The New York Herald Newspaper, June 10, 1867, Page 6

6 ‘THE SOUTH. Reports of the Special Correspond- @uts of the Herald. IN SOUTH CAROL AFFAIRS Crops in Georgia---Governor Jenkins’ Views. Progress of the Tennessee Campaign. Reconstruction in Alabama and Arkansas, Xe, &e, &o. SOUTH CAROLINA, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD. A@alre in Charleston—The United States Dis- trict Court—Keminiscences of the Revolu- tlon—The Rutledge Family—Reported Fail- ure of a Large Business Firw—The Wea- shane AER Cnarzstox, & C,, May 29, 1807. Affairs are assuming a more quiet attitude in this city and the State at large than has been the case since the sollapse of the “‘so-callod’’ confederacy. The people of this State, though the first to lead in the rebellion, are the first to set an example of submission to destiny and the decision made against them. This state of feeling is more particularly evidenced by the healthy tone and thorough submission of all the papers and Jeading men % the military Reconstruction bill, with ene exception— ex-Provisional Governor Perry, Even the Mercury, the bead and front of the secession movement, which, by its great ability and earnestness, contributed so largely im support of the revolution, has expressed its dissent to the views of Governor Perry. It is idle, therefore, for Jetier writers or officials to signify in any manner that there is not a determination on the part of the people to submit to the new order of things. The proceedings in the United States Courts hore are mnother evidence of this. The jurors in the United States Courts have always been noted as being generally men of more intelligence and more conversant with public affairs than the jurors ia the State Courts, This arises from the laws of the United States regulating tho con- stituents of juries and the rules of the United States Courts. The Jury list is thus made from the taxpaying Mst of the pansues of St. Phillips, St. Michael (which embraces the city), and two small neighboring parishes, The offect is that the country people of swall means, not ~ having the inteliectual advantages of town or city lite are not on the United States juries, and the laws of the United States are enforced by the intelligence of the Rrovle drawn and not selected by the United States rshal as in Virginia, It is true that in the innumerable cases which bave been brought before the court re- lative to the distillation of liquors in violation ef the Internal Revenue laws, two or three ma have been acquitted who, evidently, from the charge of the Judge and in the opinion of the District Attorney, ought to have been convicted, Their ‘@cquittal arises from the contradictory evidence, and Pperbaps more particularly from the adroitness and skil) of two of the most prominent members of the bar, of Jong standing, great eae and bigt position One a Benator elect to Congress (Hop. J. B. Campbell), and the ether an ex-United States Judge and ex-Governor of this Btate (A. G. Magrath). General Sickles’ order direct- ing the mili ‘to take supervision of such cases no @oubi sprang from the decision of not guilty by the Jeary in the abovecase. The Attorney deemed ‘the verdict an unjust one, and not sustained by the evi- dence produced on the part of the prosecution.” As far @= my observation gues, however, criminal justice is es vigorously enforced by jurors in the United States eourts as by those in the courts of the State. The Gen- eral’s order takes all cases of violation of the revenue Jaws in the distillation of grain out of the jurisdiction of the United States Courts, 4 number of counterfeiters of United States legal sender notes snd fractional sursoney have bees cnt) Fecently. cases, occupying much of the time ‘of the court, ha Ly of serious character. pon of agreed ple ecttge oF This Langer ah ed wi ® femal a ry Seuntertelt $10 had been red ‘upon some one cise. Hi endeavored to pass it was | noel shopkeeper, ‘and sho bad received the note from a freedman in pay- ment of goods purchased at alate hour at night. She ‘was much embarrassed, and testified with reluctance ‘hat the accused was aware that she could not pass the Dill, and that soe informed him it was considered as forged or ceunterfeit, She cried bitterly, and accused Derself for not destroying the bill, An eloquent speech was made in bebaif of the accused % bis counsel, Dut the District Attorney, Major D, T. Cosbin, succeeded in inducing the jury to convict, Much sympathy is expresed for the convicted man; but it ‘will perhaps & good effect in checking the very Joose and careless passing of counterfeit bills by those Bave been caught or made the victims of others by having counterfeits palmed upon them. The present elegautiy fitted out building used asa ‘United States Court House, was once the residence of ‘the celebrated Jobn Ratiedge, the frst Chief Justice of ‘the United States. He was called the Dictator of Soutn ‘Carol: in the Revolution, and contriouted more than apy other Southern man w the success of the revolu- ppt There is a tradition that when the city feil 10 1781, Mr. Rutledge, veing Dictator, retired, and the tron railings in front of this building were draped in mourning by the rebel ladies of Carolina during the might of the fret day of British military occupa tion. How strange events turn round. The building oc eupied by the very man who insisted on the slave trade elause for t 1LUUOD as & pre-requisite (o the assent of South Carolina to the coustiiution of 1789 is now used Dy the goveroment which bas abrogated and e‘faced that clause of the constitution. Mr. Edward Rutledg Brother of Joba, lived in a magnificent residence oppo- site the present United States Court House, He was the ebiel cause, as readers of history will remember, of @ausing to be struck out of the original draft of the @eclaration of independence the eloquent denunciation of tho slave trade, which, for brilliancy, energy and force, isnot perhaps surpassed by any language used by _the most eloquent abohtiouists of the present day. Business is exceedingly dull, and rumors are current of several large failures about to take piace. Among the ‘Bast It was rumored that a firm of weil known wholesale grocers and commission tmerchants, one of the establishments South, had, or was aoout to succumb, I he ot been abie to learo the correctuess of the te port, The weather, which had been eiftirely too cool for @otion, # now ‘warm, and planters appear more ebeerful. All the planters with whom I conversed Go far give the most encouraging reports of their cotton end other crope. ou} not GEORGIA. CE OF THE HERALD ae a General Pove D: Kixostox, Northern Georgia, May 29, 1867, From Chattanooga, in the regular afternoon tram for Atlanta, we have four hours of daylight for an observa- tion of the numerous points of interest connected with Sherman's march into Georgia. Rough country, this mest of mountains, foran army to get through without fighting. Mountains steep, rocky and covered with Jonge, pearery — sluggish, deep, and fringed ‘with an almost impassable chapparal. Among them are Cdicka:mauga creek and the Etowah. The mountain side @) Rivggold, from which Hooker was repulsed in bis Bet pureuit of Bragg, i¢ another Missionary Ridge. ‘Tunnel, the traveller south, will remember for its good Gabstaniial supper of hot biscuits, fricasseed chickens, ham and eggs, beofetenks and coffee. But what mean ‘howe heaps of bones of horses and cattle we have seon Tying at the several stations en rout, They are only from the debris of Sherman’t trail, gathered to be Ground op into bone manure, There may be some poor Soldiers’ bones among thom for all know; but the Government burying partes have been doing their work very carefully and thoroughly, As the evening ap- Proaches the music of the lurks, woodpeckers, robina, quails and mocking birds, \s drowned in the de ng eborae of millions of frozs, from the loweat bass to the highest tredie. At some points their chorus silences the roar and rattle of the train. The whoat fields (and neariy all the cleared tands of Northern Georgia