The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-31
acknowledgement
GEORGIl'S NEW CONSTITU.
TION.


Has sent 10 the North in Many q
Day"
Atlanta Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.
"Tnat is the best message that the South
ha. sent to the North in many day. II
!. full Of sweet and strong assurance OIL
good faith, and closes out the distressing
issues OF the war" said Senator Hill to-
night, as the reading Of the new constitu'
ton Of Georgia was completed. "Wher
President Hayes, The continued, with
drew his troops from the South, and left
liz to manage our own affairs, even 10
taking trusteeship Of the negro, il was
held by many northern presses and poll
tcians that we would betray his conf
dence. But here we see Georgia demo-
Ocrats meeting in convention without q
single negro or republican, and framing
4 constitution that the negroes them
selves must, as President Jenkins says
regard as the palladium Of their rights
and liberties"
The unusual amount OF discussion thai
has been given TO the work OF the Conven,
ton makes it important that the people
Of the North should be informed at once
Of what has really been done.
In the bill Of rights the convention
struck out the word "rebel," which was
used in stigmatisiug sense in the old
constitution. An attempt 10 insert u
cIlu.e declaring the state sovereign and
possessing the right to change its form oil
government at will, was voted down de-
cisiveIy, ex-senator Hill leading the OBJ
ieclOrs to it. The constitution Of lht
United States is in terms recognized nj
the supreme law.
The negro vote is protected in its full.
est rights and privileges. 1t is prescri.
he'd that the social status Of the citizen
shall never be the subject OF legislation.
The whipping-post and Imprisonment for
debt are prohibited. All laws are made
10 operate on all races alike. The pub
lie school system, by which $4,000 color
ed children are educated annually with
white taxes, the negroes paying hardly
enough TO school 5000 children, is cOntin.
ned with increased appropriations. In
aIl details OF franchise or public justice
the negro is zealously protected, and the
negroes, perfectly satisfied with the con.
suution, will hold n ratification meeting
in this city next week.
The convention was governed through
out with u spirit OF retrenchment that
resulted in cutting oil $2S2,000 per an
mum Of expenses. Every salary in the
tate was reduced. The governor is whit
tied down to $4,000, the supreme .courI
judges to $500, the superior.court judy
c'tn $1,000, the treasurer, attorney gen
rral and controller to $4,000, without per
Quisite8. The legislative per diem is re
duccd from 81 TO 81, and biennial SEES
'ions are ordered, instead Of annual SEES
-ions. The appropriation for executive
clerks is about halved. and everything
else is retrenched in proportion.
4 general movement toward popular
elections was noticeable. The governor
was stripped Of his appointing power, and
hts cabinet is hereafter 10 be elected by
the people in direct vote. The supreme
and superior court iugdes, formerly up
pointed by him, are 10 be elected by the
Legislature, composed Of over 200 mem
hers. The terms Of all the officers from
the governor down are cut from four year,
10 two.
The tremendous hostility toward rail
roads apparent in the convention has ex
cited much surprised. Gen. "Bob'
TOombs, who claims to have devoted hi
latter life to saving the people and the
state from the encroachment OF the rail.
roads, has led the wild and unreasoning
crusade that has been leveled at the roads
The railroad magnateS in the state were
very much alarmed at the threatening
outlook, and hurried to Atlanta with q
strong lobby, which was handled by ex
Gov. Joseph L. Brown. The convention
though walked right over the lobby with
out any difficulty. All the anti.railroNt
measures were passed by large majorities
1t Twas prescribed that the state shoulC
never more grant perpetual charter
containing any special privileges or i'm
muniIies TO any corporations; and, fur
Their, that the Legislature should fix I
freight and passenger tariff for the road
which should be uniform and fixed at 50
much per mile. The ordinance prohibit
the slightest sort OF discrimin alton, ant
The price Of all freight carriage can bt
reached by multiplying the number o
nIrS by the rate per mile. The RAILROAD
men are very indignant, and, as they Owl
$j)OoO,OOO Of property, and work about
5000 hands, they will make a strong figh
against ratification.
The convention passed strict laws
against duelinS, making it u felony 10 &c
cep', send or carry challenge. The stat,
Is prohibited from lending its aid to any
sort Of enterprise or indorsing the bond
ii any company. Lobbying is made ;
crime. Petty larceny is made dis
iranchisiuS crime. The question Of re
ducing the homestead exemption iron
$1,000 to $1,000 is left to vot,
Of the people, Us is also the QuestiO
Of removing the capital from Atlsnt
back to Milledgeville, whenceit wa
removed by the Bullock government.
The constitution will be submitted "a
ratification On the second Wednesday i
december, aswhich Legislature will b
elected that will name successor 10 Gle
Gordon in the United States Senate, Th
convention diourned at - to-day, Pre-,
idcnt jenkins dissolving it in teaTs viii
his farewell speech. Senators Hill an
Gordon spoke TO large crowd last nipl
IN favor OF ratification, and Gen 10