Newspaper Page Text
aiiironitte anil jsewttnri.
WEDNESDAY.. -FEBRUARY 9. 1876.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AGAIN.
From Hon. Acoum Rkmk, another
member of the State Democratic Execu
tive Committee, we reoeive a communi
cation upon the subject of the recent
action of that body and herewith pub
lish it in full It will be seen that, like
the previous defense by another mem
ber of the action of the Committee, it
does not attempt to deny that anew de
parture was taken but defends the step*
os various grounds fully set out
therein. After such a careful con
sideration of the matter as is due a gen
tleman of Mr. B’s position and character
ws fail to see any reason in this commu
nieation for changing our opinion as
heretofore expressed. At its recent
meeting in Atlanta the State Executive
Committee saw fit to dispense, of its own
motion, with the holding of a Democrat
ic SUte Convention to nominate dele
gates to the National Democratic Con
vention which is to nominate candidates
for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency
this Summer; and decided to remit such
selection of delegates to conventions to
be held in the several Congressional Dis
tricta. Further than this, the commit
tee so conditioned this unusual method
of selecting delegates that in event
all the District Conventions did not
agree on the same delegates from the
State at large, the committee itself
might select that portion of the delega
tion; and appointed as the time for the
assembling of the District Conventions
tbs 26th of April, a time not only far in
advance of the meeting of the National
Convention but the memorial day of the
South, a period so sacred to the comme
moration of a hallowed past and de
parted heroes that it is in this State a
holiday established by law. The unu
sual expedient resorted to by the com
mittee of appointing an alternate when
filling the vacancy on the National Ex
ecutive Committee might also be noted,
but we particularly refer now to tne
other steps taken at this meeting as above
set forth. Our opinion of the action
of the committee has already been
given, and in the communication we
subjoin appears no reason why we should
not adhere to our judgment that the
State Executive Committee has been
guilty of usurpation, and that by oonse
quence its action is a mere nullity and
its recommendations of no binding
tone. Let us look at the statements of
that letter. It appears first, that, all
important as it is to have the member
of the National Democratic Executive
Committee from Georgia present at the
meeting of that body in Washington
City, on the 22d of this month, the State
Executive Committee did not, in select
ing a gentleman to fill the vacancy for
this State, ascertain beforehand if that
gentleman's engagements would permit
him to give a positive assurance of being
at his post of duty at the appointed
time. The letter says :
General Lawton net having been consulted
before his election and being absent from the
city or Atlanta at the time, the committee
could not know that he could certainly attend
the February meeting, and, feeling that it was
all important that the Democracy of Georgia
should be represented in that committee at the
February meeting, and General Gordon being
already at the place of meeting, favored his
eleotion as alternate, so that we might oer
tainly be represented by the one or the other
gentleman.
It was the business of the committee
to select someone as a member of the
National Executive Committee who
oould and would perform the duties of
that position, and- not make a selection
withont positive knowledge of such
ability, and then salve the defeots of
such a hap-hazard procedure by the
unusual and dubious expedient of an
alternate. Suppose the point made in
the National Committee that an alter
nate or proxy membership thereof is un
authorized and inadmissible, what be
comes, then, of the representation of
Qeorgia in that body ?
The next plea in behalf of the com
mittee is that as the districts really se
lect their delegates in a State Conven
tion, such a convention is a mere form
at best. It may be that each district
does select its delegates, but it is the
State Convention which appoints and ac
credits them. They represent the De
mocracy of Georgia and oast the vote of
that State in the National Convention.
Looal laws are, we believe, all but inva
riably introduced as bills by the mem
ber or members of the Legislature from
that portion of the State to be affected,
and why, then, not allow those members
to make such laws? The answer is
patent to all, that the law-making power
is inseverable, and it takes the Gene
ral Assembly itself, under our theo
ry of government, to pass into a
law any bill however restricted
in its scope. Our political sys
tem has heretofore proceeded on the
same hypothesis. The representatives
in National Convention of the Democ
racy of Georgia must be the choice of
that Democracy in State Convention as
sembled. Moreover, the State Conven
tion is requisite, beoause a certain por
tion of the State delegation, the delegates
at large, can only be ohosen by suoh an
assembles - The Executive Committee
itself admits the improbability, if not
impossibility, of a number of separate
and distinct Distriot Conventions agree
ing on the same men for delegates from
the State at large by proposing to select
that portion of the delegation itself if
thoee Conventions fail to agree. If it
was not known, or at least shrewdly sus
pected, that an entire concurrence of so
many conventions was out of the ques
tion, why thus provide for each an
event ? To onr mind, if this argument
against a State Convention means any
thing, it means that State Democratic
Conventions, at least for the selection of
delegates to a Presidential Nominating
Convention, are, in the minds of this
Executive Committee, useless, and the
committee thinks itself empowered to
abolish the custom of having them.
As to the plea of the poverty of the
people, what had or has the State Ex
ecutive Committee to do with that ? The
Committee does not foot the bill. More
over, upon this ground whenever a
financial stringency occurs the Democra
cy are to stay at home and allow a select
junta to transact their business for
them. If State Conventions can be dis
pensed with, meetings of the Exeontive
Committee oannot, for the business of
the party must be attended to and one
or the other body must transact it It
is kind, of oourse, in the Committee to
offer to do at its own expense, the work
which must otherwise be done by a
State Convention at the oost of the dele
gatee thereto, but the Democracy of
Georgia is not jet, Bo far as wears now ad
vised, in such a auto of destitution as to
be dependent npon the charity thus
proffered. In the election of a Congress
man, conventions are first held in each
county for delegates to a district non-,
ventiou, and then these delegates as
semble in such a convention—sometimes
remaining in session for lengthened
periods, as in the last Nominating Con
vention in this District, and still more j
notably when Mr. Hm was nominated
£nt we have never heard hard times
•ad financial stringency alleged as any
reason why • select coterie should, by
way of spaft-iff the dear people, do the
work of nation themselves. But
says Mr. Rare*:
If a State Convsntio* *n*l
fully mended, it would hSV* the means
of transferring from the pockets of the people
earns tea thousand dollars. 175x8. eqwa*?S
at #9O average expense of sash.
equal to gIS MO. to raUwod aompaniee and I
koto! keepers, ehsn the ssess eei enold be 1
attained by district convention*.
This is no argument. If a Cooiren-1
tion would “ transfer $10,508 to
nifaoeds and hotels the railroads!
and hotels would give fall valoe for;
the money in the* shape ol touts-,
portation, food, and lodging furnished,
and we fail, therefore, to see what toss
would be sustained. If the Democracy
of Georgia deem the Convention aya
tern too expensive they can change it,
but we are not aware that it was one of
the functions of the State Executive
Committee to anticipate their judgment
on that point and kindly act the part
of guardian of their purses and estates.
In no point of view can we find any
justification for the late extraordinary
conduct of the State Executive Commit
tee. Its action we regard as unusual
and unwarranted and its resolves and
reoommendations as of no binding foroe.
Ur. Bnsx’s letter is as follows:
Editors ChronicU and Sentinel:
Am a member of the Democratic State Exe
cutive Committee X cannot aastimw the respon
sibility of saying that I know what reasons in
duced the action of each individual member of
the committee present, but will give you the
reasons inAndng my own action, and state that
X believe the same reasons induced the action
of the other gentlemen present, which reasons
I will now proceed to give, taking the several
subjects of their action in the order in which
they came up, viz:
1. I favored General Lawtos’i election to
fill the vacancy in the “National Executive
Committee,” occasioned by the death of our
lamented General A. B. Wxiosr, for the reason
that I know General Lawtos to be able, cool,
deliberate and conciliatory, and believed, te
king him all in all, he was better suited to the
position than any gentleman I knew in the
State; and, if I could have known General
Lawtok would certainly attend the meeting
advertised for the 22dof February, I should not
have favored the election of an alternate. But
Gen. Lawto* not having been consulted before
his election, and being absent from the city of
Atlanta at the time, tee Committee could not
know that be could firtainly attend the Febru
ary meeting, and feeling that it was all Impor
tant that the Democracy of Georgia should be
represented in that oommittes at the February
meeting, and Gen. Gordo* being already at
the place of meeting, favored his election as
alternate, so that we might oertainly be repre
sented by the one or the other gentleman. I
voted for Gen. Gordo* for the position as
signed him without any knowledge then that
he was working for the nomination of any par
ticular man for the Presidency, nor have I any
such knowledge now. I knew that he occupied
a poeition at Washington which gives him many
facilities for judging of the strength of the
names suggested for the highest office, and
believed that if he went to the meeting of the
committee he would do nothing to thwart
the nomination of ths candidate favored by
the people of Georgia, to-wit: the man who is
capable, honest, a Democrat in principle, and
strong enough to be elected, let him he who he
may, hut rather would work zealously to carry
out the will of his constituents. If General
Gordo*, as has been intimated, is an “axe
grinder,” he is unfit for the position ; but I
am frank to say that I oannot believe anything
of the sort without evidence. In this connec
tion, I will state that my inf situation now is,
that General Lawto* will eertainly be present
at the meeting of the committee in February,
and, therefore, this matter of complaint is dis
posed of.