soem to be devored this year to wheat) ere beading out beautifully. In two weeks or so the ‘erop will be ripe and the promise it the same as in the Bhenandoab valley—the promis of the finest crop that was ever known, It ie the universal testimony of the farmors from the back counties, and the iravetlor sees it for himself along Sherman's track. The crop is eo far advanced that nothing now but destructive storms can Gamage 11, and these, it ts hoped, will be escaped. Ait Claases are looking forward to their coming wheat crop, encouraged and hopeful of better times coming. Jo Col Cotbras, » prominent ¢itiagp of tbe acighbor. ing village of Rome, the wr valuable information touching the destitution among the poor of Northera Georgia aud Alabama. He says that after the devastations of the war, sweeping off horses, beef cattle, cows and stock of al! kinds, the total failure ‘of even the smai! crops the people of this section con- trived to put iu last year left them-in such a deplorable condition that hundreds, if not thousands, of them rust have perishal tis spring had not the great North come to the reseue, ‘a shipmentsof corn to the extent of (housand Is have come in, and from the different railway stations theas timely supplies have been distributed to the needy, many of them, poor women, walking ton, fifteen end twenty miles and more, for as much as they could carry home to their children. And some of them get a little tasteof meat, now and tuen. Very few died of actual aizrvation, althovgh some, no doubt, heve thus perished, in the Northern counties of Alabama and in Georgia dnd South Carolina, back from the raidroads, Within etmking distance of tho railroads the suffering hag not beon so great, Sup- plies are still coming in and the federal army officers are good men in their distribution. Another intelligent Georgian says, ‘ bed their cows and Pigs and chickens een left to these poor people, they might have worried through with the produce of their garden patches. Vegetables are now coming in, and within three weeks, with our wheat crop brought into service we shall be able to help these poor people our- selves. But we are all poor now, sir. I mean we shail beabie to help our destitute neighbors, We are thank- fatto the good peopte.of the North for their generous aid, and I tell you, sir, it is melting out the bitternoss of tbe war and helping on the work 0: recnion more eifec~ tively than all the politicians put together. We can’t hate those people who come all the way down from New York to Georgia to look after and relieve our distresses, Itis not in human nature, sir. Our foolish pride gives and we forget our past wrongs in our present ‘om the federais, We have richer country than the North, but you see hew we are, and how much prac- tical reconstruction we went.’? ‘Tho negroes seem to be generally at work, and very tractabie, but whenever they are congregated in the towns and villages there ie suffering amoug them. In the outskirts of this little railway village of Kingston, wo overhauled to-day a nest of log cabins (soldiers: cabins left from the war apparently) densely populated with blacks, women and childron, These shanties had the squalid appearance of poverty, fi'th and disease, in a shocking degre. The women complained of the hard times, only @ little chore of work to do now and then, and no money for it when done, only a little Something just what they can give or choose to give in the way of trade, ‘Under our massa we had plenty; but we was’at free and could be sold. Now we can’t We are free anyhow, though we is most starving and childron sick ail de time aud no money for medicine. Does you know Congress? because if you does you can tell 'em dey’se gota heap to do before dey make do Freedmen’s bureat do what's right to us poor niggers wat can’t he!p ourselves.” “But, aunty, there aro many white people all round here that are ho beiter off (han you are,”” “Yes, sah, dat’s so and de Lord help us all, I sup- pose you ali up dar North 1s doing de best you kin tor us down yar, white people and black pecpie, and de wheat’s a coming in soon and den de corn, and I spec we shall git along; but itsawful bard times wid us jest no’ Wus, a hundred times wus dan de war; for de No’ soldiers always had something to give us and left something bebind,” Fresh fromm the turbulent and vicioualy disposed polit ical parties under Brownlow’s State government of Ten- Resse, the contrast presented in the quiet condition of this section of Georg.a is really wonderful. ling the attention of fact, his answer was t ef mak- ing politicians to last us for some time. We have other fish to try. Inthe struggle for existence we are not squeamish about State rights, and not in the least troubled about the Presidential question. General Pope is a good man, and is doing a good work here in maintaining law and order, without offence to the people. We don’t feel that we are under a military overument. We wouldn't exchange General Pope ior ‘arson Brownlow and his sovt of State rights If wo could. The main toing to be done with us is work, work, aud we are working to eecure something for our empty stomachs and something for our backs before troubling ourselves again with politica, General Pope may take bis own time in reconstruction. We in no particular hurry about it, for we suppose that the thing is fixed now, and we can tell you that if Northern capi- taliats and emigrants want to come among us now is the time. Lands and all sorts of real estate, including mines, mills, factories and factory sites are cheaper with us now thin they will ever be again, for, although we have negro suffrage, we expect to manage it in spite of your mischief-making politicians, Such are the facts and views we pick up in dipping-into Northern Georgia, As wo proceed farther down ‘into the bowels of the land,” among its ruling class of cot- ton planters and politicians, we shall doubtless tind tho litical elements in a more active state of combustion, re they are as dormant as if they were not to have a Presidential election for ten or twenty years to come, A Fair Exhibit of Planters—A Gloomy Picture—All Up at the Pawobroker’s—Corn and Other Supplies at Money—Improvidence of the Negroes, &c. Macon, Ga, May 30, 1867. The results of a full conversation with several intel- ligent and experienced Georgia planters this morning on the present situation and prospects are herewith submit. ted for the readers of the Hsratp. The facts thus pro- sented, we think, furnish a fair exhibit of the actual condition of things in Georgia and the prospect before the planters, “You ask me," said one of them, “to tell you just how we stand in our business affairs, and what are our Prospects, and I am glad to be able to meet your re- quest, First, then, sir, to sum up in a word, our loszes from the war as capital. Our loss (Georgia) in the loss of our slaves we will say was two hundred millions ot dollars, Next, the losses through our banks, in the con- version of our gold and other articles of substantial ‘value into Confederate paper, we cannot estimate, Next come our mills, factories and foundries, besides rail- roads, bridges, crops, farming implements, houses, fences, horses, cattle, &c., destroyed during the war; and next, the failure of our crops both years since the war. All thege losses, sir, have left us with nothing but our lands, a scanty supply of stock, a vast, hungry and improvident population of free negroes, a make-shift system of free negro labor, and, with our corn cribs and meat houses all empty, and without money, without credit, and without confidence, we) are ail up at the pawnbroker’s,”” “How is that, Governor ?”” “The case is very plain, sir, We must have corn and bacon for our Iaborors,} and corn, if we can get nothing else, for our stock, to enable us to make our growing crops of wheat, cotton and coro, or we must give them up and go to the dogs. Speculators in corn, bacon and other provisions understand our necessities, and of course they shave us to the bone, I don’t know whether these extortions may be charged upon our merchants, with whom we directly deal, or with the Northern traders with whom they deal; but the fact is that in buying upon credit till November we shall ha to pay two dollars and a half for a basnel of corn, whic sells bere now for one dollar seventy cents im cash, ‘and twenty-five cents pound for bacon, which we can gel at sixteen cents for cas! In short, sir, for our needfui supplies till November wo are paying at the rate of what you all in New York ‘would ‘cal ‘shent- for it. Tous, of the pawn- cS pouns of fact, sir, we are all in the hi brokers"? “But I perceive, Governor, you bave commenced down here cutting your wheat crop. Some relief in ‘that, I suppose t”’ “A little, sir, In this section we are cutting up our wheat for our stock—(eeding it, grain aud straw, as you feed hay, to our horses and mules, They must ave and we can’t raise hay in this section of soil is too hot. Northern bale hay nen crop hore is got “Weil, what are you going to eat yourselves?’ “Northern corn at bundred per cent interest until our wheat crop from Northern Georgia and Tennessee comes in. Why, sit, there is not one county in the State which last year raised subsistence enough for its own consumption—not one, and we began the year des. Utute of provisions, The failure ‘Was the severest blow of all. Which broke the camel's back.'? “Bat, my dear Governor, is there no way of escape ?”” “Yes, sir, there isa way. If we could get somo of your Northern capitalists to come down here, or some of those men who are fooling about in Wall street on the Suctusious in gold—iW We could get some of them to send (heir agents dowa bere they could lend their money on our crops and lands, ratiroads, miil sites and mines at the rate of two or toree per cent a month, and we would gladly pay it for the ready cash. Our liens and securi- ties would be as good as gold; bat on any terms we must buy ll November more or less of corn and bacon."’ “T onderstand the case, sir, and shall throw out a hint of two upon the subject, which may, perhaps, fall like ood seed im good ground, avd produce a hundredfold, jut does not this business of recowstraction and negro suffrage somewhat aur your planting operations *”? “It does; Dut there would be no troubie if your North ern politicians would only leave us to our military com- mangers is doing @ good part by us. We dou’t feel bis military power over us. He keeps bebind our civil authorities, and we don’t see him, even. And what do those N iticians want in getting up a Southern biack party against the Soathern whites? If 3 it the goue—s0 y nothing to be made out of thie Dusines®. Besides, 1 arly pints of confiscation are-cruel to us all in our sitaa- tion, Men of capital and enti aro frightened off, and we don’t know what to do.” Upon this subject, however, a learned and experienced member of the bar and the beach has ventured this inion i= orien Co to hold a session in July. Get them to felieve us of the cotton tax, and to give us a little time on other internal taxes; and above all, get them to de- clare, positively aud ually, that in complying in good faith, as we all intend to do, structive laid down, or any other terms, be mo cowfiseation of our property as the climax of our ‘sufferings, and we shall get to our feet at once; for con- fidence thie re-estabiished will bring capital among us, and there ia om even in Georgia for the profitable in- ‘vestinent of (ve hundred millions of money and a mil- lion of emigean.e,”” Conversing wid another citizen on the moral results of freedom the blacks, he rewarked:— “They aren trastnple aad doolly Fey. er is indebted for some | NEW YORK HERALD. MONDAY, -JUNE 10, 1867. on bermoniously with them by-and by, if you Northern people will oui, let us aione, [tis our inierest to deal justly with them, and theirs to look to us for labor and Protection. At present they are somewhat demoralized; and two often, if a negro man earns a dollar, be epends it in powder and shot, and is off to the woods husting, At this rate not only Will aid our suru!) game be-soon | destroved, and the birds, so useful in desiroy ug insect but we shail have to give up entirely the raising of pigs and poultry. In most eases the negro’s squirrel hunt ends in the stealing of a pig or 2 lot of chickene; for they take their observations during the day so a6 to know where to bag their game at night, In their email game they are to us what the Higbiend raiders in-old times were to the Englian fewlands, nis, however, ts but a temporary thing, incidental to. our present easel tled condition,” f In all tueso things we see the processes of social re- construction at work in Georgie, and from careful obser- vations wa cre free to say, without a cuadow of anis- giving, that if Congress will only declare to these people | do this, ordo that, and we shellask ne more—we are frog to fay that perfect harmony with the goverpment and between the whites and blacks will be establiahed inthe Soush without any trouble whatever. TENNESSEE. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD. Pee Politica! Campaign in Tennessee —Brown- lew’s Eiferts to Carry the State-—Plote of the Radicals to Incite Riots, Kc. Mexrais, May 24, 1867. Nothing in the history of our country is more discredit- able or disgraceful than the greed for office which characterizes these cormorauts, who from other States dropped into the gaps created bere by the war, and make this their residence under protest against what they characterize our want of civilization, but always in the enjoyment of official position, Without anything to recommend them, these fellows, with te assistance of public plunder, the school fund, the countenance and help of Brownlow and collections from the faithful of other States, manage to maintain themselves and make even acreditab!e display of strength, ut this cendi- tion, as I have above hinted, is not likely long to con- tinue to them. The ‘‘new comers,” in their desire to serve the State, have entirely overlooked the claims to official patronage of the native white radicals, only one of these receiving a nomination—Mr, Nunn, for Congress from this district, Regarding themselves “ieft out is the cold,” and basely deserted after sorving as the nucleus around which leyaity in Memphis rallied in the fearful daye of the ‘Milish’’ and Forrost’s attacks, with the remembrance of all the dirty work they freely performed in order to attain to the dignity of office and position, to be thus deserted is more than they can bear. Successful or not, they will seek redress by “secession,” and, cutting theso Jatest born Memphis politicians, will make a ticket for themselves, hoping through the disaffection of the ne- groes towards the barber Lewis gang to obtain a clear ‘majority over both their enemies, and become the dis pensers of city and county patronage for the next two years, ‘To enumerate the added burdews imposed upon the peeplo would startle even the jobbers in your City Hall, so feuriully excoriated by you from time to time. Twenty eight thousand doilars per aanum for the Gov- ernor’s staif is the smallest part of en additional item in , State expenses, which swells to an aggregate of over eight hundred thousand dollars, and that, too, without any expenditures for public improvement or the coustruc- tion of a solitary school house for the thousands who sit in the darkness of ignorance, and stick to ‘this yhere” and “that thar” with’ the pertinacity of conviction, The debt increased (Browniow and his party only know how) from twenty-seven to thirty- seven millions, and the possibility of meet- ing its accruing interest decreased by the increased amount of our yearly expenditures and the overwhelm- Ing taxes imposed upon merchants and business men, driving past cur doors to St. Louis, Loursvilie and Cin- cinnati the trade from neighboring States, upon which this people depended for the building up of a great city, how can it be expected that. disfranchised, too, as they are, the intelligent men of West Tennessee, indeed of the whole State, can be otherwise than restive? Ip all