Newspaper Page Text
<Hl)c ItJccUlii JJics.s.
c. R. HANLEITER, - - Publisher
Office —190 Broad Street.
AUGUSTA, GA.
►SATURDAY January 9, 1801)
All communications for publication
must be written only on one side of tlie paper,
and accompanied with the name of the writer.
We will not publish,the name, unless the writer
wishes us to do so, but avo must have it as a
guarantee of the truthfulness of the article.
Another Warning.
We have already published the
shocking details of the fiendish mur
der of Mr. Martin mid his two
sisters, in Columbia county, and the
burning of their dead bodies with
the family residence. Mr. Martin
had moneyq the atrocious act was
committed to obtain this money. This
is another sad warning to' our farm
ing friends not to keep money about
their homes. It is quite possible that
tlie Martin family would be alive to
day if their money had been safely
deposited in bank. Tlie robbers
wanted poor Martin’s savings, and
they were willing to commit arson
and-a treble murder to secure it. We
conjure our farming friends to take
warning from the unhappy fate of this
unfortunate family. Do not delay to
seek some solvent banking institution
and make a special or a general de
posit of all your surplus funds. Do
not foolishly rely on your ability to
keep your moneyed possessions secret.
“ Walls have ears,” and the thieves
will become posted. If you have no
money hid away that fact will become
known and you are comparatively
safe. Chicken-thieves never visit an
empty hen-house; neither will robbers
visit the house of a man when they
know his means arc in Augusta*.or
some other city. The}- prefer a “sure
thing”—the rascals.
A Corrupt U. S- Senator-
The Cincinnati Gazette of the Ist
of January contains a letter from its
Washington correspondent, General
11. V. Boynton, formerly a volunteer
officer in the Federal army, detailing
numerous successful and unsuccessful
efforts of Senator S. C. Pomeroy, of
Kansas, to “put money in his purse,”
by securing the passage of bills through
Congress containing grants of lands
and U. S. bonds to railroad companies
of which he was part owner. General
B. is by no means a prolix writer, yet
his details occupy nearly two columns
of tliq mammoth paper of which he is
the representative at Washington.
To give the reader an idea of the vast
schemes of fraud which are annually
attempted to get through Congress, the
correspondent says that seventy-two
bills for -the benefit of railroads were
introduced in the Senate during tlie
40th Congress, each of which was
simply a scheme of plunder. ■Seventy
four bills of the same character were
presented during the o9tli Congress.
General B. mentions one bill, which
became a law, which secured to a
certain road twelve Sections of land
and a subsidy of Si G,OOO per mile.
Senator Pomeroy owned one-sixteenth
of this road. Ilis share of this plunder
was £IOO,OOO, and nearly as much in
bonds.
Wc have not the space to* follow the
Gazette writer in his sickening details,
lie shows that this man Pome no y is
One of the most corrupt men in the
country, and that his schemes of plun
der are so notorious as to he familiar
to everybody. If the charges in the
Gazette were those of a political
opponent, wo should make proper
allowance for the fact, and conclude
that the desire to make party capital
was the object of their publication.
Hut the Gazette, Boynton and Pome
koy belong to the same party and to
the same wing of their party.
P. S.—Senator Pomeroy has a bill
before the Senate again reconstructing
Georgia. lie is a fit subject for that
sort of business.
General Frank Blair.
We are sorry to see a statement
credited to General Frank Blair to
the effect that be was dependent on a
Federal office for “sustenance.” For
a man of the youth, ability and courage
of the General, such a confession is
humiliating. No man of his character
should say that he was dependent on
office under the Government for sup
port. If the wav really did ruin him
pecuniarily—it ruined very few Fede
ral Generals—his abilities will com
mand a handsome reward in some
private enterprise. Still, we are not
condemning his acceptance of work
under the Government. We only hate
to hear a pitiful plea if he did not
enjoy this official pensioning lie would
be destitute of the means of support.
Surely the gallant General never used
the expression in the sense in which it
is published.
In his inaugural, on the Ist, Gov.
Hoffman wisely eschewed all re
ference to political matters.
—The Postmaster General, it is
said, is preparing an elaborate report
urging Congress to do the telegraphic
business of the country.
General Grant Expresses Himself on
Questions of Deep Interest to the
South.
If we arc to credit a correspondent
of the St. Louis Democrat , General
Grant has recently been expressing
himself very freely on subjects of vital
interest to the people of the Mississip
pi Valley, and of the whole South.
The correspondent claims to have been
prssent at an interview between the
General and a prominent citizen of
Louisiana, who was seeking the aid of
the Government in improving the
levees of the lower Mississippi river.
