The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1900-03-01
A MELANGE Of
LIVE TOPICS
Penned for journal Readers
by a Local Scribe.
What Marietta Needs Most.

With all the talk about the advan-
tages of cotton factory for our town,
true enough, in its way, there is an in
stitution which, if it could be secured
by us, would be of more benefit than
two factories. mean the re-establish-
ment here of the old Georgia Military
Institute, once the life of the town and
the pride of the state. A college town
is always noted for the refinement and
culture of its people a state which they
unconsciously acquire by breathing a
literary atmosphere; and the money
which between three and four hundred
boarding cadets would place in circula-
ton would be very sensibly felt.
Several overtures and attempts look
ing to the rebuilding of this noted
institution in our midst have been made,
none of which, however, proved to be
effective, because undertaken when the
conditions were not favorable; but it
seems to me the time is now ripe to APP
proach the matter through channels
different from those heretofore en-
ployed. My idea is that Senator Clay
should introduce bill in the senate,
providing that congress reimburse the
State of Georgia for the destruction by
General Sherman of the buildings of
this college. am aware thatfrom the
northern standpoint (Which controls
the government in all matters relating
to the war between the states) the peo-
pie Of Georgia at the time the loss of
the property occurred, were in state
of rebellion against the general govern
ment, and are consequently not entitled
to recover for the prosperity destroyed
by northern troops during that struggle.
This property belonged, exclusively, to
the state as corporation-that is, it
was not owned by the people in their
individual capacities. Blackstone
(Coms. vol. l, b. /, pars. 476. 477) lays
down the law as follows upon this sub
ject: "A corporation cannot commit
treason, or felony, or other crime, in its
corporate capacity though its members
may in their individual capacities.
Neither is it capable OF suffering a
traitors or felon's punishment, for it is
not liable to corporal penalties, etc. "
AS the federal government did not dis
solve the corporation of Georgia and
confscate its property, considering the
people in their individual characters, it
looks as though the corporation could
collect all outstanding debts due it.
in proportion to population, Georgia
furnished more men to the Philippine
war land | believe also to the one with
SPAIN than any other state in the
union; and in recognition of this fact
it is only due her that the United States
should provide training school in this
state where other and more efficient
young Georgians can be prepared fol
the future wars of the country. A
great deal Of the luminosity engendered
by the war has disappeared, and claims
of this kind have now better chance
of passing than they ever had before
This is evident from the fact that the
Methodist Book Concern claim, amount.
ing, 1 believe, to about $4,000, was
paid. The value of the building de-
stroyed by General Sherman was, at
the time, suppose, about $60,0OO-a
mere bagatelle to a great government
like this, and on account of its small
ness it would be more apt to be favor
ably considered. With senator whose
home town this is, to look after such n
bill and the weight that he would give
to it on that account because of "sena-
torial courtesy" it seems to me that it
is worth while to make an attempt to
collect this claim. OF course it would
be necessary to introduce the bill in
the name of the state of Georgia, but
il passed, have no doubt but that the
legislature would donate the money fol
such college here.
To maintain the college would not
cost over ten or twelve thousand dol
lars a year. With an agriculture
branch thereto it would receive