the channels of trade there is stagnation. Money, held with a tight grip by those who have it, ts oniy dispensed to those offering double the awou the loans asked in collateral and payin, five per cent per month. The thinnest of crusts upholds the remaining little of commercial credit, and the com- mencement of operations by the Commissioner of Bank- Tuptcy, it is expected, will be the signal for such a gen- eral letting down as will leave little hope of a speedy revival of sound confidence. Add to this the fear so general of contiscation, and you will easily picture such a condition of peril as never before has been known in this country. Millions of acres of land, before the war comprising the best plantations and town lots, are now upon the market, and real estate, even in this inflated town, bas consequently tumbled more than twenty-five per cent within the past three months, All the real estate brokers have their lists full and adv tise age the moat attractive sales, bat no buyers ap- . There is money here, but there is panic, too. jen wilt not pay their honest debts for fear of finding themseives without the means of subsistence for their families. Distrust is everywi apparent. Gloomy this prospect 1s, but it ts true. through ‘Another such year as that we have passed and not even Thad Stevens could find in the South any- thing to confiscate, Still this people are not without hope. Imbued with a native energy, they are working in face of general wreck, ruin and confusion, and, if only reasonably aided out of the abundance of the Northern trea-ury, will be able to make their land bloom as a paradise again. The Soutbern Baptist Convention which has ad- Journed, the Cumberiand Presbyterian General Assembly now in session, and the Episcopal Diocesan Convention, during their sittings within the past two weeks, have givon particular attention to the subject of the religious training of the black race, The latter body especiully sigualized itself in this behalf, and have on foot a move- ment for the Introduction of colored ministers, property educated, who will occupy the extensive field prepared by the manumission of the slaves, But confronting them in their tnitial movements in this direction 1s the want of money, so paralyzing to all beneficent efforts. Yet, confident their appeal will not be in vain, they will look to the wealthy and the enthusiastic friends of the freedmen in the North and East for assistance iv the de- velopment of a missionary work that promises moro hopetul results than all the missions to Booraboolagha, Patagonia or Kamsichatka since Adam was a boy. Bishop Quintard is a persistent laborer, and being now fairiv sxpported by men of his own to jection and some of them after his own model, he expects to make advances in missionary labors consistent with the character of the church. ‘The Bapusts and Cumberland Presbyterians will not fall short of thoir edorts in the past, blessed as these were in larze accessions to their numbers, the first named having al- most a monopoly with the Methodists of tho religious sympathies of the blacks, The great religions bodies throughout the South are unusually active, and itis a fact, patent to ail acquainted with the progress of re- ligious truth, that just now there i* not by « fourth as many minwters as are needed, especially im the Episco- pal chure A meeting of the State Executive Committce of the Conservative party has been called by Mr. Baxter, of East Tennessee, now its chairman, The mombers meet to-day or to-morrow in Nasbvitle, and, I understand, for the purpose of discussing among other things how best to avoid the quarrels and riots for which Brownlow, it ts ted, has prepared himself and his party, and to in- ire the occurrence of which has even now bis emissaries abroad exciting the poor blacks with all sorts of stale ciap trap about their being remanded to “slavery and the lash.” At Brownsville the initial row was inaugurated last week, and.it was currently reported here by the radicals hours before it was announced as an occurrence that a dozen OF more negroes were killed aud a score or two wounded. But, thanks to the telegraph, the excitement occasioned by this announcement soon subsided before the truth, which laid bare the fighting programme of the Governor = tow epee aud so far spoiled their game of brag an Since the failure 6f the Tennessee National Bank peoplo down this way look with more and more of dis- trust upon these institutions, Your articles for their eupt jon are read eagerly as of the general Platform for the poor man certain te be inaugurated unless more reasonable and less ‘‘protective’-of-the- manufacturer legislation prevails, In the South these banks have always been looked upon with suspicion, from the genoral character of the operating them, and recent failures and rascalities have served to deepen this to conviction, Private banke, therefore, have the confidence of tho public, the ‘nationals’ be- coming only mere “shaving shops,” aud dirty ones at SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD. Union Element tn Alnbamn—Activity of th Repudlicans—Destitution—Retief-The Crops, &e. Heyrsviira, Ala, Jane 1, 1967, The Union element in Alabama is probably stronger than im any other of the Southern States, North Carolina excepted; it is rapidly growing, and nowbere has it gained such an ascendency ovor the opposing proclivitics of the secessionists as here, Huntsville may be called the headquarters of the Alabama Unionists, Here, as in the majority of places throughout the South, the seces- sionists are silent and quiet, while the republicans are active in the work of extending their influence and add. Ls 4 strength to theit organizations, moeting on the whole with marked success. Union leagues have bee organized; meetings are reguiariy held, and « platfor: of principles, radical in tone, bas been adopted. The work of registration will shortly commence, whee « still more active political campaign will be opened—the re- publicans being sanguine of succose, There ig @ great deal of destitution im this vicinity— Bumbers being without even the actual necessaries to sustain life, and but for the efforts of charitable societies in other States, deaths from starvation would be numer- ows bere. A car load of one hundred and fifty sacks of corn arrived here @ few cays since consigned to the Hovtevilte Board of Charity by the Southern Relief As- fociation of Louisville, Ky. which caused great joy Among the starving poor. The Board immediately com- menced distributing it; and were they to have Ove times the amount, it could be well d of im and around Abie city. The crope im this saction are remarkably good. The farmers bave their attenuon to corn this year instead cotton, as was the case ear, and there is ev that the harvest ‘bring ea abundance if nothing ‘19 0x. tremely avqsce ip This rection, Lap imporecygoed people | | being unable to preduce enything that would bring even enough to cause.a general circulation, no matter how small the amount. The coming crops will, however, afford some relief in this particular. ARKANSAS. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD. The New Political ent—Posii Negrocs—Their Condition a Labor—Interosting Facts Regarding Them— Contracts for Work—Change in the Whites towards the Black: 06 Lirrie Reck, Ark,, May 26, 1867. One ot the intricate problems of reconstruction, and T am not sure but the most difficult of satisfactory solution, relates to the megroeloment, A fixed fact in our politi- cal economy isthe disenthralmont of the negro from the bonds of slavery. By tho laws of the land be has been placed on a political equality with the white man, He stands forth a full.tiedged American citizen, re the imperial robes of citizenship, wields the sceptre of suf- frage, exercises the sovereign sway of the ballot box, and has become a vast and indisputable power in the tand—an engine of political strength of gigantic propor- tions. It 1s too tate to discuss the wisdom of this sud- den and high exaltation over their past estate of the late slave population of this country, Like the magicians of old, by our incantations and conjura- tion and wizard arts we have called up a mighty genii. Will the spirit we have summoned turn upon us and in turn rule us and make us bow ¢o the power of its wili, or bave we the power either to ezorcise it or make it tamely submissive to our behests? These questions are cerious ones and the answers suchas the future alone can develop. Closely connested, therefore, with the Progress of reconstruction, andof special interest from ‘the intimate and indissoluble connection between the two, is the presont condition of the Southern freedmen. With earnest and patriotie men of the North the chief questions as to the negro aow are—and with these ques- tions are laid aside all previous differences of opinion re- garding the colored man—what is the present status of the Southern freedman, how does the stand up under his new condition, is he mdustrious and saving ar idle and shiftiess, ie he moral or dissotute, and does he give any indication cf comprehension of the dignity and responsi- oilities of an American citizen, and determination and capacity toshow himseif worthy the high honors conferred on him? Through every possible channel of informa- dion within my reach, through the records of the Freed- ‘men’s Bureau and conversations with leading officere of ‘this department, through military orders and confer- exces with military commanders, through visits to plan- tations and careful observation of the condition and treatment of freedmen, and through talks with the freedmen themselves and their employers, I have been at special pains to collate the facia reaponsive to these interrogatories in reference to the froedmon of this ‘State, and about the same condition of affairs as I shall describe doubtless exists through most of the States un- der military rule, The Freedmen’s Berean, from its operations extend- ing over the whole State, affords the widest range of information regarding t to, besides furnishing the most recent and reliable statement of facta from the careful reports required to be sent in to headquar- ters every month, from each county, by the dif- erent sub-commissioners. At the last census, in 1860, there were 111,000 negroes in this Ktate, or about one-third’ the entire popula- tion. Of this number, about 40,000 were employed in the different grades of slave labor, the remain- der being children and the aged and decrepid, who were unable to work, It is estimated that there are fully twenty-five per cent less of able and active negro labor- ers now in the State, which estimate includes women as well a3 men, It requires no exteaded erudition in politi- cal economy to know that of frst and vital importance to any class of workmen, the negro i his present condi- tion as @ freeman, as well as others, is the system of employment controlling their labor. Only two systems of employment of freedmen prevail here—the contract system and working for shares of the crops raised. About one-fourth are now working under the former, and the remainder under the latter syatem, which is nearly the reverse of what it was last year, ‘The follow- ing is a blank copy of the contract entered into between employers and laborers :— State of Arkansas, county of ——, #s.—Know all men by these presenta, that ‘we; the undersigned employer , party of the di ‘and the 0d rs f th Second art 'are held and druly bound to euch other fn the following contract, to begin 186, and expire The for and in consideration of of the second pars agree to the parties of the second aT and each of caren en and substantial rations, sufficient fuel and quarters, and ali needful medicine and medical attendance during the contin- uatice of this contract; and to pay each of the parties of the to be performed under the direction of the employer, = that of nee ae Sed lade eee from the loyment in worl ure Permission, unicss pen cruelty, And the parties of the second part do each of them further agree to work [Here is speciied the namber of working days for a month and number of houcs constituting a day nd to forfelt to the party of the first part their pay and the value of their rations for so much of their ime as hel ey fail to perform their of this con. tract; provided such failure or loss of time shall bereporicd At the end of each month to the Agent or Superintendent of the Freedmen’s Bureau, and be verified by him. The form as above, properly signod and attested, is in use throughout the State. ‘h contract is verified by the Freeamen’s Bureau agent of the county, and a copy with him, while the original is’ kept by the pl On the reverse side of the biank contract ap- pears the names of the various laborors and the amount of wages to be paid each. Any change in the number of laborers or amount of wages las to be reported to the Bureau agent at the end of every month. Contracts for the current year have been made at much better rates than last season. The freedmep comprehend much bet- ter the nature of contracts, or in other words, have got their eye-teeth cut, and are much more careful in their stipulations, The average of wages is about fifteen dol- lars per month, The rations are nearly the same as the army rations, and on'y few instances have been reported of their boing too smaii in quantity or deficient in quaiity, It will be understood that large numbers of the work- men, particularly those having families, prefer to board themeelves and are permitted to do so, in which cases the contracts are drawn up accordingly, aud an average of about (ity per cent additional allowed as wages. * jing working on shares no forms of agreement have been prepared, owing to the diversity of the agree- menis. Some are for one-baif aud some for one-third of the crop, and everything furnished by the land owner. ‘Again, some of the freedmen are to tui part, and then others hire their laud at eo much an acre, either furnishing or not furnishing the necessary stock aod tools, AS @ general thing most of the share contracts are for half the products, less the cost of provisions con- sumed by the laborers, When land is hired out by the acre all sorts of prices are fixed, tion and richness of the land; and all soris of paym: are agreed upon, some for cash and some for 80 many bushels of corn or pounds ef cotton or spec.fied measure. ment or weight of other products, taking the chances of the prices at harvesting. Reports of violations of con- tracts by the laborers are constantly ce oe es f ‘one instance was re] Jast month 1n which the freed- man was the offender, In this case a jury of six colored men was empanelled to try the guilty party against «him and they ordered @ judgment mulcting him out of baif @ month’s pay. ‘As a general thing employers bave shown alike fidelity in the observance of their contracts, although some instances have been reported of the most flagrant viola- tion, In one case a freedmen’s bureau agent seized twenty-six bales of cotton to ensure payment of some $1,500 due the laborers, The man owaiaz tue cotton came with a gang of armed men at night and took the cotton from the man in whose care it had beea piaced through threats to shoot him orany one who should inter. fore with them. The result was that the man got away with bis coiton and has not been seen or heard of since, ‘and his workmen are still minus their pay, But euch instances happily are rare. A serious drawback so the ‘many planters and laborers have been the disastrous floods of the eastern portion of the State bordering the Mississippi river, and over the bot- tom lands ‘of the White, Black, Washita and Red river ‘and the lower section of the Arkansas. The stock an farming im} nts nave boen swept away, and even if the water subsides in time to piant cotton, chief pro- uct of this Wet bottom Iaad, of which the indi ions are not very at preseut, they are almost wholly without the means aod facilities to cultivate any crops. Irrespective of this @ god deal of positive destitution prevails through lack of food,” and as is well known the cholera sas mado its appearance in