We will let the correspondent relate
the particulars of the interview in his
own language :
“General,” said the Senator, “Judge -
wishes to see you a Tcay moments, and con
sult with you in regard to the improvement
of the levees of tlie lower Mississippi. We
Avisli the United Siates Government to en
dorse, and thus guaranty the bonds of the
State of Louisiana for tlie restoration and im
provement of the levees.”
“I hope tlie GoA'ernnunt will not doit,’
the General replied, with a quick, positive
utterance that was not only decisive and final
on that subject, but almost stunning.
“But, General.” urged the Senator, “we
only wish the United States to endorse tlie
bonds, so that avo can sell them without a
ruinous discount, giving the United Stales
ample security for the entire amount, so that
it would lie impossible for the government to
lose a cent in any emergency.”
Again Grant quickly interrupted, “I never
kneAv a government to become responsible
for*any amount that it did not ultimately
have to pay. You now want the endorse
ment of the bonds. K that is given you will
soon Avant to legislate for the payment of the
bonds.”
“General” said the Senator, “you are too
hard on us.”
“While avc arc discussing on all sides,”
said Grant, “lioav the national debt is to be
paid, I. shall oppose any increase of the na
tional obligations.”
“It is impossible to cultivate our lands,”
interposed the Senator. “The levees are ab
solutely necessary.”
“I know all about the levees,” he answered.
“I served in that country when a young man,
and 1 had something to do myself with tlie
breaking of those levees.”
“But,” said the Judge, “millions of acres
of the best land in the world, are subject to
overflow.”
“Letthemoverliow, and let them stay under
water,” said Grant, “until their oAvners are
Avilling that Northern men and Northern
capital should come in and protect and im
prove them. Northern men Avith ample
capital arc ready to make a garden of your
State, and you won’t let them do it. Your
large landholders are as hostile to the United
States Government to-day as they have ever
been; and if that government should rebuild
their levees it Avould not change them a par
ticle. I know no Avay the government could
have adopted for Rebuilding the levees but to
have confiscated the lands of those engaged
in rebellion, and used the proceeds to restore
the country. As that was not done, nothing
remains but to set your negroes to Avork,
and invite in and welcome Northern men.”
“ General,” said the Judge, “ the negroes
Avon’t AYork.”
“Won’t work?” Grant quietly replied;
“ they’ll Avork if you pay them for it.”
“Am I not rightV” lie added. “Is there
not such a hostility to Northern men that it
amounts in most sections of the State tp a
practical exclusion of them from the agricul
tural interests of the country ? Is there not
an unwillingness to divide up the lands and
sell in small parcels to those who might
immigrate; and is there not a general ten
dency to secure the services-of the negroes
Avitliout prompt and adequate compensa
tion ?”
“ I must said the .Judge, “ that there
is more or less truth in all these points.”
“Then,” said Grant, “1 think you will
have to build your own levels, or Avail under
water until you are willing men should come
in avlio will build them?”
The special attention ox the reader
is directed to that portion of this in
terview in which General Grant
bluntly expresses his opinion as to the
sentiments entertained by the “largo
landholders” of the Mississippi valley.
If the Democrat's statement is not
purely' sensational, the President elect,
instead of differing with the extreme
Republican leaders in Congress, be is
cheek-by-jowl with them, even imply
ing that confiscation should have been
resorted to by the Government. We
are incredulous. These reported views
are inconsistent with every former
declaration made by him. Further
evidence is anxiously awaited before
we can bring ourself to the conviction
t hat* the above is true in all its details.
Yet wo are duly admonished to “put
not your trust in princes.”
Beil But'er.
Hen. i h tlon has called on Presi
dent Johnson. No doubt Andy re
strained his maledictions amiinst the
most unscrupulous of the inipcachers.
The political <j• uid-nuncs arc speculat
ing as to tjic object of his visit. That
he don’t like Grant for exposing his
military incompetency everybody
knows. lie recently dined with Mr.
Augustus Scunell, one of the
sachems of Tammany I fall, and wrote
a very long letter to the Louisville
Courier & 'Journal is a matter of
record; and that lie dislikes the bond
holders, and is disliked by them, is a
well established fact. Putting all
these things together, and remember
ing Butler’s utter want of principle,
many think he intends, when the
Forty-first Congress assembles, to
make a political dash on anew line.
We shall see what we shall see.
Death of John W Duncan.
The Atlanta Constitution of yester
day contains an announcement of the
death of John W. Duncan, Escj.
That paper says of the deceased :
Cob Duncan was born in (Scotland, the son
of a Presbyterian minister; came to Georgia
when quite a youth, and was educated in this
Stale; subsequently studied law in Savan
nah, afterwards resided for a time in AI i1 -
ledgcvillo, whence he came to this city some
twelve or fifteen years ago.
