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£jje Empire Jitaic.
GRIFFIN, _4. £ . GEORGIA,
Wednesday 3lorn’g April 1, 1857. j
To ouv Distant Sn'SHicri&crs. !
We commence tins week to send to our sub
scribers, residing beyond the reach of our Collect
or, their accounts for affenrag£s this office.’
They can remit the amount by mail at our risk,
by having their letters, registered at the Post
Office where they are mailed.
Progressive Democracy and the
. American F2l loss. .
Our neighbor on Broadway has deigned a lengthy
c-it ; cism on oar article, with the. above heading,
which wo published last week We confess that
we feel complimented on account of the labor
which lie has devoted to ward off the force” of oar j
remarks on the subject of Progressive Democracy, j
True, he endeavors to assume the facetious at the |
outset ; but it is very evident from the tone of bis
article, that before he proceeded hr. the truth of
history flushed upon his mind, and he became in
clined to make a more serious affair of the matter.
Lexicographers define the word Democrat to mean,
“A friend to popular Government.” All, therefore,
who are friends to “popular government,” in the
true sense and meaning of that teim,and who
unite together for the just objects of “popular go
vernment,” may be denominated Democrats. At
no time since the formation of our present
system of Government, lias there been any
party in this country who lave iti-recthj op
posed this abstract principle, if we may
except a few of the most ultra of the old Fed
eral Party. Yet, there ever has been a party in op
position to the Democratic Party, who have advo
cated principles whose tendency was destructive
to popular rights. Many of the so-called Ameri
can Parly of the present day, will tell you that
they are Democrats, as good as we, who profess its
principles, and make those principles the basis of
our party action. Our neighbor says that “De
mocracy is the champion oi foreign ism in opposi
tion to Americanism.” He knows very well that
such was the charge made by the old Federal Par
ty against the Democratic Republican Party, and i
under the lead of the older Adams, the Alien and
Sedition Laws were enacted, which made that Par
ty so odious in the eyes of the people, that they
burled their authors from power, and placed the
Republicans in office, with Thomas Jefferson at
their head. Yes, Jefferson and his followers were
denounced by the Federalists as foreigners, just as
the Democratic Party of the present day is de
nounced by the Know Nothing Party. The peo
ple of this country have always had a very clear
conception of those principles and measures, which
are best calculated to secure to them the blessings
of popular government. In some instances they
have bc-ea led astray by artful and designing dem
agogues, but the “sober second thought” has inva
riably brought them back to the true faith of “our
fathers.”* If, then, the Democratic Party is not
the only party which has constantly and steadfast
ly advocated the doctrine of popular rights, how
is it that the people, the sovereign people of this
country, have so constantly and steadfastly adher
ed to this party, and continued so-long to entrust
the Government to their management ? The peo
ple know their true interest, and will usually pur
sue it, when left to their honest judgment. We
think it would be very difficult for our neighbor to
prove that the Democratic Party had its origin
with Genet. He proposed to be a friend of popu
lar rights, but Lis ill directed zeal in the cause he
espoused, and his arrogance and impudence, lost
him the favor of our Government, and lie was
compelled to retire from the country. The Demo
cratic Party dates far back, beyond the time of
Genet, to the days of our Revolutionary struggle.
The “friends of popular government” united as a
baud oi brothers, and staked “life and fortune and
honor,” upon the bloody issues presented by their
opponents. r I hose principles and feelings which
lighted up the fires ot the Revolution, have contin
ued to dwell in the hearts of our people, and tho’
their advocates have from time to time been called
by different names, yet the true principles of De
mocra - •’ the basis of their
party before, thoseprin- i
ciplcs ! to their progres
sion art ’.< be aiunbut. *a, :lioso great achieve
ments which have made us a powerful and happy
people. \\ c are sorry that our neighbor was re
duced to the necessity of calling into his aid the
Louisville Journal. We feel a sort of horror at
the mention of that paper, which was the apologist
if not the advocate of those brutal outrages which
but a short time since disgraced the city of Louis
ville and its people. We allude to the scenes
which were witnessed at the election riots 0f1855,
when men were shot down in the streets, whose on
ly crime was voting the Democratic ticket ; mo
thers and infants were compelled to flee from their
burning habitations, and were put to death by the
infuriated mob. All these things were done under
the eye of the Louisville Journal, ahd he had an
apology, and even a word of encour igeraent lor the
guiiiy actors. The blush of shame mantled the
check of every true American at the recital of
these brutal outrages, and the ill fated city which
was the theatre of their perpetration will not re
cover from their disastrous effects during the pre
sent generation. Yet our neighbor, in an evil
boar, has ventured to call up this blood-stained
witness to refute our argument in favor of pro
gressive democracy. “This was the unkindest cut
Oi all. O neighbor, how could you be so cruel ?
