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HB. STEPHENS' TESTIMONY.
Among the testimony reported to the House
-nf.Renresentatives on the lbth
IDSt.
frnm the
Reconstruction Committee, waa tnat ot ex-vice
President A. H. btephens, oi Georgia
states that he had conversed freely and tuny
;tV nrnninpnt ipariir.cr men in Georgia, and
met with a greatpany prominent and 1 influen iai
men at Milledgeille not connected with .the
- r - - . 1
f o - . -
.Lpo-islatiire. He e-ave his decided opinion iroiu
conversation with men and from correspondence
that an overwhelming majority of the people of
KJeorgia are exceedingly anxious ror the resto
;ration of the Government, and for the State to
take her former position in the Union; to have
her Senators and Representatives admitted into
" C3
n tn. a I Ler rients ana ais
Su e Sunder the
.harie all her obligations as a State
Constitution of the United States as it stands
. amended. His opinion of the sentiments of the
. rml of Geonria is that , the exercise of the
right of secession was resorted to by them from
-. a desire to render their liberties and institutions
i r-- --.-'
more secure, and a belief on their part that this
. . r .1 . Z a. II ,
TfuTther believes that it is their, opinion that the
surest, if not the only hope, for their liberties is
the restoration of the Constitution of the United
-States and of government under that Constitu-.
tion. He thinks the people are sufficiently
-atisfied with the experiment never to resort to
that measure of.redress again by force. What
ever may be their own abstract ideas upon that
subject, they have come to the conclusion that
it is better to appeal to the forms of reason and
Justice, to the halls of legiilation and tkc courts,
for the preservation of the principles of Consti
tutional liberty, than to the arena of arms. The
idea of secession is totally abandoned.
Since putting the above in type, we have
received a full repoit of Mr Stephens' testimony.
We give below a portion of Mr Stephens an
swers to the questions put by Mr Bout well, one
of the members of the Reconstruction Committee.
Mr Stephens' position as to the duty and rights
of the Southern States will Le cordially endorsed
hy the Southern people :
" Question. If the proposition were to be sub--mitted
to Georgia, as one of the eleven States
lately in rebellion, that she might be restored to
political power in the government of the country
upon the condition precedent that he should, on
the one hand, extend suffrage to the negro, or on
the other constant to their exclusion from the basis
representation, would she accept either propo
sition and taku her place in the government of
lhe country ?
Answer. I can only give my opinion. I do
.not think she would accept either as a condition
precedent presented by Congress; for they do not
believe that Congress has the rightful power un
der the Constitution to prescribe such a condition,
if Georgia is a State in the Union her people
feel that she is entitled to representation without
conditions imposed by Congress; and if she is not
a State in the Union then she could not be admit
ted as an equal with the others, if her admission
were trammelled with conditions that do not ap
ply to the rest alike. General, universal suffrage
amongst the colored people as they are now,
would, by our people, be regarded as about as
great a political evil as could befall them.
-was autHjiuivij uwi..j JV1 ,
Q. Suppose the Mates that are represented
" in Congress and Congress should be of the opin
ion that Georgia should not be jKimitted to take
its place in the government t f the country, except
upon its assent to one or the other of the two
propositions suggested, is it thn -our opinion
that under such circumstances Georgia ought to
decline ?
A. Then I think she ought to decline, under
the circumstances, and for the reason stated, and
ko ought the whole eleven. Should such an offer
be made and declined, and these States should
thus continue to be excluded and kept out; a sin
gular spectacle would be presented a complete
reversal of iositions. In 1861 these States
(thought they could not remain safely in the Union
without new guarantees, and now, when they
.agree to resume their former practical relation
j in the Union, under the Constitution as it is, the
j other States turn upon them and say they cannot
' permit them to do so, safely to their interest, with-
out new guarantees on their part. The Southern
I States would thus present themselves as willing
t for immediate union under the Constitution, while
I it would be the Northern States opposed to it.
" The former disunionists would thereby become
' unionists, and the former unionists practical dis-
; unionists.
j" Q. Da you mean-to be understood in your
last answer, that there is no constitutional power
in the government, as at present organized, to
f exact conditions precedent, to the restoration to
j political power of the eleven States that have
i been in rebellion ?
j A. That is my opinion.
Q. Do you entertain the same opinion in re-
ference to the amendment to the Constitution
j. abolishing slavery f
j A. I do; I think the States', however, abolished
slavery in good faith, as one of the results of the
1 war their ratification of the Constutional amend-
1 ment followed as a consequence; I do not think
j there is any constitutional power on the part of
j the goverumeut to have exacted it as a condition
j precedent to their ret-toration under the Constifu-
I lion, or to the assumption of these places as mem-
WIS V L 14V U UlVUi
.Q. What, in your opinion, is the legal value
of the laws passed by Congress and approved bv
. I the Pesideut, in the absence of the Senators and
Itepresentatives from the eleven States ?