Col. Duncan, in connection with Judge
Cochrane, was, before the war, an editor and
proprietor of the Atlanta Intelligencer. Dur
ing the war lie held the position of Assistant
Treasurer of the Confederate States, with
an office in this city. At the time of his
death lie was President of the Atlanta Gas
Company, and a Director in the Atlanta Na
tional Hank.
Col. Duncan had no children. He loaves
a wife to mourn las loss.
Asa polished gentleman and genial com
panion he will long be remembered by bis
many friends in ibis ooimmmilv.
Spirit of the Georgia Press.
The Constitutionalist ridicules the
habit of the newspaper press of tlie
country in writing on the last day of
the year “ a retrospective glance at
the events of the past year,” and on
the next day taking a telescopic
view of the year 1809, and winding
up with a sublime puff of their own
tremendous importance and the very
insignificant claims of all competitors.
Close readers of our city cotempora
ries will not fail to discover in this
article a sly dig at a paper published
much nearer Augusta than is the New
York Tribune.
Referring to affairs in Southern
Georgia, the Constitutionalist inquires
the whereabouts of Gov. Bullock.
The Savannah News of the 4th
indulges in the following bitter fare
well to the Freedman’s Bureau :
The Freedmen’s Bureau, that Pandora’s
Box, from Avhich so much corruption, so
many evils to the people of the South, Avhite
and black have sprung, ceased to exist, ac
cording to laiv, on the Ist instant. We learn
from the Radical papers that' the work of.
winding up its affairs will occupy several
months, and that the expenses of Ihe opera
tion Ax il 1 be defrayed out of tlie unexpended
appropriations to the Bureau. The books
and records of the concern are to be retained
at the Howard University in Washington,
and as the saintly philanthropist from Avhom
that institution takes its name, is to continue
in charge and have the personal superintend
ance of the closing operations, avo may ex
pect. that if will have a lingering demise, and
that Avhen it is finally dead and gone it Avill
leave not a vestige behind, so far as regards
the unexpended appropriations.
The editorial columns of the Chron
icle cO Sentinel arc filled with “The
Georgia Situation,” and speculations
as to what Congress, which assembled
yesterday, will do.
The Constitutionalist stirs up the
“Dust of Notoriety,” by descanting on
the early forgetfulness, by' tlie people
of the North, of President Lincoln,
and even of Washington, the “incom
parable Virginian.” It also laments
the fact that here in the South the
people do not preserve and propagate
fish. In many parts of the world the
cultivation offish is a business of de
cided profit.
Tlie Chronicle <6 Sentinel criticises
the New York Tribune for not calling
on .Congress to repress the murders
and robberies that are committed on
public thoroughfares of New York
oily, as if docs when such crimes are
committed in Georgia.
In speaking of the supposed early
decision of the Supreme Court declar
ing the legal tender act unconstitution
al that paper says :
To require uoav— as the result of the Su
preme Court decision clearly implies—that all
these notes and contracts should be paid in
gold, would defeat the intention of all the
parties to such contracts. This decision
makes anew contract, fixing gold as the only*
“legal lender,” when the parties have agreed
among themselves that a payment in “cur
rency” Avould he a full compliance Avith the
obligation. The debtor class of: Ihe country
have added to their indebtedness, by this de
cision, thirty-five per cent, more than w r as
contemplated by them when entering into
their contracts, and the creditor class receive
thirty-five per cent, more than by their own
agreement was considered a full compliance
Avith the contract.
We are giving the strictly legal effect of
the decision. We do notjjclicve that a gen
eral demand will be matte for gold on these
currency contracts. It Avould certainly be
dishonest to claim it, but we know that if it
is made the law Avill sustain tlie demand.
To secure the people of the country from
the rapacity of such relentless creditors as
would seek to take advantage of the decision
of the court and claim gold for their debts,
Congress should pass an act similar to our
Ordinance of ’Go in relation to tlie scaling of
Confederate debts, by which the rules of
evidence’ may be enlarged so as to permit
parties to give in proof the understanding or
intention at llic time the contract Avas mafic
as to the currency in which it was to lie
paid. This would afford ample and com
plete, and. insure strict and impartial justice.
We presume that the decision Avill not
affect those contracts in which it is expressly
stipulated that payment is to he made in
“ currency,” hut only those in which the
general term “dollar” is used. In tlie mean
time we suggest that, in making contracts
for the future, they he made payable ex
pressly in “gold,” or *is may best suit the
convenience’of parties, “in present currency.”
By doing this, any inconvenience or trouble
out of the decision under review
Avill he avoided.
