davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
The Tax UnOn Cotton.

The bill which has been introduced
into the United States Senate by Mr..
Rice, the carpet-bag member in that bo-
dy from Arkansas. to CIRCULATE the
price and encourage the production of
cotton" amounts to nothing more than
a bill to tax the great Southern staple,
for the benefit of the Northern manu-
facturers. Its principal features and eff
fects are set forth in the following no.
tice of it by. the Columbus Enquirer !:
The bill provides that the Govern
ment will pay 20 cents per pound for
cotton, and hold it if it cannot get 2J
cents for it (thus making the Govern
ment dealer and speculator in the ar
ticle,) but that home manufacturers may
have it for 221a cents. If the planter
sells to any one else than Government
agent, he must pay the Government a
tax of 3 cents per pound. The scheme
is cunningly devised one to make eve
ry other purchaser except home man
ufacturer of cotton pay 21s or 3 cents q
pound more than the manufacturer will
have to pay, and to enable the Govern
ment to manage the cotton crop in the
interest Of the New England manutac-
turerS" H-
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Earthquake in Mexico.

A letter from Culima, Mexico, gives
an account of terrible earthquake ex-
perienced in that city on the morning of
December 20. For several days previ-
Gus the volcano of Culima, thirty miles
from the city, exhibited symptoms of
internal commotion, sending forth
steam, accompanied by rumbling sha-
king of the earth. On the morning of
the Goth, there was gentle rocking of
the earth, which gradually increased in
violence until the walls cracked and ev-
erything breakable in the houses demol-
ished. Vibrations lasted nearly forty
minutes. Cathedrals and warehouse
brick buildings cracked from top to bot
tom. The people, startled from their
sleep, rushed frantically for the plaza.
1t is reported that several persons were
killed by the falling of the National
Hotel. The shock was felt a long dis
lance into the interior. At several pla-
ces the ground opened, and trees uproot-
ed, hills leveled, water courses changed
and a general upheaving Of earth took
place. AT the city of Manzanillo the
Cathedral building which had stood the
shocks of earthquakes and storms for
nearly a century, was riven from top to
bottom, even the tiles OIL the roof were
broken. Some eighteen or twenty per-
sons were crushed by the falling of the
American Hotel, and three others bur-
led in the ruins.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
A Terrible Crime and Swift
RetributiOn.

MEMPHIS, January 12.-Saturday
night negro, named Abe Vanderburg,
went to the house of William Smith,
an employee of the Mississippi Central
Railroad, at Water Valley, Mississippi.
After desperate struggle he succeeded
in Outraging the person of Mrs. Smith,
but not before he had strangled her lit
tie daughter until she was insensible.
AS soon as it was daylight, Mrs. Smith
alarmed the neighbors, who with the
Marshal of the town, went in pursuit of
and soon succeeded in capturing him.
On bringing him into town, it was
with the greatest difficulty the negroes
who had assembled were kept from
burning him. He was placed in Jail for
safe keeping. That night, however, the
KukluX in strong force came and took
him out and hung him yesterday morn
ing. Mr.. Smith returned home and be-
came almost maniac on hearing of the
affair, and taking rifle went to the spot
where the body was still hanging, cut it
down, gathered rails, built fire upon
it, and while the body was burning
danced around it like mad man.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
nrassadre Of u. 8. soldier.

After the defeat and rout of Black
Kettles party, Major Elliot and fifteen
men of the Seventh Cavalry incautious-
ly pursued the flying savages without
regard tot the movements of Custar's
main column. The little band ran into
an ambuscade, were surrounded by
large body of Indian warriors, and there
they fought against heavy odds until
the last Of the sixteen fell in his tracks,
or was taken prisoner and tortured t$
death. The fate Of Maj. iNliotia hiA
companions was not determined for sev1'
eral days, and wien their bodies were
found at last, correspondent of the
New York Herald was there to look
on. He writes as follows: IN a.
5 "Within an area Of not more than If
teen yards lay sixteen human bodies, all
that remained of Elliot and his party.
The winter air swept across the plain
and with its cold blasts had added to-
the ghastliness of death the additionay
spectacle of sixteen naked corpses frozen
as solidly as stone. There was not z
single one that did not exhibit evidenl-
ces of fearful mutilatiOn. The bodies
were all lying with their faces dowH,
and in close proximity to each othar'
Bullet and arrow wounds covered t4c
backs of each the threats of o number
were cut, and several were beheadeo'
Owing to the mutilation of the bod9ees,
and no one present having been sJsHi-
GENTLY acquainted with Maj. EYlot
while living. his body was not OF INC
time recognized. The gtass i eref icy
lay was trodden down, and nfmSkr Of
cartridge shells testify TO the vaIor Of
their defense"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
The Tenure-of-omce Bin.