A. I do not know wl: it particular law you re-
fer to, but my answer, generally, is that the valid!-
ty of all laws depend on their constitutionality,
i This is a question for the judicial v to determine,
j My own judgment, whatever it might be, would
have to conform to the judicial determination of
I the question. It is a question for the courts to
j determin
Q. navo you formed ny 'opinion upon that
question ? A. I carrot say that I have formed
any matured opinion in reference to any particu-
iar act ui vyoiigre&s emoraceci in the question.
Q, Assume that Congress shall, at this sess
session,
in the absence of Senators and R
'' I . ..uivia uu iit-preseniauves
i'- ifrom the eleven States, pass an act kivvino- taxes
r k t I il .l , . e -i it J ? ."
epresentatives
upon all the people of the United States. inchi.I-
i; ! Jiiir iuu eicteu, is 11 tour -oniuion tnat Mich n
' ' i act would be constitutional A. I should "doubt
.1 jng the eleven, is it your -opiuion that such an
'. 3. jf ifc wouU l,c"' it wouId certainly, in my opinion,
" be manifestly unjust and against all ideas ofj
' American representative government- its consti -
t i:. I iii .'. - .
! ' ,j it ,.,. ....
I LULIUIIH1ILV. flllWt'lVr Willi 111 lui 1 n II -E 1.-111 t.vr I Ii .
a lUMinar-v fit 1 1 1 1 1 i aii.-i i trmtt.- 1 n .i-iiim
abide by that decision, whatever it might be.
J j - , . - j j . w n iiiiii
wuaiever ii mi'rtit oe.
tes have at present an im -
rMit to be represented in
witl the StaTrft Resent
Uh the ateS Pre:enl
I O Tf tha cloven 5iotn
mediate constitutional
I Congress, on a footing
IV.
Kf( I.l4.. .t,- v"
iue loriuauou yi iuo government, or from the
& . - w ww kjcrttta jjctJ"
lively, or has it been interrupted by war? A. I
$ think, as the Congress of the United States did
: IIIMH i I.I1K H.I 1 1 II IVMI III III III nattr . mawvaa.
not consent to the withdrawal of the secedinrr
States, it was a continuous right, under the Con-
! stitution of the United States, to be exercised so
.'nir States resnectivelv made
' &oon 33 lut5 acv-ru"'t u - e
. r,.u(;ons with' the federal government, under
known tneir reauiuoa i -
He'1. " r TTIfl States. A tKo
j eneral government denied the right of secession
, K . . , - , ci.ino nttumniin
the uonsiiiuwuu ui tuc UUIW.U ...,... -
v i A l- v Motos at tam minor tr
. 1 i ll I )L LllilllV U1J T V L W v 1 J-
; b y of the;r Hglits undef
Consiitutionas States, when their People
j
ahnnrlfned that attemDt.
Q. Is it, or not, vour opinion that the Legisla
tures and people of the eleven States respectively
have at present such a right to cleot Senators and
Representatives to Congress, that it may be exer
cised without regard to the part which the persons
elected mav have had in the rebellion. A. I do
! not think they could exerc.se that ngm m tne
choice oi tneir oeusuuis mu .u..v,., ..- i.
impair in the slightest degree the constitutional
right of each Houso of itself to judge of the qual
r.f thop. who mitrht be chosen; the right
j constitutiona,
j f
JilVitUVMU O -
action of a btate to choose,
.i .1... ,.r o.li TT-ii.:a r.f f!rtn(rrss tr inrlcA
....oiw;, nf tWa parted to theresnec-
Ul LUC uuiivMi..vu v. i
j 4jve ijjes are very distinct anu ainerent ques
tions; and in tnus judging oi quanucauous i am
free to admit that in my opinion no one should
be admitted as a member of either House of Con
gress who is not really and truiy loyal to the
Constitution of the United States and to the gov
ernment establir-hed by it.
Q State whether, from jour observation, the
events of the war have produced any change in
the public mind of the South on the question
of the reserved rights of the Slates under the
Constitution of the United States? A. That
question I answered in part yesterday; while I
cannot state from personal knowledge to what
extent the opinions of the Southern States up
on the abstract question of the reserved rights
of the States may have changed, my decided
opinion is that a'very thorough change has taken
place upon the practical policy of resorting to
any such right. '
Q. What events or experience of the war
have contributed to this change? A. First,
the people are satisfied that a resort to the exer
cise of this right, while it is denied by the Fed
eral government, will lead to war, which many
thoufjfit before the late attempted secession
would not be the case; and civil wars, tbey are
also now very well satisfied, arc dangerous to
liberty, and moreover, that experience in the
late war, I think, has satisfied them that it
greatly endangered their own; I allude especial
ly to the suspension of the writ of habeas cor
pus and the military conscription, the proclama
tion of martial law in various places, general
impressments and the levying of forced contri
butions, as well as the demoralizing effects of
. . i i ... r i: . I
war generally.
Q. When were you last a member of the Con
gress of the United States? A. I went out on
the -1th of March, 1850.
