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About Weekly chronicle & sentinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 1866-1877 | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1876)
OLO SERIES—VOL. ICI NEW SERIES- Ml. XL. TERMS. THE DAILY CHRONICLE 4 SENTINEL, the oldeet ii<twp|x;r in the South. ie publiabed daily, except Monday. Term* : Per year, 410 : six mouth*. t 5; three months, t‘i 50. THE WEEKLY CHRONICLE 4 SENTINEL is published every Wednesday. Term* : One year. $2; six month*, hi. THE TUI-WEEKLY CHRONICLE A SENTI NEL is published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Terms : Oue year, t 5; six month*. $2 50 SUBSCRIPTIONS m all cases in advance, and no paper continued after the expiration of the time paid for. * KATES OF ADVERTISING IN DAILY.—AII transiect adverti*ementH will be charged at the rat* of #1 per square each insertion for the first week. Advertisement* in Tri-Week ly, 111 per square: in Weekly. $1 per square. Marriage and Funeral Notice*, tl each. : Special Notice*. Si per square. Special rates j will be mule for advertisement* running for | one month or longer. ALL COMMUNICATIONS announcing candi- 1 dates for office—from County Constable to 1 member* of Congress—will lie charged at the rate of twenty cents per line. All announce ment* mast be paid for in advance. Address WALSH * WRIGHT, Chronicle 4 Bentixel. Angusta. Ga. Cfjromcle an& JSmrtnel. A’ HDNEBDAY.... .MARCH 8, 1876. Who wrote that article on Governor j Smith in the New York Jferald f Non* o t the State Road statesmen j have a word to say. And yet they only talked to legislators. A letter to the New York Herald say* that Hebschel V, Johnson or B. H. Hint, will tie the next Senator from Georgia. The counsel of Babcock, the indicted whisky thief, blasphemously likened the public clamor for the prosecution of Babcock to the outcries of the Jews against the Saviour of mankind. , The Hon. Jno, of Blackshear, says he will not embrace the Constitutionalist; and now the question arises: Did the Constitutionalist ever seek the embrace of the Hon Jno, of Blackshear—else whence these refusal ? The impeachment of Kellogg will scarcely last as long as the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. The Radical Sen ate found a verdict of acquittal by quashing the indictment. Short and sweet. And now Kellogg has been “vindicated.” Next. The Bainbridge Democrat shoots re markably good powder when it says “ there seems to be an effort from the “ State Elective Committee down, to “ take all the power from the voters of “ the party to use as they thick best.” But what care Hakdeman & Cos. ? Thebe iB a report—vague, far and dim — that the Hon. Petekson Thweatt and his claim will come before the next Leg islature. If Mr. Thweatt can hold out ho will doubtless get a showing after awhile. In the meantime the discussion of the claim is costing more than the claim itself. The election of a Representative from Cotnmbus is a “ d—d barren ideality.” The Legislature has adjourned and the regular election will take place next Oc tober The somewhat remote contingency of an extra session is the only chance that the winner has for obtaining the seat. However, somebody must be “ vindi cated,” we suppose. Mb. A. J. Kino, of Floyd county, evi dently believes in the truth of the prov erb thut the early bird catches the worm. Mr. Kino is already announced as a can didate for the State Senate from the Forty-second District—the election to take place next October. However, Mr. Kino is not the earliest bird in the field after all. Some of the numerous guber natorial candidates have been iu search of worms for the last three years. The Atlanta Courier has a perfect right to advocate the nomination of Mr. Thurman if it sees proper to do so, but there is no reason why it should make unfounded flings at other gentlemen. The Courier says, in a sarcastic way, that Mr. Pendleton, a healthy in.an, cacae South in search of health. The.' Courier kuows that Mr. Pen dleton came South to restore the health of au iuvalid daughter.— The Courier also knows that Mr. Pen dleton’s daughter was ill in Augusta for several weeks. A gentleman in St. Louis sends to the Chronicle and Sentinel the follow ing statement of the flour business of that city : Twenty-seven flour mills manufactured during the year 1875 1,424,821 barrels of flour; received in St. Louis from other points 1,800,381 barrels—making a total of 2,725,202 barrels. There were exported from St. Louis during the same year 2,480,877 barrels. A largo quantity of this flour was shipped by rail to the Gulf and South Atlantic States. One mill alone itumod out 186,887 barrels. And now it is said that the opponents of Mr. Hill in the Ninth District are preparing to defeat him, if possible, this Fall. We learn that in order to se cure the co-operation of the lower por tion of the District iu the movement, the mountain men will present to the Nom ir.'atiug Convention a man from one of the' southern counties—probably Hon. Joed A. Billups, of Morgan. The principal ground of objection to Mr. Hill is that he is virtually a resident of the Fifth aud not of the Ninth District. It is understood that the mountain men are perfectly willing to support Mr. Hill for the Senate, but not for the Lower House of Congress. No one can doubt General Gordon's j "valor. We learn from the New York j Tribune that the Soldier-Senator has ■ been giving a great deal of attention this Winter to the subject of the whisky •frauds. He has prepared a proposition ; which he will introduce into the Senate, ! revising and simplifying the method of , collecting the tax on spirits. He thinks he can demonstrate that the adoption of j his plan will enable the Government to prevent, to a very great degree, the j frauds which have characterized the col-' lection of this tax, and result hi a sav- ! ing of millions of dollars annually. He j •aiso proposes to change the system of I appointments in the Internal Revenue i Service, and is satisfied that his plan j must eommend itself to the best judg- j jnent of Congress and the country. The taxation of mortgages or other evidences of debt as property has been declaimed by the Supreme Court of Cali fornia to be illegal and unconstitutional. The Court holds that “mere credits are a false quantity in ascertaining the sum of wealth which is subject to taxation as property, and in so far as that sum is attempted to be increased by the addi tion of those credits, property taxation, Based thereon, is ntM only merely fanci ful, bat necessarily the unconstitutional imposition of an additional tax upon a portion of the property already once taxed.” The decision is based solely on this principle, and upon the clause of the Constitution which provides “that taxation shall be equal and uniform throughout the State,” and “all proper ty in this State shall be taxed in propor tion to its value, to be ascertained as directed by law.” As the New York Tribune remarks, if this be good law in California it certainly ought to be in -other States. “t'AKKYINO THE NEWS TO HIRAM.” The Washington correspondent of the Chicago Inter-Ocean (a rabid Radical | paper) says that the news of Babcock’s j acquittal was received there about ! the time of the adjournment of the two houses, and was quickly circulated through the crowds at the Capitol. The Democrats mode no secret of their dis appointment, bat the friends of the President were exalt&nt. Telegrams were received at the White House all day, giving the progress of the trial, and a telegram from Emoby Stobbs an nouncing the aeqnittal came while the President’s family were at dinner. The President swallowed his dessert hastily, and putting on his overcoat, hurried off on foot to General Babcock’s residence, which is a quarter of a mile from the White House, to tell Mrs. Babcock the news. He visited several other friends, and was as happy as if be had won a great* victory. During the evening a large number of prominent people called at the White House, and Mrs. Gba,nt received the congratulations of those who came before the President re turned. A CALL FOR KILTER. The St. Lonis Republican says there is a strong demand being made for e commencement of the redemption of fractional currency by silver, under the provisions of the law passed by the late Congress. It is believed that all the reqnisite conditions for the successful accomplishment of the task now exist, and that if silver coins were paid out now, they would stay out. Secretary Richardson’s attempt to redeem frac tional currency with silver in small sums, two years ago, was a laughable failure; because silver was then