The Macon Telegraph has recently
published several elaborate editorials
on “The Amenities of the Press;’
but Unit [taper of the otli contains its
latest as well as its best article on the
subject. Wc transfer the entire pro
duction to the columns of the Daily
Press, and cordially approve and
commend it to our cotemporaries. It
evinces a most admirable “ spirit” on
the part of at least one of the leading
dailies in Georgia. There is excel lent
food for reflection in the following,
for citizens as well as editors:
Our article on this subject, judging from
the comments of several of our confreres,
seems to have been taken much as the l’ylau
was in the desert.
The story says that a hungry little caravan,
making its way across the desert, out of sup
plies, except a few dried dates and a little
goat’s flesh, came suddenly upon a spring of
clear water, and beside it a venerable sage
was preparing a delicious Pylau. The hun
gry travellers dismounted in a moment, and,
clustering around the fragrant stew, inhaled
the perfume with ccstacy.
By the heard of the prophet, the smell of
your Pylau, old man, is like a whiff of ihc
odors of Paradise. It is done, my sons, says
the Bliick—gather around and satiate your
hunger. For a time nothing was heard hut
the smacking of lips and the clatter of ves -
sels; but by and by, as the cravings of hun
ger gave way to the sense of repletion, the
guests began to criticise the meal.
A good Pylau, says one, hut too much rice,
to my notion. Yes, says another, and much
too hot with pepper. That is so, says a third,
and to my taste the meal was too old and
tough. And L think, says a fourth, that the
whole was burned in the cooking. Cease,
my friemjs, said the Shiek, you are finding
fault with your appetites, and not with my
stew.
Wc tell our confreres, with all their excep
tions, each adapted to his own particular
ease, the rule of courtesy is the best one.
Violence and abuse are always a positive loss
of influence and dignity, whether displayed
in propria prruotia or through the columns of
a newspaper. Kvcn if it he 1 heir unpleasant
task, as some say, “to rebuke and expose ras
cality and falsehood,” they can do that at no
sacrifice of composure or 'dignity, and with
out violence of language. Examine, if you
please, the severest rebukes, reprimands, in
vectives and exposures known to English
literature—those whose pungency aud power
have given an immortality surviving any
other recollection of the offence, and you
will find a surprising absence of temper, ex
citement and epithet. lie who stabs deepest
uses a keen and polished blade. It is a dull
axe Avhich makes much noise.
The Journal tO Messenger of the
slb thinks if the opposition to any
further reconstruction of Georgia is
properly reinforced from the State,
it will be impossible for the Edmunds’
bill to pass over an Executive veto.
Yesterday’s Atlanta Era has a long
editorial—the sum and substance of
which is that the Governor and the
Era arc both good Republicans,
although differing- on ’ tlie question of
Congressional interference with Geor
gia affairs. The Era says that, in
stead of making war on the Governor,
it is a supporter of his administration.
The Era also has an editorial on “what
Gen. Grant thinks,” but fails to
inform its readers as to what the
General really does think.
The Constitution glorifies Atlanta
as a city to beebnio famous as a manu
facturing point. We hope its most
sanguine anticipations may be real
ized. «
Financial Condition of the Country.
The - " Washington correspondent of
the New York Express writes :
Letters from the W cst state that the strin
gency in'commerclal circles there is greater
than it has been since 1857 —that the coun
try is overstocked Avith goods, and that the
farmers refuse to send their grain to mar
ket, in consequence, of the decline in prices
since 1807.
At the South the aspect is rather more
cheerful. The high price of cotton will put
$230,000,000, for that product alone, into the
pockets.of the “reconstructed” of that sec
tion, to say nothing of large amounts for to
bacco in Virginia,North Carolina, Maryland,
Missouri and Kentucky, and for Avlieat and
corn in tlie same States, and in Georgia and
Tennessee. The whole value of the* surplus
crops of the South this year cannot be less
than $200,000,000, of which probably SIOO,-
000,000 are paid to the negroes in the shape
of Avages, and $00,000,000 more in the shape
of food.
Another year of equal prosperity Would
pul the South in a Comparatively sound con
dition, although, of course, there are and
must be, for many years, numerous cases of
individual suffering—as of persons in ad
vanced life, totally ruined by the war, their
houses and furniture destroyed, and all their
investments of money completely Avortliless.
When avc consider that the accumulated
savings of two hundred years have been de
stroyed at the South, avc cannot cease to
Avoudor that her recuperation should be as
rapid as it is.
Os the immense importation of foreign
goods, cloths, silks, velvets, laces, jewelry,
Avincs and other costly merchandize, the
South iioav takes comparatively little. Her
consumption is mainly confined to the neces
saries of life, and will he for some years.—
Hence, her recovery from losses will be more
rapid. The Southern people, with Icav ex
ceptions, never were a luxurious people, in
the sense the Ncav Yorkers and Parisians arc.
