sake of
their country the patricians joined the
plebeians in raising him to the consul
ship.” The occasion was this: The
change which Sylla introduced into the
Constitution at first seemed harsh and
uneasy, but by.time and custom it came
to be an establishment which many
thought not a bad one. “At present,”
continues the Biographer, “there were
some who wanted to bring in another
change merely to gratify their own
avarice, and without the least view to
the public good. * * * * They had
a chief of a bold and enterprising spirit
and the most remarkable versatility of
manners; his name Lucius Catiline.”
The author then goes on to say, “The
vast inequality of the citizens in point
of property prepared Rome too for a
change. Men of spirit amongst the no
bility had impoverished themselves by
their great expenses on public exhibi
tions, and entertainments, on bribing
for offices and erecting magnificent
buildings, by which means the riches of
the city were fallen into the hands of
mean people. In this tottering state of
the Commonwealth there needed no
great force to overset it, and it was in
the power of any bold adventurer to ac
complish its ruin.” Does it not seem
that nineteen centuries have brought us
back to Rome, and we stand upon the
very brink of empire? Only awaiting
the next act in the drama when a Caesar
will appear upon the stage, and, throw
ing aside his mask, proclaim to the
world that American freedom has per
ished—fall by the hand of some jealous
Brutus, and then, sympathy, for the
moment, displacing wrath iu the breasts
of tbe people, will extend its hand and
raise anew Octavius to the throne of
Empire 1 This done, the curtain will
fall—the play which opened under smil
ing auspices to humanity, 'closes in one
century a bloody tragedy. Then this
great and free born people will stand
aghast with horror when all is ended,
and the passions that moved their breasts
in the rapid dramatic action of the
closing scene will have died out
and cool reason resumed her sway and
they read upon the somble drop curtain
one word— Empire ! This picture is by
no means drawn to aiarm, but simply to
show what might be and will be the re
sult, unless the American people unite
in one grand effort to check the hellish
plots of these Catilines who are sleep
less in their work of destruction.
Blaine introduced his amendment to
the amnesty bill for no other purpose
than to inflame the passions of the
thoughtless millions of the North and
arouse the expiring hatreds engendered
by the late war; to divert the attention
of the “prafanum vulgus” from the
corruptions and thievery of the present
Administration, and then take his
chances to ride upon the waves of
tumult which he has created in
to some calm haven of poliiical
power. Morton, catching the key note
of Grant’s message, presses unconstitu
tional and fanatical resolutions as to the
spirit of our Government and his Mis
sissippi investigation, thinking the
Northern masses are no more than a
herd of wild bulls, easily aroused by any
thing that carries with it a taint of the
blood of our past differences. Blaine
has failed. Why ? Simply because
there was a fearless champion of right
who was bold enough to stand up, and,
in the language of Plutarch, “ show the
Romans what charms eloquence can add
to truth.” Mr. Hill has every right to
believe that America can never pay her
debt of gratitude to him for his valiant
denunciation of the black conspiracy
against the happiness aud welfare of her
people. We, as Georgians, are proud
of him. He is beyond all odds the
ablest and most eloquent advo
cate of right on the floors of
Congress. He is the Cicero of the
times. He did right when he gave
utterance to that grand and eloquent
speech when he scourged with a “whip
of scorpions” the barking pack of politi
cal hounds who are ever scenting the
bloody trail of our unfortunate revolu
tion, iu hopes to catch and feed upon
the carcass of a ruined Republic. He
did right when be vindicated the truth
of history by exposing the nefarious
schemes of the Radical party—arraying
before the American people a mass of
incontrovertible facts from the records
of the country, which show the South
acted as became a people high in the
scale of civilization during the late war,
not as a herd of barbarians, as Blaine
and pestiferous Morton would make
them out to be. He echoed, not only
the sentiments of his immediate con
stituents, but of the people of Georgia,
of the South, and every man in America
who loves truth, liberty and honor.
He tore the mask from the face of the
dominant party and exposed its
hideousness and laid bare its machina
tions. He could do no more, and if he
had done less the finger of scorn should
have pointed him out as an unworthy
and faithless representative. Some
cranky editors of the Southern press
may think proper to arraign him as an
unwise and impolitic man—a mere
“gladiator;” but in God’s name, will
they have us sacrifice our honor, and
allow history to be perverted and insult
heaped npon the civilization of the
South until the whole world will regard
us as a pack of whipped spaniels, and no
one raise a voice in defense less, for
sooth, the Democratic party may lose
the votes of a few fools ? Out upon
your policy that compromises honor.
Out upon your policy that permits the
enemies to violate the sanctity of our
Constitution left us by our fathers. It
is time for Mr. Hill and every true
lover of American liberty to cry out, in
the words of the great Roman: “How
long, oh ! Cataline, will you abuse our
patience?” “O, tempora, O, mores !"
THE NEW NAVAL STATION.
Port Royal—lt* Great Advantage* a* a Na
val Station.
[Xeic York Herald .]
Apart from the question of a war with
Spain and its contiguity fo the island of
Cuba, Port Royal is the best naval sta
tion on the Atlantic coast. Norfolk and
New London are too far north for a fleet
compelled to do service in the tropics,
and Pensacola and Key West are fre
quently exposed to epidemic and conta
gious diseases. Port Royal, on the oth
er hand, is admirably situated as regards
climate, and geographically it presents
as many advantages as in the evenness
of its temperature and its freedom from
disease. It is not too far Sonth to leave
its Northern ports unprotected, even in
case of an emergency, and it is within
easy striking distance of Bermuda and
the* West India Islands. More than
this, it commands tho Gulf almost
as well as Key West or the month of
the Mississippi, and the exigencies
of the trade winds bring it within
the highway to the Mediterranean. But,
besides these reasons of a climatic and
geographical character, a grave political
argument is to be adduced in behalf of
Port Royal as onr principal naval sta-i
tion. Unlike Brooklyn or Philadelphia, i
a navy yard at this point cannot be used !
to control elections. A great abuse
heretofore has been the use of our navy
yards to carry doubtful States for the
: party in power. Port Royal can be
freed from any snch abuses altogether.
