The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1878-08-22
cor JoFI. BRANHAMs SPEECH

The CedaftoWn Express cOnIalns
the following synopsis of a speech
made by Col. Joel Branbam
1.-THE charge is made that Lester
voted for the law authorizing man
owning thirty slaves to be exempt
from the army. Now be it remem
bered that this law passed in 1862
and Judge Lester did not 60 into
Congress until in 1864. A man
could hardly votc for bill two years
after it had already became law.
He said that it was charged that
Lester voted for Cole for Congress
Mr.. Branham replied to this that
Judge Lester, Col. James d. Wad-
dell and Gen. Wofford made the
canvass over the district together,
and that while speaking the other
day Judge Lester called upon Gen
WofFord to speak out and announce
the fact if such was the case. Gen.
Wofford remained quiet.
He next took up the charge made
by DR. FELTON, that by Judge Testers
acts With reference to the State road
the State was defrauded out of So,
400, 000,. The way this $1,000,
600 is arrived at is thus the Brown
lease is for twenty years at $500, 900
per year, making in the twenty years
an aggregate sum of $4,000, 900.
The Seago lease contemplated pay
ment Of $4,000 per annum or IS,
100000 in the twenty years leaving
a difference in favor of the state of
So, 100000. Here now is where all
this hurrah come in now let US see
where it goes out. The law required
that the leasing party be required to
give bond of SIS, 100000. The Sc
curity was an important element. 1t
was easy enough to propose to lease
great rail road, but when the time
came for security, Seago & Co. were
not at hand. Seago & Co. never had
any real notion Of leasing the road
they merely wanted it to get the re-
ceipts for few months, pocket them
and throw it back on the State.
What security did the Seago party
offer They proposed to pledge the
Macon aud Western, the South Yves
tern and Central rail roads. rs soon
as the Presidents of these roads heard
of the proposition, they repudiated
it. seago, Blodgett and Jack Wal
lace we're mere ciphers in the finan-
cial world. Now they charge and
so does DR.. FELTON, that Judge Lester
received fee of $1,000 for lobbying
the lease act through the Legislature.
The lease act and contract were
made in 1870. In 1872 the Reece
committee of the legislature reported
that the courts should investigate the
lease. Here now is where Judge
Lester committed his grievous sin ;
here now is where bis receipt for
$1,000 from Brown comes in. But
stop. The lease was made in 1870
and Judge Lester was employed in
1872. Another error of two years !!
How could he lobby lease through
in 1870 when he was employed in
1872 to defend lease made in
1907 These are facts and incon,
trovertible !
Dr.. FELTON, then charges that it was
to lobby the ratification of the lease
when the truth is the lease never has
deem ratified The contract was fin
ished when the lease was made.
Here are some more truths(O issued
from the lips of tho man Of God-af-
ter His own heart.
So then to cut this short: 1t was
proven that the Blodgett party was
iusolvent. BIodgett said if the road
couldn't DO made to pay they would
turn it back into the hands of the
State. Voters we ask you which is
the best. The present lessees have
not missed day in paying into the
State treasury $4,000, a mouth.
Isn't the wisdom of the lease seen
every day. Isn't the substance pre-
ferable to the shadow Undoubtedly
il is.
Another charge was effectually an
swered by the Colonel. The State
Agricultural Society memorialized
the legislature to institute the Land
immigration Company for the State.
The legislature that organized the
company was democratic. There
was an appropriation of $4,000
made for its sustenance. There were
three candidates for the position,
viz: G. w. Howard, Gen. La Fayette
McLaws and Gee N, Lester. Upon
a Joint ballot of this democratic Leg
islature, Geo. N. Lester was elected.
Instead then, of his holding the of
fee under Bullock, he was elected
by legislature of his own party,
and, instead of his pocketing one,
half of the appropriation, 50, 200, his
salary was, 81, 500 five hundred of
which went for stationery and circu
lars necessary in conducting tho of
fee. And this pure and good man
is thus traduced, We trust these
charges will be consigned where they
belong.