They cherished, for the most part, the homely
virtues of llieir ancestors, and lived avcll upon
the produce of theiß.fields, their forests, and
their rivers—content, with roomy houses,
Avood tires and old-fashioned furniture.--
Hence, in their depressed condition they arc
more contented than a stranger avo uid sup
pose it possible for them to be. • Wc hear of
few suicides there, and the number of insane
persons in Virginia is only half the number
in Maine, regard being had to population.
In its best days, there was very little money'
in circulation at the South. Noav there is
sti 1 less. In tlie commercial panic which
seems to be approaching, the South Avill there
fore suffer less Ilian the North, from any
contraction of the currency that may precede,
the restorat ion to prosperity. In the South
there is no real estate speculations, even in
environs of the cities; no artificial values
given to toAvn lots or embryo Palmyras oi
Babyions. Festina lente is eminently the
rule there, so far as real estate is concerned.
They are not a gregarious people, but love
elbow room above everything. Cities they
regard as necessary evils, and as such not to be
encouraged unduly beyond moderate dimen
sions. For the greater the city the greater
the evil.
It is very evident that business at the
North is overdone; that there are too many
non-producers there-—too many merchants,
too many traders, too many agents, too
many lawyers, too many doctors, too many
doctors, top many persons, in short, who
'Stand merely as intermediaries betAvccn the
producer and the consumer. One of the Ncav
York journals estimates that there are
200,000 people out of Avork Avithin sight of
the spire of Trinity Church, Within an
equal distance of the State House at Boston
there are doubtless 50,000 more, and another
50,000 in the interior of New England.
Most of these unfortunate persons are
anxious for employment but cannot obtain it.
Even the high tariff, which so enriches the
great manufacturer-, does not put a morsel of
broad or an ounce of meat, into their mouths.
What, visible outlet to all this suplus labor
is afforded, unless at the South V The West,
for the present, is pretty well filled up with
laborers of all descriptions, and thousands
there are out of work. The South, then, is
the only vacant field easily accessible on tills
continent for the unemployed masses at the
North.
Miscellaneous Editorial Items
As an illustration of bow fortunes
arc made and lost, wc mention a cir
cumstance that occurred in Georgia
only a few years v back. A company
of wealthy gentlemen purchased a
valuable property that bad proved
unprofitable in incompetent hands.
Each person present subscribed
SIO,OOO. Knowing the superior ad
vantages of the investment, one gen
tleman put down an equal amount for
a rich friend. This “ friend” repu
dialed the subscription, and bis name
was erased. This $1.0,000 in stock
was finally increased to sixty thousand,
without the payment of a single addi
tional dollar, and is to-day about the
best [laying stocv in the (State. 'Flic
gentleman that refused to embrace the
opportunity given him by bis con
siderate friend is now comparatively
poor.
The former attempt to convict
Surratt of complicity in the assassi
nation of Mr. Lincoln cost the Gov
ernment $150,000. A now trial would
cost half as much more.
The Indian Bureau asserts that
there are now 000,000 Indians to
be provided lor by the Government!
This is too many Indians. There are
not half that many Indians in the
country.
Some very prominent politicians
•profess to doubt the efficacy of Presi
dent Johnson’s late amnesty procla
mation pardoning those against whom
indictments for treason were pending.
Some of them pretend to deny that he
can pardon after conviction. People
of common sense cannot understand
why, if Mr. Johnson can pardon per
sons convicted of crime, ho cannot
pardon those simply accused of it.
Tiie Athens Banner says that Hon.
A. 11. Stephens has engaged rooms at
the Newton House, preparatory to
entering upon his new duties as Pro
fessor of History in the University of
Georgia.
One C. \Y. Ivautz, of Quincy, Illi
nois, recently forwarded a SSO note ol
the old Continental currency to Treas
urer Spinner, with a demand for its
resumption in lawful money. This he
declines in the following letter, which
is instructive as illustrating the man
ner in which our fathers paid their Avar
debt: “By the act of Congress passed
August 4, 1790, the Continental cur
rency Avas receivable at the rate of
sloo.in said currency for $1 in specie.
This privilege, by the act of May 8,
1792, Avas extended*to March 7, 1793,
since which date there has been no
law permitting its redemption.”
Ip the chargos of his political oppo
nents are true, Hon. A. S. Welch, at
present U. S. Senator from Florida,
should be a übiquitous character. A
saucy newspaper thus introduces him
to the Legislature oj' Florida: “Gen
tlemen of the Legislature, avc have
the high honor to take the bull by the
horns, and introduce to your acquaint
ance in January, the Honorable Mr.
Welch, of Michigan , President of a
college in lowa, and at present .United
States Senator from Florida .”