Q. Will you state, if not indisposed to do so,
the considerations or opinions which led you to
identify yourself with thtt rebellion, so far as to
accept the office of Vice-President of the Con
federate States of America, so called? A. I
believed thoroughly in the reserved sovereignty
of the several States of the Union under the
compact of Union, or the Constitution of 1787.
I opposed secession, therefore as a question of
policy, and not one of right, on the part of
Georgia. When the State seceded against my
judgment and vote, 1 thought my ultimate alle
giance was due to her, and I preferred to cast
my fortunes and destiny with her and her peo
ple, rather than to take any other course, even
though it may lmd to my self sacrifice and her
ruin. In accepting position under the new or
der of things my sole object was to do all the
good I could in preserving and perpetuating
the principles cf liberty as established under
the Constitution of the United States. If the
Union was to be abandoned, either with or
without force, which I thought a very impolitic
measure, I wished, if possible, to" reserve, pre
serve, and perpetuate the principles of the Con
stitution. This 1 was not without hope might
be done in the new confederacy of States
formed. When the conflict arose, my efforts
were directed to as speedy and peaceful adjust
ment of the questions as possible. This adjust
ment I always thought, to be lasting, would
have ultimately to be. settled upon a constitu
tional basis, founded, upon the principles of
mutual convenience and reciprocal advantage
on the part of the States by which the Consti
tution of the United States was originally form
ed. I was wedded to no particular plan of ad
justment, except the recognition as a basis of
the separate sovereignty of the several States
with this recognized principle. I thought all
other questions of differer.ee ought to adjust
themselves according to the best interest, peace,
welfare, and prosperity of the whole country,
as enlightened reason, calm judgment, and a
sense ofjustice might direct, this doctrine of
the sovereignty of the several States, as a self
adjusting, regulating principle of our general
system of State government, extending possibly
over the continent.
,Q. Have your eentiments undergone any
change since the opening of the rebellion, in
reference to the reserved lights of the States
under the Constitution of the United States?
A. My convictions of the original abstract ques
tion have undergone no change, but I accept
the issue of the war, and'the result as a practi
cal settlement of that question. The sword was
appealed to to decide the question, and by the
decision of -the sword I am willing to abide.
WASHINGTON ITEMS.
The President has appointed Henry Stanber
ry, of Oh io, to bean associate Justice of the
Supreme Court in the United States, in the
place of Judge Catron, deceased; and also Mr
Smythe, President of the Central National Bank
t. be Collector of Castoms for the port of New
York. -
The opinion of Judge Underwood as to the
effect of the President's Proclamation of peace,
has been referred to the Attorney General ol the
United States. The Washington correspondent
of the N. Y. Times says that no respectable law
yer endorses Underwood.'
The President is understood to ridicule Tln-
j derwood's interpretation of his proclamation !
i it -i . . . . . : . . 1
' n 1 ' V dcCLared ln h'S J,ld?"
slouJ t
r '
or civilians bv militarv c-jijirnii,ii. !
by military commissiou
once cease. j
! , - Attorney General Las decided that j
i l' nderWOOd's Oiiinion is u-rnn rt- nm1 flmt ih. I
I --""til -v. nil: ui iju-
; urr uuguuo oe released i
-
j The President has ordered that Treasury 1
( ..ao uiucku mm .treasury
1 Asnt r, who was convicted by a military
! comni,fs,on at Uet of fraud on the Govern- !
Went' le tUrned 0Ver to the civi 1 authorises for i
trial. Dexter was confined in JefxnU nfnn i
S.I Io default or $200. I
i UUU bail.
Wfc'CM ia appiupriaung jarge sums ot the
public money for all sorts of puoposes, but cot a
cent for the benefit of the Soutn, although the
eouthern people have to pay their share of taxes.
W2S3?lfil2 DKMOCBAl
CONGRESS.
April'16. In the Senate, Mr Stewart intro-
duced a ioint tesolution for the discontinuance
of the Branch Mint at New Orleans, and the
its machinery to aid in the
WULI V i' w m J
construction of a Uranch Mint in Nevada.
OnltP a KPns.ition was caused in the "Senate
bv the sharp rebuke administered by Mr
Mc-
j gr
; J
of California, to his colleague, ilr Con-
h.im he charged with being animated in
, , "
his action on the Pacific
PoWrnu.) hv nersonat
motives.
In the course of the debate
Mr
McDougall
charged Mr Conness with having a personal in-
teresl in the matter, and that he was discussing
th Mil with .1 vipw tn his own interests, ana
not with a regard for the public good
1. li l. LSI ! v " - - '
Mr Conness responded in an excited manner
that Mr McDougall was not in a condition to
know what he was saying. He was constantly
in such a state that he was a disgrace to this
body.
Mr McDousall I rise, Mr President, for the
I purpose of pronouncing the assertion of the Sen
ator a falsehood, l can uun io oruer.
Mr Conness Mr President, I ask to be pre
tected in debate ?
