Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-31

EnteFmaFTiage of the aces-The
Late Fire-StOyg the Two Houses
Acted-A Bit OF Fun.
TALLAHASSEE, January 29.-Qulte an amusing
occurrence tsok place ia the Senate Chamber
yesterday afternoon. While number of the
members were engaged on different matters
three young negro girls entered and solicited
the gentlemen to purchase tickets for festi-
val to be given In Gallle's Hall. With the usual
generosity of Southern men, and supposinS
that the procee s were to be devoted to some
religious purpose. several Of the persons pres
ent made liberal purchases.
After a while the question was asked what
is to be done with the money - pro-
grammo was produced ans handed to Senator
-- q dare not mention his name,) stating
that the proceeds Of the festival were intended
for the aid of ParsOn Witherspoon in his contest
against Colonel Davidson. and that all sub
scribers to the fund would be regarded as
sound and faithful Republicans.
You should have seen Senator -'s coun-
tenance elongate for q moment and then have
heard the roar of laughter In which he in
da'ged. The mirth was contagious, and rarely
lave the walls of the @enate Chamber echoed
10 iOllier peals of exclamation.
Brudder Widderspoon had fanked the enc
themselves, and, like the cunning Israelites Of
old, had spoiled the Egyptians.
Senator John McKinne, Of Jackson county,
Is one Of the leading members of the upper
house. He is of medium size and height, with
cle6r eyes, an expressive countenance, and
sports Saxon moustache and goatee. An
apt and fluent speaker, his voice is often heard
In discussions involving legal principles. AS
circuit
He is only thirtytwo years of age, and
NO n IaOloOD fu 1a5n
Vlrginian ano his father from North Caro- ina
The war found him mere boy at school in st.
Timothy s Hail. Maryland. In "a he left the
Military Academy at Hillsborough, n. G. and
entered the army, where he remained until
the close of that terrible struggle. His studies
we're completed at Franklington, n c., and
the University of Virginia In the latter insti.
tuition he was honored by being selected to
preside over the final celebration Of the Wash
ington Literary Society. During tho
year III, he removed to California, where he
remained until recalled by the fail
ing heath Of his father. While In the
Golden Sta e, his natural proelivlLies made
1872, as an ardent advocate of Demo
cratic principles. In 1874 he canvassed
his county, and in 1876, In accept
Ing the unanimous nomination for the As
sembly, he expressed the opinion that Jackson
hitherto Republican, could be carried by the
Democrats, and that be intended to bring out
every Conservative vote. Diligent and hard
work enabled him to verify his predictions, and
he wss the first Democrat who was elected
after the war to the Legislature from that
county.
He served during that session as Chairman
Of the Committee on Privileges and Elections,
aud made q minority report Ia the contested
election case from Escambia, on the ground
that persons living on the Naval Reservation
did not have the right to vote. His report was
adopted, and Mr.. Mallory was seated
AS President Of the West Florida Fair Asso-
citation he has made the institution a success
The vigorous and active canvass made by
Senator McKinne last year aided greatly In
carrying his county for Governor Blozham by
the handsome majority of three hundred.
Mr. Ormond Chaires, son of Col. Green A.
Chaires, OF this county, is now the courteous
and efficient private secretary of Governor
Boxham. In size, carriage, and general sp-
pearsnce, he bears SO close resemblance to
His Excellency, that the two could readily
be mistaken for brothers.
The act which has passed the Senate, and
to which referred yesterday, contains the
II any white man or woman shall intermarry
with negro, mulatto or octoroon, he or she
shall be guilty of felony, and on conviction
shall be fined not more than q thousand nor
less than fifty dollars and be imprisoned In the
penitentiary not more than ten years or less
than six months.
Any Clerk of the Circuit Court who know
inSly and willfully issues a marriage license to
sucn persons, will be held guilty of misde
meanor, and will render himself liable to i'm
prisonment in the county jail for period not
less than three months or more than two ears
and to fine not less than fifty or more than
ore thousand dollars.
If any Judge, Justice of the Peace, Notary
Public, minister of the Gospel. priest or clergy
man shall knowingly and willfuliy erform the
marriage service between such persons he
shall b1 held guilty of a nisdemeanor. and be
punished by fine not exceeding one thous-
and dollars, or by confinement in the county
jail not more than one year, or be subjected to
both penalties at the discretion of the court
Several such matrimonial connections have
heen formed in Duval county and in other por
tions OF Florida.
The fire that occurred yesterday destroying
the workshops Of the Jacksonville, Pensacola
and Mobile Raj tread. was very serious ca
lamity. Some fifty or more skilled mechanics
almost every one with family depending on
his exertions, have been thrown out OF em-
pigment. There seems to have been On in-
sufficieDcy OF water and of the usual appliances
for extinguishing fire, and all that could be
done was to save as much of the movable prop
erty as possible. OF all the buildings in which
work was carried on only one, the carpenter
shop, was saved. This unfortunate occurrence
has thrown considerable gloom over the cspI-
tol, especially as the road Is about to change
hands, aud the apprehension exists that the
new managers may see fit to erect the
buildings else y here
During the fire the Assembly took scare
and recess, and each member sailed forth
to save his incividuai luggage
The grave and digniaed Senators preserved
their equanin1ity, and animated by the stern
ana patriotic. sepse OF duty characteristic of
that eminent BODY remained in their chamber,
and transacted business with their usual i'm
perturbability. They were just then engaged
In the consideration of q memorial praying
Congress to deepen Two Inch Greek. so as TO
permit the passage OF bateaux drawing three
inches OF water, and though thrones were
crashing around them, ana worlds tOtteriog
upon their foundations, they were not to he
disturbed In the discussion OF this nlomentous
subject.
In the recent debate in the Senate upon the
bill prohibiting the intermarriage Of the r.ces,
Chandler threw much light upon the dark |
question. while Cole did net emit g. spark TO |
Illuminate the sombre subject. One of the op-
ponents OF the bill showed so much dexteFity, |
as almost to strand some of his antagonists on |
a Lee shoIe.
When wearied with long and fatiguing dis |
c1ssion. the Senators can wander in a cool and
shady Dell, to recruit their exhausted Powers |
Nobody Lykes a Sharpe encounter of wits |
better than the Senator from the Twenty sec |
ond district, and ia wordy encounter he Is not |
inclined to Speer his foeman.
venerable Judge decides all matters in |
volving medicine and surgery, and exercises q /
Ken Worthy Of all praise over these abstruse |
subjects
A Bethel is one of the appendages of the
Senate, whose spire Is surmounted by lofty |
Cone. This sanctuary Is always open to peni- !
tents, and here they resort to confess their I
Eius and receive absolution.y
Senator Walker, although trusting to his I
own understanding. win occasionally place /
noXous bill, as completely to break down the
over-burdened animal.
Geol' gically speaking, the Senate is so Wy u /
supplied with Macs, OF such dimensions, that |
their fragments would Macadamize the walk /
between the capitol and City Hotel.
A little nonsense, nov and then,
Is reiished by tho wisest men,