CoE. John Boston.
Wo are truly gratified to learn that this gentle
man has been re-appointed to the office of Colleet
orof the port of Savannah, which he lias held for
the last four years under (Jen. Pierce’s Adminis
tration. By a long residence among the people of
that city, and an honorable, upright course of con
duct, he lias won for himself the respect and confi
dence of his fellow-citizens ; and the manner in
which he has discharged the duties of the office
which he now holds, has met the approbation of
the meacantile community of Savannah as well as
of the Government, from which he received the ap
pointment. It is no less gratifying to his numer
ous friends in the up-country, to know that his
faithful services have been duly appreciated by
the Administration, as evinced by his re-appoint
ment. Among all the business men of our Seaport,
none are better known, or more highly appreciated
by the people of this section of the State, than
John Boston. Having risen from the ranks of the
people by dint of his ow# persevering efforts, to
fci* present high position, he has a sympathy in
common with the masses. Os a sound practical
mind, plain and affable in his manners, kind and
generous in his nature, he is the very man whom
the “rank and file” delight to see honored. Mr.
Buchanan and his counsellors are not likely to
make any other appointment in Georgia which
will go so far in building up his Administration in
the esteem and'"afflictions of the people, as the one
which is the subject of this brief notice. We of
fer our sincere congratulations to our friend Bos
ton on this renewed evidence of the confidence of
his countrymen.
it Oliiul.
We yet have hopes of our Broadway cotempo
rarv. In the last issue of his paper, the following
quotation from a sketch of the life of Washington
appears : “He displaced no man (from office) for
the expression of his opinions.” Ah ! neighbor,
we are truly sorry you did not happen to fall upon
this sentence two or three years ago. Judging
from the comments of our neighbor upon this brief
extract from that great and good man, one would
suppose that he never had advocated the doctrine
that a man should be removed from office, not
merely on account of his opinions, yea, his religious
opinions, but even on account of his birtli-pkce.
We leave it to the candor of our neighbor to say,
if he did or did not act with a party, yea, was their
organ and advocate, who were sworn to remove
men from office when they had the power to do so
on account of their birth-} lace,or religious c pinions
rhe earnestness which is manifested in the com
ments of our neighbor upon this subject, in his last
issue, gives us strong hopes that if he is not al
ready convinced of the error of his previous course,
he is “almost persuaded” to repudiate some of the
odious doctrines which be advocated less than two
years ago with so much zeal and ability. We
would not, if we could, inflict upon him the pain
which a comparison of his files for 1 555, with his
issue of 28th March, 1857, would occasion his gen
erous nature. Compare the language of Washing
ton as quoted and endorsed by him, with the oath
of the Know Nothing Party, and the only conclu
sion that we can arrive at, is that he either never
was in full communion with the Order, or if he
was, lie is “coining round.” He shows a good
sign, at least, and when lie takes one step in the
right direction, we have strong hopes of his politi
cal redemption.
Small Pox.
In our last issue we stated that a case of this
disease was supposed to exist in our city. Since
that time the apprehensions then entertained, have
been realized Mr. Duffoy, the subject of this af
fliction, is confined to a room in his own dwelling,
remote from the business part of town ; li e has no
communication with the other members of his fam
ily, being attended by a nurse who has had the
disease. Our city authorities have taken precau
tionary measures to prevent the spreading ofj the
contagion, bv interdicting all communication with
the inmates of the dwelling and those outside, and
providing for the vaccination of all our people.—
No other case has yet occurred, and but little fears
are entertained of the disease extending beyond
his own case. The public mind has quieted down
from those fearful apprehelisious which usually pre
vail upon the appearance of this disease. We hear
of many exaggerated accounts from t-lic country
in reference to the state of things existing here.
The public may rest assured that these accounts
are either wholy false or highly exaggerated. No
person need be kept away from Griffin on account
of any danger they may incur by coming here.—
We do not pretend to have more than an ordinary
share of moral courage, yet we are candid when
wo say, that although we have a large family, we
have scarcely felt a moment's uneasiness on ac
count of our proximity to the scene of danger.—
With proper caution, we expect to escape the dis
ease, and our friends from the country may rest as
sured that we will give them the earliest informa
tion of increasing danger.
Col. R. J. Cowart.
A? the circumstances which led to the resigna
tion of this gentleman have become matters of
some interest to many of our readers, we publish
his communication in defence of the charges made
against him, not only as an act of justice to him,
but for the information of those into whose hands
our paper may fall, and who may feel an interest
in the matter.
