The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-10-20
SUMMER IN UPPER GEORGIA,
MARIETTA, Ga. Sept. oath, 1870.


When in Atlanta yesterday dropped
in the Capitol to see the famed Legisla-
ure of Georgia. I have done so several
times during the summer and was again
irresistibly impelled to look in upon that
remarkable body of men. Nothing can
more fully testify to the great revolution
which has taken place in the south, than
assemblies like this, where the late slave
holder and his slave sit in council togeth-
err. ,a $50 $500 at
Whatever opinion we may entertain
oft the wisdom of such construction of
the legislature of great state, it is
without dispute one of the most extraor-
binary results of the late war, and not
the least interesting fact Of the age. gag
It is freely charged by one set of men
that very foolish and some very wicked
things have been done by this legislature
and that it has greatly damaged the
public interests. The leading Republi-
cans insist, on the contrary, that in spite
of factions opposition, many measures
have been passed which will tend much
to secure the future prosperity of the
state. Perhaps as in many other matters
of human experience, the truth lies in
the mean between the extremes. Candid
men represent the majority of these
Legislators as inexperienced men of coed
who have erred, if they have
erred at all, through want of practice in
public affairs rather than with any mis-
chieyous purpose. 1t must be borne in
mind, too, that there are some here who
are not displeased at the errors of the
dominant party, and gladly exaggerate
every mistake that has been made The
situation of tie stats has also rendered
sound legislation doubly difficult, and
perhaps few rlen of any race, creed, or
color could have done much better under
the circumstances. It may reasonably be
lation can be had, where the lands and
capital Of the state are not fully represent
ed, and it has been the misfortune of
Georgia, as OF some other southern states,
that its capitalists in array1ng themselves
on the least popular side, have been ex-
Guided thus far from halls where their
presence is needed for the just balance of
all its important interests. From much
that I obseryeand listen to, am inclined
to believe, that we may scarcely hope for
the entire tranquility and prosperity of
this state until these influential elements
shall enjoy in some way their natural
position in the public councils.
The men who are to pay the taxes
naturally grow FESTIVE under the gener-
Gus if not lavish appropriations which IT.
responsible legislators are easily tempted
to indulge in. But have not seated
myself to write politics, have been too
short time in the state to know much of
its condition,and Georgia politics, as you
are aware, are something of study.
have been interested rather in some
other aspects of this singulsr Legislature.
The general confusion which prevails SO
contrary to the stately etiquette OF the
old regime is one of the first and least
agreeable impressions Then the
bpstling negro throngs abo1t the doors
when important matters ere up, eeuiag
water melons or "goubers," the negro
and white doorkeepe~s, negro and white
pages, negro and white spectators give
IN unusual look to pail mentary assem-
blies heretofore exclusively assigned to
men of the white race The kind ioter-
course observable between the two races
in this new field OF action, and their
mutual Difference, with rare exception,
may allay all apprehension in regard to
z the war of races" and is another and |
very hopeful feature of this assembly.
It has been subject of general remark
hat the whites in the legislature were
rather inferior Representatives of the
ace and that the negroes were unusually
veil looking. There are OF course few of
he chivalry, in presence of the oath re-
Iuired. The white members are evident
J plain men, who had little slave proper
y to lose, and were naturally among the
irst to accept the situation as the sensible
way to peace and good business The
Democrats include some of the old