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OLD SERIES—VOL. XCI
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Address WALSH A WRIGHT,
Oh no incut A Hevtivxl. Augusta. Ga.
Chronicle anb .Sentinel.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 1876.
THE HILL-YANCEY AFFAIR.
Id view of the industrious circulation
of the story that Hon. B. H. Hill, while
a member of the Confederate States Sen
ate, inflicted injuries upon Mr. Yancey
which resulted in the death of that gen
tleman, it is proper to repnblish the
statement of an eye witness of the whole
affair, from which it will sufficiently ap
pear that Mr. Hill did not hnrl Mr.
Yancey violently upon a desk, thereby
so straining his spine as to make him a
mental and physical wreck, drooping
from day to day, having convulsions,
etc., etc., as the lively imagination of
Northern correspondents bus stated. We
have the account from the Montgomery
Advertiser, which originally published
the statement in its issue of October 4,
1865, and now reproduce it to vindicate
Mr. Hill from the unjust aspersion of
being a “quasi murderer,” as those who
dislike his facts avenge themselves by
saying. The story, when all told, is
that there was an altercation and that
Mr. Hill threw an inkstand at M r -
Yancey, which struck that gentleman on'
the head and inflicted a slight scalp
wound. Mr. Y. was not stricken insensi
ble nor did the blow produce any seri
ous or lasting injury whatever. The
full statement as appearing in the Ad
vertiser iH as follows:
Mr. Yancey and Mr. Hill did have a difficul
ty in the Confederate Senate, not, however,
upon a dincueeion of the navy bill, but of the
Supreme Court bill. Mr. Y. bad spoken ; Mr.
Hill in reply reviewed Mr. Y.’i record in a
style which was regarded as offensive by Sen
ators. Mr. Yancey arose, when Mr. H. had
taken bis seat, and remarked that ae other
Senators desired to speak on the question, he
would not consume the time of the Senate
then, but that at a proper time be would eu
deavor to do Justice, both to the Senator from
Georgia and to himßelf. He desired only to
say then, that the assertions of the Senator
from Georgia in regard to what he was pleased
to term his autobiography were false, and he
know them to be false when he made them.—
Mr. Hill responded quickly from his seat that
he threw the falsehood back in his teeth. Upon
motion, the Senate went into secret session.
Mr. Yancey was then appealed to to adjust the
matter, but reiterated what he had said, and
took his seat. Thereupon, Mr. HtLL threw a
heavy glass iukstank, which struck Mr. Y. on
the side of his face, bruising it and oausing
the blood to flow profusely, but not kuooking
him down or doing any serious injury. Mr.
Yancey rushed at Mr. Hill, but was prevented
from strikiug him, aud here the fight ended.
A committee was appointed and retired, to re
port what was due the Senate for a breach of
decorum. Whilst they were out various
speeches wero made- to reconcile the parties.—
Mr. Yinckt was. for a long time, inexorable,
hut when appeals were made to him as to the
effeet such a rupture would have upon the
cause, he was disposed to yield to the impor
tunities of friends. To aggravate the matter,
the committee reported censuring both parlies
—Mr. Yancey for the iarguago he had used,
and Mr. Hii.i. for throwing the inkstand.
Mr. Yancey protested against the repo£ to
the last; but it was finally accepted by the
Senate, and wae afterwards reconsidered and
withdrawn, upon condition that he would not
prosecute his claim for personal redress any
further, he reserving to himself the right to
reply to Mr. Hill's speech in public, which he
afterwards did, in a powetful aud most over
whelming effort. The Senate was engaged
from about noon till midnight in the settlement
of the affair. Members were bound to secresv
and no correct statement oould be obtained ex
cept from some of tbom since the fall of the
Confeiieracy has made all things public. The
authentic report is probably among the private
papers of Mr. Y., but our statement is sufficient
ly accurate for present purposes, being had
from the awuiory of a Seuator who waa an eye
witness, and is generally careful of facts.
it is thus apparent that this difficulty had no
effect ou Mb. Yancey's rapid decline in health.
In fact, abundant testimony sonld be adduced,
if necessary, from hia physician here, to show
that he had been a prey to disease for years.
He had a violent attack of a spinal disease
while canvassing for the Washington Monu
ment after the Presidential election in 1856,
from which it was long doubted whether he
would recover, and this completely racked and
distorted hia srect and small hut powerful
frame. He was affected for mauy years with
the disease of the kidneys.from which he died.
During his Last illness his pains wore most ex
cruciating, but be bore himself like a true
Christian statesman, aa he was, through all his
sufferings. He was at times delirious with in
ternal agony, and would make most eloquent
speeches, aud imagine himself in line of bat
tle charging triumphantly ou the enemies of
trie country. He never despaired, or for once
faltered in bis devotion to Southern indepeu
deuce; but thought Mh. Davis wauting iu fore
cast. vigor and popular sympathies for a great
leader. As to his continuously crying to be
put out of sight, that is simply made out of
whole cloth, aud very thin texture at that.
Mr Yancey died, as be lived, loyal to his
oowvictious. He forgave his enemies amff
prayed God to forgive them far the miscon
struction of his motives and his couduot. A
simple marble slab was put over his grave, not
bsoause he wished bis re-ting place hid from
view, but bcesose time was required to erect
a suitable monument.
TIIK MATERIAL INTKBKSTS OK liEOK
UIA.
We are sorry to see that bills have
been introduced in the Legislature to do
away with the Qeologieal Bureau, the
Department of Agriculture, and the
State Board of Health created under
reoent legislation. Why these bureaus
should be abolished, we are not inform
ed beyond a casual statement in the
columns of a contemporary that the
people of Georgia are so restive nnder
taxation that they should be spared
even the very moderate burden neces
sitated by them. Possibly there are
other arguments in favor of the pro
posed change, but, as at present in
formed, we consider it suicidal to
stop the geological, agricultural,
and sanitary operations now con
ducted by this State. To take the
Geological Bureau, first, its object, in the
language of the act creating it, is “to
make a careful and complete geological,
mineralogies! and physical survey of the
State; to enter upon records an accurate
statement of the locality and extent of
all water-powers, woods, springs and
watoi'-courses, and the climate and the
general physical character of the coun
try: to collect, analyze and classify
specimens of minerals, plants and soils;
and to cause to be preserved in a muse
um specimens ilhastrating the geology,
mineralogy, soils, plants, valuable
woods, and whatever else may be dis
covered in Georgia of scientific or
eoonomicsl value." In other words, this
agency was created to reduce into hard,
tangible fact the very general im
pression that Georgia is a State
of abounding and valuable mineral
resources, and we know no bet
ter way of inviting foreign
immigration and capital into any coun
; try than to show in a precise and satis-
I factory way that there are immense
i natural advantages in that country
which promise immediate and abundant
; return to labor and capital. Once prove
, —aud a State survey ia very nearly the
: best method of proof—that any given
county in Georgia possesses gold, iron,
coal, kaolin, or other like deposits, in
remunerative quantities and with the
proper surroundings of acceaibility,
water and fnel, and the prosperity of that
connty is at once assured. This is the
work the Geological Bnrean seeks to do,
and which it should be allowed to con
tinue and perfect.
As to the Department of Agriculture,
there is one matter in charge which alone
demonstrates the great necessity and
value of this organization. The act crea
ting the department imposes npon it,
among other duties, “the stndyof the va
rious insects that are injurious to the
orops.plants and fruits of this State, their
habits and propagation,” and upon this
subject the report of the Commissioner
says : “Several of the Northeastern and
Northwestern States have connected the
study of entomology with their State
colleges and State boards of agriculture.