Southern Masonic Female College.
We had the pleasure, on Friday last of being
present at the monthly examination of the Junior
and Senior classes of this Institution. The former
consists oi about thirty members, the latter twen
ty. The Juniors were examined upon Algebra,
and the facility and promptitude with which the
young Ladies solved the most difficult problems of
that abstruse science, were highly gratifying and
truly astonishing. The Seniors were examined on
Mental Philosophy and Astronomy, and they dis
played an understanding of these beautiful studies
which proved the most commendable assiduity on
the pait of the pupils, as well as the most praise
worthy fidelity on the part of the teachers. This
Institution is in a very flourishing condition, num
bering beetween 170 and 180 pupils, collected to
gether from every part of the Slate. President
Fulton is now absent, by authority of the Grand
Lodge, asking aid from the Fraternity, to make a
liberal endowment of the College, to extend the
sphere of its usefulness, and enlarge the facilities
of affording the means of education to a larger
number of the destitute children of the great Ma
sonic family. He reports most favorable results
from his labors, and expresses a confident belief
that he will be able to raise at’ least one hundred
thousand dollars for the noble object of his mission
before the clu.se of the present year. We occasion’
ally notice this interesting Institution, because it
is one tilied with a great and growing frater
nity, spread over our whole State, many of the
members of which are our patrons, and the readers
of our paper, and mut t feel a lively interest in the
success of an enterprise which commends itself to
every philanthropic heart.
JBfcsP 1 There are men who would hesitate to coun
terfeit a bank note or forge the signature of a
friend to an ordinary lull, yet have no hesitation
about imposing upon the public a spurious article
of medicine. It stands to reason that a man, or
any set of men, who would be guilty of such impo
sition have not moral courage enough—admitting
they had the ability—to compound even a mode
rately decent preparation. They art* consequently
knowingly trifling with the lives of the community
and should be branded with something worse than
mere counterfeiters. We do not think the word
murderers too strong. We are led to these re
marks by the appearance of a spurious arid bung
ling imitation of Ur. M’Lane’s Celebrated Vermi
fuge and Liver Pills. Fleming Bros., of Pitts
burgh, are-the sole proprietors and manufacturers
of these very excellent medicines. None can be
genuine without their signature on the wrapper of
each box or vial.
Gubernatorial Convention.
We beg leave to again call attention to this sub
ject. Some objection is made by a few of the
Democratic Presses, to the time, which lias been
agreed upon by a majority of our papers, for hold
ing the Convention—loth June. It is urged that
the time is too early for the farming interests .of
the country, as they will then be busily engaged
with their crops, and cannot conveniently attend,
‘{"his objection applies as well to one part of the
State as another, but we must respectfully differ
with those who urge if. There is no season of the
year at which two, three or five men in a county,
good and true, may not be found who can spare
the time to attend a Party Convention. Another
objection is, that several Courts in Southern and
South-western Georgia will be in session at the
time proposed. This objection, in our humble
opinion, is entitled to no weightier consideration
than the first. It is seldom that at any of our
Courts, more than one-third of our people have
business, and certainly out of the remaining two
thirds, an ample supply of discreet, true party men
can be found to represent their county in the Con
vention. Were our Gubernatorial Conventions,
mass meetings, which all the voters might wish to
attend, the objections above noticed would apply
with some force, but as this is not the case, they
art? more plausible than real. Wc are truly desi
rous to see hai'mony prevail among our party in all
our arrangements, and were we among the number
of those who are in the minority on this question,
we should for the sake of union, at once yield a
cheerful acquiescence to the expressed will of the
majority, which appears to be in favor of the 10th
of June. We Jrust that the whole Democratic
press will at once speak out on this subject, so that
this vexed question may be put to rest as soon as
possible. The good of the party demands it.
New Aih e raises9aeeats.
By reference to the advertisement of Messrs.
Maugham & White, it will do perceived that they
have on hand a large and well selected stock of.
Goods in their line. One of the firm lias recently
returned from New York, where their purchases
were made under his own supervision. To those
wishing to deck the outer man with something that
is comfortable, fine, durable and cheap, these gen
tlemen hold out strong inducements. Route, ac
commodating and genteel in their deportment, it
is a pleasure to visit their store. Their devotion to
the interests of their customers, entitles them to a
liberal patronage.