worth more than the fractional currency; but it is cheaper now than it was then; it is quoted at 99 cents per dollar as the buy ing price, and 101 as the selling price. Its value, therefore, is about par with greenbacks; and for this reason it is as serted that if it were paid out for frac tional currency it would circulate freely, and not be hoarded. It is proposed to make the experiment of redeeming the 10 and 16 cents pieces of fractional cur rency first, and if this shall prove satis factory then gradually to redeem all the other pieces also. Secretary Bbistow has about 815,000,000 silver to devote to the work, and the law authorizes him to buy as much more as may be needed. One good effect of the substitution would be that of accustoming the people to the old metallic money that prevailed fifteen, years ago, and thus prepare them for the ultimate restoration of gold for the larger currency. NAMING THE NOMINEE. The Atlanta Courier, as well as Senator Gordon, believes in Mr. Thurman, as the coming man of the Democracy. A correspondent of the Boston Post has assumed that Mr. Blaine would be the Presidential nominee of the Republi cans and Mr. Hendricks of the Demo crats, and upon this basis figures out a majority of one hundred and five electo ral votes for the man from Maine—giv ing him the votes of such States as Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This calculation moves the Courier to say: We suggest the following change in the situation to the “Nix Spectators." Put Thurman in Hendricks' place. We believe that his can didacy would secure New,York with its 35 votes, Ohio with its 22 and New Jersey with its 9. Now, deduct from Blaine's 237, West Vir ginia's 5, and Carolina's 6, which any candi didate will take away from him, and he has 226 and Thurman will have 143. Now transfer New York (35), Ohio (2), and New Jersey (9), and the vote will stand : Blaine, 160, and Thurman, 209. But it may be said that Thur man caunot carry Indiana, after he has beaten her favoiite son in the nomiuation. All right; with Indiana (15 votes), transferred, the vote would stand: Thurman, 194; Blaine, 175. Thurman would have, besides the above vote, which may be counted pretty certain, good chances at New Hampshire, Louisiana, Florida and Connecticnt, aid we believe be could cany Indiana also. It is onr deliberate opinion that, with Blaine and Thurman in the field, Thur man would get a rousing majority of the elec toral votes. But Thurman is, ia our opinion, the only man who can be sure of carrying the flag to victory. Hendrick* is strong in the West, but could not control the Eastern vote. Tilden And Batari> are strong in the East, but cannot control the Wester* vote. Thurman can control Ohio, and is as strong in the East as any Eastern man could be. His nomination is, in our opinion, the only key to the situa tion. If Mr. Thurman be fairly nominated by the National Convention, we presume that no good Democrat, North or South, will refuse him a hearty support; but it is assuming entirely too much to say that his nomination is indispensable to the success of the Democracy iu the coming campaign. On the contrary, we think there are grave objections to his nomination. There are reasons for be lieving that he would be the weakest candidate the Democrats could put in the field, with the single exception of Horatio Seymour. It is extremely doubtful whether Mr. Thurman could oa£ry New York or Pennsylvania. It is. reasonably certain that he cannot carry either Indiana or Ohio—States which properly belong to the Democracy, and the loss of which will inevitably lose the party the election. Mr. Thurman’s conduct in the last Ohio campaign was such as to array against him a strong faotion, if not a majority, of the patty in that State. Ohio is a close State, and the opposition to Mr. Thubman among the Democrats would give it to the Republican candidate by a large majority. Mr. Thubman so shaped his course last Fall as to incur the ill-will of both parties. . He was denounced in New York as a coward and in Ohio and Indiana as a traitor. He cannot obtain a friendly delegation from his own State to the National Conyenepp. He cannot carry Ohio in the event of hi* jjosiina tion. We must have a candidate who is i able to carry both Ohio and Indiana.* The name of that candidate > s n °t Thubman. The Sultan of Turkey, it is reported, j has found a way out of the perplexities that have lately surrounded his poeition even if they have not worried him. He is going to die, unless the fate of all other men fails him, and to die soon un less there is some mistake. The cable which recently said a lady was “no more” when she was “no worse,” may have said the Sultan was “dying" when in fact it meant he was negotiating bonds—which would require only the change of one letter. But assuming that he is dying, not lying, it becomes of in terest to see who will succeed him. Probably it will be his brother, not his son. The brother is the older, and the law of succession is to give the throne to the oldest male relative. Before Tur key was the finely civilized nation that it now is, this law used to create a deal of family disturbance. Each new occu pant of the throne would go to work to kill off every living male who might have the advantage over the son who might be born to himself, and on one occasion lest any snch heir might be lin gering between this world and the next, the new Saltan had the four hundred i females of his predecessor’s harem all killed when he took the throne, thus cutting off the chances of any posthu mous claimant Turkey is an interest ing country. MR. BILL’S MAINE LETTER. Hon. B. H. Hill was recently invited to attend a twenty-second of February celebration at Bangor, Maine. Not be ing able to leave his Congressional du ties he sent his hosts a letter. In it he told them that though he had never been in a Northern’State until after the war, he knew he did not entertain a political sentiment that wonld not find a cordial response from every trne Union man of every party in every Northern State. He said he opposed secession and a war of subjugation and reconstruction, believ ing each were terribly inimical to the preservation of onr glorions constitu tional system. He submitted to each as he submitted to the death of a parent— from necessity, not choice. No man coaid rejoice more that, in spite of seces sion and reconstruction, the Union still lives. The following sentence applies with especial force to a distingnished citizen of the State to which he was in vited: “Whatever doubt may exist as to who was wise or unwise, patriotic or unpatriotic, in connection with the abases which produced secession, war, and reconstruction, all must admit that he is neither wise nor patriotic who wonld keep alive the animosities of the strife after the strifes themselves have ended.” Speaking, as a representative man, for the Southern people, he added: They admit the freedom of their slaves and ask no compensation for their prop erty. They concede the citizenship and enfranchisement of the colored race, and without stopping to disenss the wisdom of their enfranchisement, they will do, as it is their interest to do, all in their power to make the race worthy of these high privileges. Their representatives cheerfully vote to tax the lame Confed erate soldier to pension the lame Union soldier. In a word, they accept the Constitution as it is, and offer to imbue that Constitution with the spirit of the Union as it was. What more can brave men demand ? TIIE CONDITION OF GERMANY. A few days since we published an editorial from the London Times giviDg a gloomy picture of the financial and material condition of Germany. A leading German journal, the Co logne Gazette, replies to the Times, as we give below —a lady of this city having kindly translated the article for the Chronicle and Sentinel: When the late French war broke out (which England could have prevented had she followed a policy less weak and cowardly), the sympathy of the English people was on the German side, and re mained so as long as we confined our selves to the defensive, and only resist ed French assaults; but when we wished to render these frivolous attacks more difficult, or make them impossible, the English turned their sympathies to the “poor French.” The English programme was nearly that of Jules Favbe : “Not an inch of our territories, and not a stone from our fortresses!” The, English assured us that we would be forever ruined by our excessive demands in relation to the war indemnity claim from the French. There is a singular contrast between the articles of the Times then and now. “If we should