The President pro tern The Chair will en
deavor at all times to protect Senators in debate.
Mr McDougall Mr President, I desire to
state a point of order. My colleague has made
a statement personal to myself, which is false in
point of fact. I submit that, having maae an
assertion which is untrue, it is strictly parlia
mentary for me to pronounce that assertion a
falsehood, and to call the Senator to order.
Mr Sumner Mr President, I respectfully
submit that the Seoator cannot be allowed to
proceed; he is entering into an argument.
Mr AlcLiougall 1 am
my point ot
order.
The Chair was unable to perceive
that the
Senator had made any point of order.
Mr McDougall I repeat that my colleague
has uttered a falsehood; that the term n hich I
apply to his remarks is strictly parliamentary,
both according to the practice and precedent of,
the British Parliament and of this Senate for
fifty years, and that I have a right to use it..
Mr Conness -The Senator (McDougall) does
not represent California either politically or
morally.
The riouse was engaged in the consideration
of the bill fixing the peace establishment of the
Army.
April 17. In the Sena'e, the motion to re
consider the vote on the admission of Colorado
came up, but no vote was reached. Mr Sum
ner opposed the motion for the same reasons he
had presented originally namely, the insuffi
cient population, and the fact that the Consti
tution contained the word "white."
The House has rebelled, at last, against the
tyranny of Thad Stevens. By a vote of fifty to
forty-four, the House refused to entertain a mo
tion by him to supply each one of our foreign
legations with three copies of Forney's Chroni
cle at the expense of the United Stated Treasury.
On motion of Mr Schenck the Sec'y of War
was requested to communicate any information he
may have in regard to the execution of 18 sol
diers of the 1st and 2d Regiments of N. C. loyal
iolantry by order of the "rebel" Generals Picket
and Hoke. It will be remembered that the
men who were hang near Kinston, N. C, had
deserted from the Confederate army and joined
the Federal army, and were afterwards captured
and executed for desertion
RISKS OP GREAT EATERS.
Great eaters never live long. A voracious
appetite, so far from being a sign of health, is a
certain indication of disease. Some dyspeptics
are always hungry, and feel best when they are
eating, but as soon as they have finished eating
they endure torments of distressing nature as
to make the unhappy victim wish for death.
The appetite of health is that which inclines
moderately to eat, when eating time comes, and
which, when satisfied, leaves no unpleasaut re
minders. Multitudes measure their health by
tbe amount they can eat;, and of any tea per
sons, nine are gratified at an increase of weight;
when, in reality, any excess of fatness is, in pro
portion, decisive proof of existing disease; show
ing that the absorbents of the system are too
weak to discharge their duty; and the tendency
to fatcess, to obesity, increases until existeuce
is a burden, and sudden death closes the history.
Particular inquiry will almost unvaringjy
elicit the fact that fat persons, however rubicund
and jolly, are never well, and yet they are en
vfed. While great eaters never live to old ae,
and r.re never for a single day without some
"symptom," .some feeling sufficiently disagree
able to attract the mind's attention unplaasant-
ly, small eaters, those wh o eat regularly of plain
iooa, usually Have no . "spare flesh, are wiry
and enduring and live to an a'ctivp old age.
Remarkable exemplifications of these statements
are found in the lives of centenarians of a past
age. Galen, one of the most distinguished
among the aucieuts, lived' very sparingly, after
the age of twenty ight, and died in his huu
dred and fortieth year. Ketigern, who never
tasted spirits cr wine, and worked hard all his
life, reached a hundred and eighty-five years.
Jenkins, a poor Yorkshire fisherman, who
lived on the coarsest diet, was one hundred and
gixty-ninc years old when he died. Old Parr
lived to one hundred and fifty-three; his diet
being milk, whey, email beer and coarse bread.
The favorite diet of Henry Francisco, who lived
to one hundred and forty, was tea, bread and
butter, and baked apples. Kpbraim Pratt, of
Shutesbury, Masa , who died aged one hundreTd
and seventeen, lived chiefly on .milk, and even
that in small quantities. His son Michael, by
fcimilar means, lived to be one hundred and
three years did. Father Cull, a Methodist cler-
gytnan, uiea last year at the age il one hun
dred aud five, the -main diet of his life having
been salted swine's flesh, (bacon) and bread
made of Indian meal. From these statements.
.nine general readers out of ten will jump to the
conclusion that mik is healthy, as are baked
' - j i
appies anu uacou.
These conclusions do not legitimately follow.