Messrs. Brawner & Duffoy are also opening a
new stock of Staple, Fancy Dry Goods, Ac., at
their store on Hill Street. They have now been
doing business for twelve months in our city, and
so far as we know or believe, have given very gen
eral satisfaction to their customers. They keep a
very general assortment of goods in their line, and
those of the very best quality. They are kind and
accommodating, and none need fear to give them
a trial, as hundreds of witnesses can testify to ail
we promised for them in our notice a year ago.—
We commend them to the liberal patronage of a
generous pi bile.
We’ again beg leave to call attention to Air.
Nathan Weed’s advertisement. He has just re
ceived his Spring Stock, fresh and good, and is no
doubt prepared to extend additional accommoda
tions to his customers, and can afford to sell as
good bargains as uy man in his line. *V...3 his
success commensurate with his true merit, be could
soon afford to lay down the laborious duties of the
merchant, and enjoy case and tranquility, with an
ample fortune to sustain him. May Ins most san
guine hopes be realized.
Fur the Empire State.
Mayoralty.
Mr. Editor: —Before another issue of your
paper, the citizens of Griffin will he called up
on to cast their ballots for Mayor and Alder
men for the ensuing municipal year. It is im
portant to have men in office who know their
duty, and knowing it, are not afraid to do it.
The present Mayor’s just one of those men who
believe in punishing all violators of the law.—
No man could have done more for the preser
vation of the peace, good order, and tranquili
ty of the city, than has our present worthy
Mayor, during the past year. Will you turn
a •man out of office for doing his duty ? If so,
then there is no incentive strong enough to
make him, in every instance, do what lie knows
to be right. The administration of justice—
even-handed justice—must be supported and
upheld by every good and law-abiding citizen.
When was there ever a Mayor of Griffin who
acted with more firmness in executing the laws?
Every infraction of the municipal law, has been
dealt with according to justice and equity,
when presented to him, without fear, favor or
affection. One thing is certain, no Mayor of
this city, has ever had the difficulties to con
tend w ith, that the present incumbent has gone
through. More misdemeanors and cases, of a
diffiereirt character have been presented to him,
than any other man ever had to contend with
while acting as Mayor. lie is the right sort of
a man for such an office, lie is not afraid of tri
fles! If a man is right now, never kill him for
what he has been. It is “human to err, but di
vine to forgive.” What if a man, in days gone
by, has run after the ‘flesh-pots of Egypt/ if he
repent and promise to do so no more, cant you
forgive him and take him by the hand as a
brother ? The question should be ; is lie right
now ? If so, hold him up—don’t sink hifii to
oblivion without testing his sincerity. Times
change and men change with them, and altho’
some may run after “proud flesh” for a season,
they are sure to come back home when con
vinced of the error of their ways. Let him
who is not guilty of doing wrong a t some peri
od of his life, “cast the first stone” at Bellamy.
Place it upon that basis, and we imagine very
few will be thrown. Let personal prejudices
and former bickerings be thrown aside, and
every man think and act for himself, and we
feel confident the preponderance of the scales,
on Monday night next, will be in favor of Bel
lamy and good order. Our word for it, Bella
my is the man for Mayor, and lie can and will
be elected, if the people will only allow reason
and not passion to guide them on Monday next.
>|:
* *
For the Empire State.
Mr Editor :—Several names have already
been suggested as suitable candidates to repre
sent the Third Congressional District, in the
next Congress. All “good men and true,” and
no mistake; but there are others whose claims
of preferment are equally as good as those
whoso names have heretofore been mentioned.
Col. O. A. Lochkane, of Bibb, stands high in
the affections of the people—working manfully
and boldly at all times for the maintainance of
our rights—in whom Democracy has always
found an able and willing defender of her long
cherished principles. Wo should like to see
him nominated, feeling satisfied that he would
sustain himself and the principles of our party as
well as any man in the District. But we shall
be satisfied with whatever the nominating Con
vention may do in the premises.
MOKftOE,
For the Empire State.
Rist, Reign and Ruin of Sana.
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now 1
In the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four, month and day not re
membered, “Sam” was born. The particular
spot where this event, pregmant with consequen
ces so stupendous, happened, has not been as
certained ; but historians.are agreed that it is
not a thousand miles from Hartford, Connecti
cut. Indeed, the place where Sam ought first
to have beheld the iight of Heaven, ou¬
awpntf-r of any great moment, for unlike oth
er children, lit- was not permitted to see at all,
until he was 18 months old. and unfortunately
has seen nothing ivJ lrcubic since 1 Though
born in a lump'd;*ted and uninhabitaied out
house, aid reared with ho oilier companions
than owlx ravens, and such other birds of < vil
omen, as < hose to make this ruinous edifice the
theatre oi :heir “ancient, solitary reign,” Sam
is nevertheless the offspring of illustrious an
cestry, being a lineal cu seen lant oi’ the Alien
and Sedition Laws. He owes his birth to the
disjeAti x r.: of ike eld. Whip; Party, to
gether with a regdi.ii* w* emd-g<* of chronic
cases, pressed i;.lo .servile from the fag-ends .of
all oilier paigkv, Federalists and Republicans,
Whig.- and L.-m avad, A bohiioaisis and Free-;
soilers, Hnnkers and Barnburner.-', llnnishclls ,
and I oft siu lis TV m-sovws and Fire-eat
ers, ‘v 1 spirits r.ud white blue spirits and
grey*’’ . i
let notwitii:.landing the heterogeneous and .