Their investigations, however, are of
little value to oar farmers since the
difference in climate involves a corres
ponding variety in the character and
ravages of onr insect enemies.” The
cotton caterpillar and boll worm, for in
stance, are insects unknown to Europe or
to the Northern States, and hence the
entomological knowledge of those coun
tries is utterly useless in Georgia as re
spects the worst enemies of the South
ern staple. If we are ever to know how
the insect destroyers of the cotton plant
are generated and how their ravages may
be averted or limited, that knowledge
must come from the efforts of jnst such
oiganizations as the Department of Agri
culture. In 1868, as the report informs
as, the destruction by the cotton cater
pillar alone amounted in this State to
not leas than 85,000,000, Now suppose
such a loss was traceable to any less re
condite cause than onr ignorance of the
habits of these cotton-destroying insects,
how soon we wonld have the amplest
and most liberal legislation to prevent a
lecurrenoe of such damage. Possibly
there may be gentlemen in the Legisla
ture who think a study of the orop-de
atroying insects a small affair, oue un
worthy of the State’s care, and only fit for
the enrious researches of some erudite
and visionary college professor; bat
such is not the teaching of the legisla
tion of other countires. In France the
Government is fully alive to the dose
bearing of entomology npon the public
wealth and prosperity, and fosters that
study by wise legal provisions and pub
lic encouragements. In the great fruit
bearing States of the East and grain
producing States or the West in this
country, a like attention is given to the
subject by the Legislature, and we re
member to have seen the statement in
some statistical publication that the
discovery of a simple and effective
method of destroying some wheat para
site added several millions of dollars to
the value of the crop that year. The
Department of Agriculture has other
beneficial functions, but if it were striot
ly confined to the preservation of the
cotton crop alone, its importance and
value should secure it legislative pro
tection instead of enmity.
As to the State Board of Health, there
is one point of view in which we deem
its preservation of material importance.
It is undeniable that one great deterrent
to immigration ia the general persuasion
that all Southern climates are un
healthy, and we know of no better means
of removing this unfounded apprehen
sion than by the publication of the ex
perience and observation of the physi
cians of this State through a central and
official agency like the Board of Health.
We should regret to see the Legisla
ture paralyze this effort and trust that
like the Agricultural and Geological
Bnreaus, the Board of Health may be
allowed to stand. The material interests
of Georgia wonld be damaged by their
abolition.
THK CUBAN BORE.
It is to be hoped that Congress will
put a quietus this session on that intol
erable bore—the Cuban question. Ever
since the war the Government of the
United States has been whining and
growling about Cuba aud the Cuban in
surgents pretty mnoh like a small onr
who remonstrates from afar off that a
larger and stronger animal is mouthing
a particularly snooulent bone. Within
the past few days the oanine distress of
the Administration has risen into howls
of agODy, and our great Northern ex
changes oome to us with their spaoious
columns gorged with long accounts of
what Secretary Fish wrote to Minister
Cushing and what Minister Cushino
said to the Spanish Government, and
the full text of this circular note and
the substance of ’tother diplomatic con
versation. The “griefs” of the United
States on the Caban question form the
sum aud substanoe as usual of this
latest mountain of trash foisted upon
the reading public, nor does there
seem, so far as we are able to perceive,
the slightest variation of the weary, old
tune, except in one particular. It
seems that some time sinoe this
Government its "griefs”
in the customary pathetio and vol
uminous manner and eot the ro
mance to each of the great powers of
Europe, requesting an opinion thereon.
The ostensible object of this procedure
was to vindicate the Administration—
this being a healthy year for vindica
tions, as witness the elaborate defense of
General Gkobgk Washington a few days
ago in Congress. The real motive, we
surmise, was to ascertain from the re
sponses of the great powers just exactly
how far it was safe to follow up the
whining and growling on the Caban
question with a little snapping and
biting. In plain terms, we believe that
Grant has been feeling his wsy toward
• little highway robbery upon Spain. If
the powers were indifferent in their dis
position, an effort would be made to ab
sorb Cnba ; if they showed signs of an
inclination to resist such spoliation, the
harmless whining would not develop into
actual violence. •
Such being the sum and substance of
the recent circular diplomatic note, it
may be interesting to see what reply the
powers made to it. The note bean date
November 5, 1875 ; the correspondence
sent into Congress reaches up to De
cember 4, 1875, and after a weary search
for the desired information we find
the eurt statement at the very tail end
of all the many oolnmns that **th# cor
respondence contains no response from
any of the representatives to whom the
instructions were sent, to be read to the
Governments to which they were accred
ited.” In other words, an attentive con
sideration for some thirty days or so of
onr “griefs” has not disposed one single
power in Europe to shed the tear of
sympathy thereon. We will venture to
opine that when the Democratic party
had the foreign intercourse of the Uni
tee States Government in charge, no
such a note would ever have been eent,
or if sent a respectful
thereof would have been instated on and
secured.
The deliberate and unanimous silence
of the great powers on the very best and
| strongest presentation of the Cuban
qaeetion this Administration could give
is pretty ooneluaive evidence that the
United States have, as the lawyers say,
no case. To onr poor thinking, those
powers believe that this Government
has no right to be perpetually annoying
Spain as to the institutions she
chooses to allow or the regulations
she may see fit to make in her colonies,
and have determined to serve a peaceable
notice to quit 6n such intolerable Paul
Pryism, fully meaning to enforce their
present gentle hint with unmistakable
emphasis if hereafter required. Pos
sibly this may not be the explanation of
their silence, but, however that may be,
the Cuban question is bnt another name
for an unjustifiable intermeddling with
what does not concern ns, and we trust
Congress will make an end of it forth
with.
ANOTHER EXEMPTION.
After an exciting debate, the House
passed on Friday last, by the Speaker’s
casting vote, a bill to exempt the wages
of laborers and mechanics from garnish
ment for debts of any and every descrip
tion. Sbonld the bill become a law, it
cannot operate as to debts in existence
prior to Jhe passage, the same legal prin
ciple applying in anoh a case as that
npon which the Supreme Court of the
United States overruled the Supreme
Court of Georgia in the Homestead law
Saits; but in giving credit subsequent to
the act there can be no legal remedy so
far as respects the wages of the debtor.
While ostensibly favoring mechanics and
laborers, we are not sure but that the
effect of the bill, if it becomes a law,
will be to deprive them of credit.
THE INDUSTRIAL BUREAUS.
We are glad to receive the information
oontained in the subjoined paragraph
from the Atlanta Herald, of the 23d in
stant, and heartily second the sentiments
of our contemporary in the matter. The
Legislature has done well to sustain the
efforts making by the geological, agri
cultural and sanitary bureaus to make
known the great physical and natural
wealth aud advantages of Georgia. The
Herald says :
The Finance Committee, during the session
of Thursday night, killed the bill offered by
Chymes, of Franklin, looking toward the repeal
of the Agricultural Bureau. It is understood
that this action disposes of the matter for the
session, aud that the other bureaus will meet
with like treatment. We most earnestly hope
eo. None of them have, as yet, bad a fair
trial. They are entitled to at least one more
year of experiment, and we believe that at the
end of that time they will be able to stand on
their own merits. If not. it will then be time
enough to talk about killing them.
THE RIGHT KIND OF TALK.
The reports of murder, red-handed
and foul, are becoming altogether too
frequent throughout the State, and the
people should begin to devise some
measures to stop them. The killing of
the negro in Chattooga eounty by young
Johnson, if the facts are correctly re
ported, is one of the foulest mnrders on
reoord, and the murderer should be
hunted down like a rabid dog and
brought to the bar of an outraged jus
tice. The good name of our State was
never in more deadly peril than now,
and we do beseech our people every
where to see to it that dishonor and ruin
are not brought upon us by the lawless
acts of such desperate men. The Gov
ernor sbonld offer a reward for this mur
derer, and the law should be enforced
to its severest extent.— Rome Courier.
MINOR TOPICS.
Ex-Speaker Blainr, if he had exerted him
self to the utmost, and spoken directly in be
half of an appropriation in aid of the Centen
nial, could not have accomplished nearly as
much as he did by hie speeches on the amnes
ty question. 1 hose apeeches have convinced
a number of Southern members that their
every act will be misconstrued, if possible, by
the followers of Blainf, and that opposition
to the Centennial appropriation will be held up
in certain quarters as indicative of the out
cropping of the rebel spirit. They will there
fore vote for the appropriatien to show that
they buried sectionalism with the lost caase.
It might naturally be expeoted when people
are found surviving the effects of a bullet in
the brain, that a broken neck wonld come to be
regarded as a trifling disorder, and we are not
dt all surprised, therefore, to hear of a case
where a man who has sustained such an injury
is expected to “be around" in a few days. The
case comes from Omaha, and is as well authen
ticated ae anything can be from that locality.