From every point of view this excellent
harbor presents advantages which are
possessed by no pther port on onr coast
for a naval rendezvous, and tbe ijavy
Department is showing great wisdom in
gathering our little fleet at this point.
! The possibility of a war with Spain may
i have suggested the determination of the
1 Bepartmentjbat, whatever the result, so
j. far as Spain is concerned, the idea is one
: which ought not to be abandoned. Let
us by all means make Port Royal onr
leading naval station.
Philadelphia appears for the nonce to
haTe thrown off her sombre-Quaker ap
parel, and to have ushered in the Cen
tennial with much the air of a venerable
old lady endeavoring to execute some
difficult steps in the Can-Can.
THE TREASURY TROUBLES.
WHAT CAPT. JONES HAS TO SAY.
The I.ate Treasurer's Reply to Governor
Ninirh—Conflicting statements—S eve r e
Stricture. The Combat Deepens—The Fun
Grow. Fast and Furious.
To the People of Georgia :
It is with some reluctance that I make
response to that portion of the Gov
ernor’s message in which detailed refer
ence is made to the transactions of my
self as late Treasurer, and I do so now
only in deference to the request of my
friends, and to meet at the threshold
the suggested, rather than declared, im
putation upon my conduct as a public
officer.
If I have postponed a response until
now, it was Dot owing to my want of
material to vindicate myself, bat rather
arising from my natural detestation of
the practice of appealing to the public
prejudices through the press, and gorg
ing public opinion with one-sided state
ments in advance of a full and manly
hearing upon the merits.
I may, too, have placed some reliance
not only in my own consciousness of
right, but on my past public record as
an old public servant, whose guard over
nearly half a million of public funds in
1868 not even bayonets threatened into
surrendering, and who could as honestly
say as any man in Georgia to my ene
mies: “ Contempsi Catalina gladius
non per timescam tuos,” I despised the
bayonets of Catiline nor will I now fear
yours.
His Exoelleucy omits in his message
to say that at his own special aud per
sistent request I assumed the duties of
the office almost immediately after my
election, iu the midst of a legislative
session and in a sea of confusion. He
also omits to say that when I assumed
the duties of the position, the credit of
the State of Georgia was weak and flut
tering in the markets. Georgia bonds
acknowledged by the State, bearing 6
per cent, interest, was sellingat6o cents;
and 7 per cent, bonds at 70 oents; and
even at these prices the sales were slow
and purchasers timid. When, by edict
of 15th day of November last, I was re
moved, the credit of the State under my
administration had been elevated, and
our six per cents were near par, sevens
called for dollar for dollar, and the
eighths commanded a handsome pre
mium. These facts his Excellency omit
ted to put before the people. But I lay
them down, as. facts strong and stub
born, to meet some of the insinuating
assaults made upon the administration
of the late Treasurer.
His Excellency, with commendable
candor, admits that in the latter part of
the year 1874, I obtained warrants in
my favor for the amount of alleged
payments of bonds which had been pre
viously redeemed by Heury Clews & Cos.,
and by my predecessor, and gives in de
tail the amount of the bonds alleged to
have been redeemed by Mr. Clews. But
the Governor omits to state how, when
or where any notice was ever brought
home to the late Treasurer of the num
ber, character, denomination or identity
of these bonds, or any evidence that
they were paid. The law of 1873, pre
scribing the duties of the late Treasurer,
was explicit that the bonds to be issued
under the act where to pay all past due
bonds and interest. How could I kuow
that any particular past due bond was
not to be paid ? If his Excellency knew
it, he was certainly acting in strange in
consistency with his professions not
to have given the Treasurer no
tice of the fact, and if he did
not know, why overwhelm the Treas
urer with assaults upon his intelli
gence and his integrity for not possess
ing more knowledge than himself ? Why
enter upon argument to show that an
Executive warrant for these payments
was still liable to be opened against the
Treasurer on his settlement with the
State, aud at the same time confess that
this happened when no cloud of suspi
cion rested upon the transaction. In
developments of what transpired a year
after in the examination of Mr. Clews’
books, these bonds were for the first
time ascertained, and I am held up as
paying money out improperly upon
bonds previously redeemed, when it is
confessed by the facts, I knew nothing
of what bonds were alleged to have been
redeemed, and to say the least, was cer
tainly as ignorant in the premises as his
Excellency. But his Excellency states
that I cannot give the names of the par
ties, and that I have no written entry or
memorandum throwing light upon the
subject, and I profess to be unable to
recall any fact which would serve as a
clue to the persons who presented the
bonds for payment. Adding with a
seemiDg cliirax of doubt upon the sub
ject that “his possession of them seems
to be the only evidence within his knowl
edge showing that he redeemed them,”
After the recitation of facts by his Ex
cellency and in which he might have
added that Messrs. Clews A Cos. claimed
an amount due them of the State, and
refused to let the bonds get out of
their possession even for the inspec
tion of the Governor, and what the
Governor presents by them sell
ing them, and buying them in, even
at the small sum stated by his Excellen
cy of §18.525, a reasonable presumption
would arise in any fair mind that the
possession of these bonds by the late
Treasurer was the most complete, most
undoubted and most conclusive evidence
that he had paid them, and possession
of them would “seem to be,” to any un
prejudiced man, proof strong as Holy
Writ, for to suppose Clews & Cos. made
them a present to the Treasurer would
be too foolish to assert as a fact, and too
fanciful for a child’s speculation. His
Excellency with great gravity presents
that in addition to tho principal the
Treasurer claims to have paid interest
accruing after maturity, and states,
“ this alleged payment of interest is not
verified by proper vouchers,” etc. Un
fortunately for the Governor’s memory,
the act of 1873 created the Nutting
bonds to pay “all past due bonds and
interests.” When the Treasurer pre
sented the past due bond its very pos
session verified with tho highest and
most authentic attestation that the in
terest due thereon had been paid. It
would be a violation of all reasonable
presumption to say that the holder of a
past due bond, entitled by the law to in
terest, gave possession of the bond to
the Treasurer without receiving what
the law granted. And in every sense of
presumptive justice, the Treasurer, when
he presented the past due bond, was en
titled to the belief of every fair minded
mau that he got possession of it by pay
ing what the law declared was due upon
it. Any other presumption wonld be a
farce.