The only inference that can safely be drawn is
from tbe only fact
running
throueh all these '
J e- ""
cases-that. plain food and a life of steady labor !
tpnd t,i rot .-i.rp A m ihA hi!rh('nl....
fife-protracting0 qualities ofany article of diet I
named, nothing can be inferred, for no two of
the. mpn litor! nn lha c-jtiia I-;. .l -," f.nrt' n :
- " ' . w "v. tsvu. un i,wau
nan ha mti.mn
can be rationally and safely said is either that
tlle? ,iv.e 60 111 6Pite or tbc quality of the
J - '
food they ate or jbat thei
Particular kind of food, a,;
,that lost,nct' lnstead of
life of steady labor, direc
iiicir in&iiiiuia eaueu lor a
and the "ratification of
its nerversion. with a
"'' rljr Ubor, dim caused hUhful-!
ness ana great ieogtn oi days, we must not j
expect to live long by doing any one thing '
1 .1 .1 l- 1 '1
which an old man did, and omit all others; but
by doing all he did, and that is, work steadily,
as well as eat mainly a particular dish. Ball's
Journal of Health ,
olEiA.IlL.OTTE, C.
A WONDERFUL CAVE.
j Exploration ef an Indiana Cave A Man
j Fastened in a Narrow Passage and Left to
Jit's Fate.
Leavenworth
(Ind.) Correspondence Indianapolis
rieraia, April iz.
1 write to inform you of the particulars of an
exploring expedition which left here on Thurs
day last, to explore Dead Man's Cave, situated
about four miles south of this place, three qnar-
: tera r,f a mile WCSt Ot the river. A. tew WeeKS
since a party frtm Louisville, accompanied by
' citizens of this place, explored to tho distance
of three-quarters of a.mile but were stopped by
a wide subterranean river, too deep for fording,
and which tbey had no means of crossing. The
partv which left here on Thursday, consisting
in
Holcraft, Sheriff Swayne, .Dr E. R. Hawn, and
. .,.,-. T 1 k w-m 1
Lyman K. Knapp, oi this place; iUr J-esse
Brandon, of Nashville, and your correspondent,
went prepared to make a .thorough exploration
of the cave. Besides the necessary lights,
ropes, water-proof clothing, &c, they carried
with them a light but staunch boat, prepared
expressly for the occasion, on which to cjoss
the mvsteiious stream that had on the former oc-
I casion stopped their further progress.
The stream was reacnea witnoui aimcuuy,
and by meahs of our boat a crossing was easily
effected, and with light hearts ' we went on to
prosecute our explorations.
Directly ahead was. a wide gallery, whose roof
was so high that we could scarcely distinguish
it by the feeble right of the lamps, while to the
right and left tbe stream ran through another
gallery or chamber, the two intersecting each
other like the arms of a Greek cross. We fol-
lowed the gallery before us for about a quarter
ot a mile, when it suddenly narrowed, ana ap
parently came to an abrupt termination. After
searching for an outlet, and finding none, we
were on the point of reluctantly turning back,
fhen a shout of exultation from Dr Hawn pro
claimed that he had found an opening. To the
right, and some distance from the termination
of the culdqsac, the Doctor had discovered a
narrow opening. Crawling through this on our
hands and knees for a distance of several hun
dred yards, we came upon a high vaulted cham
ber, partially lighted from above, which was tbe
most magnificent underground hall I have ever
seen. Thousands of-stalactytes and stalagmites
hung pendant from above, reflecting the glare
of the torches iu millions of pure rays of dazzl
ing .light. If the ceilings and sides had been
literally hung with enormous clusters of diam
onds, the effect could tot have been more be
wildering. For a moment the entire party was
awe stricken and speechless. Then tbe more
excitable ones broke forth in rapturous applause.
Numerous small galleries were found, radia
ting in every direction from this central cham
ber, aud these were explored in turn, some of
them coming to an abrupt close, against a dead,
blank wall of rock, and others gradually
narrowing until they could be followed no fur
ther. Others forked, branching off into two or
three other galleries. It was found that the
thorough exploration of the cavern from this
point would be a. work of weeks, if not months.
In one place was found a deep circular hole, ap
parently almost bottomlesss. Stones dropped
into its gapiug mouth would be heard sullenly
plungiog from side to side, until the noise of
their descent was lost in the abyss far below.
Mr Kuapp was let down by a strong cord a dis
tance of some thirty 3'ards, when he vigorously
signified that he had seen enough by jerking
the rope. 31 r Knapp said that, after descend
ing a distance of fifteen or twenty feet, numer
ous winged things, apparently bats, viciously
snapped their niaodibles together with a devil
ish sort of twitter. One of these cold, clam
my, and inexpressibly nasty alighted on his
face and inflicted a severe bite.
Tired and weary of sight-seeing, the party
was on the point of starting on the return, when
at the earnest solicitation of Dr. Hawn, we con
sented to at least partially explore another
cavern. It was followed but a short distance
when it suddenly narrowed. Mr. Knapp going
firstpassed through the opening on his hands
and knees, and entered another large chamber.
Dr. Hawn, who is a very heavy man, attempted
to lollow, and became inextricably fixed in the
passage. ,IIe could neither get forward nor
back. For three hours the party worked inces
santly, but all to no purpose. Meantime, - one
by one the lamps had burned out, until barely
enough oil was left to light us on our way back
to the river. The thought of being imprisoned
in that living tomb, was too terrible to be en
dured, for we knew that without light we never
could find our way back. A panic seized upon
the party, and hastily leaving the Doctor and
Mr jvnapp to. their fate, we rapidly retraced our I
BteriS. CrO.-Sed tho riupr and rchirnml tn tnirn (
ir . w . . .