Our Washington dates Of the 18th
state that the bill repeating the tenure
of-oflicc act passed the House of Rep
resentatives on that day, all.the Dsmo-
Gratis voting forit. The tenure-of-office
act was passed by this same Congress
for the sole purpose of annoying and
embarrassing the President, and the rea-
diness of the House to repeal 1t, now
that Mr.. Johnson's time Is drawing to O
close, illustrates in striking colors the
spirit which conceived and instigated
the Infamous measure. The bill to re-
peal now goes to the Senate, where 1t
will meet with more obstinate oppo-
sition, but where it will be adopted be-
fore the 4th of March, as it is under
stood that General Grant has signified
in peremptory terms that the obnoxious
restraints thrown around the Executive
office by malicious and unconstitutional
legislation, must be removed in ad-
vance of his Inauguration.
We notice that Messrs. Maynard, Ar
nell, Mullins, Stokes and Trimble, OF
Tennessee, voted against the repeal OF
the act, thus for once maintaining theil
consistency, and taking the same view
as that entertained by Wendell Phillips
and other extremists.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15

not feel comfortable residing In q State
where halfof the people and two-thirds
of the tax payers are publicly degraded
by law, without any motive to be proud
of the State and its Government. ] de-
sire pacification, harmony and resto-
ration Of confidence among the people,
and that this chronic strife may cease
in our generation, and not be left as an
heirloom for our posterity. g
Again, while / denouce and condemn
those leaders who brought on the war,
and those of the lower order who NAL
treated citizens and prisoners, am per-
suaded that the misguided masses of the
Southern people were honest in their
devotion to the Southern cause-bad as
il was. It will not do to say that men
and women of one-third of a nation
are all felons. 1 take it that the man
who left his family and home, and
fought and suffered for four years with.
out pay, and to his own impoverish.
ment, would not have done so If he had
not thought he was right.
These people were greatly improve
rishcd by the war. They suffered de.
feat, wounds and captivity. We have
emancipated their slaves; we have dis.
franchised the master, and disabled him
from holding Office or sitting OIL juries
we have eufranchised the slave, and
given him the right to hold Office and
sit upon juries, thus, In many localities
reversing the relation of master an6
slave. think we have punished then
enough for participation in the rebel
lion, and that it is time to commence
gradually, at least, to remove theil
chains. A father may punish a truan
or rebellious son until he gets himsel
into the wrong.
have thus, Mr.. Editor, given ex
preston to my candid sentiments.
am aware that as my views they arr
worth nothing, but if they are word
of truth and soberness they are wortl
more than gold and diamonds.
A. j. FLETCHER.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
The Next Governor.

AS the time approaches when Gov.
Brownlow must vacate the Executive
chair to repair to his seat in the United
States Senate, the question of the sue
cession becomes more and more mixed.
At present however Col. Bill Stokes
seems to have the inside track. He is
said to be the favorite with the East
Tennessee members of the Legislature,
which gives him a decided advantage
over Senter or any other man whose
name has been mentioned in connection
with the place. a private dispatch from
Knoxville says the Rev. DIR. Pearne
viii, not be contestant for the nomina-
ton under any circumstances, as he
expects tc be wholly absorbed with the
duties attaching to him as editor-in-chiet
of the Wig, and not having the versa
tility of genius sufficient to run both
machines.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
An Expiring, Carpet-Bagger.

Gleason, the Lieut.. Governor of Flo
rida, who hasbeen trying for some time
to have the Governor impeached in Or
der that he plight the more securely rob
and plunderNhe people of that unfortu-
nate little St&e, eliminated last Satur-
day by calling negro member to the
Presidency Of the Senate, and then re-
signing. TheSeaate sat sequently elect
ed white man foi its presiding officer,
and thus tho. illusarioas Gleason sub
sides and disappear, from public view.
For all which the people of Florida
ought TO 3% and IL doubt are, truly
thankful.t
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Guhernafnrial.