2. I favored the nomination of delegates by
District Conventions, instead of by a General
Convention of the Bute, at Atlanta, the nsnal
place of holding such Conventions, for ths
reasons:
1. If s Stats Convention had been
called ths delegates from each Dis
trict would have been allowed, si hereto
fore npon such occasions, to select their own
delegates and their alternates, end therefore
conld not see bnt that the Diatriot system
would furnish as good, if aot s better index
of popular sentiment than a State Convention,
there being more danger of ths influence of
“Axe Grinders" in the latter than in ths for
mer.
2. I thought that if a State Convention was
called, looking to the straightened pecuniary
oircnmstances of our people, ths call would
not have commanded the attendance of more
then one hundred delegates out of the 350
the usual basis of representation in State Con
ventions —a large majority of whom would
have been office seekers—always unsafe rep
resentatives.
3. If a Stato Convention had been palled and
fully attended, it would have been the
means of transferring -from the pockets
of the people some ten thousand dollars—
-175x3. 350 members at 930. average expense
of eaob, $10,500 to railroad oompaniee and
hotel keepers, where the same end oould
be attained by Distriot Conventions, and
a difference of $9,000 saved to the
people, a large majority of whom are strag
gling to obtain the necessaries of life—a fact
we fear, not understood, and, therefore, not
appreciated by many of our city friends, who
‘•look down elate from the land of Goshen."
4. I favored the "nomination of four dele
gates at large aud alternates by the Distriot
Conventions, and if they failed to agree npon
the four, for them to authorize the State Ex
ecutive Committee to seleot from all the
names voted for,” beoause I looked upon the
resolution as recommendatory aloDe, and
whatever power the people had the) might
dologate it to whomsoever they pleased, if no
fundamental law was violated thereby, and
because I could not see that the "Executive
Committee” owed any fealty to the State Con
vention appointing them, different from or
paramount to that whioh they owed to the peo
ple—the masters of all of us. And beoause I
was anxious to save the expenses of a State
Convention, it being understood that the hold
ing of a State Convention after the nomina
tions by the National Democratic Convention
is a necessity.
5. I favored the 26th of April as the time for
holding the District Conventions for the rea
sons that I could not, and do not now, see any
objection to appointing delegates to the Na
tional Democratic Convention two months, or,
if yon please, three months before the meet
ing of the Convention, and for the reaeon that
we were obliged to have a State Convention
daring the Summer to nominate electors and
for other purposes; and for the reason that I
thought it wise to have these Distriot Conven
tions before the busy crop season was upon our
peddle It did not occur to me at the time
that the 26th of April was "Memorial Day."
But I can see no insuperable objection to the
day on that acoount, aa the District delegates
will have time enough to transact their busi
ness and participate in the ceremonies of the
day.
Having thus, in this hastily written letter,
given you the reasons that inflnenoed my ao
tion aa one of the HtaU Exeontive Committee,
it is due to truth that I should say, I have no
reason to suspect any; member of tbe commit
tee of being influenced in hie conduct by con
siderations looking to the securing of the vote
of Georgia to any particular person for Presi
dent ia the National Democratic Convention or
otherwise fostering ambitions views. The
subject, who ought to be nominated for Presi
dent and Vice-President by the Demooratio
National Convention, was not alluded to in my
presence by any member of the committee,
whilst the committee was in session or at any
other time. My candidates for the nomination,
and I think they an the candidates of the
people of Georgia, an thay, let them be who
they may. who an able, patriotic Democrats in
principle, and w ho stand the best chance of be
ing elected. If the precedent set it dangerous,
let us not follow it when our poverty-stricken
people become mon prosperous. I have no
respect for precedent unless based upon good
reason, nor have I any disrespect for a depart
ure from precedent; if a good reason can be
given for tie departure. If then is a “ cat in
the meal tub “ I have been unable to see him
or 1 1 suspect bis pnasnes.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
Augustus Reese.
Madison, Ga., January St, 1676.
SENATOR SHERMAN’S VIEWS.
Senator Sheehan, of Ohio, has been
manifesting his views on the situation
in the shape of a letter in which he eays,
seeming to speak by authority, that
General Grant will not be a aandidate
for a third term. “Happily for a we
do not need to look for the contingency
of his nomination.” From this we pre
sume that the President hss made satis
factory terms for withdrawal. Senator
Sheehan then nominates Governor
Hates, of Ohio, for the Presidency, and
the spirit in which the candidate is pro
posed may be best seen from the sub
joined extract from the letter, thus:
The election of a Democratic President
means a restoration to full power in the Gov
ernment of the worst element of the rebel
Oonfederacr. Democratic supremacy rnsans
rain Ih® Southern State* are to be organised
by violence and intimidation into a compact
political powsr, pair seeding a small fragment
of Northern Btatee to give it absolute oontrol,
when by a minority rule of the party it will
govern Lb* country as it did in the time of
Pines and Bruhaha*. If it should electa
President and both Houses ef Congress, ths
constitutional amendments would b* disre
garded; the freedmen would be nominally
arisen*, but really aUvee; innumerable elaima,
swollen by perjury, would be saddled apon the
Treasury; onr public credit would be impaired;
the powers of the General Government weald
be crippled, and the honors wen by onr people
in subduing the rebellion would be subject* of
reproach rather than pride.
The sting of all this is found Ia ths
efctrge that the eleotion of a Democratic
Preside** means that “ innumerable
claims, swart** bv perjury, would be
saddled upon the SErqpfrOT; our public
eradii would be impaired.- IS&faFm**
danger ia held up before the wowaugi
masses 0# tiy* North to create the im
pression that thejk*th would force the
National Democrat*, if wetemous, to
refund the cotton tax and aak**tbr
restitution*, sad rhersfey ioME the
weight of their taxes; while tbe letter
bugaboo it for the capitalists who adore
their bond* as the heathen does h*fl idoL
Ooming-4rom Senator Sherman, Chair
fhaa of the Finance Committee, and
long a burning and shining light on all
monetary matters, the statements will
no doubt be taken as those of an expert,
and be widely circulated and profoundly
believed. Had our Democratic Con
gress gone to work immediately npon its
organization to investigate the financial
mismanagement of the BepnbUoan party
in ita long lease of power in the House,
whioh holds the parse strings of the
country, Senator Sherman’s guns might
be thoroughly spiked than they
are likely to be now.
4 THE RELIGIOUS ISSUE.
We have before ne the call of the Con
necticut Bepublican State Executive
Committee for a State Convention to ap
point delegatee to the National BepnbU
oan Convention and for other purposes,
and are painfully struck with one por
tion of it. The oaU opens thus:
An electors of ths State who desire good gov
ernment, the resumption of specie payments,
and non-sectarian public schools, are invited
to unite with the Republicans in sending the
wmiC number of delegates from the several
towns to a State Convention, to be held at
Allyn Hall, in the city of Hartford, on Tues
day, February 29th, 1876, at 10 o’clock, a. m.,
for the purpose of nominating candidates for
State officers, appointing delegates to the Na
tional Convention to be held at Cincinnati, June
Hth, 1876, electing a State Committee, Ac.
And we place in itaUoe the significant
portions. It will be perceived that so
far as the Bepnblioans of Connecticut
are concerned, and we believe they are
the first of their party in the field, they
foUow the lead of the Presidential
message, and annonnoe that “non-
sectarian public schools” form hence
forth an integral part of the Be
pnbUoan creed. None bnt those
sonnd on that issue are invited, or will
in fact be aUowed, to participate in the
State Convention, and the delegates to
be chosen by that body to the National
BepnbUoan Convention must be similar
ly eligible. It is not to be supposed
that the Bepnblioans of Connecticut
wonld take this novel position and an
nounce conformity thereto as a test of
party orthodoxy, nnless, upon a full con
sultation by the chiefs of that organiza
tion throughout the United States, it
had been determined to nfake “ non
sectarian public school ” an issne in
the coming oampaign. We regard the
Connecticut call as showing the plan of
battle in at least one particular upon
whioh the BepnbUoan leaders hope to
retrieve their Congressional losses and
elect a President this Fall.
Now in itself, the phrase “non
sectarian pnblio schools” is not objec
tionable, and the first impression con
veyed by it is one consonant with a
fundamental principle in Amerioan
polity. Pervading all our laws, consti
tutions, and public life, there appears a
sentiment that the State should have
nothing to do, as the State, with the
Chnroh, and that the Churoh, as the
Church, shonld have nothing to do with
the State. An armed neutrality is, so
to speak, the relation in whioh American
polity pnts the Churoh and the State.