A supply of oils, tools, etc., were procured, and
we returned to the cave, determined to rescue
our comrades or perish in the attempt. The
river was crossed, and we proceeded to the
grand chamber where we had taken our lunch,
accompanied by numerous citizens of Leaven
worth. But, search as closely as we would, we
could not find the gallery in which the Doctor
and Mr Knapp were entombed. In vain we ex
plored and shouted until worn out and fainting.
All to no purpose. Nearly three days have
passed since we first entered the, cave, and du
ring all of that time it has bren full of people
uselessly hunting for two unfortunate men. One
after another of the various galleries leading
from tbe grand ' chamber have been explored
and blazed with chalk marks, but still the miss
ing men cannot be found. The guide of the
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky has been sent for
to assist in the search
P. S. 3Ir Knapp has just been brought in.
A hunter found him lying at the mouth of what
has generally been considered a sort of sink-hole,
about five miles from the town. 31r Knapp's
condition U too precarious to admit ofa detailed
account of bis eseape, but from what I can gath
er from his incoherent explanations, it seems
that, fiuding be could not return, he went on,
in hope of finding an outlet. After what seem
ed an age of wandering and groping in the dark,
and after having several times desparinelv laid
down to die, he was at last successful in emerg-
... ..
. . . ,. ,
on S
ii
lie lainted on com-
m to the open air, anu was in this condition
ouli,i bJ tlje uunter A party has just gone to
f'r the cavern ny tne way. id which JUr
IvnaDD came out.
.
10 TONS Pacific. Guano just received and
for sale by
OATES, WILLIAMS & CO.
April 16. I86G 4t
Spring: Goods.
A full assortment of Spring Goods, as cheap as
can be had in the market at
COCHRANE, WILSON & COS.
April 16, 1366.
THE HABEAS CORPUS IN MAJOR
GEE'S CASE.
From the Raleigh Standard.
On Saturday the l tth inst, the answer of
Gen. Ruger, commanding the department of
North Carolina, to the writ of habeas corpus
issued in the case of John H. Gee, was heard
before his Honor Judge Fowle, in the Court
House in this City. Gen. lluger declined to'
produce the body of Gee. Col. Holland, one
of the counsel for the defence,
addressed the
Court at considerable length, maintaining that
1 the answer of Gen. Ruger was insufficient, and
closed by moving an attachment
officer in the usual form.
against that
We took no notes, and shall not, therefore,
! attempt to present a sketch or Col. Holland sar-
I n m a n
sument. He manifested a commendable zeal
in behalf of his client, and his argument was
characterized by force and ability.
After a full and patient hearing, his Honor
was understood to say, that according to the
construction which the Court was disposed to
give to the recent proclamation of the- Presi
dent, the Court had inferred that it was the pur
pose of the President to restore to the people of
the State all the benefits of the civil law as in
lime of peace; one consequence of which was,
that no person could be subject to trial by mar
tial law, unless he was in the land or naval ser
vice of the United States." It was taken for
granted that the petitioner had nver been in
either, service. The Court had always believed
that in time of peace the civil law of the State,
consistent with the civil law of the United
States, and not in conflict therewith, was su
preme, and martial or military law was subordi
nate thereto. It might be, however, that the
Court had misconstrued the intent of the Presi
dent's proclamation, and that it was not his pur
pose to suppress the exercise of martial law'as to
military commissions in actual session for the trial
of offenders at the time tbe proclamation was
promulgated. The Court, being desirous of
avoiding all conflict between the civil authori
ties of tbe State and the military authorities of
the United States, deemed it advisable to take
further time for consideration, until it could
have an opportunity of , ascertaining the precise
meaning of the proclamation in this respect ;
and accordingly, tbe motion was continued un
til 10 o'clock, A. M , 28th April, 18C6.
Meanwhile the trial of Gee is progressing be
fore the military Court in this city.
It is not perfectly clear that the proclamation
cf the President restores the habeas corpus in
all cases, yet we think the Judge did right un
der the circumstances in granting the writ. ' It
will test and settle the question; and besides, in
every case of doubt it is well to lean to the side
of the civil law against the law martial.
VALLEY OP VIRGINIA.
A correspondent of the Biblical Recorder, of
Raleigh, writing from the Valley of Virginia,
gives an interesting account of matters in that
section of country. AlJuding to the many evi
dences of the war that abound throughout that
stricken region, the writer feelingly observes :
. "It has been frequently remarked that among
our dead here, there seems to be more from
North Carolina than any other State. Bravo
old North State ! The tears of Virginia's
daughters are mingled with the flowers they
have scattered over the graves where the heroes
lie ..sleeping; and it has been their sad privilege
to administer to the wants of many of them, ere
they died."
