Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-26
"REMINISCENCES OF ToOMBs
Some Minor Incidents in the Life off
Great Georgian.


went 10 Macon TO deliver a lecture on Magma
Charts. The General held an informal recep-
ton at the Lanier house, and many proml-
nent citizens Of Macon and the surrounding
country called in the afternoon, and Tor hours
listened to his wonderful conversation. Judge
Jackson, now Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court Of Georgia, drew him out on the sub
ject Of mis- visits to France and Germany. lie
gave graphic description OF the political,
financial, Industrial and social condition OF
those countries. He dwelt on the small econ
omies Of the people, and the industry and
thrift that enabled them to i've under adverse
circumstances and to accumulate small for
tunes. why" he said, "a 4-acre farm Is
considered large plantation in some parts oil
Europe, and many farmers Keep no animals,
as they either prepare and cultivate their
land with the spade and hoe, or else hire =
little blowing occasionally" Some one suR-
gested that it was very different from some
Georg a plantations, whore scores Of freed
men were employed and hundreds Of ANIMALS
kept, Yes, said the General, with a twinkle
Of humor. ''the - niggers and mules are eat
ing up this country"
JOHNSON AND TOOMBs.
A year or two afterwards, / saw Gen.
Toombs and eN- Gov. Herschel V. johnson en-
sation, in the lobby of the Kimball house.
in Atlanta. The General and the odd
Roman" were seated on the left, near where
the stairs from the ladies' entrance went up
to the first balcony. l could not distinctly
hear the voices OF these two great men in the
hubbub that surrounded them. but for an
hour l studied their remarkable faces,
overheard their frequent vigorous explosives,
and was entertained by the eloquent
and emphatic manner in which
they ever and anon pounded the
tesselated marble floor with their huge god
headed canes. twas like a grand pantomime,
and 1 am satisfied they were denouncing the
carpet baggers, and the frauds that were
perpetrated during reconstruction days in
Georgia. 1t was a sight shall never forget.
TOO1IBs AND ''MOxA" MORTON.
The writer met Gen. Toombs several times
in Atlanta during the summer OF 1851. On
one occasion l asked him about his corre-
spondence with Morton, the great Indiana
Republican. EX-Gov. Morton and Gen.
Toombs were quite friendly all their lives.
notwithstanding their political differences.
4 few years after the war Morton wrote
to Toombs deprecating his extreme course,
and begging him to apply for the removal of
his disabilities, pledging that they would be
removed, whatever opposition might be en-
countered. Gen. Toomhs' reply was charac-
teristic. He thanked Gov Morton for the
kind offer and friendly interest he had ex-
hibted, but frankly confessed that he was not
sincerely penitent for having tried to destroy
the Union. He said his case was similar to
that Of Deacon Jones, a Primitive Baptist
neighbor Of his. Brother Jones was a man OF
some wealth and considerable influence in
his part of the cOunty--in fact, was one Of
the pillars of the church. Sister Smith
an excellent but very homely old
lady. who had lost her family by death, and
went from house 10 house waiting on the sick
and consoling the bereaved, was a member Of
the same church. IL was believed by some
superstitious people in the neighborhood that
'old Mics Smith" had an evil eye and was a
witch, but the more intelligent fully appreci
ated her loving Christian character. Brother
Jones had frequently heard the reports OF her
alleged exercise of the black art, and some
how or other never felt quite easy when she
was visitor at his house. Yet he treated
her with much consideration, until on one &C
casion. while she was the guest of his wife,
his fine saddle mare laid down suddenly and
! died. Some one asked him if ''od Miss
/ smith" was not at his house. whereupOn he
became convinced that she had bewitched the
mare. and he lost no time in kicking her ont
into the highway.
This, OF course, brought down on him the
Indignation of the church, and at the next
| monthly meeting charges were preferred
/ against him. and he was summoned to an
swer them, He treated the summons with
/ contempt, although the brethren labored
earnestly TO get him to obey II. acknowl-
edge his fault, and obtain forgiveness. After
several months had elapsed, and the extraor-
binary forbearance of the church had ceased
to be a virtue, a majority of the members de-
handed that his case be disposed Of mo-
Jion to exclude him had been made and sec
onded, and was about to be put when brother
Robinson got up and said the spirit moved
him to say that one more trial ought to be
made to reclaim the fallen brother, and that
he believed he could get brother Jones to come
to church the next month aud acknowledge
his sin. The motion was withdrawn ana
brother Robinson appointed 3 committee OF
| one as suggested.
The next monthly meeting day came, and
TO the surprise Of the congregation, Brother
Jones was on hand, but he looked rather i'll al
case. Brother Robinson was on hand, anc
looked triumphant The usual short rehgi.
GUS service was held, and the ''order of bus.
mess taken up. When the head OF "disci
pine" was reached every eve was anxiously
GXed on Brother Jones. He was called on e
peak If he had anything to say. when h,
popped up and hurriedly exclaimed "Brothel
Moderator, I'm sorry" and dropped into hi
seat. The congregation was astounded, ex.
cepting Brother Robinson. who at once made
a motion TO forgive Brother Jones' The mod
orator, however. and number of brethren
thought that the offending brother owed the
church more satisfactory statement OF tn,
condition OF his heart. and, after some serioul
discussion. he was asked to explain more full,
how ne felt about his Elm and his relations e
sister Smith, who had never ceased to IRA,
aud plead FOR him. For awhile he remained
sullenly IN his seat, then rose in very ex.
cited manner, and said nervOusly: "Well
brethren--if you will have it-rm sorry wher
| kicked-the -- old --- out Of the house
didn't break her neck --- - her,"
Morton appreciated the letter. 1t IL sad
but he never made any further efforts to re.
construct Gen. roombs.
rh, incident was published several years
a., IN some shape, but'the ABOVE is the YER.
SION. substantially, which was recognized by
Gen. Toombs himself. He. him elf. may have
used other names In the letter TO GOV. Nor
ton.
TooMBs AND KIMBALL.
was sitting in a Peachtree street car on,
day when II. ]. kimbal came in, and soon at