The State must not know that its citizen
has a soul, and the Chnroh must not
know that her oommunioant has
a vote. If any attempt were now
making in the United States to
oontravene this doctrine, and the
war ory “non-seotarian pubUo schools”
meant resistance thereto, the National
Democratic Convention could shont that
slogan as vehemently as the BepnbUoan,
since “no Chnroh and State” is as
mnoh the belief of those who
make np one party as it is of
those who constitute the other. But
it is perfectly well known that no such
question is now presented. The efforts
of an association composed of a few
olegymen and constitutional reformers
to so change the Constitution of the
United States as to provide for a distinct
recognition therein of the existence of a
God—just as if the Ineffable Majesty
of Heaven needed legalization by that
sorap of earth whereon we strut and
orawl—is the only evidenoe we see
of an endeavor to foist religion npon
the body politic, and a proposition jugt
mooted in the California Legislature to
dispense with the services of a chaplain
hereafter, is abont the only sign, and an
inflnitesmal one it is, of an assault by
the State npon the ehuroh. There is no
indication of any purpose anywhere
throughout the United States of contra
vening the long established principle of
an entire severance of eivil and ecclesi
astical affairs, and we are, therefore,
left to find some other meaning to that
ill-omened cry of strife whioh reaohes
ns in the oall of the Connecticut Bepub-
Uoan Convention.
That meaning we find to be a deliber
ate attempt to evoke sectarian animosi
ties on the public school question, to
exeite and inflame those most vehement
of all antagonisms into a blind and un
thinking fury, and then use passions so
aroused and enkindled at the polls. We
wonld that we oenld believe that the
popular intelligence wonld detect and
the popular moderation foil this detesta
ble attempt, bnt our faith in these par
ticular] is not strong. *We have grave
misgivings that this particular weapon
which the Bepublican party olutohes in
its last and greatest straggle for domi
nance has been so oarefnlly fashioned in
the workshop of the Devil, its inventor
and deviser, that it oan be wielded with
terrible effect this Fall. Possibly our
forebodings are too gloomy, bnt one
thing will,beyond all donbt result from
the agitation of snob an issne—the
downfall of all systems of public educa
tion.
MINOR TOPICS.
T-iJiM generally do not object to being
bagged, provided that the hogging is done by
the party of their ohoioe. Sometimes, however,
the hugging ia set a matter of plessnre. Such
was the oaaeat a Liverpool depot recently. A
lady wearing a seal shin Jaoket w*a waiting at
a railway station, when a polar bear, who hap
pened to be passing In a barrel, seized her
around the body, and aha was "severe*
squeezed” before tbe animal oould be induced
to release her. On an aotion for damage*
against the railway company, counsel for the
freer* oxo*o*s * conduct on the ground that
ha probably mistook the lady for a seal; bnt
the jury gave the plaintiff $*M.
The magnificent Muluvt, bead* the mil
lion* h* spent on public buildings, managed to
gat away with about two hundred thousand
dollars in "office expenses” daring hie wonder
ful reign, and the wicked Congressmen talk
about investigating him. There is also talk of
! transferring the business of the Suverrieing
Architect to jfrs Epyineer Bureau, which
would be a good enough more if gome means
were taken to get competent anotiitest* info
ths wploy of the Government. The engineers
aoidd vary w*U supervise the construction of
pwblio building*, bnt if are are to have any
architecture, we need aot only engineers bnt
artiste. _
In the ftapreme Court, the other day, we ace
told by tbe Springfield Stpubiiea*. Albikt
Pm “get in” vary neatly on Mr. PranwoNT.
Tbe Attorney-General had impeached the evi
of one of Pen's witnesses* on the
ground of the extrema age of the mau—aoren
ty-three years—and presumptive failure of his
faculties. "Well, your honors," said Pm, “I
don’t altogether like that myself, for lam
aixty-aix years old, and in a little while I shall
fro seventy, and even seventy-three, and lam
eoatuntpt senffrire about old men with no
memories. I *•* 9 bflWfi before me one
Justice hearing thi* o*ae who
rid, another who is seventy-two, and I would
lik* to aril with what foroe the kitomey-Gens
ral'a argument atnkae tham that a man has ne
memory at their age*.” Mr- Pyxwmoirrmw
the potto. Curioealy enough, the client for
whom Pmz wee arguing—Governor Btotog, of
lilaima* niwt* t ought a duel with him-
VANDAL MRRUf>
A Few WswdsFrem Him ea toe KriNtof
•aißbWWrt Ralfetae
Ooluhbus, Ohio, February 4.—Gen.
Shannon writes: “I never have been,
am not now, and never eheU be e candi
date loathe high office of Premdentof
tbe United Stokes before y Conven
tion or the people. * Be Blndee fevws
ably to Governor Hays*. Beeym “My
wife end family are strong
hat I am aot. that, however, ia no
body’s baatneaa.”
SPEECH OF HON A. 0. BACON,
IK THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA
TIVES,
ItswiT 88th, 1876, UfM (he Qaeatten ef
CaHiiia a Ceaatitatieaal Caaraatiaa.
Mr. Bacon, of Bibb, said :
Mb. Speaker : It is with reluctance
that I rise to oppose the passage of this
bill. I am reluctant because I am in
thorough sympathy with those who de
sire the calling of a Convention. I rec
ognize fully the strength of the argu
ments whioh are advanced in support of
the bill. They have been urged in this
hall for years; they are familiar in my
ears, although probably not in snoh at
tractive shape as they are now present
ed to ns. I have recognized the potency
of those arguments in the past, and they
are equally potent now. For years!
hare been the advocate of the passage
of such a bill ; I have worked for it and
voted for it, and if we were now attend
ed by the same circumstances I wonld
be found in its support now. I believe
the journals of this House will show
that there is no member now npon this
floor who can point to as early a vote in
favor of calling a Convention as myself.
Bnt while recognizing that the Constitu
tion needs amendment, I cannot shnt
my eyes to the fact that there are para
mount reasons why the amendment
should not be made this year, reasons
which forbid me to support the bill at
this time.
In obedience, therefore, to a sense of
dnty, recognizing, as I do, the grave is
sues in this all important question, I
feel that it is bnt proper that I shonld
explain to my fellow-representatives the
reasons which control my oondnet in ob
jecting to the passage of the bill. *
The Constitution of Georgia has not
changed in the past five years. Its gen
eral operation is the*same now as then.
But still, it is true that there has been a
change in the opinions of many as to the
necessity for anew Constitution, and
many members who have heretofore
violently opposed the calling of a Con
vention now favor the bill for this pur
pose.
I have endeavored to solve in my own
mind the question what is it which has
worked this revolution in the sentiments
of many of the people of the State of
Georgia.
From my own reflections I have come
to this conolnsion, and ask others on the
floor to consider if it is not correct. It
is not the desire for reform in the Exe
cutive, in the Judicial and in the Legis
lative departments, although reforms are
needed in all of them. It is that the
country is in destitution, the people are
bankrupt, the industries are prostrated,
and the people naturally look for some
relief from their legislators. The means
which have most contributed to this
evil is the homestead law, and they nat
urally cry out to have the Constitution
ohanged. I want to ask the House to
follow me while X "present for their con
sideration two questions.
Ist. Will the remedy whioh has been
proposed correct the evils ?
2d. If the evils are corrected is not
the danger attending the remedy great
er than the evils themselves ?
The Constitutional Convention will
not cure the evils with reference to the
homestead. Ido not desire to be under
stood as the champion of the homestead
law. I know there is mnch evil in it.
The measures of iniquity perpetrated
under it have been full, heaped up, and
running over; bnt at the same time I
am not blind to the effect that there is
mnch of good in it, properly regulated
and honestly administered. The evil is
not due to the fact that the Constitution
provides for a homestead by whioh prop
erty oan be exempted for the benefit of
the family, but to tbe faet that there
has been iniquitous legislation under it
which was apparently designed to enable
the debtor to defraud his creditors.—
This legislation it has been in our power
to correct, and it is in our power to do
so now. The two great evils are—first,
the opportunity furnished by the law
for fraudulent over-valuation ; and seo
ond, the perversion of the legitimate
meaning of tbe word homestead. Home
stead means a home—the roof that shel
ters those who are designed to be pro
tected, the wife and children. If the
provisions of the law were confined to
the protection of homes only, it would
be a beneficent law.
Limit the exemption to this protec
tion of homes and a little personal
property, and let every body know that
homes within a reasonable valuation are
not subject to the grasp of the law, bnt
all other kinds of property are subject
for debt, and no harm will be dene to
the creditor and great good will result
to the country. It is to the public ad
vantage that the people should have an
interest in the land. There is no pa
triotism which does not centre at the
heartstone—love of home and love of
country ever go hand in hand. The
good therefore should not be indiscrimi
nately rejeoted with the evil. The power
to cover up any and every specie of
property under a misnamed homestead
exemption is ap evil.
But the immediate trouble whioh has
been the cause of the greatest discontent
in the recent decision of the Supreme
Court relative to the sale of homestead
property, and many suppose that a Con
vention can give relief by abolishing the
homestead provisions altogther; but in
this they are mistaken. The homestead
already set apart is beyond the reach of
Legislatures and Conventions, so far as
this question is concerned. The home
stead when set apart is not only exempt
from sale, bqt the title, except as to a re
mainder interest, has been divested from
the original owner, and is vested ju the
beneficiaries of the homestead, and there
it must remain until those beneficiaries
cease to belong to the class entitled to
the benefits of the law. You cannot by
ohanging the Constitution, again make
the property already set apart liable for
the debts of the original owner, nor can
he ba again given the power to sell it.