His Excellency again refers to some
bonds redeemed during the term of my
predecessor, which he says Mr. Angier
states he brought from New York and
placed in the vaults of the Treasury. He
says no entry of the redemption was
made on the records of the Treasury;
that the Treasurer went out of office
shortly afterwards, etc. In his state
ment of the matter the Governor says
that my predecessor failed to take any
receipt showing the delivery of these
bonds to his successor. Now the mode of
presenting this matter is ingeniously of
fensive to me. It implies without as
serting that the bonds were delivered to
me, and the fact of there being so re
ceipt was a failure of proper caution at
tributable to his so soon leaving office.
His Excellency does say I deny receiv
ing them, but adds as weakening my de
nial that “he (meaning myself; does not
remember from whom they were re
deemed, Dor does he reoall any circum
stance from which the fact of their re
' demption by himself oan be ascertained,
aud he also claims that he paid interest
ion them. His Excellency strangely
i omits to present the foots of this matter
with the light held over both sides.
But we propose to meet that which
more especially attacks the verity and
j integrity of ourselves. There are many
men in Georgia who have had close
! intimacy with the late Treasurer for
many years, and who will believe ns
when we say that any insinuation cast
upon onr honor in this matter, come
from whatever source it may, we repel
with all the earnestness of our nature as
not only unjust but caluminous. In
reading over the message of his Excel
lency on the question of coupons, the
Governor’s presumptions are even more
elaborately anreasoaable than his state
ment of facts are out qf place. He sayg
after the year 1668 Hie State paid the
interest on her old bonds. The people
of Georgia are not unaware of the fact
that the State hfis not been regnlarly
paying the interest on her bonded debt.
It would be a tedious exhaustion of
facts to prove this, and as a matter of
pure presumption, out of thirty thous
and coupons a year of various denomi
nations, rutming since 1868. is it natural
that four or five hundred should have
been seatteringly neglected, or that
some cancelled in New York and some
at the Treasury, some in envelopes
and some in bulk that the punch
should not in every instance, with
mathematical precision, make its punc
ture in the exact location where his Ex
cellency may have deemed it best to
make the mark npon a dead paper,
worthless after the puneh went through
it as the mark of its cancellation.
The small amount gathered from the
mass of coupons paid, referred to in the
message, bears too strongly in favor of
the whole to need any trespass on the
public, with the apologies of explana
tion. The over-ridden entries of a for
mer Treasurer, in pencil, by second en
tries made by himself, arising from what
all know as the difficulty of distinguish
ing the coupons of old bonds, many of
which appear in duplicate and triplicate
of numbers, and which fell into place
by one letter plaeed in a hurry on or
over another, exhibits in its very state
ment the intention whioh governed the
act, for if desire existed to commit fraud,
the opportunity of doing so wonld have
invited a rubbing out of the letter, and
not the placing of one with the other,
leaving both as the indexes of what had
been done.
His Excellency, however, makes a se
rious objection when coupons to the
amount of §93,570 are swept out of my
vouchers, and it is declared to be within
the personal knowledge of the Governor
that a large amount of the bonds npon
which they matured was not disposed of
until after the maturity of the coupon
for semi-annual interest. A brief glanoe
at the law of 1873 will call to memory
the labors of the Finance Committee.
Before it oame into existence §900,000
was demanded by the public exigence
to take up overdue bonds and coupons
and pay interests maturing. The finale
of conferences upon the subject culmi
nated in the Nutting bill, ordering the
issue of §1,200,000 of eight peroent. non
taxable bonds. The best hopes of all
did not in the then depressed state of
our acknowledged liabilities look for
more than the §900,000 as the result of
the sale of the §1,200,000 of bonds, and
if they had been placed in the hands
of brokers at the time, ninety cents
would have been the highest market,
and this would have been reduced
by the commissions and expenses; in
fact, many know that it was prophesied
that they would not bring on the market
the 75 cents necessary to raise the §9OO-,
000. Inspired with confidence in the
patriotic purpose of our own people, I
determined to shun tne Wall street job
bers, and appeal to them. The applica
tions came in too slowly for present and
pressing uses and I persuaded the banks
at Atlanta to buy some §200,000. From
then until late iu the Fall they went off
gradually at par; the old bonds were
presented for exchange; had interest
paid on them at their own rate to the Ist
of April, 1873, except in a few instances,
and the new bonds dating from that day
were given in exchange with all the cou
pons attached. To keep tbe bonds at
par, I sold with the eonpons attaohed. I
let none who came to buy go off with
the money. The State needed the
money, and I did not let a maturing
coupon prevent the sale. The bonds
were kept nominally at par, and it was
as wise ah proper to keep the price
where I did. The first decline would
soon have been followed by others, and
that these coupons should have been
paid subsequently, neither invites the
objection made, or justifies the presump
tion so unreasonably invoked.