All the physicians in the place pronounce the
case one of actual fracture of “the bone con
necting the head to the body,” and warn the
patient that if he moves his head a hair's
breadth he will perieh. If he lies perfectly still
they promise him restoration in two months.
M. Bkbt, a French savant, has lately receiv
ed from the National Institute of France the
mnnifloent prize of 20,000 francs for his physi
ological experiments and discoveries. Respi
ration has been the subject of his patient and
truly scientific researches, and the important
results he has attained will doubtless give
celebrity to his name. Lavoisiib, the origina
tor of chemistry, gave to respiration its trne
significance when he established the fact that
it consisted in the consumption of oxygen and
tbe production of carbonic acid; M. Bert has
fully demonstrated that these chemical com
binations take place not only in the lungs, but
in all the tissues. The men of science, espec
ially physicians, will doubtless look into these
discoveries with interest.
The extent to which insanity prevails in the
English royal navy is hown by the tables in
the annual statistical report and in the report
of the Naval Lunatic Asylum, by Inspector-
General M. D., who has for many
years been in charge of that inetitntion. The
number of new cases returned under the head
of insanity, out of a total force of 44.530 men
and boys in the navy daring the year 1874, was
fifty-one. Ihe actual admissions into the asy
lum at Yarmouth during the year were forty,
of whom seven were officers, ten pensioners
and the remainder petty officers, eeamen. etc.
The average number of patients constantly un
der treatment in Yarmouth appears to be about
300, aa 198 was the Dumber remaining ou the
let of January and 307 ou the3lst‘of Decem
ber. the admission during the year being- forty
and the deaths and discharges thirty-one.
The New York Times discourses that it is re
markable that tne first month of thiß Centen
nial Winter closely resetsbes that of 1776. The
journals of that year speak of the unusnal
mildness of the season. It was even said that
the lack of the usual ice in Boston harbor pre
vented Washington from crossing his forces
and attempting a surprise on the city, and the
Americans were enabled to eontinnally send
forth vessels from all parts of the harbor to
the West Indies for monitions of war. The
mild season enabled General Schcylee, m
the first days of January, to dispatch his
well-planned little expedition up the Mohawk
valley to surprise the Highlanders, under
Johnson. It is satisfactory to know that these
tun os are like the old revolutionary days in
something, even if it is nothing but the weath
er.
New York is to be blessed with one of those
periodical law suits in which the heirs of
somebody long sinoe deoeaeed rise up to claim
valuable trpets of land upon which improve
ments hare bean JUtda by others. The suit in
this ease is brought by the hejrs of Johannes
Veejcuva. one of the old Dutch settlers, to
reoorer all that portion of Manhattan Island
lying between the North and Harlem rivers,
i above Seventy-fourth street. The claim is
founded on two patents, one of which wae
given by the British Governor, Nichols, in
1667, and the other by Governor Thos. Dongas
1686, to John Teuclyi and four other pa
tentees, for services rendered the British
Government in settling end improving the
upper portion of Manhattan Island. The
property is estimated to he worth about
$350,000,000. Up to this time only 313 heirs
of Yxemh-ta have asked to share in the ex
penses of the suit, which to be vigorously
Foot wooden blocks of store* have
been burned at Soncook, N. H.
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 2, 1876.
THE WAY TOTHE WEST.
THE RAILROAD MEETING AT
KNOXVILLE,
The Delegates ia AI tec Saner—The Officers
Elected—The Report Made and Resolutions
Adopted Perfect liariaonr The Road
Must be Bailt—Will tbe Savannah Valley
be True to Her Interests.
We take the following extracts from
the Knoxville Press and Herald's ac
count of the railroad meeting recently
held in that city. They will be read
with interest by the people who live in
the Savannah VaUey country:
The following delegates reported to
the Secretary. In addition, however,
there were about twenty additional dele
gates from Blonnt county and fifty from
Knox, whose names are not given
John C. Johnson, Alexander S. Erwin,
W. G. McAdoo and Colonel E. M. Ruck
er, Georgia. Hon. D. Bicmann, Dr. S.
J. McElroy, Robert A Thompson, Oco
nee county, S. C., and Major Thomas
B. Lee, Anderson connty, Sonth Caroli
na. Samuel Bell, J. J. Faulkner, Hen
ry Hamil, P. L. Davis, E. Goddard, J.
L. King, J. S. Thomas, John B. Mo-
Ghee, J. M. Greer, G. W. Henry, W.
Hackney, A. Cunningham, J. N, Harry,
A. J. Brewer, J. W. Hitch, B. J. Allen,
W. T. Parham, George Henry, J. A.
Greer, L. L. Ferrary, A. J. Sanderson,
J. J. Anderson, H. S. Bright, J. N.
Yearout, Boyd McMurray, Jessie Peel,
J. P. Banlston, G. W. Coleman, C. L.
Cates, S. P. Rowan, J. Henry, John P.
Hale, and Alexander Henry, Blonnt
county,
The oommittee annonneed the fol
lowing list of permanent officers:
Robert Thompson, of South Carolina,
President. W. G. McAdoo, of Georgia,
and B. B. Lenoir, of Tennessee, Vice-
Presidents. Wm. Rule, W. J. Ramage,
C. W. Charlton and George W. Cole
man, of Maryville, Secretaries.
The following report and resolutions
were submitted by the Business Com
mittee :
The importance of the grand project
—popularly known as the Blue Ridge,
or Rabnn Gap Railroad enterprise
whose history, present condition and
possibilities of completion we have met
to consider, has been long too well
known to the people represented in this
Convention to require an elaborate pre
sentation at this time. A whole genera
tion has passed away since it had its in
ception. Forty years ago, or more,
when railway transportation by steam
power was yet in its earliest stage of
development, this rente was marked out
by some of the most sagacious minds of
that day as the future “grand iron high
way from Cincinnati to Charleston,”
and a great Convention, comprising del
egates from nine States, met in Knox
ville, in 1836, jnst as we have met now,
to consider the importance of the direct
connection of the Northwest with the
Atlantic seabord, declared it to be then
“tlfe most magnificent and important
public work projected in our country.”
But, as succinctly stated in 1868 by ex-
President Harrison, “this great scheme,
supported t y the combined interests of
so many States, owing in a great measure
to the terrible financial embarrassment
which, shortly after its inception, swept
over the whole country, failed of its
grand consummation. Bnt it was far
from barren in its practical results. The
roads from Branchville to Columbia,
from Columbia to Charlotte, from
Columbia to Greenville, Abbeville and
Anderson, Columbia to Spartanburg, on
the Carolina side; and the several roads
branching out from Cincinnati and
Louisville towards Knoxville, and from
Knoxville in that direction, were all but
the off-shoots of this great enterprise.”
Notwithstanding the failure of the
original scheme, tbe demand for its con
summation has in nowise abated. On
the contrary, the importance of its suc
cess is, to-day, more apparent than ever
before. Although that portion of the
Union east of the Mississippi may be
said to be “checkered with railroads,”
there has not yet been constructed, or
projected, a line of railway, or a combi
nation of lines, that snpplies the want
of the Blue Ridge Road. Other seotious
of the country have been redeemed from
poverty through the aid of railroad con
nections, but the region traversed by
the unfinished line of the Blue Ridge
Road is yet virtually excluded from the
world’s commerce, while within it lie
undeveloped storeß of wealth sufficient
to enrich a nation. Neither has any
line been completed or projected that
can so closely connect the people and
commerce of the Northwest with our
South Atlantic seaboard.
A fall recital of the straggles of the
Blue Ridge Company and of the disas
ters that repeatedly befell the enter
prise, is not deemed necessary to the
purposes of this report. Suffice it to say
that with every effort something at least
was accomplished, in the way of perma
nent progress. Though one whole gen
eration failed to realize its hopes, it has
left substantial beginnings which the
present one may easily push forward to
successful conclusions. Indeed, despite
the present discouraging aspect of
monetary and business affairs through
out theoountry, the difficulties in the way
of completing the Blue Ridge Road are
but trifles in comparison with the obsta
cles which its projectors, in 1836, con
fronted without quailing. Gradually,
thongh slowly and through a long series
of years, the West and the South, as if
drawn by an instinctive sense of mutual
need and looking intuitively to the Blue
Ridge route as their ultimate channel of
olosest communication, have been ap
proaching each other with outstretched
iron arms, A brief statement of facts,
derived from authentic surveys and re
ports, will show what has been accom
plished, what yet remains to be done,
and what grounds of hopefnlnesa we
have for the future.