But iu the opinion of able lawyers, by
proper legislation the creditor can be
protected from fraud, and provision can
be made by which sales can be effected
of the homestead property and the
beneficiaries of the homestead at the
same time protected from loss. A bill
for this purpose, introduced by Judge
Reese, has passed the Senate, and now
awaits the aotion of this House. It is
unneoesaarr for me to go into the many
details of the bill for fflp protection ef
creditors, or to say more about it fhan
that it places the sale of homestead
property under the care of the Chancel
lor, like other property. If this will
remedy this trouble, it is better to rely
upon it than to resort to the calling of
a Convention, if, as I shall endeavor to
show, to do so will expose tbe best in
terests of the State to ffis gravest peril.
But there is another reason why a
Convention will not relieve the difficul
ties caused by tbe exemption in the
homestead law. I shall not detain the
House with a repetition of what was
said by the gentleman from Newton
(Livingston) about the large exemption
under the bankrupt law, The gentle
man from Hall seemed to doubt his
statement, but the law ia so plain that
be who runs may read. If the present
homestead exemption laws should be
struck from the Constitution altogether,
the debtor could still secure the same
exemption by going into the bankrupt
" Now, Mr. Speaker, what I have said in
reference to this matter tjpjan for the
purpose purely of endeavoring Id show
to this House that there is nothing
which can be done by the Convention
whioh will afford any immediate and
speedy relief, other than that which can
be done by this present session of the
Legislature, gnd those things which are
now in process of perfection. If that ia
so, why should this ,G<wsntj<)p I? 6 held
this year? Why assemble if' ji) obe
dience to an outcry guided by no great
economical purpose, aud when it oan
not take action to relieve the sufferings
of others withont great danger of add
ing others still greater ? That is the
position I take before the House. All
other things can wait; no greater harm
nap popie to them this year than in the
past five years. The other departments
can wait. The qunafiop we are to de
termine is, are the suffering? of the peo
ple ao great as to justify qs in graying
these great dangers? Does this House
oonsider—does it shut its eyes to tbe
dangers that beset ns ? Do gentlemen
say that these questions will not
excite ttte bitterest feeling which
enter into a political contest ?
Why, here, we who are k n °wp so each
other, who are friends and intimates, in
the disransior of this matter npon this
floor you have some idea of the feeling
whioh would prevail if the question is
remitted to the people. You remember
how, yesterday, when some gentlema#
advocating the Convention, gave birth
to some well-rounded period, or fine
and lofty sentiment, applause broke
forth upon this floor and in the galleries
and sang through this hall. When, iu
the mere discussion of this matter here,
such feelings aye evoked, jrhat may we,
not expect it to be when every kj.©p
Georgia rings with the speeches of can
didates? Why, Mr. Speaker, in that
ooutpst with whom have we to deal ? We
are to mast $ careful, wary and watch
ful enemy, who 4,7 t>?ttosses joint
in onr harness to give u tip fetol stab.
We baye men in this State who out
□•MS to await their opportunity, and
who is present state of affairs, can
not hope to rise, feat yho see ip this
matter the eoming of Jong-sought
opportunity. Now, we have no pslifigal
dissension in this State. There is
very little party organisation ont
•ide of that to which we nearly
all belong. Bat pass this bill and
send it oat to the people and the
busy notpe of preparation will be
beard bom the oampa of our epegupa
before twenty hours from the time the
Governor signs the set and issues hi
proclamation. Tbe scenes of 1868 will
be re-enacted, and men who are now
acting with the Democratic party be
cause they have no where else to go will
seize the opportunity to tnrn against it.
Whatever may be tbe voice of members
npon this floor and the opinions of lead
ing men in their respective communi
ties, there is a class in this country who
speak least and vote strongest and who
will protect their familiee from the grasp
of despoilers. No matter how great may
be their love for the State, when their
property is put in the balanoe they will
vote against you. Suppose that lam
wrong and that I overestimate the dan
ger, can any man deny that there is dan
ger ? I think there is not only some
danger, bnt overwhelming and pressing
danger. Mr. Speaker, is it not due from
ns, as keepers of the welfare of this
Commonwealth, that we do not run into
this danger ? When the oqrrection of
the evils which we snffer can come when
it will be safe, is it not our duty to post
pone it until then ? No man can doubt
what the issue of the canvass will be
this year if things remain as they are.
It is a matter of absolute certainty.
We can secure the control of the State
for four years longer. It cannot be de
nied, and the gentleman mast admit
that in attempting it with the issnes
which wonld come with this question
thrown in we may wreck onr fortunes
for the next four years. We are not
situated as other people are. The ques
tion of political ascendancy in other
oonntries is one of minor importance.
Before the war it was so with ns. Then
both parties were recognized as honest,
and the only contest between them was
as to which was truest to the interests
of the people and most faithful to the
interests of the conntry. It is not so
with us now. I mean offense to no
one, but we have had a bitter experi
ence. We know what it is for the Dem
ocrats to be oat of power. I have no
donbt there are dishonest men in the
Democratic party, but it is nevertheless
true that the Democratic party of the
Sonth represents the honesty and intelli
gence of the country. While it is true
that it may be, in certain instances, guil
ty of extravagance, it is also true that
in the main it legislates for the good of
the people. How is it when that party
is out of power ? We have political
corruption, extravagance in every de
partment, and the reckless debasement
of the people’s honor. This whole coun
try is awakened to the enormities whioh
have been perpetrated against the peo
ple of the South. The same enormities
have been perpetrated here npon our
own people, and the men who did them
will do them again. ‘I have seen that
ohair (the Speaker’s) filled for sixteen
days by a man who had no right to nit
in the GeAral Assembly of the State.
He ruled this House for sixteen days as
with a rod of iron; lie called the House
to order and adjourned it without allow
ing members to vote upon the question.
His authority was the armed men who
tramped through these oorridors, and
whose bayonets glistened at this door.
At the same time there were three sashed
and epaaletted officers of the Federal
army sitting in this building as a Court
to determine whether the men who came
here were entitled to represent the peo
ple. I saw them turn out of this hall,
at the poiuc of the bayonet, twenty one
men who had been elected by the people,
and seat in their places twenty-one
other men who had been defeated at the
polls. It is trne that the people are now
awake to these things. It is more diffi
cult to do these things now than it was
then; but the same men who did it then
are still in power, and are asking the
people to keep them there. When men
say to me there is no danger of a repeti
tion of these outrages, I want them to
show me the evidences of a change of
mind in those men who made possible
and supported these crimes, and who
are still in control of the General Gov
ernment. Ido no not want any man to
say to me that I am easily alarmed. I
want to say that when I was here in 1871
and 1872, and saw the honor and liberty
of the people of this State overridden and
trampled upon, I, in common with oth
ers, in face of the threats directly made,
refused to listen to such threats,
and did all I could for the honor and
weal of Georgia. And if I did not
consider it for the honor and weal
of Georgia now. no such considera
tions as I have mentioned wonld affect
me. I have simply attempted to show
that the evils complained of will not be
remedied by this measure. *For that
reason I am unwilling that this danger
shonld be run. The vote of Georgia may
determine the issue of the next Presi
dential election. It makes a difference
of twenty-two votes upon either side it
is cast. It ia proposed now that we shall
jeopardize the eleotion of a Democratic
President for the-next four years. The
gentleman from Monroe (Mr. Adams)
refers to a letter from a distinguished
Georgian, which he has read. I also
have seen that letter from the distin
guished Georgian, who is now lying
upon his death bed, and in whioh letter
he said : “Asa dying man, it is my
solemn judgment that the political des
tiny of this oountry hangs upon the suc
cess of the Democratic party thin year. ”
These are his sentiments in view of
death. .
Mr. Warren, of Chatham: I would ask
of the gentteman if that is the same man
wfio approved of the action of the Fed
eral soldiery in turning out Democratic
members of the Legislature in Louisi
ana ?
Mr. Bacon: It is. [Laughter and ap-
Elause from the Convention side.] I
ave never been the champion of Alex
ander H. Stephens. I voted six times
against him for United States Senator
for that very apt qf his. Rut notwith
standing all that, where is the man in
the State of Georgia who will oall into
question the honesty and fealty to the
interests of his people of Alexander H.
Stephens? [Applause.] But, as he
lies upon his dying bed, with nothing
left of him scarcely but his own gigantic
mind, I am proud to say that Georgia
never had a truer or more patriotic son,
(applause) and if be diea with these
words upon his lips, they will be a pre
oious legacy to his State. [Applause.]
But should they not be heeded, and he
is told that we are to do that whioh may
defeat the Democratic party of the nation
and imperil the destiny of the country,
with that great English statesman, in his
latest breath, he too may exclaim in
sorrow, “Alas, mycountry!” [Applause.]