predict the future of Ger many and France (so began a leader in the Times), we are forced to the belief that the conquered have better days to expect than the conquerors.” The Times sketches a favorable pic ture of French State economy. The revenue of France in 1875 amounted to more than 2,000 millions of francs—B7s millions mire than in 1869. On the other hand, how does it stand in Ger many, and especially in Prussia? The Times estimates that we will have this year a deficit of 48 millions of marks, and that we will be obliged either to borrow or reduce our army. Happily for us, we do not know of any German deficit, much less of one so great. The Times also connects, with the proposed ruin of our finances, the most terrible apprehensions. “ Prince Bis marck (says the Times in the conclusion of its remarks) must know that Gefmany cannot sustain such a recruiting levy of men for fifty years, no not even ten years. The burden is so atrocious that if it be not lessened, Germany must try the experiment of war, and make a path to general peace and general dis arming !” The world might well fear a war made by Germany from financial ne cessity. The Times may rest quiet. To its glaring ignorance of our finances, we will say that here in Prussia we have paid in the last few years a very con si lerable portion of our State debt, and the whole of our interest bearing debt is only 929 millions of marks, which is equal to the same number of English shillings. The English national debt amounts to only J677s,ooo,ooo—nearly twenty times that of ours. We know very well why the Times is actuated to blacken so eagerly our mili tary system and our finances. The dis satisfied condition of the British masses calls on all sides for reform ! There is no lack of thpse who demand such radi cal means as universal conscription. But as the penurious minded Times is the most resolute enemy of this “Blood Tax,” it canpfct paint the fearful conse quences of suoh a system black enough, so it exclaims over Germany: “ ‘Hie nigtr est. hunc ta, Roman*, oaveto!’ ” TIIE TAXATION OF {MORTGAGES. The Supreme Court of California, by au almost unanimous bench, one out of five Judges dissenting, have decided that the taxation of mortgages or other evidences of debt is illegal and uncon stitutional. This decision is made, not so much witff reference to the statutes of California or of any State, as to the general principle that the taxation of mortgages is unjust and impolitic in it self, because it -taxes property already Quce taped. from some newspaper quo tations we select a few of the passages showing the grounds npon which this decision is based. Chief Jnstice Wal lace said: “Mere credits are a false “ quantity in ascertaining the sum of “ wealth which is subject to taxation as “ property, and so far as that sutu is at “ tempted to be increased by tbe addi “ tion of those credits, property taxa “ tion, based thereon, is not only merely “ fanciful, but necessarily the nnconsti “ tutional imposition of an additional “tax npon a portion of the property “ already once taxed.” Judge McKinstby declares that “it is “ property in possession l or enjoyment, “ and not merely in right, which must “ ultimately pay every tax.” It is claimed that by the exemption of mortgages from taxation the small prop erty holder is unjustly burdened, while the money lender is favored. Meeting this position, Chiel Justice Wallace declares it is the deotor who pays the double tax. He says : “The taxation “ thus imposed nominally npon credits “ having resulted in the double taxa “ tion of the money, the additional tax “ must of course be paid by someone. “ And here all human experience, as “ well as the settled theories <af finance, “ concur that it is not the lender that “ pays, but the borrower. The borrower “is the consumer. The interest which “ he pays to the lender is the prime cost “of the delay for whioh he has con “ tracted. If the Government, by the AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 8, 1876. | “ imposition of additional taxes, in- I “ creases the cost, the borrower, being I “ the consumer, must pay it.” THE NEW YORK PRESS ON BABCOCK’S ACQUITTAL. The New York papers agree remark ably on the.result of the Babcock trial. The Times, while believing that the ac quittal will be received with general sat isfaction throughout the country, thinks that the “frank, fall and straightfor ward statement” which General Bab cock's friends in Washington expect him to publish is highly necessary, for enough of his conduct is left open to unfavorable comment. It believes that his intimacy with Joyce went further than any political necessity could justi fy, and the correspondence by which he put himself in the man’s power to mis represent his character and motives re veals almost culpable indiscretion in 4ne occupying such a position. The Tribune also thinks the country ip to be congratulated on the acquittal, for it is convinced it would have been almost an intolerable mortification to every patri otic American, if the private secretary of the President had been found guilty of a conspiracy to defrand the revenae. Bat the trial has shown that he has had for his intimates bad men, and his cor respondence was of the most compro mising character. The Tribune thinks, however, that Babcock may plead in ex tenuation of his imprudence that he has been no more reckless than the Presi dent, for keeping bad company is tbe besetting sin of General Grant’s ad ministration; the most disreputable people, it goes on to say, are privileged guests at the White House, and are favorites in official circles. The Herald goes farther than its contempo raries; while agreeing with them that the result of the trial was satisfactory, and to be applauded, it insists that the criti cism remains that in his party zeal Gen eral Babcock has fallen into a position that ends his usefulness as a confidenti al adviser of the President. The World, though careful to say that it does not maintain that Babcock was guilty of participation rn the conspiracy of the whisky ring thieves, nor does it assert that with the evidence before them the jury could find any other verdict than that they found, holds that Babcock’s actions and words, both during the cor respondence with Joyce and McDonald and since his connection with the frauds was hinted, have not been explained nor his innocence demonstrated to the pub lic satisfaction. Mr. Dyer has failed to convict him; but Babcock has failed— indeed, he has made no effort to clear himself. The Sun alone appears to re gard Babcock as quite as guilty as the principal thieves, and speaks of the con spiracy to plunder the Treasury as that of Babcock, McDonald, Joyce and their associates. And of the trial it says: “The tricks, evasions, dodges and per jury which made the Beecher trial an event to be remembered, have been paralleled in the trial of Babcock.” POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1876. Political parties are aggregations of individuals holding similar opinions on public affairs and devoted to their main tenance in practice. Although they may be honest, their principles, when car ried out, lead to different consequences. The principles of the Democratic party are the guide board pointing to the great highway to liberty and human happiness, where all travelers are equal and pursue happiness in their own way. One party submits to the will of one person, and another consents to labor and divide its profits with self-appoint ed superiors. We now have and have had for years a party whose leading tenet is hatred without forgiveness of those who differ from them in opinion, or acted against the Union in the late civil war. Neither submission, repen tance or faithful devotion to the inter ests of the Union counteracts the all controlliDg principle of hatred. Among reflecting and patriotic men this principle, on its own - account, has no advocates. . But among-political par tisans, devoted to party results, it stands high, and has for years, and is now re sorted to by a whole political party de voted to the retention of party ascen dency. During the civil war it was easy to create the belief that the defenders of the Union were patriotic and merito rious, and that the secessionists were wicked and horrid sinners. This natu rally brought the leaders among the Union men into power and excluded the secession partisans, wherever they re sided, from all places of trust and pow er. While the war lasted this was natural. It produced the result of band ing together the majorities in the Union States aud brought their triumphs. Its success on several occasions has induced