Time prevents my further examina
tion of the message of his Excellency,
and, as I am notified through the same
source through which I have learned a
great deal of the oauses and charges
against me, the public press, that suits
have been instituted against myself and
securities, I will not detail through the
same source my defenses and vindica
tion, but leave to the Courts the adjudi
cation of my acts as late Treasurer, as
suring my friends, whose confidence in
my official integrity has not been shaken,
that I am amply able to show a record
before whioh the Governor’s attenuated
presumptions will be as feathers in the
fire. Respectfully, John Jones.
Late Treasurer.
A Relio of the Past. —We saw, yes
terday, au interesting relic of the past
in the shape of a copy of the Augusta
Chronicle, printed by Dr. Driseol “near
the market,” and dated. Saturday, Sep
tember 7th, 1805. The paper was then
in its nineteeth volume. The price was
then three dollars per annum (for the
weekly). We find from its oolumns that
even in those early days patent medi
cines were in vogue. Isaac Herbert,
wholesale agent for Georgia and South
Carolina, offers for sale a fresh supply
of “patent New London Bilious Pills,”
warranted sure cure, and with an ad
denda that they must not be classed
with the “catchpenny inventions of the
day.” Jones & Semmes had just re
ceived anew stook of Fall dry goods
and groceries. F. Phinizy offered for
sale a large quantity of lime stone. J.
Cormick had just received a lot of law
and other books.
“Married on Tuesday, the 30th ult.,
in Charlotte county, Va., Mr. Perrin
Alaey, aged 105 years, to Mrs. Ann
Tankersly, aged 90. She is his third
wife and he her third husband.”
“Extract of a letter from a gentleman
in the suite of Col. Hammond to his
friend in this city :
Kaskasias, Eastern Side of the!
Mississippi, Indiana Territory, >
July 15, 1805. )
On Sunday last I arrived at this place
in company with Col. Hammond, after
one of the most fatiguing journeys, per
haps, ever performed through a country
which might be said to be settled with
Christians. The vicissitudes we have
met with are innumerable.
This country is badly watered, henoe
people are deterred from settling in the
interior and an aot of Congress prevent
ing slavery, prevents immigration, par
ticularly of the upper classes. It is
more than probable that it will be some
time before there will be refinement of
manners or that the acts and sciences
will flourish here.
I must do those French the justioe to
say that they are much more honest and
peaoeful than the Americans who are
settled here and who are mostly idle and
dissipated. Indeed the Americans of
this place seem to look npon a stranger
as one whom they shall never see again
and think themselves priviledged to
pluck him. This place was settled two
years before Philadelphia aud the first
bell ever imported in America I have
seen hanging in the Roman Church.
Gen. Wilkinson passed through here a
few days before our arrival and arrived
at St. Louis on the 4th inst. The
troops, citizens and several hundred In
dians were drawn out and stationed at
the foot of a high bridge where the Gen
eral had to pass, for to salute him on
his arrival, with direction from the com
manding officer not to fire a salute till
he had crossed the bridge. | But just as
tbe General and his escort had got on
the top of a bridge 30 or 40 feet high,
they commenced a fire which, together
with the shouts of the Indians,
threw the General, corps and
the officers, Ac., escorting him
into a general confusion ; several
had liked to have been tossed off the
bridge, but it is with pleasure I learned
no accident of consequence had hap
pened.
Loaf sugar, 75 cts. per lb.
Brown sugar, Idol. per lb.
Tea and coffee none.
It was with difficulty the citizens
coaid procure a few of these articles at
St. Louis for the entertainment
given General Wilkinson on his
arrival. They had to give one
dollar a pound for a barrel of
brown sugar, which was all that was to
be had in that oity. I have not tasted
tea or coffee for many weeks past.
Just as I was closing this letter I re
ceived accounts from Gol. Hammond at
St. Louis. He informs me he has rett
ed a house and intends being with ns
here to-morrow. I omitted mentioning
to you that we are a near neighbor of
Mr. Bell, formerly of yonr city. He is
much dissatisfied with this Territory,
and will leave this early in October
next for Georgia. The old gentleman is
much respected here.”
“Died on Thursday night last, after a
few days illness, the Rev. Mr. McKnight,
Minister of St. Fanl’s Church and Rec
tor Richmond Aeademy. The pnblio
sustains a great loss in the death of this
worthy gentleman.”
To Cube Rheumatism. —Take dry to
baooo leaves, such aa are kept drying in
the store bouse of the grower, spread
over them soft soap and then apply
them wherever the pain is; as fast u they
dry, renew them, As soon as the patient
vomits two or three times remove them,
give a warm wash, then rub dry and bind
all the parts that have been covered with
tobacco with flannel wet in whisky, give
the patient a warm whisky toddy and let
him or her sleep.
McGlinohy Brothers A Cos., dry goods
dealers, at Calais, Me., have failed. Lia
bilities, §200,000. Assets unknown.
THE f TATE CAPITAL
LEGISLATIVE! PROCEEDINGS FOR
THREE DAYS.
[Special Dispatch to the Chronicle and Sentinel.]
SENATE.
Atlanta, January 17, 1876.—1n the
Senate, the following bills were intro
duced:
By Mr. Black: To define the liabili
ties of parties farming on shares.
Also, an aot to foster sheep raising,
declaring sheep killing dogs public nui
sances and requiring their destruction,
and holding their owners responsible
for damages.
