New-York tribune., 1868-01-21
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
GEORGIA.
TIE RECONSTRUCTION CONVENTION

One not acquainted with the people OF TINS
state. and the political distinctions which na'o NV,
among them would find difficult TO understand the
lines which divide partles in this Convention Properly
sreoti ,tore are no parties for all united on the
great question Of Reconstruction. but delegates differ as
70 how much ought to be Yielded 10 h9 ece9sll OF re-
state Rights and bow reluctantly 10 the exigence or
allowing the negro 10 vote or according MN equay OF
,bts These are the Union because they can do no
better they would De Rebels II they could There Is
another class who are earnest ana sincere Union men
f,t who look upon the negro with more contempt
Than the others These the men Of the mountains
who suffered the most for their Union principles during
the warWhO despse the negro because they KNOW htte
him, and from this class have come the proposals
10 the Convention forbid the marriage OF whites and
BLACKS. declaring this Is white mans Government
And the like. The third class are what would be caled
sadicals at the North Of the most ultra OF these
nre Southern men but many Of these Of Northern
Orgin Beside these there are other little cnques ah9
pOteres in the Convention, OF which can be dgned
with the name OF party Party lines are by no means
strictly drawn, for there is large class III each party
which will not De guided against their Judgment 70 te
support OF any that JUDGMENT does not approve
ven the coored delegates cannot be always brought 10
vote naSse, unless II be for or against some measure
that they think affects their interests or rights.
The Convention today very unanimously REUSED 10 re-
consider aud amend the report OF the committee on
hance sOlemny dsclamlng any Intention on Ihe par. b
The Convention TO interfere Win Ie 1TnGf % ~
1he Intention OF the Convention binding upon IL ana
foTe was Sufficient the purpose but there might have
been extravaganza or there mght& nay nave peen - fbe
aud this Convention would not plnd tne Ac"on "a '"'
M sfaItin Of Habersham County offered resolution
cha. cen Meade he requested to order the Treasurer of
GnorSa 10 cnost in te hands Of n L. Angler, the dis
bursnS agent OF the Convention funds sufficient 10 pay
The exSepses As we have now military IL is
probable this resolution may BRING the money espeC"S
D. Gen Meade has declared that should come and re
moved Gov JenSns and his treasurer for refusing sup
Aes hut IL Is said that the public money has been spirited
AWAY TO NewYork to parts unknown ana Gen Meaae
may md it impossible to pump water out Of dry Wen:
The Committee education today Ia9e mac very IlaU ht
Orate report proposing system Houc!Io .i t ' sto
systems of the North. 1t provides that the present stare
m 6de 5 4eeR be aGq Of state snenendent and
Board OF Regents composed OF Two mempsIs oiOsen n
Legislative powers educational matters subject 70 the
control OF the General Assembly. Education IN az
o Th drcatione fnnd to consist OF the earnings OF
the State Railroad the proceeds OF poaX not 10 ex
ceed 81 militia fines, &c 1t provides that the ethte % Sa9
shall never be sold Separate schools may be estapsheu
The Convention have at last got work in putting to
getber the various reports Of the Committees INTO Con
bttution Upon motion of Mr. Richardson, the Conven
on went INTO Committee Of the Whole and took up the
and the preamble of the Constitution Of subst
Iued 1he two first sections were merged into one and
amount duty Of government and shall be impartial ana
o aIT snu or pToyery eXept g due process
0f law was adopted without debate but the fourth sec
1ent s deb except for fraud or when the debtor re-
sides beyond the limits Of the State elected much ae
Date An effort made 10 strike out all AFTER e "OIu
tdebt in effect abolishing Imprisonment for aeDt ao
geher but II was stouty resisted ana me aepae
yracced by the petty County Courts nIon f
negro debtors has produced strong feeAng III la'oi ol
abolishing this relic VI barbarous age . r.
