Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-24

his public speeches that there was nothing
in the Reconstruction Acts of Congress or
the new Constitution OF Georgia which
made the negro eligible to Office. He said
upon this subject
"The Reconstruction acts may have intended
that the negro should be eligible to ONCE, but
! there was nothing in the language OF those acts
that warranted any such conclusion therefore
he proposed to deal with those acts OF Congress
as he read and understood them. The new Coz
stitution of Georgia. adopted in obedience to the
Reconstruction acts. clearly allowed the negro 10
| cote, but not to hold Office
Men of all parties had great confidence
in his views of this constitutional ques-
ton. After his defeat for the Senate, his
eminent legal abilities and his political
service recommended him to Governor
Bullock, and he was appointed by that
official Chief Justice Of the State.
When the Legislature of the State met
it was discovered that there were quite
number of colored members. Believing
that they were ineligible, and acting upon
the opinion enunciated by Governor
BROWN, the Democrats and white Repub-
licans of the Legislature united in expelllng
the negro members. The Democrats could
not have done italone for want OF Strength
and there was little or no division OF opln-
ion in regard to the matter. They acted
mon the advice of the recognized leader
of the Republican party OF the State and
upon the accepted opinion of both parties.
BROWN having been provided for, and
Blodgett appointed Treasurer OF the State
Railroads, after his dismissal by President
GRANT from the Augusta Postoffice, and
the Fourteenth Amendment being adopt
ed, Georgia seemed to have recovered her
lost loyalty. But hard upon this came the
crowning act of rebellion. The Fifteenth
Amendment, by the assistance OF Cover
nor Bullock and his Radical friends in the
Legislature, was rejected. The Governor
desired the further Intervention of Con-
gress and secured the defeat of this Amend
ment to secure 1t.
Besides, Governor Bullock had q private
grievance which made him burn with
spirit of revenge against the people of his
State. In connection with some Connec-
ticut men he purchased building in the city
of Atlanta for thirty thousand dollars. BY an
agreement with the municipal authorities
he was to receive ten thousand dollars
rent for this building, besides suitable
Gubernatorial Mansion, to secure the seat
of Government at Atlanta. The Governor
then had O bill introduced in the Legisla-
ture authorizing the purchase of this build
ing as a permanent Capitol for the sum OF
three hundred Thousand dollars. This the
~ the Governors ire.
CONGRESS was Immediately besieged to
interfere with the affairs of that State, these
bad men being encouraged to hope for sue
cess on account of the continued exclusion
of its Senators Bills were forthwith in
troduced into the Senate. The assertions
made by Governor Bullock in regard to
the rebellious and lawles5 acts of the peO-
pie were broken down 10y contrary proof,
and compromise was effected by the
promise made by the Hon. NELSON Tiff
to President GRANT that the question of
negro eligibility should be referred to the
Supreme Court, and that the President
would recommend suspension of further
action if the people would be governed
by that decision.
The Legislature Immediately referred
this question to the Supreme Court,
and pledged itself to be governed
by the decision. The Court decided
that the negro was eligible and had been
wrongfully elected from the Legislature,
and although this decision was rendered
more than eight months ago, Governor
Bullock has persistently refused to call
the Legislature together, although repeat
edly solicited so to do. He has even re-
fused to order elections to fill vacancies in
that body, or to order elections for members
of Congress. In a word, he has taken
upon himself to decide that Georgia was
not reconstructed.
On the third day of January the Legis-
lature of Georgia meets according to law.
This explains the hurry of Governor Bull
lock and the indecent haste of the Senate
to get the new reconstruction bill through
before shat body has an opportunity to
upon Iu0 VI Guc OuprCLu0
Court Even with the negro members re-
seated they are afraid of the Legislature.
Governor Bullock is fearful of an i'm
peachment, which is threatened on account
of his plundering the State of large sums
of money. He is totally untrustworthy
and deEoid of all moral responsibility. He
will not hesitate to stoop to anything by
which he will be able to obtain his nefa-
rious ends. But what will be thought of
President GRANT, who has violated his
solemn pledge to oppose further legisla-
ton by Congress in the affairs of Georgia,
upon condition of submitting the question
of negro eligibility to the Supreme Court
and abiding by the result. Now, before
the Legislature meets, he asks Congress
to hurry through bill undoing all that
has been done, and giving aid and COM
fort to Bullock and his wicked coadju.
tors in their base efforts against the peace
Al