By Mr. Carter: To authorize the Com
missioners of Stewart oonnty to hire out
parties oonvicted of misdemeanor.
By Mr. Dedwiler: To legalize the acts
of the Eoleotio B-ard of Physicians.
By Mr. Gilmer: To prevent the sale of
property set apart for homestead or in
trust for minors.
By Mr. Harris: To regulate the pay
of jurors in Worth county.
By Mr. Hunter: To prevent the sale
•of liquor within three miles of Holly
Springs Baptist Church, Elbert county;
also, to prescribe the punishment of
persons concerned in lynoh law.
By Mr. Howell; To authorize the
Comptroller to collect debts due the
State from lessees of penitentiary con
victs.'
By Mr. Hudson: To repeal the aoV pro
viding for publication of agricultural
statistics.
By Mr. Kibbee: To authorize the
State to issue bonds to retire by ex
change recognized bonds of the Macon
and Brunswick Railroad and bonds of
the North and South Railroad, the
bonds to bear seven per oent. interest,
and to run twenty years.
By Mr. MoDaniel: To provide for the
sale of homestead and reinvestment of
the proceeds of sale.
Also, to provide for taxation of bank
stockholders upon the value of shares,
bank Presidents required to return, un
der oath, the amount of stock held by
stockholders, both resident and non
resident.
By Mr. O’Daniel: To transfer Twiggs
county from the Macon to the Oconee
Ciacuit.
By Mr. Perry: To prevent the de
struction of insectivorous birds in Ba
ker and Calhoun-counties.
By Mr. Reese: To authorize Peterson
Theweatt to have the legality of his
claim tried in the Courts.
To provide for the publication of the
laws of the State. Authorizes the Gov
evernor to have the same published in a
paper at the capital thirty days.
To permit the Georgia Railri ad to
run freights on Sundays.
To provide a mode of serving writs on
minors.
Ta amend the oharter of the Bank of
Washington.
To amend the act providing for the
payment of certain insolvent oosts in
the Northern Circuit.
To define and pnnish criminal negli
gence.
To define the time within whioh pro
ceedings to set aside judgments or de
crees shall be instituted.
To give time on the removal of admin
istrators to make final settlement.
To regulate the law of larceny.
To amend the homestead law.
To authorize parties to establish lost
papers, notes, etc., in a summary man
ner.
To provide for the collection of taxes.
By Mr. Winn: To consolidate the
offices of tax oollector and receiver—one
man to perform the duties.
Bills were passed to consolidate the
offices of oollector and receiver in Macon
county; to prohibit the sale of liquors in
Putnam, outßide of Eatonton; to declare
void certain six per cent, bonds; to
punish persons furnishing minors with
deadly weapons; to prevent cruelty to
animals, prescribing flue or imprison
ment or both.
The Governor submitted the report of
Messrs. Kibbee and Snead, the commit
tee appointed to investigate the account
of the State with Clews. Ordered
printed.
Governor Brown extended an invita
tion to the Legislature to excurt to
Chattanooga, in order to see what care
the lessees had taken with the road. On ;
motion of Mr. Reese, it was referred to
the Committee on the State of the Re
public. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bills introduced:
By Mr. Duggan : To require payment
of costs in advance.
Mr. Searcy: To establish a Board of
Commissioners in Talbot county.
Mr. Black : To repeal the second sec
tion of aot to incorporate Augusta.
Also, to establish a State House Re
form for minors in the penitentiary
building at Milledgeville.
Mr. Hutchins : To declare dogs not
property.
Mr. Williams : To regulate issuing at
tachments where both parties are non
residents.
Mr. Grimes : To abolish the pay of
jurors in Miller connty.
To amend the aot creating the County
Court.
To fix the liquor license in Miller
county at five hnndred dollars, and to
require the consent of two-thirds of the
property holders within three miles of
the place of sale.
Mr. McAfee : To prevent and punish
cheating and swindling in giving mort
gages.
Mr. Chappell: To regulate the sale of
opium.
Mr. Riddle : To create a Board of
Commissioners in Jones county.
Mr. Wicher : To regulate payments
of flues and costs for misdemeanors iu
Glascock.
Mr. Hoge : To accept the City Hall
square as a site for the Capitol.
Mr. Wesalowsky : To regulate the pay
of jurors in Dougherty county.
Mr. Smith : To reorganize the Geor
gia Penitentiary.
Mr. Antony : To prevent the sale of
farm products between sunrise and sun
set in Clayton county.
Mr. Warren, Chairman of the Finance
Committee, introduced general tax and
appropriation bills—four mills fixed as
the maximum.
Bills were introduced for the registra
tion of dogs, and to require Ordinaries
to famish collars.
A bill was passed to regulate the pay
of jurors in Dodge county and to pre
vent the sale of farm products in Heard
county between sunrise and sunset.
Mr. Livingston, of Newton, and Mr.
Hardeman, of Bibb, presented commu
nications from the State Grange. Re
ferred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Mr. Baker introduced e resolution to
appoint a joint special committee to in
vestigate the alleged violation of the
lease of the State Road by the lessees.
A resolution was adopted to advance
$5,000 to the State Printer.
Exit Hopkins.
Judge Hopkins has resigned.
Senator McDaniel's Bill.
An act to provide for the adjustment
of the rights of parties in cases where
property, which has been set apart un
der the Homestead and Exemption laws
of thig State has heretofore been sold.
Section 1. The General Assembly of
the State of Georgia do enact,That Courts
of Equity alone shall have jurisdiction
of suits for the recovery of property
which has been set apart nnder the
homestead and exemption laws of this
State, and which has heretofore been
sold, or for the recovery of any interest
therein, and that it shall be lawful for
any party to prove that tbe purchase
money of snch property, or any part
thereof, has been invested in other
property, or has been applied to the
benefit of the family for whom sneh
property had been set apart as afore
said.