harmonious character of ids parents, Sam did 1
not spring at once, like Minerva from the brain :
of Jupiter, into the full Hedged vigor of polit- j
ieal maturity, but had to suffer all the ills and ,
ailments of a pun'/ “ml ridSy adolescence. P |
is believed by all who’ have bestowed any
thought upon the subject, that Ids manhood •
would hav > kern more vigorous and forndda
ble, if he had nut Ken nursed over-much by las j
too indulgent parents, who, that the winds of]
summer i.-.ight not visit him too roughly, had j
him'confined in loathsome cellars and unwhole
some garrets, with no food but a deadly fear of
the Pope, and an implacable hatred of foreign
influence. It is equally clear that he would ;
have commanded the respect and sympathy of
the masses in a far greater degree, if he had
been taught to address them in their own ver
nacular, instead of perplexing and confounding
them with his winks and nods, cabalistic words
and unmeaning digital flummery. In spite,
however, of all these unfavorable eircumstan
ces, the unpromising infant grew apace, and af
ter securing the election of sundry Congress
men, Mayors and ponderous Aldermen, in the
land of his nativity, journeyed South, as far as
.Pne “Old Dominion,” and ventured to effect a
lodgment in the Gubernatorial Chair of that
ancient Commonwealth. But in this Sam was
not Wise, and the experiment will be regarded
in all coming time, as an admonitory and la
mentable example of that vaulting ambition
which overleaps itself. This defeat, however,
did not “kill the snake —it only scotched, it,”
after which Sam arose and continued his jour
ney to the Empire State of the South, scattcr
| mg divers mysterious pieces of red paper in
! transitu. Arrived in Savannah and Macon, lie
| managed by secret machinations and intrigues,
j and an unhallowed coalition with disaffected
| and misguided Democrats, to carry the City
| Elections. Emboldened by bis success, lie was
suddenly smitten with a wondrous love for the
seat occupied by Gov. Johnson, and the more
effectually to supplant his rival, he enlarged
the theatre of his operations, and extended his
plots and counter-plots, signs and symbols,
grips and grins, into every Militia District in
Georgia, aud all with such profound secrecy,
that the Democrats were not aware of his be
ing in the State, until they found themselves
on the very eve of a Waterloo defeat. Just at
this juncture, the political astrologers and
soothsayers predicted with great confidence,
that Sam’s star would culminate in the ascen
dent ; but by some unlucky mishap, it collaps
ed, “pretermitted,” and after a few evanescent
coruscations, sunk in utter and outer darkness.
“ who would soar the solar height
To set in suoii a .starless night V
Being detected in his anti-republican schemes,
shorn of bis mask, stripped of liis dark lan
terns, and forced to confront the friends of ci
vil and rcligous liberty in the light of day,
Sam was at length compelled, after a struggle,
which on his part, grew faint by degrees, and
beautifully weaker, to drink to the very dregs
of the “poisoned chalice” which he l.'-Td so
adroitly prepared for the lips of the Democrats'.
In other words, he was most miserably mangled
and used up in October, 1855, and in 1856,
the Democrats played him the same tune an
octave, higher with variations But notwith
standing these disasters, and “accidents by
flood and field,” Sam .still manages to keep up
appearances, the incongruous elements which
enter into the composition of his character, be
ing held together by the cohesive power of county
officers. Indeed some of the enthusiastic devo
tees, who worship at the shrine of the immacu
late and impeccable St. Sam, have ventured
with becoming diffidence in the correctness of
their own opinions, to suggest to the Demo
cratic Party what course shall be pursued in the
selection of a candidate, and management of
the approaching canvass for Governor.