Tbe corresnondence OF vour contemporaries Of The
Ssnnes n the writers had come here and such be-
leved their instructions, TO bring contempt upon
md render ridiculous the Convention ID the eyes OF le
Northern people they have unscrupuously used every
their power 10 do so 1t ls gazing 10 he onHn
be thus misrepresened ny those VINO
ought 20 uphold them in the difficult task before then
s s at one time proposed privately to take from
reporter the privilege OF the floor but better Couuses
1nder without rebuse in the hope that the people Of
re North would understand the motive and detect the
ATLANTA. Ca. Jan. 16. 1863
To-day some reports We're made, of which
none were Of anytmportance except that of Dr. Miller
5r5n the Committee the Militia. The Convention
v snt into Committee of the Whole the Bill Of Rights
.. ne report offthe Militia Committee makes the militia 10
consist OF all males between the ages OF is and 49, II
G. a nothing about distinction Of color, and 1t IS pre-
snable therefore that it is intended that the young
and middle aged chvary Of Georgia Will have to should
er -nusket in the same ranks with the i'd niger"
Not TO have got the aforesaid chvay out Of this disa
rreeable dilemma unkiHd in Dr. Miller, who under
stood 10 be leader Of Conservatives" IN the Con
VsntIon and is tie same gentleman who, day or two
since denounced the Convention as set OF roDDrs-as
1namous-and when asked If he was not elected by ne
gro votes replied that his constituents were rlng-a
sreaked and speckled The occasion for this TRADE
gesOutlou by Mr. Ashbun calling ON Congress to clothe
she coaven0n With power to YSGate @ & ana fnv m s ts oil
b1cers who IN every county OF the state we're ana
are row Rebels were tho oossSSes Sonyantion were in
favor O. he resolution, but through bad management
supporters the resolution got lnc1mpeFeu WIN aienH
tnents substitutes and finally laid upon the table
o%ept There an eager desire to have the desired
power conferred upon the Convention but the passage OF
work on the new constitution There is no lack Of
denoe Cen Meade indeed the confidence OF the Union
men In growing daily but, being stranger the
Genera himself as well as the Convention is aware that
Ne cannot the needs and wishes OF tins people 80
of fourth section Of the Bin OF Rghts occupied the
whole session to-day, and took wide range The section
Is as follows There shall be no Imprisonment for DEBT
except for fraud when the debtor resides beyond te
ii, of ibe STATE or is about 10 remove thererOn" The
proposition before the Convention TO strike out az
after the word debt The speeches MADE bOth pro ana
con dsIoved much ability Tie cOlored members partci
1atea I'M The discussion and were divided in opinion,
BRADLEY the eolored lawyer from Boston who has been
abused into widespread fame by the newspapers.
of Of imprisonment scGs for debt, while crumly,
eioSuepce though wholly uncutvated, maintained
that the 4th section should be allowed 70 stand OtheT
that the law Of Georgia II stands relation 70 ban pro
has been made the instrument OF oppression to tner
how IT was also made the of driving off North
ern from the state and related his own experience
~ appears that having small capital ne came 70 ths
State IN 1866 rented plantation and engaged IN planting
cotton Before the notes given Tor the plantation were
Sherman. had him arrested and carried to Augusta eav
lng nus almost distracted VILE ana ehafen slVhe "s ee
pantaion WIN no friend but himself nearer tha new
York, for Northern men and women have Few friends
here. He knew not 10 whom to apply for bail, for he
knew very few people and would have had have
gone 10 jail had not few colOred OF property gone
Sheriff He returned home, hs wife sick his farm
ing stock carried of and hs ruined for want Of
neans to This produced considerable feel
ing the Convention, although 1t was related by Mr..
sherman In simple and hesltatng manner II was ar
ecutOn the fault Of the law but arose from the
fact that Mr.. :. was Northern man whom IL was con,
drive away but # replied that such an effective In:
strunent Of snGua hoS De NoIbeTn a
EheTmsn and showed that although imprisonment for
doh alleda