some leaders to believe it can always be done, although the war ended years ago and the seceding States returned to duty, voted for the amendments to the Constitution, and are as loyal and faith ful to the Constitution and laws as any now in the Union. The feeling of hatred which was so long manifested by the Scots and Irish toward England was occasioned by the latter blotting out their local govern ments. But the Southern States have blotted out no State or other govern ment, nor crushed out the rights of any one. But wonderful to say, when all is over and peace and harmony are restor ed, and all are brethren with equal natuial rights and privileges, now Presi dential candidates are howling over dead, buried and almost forgotten dis loyalty, hoping to awaken old and worn oat hatred against all who live Sonth of the Potomac, and indace the belief that they alone are loyal to the Union, and that their hatred of the South is con clusive evidence of that fact. The Democrats have no selected can didate for the next President. When they do select one, he most be a pure, unadulterated Democrat of capacity and enttnre, of spotless character and de voted tp the principles of his party. Without these he wifi fail of succees. The country is full of men who will take the office rather thanliave it fall through. In Washington every second man is so patriotic aa to be at the service of friends for the Presidency if they press him hard enough. Two Republicans have led off and bid high in tbe article in which they deal-hatred to the South. Morton in the Senate, and Blaine in the House, are unwilling to forgive the South for the past, while hating it can be made the instrument of success at the North. Their hatred of the Demo crats is still intense, even to those who went to the war if they have not become members of the Republican party, and fought for its continuance in power. ' They hate all who have not become of the army of haters, and have forgiven no one of those they hate, who are men true and faithful to the Constitution in everything within its principles. ’ The objects which MpKTON and Blaine have in view are so palpable that the thousand hired captains who bring up the rear will select a leader of a kinder and better heart to be head captain. Instead of forgiving those who mistook their duty, these men seek to make them the subjects of perpetual hatred. Great Britain forgave the Colonists who overthrew her power and recognized our independence. She has sow consented to be represented at Philadelphia in July, to survey the evidence of her de feat. Madison’s war for .“free trade and sailors’ rights” left no hatred on either side for any considerable time. But the hatred of politicians, while it can be made serviceable in partisan purposes, never dies. It has neither honor nor patriotism to stand npon. Both Mob ton and Blaine may oan| until they are hoarse, but this will not secure the good will or votes of the American people. A letter to a friend iu Columbia re ports that Nmfcs G. Pabkbb, late Treas urer of South Carolina, is suffering from an attack of lung fever. To use the words of an English wit, it was generally thought when Niles G. was Treasurer that “there was something wrong with the chest.” The letter adds the infor mation that Mr. P.’s spirits have been preyed upon. The people of South Carolina might say the, same thing con cerning their cash. There is a painful rumor gaining ground that the Atlanta Courier did not tell the truth in its aooonqt of the fight betweSnFn'OH! And Cummings, the Door- Keeper of the Senate, in the lobby of tbe Legislature at the close of the ses sion. There are those who say that Fitch did not whip Cummings, but that Cummings did whip Fitoh. It’s not a matter oi much moment, but an inves tigating committee might wrestle with the truth of history during the recess. In explanation of his testimony be fore the State Road Lease Investigating Committee concerning the case of Mr. E. F. Blodgett, ep-Governor Brown stated that Mr. Hill was acting as the attorney of Blodgett, and obtained his release from jail by depositing fifteen thousand dollars—the amount of the bond—in the Dollar Savings Bank, whereupon the bank agreed to indemni fy the parties who made the bond. The money was obtained fiom the Western and Atlantic Railroad by the deposit of fifteen hundred shares of Ice Company stock by Mr. Wallace Rhodes. The Savannah News, alluding to the letter from Atlanta which recently ap peared in the New York Herald, says it is, “from beginning to end, so filled “with gross and scurrilous personalities “that we wonder that even the latitudi “narians who manage the Herald could “have brought themselves to commit “the impropriety of admitting it to “their columns. The letter is devoted “entirely to what purports to be a criti “cism of the administration of Gov ernor James M. Smith, but what in “reality is a tirade of personal abuse, “as senseless as it is scandalous.” MINOR TOPICS. Babcock thinka he has been sufficiently vin dicated by that “rebel jury,” and ia not ao anxfous to have a military court of inquiry aa he was. He will not resign the Private Secre taryship, for the excellent reason that he never legally held it. He was merely detached for duty at the White Houbc. He does not deign to inform a waiting public what his next move will be, but aeema greatly elated by the one hundred congratulatory telognma sent him since his acquittal, and may yet join the army of the Presidential candidates. The Reverend Forger, Winslow, was brought before a London Police Court recently and re manded to prison until March 2d. Mr. WinsF low evinced remarkable self-posssssion, and played the part of the injured saint. The privilege of communing with his friends in the room of the jailer was grantod him. Hereto fore he has spoken to them through a grating. In an interview with a reporter, Winslow said that while in Brussels he saw a copy of a New York paper, and then first learned that a Bos ton grand jsry had indicted him tor forgery. Immediately he prepared to return to America, and got as far as London, when his virtuous intention wait interfered with by a criminal ar rest. The query is, then, why did Winlsow leave America at all. The Boston Post does not like the Massachu setts law in regard to marriage—at least it protests that it is unnecessary for the reason that the average Massachusetts man will not choose to marry his grandmother and that the average Massachusetts woman will not cheer fully incline to marry her grandmother’s hus band. It thinks there is too little faith shown in the influences of civilization upon sooial tastes and predilections, when a man is for bidden to marry his mother-in-law, his grand daughter or his “grandfather’s wife.” It oau hardly be thought possible that men and women, who must either be of age or secure their parents’ consent, need so much'protec tion against impulses so strange that to indulge in them would be to establish a suspicion of insanity. A correspondent of the New York Herald writes a strangely worded letter, very strongly intimating that Winslow, the Boston forger, may not turn out to be such a terrible sinner, after all; and that people who were, and that people who appeared to be very anxious for his arrest when there was a chance of his reaching Botterdam, are now indifferent about his return. Many of, the notes at first pro nounced forgeries are now admitted to be gen uine, and four of them, amounting to $60,000, have been paid. The President of a Bank that was a loser by Winslow hai been invited to resign ; and, in brief, it is stated that Wins low’s absence was necessary to cover up some very ugly transactions, and that his presenoe in Boston will make things very uncomfort able for certain men high up in the pictures. An accident of the most heartrending na ture occurred on the Short Lute Railroad, at LaGrange, Ky., *ne day recently. A freight train wae rushing over the rails at rapid speed when onfe of the axles of the forward car broke. The sudden jog sent the engine down a slight embankment. At the same time the engineer, a very faithful mechanic, was thrown from the cab npon the boiler attachments. He was in a terrible situation, and no help could be rendered him. Two streams of hot water poured npon his face and body from the dam aged boiler. His sufferings must have been intense, bnt he soon became nnconscions and died. The skin from his face and body peeled off before his own eye*, and hi* tongue alnjost dropped from hi* month, from the effect of hot water. The annual Spring floods are already troub ling the people who live in localities subject to