The Shelbyville Republican, n very
respectable radical sheet, is cut for the
Hon. Thos. II. CUldwell for Governor.
1t closes an article on the subject with
the following appeal to East Tennessee !:
Our political friends in East Tenncs-
see have had theGovernor for two terms
and the great body of the Middle Ten
nessee members most cheerfully sent
Gov. Brownlow to the Senate of the
United States. Then, cannot Middle
Tennessee, with some just claim 10 the
honor, present the name of the Hon.
ThOs. III. Coldwell before the Republic
can party for its candidate for the Office
of Governor, at the August election.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
New Policy Indicated.

We are not of that class who place q
large degree of faith in the oracular
outgivings and representations of Wash
ington correspondents, and hence sell
dom reproduce them in our columns
when we can find anything else to Ill
up with. The following, however, has
the impress of reliability about it, and
is worthy The readers attention. 1t oc-
ours in the correspondence of the Balti-
more Gazette of last week:
There was great interest manifested
to-day by all parties in the House of
Representatives to hear the Hon. Elihu
b. Washburne, as 1t was generally I'M
derstood that he would speak by autho-
rity from Gen. Grant, and the fact that
he read from printed slips, pasted on
sheets of foolscap, gave currency to the
rumor. Mr.. Washburne has never be-
fore been known to prepare speech in
advance, and rarely uses notes when adj
dressing the House. The speech deliv-
cred to-day is said to have been submit
ted to and approved by the President
elect as an authoritative foreshadowing
of what his policy would be. just prior
to Mr.. Washburne's rising to address the
House, Attorney General Evarts enter
ed the Representative Hall and held a
short conference with him, which, from
the bobbing of heads that followed
seemed to be mutually satisfactory =
The Republican members were very
quickly gathered around Mr.. Wash
burne's seat, while the Democrats sat in
silent but attentive isolation on the OPP
posite of the hall. The first proposition
commenced was that "a new departure
had to be taken" by the Radicals-the
whole policy of the party had to be
changed. This announcement caused
an extraordinary opening of eyes and
pricking up of ears. Schenck remarked
to his colleague, Garfield" That, in
deed, sounds as if speaking by autho-
rity."
After depicting the demoralizing ef-
fects of a bloated paper currency, Mr..
Washburne ventured upon his second
proposition, viz: the plundering of the
public treasury by robbers engaged in
contracts and the squandering of the
public lands would have to cease
"Good ~ exclaimed Mr.. Brooks of New
York. and several other Democrats
Mr.. Washburne continued, and, with
his voice at its highest pitch, announced
that Representative must understand
that they are but the servants of the
people they represent, and are not tc
legislate for themselves and the gam.
blers which crowd Washington" This
is, indeed, plain talk, coming as it doe;
from the President elect, who evidently
intends that Congress shall understand
from the very jump, that it is but CO.
ordinate branch Of the Government, ant
must keep within its proper constitu
tional limits.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Latest from Congress,

WASHINGTON, January 13.-The Sem
ate is engaged on amendments to to the
hdbe0s corpus.
In the House, various resolutions
were offered, but of no general import
ance.
The Supreme Court is arguing the
question involving the legality of the
sale, at Liverpool, Of the Confederate
cruiser Georgia.
The House Election Committee voted
on the Georgia election case first
Wimpey, who holds Bullock's certf-
cate, was not elected; Christie, who
holds Meade's certificate, was elected,
but is disqualified, and his case was re-
ferred to the Reconstruction Committee
for the removal of bis political disabili-
ties. ..t -
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15