The Bine Ridge Railroad Company,
as first organized, was a consolidation of
four companies, chartered by the several
States of South Carolina, Georgia, North
Carolina aud Tennessee, and their line
extended from Anderson, 8. 0., to Knox
ville, Tennessee, a distance of 195 miles,
which by late surveys has bean reduced
to 180 miles. Of this distance there are
50 miles in South Carolina, 17 in Geor
gia, 60 in North Carolina and 54 in Ten
nessee. Forty-nine miles of this 180
have been completed and are in running
order, leaving one hundred and thirty
one miles to be built, on whioh a-very
large amountof the most expensive work
has been done. The estimated cost of
completing this road on the wide gauge,
aud providing it with the necessary
equipment for an average business of
fourteen trains eaoh way daily, is forty
fonr thousand dollars per mile, of which
the cost of the road bed is $32,000 per
mile. By adopting the narrow gauge
system without increasing the grades, a
saving of one-third of this cost ponld be
effected, without seriously impairing the
ability of the road and with consider
able saving in the cost of operating it.
A still further saving of great magnitude
could undoubtedly be made if the con-1
vict labor of the States traversed by the
road could be secured, to work upon the
construction. This estimate is made
for a first class road in every respect,
with maximum grades running south of
fifty feet to the mile, and running north
of seventy-two feet to the mile.
The connections of this road will be
numerous and most important, and will
undoubtedly give it a very large amount
of paying traffic, as it will be a trank
line from Knoxville to Rabun Gap, where
it will make direct connections with the
diverging lines from that point to the
interior of South Carolina and Georgia,
and to the sea ports of those States, thus
insuring it a very heavy business. In
South Carolina, by the completion of a
road of forty miles in length from New
Market on the Greenville and Columbia
Road, to Aiken, on the South Carolina
Railroad, the distance to the ports of
Charleston and Portßoyal would be about
400 miles from Knoxville. In Georgia,
by the extension of the Northeastern
Railroad from Belton to Rabun Gap,
109 miles from Maryville, sC direct line
wonld be seenred to the whole interior
cf Georgia, and communication with
Atlanta over the Air Line Railroad, as
well as communication with Augusta and
Savannah over the Central Railroad, and
nltimately with Macon and Brunswick.
The great reduction in distance to the
Southern sea ports wonld enable the
steamships frequenting them to draw
their snpplies of coal from East Tennes
see, and this alone wonld furnish a very
large amount of business for the road,
and tend to build np a direct trade of
great magnitude with Earope, the West
indies and Sonth America, and the
Northern connections of this road will
be equally important with those at the
South, as the progress mede with the
Cincinnati Southern Railroad warrants
os in assuming that with the completion of
the road from Knoxville South, the short
gap of about 20 miles between the Knox
ville and Ohio Railroad and the Cincin
nati Southern will not be allowed to re
main open in this great through line—the
shortest that can be made from the
Ohio Valley to the South Atlantic ports,
and thence to the West Indies and
Sonth America, the distance to the lat
ter being at least 7so miles less than
through the port of New York. The
importance of this enterprise will be
better appreciated when tbe interests of
the two great section* of the country to
be united by this linffaf railway are ex
amined. The Northilest needs a short,
cheap outlet for its immense surplus of
grain, floor, bacon and live stock; while
the Sonth Atlantic States require for
their support the very articles which
abound in the great Northwest. The
interest of both sections demand some
method of communication by which the
farmer’s surplns products will find a
market without being eaten up by
freights and commissions, and the con
sumer's snpplies reach him without the
rninons cost of transportation which
now attend their delivery. A glance at
the line of the projected railroad will
show that when once opened, this iB
destined to be a trunk line of the very
first importance, and for hnndreds of
miles on each side without a rival or
competing line.
When once the connection between
Knoxville and the South Carolina and
the South Carolina and Georgia sys
tems of railroads at or near Rabun Gap
is effeoted, there will be no question of
a connection northward with the vast
system of roads cesgfceing at Chioago
and Cincinnati. This accomplished, and
the Northwest will have an easy and di
rect means of access to the Atlantio sea
board, a home and foreign market for
all they have to sell, and the most de
sirable point for supplying themselves
with all the necessaries and luxuries of
life produced in tropical or semi-tropi
cal countries, without the hazard, delay
and expense incident to water transpor
tation through Northern seaports, and
thence overland to the Northwest. The
saviDg alike to the producer and the
consumer by this more direct means of
communication between the Northwest
and the Carolinas and Georgia, as com
pared with the circuitous, expensive
route by way of Baltimore or Norfolk
on the East, or Memphis or New Or
leans on the West, would, in a very few
years, repay the entire cost of construct
ing the road. But, when once built to
its proper connections, the tide of
freight aDd travel that would follow
this line would insure a rich return for
the money invested.
The transportation of coal from East
Tennessee alone will furnish a constant
and large business. The coal beds of
Anderson county, at Coal Creek, which
are inexhaustible, lie thirty miles north of
Knoxville, on the Knoxville and Ohio
Railroad. From these beds coal can be
supplied for Port Royal and for the coal
ing stations in the West Indies cheaper,
quality considered, than from any other
point, to say nothing of the supply for
local consumption for Charleston, Sa
vannah, Augusta, Macon, Athens,’Co
lumbia, and all the smaller towns of the
region penetrated by this road. The
superior quality of this coal has already
secured its introduction and consump
tion to a large extent in Atlanta and
Macon, and to some extent in Augusta
and Columbia, notwithstanding the oir
cuitous route it has to be transported,
and the high and adverse discriminating
freights with which it is taxed. But
these are not all the advantages to be
derived from the construction of this
road. Between Knoxville, Tennessee,
and Anderson, South Carolina, there is a
section of country nearly one hundred
milesin width—almost unknown and un
developed—which would be penetrated
and cross-cut by the Blue Ridge Rail
road. This section is rich in minerals,
embracing, as it does, the mineral belt
running northeast and southwest from
Alabama to Virginia, abounding in iron,
copper, lead, silver and gold; a country
mountainous, it is true, but inter
spersed with beautiful and fertile valleys
and coves unsurpassed in productive
ness, in scenery and in climate. This
mountain country is peculiarly adapted
to the growth of vegetables, fruits and
grapes, and for grazing and wool grow
ing would compare favorably with any
section of the country.
All the vast resources of this rich but
undeveloped section of country will be
tributary to this road and while the
road will be the active agent in giving
life and prosperity to the country, the
increased products will furnish valuable
and permanent local business for the
line; And to the methods by which, in
the language of the convention’s reso
lution, “the necessary amount of money
to be raised,” your committee have no
very specific suggestions to make.—
Nevertheless, the condition of affairs is
by no means so discouraging, as a mere
causual observer of passing events may
have supposed. It has been well un
derstood by the public that for years
the affairs of the company south of the
Blue Ridge have been in a state of hope
less complication, while on the Tonnes
see side the work has been long sus
pended and the road passed under the
auctioneer’s hammer as delinquent to the
State. But now, even out of the wrecks
of bankruptcy, springs the hope of early
resuscitation. The proceeding in bank
ruptcy in South Carolina has resulted,
as we are reliably informed, in the pur
chase of the road from Anderson, S. C.,
to the Georgia and North Carolina line,
by the first mortgage bondholders, and
a final decree confirming the sales has
been pronounced. These purchasers
were creditors of the old company to the
amount of $400,000, and their purchase
extinguished all other liens or demands
against the road. That portion of the
road within North Carolina, whose char
ter had lapsed, has been re-incorporated
under anew charter of most liberal pro
visions, and the new organization ex
presses its willingness to unite in a
movement looking to an active resump
tion of the general enterprise.