inundation, and both in this country and Eu rope the rise of the waters is causing great suffering. In Germany and Hungary the freshets are particularly severe, the telegram* reporting that the Elbe ha* burst the dyke* near Magdebfirg, and half of the district of Barby is nnder water. Hondrod* of people are hofneless, and the Danube, the Vistula and other rivers of less note ju different part* of Germany, are still rising, and the probabilities are that a great losb of property and life will resnlt. The floods in this country will not be bo great this season as formerly, because of the great scarcity of snow during the Winter, bnt the Mississippi aud its tributaries already threaten trouble, and in the lowland* of Ar kansas and Mississippi the loss is considerable from this cause. It seems that O'Baldwin's strength was. his weakness to the very end. The jury, as we have. seen, acquitted Mike Finxell who killed him, and Judge Babrett commended the ver dict on the ground that “ a small man, shut up in a room with a stalwart giant who was about to strike him, was justified in using a pistol under the circumstances.” O’Baldwin’* size and strength had been a snare to him throughout his unenviable career. He was in variably foiled of the honors of the fistic championship. When he had a match on hand he was pretty sure either te be arrested and thlown into prison or else to hjive the match broken off on some unexpectedgroond. Once, at least, his enemies took the precaution to attack him two at a time, and with weapons, while he was unarmed, of conne inflicting se vere injuries npon him. He wae, perhaps, even oftener obliged to endure provocation pa tiently than if he had b&en a lees stalwart man, because to revenge himself with a blow would inevitably expose him to the retort of “striking a smaller man,” and besides, if losing his self control he gave a blow, it seems that the smaller man might with impunity, under cer tain circumstances, draw a pistol and kill him. THE STORY OF A LIFE. TRUTH STRANGLER THAN FICTION Tbs Career of a Female Once a Resident of AuffOMta. A remarkable and local social romance has lately been brought to a close by the identification of a body in the Pans morgue. Leaving the facts to speak for themselves, we lay them before our readers without further preamble, sup pressing, lor obvious reasons, the real names of the principal parties concern ed, but assuring that every word of this strange story is true. The members of a prominent firm in New York city, brothers, and three in number, entered into business and a common compact to remain unmarried, at one and the same time, and as years rolled by, gathered fortune and gray hairs together, firm in their original purpose. Representatives of one of the bluest blooded local families, with a common income of over a million of dollars, many a feminine heart went up in oblivious admiration of them, but all in vain. At last, however, the youngest of the three, whil£ loungiug through the bum mer of 187-, at Saratoga, became ac quainted with the widow of a wealthy Kentucky stock breeder, a regal beauty of thirty, with no encumbrance but her fortune and a bright, handsome, golden haired ten year old son. The lady’s conquest was a perfect one; the. court ship which followed was as short as it was fervid, and The Twain Were Married. At the desire of the bridegroom, who dreaded the effect of his step upon his brothers, the wedding was a strictly pri vate one. Upon the return of the hap py pair to New York, the lady took rooms at an uptown hotel, where hus band and wife met by mutual consent as intimate friends, riding and promenad ing together and meeting in soofety, the gentleman’s attention soon become so pronounced that his unsuspecting broth ers fell into the practice of chaffing him about them/ though never dreaming of the real state of affairs. “I’m afraid George is finished,” be came a common fling at that conspirator as he adjusted his attire before the office glass preparatory to the regular after noon drive; and George, feeling that he held the winning hand, received the in uendoes with a complacent smile, in wardly congratulating himself on his easy escape. Things were at this pass when an in timate friend of the brothers, a wealthy and rather fast man about town, casual ly remarked to the bachelors that he had seen George driving in the park with a famous beauty of Savannah. As George had but one companion in his drives the ostensible position of the lady was explained to the speaker. The gentleman looked grave, and upon being pressed advised his friends to exert their influence with their brother to separate him from the woiqan in ques tion who, he declared, was a person with a more dazzling than enviable record; one who had, to his certain knowledge, run the race of A Fast Life in All Its Phases. The brothers took George to task up on the subject that very afternoon, whereupon he declared his real relation to the lady, and gave the man who dar ed impeach his wife’s truth the lie di rect. The gentleman in question, put on his mettle by this aspersion of his ve racity, declared that he had been per sonally intimate with Mrs. at a time when, as Laura Kane, she figured in the upper stratum of the Savannah demi-monde; that he had lost sight of her some three years ago, and that he was willing to swear to her identity be yond the possibility of a mistake. The boy he affirmed to be the illegiti mate son of Dick Copeland, a well known sporting man, who met his death in a duel with Cornelius Red at Sand Bar Ferry, near Augusta, in the Sum mer of 1863. Copeland (who oame. from Baltimore to Augusta) got into a difficulty with Red at the gaming table, and the result was a duel at Sand Bar Ferry. The weapons used were navy revolvers, both parties to fire at will after the word. Cope land was killed, having been shot through the neck. The woman “Laura” was then known as Mrs. Copeland, and Copeland always announced her to the world as his wife. But to return to the thread of the story. “George” was furious at the gentle man’s recital, but his brothers, impress ed by the evident earnestness of their informant, restrained him from the vio lence which he threatened, and demand ed his consent to a further investigation of the affair. It was readily accorded, as the husband felt certain of its result ing in the confusion of the accuser, whose death he swore to bring about di rectly The Lie Was Proven. The services of experienced deteotives were then called into requisition, the circumstances of the case made known to them, and c arj,e blanche, as regarded money and authority, given them. The friend of the suspected woman was as certained to have left Savannah at the same time as Laura Kane, tracked thence to New Orleans, and then fol lowed to Cuba. From Cuba she had come to New York, but a few weeks be fore the search was inaugurated, A thorough search of the well known maisons dejoie of New York, ahd a no less detailed sifting of the penal insti tutions failed, however, to develope her whereabouts. “Minnie, the Pearl,” had disappeared as effectually as if the na tive element of her favorite gems had engulfed her. At last, when the detectives were about giving the quest up in despair, chance threw in their way an old ac quaintance of the object of their search, who, although ignorant of Minnie’s present residence, was able to designate the favorite haunts of her fides achates, a notorious second rate gambler, who, when off duty as “capper,” figured con spicuously as a statuesque ornament of the front of a Broadway hotel. For a consideration this man consented to “give ‘the pearl’ away.” A bank note fora considerable amount changed hands, and Minnie was found lying quietly in an up town place, as the mistress of a man of high standing and years. On the very day of her dis covery, she was seen to visit Mrs. George ,at the latter’s hotel, but so admirably disguised that it was scarcely possible for her real character to be deciphered. With this knowledge to warrant further action, Mrs. George was herself put under espionage, and with rapidly developing proofs of the Troth of the Charge Against Her, Her husband, though still refusing to be convinced of her guilt, consented to a journey to the West on business for the firm, which would render it neces sary for him to remain there for some months; and the wife, liberally supplied with money, sought relief from the Sum mer heat of the city at the sea side. A detective followed her, lodged at the hotel, shared all her excursions with the merry circle which her beauty and ac complishments gathered about her, lost no movement, no point of