Sec. 2. That in cases where the pro
ceeds of property sold as aforesaid has
been invested in other property of equal
value and benefit to said family, the
Court shall confirm the sale and the
purchase, and thereafter the property
so purchased shall be held by said
family aa a homestead and exemption in
lien of the property so sold, which shall
be discharged of the particular estate
vested by said homestead and exemption
laws in said family.
Sso. 3. That in oases where all the
proceeds of the sale of snch property
has been applied to the benefit of suoh
family, the Court shall confirm the sale,
and thereafter the property so sold shall
be disbarged of the particular estate
aforesaid.
Sec. 4. That in cases where a part
only of the proceeds of the sale of snch
property has been reinvested as afore
said, the Court shall take an account of
the proportion that tbe amount so in
vested bears to the entire value of the
property so sold, and shall confirm the
aale as to that proportionate part ol the
property and confirm the purchase, and
thereafter the property so purchased
*2 A YEAR—POSTAGE PAID.
shall be held by said family as a part of
their homestead and exemption, in lieu
of the proportionate part aforesaid of
the property so sold, whioh shall be dis
charged of the particular estate afore
said.
Seo. 5. That in cases where a part
only of the proceeds of property sold
as aforesaid has been applied to the
benefit of said family, the Court shall
take au aoconnt of the proportion that
the amount so nsed bears to the entire
value of the property so sold, aud shall
confirm the sale as to that proportionate
part of such property, which shall be
disohared of the particular estate afore
said. .
Sec. 6. That in eases where any por
tion of the proceeds of property sold as
aforesaid, has neither been invested in
other property nor applied to the benefit
of said family, the Court shall ascertain
the amount thereof and the interest of
said family therein, and shall mould a
decree to protect the rights and interests
of said family in the property so sold;
aud to protect also the rights and inter
ests of the purchaser in the reversion oi
such property after the particular estate
aforesaid shall have been determined,
and shall require parties complainant to
do complete equity before obtaining
eqnity.
Seo. 7. That in cases where a portion
or all of the purchase money of proper
ty so sold has not been paid, the Court
may confirm the sale and order the rein
vestment of the proceeds, or may cancel
and set aside the sale aud require the
restoration of any part of the purchase
money which may have been paid, and
may grant relief to the parties according
to the principles of equity.
Seo. 9. That all suits herein provided
for shall be brought within six months
after the passage of this act, or the right
of the party complainant, and all right
of suit for its enforcement shall be for
ever barred.
Seo. 10. That all laws and parts of
laws in conflict shall, with the provisions
of this act, be and the same are hereby
repealed.
What Was Done in the Senate— Relief Laws
—The Jury Bill Again—Reorganizing: the
Treasury—lnvitations to the lirowus—The
House—Looni Bills Passed—No Excursion—
ConsolldatlnglOnftccs—The State Ilond Lease
—The Convention Question—The Committee
Endorse Cnndler’s Bill—Executive Commit
tee meeting Called.
[Special ifspatch to the Chronicle <£ Sentinel.]
THE STATE SENATE.
Atlanta, January 18.— In the Senate
to-day upon the reading of bills for the
third time the following were passed :
To incorporate the Brunswick Bank
and Trust Company; for the relief of
R. M. Yarnel and his securities; to le
galize the eleotion of municipal officers
in Cedartown; for the relief of R. and
H. M. Kerce, of Worth county; the bill
making jurors in all cases judges of the
law as well as of the facts was reported
upon favorably by the Judiciary Com
mittee, and made the special order for
Thursday of this week; the bill to repeal
the aot enabling parties to waive the ex
emptions made by the homestead law was
reported npon unfavorably by the com
mittee and lost; the resolution adopt
ed by the House yesterday advanc
ing five thousand dollars to the State
Printer was unanimously adopted. The
following new bills were introduced :
By Mr. Kibbee, of the Fourteenth
District : To provide for the reorganiza
tion and protection of the Treasury De
partment of the State, and to define the
duties of the Treasurer.
By Mr. Cain, of the Eighteenth Dis
trict : To provide for granting one new
trial in all oivil casts hereafter tried in
the Superior Court of this State.
By Mr. Hudson, of the Twenty-Eighth
District : To allow the convict labor of
certain counties of the State to be em
ployed on the public works of such
counties.
By Mr. Carter, of the Twelfth Dis
trict : To create a board of commission
ers of roads and revenue for the county
of Stewart.
By Mr. Payne, of the Forty-Fourth
District : To declare that Judges of the
County Court and Clerks of tbe Superior
Court in counties where there is no
County Court; shall be ex-officio Ordiua
ries when the Ordinary is disqualified;
jilso to regulate official advertising and
limit the fees for the same.
By Mr. Peavy, of the Thirty-sixth
District : To authorize the County
Court of Troup county to take jurisdic
tion of the will and estate of Josephs.
Banning, of Merriwether county, and to
allow Ja3. W. Banning, Ordinary, to
qualify aB executor.
By Mr. Winn, of the Thirty-fourth
District: To create anew judicial cir
cuit to be called the Apalachie Circuit,
to consist of the counties of Gwinnett,
Clark, Morgan, Jackson, Newton and
Rockdale.
By Mr. Kibbee, of the Fourteenth
District: To prescribe a mode for the
collection of costs in cases in the Su
preme Court, and to fix the compensa
tion for a deputy clerk.