Andy Johnson and Ben Butler
arc evidently masters of the art ol
seeming to feel contrary to their real
convictions. The N. Y. Herald thus
describes Butler’s interview Avith
President on the Ist: “The meeting
Avas extremely cordial on both sides.
Butler grasped his great political
foe by both hands, shaking them Avith
the utmost warmth. IT ‘Sidcnt John
son reciprocated heartily, and both
stood face to face for at least five
minutes, with clasped hands, chatting
and smiling like the oldest and closest
friends. Butler’s eye twinkled,
tAvinklcd and twinkled Avith an expres
sion it was difficult to comprehend.
President Johnson’s sharp, little eyes,
twinkled, tAvinklcd, twinkled likoAvisc.
Johnson’s face Avas all over smiling
and happy. Butler’s countenance
Avas radiant as a full moon, beaming
Avith mildness, benevolence and affec
tion. ‘Mr. President, I wish you a
happy iS'ew Year, and all the compli
ments of the season.’ ‘ General, I
heartily return to you your good
Avishes; I am delighted to see you,
General.’ ‘ Mr. President, I am equally
delighted.’ ” Ordinary country peo
ple Avould not exercise so much,
hypocrisy. We suppose it is ail right,
hoAvcver.
General John Crosier I’amsv, of
Knoxville, Tennessee, died in that city
oil New Year’s Day. He was a zealous
Confederate, but bis title of General
belonged to him before the war.
The New York Times says there
are very few office-seekers in Wash
ington. The writer is mistaken. They
arc there; but they are playing mum,
afraid of “knocking the fat in the
lire” by annoying General Grant at
this early day. The Ith of .March will
find them clamorous.
Tub resuscitated Sonlhcrn Opinion,
of Richmond, \ a., (the late it. Rives
I*oi,lard's paper) contains an extend,
ed account of the publication for
which young Grant shot Mr. Pol
lard dead. The article*is written
by Mr. J. M. 'Hanna, one of the as
sistants of Pollard. From this ac
count, it appears, that the deceased
was assured of the cruel falsity of the
charges against Grant’s family, and
although he offered to sell the entire
edition of the paper to Grant’s friends,
or in fact the whole establishment, lie
still persisted in the publication of
the libellous article. Mr Hanna’s
statement, although not justifying
Grant’s cowardly means of revenge,
certainly demonstrates that Pollard
was a very unscrupulous and malignant
man—utterly devoid of principle, and
an enemy to society. .
..... —+ •4--
Gen. John C. Breckinridge.
The Frankfort (Ky)., Yeoman, in
announcing the early return of this
distinguished statesman to his “old
Kentucky home,” thus, as by authori
ty, protests against seeking for him
any political elevation:
lie will come to Kentucky realizing that,
politically, his career is dosed indefinitely,
and looking to the haras the liekl of his
labors and the source of his support. Never
rich, his means now are slender, and for the
recuperation of his fortunes} exemption from
public life will come gratefully to him. Sug
gestions of political elevation will not come
from his well-advised friends, and all who
call themselves such will, we are satisfied,
manifest il most agreeably l<> him by observ
ing the general line of conduct to his re
turn indicated by us.
The editor of the Paris Pays has
already fought upward of si Gy duels.
WHEN I MEAN TO MARRY.
BY JOHN G. SAXE.
When do 1 mean to marry '{ Well—
’Tis idle to dispute Avirfi fate;
But if you choose to hear me tell
Pray listen Avliilc I fix the date.
When daughters haste Avith Availing feet,
A. mother’s ditify toil to share;
Can make the puddings that they Cut,
And mend the stockings which they wear.
When maidens look upon a man
As it himself they would marry,
And-not as army soldiers scan
A sutler or a commissary.
When gentle ladies, who have got
The offer of a lover’s hand,
Consent to share his “earthly lot,”
And do not mean his lot of land.
When young mechanics are allowed
To find and win the farmers’ girls,
Who don’t expect to be endowed
With rubies, diamonds and pearls.
When wives, in short, shall freely give,
Their hearts and hands to aid their spouses,
And live as they were wont to live
Within their sires’ one-story houses.
Then, madam--if lam not too old—
Rejoiced to quit this lonely life,
I’ll blush my bearer, cease to scold,
And look about me for a wife !
Spirit of the Georgia Press.
The Constitutionalist, yesterday
attacks the old system of worm-fences.