evidence, watching over her with ceaseless vigi lance. Little by little, in the absence of conjugal restraint, her real character ■.developed itself. Little by little the brilliant mask fell, Then came the de nouement. Laura Kane, for that frail beauty and Mrs. George were one and the same person, had left Savannah a few days before the death of her Augusta lover, and had been an oecupant of his house at the time of his demise. It had been glorious times with the dead turfman shortly before, and his mistress, well supplied with money, lost no time after his interment in turning her back upon the scenes of her early conquests in search of “ fresh fields and pastures new.” She found the desired qualifica tions in a quiet country house in the Blue Grass district, whose senile owner soon fell A-Victim to Her laeidioue Charm*. The marriage was a morganatic one, but it put her ancient husband’s will in possession of his property at his death, which was not long in following their meeting. Thus endowed, she had turn ed her conquering coarse eastward, with the result that we have seen. Once the brothers had learned these facts, they lost no time in bringing the undesirable connection to an end. George was summoned from his W estem tour, during which he had been kept fully informed of the progress of the case, and returned somewhat reconciled to the inevitable consequence. All par ties had too iynch at stake to court pub licity, and the desired end was arnved at aU the easier for the secrecy in which the marriage had originally Been shrouded. Laura consented, in consid eration of a liberal annuity, to the sepa- ratioi and consequent divorce demand ed, and kept her word. Fortune soon sent her another victim in a Brazilian millionaire, and she left ■ the country with him before the divoroe was decreed. Her husband, brpken in spirit by the shattering of his idol, after a brief space withdrew, despite the op position of his brothers, from the busi ness, and after some months of restless wandering in the tropics, notified them of his intentidu of making the tour of the world. That tour led him finally to Paris, where the first news that the pi pers conveyed to him was that of the ar rest of Senor Paulo de Souza, of Minas Gerais, Brazil, for debt. The paper contained a brief statement to the effeot that the unfortunate gentleman’s rain had been wrought by the extravaganoe of a marvelous American woman to whom he had been slavishly attache 1, and who had not been seen since the evening of his arrest. With The Fatal Glamour of His Old Infatuation New-born at this news of his frail love, Georjge inaugurated a search for the missing woman. As the twilight of Christmas Eve fell on the great city, he found her. Beyond all earthly stigma; dead; to all shame that bad been brought upon herself and him—an inmate of the common dead house by the quas. Her child, who had been committed to thie care of an educational institution in Npw York, enjoys to-day the love of three protectors, whose heir he has been publicly declared. His mother lied be neath the frozen sod of Pere le Chaise, her place . marked by a cross, upon which the cemetery keeper peri odically hangs a wreath of fresh immor telles. All record that remains of her brilliant, though brief social oareer, is in this statement of it, and the memo ries of the parties concerned. Even the record on the books of the Broadway detective firm is so ambiguously framed, and so careful in its suppression of names, that it oan offer no clew to the proud family whose “honor” was so nearly compromised sad so barely saved. LENT. Commencement of the Season. The season of Lent, observed by the Roman Catholio and Episoopal Churches, oommenoes with to-morrow, Ash Wed nesday. The origin of the word “Lent” is un certain. Some derive it from the Saxon lenten, implying Spring or the season when the days lengthen, others from the German leinen, to thaw. The objeot of the fast has also been disputed, but it is generally regarded ft a preparation for Easter, and a time specially set apart for repentance over the sins of the past year; while the number of farty days devoted to it is thought to have referenoe to the Saviour’s forty days’ fast in the wilderness, to the forty days of the del age, the forty years’ wander ings of the Jews, the forty days granted to the Ninevites for repentance, pr the time spent in fasting by Moses and Elias. St. Jerome speaks of the fast as a memorial of the Saviour’s passion. According to the same writer, as well as St. Leo, St. Augustine, aud most of the fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries, it was instituted by the Apostles, al though Protestants oommonly hold that it was -not established until the second or third century. It seems to have been made obligatory at least as early as A. D. 250. At first there was great di versity in the time and manner of its observance. Its duration was soon fixed by the ohurch at thirty-six days, to which four were subsequently added. The first day of Lent is oalled Ash Wednesday,from a custom of sprinklifig the head or forehead with ashes, pre viously blessed. It ia the sixth day be fore Easter, the six Sundays which in tervene between it and that festival not being oounted as part of Lent or ob served as fast days. The fourth Sunday of Lent is often termed mid-Lent Sunday or Passion Snnday. It was formerly, known as “Carl Sunday,” and on that (Jay beaus &i peas, called “ oarlifiga, used to be given away or eaten. Thus an English translation (1607) gives the following passage from the Quadragesimale Spirituale (Paris, 1565). “After the salad (eaten in Lent at the first service) we eat fried peans, by whioh we under stand confession. When we would have beanes well sodden, we lay them in steepe, for otherwise they will never seeth kindly. Therefore, if<we purpose to mind our faults, it is not sufficient barely to oonfess them at all adventure, but we must let our confession lie in steepe in the water of meditation.” To-day is known as Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras). In many of the cities of Europe the Carnival is oelebrated on this day, with great splendor. Especi ally is this the case in Naples and Venice. The festivities are kept up until 12 o’clock at night, when every light is suddenly extinguished and the penitential season begins. In New Or leans, Mobile and Memphis Mordi Gras is celebrated with almost as maoh splen dor as in the European eities mentioned. In the former the King of the Carnival holds sway during the day and at night the “Mystio Krew of Oomus,” under their leader, take possession of the city. It is a grand and imposing spectaole, the parade of this mysterious organiza tion, and attracts thousands of strangers to the Crescent City. Cincinnati also has a carnival, this year, for the first time. The following pastoral letter from Bishop Gross, of the Catholio Church, was read in .the churohes of. the diocese last Sunday: Pastoral. William, by the Grace of God and favor of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Savannah, Ga., to the Clergy and the Laity of the Diooese—Venerable Brethren of the Clergy and Beloved Children of the Laity, Grace to you, and peace from God Our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. The holy season of Lent is at hand, when Our Holy Mother, the Church, ■ calls upon her children, all over the world, to devote themselves to works of penance. The infinitely holy and just God can not snffer sin to pass unpnnished. He who says that “He will demand an ac count even for an idle word,” will not fail to visit on sinners their crimes and excesses. But when the hand of God is even uplifted to strike, the prayer of the contrite heart, and the penitential exer cises of the humbled soul have always turned away the Divine anger. When Nineveh was about to be destroyed for its sins, its destruction was averted by tbe penance of its inhabitants. When even the wicked Aohab did penance, God mercifully spared him the punish ment about to be inflicted. Hence, every messenger from God has preached penance to the people. St. Jobs the Baptist commanded the multitudes to do penance. St. Peter, in the opening sermon of his apostolio ca reer, gives the advice: “Do penance.” The great messengers from God to all peoples, in all ages, is the Catholic. Cbnrch. Hence, she speaks the salu tary language so familiar to the mouths of all those sent by God; she, too, tells the world to do penance. While they who come to the people without any mission from God, use langnage that panders to the corrupt inclinations and vices of the people, eschewing the hard doctrines of bodily