Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-19
LETTER FROM MACON.
The Late Col. w. H. Thompeon--
Colonel AVery's History of Georgis.
--GOvernOr CoEquitt--The Recent
Tragedy at Athens.

--GOvernOr CoIquitt.-The Recent
Tragedy at Athens.
MACON April 17.-The writer has noted and
treasured up with peculiar pride and interest,
the numerous testimonials, tributes and pane
gyrics which have emanated from every sec
ton of the Union in behalf Of the blameIess
career, signal services and distinguished repu-
tation of the deceased senior In the editorfai
conduct of the MORNING News.
Il seems late in the day for him to essay to
| add his ''brick" to the fast-growing monumen-
tai pile which the literary world IS erecting to
| the memory of the author of major Jones'
| Courtship.' But, from his quasi retirement
| as an active journalist, it was meet and proper
| that he should stand aside until the brethren
| in full harness had duly spoken. Now, how
| ever. that there is a lull in the requiem dirges
| which nave been sounding from an hundred
| presses IN honor of the departed, modestly.
aud IN your own columns, he would drop his
| floral Offering upon the dead editor.
rforty years the writer had personally
| known and read after him in the charming
| issues of the Madison MisceHdnu whose COZ
| umnS he Illustrated with the flashes of his
| abounding wit and humor, and afterwards as
| the originator and able conductor OF the Savan-
| nah MORNING NEWS. Later still, he was thrown
| for sixteen years into closer contact and asso-
ciation with him in the journalistic field.
In all that period we found much to admire
| in the career of Colonel Thompson and little
| very little-to reprehend Infeed there was
| wonderful equilibrium and uniformity in his
| writings, albeit always strong and to the point
and more than any other contemporary did he
| preserve the jltSte miliien in tee discussion
| even of the most exciting topics. Yet, when
| occasion offered or uniuStlV aSSaiIed no man
was quicker to defend himself and even carry
| the war into Africa II mattered not whether
| his antagonist was United States Senator or
| occupied any other exalted position; when the
| gauntlet was thrown down it was promptly
taken up, and in every instance he showed
hlmSelf either cOnquerOr or worthy of his
foeman's steel" But withal it must be con-
ceded that calmness and moderation were lead
ing qualities in al of his editorials.
AS party man, none stood truer to his
colors, while ever ready TO point out mistakes
and sound a note of warning when needed to
| his political associates In short the course of
| Col. Thompson was transparency candid and
fair upon all subjects, political or otherwise.
and hence the recognized fact that the MoRN-
ING NEWS, for integrity of purpose. consistency,
| aud conservatism, duly tempered by the pro,
gressive spirit OF the times, is second to no
Southern journal, while in Georgia it is Justly
regarded as the great balance wheel Of public
opinion.
The private character of Col. Thompson also
was without spot or blemish. Frank and ge-
NAL in his manners; of a social, communicative
spirit; excellent company and always outspo-
ken, he nevertheless sedulously avoided per-
sonallties and constantly made friends. Like a
ripe shock of wheat he has at length been gar
nered into the storehouse OF the Creator he
served so well, and we can only exclaim, peace
to his ashes"
Col. Avery's History of Georgia. that
spicy and timely publication, though treating
only in part of one OF the most momentous
epochs Ia the snnals Of Georgia, yet so far as
the field has been covered, exhibits great per-
spicuity, impartiality and truthfulness Much
of the narrative, while of a personal nature
and largely embracing the career and achieve
ments of the most salient actors in those stir
! ring times, still renders even-handed Justice to
each, and will bear the test of the most ri,yid
scrutiny. 10 the author. too, is due the honor
of showing in unmistakable characters the i'm
portant part which Georgia sustained in the
drama of the lost cause" She was then. as
now, the pivotal and foremost State of the
South, and the weight of her sword was not
| even second in the struggle to that of old Vir-
ginia, the mother of Presidents. Col Avery
at great pains and industry, has collected and
formulated an immense mass of statistical in
formation in his work. which win prove invaI-
liable TO the future historian. Himself an inn
portant factor in the bloody events Of that
memorable period, one can but admire the
modeSty and fairness of the author and be-
speak for his effort the success it.so eminently
deserves. =
From the numerous attacks against Gov
Colquitt, which, emana'ing from his enemies
IN Atlanta, go the rounds of the State one
would conjecture that our noble Executive
was very Cataioe for conspiracy and a Cesar
in his ambition. Yet not one of these innuen.
does have been substantiated, and it must be
consollng to His Excellency to know that in
virulence and extravaganza they fall far short
OF the canards Of the last Gubernatorial cam
palgn, when he was so overwhelmingly vindi-
Gated by the people at the ballot box The
writer has not even seen Governor Colquitt for
SIX months, and what he writes is simply from
the standpoint of justice.
That hi5 refusal to call an extra session of y
the Legislature was not prompted by personal
motives is shown by his positive refusal to al
low the use or his name for Congressman at
large. That act has received the cordial sane
ton of three-fourths of the impecunious tax
payers Of Georgia.
AS to the charge that the Governor is cabal-
NIL ir aa I,a "a a.
as yet there Is no vacancy, and all unite in the
hope that the eloquent Senator will continue
to remain in his seat, a faithful sentinel over
the interests of the commonwealth, and its
able champion.
IT, however, In the course Of events q vacan-
cy in the Upper House should occur, and the
Governor were desirous of filling it, no cabaI
would be requisite in the premises In ell pro-
liability he would be the spontaneous choice of
the people, and prove, as hitherto, invincible
Assuredly Georgia could not send more illus
triOus and deserving citizen to represent her
in the councils of the nation. And this is said
with due Difference to other bright aud shining
lights who would nobly represent her in the
Senate. The writer, as an organized Demo.
crat" of the straightest sect, SIsl always SUM-
port the nominee. But we are not advised that
the Governor desires any Office and only trust
that he may be allowed to retire in peace with
out having cause to reiterate the complaint
that republics are always ungrateful.''
The assassination of young Rountree has
caused the profcundeet Indignation throughout
the State. That the murderer will be brought
to justice cannot be doubted, however. Sn6
there has been no outbreak Sof any kind AT
Athens. That the event win do much to en-
bitter the antagonism between the races is to
be greatly deplored; but the fault lies mainly
with the Radical negroes themselves fnfiamed
and influenced as they are by such Journals of
their own as the Atlanta Defiance. So far as
the discipline of the University is concerned
we have it from the highest authority as well
as personal observation, that at no time in the
previous history Of the institution have the
young men been more orderly and well be-
haved. Indeed they are models in this respect.
and the secret lies in the fact that the Chan
cellor and Faculty regard the students as gem
tlemen, and treat them as such. This appeal
to the chivalrous Southern youth is irresistible.
The writer knows whereof he speaks,
In this connection it may be well also tc lis
abuse the public mind of the damaging rurnor
that the University is not as foursshing as
usual Per contra, recently there .eere more
students in attendance than at aay period in
1881, and the morale personnel and abilities Of
the young men have never been exceIled in the
past. One effect of the branch colleges is "a
winnow out the wheat from the chafY. the
creme de Ia creme from the former enterinp
the parent foundation to complete their educa-
ton. And this must continue to be the case
with the able faculty, complete apparatus and
admirable scientific schools which are to he
enjoyed at Athens. In a word there NAV he
found the University indeed, where the stIilent
wvgNna wla