Mr. Black, of the Seventeenth Dis
trict, offered a resolution inviting ex-
Governor Joseph E. Brown to a seat on
the floor, whioh was adopted. Mr. Har
ris, of the Tenth District, offered a reso
lution inviting Hon. James R. Brown to
a seat on the floor, which was also adopt
ed. After reading bills a second time
the Senate adjourned until to-morrow.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the Honse this morning bills were
read a second time and referred to ap
propriate committees. The following
bills were read a third time and passed:
To provide a salary of eighteen hun
dred dollars in lieu of commissions, for
the Treasnrer of Richmond county; to
declare the tax ordinance of the city of
Augusta for the year 1874 of full force
and effect; to prescribe the mode of
granting liquor licenses for the county
of Marion.
Governor Brown’s communication in
viting the members of the Legislature
to go on an excursion over the State
Road from Atlanta ta Chattanooga was
acknowledged, bat declined, as an ac
ceptance wonld interfere with the dis
charge of their duties.
A resolution was adopted referring to
the'Judiciary Committee all bills provid
ing for the consolidation of the offices of
Tax Receiver and Tax Collector, with
instruction to the committee to report a
general bill.
Mr. Baker, of Bartow: Resolution
providing for the appointment of a spe
cial committee to investigate alleged
violations of the State Road lease con
tract by the lessees, was made the spe
cial order for Friday.
The resolution introduced by Mr.
Turnbull, of Banks, authorizing the
Governor to sell the lot in Atlanta known
as the “ Foster Blodgett lot, ” was
passed, and the House adjourned.
The Convention Question.
The special committee of nine to
which was referred all the bills intro
duced upon the subject of a State Con
stitutional Convention, met to day and
agreed upon a bill to be reported. The
bill is substantially the same as that in
troduced by Mr. Candler, of Hall. It
provides that there shall be one hun
dred and ninety odd delegates in the
Convention; that the election shall be
held on the second Tuesday in March;
that tbe Convention shall meet on the
second Tnesday in April; and that only
twenty-five thousand dollars shall be
appropriated for paying its expenses.
The vote in the committee room Btood
six in favor of and two .against a Con
vention, with Mr. Candler in the Chair.
Among those voting affirmatively were
Mr. Lawton, of Chatham; Mr. Irwin, of
Cobb; and Mr. Speer, of Spalding. The
bill as agreed npon will be introduced
in the House to-morrow.
The State Executive Committee.
The State Democratic Executive Com
mittee has been called to meet in Atlan
ta on the twenty-sixthinst., tp designate
a member of the Democratic National
Executive Committee and for other pur
poses. The call is signed by Thomas
Hardeman, Chairman, and L W. Avery,
Secretary.
It is reported that Colonel Cincinna
tus Peeples will succeed Judge Hopkins
as Judge of tbe Atlanta Circuit, and that
Jndge Richard H. Clark will be appoint
ed Judge of the City Coart of Atlanta.
Petition From the State Granee—The Mem
here Asked to Contribute to the Lee Monu
ment—The Action on the Bill to Consolidate
the Offices of Tax Receiver and Tax Col
lector—Passae of Mr. McDaniel's BUI—
The Senate Adjourns In Honor of Gon. Lee's
Birthday.
[Special Dispatch to the Chronicle and Sentinel]
THE STATE SENATE.
Atlanta, Ga., January 19, 1876.
In the Senate to-day the State Grange
had presented a petition asking that the
agricultural interest receive the fostering
care of the State, and praying for the
continuance of the Agricultural Bureau.
The petition was received.
Mr. Cooper, of the Forty-second Dis
trict, introduced a bill to pay J. Bran
ham for services as Solicitor-General of
the Macon Circnit. Bills were read
the seoond time and referred to appro
priate committees.
Mr. Harris, of the Tenth District, intro
duced a memorial from the ladies of
Atlanta asking members of the Legisla
ture to contribute one half of ono day’s
per diem to aid in erecting a monument
to General Lee in Virginia. Messrs.
Harris, Blance, and Arrow spoke briefly
in support of the memorial.
Bills were passed to authorize the
Comptroller to collect debts due the
State from leases of convicts; to create
a Board of Commissioners in Gilmer
county; to regulate fees of jurors in
Worth oounty; to change the line be
tween the counties of Appling and
Wayne. The bill consolidating the
office of Tax Receiver and Tax Collector,
reported favorably by the committee,
was disoussed.
Mr. Harris moved to disagreo to the
report. He said the consolidation of
the two offices would lead to fraud, and
asked that his District be excluded from
the act.
Mr. Reese thought the bill had better
be recommitted. There was a demand
from the people to consolidate these
offioes, and he believed a bill could be
framed to meet the requirements.
Mr. Winn favored the bill. One man
could easily discharge the duties of
both offices. The people demand relief
from taxation.
Mr. Cooper did not believe in em
ploying two men to do one man’s work.
Receivers and Collectors make the same
round in the counties, and one man is
able to do the work. The motion to
refer the bill to a special committee
was adopted.
_ Mr. McDaniel’s bill giving jurisdic
tion alone to courts of equity in suits
arising for property set apart under the
homestead was passed, and the Senate
adjourned in respect to the memory of
General Lee.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the House to-day the following
bills were introduced:
Mr. Hardeman, of Bibb: To amend
the act preventing the discharge of fire
arms in Vineville.
Mr. Thomas, of Chatham: To punish
foeticide; also, to regulate the sale of
poisons.
Mr. Magill, of Decatur: To exempt
from county and municipal taxation
lawyers, doctors and dentists.
Mr. Sapp, of Dodge: To organize a
County Court in Dodge county.
Mr. Westbrook, of Dougherty: To
amend the act incorporating Albany.
Mr. Padgett, of Echols: To repeal the
act creating a Board of Commissioners in
Echols county.