mortification and penance, she with fearless charity and candor reproaches the nations for their wickedness, tells them their sins, and exhorts them to do penance. Snrely our age needs such lessons. Countless demagogues flatter the people. The in crease of sin all over onr country, the great and dmly growing depravity of morals, are acknowledged by all. Were a Jonah or St. John the Baptist to arise, he would find the same vices and the same shocking crimes in onr mod ern society as those which drew npon the ancients the chastisements of a Divine justice. Bat the charch, the bride of Christ, and greater than prophet or precursor, tells society in bold, firm and unmistakable language, of its errors, its faults, and its sins. She preaches to this sinful age the great neoeasity of penance. Many will not listen to her charitable warnings: “For men have loved darkness more than light.” She cannot expect to be better treated than have been all the messengers of God to this bad world. “ The world shall hate yon and persecute you,” was the pro phecy of her Spouse, Jesus Christ. Bnt woe to ns if we, like the world, tnra a deaf ear to the exhortations of onr holy church. She now tells ns to repent of onr sins and do penance for them. The anger of God is enkindled by onr many and grievous sins, and aha urges ns, her children, to wholesome penance. Let ns listen to the tearful voice of this Di vine messenger, who cannot deceive us. Let ns commence the Lent in her spirit. How, therefore, shonld Lent be ob served? We shduld, above all things, excite a true, deep and heart-felt sorrow for our $2 A YEAR—POSTAGE PAID. sins, accompanied with a firm purpose of amendment. Without sorrow there can be no forgiveness of sin; and the fasting and other bodily penances, should be only the natural fruit and outcome of a heart humbled before God and grieving over its sins. The rules and regulations regarding the fast and abstinence, which we ap pend to this circular, should be careful ly observed. Reverencing with filial obedience the voice of the holy church, her devout children are accustomed to refrain from worldly entertainments during this season of pen&noe. The church, moreover, during Lent, holds upjin a particular manner, to our atten tion, the bitter passion and death of our Lord Jesus. Devout Catholics should, therefore, carefully unite their fasts and other penances with the many fasts and with the fearful sufferings to which our beloved Saviour submitted his innocent body for our sake. The cnuroh regards the season of Lent as a time more par ticularly devoted to prayer. Many, therefore, have the devout custom of as sisting every day during Lent at the Holy Mass. To those who have the op portunity, we earnestly oommend this daily assistance, at the very highest aot of religion. Others, again, are careful to assemble every evening all their family for the devout reoitation of the rosary and other holy prayers. The united prayeg of an entire family has an espeoial power with Him who has said: “Where two or three are assembled in my name, I am in their midst. ” In the spirit, therefore, of holy churoh let us, combining true sorrow for our sins with earnest, fervent prayer and bodily penances, and we will, during this devout season, reoeive God’s meroy and inestimable blessings and favors. Regulation* for Lent, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, falls on the first of Maroh. 1. All the faithful who have completed their twenty-first year are, unless legi timately dispensed, bound to observe the fast of Lent. 2. They are to take only one meal a day, excepting Sunday. 8, The meal allowed on fast days is not to be taken until about noon. 4. Meat and fish are not allowed at one and the same meal. 5. A small refreshment, commonly oalled collation, is allowed iq the even ing. 6. The quality of food allowed at a collation in this diooese is milk, .eggs, butter, oheese, all kinds of fruits, salads, vegetables and fish. 7. Eggs and milk are allowed by dis pensation on fasting days, and during Lent. 8. (general usage has made it lawful to drink in the morning some warm li quid, as tea 4 ooffee or ohooolate. 9. Necessity and custom have author ized the use of hog’s lard instead of butter for cooking. 10. The following (persons are ex empted from the obligation of fasting : Young persons under twenty-one years of age; women, when nursing or in a delicate state of health; those who are obliged to do bard labor; the sick and all who through weakness cannot fast without prejudice to their health. 11. By dispensation, the use of flesh meat will be allowed at any time on Sundays and once a day on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the ex ception of Holy Thursday and the second and last Saturday of Lent. We avail ourselves of this opportuni ty to, inform the clergy and laity of the diooese that the time wherein the in dulgences and other spiritual advant ages of the jubilee may be gained, has been extended in this diocese, b.v per mission of the Sovereign Pontiff, to Sunday, June 11th, the last day of the Paschal time. We order the present Pastoral to be read in all the ohurohes of the diocese on Quinquagesima Sunday. William, Bishop of Savannah. Given at Savannah, Ga., February 10th, 1870. FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. THE UNITED STATES SENATE. Mr. Bayard reported a bill extending the time to February 1,1877, when lands held by the United States under laws, levying direct taxes may be redeemed,' Passed. Mr. Sherman reported adversely on the bill authorizing the organization of National Banks with $50,000 capital, in dependent of the population of towns. _ Mr. Morton made a personal explana tion regarding the connection of his name with the Emma mine testimony. He said, in effect that five or six years ago, when on his way home after an ad journment of Oongress, he met Senator Stewart, of Nevada, whp asked him to serve as counsel in a case now pending before the Court of Utah, involving Mr. Lyon’s interest in the Emma mine. He thought that the services required of him were purely professional, but learn ing from a remark of Mr. Stewart that he was expected to aid in the removal of Chief Justioe McKean, he declined to have anything to do with the case. He did not go to Salt Lake City, as Stewart requested, nor had any connec tion whatever with the oase, and this averment was confirmed by Mr. Lyon. The Naval Academy bill was resumed and passed as reported by the commit tee. It goes to the House for concur rence. The resolution limiting the length of speeches on amendments to appropriation bills passed. The bill declaring the true intent and meaning of the Union Paoific Railroad bills was taken up. Executive session. Adjourn ed. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House, a message was received from the President urging an immediate appropriation for the deficiency at the Red Cloud Agency. Mr. Randall said the committee was unable to get needed information, ami had requested the President to send an officer to Red Cloud to report the cause of the defl. ciency. Unless the report of that offi cer was unnecessarily delayed he thought the oommittee might wait for it. There had been frauds and violations of law at Red Cloud, but as the President thought it sufficiently important to send a special message about it, the oommit tee would proceed at once to its consid eration. The bill limiting the oost of the Cus tom House at Memphis to $400,000 passed. Restoration to the pension bill was resumed. Mr. Jenks moved an amend ment that no arrears be paid for any time during the rebellion. Cook, of Georgia, insisted that the rights of these pensioners had been re stored by the decision of the Supreme Court. The debate continued of a somewhat sectional and angry character. Finally the bill wah recommitted. Mr. Luttrell offered a resolution that it was the sense of the House that the Secretary of the Treasury should com mence at once to issue silver accumu lated in the Treasury. Referred. Ad journed. Sudden Death of An Old Citizen.