The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-26

The journey Down-Gcorgin Politics
The ReceptiOn-High Jinks and jun
ketting--A visit to st. Elmo-T h,
Prospects of the Good City and He,
People, SO.
AIKEN, s. c., February 25, 1sG9.-The South
ern Press Association has met and adjourned
You have not published its proceedings, nor dc
propose to send them to you in full; but
may say here that the Association is now on 8
firm footing, and promises to be productive O.
great benefit to the whole press Of the South.
l. At the present time the Southern news pa.
pers excluding the presses Of Virginia and
Louisiana-pay to the society known as the
New York Associated Press about fifty thou
sand dollars per annun for telegraphic news.
This amount of money pays the cost OF send
ing the dispatches, pays the salaries ct the
agents of the Associated Press throughout the
South, and leaves profit to the New York AS
sociation, which association obtains from the
South free Of cost, its agents being paid by
the contributions Of our press. that Southern
political, commercial and miscellaneous news
which the North cannot do without. There
is no reciprocity in the existing arrangement.
All the advantages are on the side Of the New
York Associated Press, and it was high time
that the Southern Press Association, which
represents the public presses Of the Caro-
hnas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Mis-
sisslppi, should take some steps to obtain
the control Of its own money, to remedy the
fagrant abuses which now exist, aud to prove
that the newspapers OF six Southern States
shall no longer be made the shuttlecocks of the
press caucus in New York. The Southern
Press Association has made good beginning.
1t had reputation in the con yention just held
in Mobile which entitled it to a respectful
hearing, and before many months are over
The NEWS, in common with every other paper
in the South which receives telegraphic news,
will feel the happy consequences of the deter
mination Of the Southern Press Association to
be independent as far as practicable, and to
secure that equitable treatment which has
always been it's due. Efforts will of course
be made by interested persons to pooh poohl
the whole project from Alpha TO Omega, but I
say to you frankly, that il our presses continue
to stand together as they do now, the New
York Association must make the concessions
which we demands or else do without the snug
sum which we now pay into it's treasury.
For the present, however will allow the
Press Association to take care of itself. and
give you brief sketch Of our trip to Mobile,
and the manner of our treatment in that beau
tiiul and thriving CITY,
On my way down travelled in company with
Major Engelhard. the editor OF that sound
Democratic daily, the Wilmington Journal; Mr..
James, assistant editor Of the Wilmington
Post; Mr. James r.. Randall. the managing
editor Of the Augusta Constitutionalist-a
paper to which Georgia owes a 4dabt of graft
t'ide whiSh she cannot easily pay-and Mr..
Patrick Walsh, assistant editor Of the Augusta
Chronicle. live and pushing journal. This
formed our whole party until we reach
Atlanta, but at that point and at other
points along the route we were ioined
by other representatives OF the press. Among
whom may name Major Steele, Of the Atlanta
lnteligencer. the Nestor of the Southern Press
ESQ dubbed by an enthusiastic editor at an ear
ly hour in the morning) /; Major Thompson, of
the Savannah News, well known as the author
Of Major Jones' Courtship and Travels; Colonel
Lamar. OF the Columbus San, President of the
Southern Press Association, and one Of the
boldest and most trenchant Journalists in Geor-
gia, and Mr.. Reese, of@the Macon Journal and
Messenger, accompanied by his young and
charming wife.
The press party was treated with great coJlr-
tesy by Captain Moore, of the South Carolina
Railroad, Captain Smith, of tbe Georgia Rail-
road, and Captain w. g. Herndon, Of the At
lanta and West Point Railroad.
The journey was marked by no special inoi-
dent, but it was refreshing to hear the manner
in which the Georgians whom we met in the
cars, gentle and simple, spoke Of the political
situation in their State. Our sister State has
thrown down the gauntlet. She has written
the doom Of Radlcalism on the gates of the
capitol, and, come what may, will not turn her
face from the shining goal of right aud consti-
tutional freedom. The political creed OF Geor-
gia is plain and concise. It is this: "Full
protection to the colored people in their
rights Of person and property. Persistent
and untiring opposition to that equality with
tho whites which the negro has been en-
couraged 10 claim" The Georgians, as
well as I can gather. judge every question
from the white point Of view. They are the
champions Of the white race and will brook
no such thing as negroes in office or negroes
in the social circle. They seem determined to
make no compromise, and dare Congress to do
Its worst. So much for the politics Of the most
State Of the South.
MOBILE.
1t was about midday on Tuesday, the 10th
instant, when we reached Mobile. The weather
was cold and drizzling, and our comfortable
quarters at the Battle House, still one OF
the best hotels in the South, were welcome to
our weary crew. In the course Of an hour or
two we we're called oa by Colonel John Forsyth
and T. Cooper DeLeon. Esq, Of the Mobile Re-
gister, and Captain Eggleston and Mr.. Ma
guire, Of the Mobile Tribune. These gentle
n,ep gave us hearty welcome, and to them is
due much Of the pleasure which we received
during our stay.
will not attempt to tell you all that we saw
aud heard. You must be satisfied with the
salient events.
The doegates to the Press Convention, as