I was not commissioned to deliver
this fpeasagp to yop, but T givtf it to you
in his own words, thaj; “as A [lying man
it is his so|emn judgment that the poli
tical destiny of the country hangs upon
the success of the Democratic party this
year.” What does he mean by such des
tiny ? The issues involved in this con
test were made np before this continent
was discovered, They were made up by
the blood of our forefathers before they
crossed the waters. They are questions
which did not originate with the Consti
tution of the United States bnt which
were won by our ancestors before Co
lumbus ever discovered America. Jury
trials have been denied to us, the free
dom of tjie pres§ jnyatfetj. and immunity
from illegal aeigures and imprisonment
denied us. These are the issues, and
they were made up when men first arose
in their might and demanded to be free.
In this nineteenth century, with these
principles engrafted upon our Constitu
tion, these parties hate ruthlessly
trampled them und ;r foot and, also
every guarantee of political and person
al liberty to be found in the Constitu
tion, aj}4 refused to acknowledge that in
so doing they dicj wrong. When they
ask the people for a re-election ia it not
asking them to approve what has thus
been done?—and not all these issnes
thereby come into the contest ?
Gentlemen on this floor appeal to that
which naturally excites a response in
the heart of every man. We ate asked
if we are afraid to trust the people ?
No | tam nqt afrsis to fU 1 ® 1 !* e People
when they are united, but I am airaid
to breed discord emong them. Even
though it be true that the apprehension
of the distinguished Georgian be real
ized, and the political destiny of the
nation be sealed for woe, still if we pre
serve the unity of onr people and stand
together in opposition to all assailants,
we are safe as to onr State. It iB only
when we are divided that we are weak.
It mßy be true that this Constitution
needs amendment, and it is true that I
would gladly co-operate for that purpose,
but I would rather have that Constitu
tion, bad as it is, with a Democratic Gov
ernor, than to have a better Constitution
with a Radical Governor. A good Gov
ernor wilJ administer a bad law with pa
triotism and mercy; a bad Governor will
trample a good law under foot and spurn
it. Where are the particular sufferings
of this people except in the matters
whioh I mention ? And if it be true that
this Convention would not be able to lift
these burdens fro© tb® people, why are
we asked to vote for it? Why should
we invoke the storm when no man can
say what the result would be? What is
thought of that mariner who, when he
sails on a peaceful sea, invokes the
storm, drives his vessel upon the rocks
q-i j shipwrecks it there, when he might
ride safely ijjto port ? Why are the gen
tlemen npon thfi ioor 6P much exercis
ed about this question ? The gentleman
from Muscogee (Mr. Grime.) says he
smells “treason in the tainted air. If
he will say that here, what will he not
say m>oa the stump and upon the floor
of that Convention, of which he seems
to feel confident £6 will he s member ?
I say if it be treason to try by harmony
to meet the qompion enemy advancing
npon' j©‘and beyS few T e
plead guilty. But if it be patriotism to
ask that the voice of discoM be stilled,
and that the question upon which we
are divided be postponed until wo can
safely consider them, then we ate not
traitors, bnt patriots. [Cheers. 1
Since I have been here upon the floor
I have never been so impressed with the
importance of the action of this House
as I am now. I have long been impress
ed with the necessity of keeping out of
the political year of 1876 all distracting
issnes. If the people can be induoed to
postpone this matter I will be with them
at the proper time. I have always been
with them and for them, bnt I say that
which may be right and safe at one time
may be ruinous and suicidal at another
time. Since this Constitution was adopt
ed gentlemen here upon this floor have
opposed a Convention to make anew
one, but now in the most important
year of the century they come in to dis
tract us with this proposition.
I say to yon that I do not want to see
the scene re-enaoted here whioh I have
seen in days past. I have seen the time
when the seats occupied bj the two gen
tlemen on my left, from Thomas oonnty,
and who have won snch reputations as
earnest legislators, were occupied for
four long years by negroes. Also, the
seats occupied by the two gentlemen on
my right, from Monroe, and the seat
occupied bv the gentleman from Bald
win (Mr. McKinley) were also occupied
by negroes for those two years. As sure
as you pass this bill yon will see the
seat of many whom we now have here
with us occupied by those who persecu
ted and robbed us 1 The Democratic
party next year may be torn from stem
to stern, and no harm wonld be done
because there are no important elections
and four years will elapss before such
others will occnr, and in that time har
mony may be restored. But let the ex
citement come which I know will follow
the gentlemen from Chatham (Mr. War
ren) if he takes the stamp npon this
question, and party lines will be broken
down and designing men seize this Gov
ernment.
The difficulty is not so mnoh the Con
vention itself, bnt in the contest over
tbe Convention. I do not think as much
harm wonld be done by the direct call
ing of the Convention as by the dissen
sions which wonld arise from submitting
this question to the people. There is
nit aihinking man but mast admit the
fact that snoh questions must rise more
or less strife and incur danger. Nothing
under the broad heavens could justify
the gentleman from Chatham, and those
with him, in doing this thing nnless he
is oertain that the people wanted it. If
he is in donbt be shonld give the benefit
of that doubt to peace and harmoney
and the work of securing the oontrol of
the Government. If he is not in doubt,
why does he want -to submit a question
to the people whose desire he has no
doubt? I will tell him why. It is be
cause there are men here who are intim
idated by the question “are they afraid
to trust the people,” and they are afraid
to go back home and meet the question
why they did not leave this question to
the people to deoide.
Mr. Warren, of Chatham : I would say
that the only persons on this floor who
seems to be intimidated are those oppos
ed to the bill. We are not afraid.
Mr. Baoon : I am not ashamed to say
that I am intimidated by the fear of
jeopardizing their peace by oasting a
fire brand among them. I wonld say to
ray people that I feared this more than
I did their temporary displeasure.
Especially am I afraid to do it, when we
can be relieved by proper legislation. Mr.
Speaker, lam through. If we pass this
bill, and harm is eaused by it, the re
sponsibility will no rest with mo or
those with me. If we do pass it no man
will endeavor to do more than I to keej)
down strife and discord. But there are
thousands of men all over the State who
would rise up and scatter broadcast
seeds of strife; that they would suoceed
in their designs there can be but little
donbt. [Applause.]
A FATAL FIRE PANIC.
HEARTRENDING RESULTS OP A
FALSE ALARM.
Stampede of a Panic-Stricken Audience at
Robinson’. Opera House, Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, February 6.—During the
performance of the Allegory, the “Great
Republic,” iu Robinson’s Opera House
this p. m., a stampede was caused by the
alarm of fire causelessly raised
mischievous boy in the gallery. TChe
“Allegory” has been upon the stage of
Robinson's Opera House for the past
two nights, under the auspices of the
Cincinnati Relief Union, the prooeeds
applied to the suffering poor of this
oityi The performers, numbering near
ly 600 children, were taken from the
public schools of the city. As the ob
jeot*was a worthy one and the children
who took part were those of old resi
dents of the city, vast audiences
were present at each presentation
of the Allegory. The weather this
p. m. being propitious aud there being
no sessions of the public schools, the
matinee audience was in most part
oomposed of women and children.
About half-past two, while the
great house was densely packed, and
thousands of children among the au
dience were at the height of their en
joyment, some hoy in. the, gallery,
either throngh mischief or ignorance,
raised the cry of fire, as the red
light from the colored fires used in the
piece flashed out from the wings. Every
inch of the theatre was occupied and a
dense crowd was pressing and surging
about the stairways and in front of the
doors. Someone in the audience took
up the cry of fire and it was reechoed
from near the door by someone who
oaught a glimpse of the red glare from
the stage.' There was an immediate
rush for the front doors. A child was
pushed down the steps and screamed,
and immediately after a man thrust his
arm through the window. The scream
and crash was Enough to set the panic in
full foroe in the narrow vestibule leading
to the street the soene was a terrible one.
Tbe people in the rear, mad with fear,
pressed upon those in front, shouting
and cursing men, terror-stricken, struck
down the helpless women and children
in front or climbed over their heads to
the top of the stairoase and precipi
tated themselves upon the screaming
women and children in the hall-way.
The scene in and about the Opera House
after the accident was heartrending.
News of the catastrophe spread like
wild-fire over the city, and from every
direction came people hurrying to the
scene, until the squares were impassable.
It is now reported that six persons were
killed in the stampede.
Later. —There are many conflicting
stories as to the origin of the panic.
The bpildiug was filled from parquette
to gallery with a dense mass, whioU not
only filled all the seats aud aisles, but
crowded the stairways, and hundreds
were outside seeking to gain admission.