— Mr.. James Gargan, one of the oldest citizens of Augusta, died suddenly at his residence on Talcot street yesterday morning, at six o’block. He had just dressed and was putting on his shoes preparatory to going out to his work, when he fell and expired almost instant ly. Physicians were summoned, but Mr. Gargan was past all human aid. He died of heart disease. Mr. Gargan was a native of Drogheda county, South Ireland. He was born on the 15th of April, 1799, and was consequently in the seventy seventh year of his age at the time of his death. He had been in America fifty-five and in Augusta forty-three years. He came to this city with Major Thompson and assisted in building the bridges for the Georgia Railroad. He has been an employee of that road, with short interruptions, ever since, and at the time of his death was in its employ as a carpenter. Mr. Gargan served in the City Council as one of its most effi cient members in 1866, 1868, 1869, 1870 and-1871. On the Ist of January, 1872, he resigned and ever afterwards refused public office. He was a practical mem ber of the Catholic Churoh and was esteemed by everbody for his honesty and uprightness of conduct. He was in all respects a good and useful citizen and the community suffers a serious loss by his death. William Meeks, who killed John Mc- Cormick, in Polk county, last year, was convicted at Polk Superior Court and sentenced to be hung. His counsel has applied for anew trial. Atlanta expects 1,000 visitors on the great excursion from the Northwest the 18th of March. The excursion will start for Augusta on the 15th, and on to Port Royal, Savannah, etc. THE' STATE. THE PEOPLE AND THE PAPERS. Seven inmates in Monroe county jail. Ninety pupils at the Griffin Female College. Col. Robert Baugh, of Atlanta, is still in a critical condition. Atlanta paid Booth better than any other Southern city except one. The smoke house of Mr. Wm. Evers, of Monroe county, was burglarized re cently. The floating indebtedness of Bruns wick on the Ist of Januarv was $2,230 75. J An Atlanta lady presented Booth a diamond ring the evening he played Richelieu. Mr. P. Woodward has sold his in terest in the Atlanta Courier to Mr. A. E. Irwin. Miss Rennie Hall, of Brunswiok, was seriously injured last week by a fall from a wagon. The store of Mr. Arch Brown, near Looust Grove, in Henry county, was burglarized recently. Mr. H. E, Morrow and family have left Griffin for Florida, where he will take charge of a high school... Mr. J. T. Powell proposes to start a temperance paper in Athens, to be call ed “ The Spirit of the Age.” It is stated that Mayor T. A. Brown, of Talbotton, has sold his residence to Mr. H. H. Epping, of Columbus. The Athens Georgian learns that Rev. 0. D. Campbell, of Quitman, has been called to the Baptist Churoh in Athens. One M, S. Steele, a hat cleaner and repairer, has been arrested in Atlanta, on a oharge of cheating and swindling. Edgar Hubert, of Polk county, re ceived the West Point cadetship from his district. There were twenty contes tants. Dalton nourishes the meanest thief out. He stole the water pitcher, lamp, and hymn book from the Presbyterian Church. The Cuthbert Messenger learns that Mrs, Cornelia Brown is very low with consumption. She is not expected to live long. Booth distributed several hundred large photographs of himself among the ladies at the theatre in Atlanta Thurs day night. The wheat and oat orops are reported as never more promising than now in Upson, Pike, Meriwether, Spalding and Henry counties. Brunswick Appeal: “Work on the extensive, saw mill of Dodge, Meigs <fc Cos., on St. Simon’s Island, is being rapidly pushed forwurd. When com pleted, and put in operation, it will be one of the most extensive saw mills ou the Southern coast, and will give sup port to a large number of people. The work is being done in the most thorough and substantial manner. W. A. Fuller, Esq., most favorably known to our peo ple, is the financial manager.” Gen. Colquitt spoke at Newnan last week. A correspondent of the Griffin News who heard the speech says : “Thirty-two years ago, July next, your correspondent first heard the father of this distinguished Georgian make a speeoh from the same rostrum iD op position to Hon. A. H. Stephens. These were the halcyon days of Mr. Stephens and right well did he vindicate his po litical theory against the attacks of his senior competitor, and perhaps the greatest criminal lawyer Georgia ever produced.” The Press and Cultivator learns that a band of thieves has been discovered in the lower part of Butts county, headed by Kelly the escaped convict who killed Mr. Hardeman, of Newton county. Re port says that they had a regular camp containing two or three tents, and that they had in their possession horses, cows, new harness and almost every kind of plunder. A party tried to make an arrest but made a failure. Officers are on the track of Kelly, and the last heard were only about five miles behind him and he on a tired horse. Atlanta Constitution .v“We have had the proof positive, that Attorney-Gen eral Pierrepont has" written a letter to a well known gentlemen. of this city, in which the latter is asked to write the former ‘a confidential letter in relation tion to the District Attorneyship.’ The Attorney-General also desires that two questions, ‘very important ones’ to him, he remarks, be answered, and they are: 1. Whether Farrow should be longer re tained in his position. 2. If not, who should be appointed to succeed him. This letter has been answered, ana a Georgia gentleman of some prominence and ancient family fame, worthily up held by himself, has been recommend ed.” Col. Mareellus E. Thorntou, of Atlan ta, has undertaken to eat 30 partridges in 30 days, eating one partridge a day. If he accomplishes the feat he gets S2O. The birds are to be prepared in any style he may desire, and eaten at any time he chooses, so he gets away with one a day. Col. Thornton is to commence eating next Monday, and the public are at liberty to look on. In connection with his wager, the Courier reminds the Colonel of a somewhat similar bet made by a Frenchman. The Frenchman had a large raw oyster lying on the oounter of a saloon. He bet a loafer standing by that ne couldn’t swal low it and hold it. The loafer promptly dropped it down his throat, and de manded the money. “Ah,” said the Frenchman, “you haf him down, but you will not hold him. I haf already had him down three times, and he haf come up efery time.” It is not necessa ry to add that he at once “come up” again. “H. H. J.,” of the Macon Telegraph , solemnly avows that it is true that Jim Somersall, an old Liberty county school- ' mate of his, would capture serpents with a forked stick, and extract their fangs by attaching a strong strip of coarse oloth to them and violently jerk ing them out, and that he was seldom Without a pet snake in his pocket, and would frequently open his shirt-bosom, and insinuating the reptile within, allow its slimy crest and forked tongue to play about his cheek. Also, that he de voured serpents in a live state, begin ning at the tail, and was in the habit of eating grasshoppers as a boy would ohestnuts; and was, ineeded, once ar rested in Savannah for engaging to eat a large serpent at a public exhibition. Any one questioning the general correct ness of these statements is referred by “H. H. J.” to “such men as Rev. Dr. Axson, of Savannah, Profs. John and Joseph Leconte, Judga W. B. Fleming, Dr. J. P. Stevens, Hon. J. B. Mallard, Rev. D. L. Buttolph, and numerous other gentlemen, and ladies also, of the highest standing.” The friends of a Constitntional Con vention have a Samsonion coadjutor in the Henry County Ledger, the last number of which, in a drastic editorial headed “The Agony,” contains the fol lowing paragraphs: “Until the Consti tution is revised and its obnoxious clauses are expunged, and confidence re stored between man and man, substance will change to shadow, and realities will be swallowed up in vagaries tbut are the precursors of despair. The people have but to lift their voice, and the-flood tides of woe will be stayed. Will the citizens of Georgia choose between the chances of a political victory or the abiding prosperity of our own dear homes ? If the former will be their choice, then let our history be blotted from among men, and fool be the epitaph upon our tombstones. But if we choose that, and only that way by which prosperity and every other good will be restored, let us hasten, and delay not, to make the organic law of our State an arbiter to bind the sacred ness of contracts to our altars, that our people may be discipled to honesty for all time to come—‘For righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is the reproach of any people.’ ” Yea, and verily. Marriage*. In Fannin county, Albert Davis to Jennie Logan. In Jackson county, W. A. Burns to Woodie Watson. In Meriwether county, P. G. Cotton to Mrs. J. C. Perry. In Mariwether county, Virgil Biggers to Alice McLendon. Death*. In Blakely, R. H. Perry. In Savannah, Leopold Speildock. In Early oounty, Mrs. Mary Mcßride Hill. • In Meriwether county, Abraham Wal lace. In Jonesboro, Geo. R. Sims, of Pal metto. At Dayton, Fla., M. J. O’Donoghue, of Savannah.
