The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-25
GEORGIA.
Proceedings Of the State Convention.

ATLANTA, January 23-A pro-
lOnged and earnest debate took place
in the Convention to-day, upon the
question as to what should hereafter
constitute treason against the State
The Conservative and Hancock Dem
oerats seemed determined that moth
ing should go into the constitution
declaring secession treason. Strange
~ enough, two or three members, who
have heretofore been considered most
reliable Union men, made speeches
more prominent Republicans made
but feeble resistance, and the Dem
ocrats seemed to have things their
own way. Encouraged by this, they
became bolder, aud at last Holcombe,
of Milton. declared that secession is a
right of the people that it is no trea-
son, and that the Government of.
t. sse United States dare not bring
JEFF. Davis to trial. because it knows
he is no traitor and cannot be proved
one
This speech reused the Republi-
cans Dunning, Of Atlanta, took the
floor; detailed the history of seces-
sion; portrayed its bloody and dis
astrous cOnseque noes, aud with fervid
earnestness and patriotic eloquence
demanded its condemnation In the
organic law.
Crane, OF Northeast Georgia. who
has mostly heretofore acted with the
Democrats, made a speech of great
power on the same side.
Parrott, President of the COnven-
ton, came to the aid of the Democrats
with the sophistical argument that,
as State sovereignty is destroyed,
there can now be no treason against
the State.
Bed ord, who lost leg in the rebel
army, replied that just such doc
trine as that of Parrott's had made
the war. Conventions, he said, had
always lodged this issue; hence our
troubles The advocates of seces-
sion in 1861 claimed that Georgia had
a right TO secede, because there was
no denial of that right in the organic
law. G@&4
Let us now deny it; let US declare
it treason Had that been done in
the old Constitution of Georgia, her
people never could have been coaxed
VI IOIC6u iulO war against buGlT UON-
ernment; nor would [ have been en-
gagged in the armies of the rebellion
llkea dog. [ therefore demand it as
a right that this Constitution shall
declare that all who attempt again to
perpetrate this foul wrong against me
and against the State, are traitors and
deserve traitor > death. These
speeches raised the Convention to
enthusiasm. A test vote showed 73
in favor Of the correct doctrine and
45 opposed All the amendments Of
fered By the Democrats were voted
down, and the ffteeth section of the
Bill Of Rights, as. reported by the
committee, Imperfect. 1T was In Lam
guage, was about to be adopted when
| Bryant, of Augusta, offered the fol-
lowing as a substitute:
Treason against the State of Geor-
gia shall consist only In levying war
against the State, or the United States,
or adhering to their enemies, giving
them aid and comfort.
Pending the consideration of this,
| the hour for adjournment arrived.
Gen. Reiger, the new Provisional
| Governor of Georgia, has rescinded
Gov. Jenkins order January 10th,
suspending the collection of taxes.
The committee appointed yester-
day, to inquire into the charges
| against certain reporters for the dis
| loyal press. did not report this morn
| ing, and | hope the whole matter will
be allowed to sleep