Mr. Hoge, of Fulton: For the relief
of J. Boorman Johnson & Cos.
Mr. Carlton, of Greene: To regulate
the bond of the Ordinary of Greene
oounty and to abolish the office of County
Treasurer.
Mr. Culver, of Hancock: To amend
the act prohibiting the sale of farm pro
ducts between sunset and sunrise, by
applying its provisions tt> Hancock coun
ty-
Mr. Lane, of Jasper: To repeal the
act of consolidation of the offices of
Sheriff and Tax Collector, and Clerk of
Superior Court and Tax Receiver in
Jasper county.
Mr. Riddle, of Jones: To change the
lines between Jones and Baldwin.
Mr. Christian, of Johnson: To change
the lines between Laurens and Johnson.
Mr. Frederick, of Macon: To make it
lawful for Judges of Superior Courts to
hear and determine applications for
new trials at Chambers.
Mr. Scott, of McDuffie: To protect
land owners in McDuffie and Lincoln
counties.
Mr. Adams, of Monroe: To fix com
pensation for feeding prisoners in Mon
roe county jail; also, to amend the act
creating the Board of Commissioners in
Monroe.
Mr. Phinazee, of Monroe: To fix the
compensation of Tax Collector, Tax Re
ceiver, and Treasurer of Monroe.
Mr. Williams, of Muscogee: To pre
scribe the mode of granting liquor
licenses in Muscogee; also, to apply the
provisions of the act prohibiting the salo
of farm products between sunset and sun
rise to Muscogee.
Mr. Livingston, of Newton : To create
a lien iu judgments on written obliga
tions to pay money; to change the line
between Newton and Jasper; to declare
Yellow river, in Newton and Rockdale
counties, a lawful fence.
Mr. Anderson, of Newton : To amend
the act regulating the sale of liquors in
Newton and Jasper.
Mr. Hutcherson, of Oglethorpe : To
provide for compensation of officers in
Oglethorpe county for extra work.
Mr. Milson, of Oconee : To change
the time of holding Oconee Superior
Court ; to authorize the Governor to
purchase books for Ocoriee county.
Mr. Tumlin, of Randolph : To organ
ize a County Court in Randolph county.
Mr. Black, of Richmond : To amend
the jury law of Richmond county; to
provide certain compensation for the
Judge of the County Court of Rich
mond.
Mr. Speer, of Spalding : To exempt
railroad conductors from jury duty.
Mr. Furlow, of Sumter: To amend the
charter of Americus.
Mr. Fannin, of Troup : To regulate
the compensation of Tax Collector, Tax
Receiver and Treasurer of Troup coun
ty; also, to amend the act creating a
County Court in Troup.
Mr. Pittman, of Troup: To create a
Board of Commissioners in Troup
oounty.
Mr. Hall, of Warren: To declare the
purchase of farm produots from labor
ers, without the written consent of the
owners of the land, a misdemeanor.
Mr. Jones, of Burke: To amend the
act prescribing the mode of granting
liquor licenses in Burke, Jefferson and
other counties.
Mr. Miller, of Marion: To exempt
from taxation all persons who have lost
an arm or leg in the late war.
Mr. Warthen.of Washington: To fix the
compensation of Tax Receiver, Tax Col
lector and Treasurer, and the per diem
of jurors in Washington county.
Mr. Binns, of Wilkes: To allow Simeon
Wheatley, of Wilkes county, to peddle
without license.
The House's Contribution to the I,i:e Houu
nient.
Gen. Lawton presented a memorial
from the ladies of the Lee Monumental
Association asking the members to ap
propriate half a day’s pay. After some
remarks from Gen. Lawton and Judge
Speer the House adjourned, on motion
of Mr. Black, in respect to the memory
of General Lee.
The members of the Legislature indi
vidually authorized the State Treasurer
to pay the ladies the amount asked for
the monument.
Southebn Baptist Theological Semi
nary.—Rev. M. B. Wharton, D. D., has
accepted a general agency for the South
ern Baptist Theological Seminary, whose
endowment of $500,000 is to be com
pleted, if at all, this Centennial year. It
is a cause which appeals strongly to the
Baptists of the entire South. No denomi
nation can succeed without an educated
ministry, and to have an educated min
istry theological seminaries are indis
pensable. The Baptists have but one in
the South, but this is one of which they
are justly proud. Its galaxy of profes
fessors are unsurpassed by any in the
country. But no institution of the kind
can be sustained without an adequate
endowment. The opportunity is now
afforded Southern Baptists to make it
one of the most richly endowed institu
tions on the continent. Kentucky agreed
to give $300,000, provided all the other
Southern States would raise $200,000.
Kentucky’s $300,000 are nearly raised
and will be completed by May, but it is
given on condition that the South raise
the $200,000 required to make up the
endowment. Georgia’s quota of this
Bum is $30,000. Surely this amount
should be quickly raised by the “Em
pire State,” where the Baptists are more
numerous than any where else, and doubt
less will be in response to Dr. Wharton’s
appeals. The raising of Georgia’s quota
is the first work to which he addresses
his labors.
Cotton Manufacturing in tee South.
—According to the Financial Chronicle,
there are forty-five cotton mills in Geor
gia, which consumo annually 50,214
bales of cotton- One-sixth of the
amount is taken at Columbus. Sontli
Carolina is the next largest Southern
State in this production, and consumes
19,995 bales. The entire Southern con
sumption Is 145,079 bales, of whieh
Georgia takes over ono-third. It would
seem that we are doing very little when,
the consumption of Massachusetts is
put down at 450,204, Rhode Island 132,-
348, New Hampshire 123,530, and the
whole North 1,097,001 bales. Every
mill built in the South makes her richer
and more independent of the North.