It presents the following figures:
It may be reasonably estimated that there
are (500,000) live hundred thousand miles of
fencing in the State of Georgia. The num
ber of 'rails required for a (10) ten rail fence
with riders, for one mile, is about (9,000) nine
thousand, and for all these miles, (4,500,000,-
000) forty-five hundred millions ! The value
of these, taking into account the worth of
the timber, the splitting, hauling and putting
up, is about ($500) five hundred dollars per
mile—amounting in the aggregate to the
astounding sum'of ($25,000,000) twenty-five
millions of dollars! The annual decay of
these fences is (13) thirteen per cent., or their
duration about seven (7) years, and (he State
interest being 7 per cent, (what if the present
Bank rates were assumed !) the annual in
terest on this investment is (20) twenty per
cent., or ($5,000,000) five millions of dol
lars.
Our neighbor argues that it would
be much cheaper to herd stock during
that period of the year when they
could forage on a growing crop than to
continue these costly fences.
The Savannah Mews, of the Gtlq
discredits the interview with General
Grant by a distinguished Louis
ianian, as reported by a correspondent
of the St. Louis Democrat, and which
was published in the Daily Press
several days since. The Mews says :
Until avc have better evidence of the fact
than the mere assertion of an anonymous
correspondent of a Radical newspaper, avc
are unwilling to believe that Gen. Grant is
the unmannered boor that he is represented
to be by the correspondent of the St. Louis
Democrat , or that he entertains the illiberal
and erroneous opinions attributed to him by
that writer. Gen. Grant, long since, in lxis
official report, bore testimony to the good
faith and law-abiding spirit of the Southern
people, and no man better than he knows
that the “landholders of the South” axe not
hostile to Die United States Government, that
they Do hot oppose Northern men and capi
tal coming among them; that (hey arc not
unwilling to sell lands to Northern settlers,
and that they do not expect or desire to “re
ceive the services of the negro without
prompt and adequate compensation.” On the
contrary, Gen. Grant knows that it is the
policy of the South to invite and encourage
Northern men to come South .with their
capital and enterprise.
The last number of the Milledgevillc
Federal Union contains Ibis excellent
advice to farmers:
Whenever our planters have acted Avilh
Avisdom ami prudence, they have been suc
cessful and prosperous. That is, Avliencver
the}" have raised Iheir own provisions and
then devoted Die balance of their strength to
raising cotton, they and their household have
been comfortable, and they ha ax; made money.
Rut Avhen deluded by a rise in cotton, or nil
ardent desire to become rich suddenly, they
-have employed all of their force to making
cotton, they and their household ha ve fared
hard, and at the end of the year they have
found themselves burdened with debt. The
reasons for this are so plain and obvious that
avc should think none could be again de
ceived, and yet there is reason to fear that
many this year will again make the fatal mis
take, and by turning all of their attention to
cotton, neglect to make a sufficiency of pro
visions, Avithout Avliicli no planter can be
prosperous.
The safe ami sure plan is, first, to make
plenty of provisions, and then aa hat cotton
you can ; and then, Avhether the price of cot
ton is high or low, you arc safe.
—A movement is on foot in New
York looking to the removal of the
present police magistrates, and secur
ing the elevation to their places of
gentlemen of probity, honor, and legal
attainments. The movement is non
partisan in its character.
—An old gentleman waiting for a
train in the great depot at Chicago,
recently, said to a bystander: “Only
think of it! Hut a little over thirty
years ago, I was ollered eighty acres
of land, on part of which this depot
is now built, for a sorrel horse and
saddle, and I was iool enough to keep
the sorrel.”
—At a recent trial of a revenue
case in New York, skilful experts
jjwovc that some specimens of foreign
brandy, which were submitted to
them, were not only genuine, but
were worth si2 per gallon in gold,
when it was afterwards proved that
they were manufactured in Brooklyn,
and were not brandy at all.
—The lawsuit recently on trial in
Rath, Me., to set aside a will on the
ground that it had been dictated by
“Spiritualism—an insane delusion,
lias been decided, the will having been
sustained.
—Tho “dance macabre,” ini reduced
at the court at Compoigno by Princess
de Mcttcrnieh and others of the “third
series,’’ is called as infernal, epileptic,
and savage as the antics of the
Apaches around burning victims.
—Among the important features of
the Agricultural Department, in its
improved condition, is the system of
exchanging documents, seeds, speci
mens, etc., .with the principal govern
ments and societies of tlje world.
—Only half the messengers ap
pointed to take to Washington the
official Presidential vote of the several
States have reached that city. Those
who fail to deliver the vole thero by
(lie tirsl Wednesday in January are
subject to a line of SI,OOO.
—Six hundred and fifty-four people
wero buried last year in the cemeteries
of Richmond, Va.
JJimcil uttir Scissors.
—Classical Montreal calls a skating
l ink a “ glaciarum.”
—Those who live in Omaha are
known as Omahogs.
—A Ncav York joker intimates that
the ballet girls earn a hare living.
—What species of love is that Avliicli
is never reciprocated 7 A neuralgic
affection.