And one Know Xothing Editor, seized with
that periodical spirit of fraternization and love
of harmony, which usually becomes endemic in
minorities, on the’ eve of a defeat, which is
foreseen to be inevitable and inglorious, con
jures the Democrats, in view of their certain
triumph, to run a non-committal, compromise
candidate, merely to oblige Sam. “Angelsand
ministers of grace defend us.” If this is not
the quintessence of modesty, then any attempt
to find that desirable commodity will lie as
fruitless as the search of European savans for
the success of the Nile. Three tailors once met
in Convention in Loudon, adopted a series of
resolutions, the preamble thereto commencing
“We the people of England, Ac.” Just fancy
the Editor of the Journal A Messenger, and
two or three other celebrities of the same kid
ney, with >x clear majority of 10,000 against
i hv'm, in solemn conclave assembled, pream
bling “We the people of Georgia,” and urging
the victorious Democracy to unite with them in
the support of a. “people’s” candidate 1 Such
a proposition is enough to tickle the ribs ot
death, iuid lift unsuspecting Democrats out of
their boots ! Will the proposition be accept
ed ? Pre-haps !
But seriously, Mr. Editor, the Democrats
need no compromises- or wishy-washy candi
dates, and should neither seek them nor submit
to them, even if this course should involve the
imminent hazard of displeasing those individu
als who are so anxious to select a “peoples’s”
candidate for the people. Lot there be no
lighting under false or doubtful colors, but
iiing the Democratic banner to the breeze, lay
aside local and personal prejudices and partiali
ties, nominate a reliable man, no matter from
what section of the State, and the victory is
already won, Upson county to the contrary
notwithstanding.
In the meantime, “Samivel,” I charge thee
fling away ambition ; by that sin fell the An
gels. How can you, then, the image of Sa
tan, hope to win by it ’ Upson, Jr.
[r'roni the Atlanta Intelligencer.]
To tlsc Puli lie.
Three weeks ago, there appeared in the col
umns of the Atlanta Republican Discipline
an editorial article, containing a gross and li
bellous attack upon my personal character.—
The substance of the charge against me, was;
that I had seduced a married woman in the ci
ty of Atlanta. Well satisfied that I was the
object of a relentless persecution from both po
litical and personal enemies, and believing that
I could fully and completely vindicate my"char
acter from the malignant attacks made upon it,
1 demanded an investigation, by the ecclesias
tical authority of the church of which 1 am an
humble member. Having labored faithfully
for many .of the best years of my life, in the
cause of the Metnodiffi 1 [itineracy—having de
voted my entire energies from early manhood,
to her holy work, I look: *! coniii.hu ‘y to my
brethren to shield, me from the bitt . hostility
which it was 10 permit to all, la.u been drected
against me. Advised by many (. unshed
friends to adopt, enotlu r course- -one more in
conformity with the passion*, of irrin man—
and with strong impulses to take other tnoas-
I tires of redress, recommended for the foal
.wrong which had been indicted on myself, my
1 outraged wife, and -helpless, children, I have
i been yet aide to control my if and trust to
. the great Juoge of ail the earth, to bring me
. thro’ this !; -rv furnace unscathed.
| The committee of the church, charged with
| the investigation of the allegations against me,
met at different periods during the last two
I weeks. Without attempting to go into ail the
i testimony presented to that body on both
j sides. 1 iiave simply to state, that J offered
I the following certificate from the pretended
husband of the woman bet wet n whom ami my
’ tels, it was alleged, tli.fe lu-i been a criminal
connexion.
Georgia, ) Whereas, there has been
l Fulton County. S some gossip in the city of At
; ianta, relative to K. and. Cowart and my wife,
E. Ij. La Foil, growing out of some remarks
that I made in an unguarded moment, while
under the influence of intoxicating drink—
i Now, this is to certify, that the remarks
| made by me on that subject, were the result
j of intoxication, and had I been properly at tny
j self they never would have been made ; for I
1 admit that they were without any real founda
i tion in fact; and I further admit and state as
Ia truth, that R. J. C. has been to me a kind
I friend, for which l should and do feel grateful,
t After due deliberation, T have felt it due 11. J.
i C., my wife and the public, to say this much,
which is a voluntary declaration on my part,
made without fee or reward. This Feb. 25,
1857. C. 13. LaFON.
Test. A. A. GAULDING.
The foregoing statement was given to me in
the presence of Col. A. A. Gaulding, whose
high character as a gentleman, is so well known
throughout Georgia, that it is unnecessary for
me to speak of it.
1 had furthermore come into possession of
facts, that convinced me that the pretended C.
13. LaFon had been practicing a fraud in this
community, his name being an assumed one,
and not really LaFon, and that the person
who passed as his wife, was not really his wife,
but that he lead another wife living. For evi
dence of these facts, 1 presented the following
certificate from Col. A. A. Gaulding, who was
present on the occasion of a meeting between
me a.id the pretended C. B LaFon.