Our ever-attentive and truthful Nash
willie correspondent writes, that the
Legislature, in It's constituent and COM
ponent parts, has not yet fairly recover
ed from the effects which the holidays
sometimes infiict even upon tho most
virtuous and abstemious natures, and,
therefore, but little Of interest 10 trans
piring in that body. The members from
East Tennessee, who generally belong
to that class possessed of zeal without
knowledge, are as full Of vehement
loilty as ever, and never let an oppor-
tunity to make an exhibition of it and
themselves pass unimproved.
In the House, on the 9th, Mr.. Rich
ards offered chill, in lieu of bill in
troduced by Mr.. Ryder which provides
for the calling of convention to amend
the Constitution so as to establish uni-
versal suffrage, and the absolute and
permanent equality of all races before
the law" The bill ELECTED long and
animated discussion, and was finally
indefinitely postponed by vote of 81
to 20. Among the norators" whose
loil and patriotic odors were made more
than ordinarily manifest on the occa-
sion, were Messrs. Mynatt and White
the former hailing from chivalrous old
Knox, and the latter, very appropriate
ly, from Greene county. Mr.. Richards
made an earnest and able speech in IA
vor of the bill.
The following is the vote by ayes and
noes, and may be regarded as settling
the question of suffrage so far as any
action by the present Legislature is con-
cerned. The question was on motion
to indefinitely postpone:
Ayes-Agee, Allen, Anderson, Bow
les, Blackburn, Bloom, Brewer, Chiles,
Carey. eagle, Cordell, Dame, Faulkner
Griffith, Gilmer, Graysoll, Hale, Hodges
Hammer, Hacker, Inman, Medley, MUIR
ray, Mynatt, Moore, Pickett, Porter
Pitts, Reed, Roddy, Sheppard, Smith,
Sparkman, Stone, Thornburg of Grain
ger. White of Bradley, White Of Greene
81.
Noes-Brown, Carter, Hunt, Jordan
johnson, Kerchival, Lillard, Morris
McNair, Mason, Reeves, Robinson, Ry-
der, Roach, Turner, Woodcock, Walker
Williams, Wines and Speaker richards
80.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Alabama.

MONTGOMERY, January 12.-The Col
un,biana Guide, a newspaper published
at the county site of Shelby county, in
this State, says that Judge Pelham, Of
the Circuit Court, on q case coming be-
fore him from the Probate Court of this
county, decided that the present Lcgis-
lature is an illegal body, and Governor
Smith an unlawful officer. 'latt
Judge Pelham is prominent mem
Der of the Republican party, and was
elected to his Office at the same time tho
Legislature and Governor was chosen.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
New Business.

Among the new business in the
House of Representatives at Nashville
ON the 18th, wenotice the following;
By Mr.. Williams-Bill to repeal the
law with regard to the publication of
public notices. Passed first reading.
BY Mr.. Sparkman--Bill to compel
railroads to carry ministers of the gos-
pei free of charge. Tabled.
BY Mr.. Sparkman--Bill to compel
females to wear pantaloons. Tabled.
The following Senate bills were pass
ed on third reading:
y To incorporate the Tennessee Agri-
cultural and Mechanical Association.
3 To incorporate the Tennessee Man
ufacturing Company. XXX
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Negro Murderers Lynched.

A dispatch from St. Louis states that
three negro soldieys belonging to Capt.
Clousas' company, 3Sth infantry, ihur-
dered white man named Hays, in
Hays City, few days ago. They were
arrested and put in Jail for trial, but at
night vigilance committee took them
out and hung them. The danger of fire.
quent conflicts between white and black
soldiers, such as have occurred at Fort
Larned, have induced the officers, fear
ing loss of life, to have the blacks re-
moved from the Fort and quartered
at safe distance. ...t...
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
The3kecretary of State.

In our columns to-day will be found
communication from the Hon. A. j.
Fletcher. Though principally personal
to that gentleman and those members
Of his parltby whom he has recently
been assail a, it contains things which
will at les interest the reader if they
do not excite general and marked atten-
\tion. 1t WIN be seen that the Secretary
of State diselain, being an aspirant for
the Cub srnatoria. succession; though if
nominated by hi party it is possible he
might be induced to accept. 1t will also
be seen that Nj. fletcher throws solid
shot or two at he rapidly dissolving
Brownlow dnggy.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
The Instruction in Virginia.