In Tennessee, the entire line, by a
sweeping proceeding in Chancery, in
Eursnance of au act of the Legislature,
as been sold to private purchasers, who
are citizens of the State, and to whom
the eale has been confirmed at the price
of $75,000 in Tennessee bonds. Thus,
at both ends of the line, the road itself
is relieved of massive debts underlying
liens, has become the subject of easy
negotiation. The three parties now
owning the entire line may treat with
each other regarding their several prop
erties without embarrassment. In this
view of the case, it oocurs to the com
mittee that the first and beet practical
step to be taken ia the work of resusci
tation is the organization of anew com
pany, which shall become proprietor of
the entire road from Knoxville to An
derson, and into which all the different
interests shall be merged, and such we
understand to be the feeling of all the
parties interested, With a clearly de
fined and satisfactory estimate of the ac
tual values of the several sections of
road, as a basis of reorganization, the
new oompany might very well hope to
have its stock list swelled by subscrip
tions of counties, towns and individ
uals along the route snd elsewhere.
With such an organization, wholly dis
encumbered of all liabilities, owning and
controlling the franchises and the body
of so important a trunk line, men of
capital would agajn be induced to listen
favorably to proposals for investment in
onr section. With the various interests
thus unified aud the entire road subject
ed to a common management, there is
every reason to believe that this long
strngsling enterprise would soon move
forwflfi to an early completion. With
a view to accomplishing that result, the
adoption of the following resolution is
recommended;
Setolved, That J. P. Reed and R. A,
Thompson, of South Carolina; C. D.
Smith and James L. Robinson,’ of North
Carolina; R. I. Wilson and B. B. Le
noir, of Tennessee, be, and they are
hereby constituted a committee, whose
duty it shall be to oonfer with the com
panies or individuals owing the sections
of the Blue Ridge Road, within their
respective States, on tbe subject of con
solidating their several interests and
organizing anew company for the own
ership and management of the entire
line from Knoxville, Tennessee, to An
derson, S, C., and to ascertain upon
what basis and terms said new company
may be organized. Said committee
shall report the result of their confer
ences to an adjourned meefing of this
Convention to be held at Anderson S.
C., on the 3Qth day of March next.
Setolved, That when this Convention
adjourns, it do adjourn to meet at
Anderson, South Carolina, on the 30th
day of March next.
In regard to the letter of President
Morrow, submitted to the oommittee for
consideration, the adoption of the fol
ing is recommended:
Setolved, That C. T. Cates and J. M.
Greer, of Blount county, and Hon. O
P. Temple and J. W. Gant, of Knnr
be, and they are hereby, constituted a
committee to oonfer with the authori
ties of the Knoxville and Charleston
Railroad Company and with the County
Courts of Blount and Knox respectively
touching the subject matter of Presi
dent Morrow’s proposition to tbe two
counties.
Colonel EL M. Rucker being called on,
spoke of the immense advantages that
wonld ensne from the completion of the
Blue Ridge Railroad to the territory
through which it passed, as well as the
entire States that wonld be united. He
alluded to the scarcity of money in the
country, but while that was so the diffi
culties that stood iu the way of the en
terprise were exaggerated, and the money
required would not be taken out of the
country but expended in our midst, as it
were. With the proposed line in opera
tion a very large area woald be made
tributary that until then wonld not only
be unremnnerative bnt actually dormant.
We mast increase the territory subsidi
ary to us if we would concentrate trade
in the Southern cities. St. Lonis and
Cincinnati were stretching out their iron
arms and drawing commerce to their
marts. It seemed to the friends of the road
south of the monntains that Knoxville
and East Tennessee would be greatly
benefitted by its completion ; the people
of Georgia and South Carolina were de
pendent npon the West for the necessa
ry snpplies of life, aDd they wanted
shorter lines in order to lessen- freights.
In addition to this the trade of Western
North Carolina would natnrally become
tributary to Knoxville, and with increas
ed facibties this wonld be increased
from year to year. Railroads induced
immigration to those sections they trav
ersed, and with new lines opening, the
advantages of this beautiful section
wonld be brought to the attention and
observation of thousands looking for
homes in an equable climate, which
wonld beoome the resort alike of those
fleeing from the rigors of Northern Win
ters or the melting.heat of the South.
Captain A. S. Erwin, of Athens, Geor
gia, spoke in advocacy of the measure.
This was not anew enterprise, for more
than forty years ago a sufficient sum had
been appropriated to make a route from
Athens to Rabnn Gap. A few years ago
the Northeastern Railroad Company,
composed of citizens of his county, had
subscribed SIOO,OOO to complete the in
terval of ninety miles to Rabnn Gap,
and forty-three miles had been graded
and nine miles of iron laid down. Just
as soon as any evidence is shown of in
tention to build the Blue Ridge Road
this gap will be completed and the
wßole State of Georgia opened up to rail
road traffic. Georgia was anxious for
the success of this line and wanted a
short line from the West to the seaboard,
enabling them, to exchange their cotton
direct with the Western merchants for
corn, bacon and other supplies.
Mr. R. I. Wilson called on Mr. John
son, Treasurer of the Northwestern (Ga.)
Railroad, to give his views on the sub
ject.
Mr. Johnson said he came with a fra
ternal greeting to the people of East
Tennessee, and if they oame to Rabun
Gap they would be warmly met and
given the ohoice of routes to the sea
board. The road he represented was a
private enterprise and with the road
completed to the State line, they wonld
close up the interval.
The Convention then adjourned,
NFW YORK DEMOCRACY AT A DIE
COUNT.
[Philadelpeia North American, Republican .]
The Democracy of New York are and
for some time have been bending every
energy to securing suocess at the next
national election, and their efforts have
been more earnest because they have se
lected one of their own number for the
candidacy and believe that with Mr. Til
den’s success they will control the Ad
ministration and country in their own
interests and those of the unterrified
who, from Mike Walsh to Boss Tweed,
have quartered near Tammany, The
first step taken in selecting the candi
date, it became necessary to convince
tbe North that he was not only accepta
ble to, but is the very choice of the
Sonth; while the South is cotemporane
ously shown that his name is a synonym
for victory through all the North. This
work has been going forward some time,
in the skillful manner for which New
York is celebrated. It has been nipped
by a black frost at the South, notwith
standing the mildness of the season, and
one that threatens fatal oonseqnenoes.
The Augusta (Ga.) Chboniole is respon
sible for it.
Quite recently a Tennessee letter was
published in Buffalo, saying that the
electoral votes of every Southern State
except South Carolina will be cast for
the next Democratic nominee for the
Presidency, if he is acceptable; that this
vote will secure Democratic restoration
to place and power, with the probabili
ty of continuance, and that Mr. Tilden,
of New York, is the candidate for whom
all the South is sighing and praying.
The Chboniole, certainly as well in
formed respecting Southern Democracy
and its plans and wishes as any Buffalo
correspondent is likely to be, replies
that this letter was evidently written in
the office of the paper by which it was
published; that “the Sonthern people
do not favor the nominetion of Mr. Til
den; and though New York has been in
triguing for bis nomination for a
long time, they will not be per
mitted to control the next Democratic
Convention. The soeptre of Tammany
has departed. Instead of commanding
it mast obey.” The Chboniole goes
further, and seeks to destroy whatever
may have been accomplished in negotia
tions at the West by attributing the
recent defeat of Governor Allen in Ohio
to New York jealousy and fear; and
closes by saying that these acts “have
turned from Tilden the vote of every
Southern Democrat—the South and
West will nominate the next Democratic
candidate for the Presidency, and his
name will—not be Tilden.
It has long been obvious that Mr.
Tilden oarried the hopes and represent
ed the plans of the Democracy of New
York. These very properly aim at the
highest power, as the State in virtue of
its position, wealth, intelligence, num
bers, and stout adherenoe to Democracy
in the darkest days, has just claims
upon party consideration. But it has
been just as evident that the purpose
that united so many ‘'hairs” and
“shells” upon a gentleman of moderate
distinction contemplated the restoration
of the State to oontrol over all political
and business issues for State profit,
rather than for the good of either the
party or the oonntry. This conflicts with
Southern and Western as well as with
national prosperity in many ways; and
it is required for its advantage that the
State shall control both country and
party. Such oontrol can be gained only
in the Chief Magistracy. The prize is
so great that it will not be abandoned,
even though the Buffalo paper is com
pelled to write its own correspondence
from every State in the South. And
yet so clear an exposition as the Geor
gia Chronicle makes of the New York
plot, and so emphatic an opposition as
it raises to that in behalf of the South
ern Democracy, by whom the election,
if carried, must be won, will go very far
toward defeating the New York design.
