The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-09-07
GEORGIA's ORGANIC LAW.
The New Constitutional Brief Resume
H Of the Instrument. ''.

ATLANTA, August 25.-ssThat is the
best message that the South has sent to
the North in many II day. 1t is full of
sweet and strong assurances of good
faith, and closes out the distressing
issues of the war;" said Senator Hill
tonight, as the reading OF the new
constitution of Georgia was completed,
''When President Hayes he contin-
tted, "Withdrew his troops from the
South and left us to manage our own
affairs, even to taking trusteeship of
the negro, it was held by many North.
ern presses and politicians that we
would betray his confidence. But here
we see Georgia Democrats meeting in
convention without a single negro or
Republican, and framing Il constitution
that the negroes themselves must, as
President Jenkins says, regard as the
palladium of their rights and liberties.''
The unusual amount Of discussion
that has been given to the work of tho
convention makes it important that the
people Of the North should be informed
ut once of what has really been done. !
In the bill OF rights the convention
struck out the word tsrebcl,' which
was used in IL stigInatizing sense in the
old constitution. An attempt to insert
II clause declaring the State sovereign
'NhA RVS5S@saAuSs ~ AlS
form of government at will, was voted
down lecisively, Senator Hill leading
the objectors to it. The constitution of
the United States is in terms recognized,
as the supreme law.
The negro vote is protected in it's
fullest rights and privileges. 1t is pre-
scribed that the social status OF the cit
izen shall never be the subject OF leSis-
lntiOn. The Whipping-post and i'm
prisonment for debt is prohibited. All,
laws are made to operate on all races
alike. The public school system, by
which $4,000 colored children are edu-
Gated annually with white taxes, the
negroes paying hardly enough to school
5000 children, is continued with in
creased appropriations. In all details
Of franchise or public justice the negro
is zealously protected, and the negroes,
perfectly satisfied with the constitution,
will hold a ratification meeting in this
city next week.
The convention was governed
ment that resulted in the cutting OF
s2s2, 200 per annum of expenses. Every
salary in the State was reduced. The
governor is Whitfield down to $3 900,
the supreme court judges to 50 500, the
superior court judges to $1,000; the
treasurer, attorney general and comp
troller to $4,000 without perquisites.
The legislative per diem is reduced
from 81 to 81, and biennial sessions are
ordered instead of annual sessions. The
appropriation for executive clerks is
about halved, and everything else is
retrenched in proportion. ,....
Agencral movement toward popular
elections was noticeable. The governor
was stripped of his appointive power,
and his cabinet is hereafter to be elected
by the people in direct vote. The
supreme and superior court judges,
formerly appointed by him, are to be
elected by the Legislature, composed of
over 200 members. The terms of all
the officers from the governor down are
cut from four years to two.
All the anti-railroad measures were
passed by large majorities. 1t was pre-
scribed that the State should never
more grant q perpetual charter contain
ing any special privileges or rimmunities
to any corporation and, further, that
the Legislature should fix II freight and
passenger tariff for the roads which
should be uniform and fixed ut so
much per mile. The ordinance pro-
hibits the slightest sort of liscrin,ina-
ton, and the price of all freight c:,rri-
age can be reached by multiplying the
number of miles by the rate per mile
The railroad men are very indignant,
and as they own $GO, ,OOO, 900 Of property
and work abont % 900 hands, they will
make a strong fight against ratification.
The convention passed strict laws
against duelins, making it Il felony TO
accept, send or carry a challenge. The
State is prohibited from lending it's
aid to any sort of enterprise or cndOrs-
ing the bonds of any company. Lobby
ing is made Il crime. Petty larceny is
made 4 DISTINGUISHING crime. The
question of reducing the homestead cx-
cmption from SO 200 to 81 500 is left TO
il vote OF the people, as is also the ques-
ton of removing the capital from At
lanta back to Milledgcville, whence it
was removed by the Bullock govern
ment.
The constitution will be submitted
for ratification on the second Wedncs-
day in December, at which time a
Legislature will be elected that will
name a successor to General Gordon in
the United States Senate.
ADMIRAL RAPHAEL SEMMES.
A special from Point Clear announces