A short paragraph appears on the first
page of our paper in relation to the
troubles with the blacks in Princess
Ann county, Virginia. The following
comes from Norfolk, and is additional
Details of the negro trouble near
Kempvillc, in Princess Ann equity, are
received. Lieut.. Farragut and f0we,
whites, en- route to the farms occupied
by negro squatters, who were to be
elected, passed an armed force of sew
enty-five negroes in the woods, who
made no demonstrations. On nearing
the squatters' quarters, fresh number
arrived and retreated to a house, which
was surrounded. Sergt. Cullen advan-
ced to the door and was instantly shot,
which so Infatuated the troops that they
returned the fire, and, rushing into the
Three men were killed outright. The
troops were withdrawn after affecting
the arrest of one or two ringleaders.
A delegation of negroes then waited
upon the officer and demanded the cap.
tured men, which was refused. The
spokesman then reiterated if that was
the way things were going every white
man would be run out of the country.
Citizens of Kempsville picketed the vii
lage, the woods being filed with armed
negroes. This morning they had disap.
peared, and with view to more spec.
dy paeification the troops returned to
the city. approximations are still enter.
tanned of renewal of troubles, and
great excitement continues. Battery A
of the 9Th Artillery, arrived here this
evening to reinforce the troops. A ne.
gro, Hodge, formerly q member of the
Constitutional Convention, is reported
to have occasioned resistance to the
civil authorities by an inflammatory
speech, in which he told them to hold
on to the property and fight to the last
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
A Startling Mystery.

The Kuklux have got Nashville de-
tective named Barmore--at least it may
be so inferred from the following para
graph from long sensational article
in the Banner on the subject:
The excitement in the city, yesterday,
with regard to the seizure and spiritiEg
away of Detective Barmore at Column
hia, by band of masked men, about
half past one o'clock in the morning,
was general and intense. The streets
were rife with rumors as to his fate, but
on that point no reliable information
had reached Nashville up to late hour
last NIGHT.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Lynching in Georgia.

The following appears among the dis
patches in the Atlanta papers of the
10th:
AUGUSTA, Jan. 9.-It is reported that
the murderers of Martin and his two
sisters, who were murdered, robbed and
burned at their home in Columbia coun-
ty, a few weeks since, were taken from
the Jail at Appling and lynched.
A white man named Anderson Up
ton and three negroes, who composed
the party, confessed the murder OF
Martin and his sisters, the stealing OF
5000 in gold, and subsequent burning OF
the house and bodies to cover their
ruilt
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
An Ex-NIayor Arrested.

The Chattanooga Republican Of Tuesday
contains the following astounding paragraph.
About two o'clock sunday morning our ex-
Mayor, ID. @. Carr, was arrested under eharge
of embezzling public money. The trial came
up on yesterday before Esq. Newly, but had,
not been decided at late hourlast night. The
proceedings will be given and the affair fully
ventilated when decision is reached.
A subsequent date from Chattanooga states
that, after protracted investigation, Mr. Carr
was discharged on account Of the insult cheney
of the charge. ,.tt. ga,
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
"A Candid Opinion,

A member of the United States Sem
ate, having recently been asked what he
thought of Gen. B. f. Butler, replied:
"What Of Gen. Butler? Well, sir,
as man, l have the most profound re-
spect for the General; as rascal, my
opinion might vary according to cir
cumstances. Socially, I honor him (;
politically, wouldn't believe him un-
der oath. You say this is nice dis
tinction, but Senators understand IL"
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Another Gubernatoria1 Item.

The Nashville Press and Times in
forms its readers that the latest specula-
ton in regard to the gubernatorial roec
in this State, on the Democratic side Of
the house, is that the Democracy viii
put no candidate in the field except one
of the mild Conservative stripe, with a
Union record during the war--Edmund
Cooper, for eXample-and that Andrew
johnson will take the stump in his sup
port. This arrangement will make
lively and formidable fight.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
TheIsllnd Of Cuba.

A Mr.. Robins IN introduced bill in
the United States House of Representa-
tiyes, on the l!5h, acknowledging the
independence of Cuba, and providing
for its annexation without purchase.
AS Wholesale stealing is in order, it is
thought the proposition will receive the
favorable attention of Congress.
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
Kicked Ont.

The United States Senate has voted
to indefinitely postpone all loyal claims
for damage during the war. This will
be bad news for large number of anx-
ious expectants. And if known at an
earlier day, might have saved to the
Taxpayers of Tennessee about one. hun
bred thousand dollars-the sum it takes
to remunerate the County Commission
ers for their arduous services last sum-
mer. ZEE
The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-15
The Debt of Pennsylvania.

The annual message of Governor
Geary shows that the debt of Pennsyl-
yania has been reduced to the extent Of
$4,2O9, 1856 in two years and three months.
The State debt this time aggregated
$50, 2S6,948. aR