It was the fortune of a large number of North
Carolina regiments to be attached to the corps
that principally operated in the Valley; and one
who has passed, or may travel up and down it,
will be mournfully impressed, with the truth of
the statement of this "correspondent. .Every
where along its length thelieroic dead of North
Carolina lie sleeping many of them in un
known and unurarked graves. Near the numer
ous villages, however, that dot the country, in
most of which hospitals were.. established, the
cemeteries have been attended to with pious
care, and bear touching testimony to the beauti
ful devotion of the daughters of Virginia.
Many bereft ones in this State, whose kindred
lie mouldering beneath the sod of the Valley,
owe a debt of gratitude to tbe noble women of
that region, though they may know it not.
They would recognize it, in all its force, could
the lips that are now silent tell of the gentle'
ministrations that soothed their last hours, and I
brought to the dying couch sweet memories of
home.
Noble old Valley ! Scourged and desolated
land ! Home of whole-souled hospitality, of
social refinement and of high moral culture ! It
is the earnest aspiration, we are sure, of all who
have ever had an opportunity of cultivating the
acquaintance, and testing the virtues of its peo-
1 .. . u -. . U - J ?. .
i pie, mat tne deep fears on its bosom . may be
; speedily healed, and it again
become, what by
nature it was designed
to be, and what before
the struggle it
earth !
was, the very garden-spot of
NOTICE
To the Merchants and Farmers of
North and South Carolina.
The Seahoard aud HoauoJce Railroad
is now in thorough operation, and forms by its con
neclions wiih the Ita(eigh & Gaston iioad, (he North
Carolina Railroad, and the Charlotte and Columbia
Railroad, ihe -
CHEAPEST, QUICKEST & MOST DIRECT
TUROJJGII FREIGHT LINE
from all places in North Carolina and Western
South Carolina to Portsmouth, Norfolk, Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York and Boslcn.
To take advantage of tbU great through line, be
careful to consign your Freight to care of Railroad
Agent, Portsmouth, and direct your corretpondents
in New York and Philadelphia to do the same; and
from Baltimore be careful' to have your Freight sent
by Old K;ty Lin; Steamer?, .
which r.re the only Steamers by which through
Freight arrangements have been made.
JJ Take notice, that by this ront. you can con
sign your Freight directly to its destination, as all
charges and Government duties are . paid by the
Railroad Agent at Portsmouth, and forwarded to be
collected at the destination of the freight. .'
E. G. GI1I0, Agent.
April 16, I86G Ira Portsmouth, Va.
NOTICE.
Important to Shippers.
The Charlotte & S. C. Railroad in now prepared
to give
! ft Tf n y-l fr T n n rf 11 it
and forward Freighti to and from COLUMBIA to
all points on the line of ita road, at the following
rates, viz :
To Winnsboro' 75 cts. per 100 lbs,
To Chester, $1 15 per 100 lbs.
To Charlotte, Si 50 per 100 lb.
Freights destined for Columbia and points beyond
must, in all casses, be pre-paid.
Be sure and mark Through Fteighii, care Railroad
Agent. JAMES ANDERSON, Sup't.
April 16, 1866 - '
STATE ITEMS-
The Growing Wheat Crop. We have
taken some pains to ascertain the prosDects of
tbe growing whSat crop, in this and adjoining
counties, and we are glad to learn from a num
ber of farmers that the wheat is doing well and
presents a fine appearanoe. Statesville Ameri
can. Death o Rev. D. B. Nichoxson. Iter.
D. B. Nicholson, of the North Carolina Confer
ence of the Methodist E. Church- South, died
in peace at his 'residence in Magnolia, N. C ,on
the 15th inst. At the time of his death be was
Presiding Elder of the Newbern District, and
had also been Presiding Elder of this District
for many years. Wilmington Journal.
University ot N. C Hon. Gustavns A.
Henry, of Tennessee, has been invited by the
rbilantnropic society io aenver tne annual ad
dress before the'two Literary Societies in June.
It is confidently believed that he will accept.
The young men are making every arrangement
for a brilliant Commencement, and anticipate ax
large attendance of visitors.
S3?- Capt. VVm. Stevenson, (late of the 61st
N. C. Regt ,) in attempting to jump from a
train, in motion, at Coldsboro', on Tuesday
rooming, fell and the train passed over his leir,
crushing it in such a manner as to- render am
putation necessary
llattlzh Si Gaston Itatlroatl,
Scpekinte.nuent's Office, Raleigh, April 6, 1C6 J
The public are informed that the speed on this
Road has been increased, and close connections are
made with all Trains going North and Soiyh. Pas
sengers do not .change cars from Charlotte to Wel
don. To Baltimore and other cities North, the fare
as low as by any other route, and time as quick.
Through tickets to all places North by both Peters
burg, Richmond and Washington Cily, and by Nor
folk and Bay Steamers, and to the principal cities m
the Northwest via Baltimore and Oh'o Railroad.