Behind the scenes were fiOQ school chil
dren, who wefe to take part in the per
formance. As the. time approached for
the commencement of the exercises a
calcium light iu the gallery flashed its
glare upon the stage and immediately
the cry of fire was raised and the aud
ience became panic stricken and a rush
was made for the stairway. Someone said
to have leaped from the bqlcony upon
the crowd below. The lower circle of
the house is but a few feet above the
level of the street, but the steps are
narrow and soon became blocked by the
surging crowd. Inside the multi
tudes were pressing for the doorway,
and in the panic women and children
were overthrown and trampled upon by
the panic-stricken crowd. The alarm
rapidly spread throughout the city, and
those who had wives or children there
hurried forward to their resene. A few
heroic men placed themselves near the
doorway and endeavored to as
sure the ' people there was
no danger, and an effort was
made from the stage to check the
mad career of the affrighted audience,
bnt quiet was not restored until a num
ber were trampled to death aud many
were seriously injured. Those able to
walk at once made way homeward;
those more seriously injured were taken
to the Ninth street station house and to
Commercial Hospital, and the dead were
gathered in one of the offices of the
Opera House. Ten were killed and a
large number severely injured.
.SOUTH CAROLINA.
Vieteries Claimed for Governor Chamberlain
—Elliott agd Whipper Fall Out.
Coluhbia,.S. C., February 4.—Gov.
Chamberfain has gained three victories
in the Legislature during the week. The
first was the defeat of the bill giving the
appointment of Managers of Elections
to the General Assembly instead of the
Governor, The second was in constrain
ing the Ways and Means Committee to
adopt his recommendation for a reduc
tion of expenses and so reduce the State
dax for 1877 from twelve millions to eight
millions ; and the third was to-day, when
the House, by a vote of 66 to 17, adopt
ed the resolution to expunge from the
journal the reeent abusive harangue of
W. J. Whipper, the negro Judge elect.
Daring the debate on the resolution
Whipper fienounepd ex-Congressman
Elliott, now Speaker of the House, who
was Whipper’s chief supporter and ad
vocate iot the Charleston Judgeship;
and Elliott, in rejoinder, branded Whip
per as an ingrate; a falsifier and a knave.
MR. PENDLETON.
He la Receive* fry the Alabama Legislature.
Mohtoohbbt, Ala., February s.— The
Senate ana House of Representatives
to-day adopted resolutions extending
oonrteaiea to Hon. G. H. Pendleton, en
route home from Florida. He was
waited on by committees, and received
by the presiding officers, and afterwards
introduced to the member*. He leaves
to-morrow.
THE STATE CAPITAL
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS YES
TERDAY IN ATLANTA.
Mr. Reese Calls For Information Concerning
Treasury Affaire—The Salary of the Treas
arer of Richmond County—Railroad Taxa
tion—66ll After the Board of Health and
the ideological Bureau.
[Special Dispatch to the Chronicle and Sentinel.]
THE STATE SENATE.
Atlanta, February B.— ln the Senate
to-day, Mr. Howell, of the'Thirty-Fifth
District, introduced a bill to define the
law as to advertising oitations or notioes
of sales by sheriffs and ordinaries.
A resolution was introduced by Mr.
Beeae, asking the Governor to commu
nicate all the information he had con
cerning Treasury affairs, and when the
reported deficit of the late Treasurer
became known to the Comptroller, and
what steps were taken by that officer to
protect the public funds. Adopted. .
Mr. Winn, of tbe Thirty-Fourth Dis
trict, introduced a bill to require clerks
of Superior Courts to pay into the Coun
ty Treasury all moneys arising from fines
and forfeitures.
Tbe following bills passed:
To change the time of holding Supe
rior Court in Washington county to the
first Monday in March and September.
To fix the salary of the Treasurer of
Biehmond connty at eighteen hundred
dollars per annum from January of the
present year.
The bill to exempt from garnishment
wages of mechanios and laborers, whioh
passed the House was made tbe special
order for to-morrow.
Mr. Hai-ris, of the Tenth Distriot in
troduced a bill to exempt the Albany
and Brunswiok Bailroad from taxation.
It applies to all roads that do not pay
expenses. ’
The general tax bill was read the first
time.
Wm. Ira Brown was confirmed as
Jndge of the Connty Court of Dooley.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the House there was a spirited de
bate on the bill to repeal the act to or
ganize a Board of Health. It was de
feated yesterday, and Mr. Baker, of
Bartow, moved for a reconsideration.
Messrs. Williams, of Muscogee; Gra
ham, of Dade; Hammond, Thomas And
Livingston spoke against reconsidera
tion.
Messrs. Turnbull, Peeples, Nelms and
Baker favored it. The motion prevail
ed—yeas 72, nays 68. The bill goes to
the foot of the calender.
The bill to abolish the Geological Bu
reau was the special order for the day.
The Finance Committee reported it back
without recommendation. Mr. Turn
bull spoke in favor of abolishing it, and
Messrs. Adams and Smith, of Dawson,
opposed. On a motion to indefinitely
postpone the yeas were 83 and nays 60.
Attacks on tbe Board of Health and
Geological Bureau are to be deprecated.
They should be liberally sustained, Tbe
Geologist and his assistants have ren
dered good service during the past year.
The members of the State Board of
Health have no selfish purposes to sub
serve. Their mission is in behalf of
science and humanity. The bill to re
peal the act creating the Board of Health
ought not to pass.
Memorial from the State Grange—The Gar
nishment Exemption Bill Passes the Senate
—More County Line and Peddling Jdcense
Bills—A Batch of Bills Introduced in the
House—The Centennial and the Clinch
Rifles.
Imperial Bispatch to the Chronicle and Sentinel.\
THE STATE SENATE.
Atlanta, Ga., February 4.—ln the
Senate to-day, Mr. Hester, of the Thir
tieth District, presented a memorial
from the State Grange asking a law to
pnnish purchasers of farm produoe un
lawfully obtained.
The bill to exempt from garnishment
wages of mechanics and laborers passed.
It does not affect contracts already
made.
The bill to prevent the sale of liquor
within three miles of Pleasant Springs
or New Bethel Churches, in Washington
county, passed.
The bill to repeal the act to modify
the lottery law was recommitted. This
bill proposes to abolish the Masonic or
State Lottery, and was reported on fa
vorably by the committee.
TheJ bill to incorporate Fulton Cot
ton Spinning Company passed.
The bill for the relief of John 11.
Hauser and others, securities, passed.
The bill to define for whom trust es
tates may be oreated was made the
special order for Monday.
The bill to transfer Echols eounty
from the Brunswick to the Southern
Judicial Circuit was postponed.
THE HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES.
In the House a batch of new bills was
introduced, some chan ;ing county lines
and others allowing to peddle without a
license. By Mr. Lawton, of Chatham :
To authorize Superior Courts to grant
corporate powers and privileges to pri
vate corporations. By Mr. Wilcher, of
Glascock : To better regulate the setting
apart the homestead and proteot parties
that have heretofore purchased home
steads; also, to regulate the distribution
of money for educational purposes.
By Mr. Culver, of Hancock : To am.end
the act making Hancock County Court a
Court of record, and to regulate the fees
and prescribe the duties of the officers
of said Court.
By Mr. Williams, of Muscogee : To
fix the compensation of the Treasurer of
Mußoogee oounty ; also, to enoourage
immigration and investments in lands
and minerals.
By Mr. Peden, of Pike: To authorize
the citizens of Pike county to settle tfft
question of the removal of the Court
House to Barnesville at an election had
for that purpose.
Bills passed: To amend the act to in
corporate the Mutual Protection Insur
ance Company; to authorize the Gran
gers’ Life and Health Insurance Com
pany to establish a State department in
Georgia; to amend the act incorporat
ing Madison; to repeal the act abolish
ing the office of Treasure* of Burke
county; to change the time 'of holding
Wilcox Superior Court ; to amend the
charter of Milledgeville; to prevent the
sale of farm products between sunset
and * sunrise in Clayton, Houston,
Echols and Baldwin counties; to pro
hibit hunting or fishing upon enclosed
lands of another without ooosent of the
owner; to amend the aot prohibiting the
discharge of fire-arms in Vineville ; to
amend the aot incorporating Albany; to
repeal the act consolidating county offi
ces in Jasper oounty; to fix compensa
tion for feeding prisoners in Monroe
county jail; to provide compensation for
the officers of Oglethorpe county for
extra services. *
Mr. Black, of Richmond, offered the
following resulution:
Whereas, It is proposed to organize
a Centennial Legion to he composed of
one company from each oJ the thirteen
original States to attend the approach
ing Centennial Exposition iq the city of
Philadelphia;
And, Whereas, The Clinch Rifles, a
military compafiy of Augusta, has been
invited to join said Legion as a repre
sentative of this State, and have accept
ed said invitation, with the consent of
the Governor; therefore, be it
Resolved, That his Excellency, the
Governor, be authorized, in the name of
the State, to present to said Clinch
Rifles an appropriate banner, not to ex
ceed a cost of one hundred and fifty
dollars,
Mr. Stewart, of Rockdale, offered a
resolution to rescind so much of the re
solution of 1875 as authorizes the sale
of the Macon and Brunswich Road. Re
ferred to the Finance Committee.