two or three As to the general ts of crops in other sections ef the State it is impossible to form now @ correct estimate, The earijest cotton planted was about three weeks ago, many are now planting aud some have not planted er Jost at present most are putting in their cor, of which @ much larger propor- thon to that of colton will be cultivaved this year than Inet, E: bas (aught that it is a losing invest. ment todevote too much land and time to cotton and have to buy corn in the spring for home consumption d send and py $1 60a bushei for it—the at raling m several plantations which 1 have visited ‘will raise no cotton, but make corn their incipal and they do thie as a speculation, be- Revi that In view uf the different expenses and risks avenging the raising of the two crops, more money can Do made out of corn, Asto the industry of the freed- men, [find whero Ttalk with white men employing them, that one will tell one siory and another a different one. My own impression ts, as far as my observation has extended, that very mech on the spirit of their management and the of discipline entorood. “My men know hv san up or sun down,” remarked one to me, while his neignbor said, “what work I out of my negroes I have to force out of them.” negro he ia not the sisve he used to be, and, un- ~ Aol the consciousness of this knowledge shows & ined spirit of independence occasionally, ‘but if he a and considerately used, lam there will be no dificulty with him, Lam now te of those working by the month. for shares of the crop and are their own the best and surost vest. One plantation t Thave just visited was that of Mr. a i ¥ ‘iver. He has the sole management of the place, the Diring and paying of laborers, (urnisbing them with rations and quarters, and selvction of flelds to be cul- tavated and crops raised. He bas only but the fruits of their industry—they have already ps4 im sixty acres of coitou and one hundred and forty-five acres of corn—and thorough and efficient manner of doing their work, show them to be sorte Ue bij praises Carter javishiy bestows on them. ver occ pies the manorial mansion, and himself, his active wife and two smart cuildren do not seem'to be very much out of place, Everything is as neat as can be, ‘and so througn the old log negro quarters which the laborers and their families occupy. have not seen a better couducted plantation in the State—felds showing more sedulous cultivation, feaces in better condition and stock and farming utensils more carefully looked after, Everything goes on with the system and regularity of clock work. Carter keeps his own accounis, and for ‘hat matter he says nearly all bis men can do the same, having, like himself, served in the army and learned ‘while there to read and write, There is a school on the Place, which is open every evening after working bours, “Well, how do you like farming on your own hook f?? Tasked him, after he had shown me over the place. “‘T likes it all but one tuing,’’ he replied; “I don’tlike farming anoder man’s land, Before two years mo’ I mean to bab a plantation of my own. The whole dialogue would be interesting, but time and space do not allow my giving It. He saw no reason why ‘Bexroes should not become as large land owners as white men, and he believed the South would eveutually be owned mainly by those of his own color. The best workmen, he said, are those who have been inthe army, for tney best see the benelits to be derived from labor. “How will the negroes of the South vote, do you think #”’ I inquired. “Those will vote on de Union side sure, bat I tell you ‘white folks one thing,” and an earnestly prophetic fire gem ia bis small black eyes, “that while de colored folks votes once, twice or three times and doesn't say nothing, he’ll be opening his eyes all de time wider and bimeby vote himself into Congress and oder big offices, ten Meese Hig wo eye and black boots al- ers. De Almighty Las opened de way, and de whi man can’t make it odderwise.”” y te Passing over this profound propheey of the negro Carter, I found, on inquiry here and elsewhere, that their political views aad tptentions have thus far been very little canvassed. It is not likely that they will be much inquired into until after the registration of votors begina There ig no doubt whatever but that all the negroes entitied to vote will do go, It is a new thing to them, and the novelty of it, as well as consequence at. tacthing to it in their opinion, will draw them out As to how they will vote, it may be assumed that Carter is about as likely to be correct as any one. The whole maiter can ouly be based at present on more guesa work. Local influences, such as former masters, for which many are still workiug, will control large numbers, no doubt; but as regards the single national issue of the Union and its preservation and perpetuity, the heart of the negro is in the right plac’, and bis vote will be found to be cast right also. Giving detailed accounts of all my visits to various plantations —and I have just been throngh three coun- ties, Pulaski, Conway and Perry—would protract my letier to too great length, and I will, accord ngly, state my remaining tacts in general terms." Iam inclined. to betieve that the white people, as a class, are beginning to lose the prejudices they were disposed at first to en- tertain against freedmen, and show an increased dispo- sition to do them justice, A caso, for instance, has been reported to me in wich a treedman was acquitted by a civil court on the charge of knocking down a white man, because in so doing he had acted in self-defence, Chasing freedmon from plantations, a not very uncom- mon occurrence after the close of the war, is almost an unheard of thing pow. The sueers against the Civil Rights bill have died away, and negroes are allowed to give their testimony in courts with the same freedom, under the same ruies of protection as govern white men. The babits of the negro are also improving. He has retty effectually got over the fallacious notion that reedom and idleness are synonymous terms, and is rapidly acquiring correct ideas on the subject of self- support. The institution of marriage 1s beginning to be & led as something sacred, and its restric- tions as somewhat obligatory. Want of thrift and a perverse inclination to indulge in expensive but useless finery and gewgaws are the freedmen’s worst habits, Very jew lay up money; but jewelry possesses for them an irresistible fascination that it seems impossible to overcome, In this connection I am sorry to state that some employers, most of whom keep sinail stores, cater to this taste, and take advantage of it by charging enormously for this ciass of purchases, and 80 in efect get the services of the freedmen for little or nothing. Colonel C. H. Smith, of the Twenty-eigntn United States infantry, present Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau for this State, is taking steps to put a stop to this species of swindling. No one, in fact, could work more generously for the interest of the freedmen. 1p a recent general order he has given them Fae ae hes ‘not tho isaet important of which is enjoining on them not to negloct work or other dui to meddle 1n politics. ae Above everything else, and perhaps the most en- perry gi Sey of all, is the attention that is boing paid to the generai education of the colored population Of this state, Asa good Congress, as will be re- collected, appropriated $25, for building schooi houses for treedmen here. Contracts are under way for patiing up six school hou to be built ively at Pine Bluff, Helena, Wash- ton, Batesville and Fort Smith. There are at present thirty-five schools in operation giving employment to thirty-seven teachers, and having an average daily at- tendance of upiis. The great buik of ‘or there is not a single free white achoo! and very few of ban other kind. Messrs, Wm. W. Colby ro E. K. Milter, having charve of the educational interest o: the freedunen, are working most zealously and, according to all’accouuts, are the right men 1n the right piace. Thus much as tothe negro population of this State, Had I striven at analysis of the negro character aud to show up all the curiously complicated phases of his phy- sical, mental and moral being, tvere would have been no end tomy writing. Tho subject is one also allowing the widest margin tor pbilanthropic a ae ou the at needs and future prospects the Southern reedmen, But such bas not been wy p: dhave simply aimed to get at the trath and the whole truth ehowing the real present status of the negro, and to set forth these facts as concisely and intelligibly as possibie, ai the same time with entire impartially. From the State capital, as the best and only correct source of ral information, I propos» to write one more statis. jetter—the third in tho series—ou what I consiter important branches of the reconstruction topic, Then £ shall resume my travels, TRAGIC DEATH OF A DESPERADO. A Chase of Three Miles—Desperato Resist- ance—A_Policen Nearly Killed—The Baffled Thiet Finally Jumps Into the Water and is Drowned. [From the Chicago Times, June 7.] Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald. a well kuown cattle dealer and drover of the city, aud who resides op Elizabecn street, 0 lost a valuable cow, for which he bas or by agents kept up a search ever since, lay morning be visited Bult’s Head in search of He stopped there a jew momeats; Yeast the missing animal, and, while making inquiries of a man named ‘Greg” Weicb, they both saw a few blocks off a man leading a cow, "Welch at once recognized him as a notorious co thief, named James G. Archer, and remarked to bis friend that perhaps that was bis cow. Fitzgerald, upon ® vearer view, nized the cow as his own, and also remarked that the person leading ber was the same per- gon who had some two years since been convicted of stealing one of his (Fitzgerald’s) cows, He started im- mediately to rescue his animal, but was deterred by Weich, who informed him that Archer was a dangerous characier, and one who would shoot upon the slightest provocation, Weich proposed that an officer be pr.cured, which Fitzgerald assented to, and kept Archer in sight, while his friend went for olficer Kel- logg, who was at the time on that beat, Fitzgerald had visited the shed en horseback, his horse and heavy whip to the officer, the latter mounted aud ga\ chase. noticing the pursuit Archer leit t and si across the flelds in the direction of t kilns, near the canal, Kellogg soon overtook the thief, and being threateved with death by the latter, he struck him several blows over the head with his whip. These staggered Archer, but he recovered sufficiently to con tinue the dght, and finally seizing hoid of Keliogy, pulled him fr: horse and threw bim upon the ground, this position he was jumped upon aod stamped iv porado in Such @ manner as to deprive bim of ail strongth, and, itis thought, to severeiy jojure him internally. "During the scuffl> Archer drew his revolver and attempted to shoot his opponent, but latier seized the weapon and managed to force the muzzie into the ground. filling it with earth and for the moment disabling it, Seeing this, Archer gave the officer a few more blows, jumping upon his breast with hie knees. He then attempted to mount Fitzgerald's horse, from which he had pulled the officer, but the animal, with a species of intelligence, would not allow him to approach ber, laying her ears back and kicking at him at every turn. In the meantime Fitzgerald and Welch, with others, were following briskly up on foot, and. finding it impostibie to mount the horse, he once more started off on foot. A tram of freight cars op the Cincinuati road was passing at the time, and he endeavored to get on board, but was unable, and again started off towards the limekilna, By this time Fitzgerald and Weich had come Up to the scene of the encounter with the officer. Fitz- gerald mouated the horse and continued the pursuit, Ho soon came within shooting distance, but was deterred by Archer's threats from coming to ciose quarters. The latter had now got bis pistols in working order, and | threatened his pursuer with instant death if he came too near. “Dama you,” said be, recognizing him, “I am wilting to be bung myself if I can ‘& ,00d slot at you.” His threats had the effect of making Fitzgerald ox- tremely cautious, 0 that, taking @ wider circle, ne rode round in front of Archer, aud endeavored to impede his progress by beading him offat every turn, stil, however keeping out of pistol shot. This continued for some lime, ull, finally, Fitzgerald surrendered his horse to Welch, who was armed wita &@ pistol, and who pressed the chase more surely. He soon came within shoot+ ing distance, and fred bis pistol at Archer, and the latter Teturned the sbot watil both had used all but one or two of their charges, By this time a number of persons had joined the pursuit, aud the parties were over two mee pia omega ean ard continued his ret at ing his revolver and kee} his pursuers a bay until they reanbed ‘che canal pont the lime Kine. Here, of course, a large crowd was soon coljected, aod at = uo leecnoen ppt noe tho fawn canal, Here, eurroui ® hundred or more he stil! ko up bis M enadhvor: ing to single out zgeral marks for bis pistol, though without success, Several shots were fred at bim from the crowd ata safe ee mame them took effet, At last, how- ever, soving that he must eventaally nt with loss of blood from the wounds intieted ‘bam: cer's whip, he raised bis pistol to his own and en- treapon, however fuled’ to ‘yon ‘pon, finsiving a look of hatred ‘he folded his arms and Tae dead body was So CANADA. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD. The Privy Council of the Dominion and Ite Presidency—Party Results of the Old Coalle tion—The Reciprocity Question—An Outside Parliamentary Ferce—Great Struggle for Confederation * Kitchen” Dishes—Pabs Ne Jobs and Railroad Piunder—Can ie Viceroy Get Along Without Nebiemen t= Jeff Davis, &c. ‘Toroxto, June 7, 186% Although nothing is known of tho personnel of the: first Privy Council of tho new dominion, Madame Rumor’ ig busy with the names of certain gentlemen who, we are told, will be the advisers of her Majesty's represen- tative under confederation, Mr. John ‘A, Macdonald, at. present Attorney General for Upper Canada, will, in aif probability, have the leadership. In fact, there is every appearance of his having been given to understand that. he would be intrusted with the formation of the Cabinet, and not the least significant symptom is his having sent Mesars. Howland and McDougall westward to confer with their political friends, Ho is managing things very well for hiurself and fairly cornering the party which is fool. isbly looking to Mr, George Brown for guidance, Mr. Macdonald, or ‘John A.,”’ as he is familiarly termed, ie just fooling George Brown to the top of his bent. Hi outgeneralied bim in 1858 by permitting Brown to hol the seals of office for two days, and in 1864 took him into the government as President of the Council, and got him to quarrel with his own friends in the govera- ment, 80 that he was obliged to resign. Mr. Brown hag never exhibited any taci, and is @ mere tyro im the plastic hands of a skilled politiclan like John A. can be no question that Brown made up bis mind om leaving the Cabinet to be revenged upon his ancient foe. When the incongruous pair went into office together everybody was astounded, and it was some time ere the truth could be realized by many. It is related that an old friend of John A.’s met him in the streets of Quebec shortly after the coalition was: formed, and accosted him with the que@gjon, “Can it be Possibte that George Brown and you have come together after all that has passed between you?’ John A naively replied, “Why, man, Brown and I now sleep together.” Previous to the coalition it was considered about as likely that water and oil would mix as that. Macdonald and Brown would take office together. But take it they did, and in eighteen months thereafter the latter threw up in disgust, upon the plea of his col- league’s desiring to make greater concessions to the United States in the matter of renewing the Reciprocity Treaty than the country would warrant, John A. waa only too glad of the chance to get rid of Brown; but the latter was unable to perceive the spirit with which his old enemy was animated. It is not to be denied that Mr. Brown was completely out of his element in the Coalition Cabinet. The othe two reformers, Messrs, Howland and McDougall, were in perfect accord with John A., for they were tractable, and be had his own way with them. But Brown had to keep up a continual fight, yet gained nothing by his per- sistency, The other two had what friends they named appointed to office, while those of Mr. Brown were over- loosed or purposely passed by. He was constantly getting into trouble with his clamorous place hunting friends, who could not understand why. their intereste were neglected; but the secret of their want of success was made apparent ou the resignation of their patron, His retirement created as much astonishment as his acceptance of office, but it was pretty generally supposed that personal rather than political reasons induced him to (ake such @ course, and subsequent events bave con- firmed that opinion, Whether it is right or wrong to go before the electors on purely party grounds at the present time is a ques~ tion that may be fairly left to the journals which are now and have been for some time past discussing the point, It is more to our parpose to show that neither side is actuated by disinterested motives. The conserv- atives, or that set of politicians known as liberal con- servatives and conservative liberals—the latter baving been followers of Messrs. Baldwin and Hincks—have held power and place for along time. From 1854 to 1862 they held undisputed sway, and thea were only Kept out for a short period, and they have remained im ever since. The writers of we endeavored to show that the compact of 1864 was entered into with sincerity, but it was an equivocal sort of sincerity. Tbe conservatives had fully mad up their minds, alter the defeat which brought on the crisis of 1864, to let things take their course; but on re-examining the ground they saw fit to cling to office. All sorts of political sacrifices were made, and at the bid of the lower Canadians. they consented to negotiate with Mr. Brown. Here was am, ‘act of inconsistency worthy M. Cartier and his followers. \ Browa and ‘ie per, but nom, Deter ins ihe sweets oa r. . is of office to the of be! they cringed to the hand that smote them, con- sented to take Mr. Brown as the President of the Ex- ecutive Council. Such a stultification could not fail to excite surprise; but the Upper Canada conservatives got over it tho best, as it was not such a bitter pill for them to swallow, There was really no principle invoived in disregarded. and the 4 the matter; for it had been utterly louder than words, and no one can fail to pereoive that plunder has superior charms to patriotism. Those men, ‘we are told, went into office solely to accomplish a tniom of the provinces, but at the expiration of ear and @ balf one member retires in disgust and et an op- position against his former es. It waa not enough to differ upon a particular point; Mr. Brown had something else in view, and accordingly opened upon the government at the first opportunity. His in- fluence in Parliament, however, was very light, fer he could only muster about ball a dozen followers. His opposition was fairly laughed down; but he was not to be thrust aside in that way, and bis next step waste organize an opposition outside of Parliament. ‘ It must be confessed tbat the attempt has met with considerable success; sufficient, at least, to show that Mr, Browa could bave had very little sincerty im be- coming President of a coalitioa execative council. Like the conservatives tne self-styled reformers are keeping an eye to the main chance. Having had the Satisfact'on of seeing the confederation question ar- ravged, they are desirous of having the run of the gov- ernment kitchen. The hungry set show no decency im their efforts to clutch the good things which they con- fairly within their reach, and are already howling ikea pack of hail-starved wolves, The conservatives: natorally desire to remain where they are, as they find everything very comioriavle, Between the “outs””and =) the “ins” the straggle proses to be a bard one. A few days ago bir. Brown went ap to pigin and addressed a large number of persons on the polxical sit- uation, He very unfairly went back many years, t6 the time when the tories were revelling im the full enjoy- ment of ail the bappiness that plenty of plunder cou! aflord them, and dared to accuse them of a want of sin- cerity in the work of accomplisbit the union of the rovinces. This was unmanly, butexceedingly character- ic of the man, With the advent of confederation it was generally sayposed—and Mr. Brown formerly imtimated as much—that the past would be buried in oblivion; but as there ts nothing new to start an issue upon there must necessarily be a resort to the old misdeeds of the ruling party, Mr. Brown's speech was of four hours’ duration, but certainly the greatest of political nonsense ever palmed off upon a public assembly. It ie to be regretted that Mr. Brown has taken such a foolish course; for he is capable of betier things, and the party to suffer by his indiscretion. e em lly deciared against them in bis speech, ‘but ho took no blame to himseli for having joined one, It is this inconsistency which lessens much. 11 is but wo true that the coalitions we have had have been of the worst cuaracter, but not worse than some of the party goveraments Mr. Brown has sus- tained. best of any of them has been bad enouch; and now toat tere isa getting one that is good, the party men insist upon the elections pat ing altogether of a party hue. There can be no doubt that a good and efficient administration might be formed from among the leading men of all par- ties, John A and Sandficid Macdonald in Ontano and Cartier ang Dorion in Quebec aniting for the common good. Such a thing is not to be expected, however, at the hands of the leaders, whose object is to take care of nd friends atthe expeuse of the country. ’ the jeaders in New Brunswick and Nove. jing to sivk party differences and unite & the —- good; and why cannot the otoers do likewise Nothing can be more absurd than the Parliamentary roperty qualification idea. It was got rid of im ngiand some time since; but here we still — to it, notwithstanding very many members Part ut are mot worth @ doliar, Those who have wives with property are all right; bat very many others are compelied to adopt the plam of robbing Peter to pay Paul, and Parliamentary quatia- caijons are frequently manufactured for a particu- low is it to be expected that our legisia- tis J con be i just when the very men who tion can re and just wi make the Tawa have to find their way into the Legis- lature under false pretences? Is is any wouder that Ministers bold out inducements to men who deceive the public in order to procure in Partia- ment? for they are just as likely to sell thelr votes as to perpetrate a fraud on the constitution, In spite of all this we have on the statute book what {s known as the “Tadependence of Parliament act,” which forbids every- thing that 1 venal in members of the Logisiature; but it is continually violated in various Ways. For instanoe, mombers are forbidden to trafic in the public lands or ae —— in any government contrac ave repeated instances: the very way that ie forbidden. had coutraciors in Parhament, their object in gomg there: being to look after their own interests, Bat, worse than all, it is believed that Ministers of the Crown have had at by — at Otte out, rh “ wa were given fov~ png nes san of otare ro expres by the govern ment in attempting westigate the matter: 4 to nothing vena affording the com- Unger the pretence of expos ing corruption, the government covertly limed the pock- e1s of a fow needy supporters, Such is the way io which: the affairs of this country were governed under party