I hea"l LaFon admit that lie was living here un
der an assumed name —that his right name was
not LaFon, and that he had another wife
living.
A. A. GAULDING.
A t’anta, March jG, 1857.
*
The Committee of the Methodist Church, af
ter a careful and considerate investigation of
nil the testimony presented, have resolved to
submit-the whole case to the next session of
the Quarterly Conference, from which there is
the right of appeal to the Annual Conference
of my church. I am fully confident that I
shall receive justice from these high tribunals,
as I am well assured all prejudice and bias will
be excluded from their sacred precincts. In
the meantime, 1 but ask that the public will
judge as I shall be judged of in those courts to
whose jurisdiction my cause is referred.
Very soon after the appearance of the arti
cle in the Republican Sf Discipline, I addressed
to His Excellency, the Governor of Georgia,
! the following communication :
Atlax: . G.v., [
March 6th, .37. j
Sin: — -You have doubtless sec i an article
published in the Atlanta ItepvMican A disci
pline, containing a malignant and ycoss assault
upon my private character. The ccelcs:a."t'cal
authorities of the church, of which I am an
humble member, will, on my demand, proceed
to investigate the charges against me, and I
doubt not, Sir, the final result will be a trium
phant acquittal. In the meantime, in order to
untrammel myself from considerations connect
ed with my official position, I herewith tender
you my resignation as Attorney and Commis
sioner of the Western A Atlantic Railroad. —
This course, on a full deliberation of the mut
ter, seems to me to be due to you as \w-i! as to
myself. lam very respectfully
Your Ob’t Serv’t,
11. J. COWART.
liis Excellency, 11. V. Johns m, Mi'ledge
ville.
I will add but one remark in regard to what
seems to be the purposes of the persecution lev
elled at me. The poor creature who, as Editor
of the liepuhtican A discipline, discharged his
fiend-like and malicious shaft at me, outraging
in the very act all public decency and morality,
is, strange to say, a pretended member of the
same church, and in the same communion to
which 1 belong. If liis object had been a
Christian one in abusing and slandering me—if
he had contemplated the good of the religious
cause, or the protection of liis church, he was
in duly bound to foil --w the regulations of the
discipline of that church—which he well knows,
requires an erring member to be “talked to
several times” before proceeding with severer
measures Did the cow.via-i.Y creature, who
knew my obligations to the church, comply
with its sacred injunctions ? That is between
him and his conscience, if he lias one. There I
leave him for ever !
To the public, I have only to say, that when
the party whom I am charged with having so
grossly injured by interfering and destroying
his relations, voluntarily comes forward and de
nies the truth of the charge and acknowledges
himself to have injured me by making it, the
outside world who have no immediate interest
iu it, might sutler it to rest there, unless they
are resolved to become my political and personal
persecutors, without regard .to truth or de
cency. If such be the case, they are welcome to
all the credit and gratification they can obtain
out ot such a pursuit.
In the bosom of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, 1 have labored long—and to promote
her cause, I have sacrificed much; and I trust
Providence may yet spare me to testify my
continued devotion as an humble and faithful
believer. To her decision I shall respectfully
bow when it comes.
Ardently, too, have I from boyhood advo
cated the principles of the Democratic< party.
In adversity, I have stood by her cause, and in
her triumphs I have rejoiced; and 1 cannot but
believe that for my uncompromising uevotion I
am now pursued by the vilest enemies and per
secutors with which any man has ever been be
set. let the storm rage—l am content. When
the calm comes, the public will sec who is the
wreck.
R. J, COWART,
For the Empire State.,
Mr. Editor : —lt strikes a goodly number 1
of your readers with considerable force, that
the City Council would cause serious injury to
no one, if they would give some attention to
the Well, in front of Becks’ Store, on Hill St.
Notwithstanding it is in a wretched condition,
numbers of us, who are tax-payers, have to use
water therefrom, daily, because we cannot,
with any decree of convenience, go elsewhere,
A Drinker.
March 28ih.
— .
[From the Federal Union.]
Maj. Harris 9 Card.
We publish in this column, a card from Mnj.
Ivereson L. Harris, in which he expresses the
desire not to be considered a candidate for the
office of Governor. It is conceived in a most
j excellent spirit, and does honor to his head and
I heart. The reference in the last paragraph to
; the salaries of our public officers, is pointed,
land we hope will call forth the discussion
by the Press, which its great importance de--
: mauds.
A Card.
Milk’dgeviile, March 28, 1857‘.