[Special Itispatoh to the Ohronicte qrpl SfrntoW. 1
TUB STATE SENATE,
Atlanta, February s.— ln the Senate
to-day Mr. Gilmore, of the 26th District,
moved to reconaider.the bill passed yes
terday, to exempt the wages of mechan
ics and day labors from garnishment,
and spoke in favor of it. Mr. Craw
ford, of the 24th District, opposed it,
and moved to lay the motion on the
table, whioh prevailed. Having passed
both houses, the repealing act awaits
bnt the signature of tbe Governor.
Mr, Arnow, of the 4th District, moved
to take qp the House resolution to pro
vide for tbe appointment of a commit
tee to inquire into the advisability of
selling the State Road. Lost by 17 to
9. The following bills were introduced:
By Mr. Gilmore, of the 20th District:
To amend the apt to incorporate San
ders ville, also, to create a Board of
Commissioners in Washington county.
By Mr. Hudson, of the 28th District!
Abolishing the County Court of Fat
nam county.
By Mr. Reese, of the 29th District:
To amend the aot to regulate the sale of
liquors in Wilkes oounty.
By Mr. Bntherford, of the fifid Dis
trict: To transfer the county of Craw
ford from the Macon to the Flint cir
cuit.
By Mr. Daniel, of the 21st District:
To change the line hetween Twiggs and
Bibb counties.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE*.
The b}lj introduced by Mr. Rankin, of
Gordon, to repeal tfie set tp exempt
cotton and wpolen factories from taxa
tion for ten years will be withdrawn.
The following bills were passed:
To organize a criminal 00 art in Burke
county; to amend the act incorporating
the City Bank of Macon; to regulate the
salegif opinm and poisons; to prohibit
the sale of farm products between sun
set and snnriae in Hancock, Elbert,
Walton, Taylor and Crawford counties;
to authorize the Governor to. procure
standard weights and measures, and
distribute the same; to amend the act
for issuing municipal bonds so far as it
relates to Angusta, restricting farther
issne to $100,000; to amend the jury
lawß so far as relates to Richmond
oounty; to amend the act to exempt
engineers from jury duty, by applying
its provisions to conductors and station
agents; to prevent fishing in waters in
Worth oonnty except by hook and line;
to oonfiffin the sale of Gilmer street in
Perry; to prohibit the sale of liquors
and -bitters within three miles of Pen
field; to fix the compensation of the
Treasurer of Meriwether oounty.
The bill to prescribe the mode of
granting liquor licenses in Muscogee
oonnty ontside of Columbus was lost.
The Republican Meeting—Akerman’s Speech
—lts Ohlccl.
The Bepublican meeting held last
night to protest against a Convention
does not meet with mnoh consideration.
Akerman’s speech was intended to in
timidate the Senate from passing the
House bill.
There is no intention to interfere with
rights of the colored people, or to dis
criminate on account of race, color or
previous condition. Akerman hopes
by alarming the negroes to organize a
party for the oampaigD.
NEW YORK NEWS.
Piano and Organ Moltent’ Association— I The
Caw of Jaiue Watson Webb—Mftetlutf
of Archibald, Baxter Ac Co.’s Creditors.
New York, February 6. —The piano
and organ manufacturers Lave formed
a protective association against the sale
of bogus instruments madeflf inferior
material. *
Judge Blatohford has rendered his
decision in the oase brought by the
United States Government against Gen.
James Watson Webb for contempt in
not answering certain questions put to
him in relation to money paid officials
in Brazil when Webb was United States
Minister to that oountry. In his deci
sion, Judge Blatohford dismisses the
contempt proceedings, and says that
from the.nature of the issne it would
not be necessary that he shonld give any
more specific answers to the question's
pat to him than those he has already
given in regard to the manner in which
the money was dispensed.
The oreditors of Archibald, Baxter &
00., bankrupts, who failed in August
last, held a meeting to-da’y. Claims
amounting to $440,035 were proved, and
J. Nelson Tpppan, City Chamberlain,
elected trustee of the firm’s estate.
Stoke. Remanded to Sing Sing.
White Plains, February 5 —Justioe
Dykman remanded Stokes to Sing Sing
to serve the remainder of his term. A
bill of exceptions was taken for appeal
to the general term of the Supreme
Court.
Failure of John C. StocUvreil—A Measure of
Railroad Economy—The Grey Nun Institu
tion.
John C. Stockwell, paper stock deal
er, failed. Liabilities, $25,000.
It is reported that the managers of the
different fast freight lines from this city
to all parts of the United States anil
Canada are perfecting arrangements for
oonoentration of their business so that
it will be necessary to employ one gene
ral superintendent only on each main
line of railroad. It is thought a great
saving will thus be effected.
Governor Tilden signed the bill re
pealing the amendment to the charter
for the Grey Nnn Institution.
LATEST FROM THE FEDERAL
CAPITAL.
The Bromberg-Haralson Case A Denial
from .Bristow.
Washington, February s.— The argu
ment in the oase of Bromberg vs. Haral
son, from Alabama, is closed. The in
dications are that the bribed votes will
count in unseating Haralson but not in
seating Bromberg. It appears that the
means of bribery was furnished by the
Government in the shape of bacon fur
nished for the relief of starving people
in the overflowed districts.
The denial comes almost direotly from
Bristow that he was browbeaten out of
the room at yesterday’s Cabinet session
with an intimation that he would not be
expeoted any more. No suoh scene oc
curred.
Government Finances—Letter to the Secre
tary of War from the Secretary of the
Southern Historical Society.
The Treasury now holds $361,033,462
to secure the National Bank circulation;
$18,621,500 to secure deposits; National
Bank circulation outstanding is "$342,-
809,306, of which amount $2,100,082 are
gold notes. Internal revenue to-day,
$415,451; for the mffnth to date, $1,559,-
601; for the flsoal year to date, $68,573,-
749. Customs to day, $322,127; for the
month to date, $2,462,788; for the fiscal
year to date, $89,236,634.
The Secretary of the Southern Histo
rical Society, replying to Secretary Belk
nap’s letter to him, says: “The people of
the South are not only willing but anxi
ous that the whole of their official reoords
should be given to the world and the
future historian should have tbe oppor
tunity of judging them in the light of
those records. Be assured then of our
hearty eo-operation in supplying your
Department with missing Confederate
documents. We will have furnished
you properly authenticated copies of
suoh as are in our possession, and will
assist you fn procuring others, it being
understood, of course, that your De
partment will afford ns similar facilities
in the prosecution of onr work.”
THE WHISKY CASES.
Babcock—He Arrives in Ht. Louis, Accompa
nied by a Distinguished Following—Ami
Taketh Room# at the Finest Hotel in the
City—McKee Moves for a New Trial—An
Indiana Convict Insensible in His Cell.
St. Louis, February s. —General Bab
cock, George H. Williams, ex-Attorney-
Genera); Levi P. Luckey, the Presi
dent's Private Secretary; and W. O.
Avery, arrived here from Washington
this morning aqd took roomU*at the Lin
dell Hotel. ' Other friends of General
Babcock will arrive to-morrow and for
several days to come. Judge Porter, of
New York, of counsel for General Bab
cock, will probably not reach here until
to-morrow or Monday, owing to siokness.
St. Louis, [February s. —Counsel for
McKee filed a motion iu the United
States Circuit Court to-day for anew
trial on the following grounds: First—
Because the Court admitted illegal and
incompetent evidence offered by the
prosecutien. Second —Because the Court
gave the jury erroneous instructions and
erred in its charge to the jury. Third—
beoause the verdict is against law.
Fourth—Because tfie verdict is against
law and evidence,
Evansville, Ind., February 5.
Henry C. Janes, a convicted whisky con
spirator, was found insensible in his
cell. He was addicted to liquor and
could not stand tbe shook.
THE HEUENT TROUBLES IN BURKE.
Ths Rill Pending In the Legislature.
Editors Chronicle and Sentinel :
Seeing, by reference to the legisla
tive proceedings in Atlanta, that the
State government is desired by some
one to pay the expenses incurred in
quelling the so-called, insurrection in
Bnrke, Jefifeyaoa and Washington coun
ties, the generous-minded everywhere
naturally ask what is to become of the
losses of the numerous colored men who
were shut up in jail for Weeks, and had
in . consequence their little effects
eloined, scattered aud wasted away ?
The writfir knows of more than a dozen
such instances iu his awn oounty, where
colored people were so held withont a
shadow of evidenoe connecting them
with any movement, or intended move
ment for two or three months; were
never carried before a court of inquiry
and were finally discharged, without in
vestigation, thereby conceding their
innocence. In many of these cases
the only horse, or mule, hog.
pig *or cow disappeared forever; the
corn and cotton taken from the fields,
and their acctkm a latioiis of ten years
swept away.
“ L(ke the dew.on the mountain,
Like the babble on tbe fountain,
It ia gone and forever."