Baggage checked through.
To Shippers very great inducements are offered.
It is the -quickest, safest, and as cheap as by any
other route. Freight is shipped through without
breaking bulk from Charlotte to Norfolk.
The connections at Norfolk with superior Ocean
Steamers, commend this route to all interested in
shipping. A. JOHNSON,
April 16 Ira Superintendent.
Dissolution Notice.
The copartnership heretofore existiug between
Bernheini & Sinclair, and which constituted the firm
known by the name and style of Bernheini & Sin
clair, 1s this day dissolved by mutual consent, Mr
Bemheiin withdrawing. The business will be con
ducted as heretofore by Alexander Sinclair, who
from this date will collect all debts due, and liqui
date all claims against the fiim.
G. D. BERNHE1M.
ALEX. SINCLAIR.
April 16, 1866.
To the Public.
In accordance with the above Notice of Dissolu
tion, I. would re&pectfullj' inform the Public, that
the business as heretofore conducted, will be 'con
tinued by myself at the old and well known Stand,
Springs' Corner. By close and strict attention to
business, I hope to retain the hitherto liberal trade
of my frieuds aud patrons.
ALEXANDER SINCLAIR.
April '16, 18G6
Just Opening,
My SPRING STOCK of Calicoes, Poplins, Mohair
Lustres, Lawns, Organdies, White Goods and No
tions. ALSO Boots, Shoes, Hats, Hardware, Willow-ware,
Crm-kery,' and almost everything found
in any other Store in our City, all of which I offer
at unusually low prices.
April 16, 1866 ALEX. SINCLAIR.
ENCOUKAGIXG TO FARDIEKS.
If you want to save money go to BAIIUINGEU,
WOLFE &CO's to buy your Goods of every kind.
- M. L. BARIUNGEU,
, S. C. WOLFE,
April 9th MARSHAL E. ALEXANDER.
COFFEE ! COFFEE ! ! COFFEE!!!
DIRECT IMPORTATION.
RAGS various grades Rio COFFEK
selected expressly for this marker,
expected daily per Schr. "Pfiel," direct from Itio
Janeiro. The attention of merchants throughout
the Slate is railed to our resumption of this trade,
and their preference for a home makkkt solicited
0. G. PARSLEY & CO,
April 0 3t Wilmington, N C.
Concord Presbytery.
There will be conveyances ready to convey the
members who nmy come to Charlotte via Railroad,
to Providence Church, 12 miles, at Bcrnheim k Sin
clair's corner at 8 o'clock A. JI. on Wednesday, 2d
May. As the Presbytery will meet at 11 A. .M. it
will he necessary for members to leave Charlotte at
8 in order to reach the Church in time for the or
ganization. R. Z. JOHNSTON,
Pastor of Providence Church.
Good IVeWs to AH..
Goods of every kind, cheap aud pretty, for Ladies
and Gentlemen. Everything to be found in the
Uue of Dry Goods, Hats, Shoes, Groceries and Hard
ware. Call and see for yourselves.
BARRINGER, WOLFE k CO.
April 9, 1866
SAVE YOUR MONEY!
We are receiving a SECOND STOCK of
Spring &l Summer Goods,
Consisting in part of a'l kinds of DRY GOODS,
Groceries, Hardware, Boots, Shoes, Gentlemens'
Hats, Ladies' trimmed and untrimmed Hats and
Bonnets in great variety, Ladies' summer Wrapp
ings, Embroidery of all Linds, Crockery, kc Ac.
We bought our Goods on as favorable terms as
any other house, and we are determined not to
undersold either at wholesale or retail.
We would resperlfully invite nil persons coming
to our cily to buy Goods to call and examine our
stock, and hear our prices, before bujing elsewhere,
as we are satisfied we can save you money.
No trouble to show Goods.
J. L. BROWN k CO.
April 9, 1866 3t
LATEST BIT EXPRESS.
Cochrane, Wilson fc Co.,
Have just received large additions -to their
Spring Stools.,
Spring Hats, a great variety,
Elegantly trimmed Spring Bonnets,
Beautiful French Flowers,
Dress Trimming?, a good assortment,
Fine Solid and Fancy Crease ilarettej,
Fine Solid and Fancy Delaines,
Spring Poplins.
Muslins, of all kinds,
And every style of Gcod3 found in a well furnish-
ed store.
t- Just received a fplcndid lot of Silk MAN
TELS. C., W. k CO.
April 9, 1866.
STRAYED OR STOLEN,
From my premises, 12 miles East of Charlotte, near
the "Lawyers' road," a strawbf rry-roan FILLY, 3
years old this Spring, black mane and tail, and io
very good order. It is supposed tbal she went or
was rode in the direction of Monroe. Any person
that will return the Filly to me, or give me informa
tion so I can get her, shall be liberally rewarded.
Address me at Charlotte.
J. L.
3tp4
PHILLIPS.
April 16, 1866
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