Nor will any part of the country regret
to see the Democratic candidate taken
from another State. He might make a
harder fight, but it would be cleaner,
and his success would be less danger
ous.
THE GRANGERS.
Senl-Auul Afeetincofthe StTuuli Toiler
Association, M
The semi-annual meeting of the Sa
vannah Biver Valley Association Patrons
of Husbandry took place at the Supe
rior Court Boom, City Hall, in this city
yesterday, Governor Bonham, of South
Carolina, in the Chair. The session, as
usual, was held with dosed doors. Of
the one hundred and ten Granges com
posing the Association, three-fifths were
represented. The business transacted
was, in the main, not of a publio nature.
Eloquent addresses were delivered by
Dr. Casey, of Columbia county; Judge
Wm. Gibson, CoL Bacon, of South
Carolina, and others. A resolution was
adopted recommending the Executive
Council to send agents to the Western
Gnu Tea for the purpose of asking them
to send produce to the Planters’ Union
Agency in this city, to be sold on com
misaibn, thus making the agency a com
mission as well as a cotton house. The
usual resolutions of thanks to the rail
roads were adopted; also, a resolution
thanking the city authorities for the
use of the hall. The Association then
adjourned until the regular meeting in
August.
He sat in a railway car. His head
was thickly covered with a mass of red
hair. Behind him in a seat sat a man
with hardly any hair on his head. He
said to him, “I guess you wasn’t round
when they dealt out hair.” “Oh yea, I
was,” replied bald head, “bat they
offered me a lot of red hair, and I told
them to throw it into the aab bin.”
THE MANSIONOF SILENCE.
WALLED OUT FROM EVEN THE
SOUND OF THK VOICE OF MEN.
A Living Tomb—The Penitentiary to Which
Oje Nation Consigns Home Offenders who
Violate the Laws ot the Nation—Ueneral
PilsburyPrison Management.
The system introduced in the Albany
(N. Y.) Penitentiary thirty years ago by
General Amos Pilsbury, and still thor
ough maintained by his son, Mr. Louis
D. Pilsbury, is a modification of the old
cellular prison system and a combina
tion of what have been deemed its best
features with the best parts of the congre
gate plan of management obtaining now
in each ol the other New York prisons.
It is customary among prison officials to
speak of this penitentiary as a “model
institution,” and in one sense the phrase
is oorrectly applied. ,
The Prison on a Hill.
The Albany Penitentiary stands on a
hill just outside the oity, near the pork.
Looked at from the front, it resembles
nothing less than a prison. It might
be mistaken for a college. Tall trees
cast a grateful shade on the broad grav
elled path before the door; flower
ing vines droop over the windows; a
smooth lawn slopes down to a little
rivulet and rises again to the dis
tant roads ; the air is full of the perfume
of flowers, tße songs of birds and the
hum of bees. There are no other sounds
than, those. Even when you enter the
spacious hallway and are in the institu
tion itself, there is not a murmur to de
note the presence of nearly nine hun
dred convicts only a few steps distant.
This is the finest distinguishing cbarac
• teristic vt the system—silenoe. Under
the eseort of Superintendunt Pilsbury,
Assistant Woodruff or Clerk Brower, the
visitor will pass through the guard room,
where a goodly store of repeating revol
vres and rifles are within oonvenient
reach, and enter the main, or cell build
ing. The thorongh cleanliness of the
place is worthy of notice. The corridors
are fully fifteen feet in width, and the
great hall is thirty feet in height, with a
perfeot ventilation and purification. Not
a trace of the prison smell is perceptible.
Even in the ceils, which are small and
in the present overcrowded condition of
the institution have in someinstanoes to
accommodate two prisoners where the
system contemplates but one, there is
no tainting of the air. At the moment
of our visit, several conviots are silently
receiving, through an aperture in the
wall between this hall and the kitohen,
hundreds of deep tin pans, eaoh of whioh
contains the dinner of a convict. These
pans they plaoe in the cells whose doors
are standing open—for there is no com
mon dining-hall. Each eonviot must eat
alone in’ silenoe in the solitude of his
cell. From here we step out into the
yard. The walls and the two-story brick
shops are at the opposite end c f the
yard, and the sides are all whitewashed
and glare with a spotless, dazzling white
ness in the sunlight. Guards, with re
peating rifles on their arms, pace the
tops of the walls, or perch in their airy
little look-out stations.
Human Machines.
In the shoe shops—the manufacture
of shoes, by contract, being the princi
pal industry carried on here—we find
about five hundred men at work. From
on 6 hundred to one hundred and fifty
men are in eaoh long room, under the
oonstant supervision of a vigilant keep
er. They do not have task work, as in
other prisons, bnt are expected to labor
steadily about ten hours a day. Here
we first begin to appreciate the working
of the system. These men seem mere
human machines, so thoroughly have
they been snbjeeted to discipline. Not
one of them dares premit himself even
a furtive glance at us as we pass. Their
eyes are bent downward upon their
work, their lips are closed, their hands
are busy. Even when the pile of work
on a conviot’s benoh or table has been
completed he does not venture to look
up or ask for more, or glance about him.
He must fold his arms before him ou his
bench and look downward in patient
silence until the foreman or instructor
sees fit to give him further employment.
Whether he has five minutes or three
hours to wait, he must not in that time
occupy himself with aught else than his
wretched self-eommunings. In the
State prisons men who have no employ
ment are permitted to beguile their
leisure by reading, the fabrication of
some little knick-knacks that they may
sell to visitors, or in overwork for the
contractors, for whieh they reoeive pay.
In the penitentiary nothing of the kind
is allowed. The prisoner must feel
that during his incarceration here he
has no right to himself. The noon bell
sounds. A long line of fifty or more
convicts emerge from one of the shops
and passes under oharge of keepers
along the smooth bitumen walks toward
the door of the oell hall. They march
at a slow paoe, with locked step, in
single file; each man’s left hand against
his breast, his right upon the shoulder
of the one in front, all in silenoe. The
file leader leans backward against the
one behind him, that close contact may
be communicated all along the line,
and he marks time with a hard stamp of
his left foot every time he puts it down.
All the others mnst stamp when he does.
This line, thus moving and so oompaot,
erawls along like an enormous centipede.
At the door each conviet in passing
must turn his face toward a keeper
stationed there, that he may be identi
fied. One by one the sad, sullen or
expressionless faoes pass oat of the
sunlight. One by one they are swallow
ed up in the gloomy cells, the iron
doors clinking and the bolts shooting
into place after each. They are locked
up to feed. Another and another of these
ugly centipedes crawls ont, exactly as
this one has done, and like it falls to
pieces at the cell doors, until all the
convicts are supposed to be at dinner.
They will have an hour in whioh to
swallow that oheerless meal. Then the
oentipedes will reform and crawl back
to tbe shops, in which silent labor will
fill in tbe rest of the day until 4:30, p.
m., when they will march to their oells
again to wash and get supper.
Sliest Women and Hen.
One other industry is oarried on here
—caning and braiding chairs—but only
one hundred men and women are employ
ed in it. Although in this department
the oonviota are nearly all petty crim
inals, they are subjected to tbe same
rigid discipline that prevails in the shoe
shops, and the perfection of its enforce
ment may be understood when it is said
that even the women dare not talk or
look up at visitors. One woman here,
Kate Bush, is a cariosity. She belongs
in Albany, and has served pretty nearly
all the time during the last past twenty
fiye years in the penitentiary. She has
not been oonvicted of any other offense
than drunkenness, and is not at liberty
more than two or three days at a time.
Generally she is sent to the institution
on six months' sentences, so that she
manages to have two sprees every year.
Life on week days in the penitentiary is
the same all the year round. On Sundays
there is a little change. Then the female
prisoners are first marched up to the
chapel hall and stowed away in the gal
lery, where they can neither see the
male prisoners nor be seen by them.
Afterward the centipedes form again and
march np into the bedy of the hall.
Each man goes to his place in silence,
and the keeper's eye watches the move
ment! of every one daring the service.