—The l)caf and Dumb institution
in Raleigh, IST. 0., is to have* a colored
department.
—One green tarleton dress pattern
is said to contain arsenic enough to
kill three men.
—lt is said that castor oil makes
shoe leather soft and pliable and quite
impervious to Avater.
.—Red noses are lighthouses to warn
voyagers on the sea of life oft the coast
of Malaga, Jamaica, Santa Cruz and
Holland.
—Printers arc the most loyal of
men. They are constantly giving
those Avho employ them proofs of their
devotion.
—The Memphis Bulletin has been
sold to L. J. Dupree & Cos., Avho will
call it the Star, and make it a penny
paper.
—The largest cattle owners in Texas
arc King & Cos., of Corpus Chi’isti.
Their flocks and herds number thirty
six thousand.
—ln Adams county, 111., having
a voting population of W.ooo, ninety
six divorces have been granted Avithin
a month.
—Sam Houston’s grave, at Hunts
ville, Texas, lias no stone or monument,
and a general contribution 4* erect one
is suggested.
—About a hundred thousand bush
els of peanuts have been exported
from North Carolina this year. The
crop is very exhausting to the land.
—A jury in Sheffield, England, re
cently brought in a verdict of “guilty,
but recommended to mercy because
the evidence Avas unsatisfactory.
—Portland, Maine, has a citizen who
has predicted a second deluge; and
to get ready for it, is spending all
he is worth in building a “Noah’s
Ark.”
-An English pauper avliomade faces
during -divine services and set his
neighbors to laughing has been sen
tenced to tAvcnty onc days bard labor
as punishment for the offence.
—During the Sun Francisco earth
quake a carpenter Avas at Avork upon
a church spire one hundred and fifty
feet from the ground. lie didn’t
like it.
—Turkey has forty million inhabi
tants and an army of nearly six hun
dred thousand. Greece has only a
million and a half of population and
an army of twelve thousand.
—Rev. Mr. Addison, of Lanta Clara,
Cal., has been expelled from ihc Bap
tist church of that place for adminis
tering and participating in the sacra
ment at the Presbyterian church. •
—A Mississippi lady named Carr
has obtained a ten thousand dollar
verdict against a recusant lover for
breach of promise. With, this sum
she Avill soon have plenty more lovers
in her trtfin.
• —lt is estimated that thirty thou
sand men in the United States arc at
work every Sunday on railroads alone.
lloav many are at Avork on daily news-
papers, in distilleries, manufactories,
ancl the like, could hardly be esti
mated.
—A man was arrested in Cincinnati,
soon alter the late fearful steamboat
accident, for trying to sell a full set of
false teeth in heavy gold plate, which
he had found on the steamer United
States. They were wrapped in a
fragment of*a handkerchief, marked,
“Alary Morton.”
—An American traveler who is now
in Europe writes homo that of all cities
in the world Paris is the most beauti
ful, London the dingiest, and Now
York tho dirtiest and worse smell
ing. In Hie latter respect lie thinks
New York far surpasses even the
traditionary nastiness of CV.ogno.
—ln 18G1 the Israelites owned way
little real .estate ill New York city,
preferring to invest in other substan
tial properties. Now they are the
chief owners of the laud upon which
that metropolis is constructed. There
is scarcely a fashionable avenue or
street in the upper part of New
York where they do not hold the best
sites.
—Erick Pomeroy says il i> proposed
to raise General Grant’s salary to one
hundred t housand dollars per year, and
members of Congress to ten thousand
dollars, and adds: “Let it come!
Might as well have a storm as this
continued drizzling.” Rrick thinks
probably that if it came in the shape
of a storm it wouldn’t be mist.
—The largest kitchen in tho world
is that of Liebig’s Extract of Moat
Company’s establishment at Fray
Bentos, on the river t ruguay, South
America. The building covers an area
of *20,000 square feet. In one hall
there are four meat cutters, which can
dispose of two hundred bullocks each
per year. There are twelve “dig'eru
tors,” in which‘the meat is boiled by
steam. They can hold altogether
144,000 pounds of hoof. About eighty
oxen per hour are actually slaughtered
for this immense establishment.
A Rival of Blind Tom. A negro
girl has been astonishing the people of
Vicksburg, Miss., by hor performances
on the piano. She'is eighteen years
old, and as black as the ace of spades,
does not know a single note of music,
ami cannot spoil the simplest word.
She was a house servant, and as such
yyas permitted to play upon the piano.
She can play any piece, however diffi
cult it may he, after hearing it played;
and her accuracy and delicacy of touch
is really something very remarkable.
For the past two years Mm* Ills been
employed us a Held hand, and has had
no opportunity of playing or listening
to others play.