Now, there is deep down in the Anglo
Saxon heart a living, strong, vigorous
and undying principle of justice and
fair play. This agitation, this move
ment in tbe Legislature, causes this
feeling of justice to awaken and make
inquiries. Are these poor people to be
taxed to help to pay for this ruin brought
upon them? And if they are, will not
the wrong return to plague the
violators? Are not nations and States
like individuals, subject to tbe laws of
retributive justice ? Aye, had we not
better oall albalt along the whole line ?
The writer ia a Democrat, bnt ven
tures these just reflections despite the
bellowing of the Mortons and Blaines.
Fair View.
At Cleveland, Ohio, Judge Weller of
the United States Court, delivered an
opinion sustaining the Westinghouse
Air brake patents.
J. W. Freeman, editor of the Pitts
ton (Pa.) Comet, who was convicted of
libql last December and sentenced to
seven months imprisonment, has been
pardoned and released from prison.
At San Francisco many bankers and
others met yesterday for the purpose of
establishing a clearing house. A com
mittee was appointed to receive signa
tures and report in thirty days. Some
bankers regard the reform with disfavor,
bnt it ia believed they will eventually
com* ip.
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
Washington, February 3. —ln the
.Senate, Mr. Spencer introduced a bill
for the relief of the Mobile (Ala.) Ma
rine Dock Compauy. Referred to the
Committee on Claims.
The Judiciary Committee had a long
session and are still in consultation.
The Committee on the District of Co
lumbia are instructed to consider the
propriety of providing a proper form of
government for the District.
Mr. Cragin introduced a bill for the
oonstruotion of the Southern Maryland
Bailroad. Referred.
The removal of restrictions to the sale
of publio lands was resumed, but gave
way to the District interest bill, which
passed.
The resolution giving Sykes, contest
ant from Alabama, mileage and Senator’s
pay from 1873 to ’74, was referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections,
The Louisiana Senatorial question was
called up jnst before adjournment, and
oomes up to-morrow as unfinished busi
ness, when it can only be set aside by a
vote of the Senate.
file Judiciary Committee, in the ex
ecutive session of the Senate to-day, re
ported favorably on the nomination of
Billings to be United States District
Judge for Louisiana, vice Durell, re
signed. The Senate remained in execu
tive session only ten minutes after the
report, and adjourned without a vote.
The vote in committee cannot be ascer
tained.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House Elections Committee heard
Mr. Bromberg in the contested election
case of Bromberg vs, Haralson. Repeat
ing > and bribing were both proved, but
whether the votes secured by bribing
should be cast out is the question be
fore the committee. Bromberg claims
that throning out the repeated and
bribed votes would give him a majority
—Bromberg's argument is not con
cluded.
The Ways and Means Committee con
sidered the bill suggested by the Treas
ury Department increasing four per
cent, bonds from two to five hundred
millions, and the time from fifteen to
thirty days.
The following bills were introduced:
By Mr. Young: For a Custom House
at Memphis. Referred.
By the Committee on Accounts': To
pay 14 Union soldiers on the rolls of the
House. Fort, of Illinois, denied that
there were so many. Holman and Wil
liams maintained there were. Adopted.
By the Appropriation Committee: Re
questing the President to appoint expe
‘rienoed army officers to investigate the
causes of the deficiency in the appro
priations for the Sioux Indians and par
tially take charge of the Red Cloud
agency. Adopted.
The bill regulating practice in Cirouit
and Distriot United States Courts
passed.
Th - Judiciary Committee reported ad
versely on the bill allowing heads of de
partments seats on the floor; also, on the
bill for the relief cf owners and pur
chasers of lunds sold for direct taxes.
Referred to Committee of the Whole.
Also, to authorize United States Courts
to appoint commissioners to take depo
sitions, affidavits and verifications of
pleadings. Passed.
The House went into Committee of
the Whole on diplomatic appropriations.
Mr. Singleton, of Mississippi, who had
charge of the bill, said in the course of
his speech that he accused the Republi
can politicians in the House with the ef
fort to create discord, and thereby make
political oapital, but be knew that the
people saw through that disguise. The
South, he said, had three sohemes to ac
complish in this Congress; one was to
improve and proteot the levees of the Mis
sissippi and to reolaim the alluvial soil of
the Delta, whioh would be of more value
than all the Black Hill in the oountry,
as (?) 7,000,000 bales of cotton could be
raised on this reclaimed land.
Mr. Hale asked him to state what the
other schemes were.
Mr. Singleton replied that another
was the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Mr. Hale: Is not the refunding of the
cotton tax another ?
Mr. Singleton: I do not propose to
discuss that question now.
Mr. Willis, of New York: The Demo
cratic party does not propose to help the
South by building a Southern Pacific
Railroad. We will leave it to our Re
publican friends to do so.
Mr. Douglass, of Virginia, nsfeftd Mr.
Hale by what authority he spoke of the
gentleman from Mississippi (Singleton)
as the representative of the Southern
Democracy.
Mr. Hale replied that his authority
was the position which that gentleman
occupied as a Southern man, becanse he.
spoke distinctly for the Southern
Democracy, and also, because he
(Singleton) had been selected as one of
the Southern representatives on the
money committee of the House—the
Appropriation Committee,
Mr. Holman, of Indiana,. declared
that the Democratic party in the House
was neither for the Southern Pacific-
Railroad nor for the refunding of the
cotton tax.
Mr. Douglas, of Virginia, denied the
light of Mr. Hale or of any other Repub
lican member to designate the member
from Mississippi, or a member from any
other State, as the repres ntative man
of the Southern Democracy. He (Doug
las) represented a part of the Southern
constituency, but he was not prepared
to inform the gentleman from Maine,
what might be or what might not be t'ae
ultimate action of Southern Democrats
on this floor on these measures. Hq> was
not a member of the Southern Demo
cracy, but he was a member of the Na
tional Democracy, whioh had come here
to reform some of the abuses of the
Government.
Mr. Hale: My friend from Mississippi is
more frank than tbe gentleman from
Virginia, and has given us the monition
of what we may expeot from that section.
J did not expect by a simple question to
stir up so much of a hornet’s nest as I
seem to have done. My friend from
Indiana (Holman) who opposes the
Northern Pacific Railroad, wants this
discussion to stop, and I have no wonder
at it, but he must not hold meresponsible
for it. He must settle with his colleague
from Mississippi.
Mr. Holman; I understand the gentle
man from Mississippi, surely, to express
his opinion in favor of the Southern
Pacific Railroad—(several Democratic
members—“ That in all”) and in favor of
the reimbursement of the cotton tax.
Now, is not that all?
Mr. Hale: No, sir.
Mr. Holuan : Excuse me, and also
that the Government spend money in
the rebuilding of the Mississippi levees.
Does not the gentleman from Maine
know that the gentleman from Missis
sippi was simply expressing his individ
ual opinion on the subject, and that
time and again the Democratic party iu
the House has opposed ail these meas
ures, and will continue to do so.
Mr. Hale : If the gentleman wants me
to answer that question, I will say that
I expect that he will be out voted by his
own party.
Mr. Blount of Georgia, a member
of the Appropriation Committee, said
that himself and his associates did
not propose to state what their actions
would he on measures until they had
an opportunity of considering and dis
cussing them. The gentleman from
Maine would find, when the time came,
that tbe South would do whatever was
right and proper, and that the country
would approve of its course.
Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, Chair
man of the Committee on Appropria
tions, remarked that it would be time
enough for the Democratic party ih the
House to be held responsible for its acts
when it had taken action or measures.
Mr. Singleton disclaimed being con
sidered a representative of the party.
He had simply expressed bis own views,
and nobody else was to be held respon
sible for them.
The President vetoed the bill trans
ferring certain Indian funds from the
Interim to the Treasury Department.
Referred to the Committee on Appro
priations. Adjourned.
THE SUTLER SENATOR.
Hfs Overthrow iu Alabama.
Montgomery, Ala., February 3.-— A
movement begun two months ago by Ex-
Governor Smith, and other anti-Spencer
Republicans to free the party from
Spencer's domination has culminated in
the complete overthrow of the latter’s
power in Alabama. The State Execu
tive Committee which he controls, and
of whioh Mayer was once Chairman,
but never a member, originally consisted
of twelve. On the 29th of December it
was increased to twenty-four in com
pliance with the demands of the
party, and then anew Chair
man—McAfee—was elected. Mayer
and McAfee each claimed to be chair
man and issued calls for the eommittee
to meet in this eity on ths 2d instant.
Mayer and his brother, Sheets, late 6th
Auditor; Heyman, late Deputy Revenue
Collector; Clark, Postmaster; and L.
Turner, not enough to make a quorum,
met at one plaoe in this city yesterday.
They oalled a State Convention for May
24th, to select a State ticket and dele
gates to the Cincinnati Convention.
McAfee had more than two-thirds of
the number selected as the State Com
mittee in December, and had the moßt
prominent Republicans in the State,
such as ex-Gov. Smith, ex-Congressman
Buckley, GeD. Burke and several State
Senators aud representatives. This
committee called a convention for May
16th, and treat Spencer aud his follow
ers as disorganizes, and will officially
expose them at Washington by a com
mittee appointed for that purpose.