After the service, convicts may read in
their cells, and happily the prison libra
ry is a very good one of about 2,500 vol
umes. Twice a week there is an evening
school, under direction of the chaplain,
for such of the prisoners as desire to at
tend, and have merited that privilege by
their good conduct. The women’s cells
are in another wing of the bnilding, and
some of them evince in their adornment
a fair degree of taste. The inmates are,
however, generally of a low class, and
are in on short sentences, so that they
probably lack that sense of fixed resi
dence enjoyed by tbe female convicts at
Sing Sing, and consequently care less
about making their cells attractive.
<UUy One PnnUhmvnt
Is permitted in the Albany Penitentiary,
namely, the dark cell or dungeon. Cap
tain Pilsbury has so great a respect for
law that as long as be is legally restrain
ed from oorpcral punishment he will not
employ it secretly, but it is with great
reluctanoe and only where it is posi
tively necessary that he should do so,
that he resorts to the dark cell as a
means for the coercion of nnxnly con
victs. Speaking with the weight of
many yean of experience, he declares
the dark cell the most inhuman and in
jurious of all forms of punishment known
in penal institutions. It breaks men
down physically, he says, with fearful
rapidity and oertainty, and is exceeding
ly liable to destroy their mental organ
izations. The “cat” or “paddle” would
do infinitely leas barm and be more
radically effective as moral pennaaives.
$2 A YEAR—POSTAGE PAID
A Paying Institution.
Finally, before quitting the Albany
Penitentiary, let us say that this is one
of the few institutions of its kind in the
world that pays its way, aud even yields
a revenue to the community. AB prison
ers sent here by the General Govern
ment, or from any other county of New
York than Albany, have their board
paid, and their labor is also paid for by
contractors, so that the penitentiary
comes out every year ahead of its expen
ses. Humanitarians have raised the
question whether it wonld not be bet
ter to Tet the convicts work by task ( and
give them opportunity to earn a little
for themselves or their families. Some
times the earnings of men so working
Me considerable, if they are industrious.
For example, Jonas Hartwell wept out
of Auburn prison, a few days ago ou
the expiration of a sentence of fifteen
years imprisonment for the crime of
rape, taking nearly S4OO, and three or
four years previous to the expiration of
his term he sent to his family SSOO of
his earnings in the prison. Frequently
men go out.of Sing Sing and Auburn
prisons with from S3OO to SSOO. The
money that they earn is held in trust for
them by the wardens until their dis
charge, or is, if they so direct, sent to
releave their needy families. In Clinton
prison they can earn lass, their class of
work there being peouliar; but still re
alized .something by making small trink
ets of horse hair, bone and wood. But
in tins penitentiary the men are not per
mitted to make even trinkets for their
own amusement, lest they may give them
to keepers and so win some slight favor
itism.
KDUEFIELD COUNTY.
Edgefield C. H., January 23.
Editors Chronicle and Sentinel :
Edgefield was never more quiet, ex
cept the thieves, who are continually
raiding npon smoke houses, Twenty
seven pieces of bacon were stolen from
one man’s smoke house in one night
near Trapp Mill, this week ; another
neighbor had seven pieces stolen the
same night. The thieves were tracked
and caught and the baoon recovered,
and the black thieves are in jail, but if
they oan succeed in getting a jury of
their own oolor, which is easy to do,
they will be acquitted every time. Mon
who have had experience in bringing
thieves and murderers to trial in this
eounty, are satisfied that it is folly.
They are always acquitted by a corrupt
and incompetent jury. The planters
seem to have plenty of laborers, tenants
and oopartners on their farms. Most of
planters should have by this time got
rioh of farming in copartnership with
ignorant laborers; but they are trying
the same old plan, with the hope of get
ting the banks and merchants to run
their farms again this year. Whether
they will yet remains to be seen. Our
Tax Unions are now ordered to be con
verted without delay into Democratic
Clubs. There seems to be some hope
for onr county to redeem herself next
Fall. Edgefield has been and is now
being cursed with ignorant and incom
petent officials. Thousands of dollars
tave been stolen, and stolen from or
phans and widow*. On not one of the
jouds could ten thousand dollars be
collected out of the principal and sure
ties. Edgefield is once more blessed
with good schools, and there is now no
necessity for sending ohildren off unless
to enter eollege. Homeb.
THH CENTENNIAL LEGION,
Tli* Programme (ur ,h* Organisation of the
Corfu.
One of the most interesting features of
the Centennial will be the Centennial
Legion, composed of one company from
each of the original thirteen States of the
Union. To the Clinch Rifles of this city
has been awarded the honor of represent
ing Georgia. A better selection oould
not have been made. This gallant and
well drilled body of men, under the com
mand of experienced officers, will nobly
illustrate the Empire State of the South.
The Governor of Georgia will present the
company with the State colors.
Apropos of the Legion the last num
ber of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated News
paper says :
“ One of the most thoughtful and pa
triotic movements in antioipation of the
coming Centennial oelebration, is the
formation of the Centennial Legion. The
proposal for this organization was made
at Bunker Hill on the 17th of June,
1875, by the Washington Light Infan
try, of Charleston, S. C., and immediate
ly seconded by the Boston Light Infan
try, of Massachusetts, and the Old
Guard, of New York. These three com
panies, representing the Southern, East
ern and Middle sections, respectively,
were to seoure the co-operation of
one veteran command from each of
the old thirteen States. The com
mands so enlisted were to be or
ganized into one representative com
mand, embracing one battery of light
artillery, two companies of cavalry and
ten companies of infantry. This repre
sentative command, to be called the
“Centennial Legion,” were to unite in
celebrating the Fourth of July, 1876, in
Philadelphia.
The appropriateness and significance
of suoh an organization awakens imme
diately the heartiest sympathy of inter
est in all lovers of our country. Not
only as a representative of the civic
military of the Republic, ,but by virtue
of its peculiar and exalted character, its
eminence through its veteran and his
toric commands, and its inspiring na
tional associations and interests, it will,
by its presence and participation, add a
higher and more impressive meaning to
the great festal day of the country. It
will recall most gratefully the martial
glory of the young Republic of the
Revolution, and the common trials and
triumphs of the past. In symbolizing
the unity and brotherhood of that past
it would give new birth to the sentiment
which it commemorates and from which
it has sprung. No more felicitous means
oould have been devised for the reunion
and renewal of the association of the
old thirteen States than this fraternal
meeting at- the altar of oonntry and in
the name of that saored oracle
which they invoked a century ago.
By reason of their venerablo associa
tions, this Centennial Legion will be
the centre about which will gath
er most naturally the military
demonstration of the great oelebration.
It, and it alone, can carry us back to the
very shrine of the old Republic, for it
alone will represent the antagonistic
sections of our country. This reunion, it
should be borne in mind,will be the first
formal representative gathering of the
citizen soldiery of North and South
since the war. There is oause of con
gratulation to the whole country to
know that the proposal for the organi
zation oame from a veteran Southern
oommand; that it had its birth amid the
enthusiastic soenes of the Bunker Hill
Centennial last June; and that the un
dertaking is now beiDg carried forward
in the Eastern, Middle and Southern
sections of the Old Thirteen States by
three commands, rich in honored na
tional associations and historic memo
ries.
In connection with this significant
military reunion, it may be stated that
many of our prominent citizens, mer
chants, bankers and insurance men are
urging that tbe Old Guard sbonld repre
sent the city of New York at the oele
bration of the Centennial of the battle
of Fort Moultrie, at Charleston, on the
38th of Jane next.
Arrangements are now being perfected
by which the Old Guard of this city will
proceed to Charleston in a steamer char
tered for the purpose, and escort the
members of the Washington Light In
fantry to New York, there to meet the
Boston Light Infantry. After partaking
the hospitalities of tbe city, the three
commands, representing the East, North
and South, will proceed to Philadelphia,
journeying with the other oommands
comprising the Legion in the Centen
nial celebration on the 4th of July next.
The formation of the Legion is now
almost completed, and the three field
officers to command the Legion will be
“elected on the 22d of February next.
The insignia referred to is an eagle on
the wing carrying in its beak a large med
al, in the centre of whioh is the legend,
"Centennial Legion, Jnly 4, 1776-1876.”
Surrounding this are thirteen smaller
medals bearing the ooats of arms of the
several States.