Messrs. Editors : Two communications over
the signature of “Twiggs” and “Wilkinson” in
your paper, and the Atlanta Intelligencer, pre
senting my name in connexion with the office of
Governor, make it necessary that 1 should ask
space enough in your columns to return to the
writers of those articles, as also to the Editor
of the Intelligencer, who prefaced the publica
tion oi “Wilkinson” with a very kind personal
notice—niv very grateful thanks—and at the
same time to declare that I desire not to be
considered for a moment as a candidate for that
| high office, i have no aspirations or wishes for
j office oi any kind now, nor have I had for ma
;ny years. I prefer to remain as I have been,
| a private citizen, pursuing with the indepen
| deuce of a gentlemen, that of political action
, which conviction points to as the path of duty.
It is a course demanded of me, by a sense of
; what is becoming in one who separated from
valued ami long attached political friends with
I pain, to . rry out great constitutional princi
j pies which had commanded my assent for years
It is also due to the Democratic Party, with
, which I stand now associated upon those prin
ciples, to abstain from claiming anything at
; their hands, that they may respect the motives
; of my action.
| 1 might assign other reasons which ought to
influence a prudent man, careful of the well be
| nig of his household, and who has no wealth to
: decline all office in Georgia, from the hisufli
i ciency of salaries to sustain respectably the dig
-1 nity of the office, support at the same time ids
family, and enable him to lay up a pari of that
I salary for the winter of life, but as I decline
distinctly upon the ground Unit I have no de
sire for office of any kind, 1 will leave to vou
. and to tiie press generally, which is also as mi
: scrably paid as tsc the elected agents of the
j people in the several Departments of the State
: Government, the discussion of the question 1
| have just hinted. Iverson L. Harris.
| From the- Uiclimond Enquirer.
Centra! America and Mexico..
Os all the great divisions of the world, there
are none, the internal affairs and foreign rela-
I lions or which are now engaging a greater de
i gret* of interest and attention, than Central
| America and Mexico. They are* the theatres
jof events of the most important character to
i their own respective people, and of no ordinary
j anxiety to Spain, the U nited States and Eng
i land. A drama is being enacted which is wit
nessed by the civilized world with eager sus
pense and speculations as to its issue ; a politi
j cal problem is in process of solution, which the
masters and students of the science, are watch
ing with wonder and fear, and doubt. Cen
tral America hits exhibited scenes of social dis
order and civil strife, oi’ lawfulness and vio
| lcnee, that have excited the sympathies,, andt
| appealed to the adventurous energy of a har
! dicr, wiser and more homogenous ivee. Its-,
geographical locations give its political impor
tance, and its talents and varied sources of
wealth and strength attract the eye of men,,
braver and bolder, and better fitted for their
development, then the semi-barbaric and imbe
cile natives. The United States and Great
; Britain being the espeii 1 patrons of commerce,,
vicing for the mastery, in the empire of the
seas as well as on land, in the Western Hein—
i isphere, they naturally become disputants over
! the advantages and facilities afforded for com
’ meree andfor ultimate lodgments of institutions;
not unlike their own, in regions of country so*
accessible and inviting. Under erdinarv cir
cumstances, it would Le an attack upon vested
rights, a violation ot the laws ei God and man,
of nature and nations, for England or the U.
! States, or any other power, to interfere with
the political or social organization of any of
the Central American States. But as it is,*the
great, first laws of liberty and progress in mind
and matter, render it essential not only to their
(own, but also to the interests of the* unfortu
nate nations to whom they would indicate the
appointed pathway if humanity, that they
should so fur intrude upon their aboriginal inan
ity and hostility to themselves, as to secure to
I the eomiiu tec ot the w orld, those advantages
which no people can control, and which belong
alike to all mankind, as the air and the sea.—
And if, in maintaining and enforcing for our
selves these universal, unappropriated and “in
nppropnabje rights, germs of good government
should be transplanted, it will lie but another
evidence of the irresistible decrees of that “des
tm\ which seems to be ever urging onward
Anglo-Americanism to a victory over every
country and every clinic.
AN h. tlier our own country, or Great Britain
is to obtain the vantage-ground in the adjust
ment of their commercial and territorial rela
tions with Central America, remains to be
shown by the precise provisions of the amend
ed Dallas-Clarendun Treaty, and to be seen iu
England’s acceptance or rejection. Should
Walker succeed in subduing liis opponents in
Nicaragua, and firmly establishing an indepen
dent. government, another “lone star” may, at
jno distant day, be incorporated into our con
stellation of States. Adventurer, as he is,
with no national banner but his own Nicaragu
an waving over him, if he succeeds, he will be
hailed as a second Simon Bolivar, the founder
of a nation, and a republican pioneer But,
however, we may admire his heroism, and dis
dain for danger, and anticipate with pleasure