A little five-year old boy was being
instructed in morals by his grandmother.
The old lady told him that all snch
terms as “by golly,” “by jingo,” “by
thunder,” etc., were only minced oaths,
and but little better than any other
profanity. In fact, she said, he eonld
tell a profane oath by the prefix
“by.” All snch were oaths. “Well,
then, grandmother,” said the little hope
ful, “there’s a big oath in tbe newspa
per, ‘by telegraph.’ ” The old lady gave
it np, and the boy is bewildered on
morals.
TUI STATE.
THE PEOPLE AND THE PAPERS.
Corn retails in Columbus at 80 cents a
bushel
Dr. O. B. Nottingham, of Macon, is
very sick.
Corn is worth 45 cents a bushel in
Ringgold.
Colonel Isaac Wilkerson, of Athens, is
seriously ill.
A good hotel is needed at Hampton,
Henry county.
Yellow jessamines have been bloom
ing for weeks.
Mr. G. W. Center, of Athens, has had
a stroke of paralysis.
Plum and peach trees, and blackberry
bushes are in bloom.
Judge Tompkins presides in Bibb Su
perior Court this week.
An aged lady died in Rome the other
day from hunger and cold.
John Mason killed Dau Gorley a
negro, in Putnam county, recently.
The Ladies’ Centennial Tea Party iu
Athens is said to have been a success.
Tom Marshall, a colored Columbus
burglar, was shot and captured the
other night.
Doc Wilson shot and killed a negro in
Jones county, near Roberts Station, last
Saturday night.
Mr. George Jones has been a constant
subscriber to the Columbus Enquirer
for forty-eight years.
Hancock county has had another 001-0
0^ a nd,. h T, 1C ; de - N * than In S ram stabbed
aud killed James Ransom*
Coionel Charles Ball has been ap-
P°‘ n ‘ e . d Superintendent of the Alabama
and Chattanooga Railroad.
Pat Quinlin has been sentenced to 20
years in the penitentiary for burglariz
ing Capt. Mapp’s store in Rome.
Peggy a former slave of Hon. A.
Cuthheit, died recently in Putnam
county. She was largely over one hun
dred years old.
Mr. John H. Martin has completed
the seoond volume of the History of
Columbus. The entire history extends
from 1827 to 1865.
John F. Kirk, Esq., of Madison coun
ty, was badly cut by a youpg man named
Henry Smith the other day. It is be
lieved that Mr. K. will recover.
A.n injunction has been issued from
!~®United States Court restraining J.
M. Willis, of Atlanta, from disposing of the
stock °f goods he purchased from Camp
* Gillreath.
The Sparta Times and Planter com
pliments Mr. E. B. Purcell, the gentle
manly night conductor on the Georgia
Road. The fact is, both the Purcells are
hard to beat.
Mr. Benjamin Parks, of Lumpkin
county, says he has discovered a prom
ising vein of gold ore on Wahoo creek,
about forty-one miles southeast of
Dahlonega.
Atlanta Herald, 23d : “Mr. H. Gregg
Wright, of the Augusta Chronicle an n
Sentinel, was in the oity yesterday.
Mr. Wright is one of the youngest edi
tors in Georgia, yet there are few presses
m the country that can boast a more
powerful and versatile writer.”
The Columbus Enquirer learns of a
Talbot county farmer who had 80 bales
of ootton before the war, which he lias
been keeping ever since, selling only a
bale at a time, as he needed money.
The Enquirer says he has lost hundreds
of dollars by this method, and his prop
erty has been of no use to himself or
any one else.
A prisoner named Kelly, in charge of
the sheriff of Jackson county, and iu
irons, leaped from the cars at Buckhead,
on the Georgia Road, the other night,
and escaped. The officer was carrying
him back to Jefferson, Jackson county,
where he had been imprisoned on the
charge of arson.
Carey Styles, of Albany; Ga., the edi
tor of the Albany News, seems to be on
the war path in Atlanta. What it is all
about, or who he is after, hath not yet
transpired, but he publishes the follow
ing card, headed “To the Slanderers:”
“I shall continue to ‘pitch into him,’
whoever ‘him’ is ; and so the ‘two mem
bers,’who were overheard, may as well
‘publish’ at once. Their secretly circu
lated slander is known, and the uncov
ering of their names will be the signal
for action. lam prepared to meet the
accusation and the secret maligners.
Cakev W. Styles. ”
The Atlanta Herald publishes an ab
surd statement concerning Mr. Ste
phens, to the effect that when the Great
Commoner was ill at the National Hotel
in Washington, during the Winter of
1874, he insisted on being moved into
No. 12, because that was the room where
Daniel Webster died, and there he (Mr.
Stephens) wished to die. The effect of
the dramatic picture drawn by the
fertile imagination of the Herald cor
respondent is somewhat marred when it
is rememberod that Daniel Webster died
at his home at Marshfield, where he
passed the happiest days of his life, just
as the happiest days of Mr. Stephens’
life have been passed at his own loved
Liberty Hall.
Columbus Enquirer: “Agentleman of
Talbot county sent twelve bales of cot
ton to Savannah nine years ago. He
then refused forty-five cents a pound for
it. The other day his merchants wrote
they had another offer for it and what
to do, when they received the reply to
continue to bold it if there was anything
left. A simple calculation will show
that the storage alone has amounted to
$648, the insurance to $162, and loss in
weight $37 50—employing present prices
—making a total of $847 50, bringing
the planter in debt $127 50, or leaving
insurance out, leaves him ahoad $35,
with all loss of interest. If he had ac
cepted the first offer, nine years ago, he
would have had $2,700 and interest for
nine years.”
The Atlanta Herald, 23d: “We are
informed that on yesterday Miss Nellie
Peters, of this city, well known for the
interest she takes in the movement for
the prevention of cruelty to animals, as
well as always taking a prominent stand
in every work for the amelioration of the
distressed and suffering, received a let
ter from Miss Lou King, of Augusta, in
which that accomplished and kind
hearted young lady tenders to
the city a fountain, to bo erected
in some publio and convenient place
where work horses can be supplied
with an abundance of cool and fresh
water during the warm season. This act
of kindness on the part of these ladies
will receive the plaudits of every warm
hearted person in the city, and we sug
gest to the authorities that the most
convenient and public place to erect this
fountain is at the intersection of Peach
tree, Line, Decatur and Marietta streets,
where there is plenty of room, and urge
them to adopt this suggestion, as we
have good reason to know that this is
the wish of the fair donor. The foun
tain, whilst it is not intended for display
or show, cost several hundred dollars,
and’will be quite an attraction to that
section of the city.”
Marrla#i-.
Near Hampton, Sidney P. Maun to
Mary Fife.
In Savannah, John D. Boss to Carrie
E. Mehrtens.
At Georgetown, J. J. Bush, of Albany,
to Hattie Foster.
In Macon, Capt. David M. Durrett to
Sarah C. Bogers,
In Meriwether county, Wm. Hill to
Martha L. Folds.
In Sumter county, H. L. Taylor, to
Miss M. J. Mims.
In Fulton county, Joseph A. Sutter,
to Miss L. F. Baker. /
In Lithonia, J. L. Griffin, of Atlanta,
to Mrs. M. A. Allen.
In Meriwether county, Jame3 H. Car
den to Miss Van Brooks.
In McDonough, Dr. D. Hopps, of
Savannah, to Mamie Steel.
In Lumpkin county, T. V. Whelchel,
of Hall county, to Laura Starcher.
James J. Koberts, of Terrell county,
to Willie A. Causey, of Webster county.
In Savannah, Thomas M. Newell to
Ella Josephine Turner, of Bryan county.
Death.
In Dahlonega, Jane Warwick.
In Pntnam county, E. Vining.
In Savannah, Herman During,
In Senoia, Bev. Bobt. F. Jones.
In Dalton, Mrs. Fanflie Hallman.
In EJberton, Mrs. Permelia Willis.
In Savannah, Arthur Bernard, infant.
In Elberton, Girard W. Allen, infant.
-In Stewart county, Dr. KenyoD, aged
83.
In Baker county, Mary Virginia Free
man.
In Griffin, Jas. Neal, of Pike county,
aged 91.
In Jefferson, Jackson county, child of
Mr. Snddeth.