Fourth Biennial report of Clifford Anderson, Attorney-General of Georgia

Geargia Attarney-General Faurth Biennial repart .
1886-1888 .

FOURTH
OF
CLIFFORD ANDERSOJ\J,
A TTO H N E Y-GENE HAL
OF
GEOI\Cii\.
ATLA:\TA, I:E<n:l.l: '\". .1. ('.\111'BELL, :'T.\TE l'J:I:\'J'EH,
CO:\C'TJ'J'l''l'IO:\ .101: tH'Fil'J:.
lkSS.

REPORT.
ATT()J: :\ 1-:Y -G E:\ E I:.\ L's () ITJI ;.:,
ST.\TE ()J' GE<Jit(;L\,
ATL,\.:\T.\,G.\., ::\"onmhl'l' t;, ls.'\."l.
To 1/i.~ F.cccl!ctU'!I .lulu, !J. Ur,,.drJII, 001'CI'IWI', cf,.; S1 1:-l n.-<p,ctfully :-uhmit thL follu1ring rL'}'"''t touching
mattl'r,.; of public interc:-'t contwctc-d 1rith my olllee during thP pa~t two year~ :
The .cas(' of th1 Cl'orgia Hail oad & Banking Cotnp;w: rs. TlH' Railroad C(olllllli"~ion nf tlti-< State, inYohin6 tlw po\\'l'l' of the Comtni.;sion to pn.;niLI l'atl~ for tilt' trail-'portation of frl'i.~ht .; and pa""''II;l"<r,; O\'l'l' the G,orgia !:ailroad, was argwd in tltP Silfll\'IJll' Court of the l'nitl'll
f:\tate:-;, during ih pre.-l'nt krill. In that ea,;l' ;1 hill \\:t,;
filt1l by tlH' G<oJgia Hailroad & Banking Contpany, claiming that its clt:llttr fix1rl t IJ(' tllaxitlllllll rat<'" ,,-],i('h it wa,; anthnrizl'cl to chargl' for tl11' tlat~-<pnrtation of' fnight,; and pas,.;C"ngl'r~, and that thl~ ('latH' in its ehartn tbn,; JH'scrihing maxinltllll rail'.;, crl'atl'd a eontrad lwt \\'l'L'n tilL' Stall' and that eonq.:;ny hy \lhieh the State j,- honnd Ill>! to intC'l'lCI'l' 11ith or atil'lll]ll to rcgulat<: ih ratl'." and l'kHg''-" so long as tlH'Y do nnt <'XCt<d thl' l!laxinnnn rail'" fix,d hy tlw d1arter. Tht bill 11a.; <riginally prl'~tniv<l to lion. Thoiii:t'> .T. Sitnmon.;, th,n .Tnd;.y of tlll' Supl'ri<>l' C'onrt.; of t.IH' :\Iaeon Cin~uit, and tiH IHaring ou thl' appli<'atinn f,,r tiH injlltl('tinn 11a.; had lwfnr, hi111. A Iter full ar.~lllll<'Ill, and tlwrough l'ou,.;idl'ration of till' ca.''~ thvn:dttr by .ludgl' Sinitnou:-:, h<' dl'li\"l'l'ed an a\,J,. an<l 0laboratl' opinion, in which he rpfu,_,.d tiH' iujtul<'tilln applil'd for, lwlding; that the State h:td made no eontraet with thl' Georgia Hailro:ul & Banking Company, by whid1 it wa.~ bound 110! It> int,r-
Hailroad

ftrc' \rith or :tlll'llljll tl rc':lliat<' it,; r:tlt"' 'tl long fl,; tlH'Y clid

nnt excttd till' tna:>-iutlllll rail':' fixtd by r!~t l'ltartn.

To tlti" dtei,;ion tiH t'"illjlany :-;n<d out a writ of t'l'l'Ol' to

th" StlJ>I'l'llH' Comt uf thi,; ~tntl', \\ hil'h aflirHHd the ,J,ti-

;:ion prtlnonnctcl b: .Tn.lc:t' ~itnlll<lll,;. Tlw company th1n

a]'pli,d fur and ,,ht:titl<'d :1 writ of en"r to tht Supt'l'Llll'

('.>urt ,.f the C uill'l ~t:tt' The toman\, in that court,

wa,.; rt'jll'<'.'l'ill< d hy IIlll. .J""l'ph B. Cumming, of thi:-;

Stak, and hy Col. E. lb:\ltr, ol Xa .;hyiJl .., Tetlltc:-;,;ct', the

Statt' lwing l'l'Jll'c~tnkd by my.'t'lL The tltci,-ion of that

tribunal atlimHd tht judgttHnt pronounced by tht Suprttm

Cunrt of thic< Statt, thu.; ,.;tHaining- the authority of the

Cotnmi~.;ion owr the rntt'>' and eh:trgl'' of the Gtorgia Hnil-

l'oad 1or the tran,-prtati"n h()th of fnight and pas;:t!ngn,;.

In \.it'\\. of tl1c g-nat i1npnrtanl't' of thi,; C:l"l', hy whieh the.

jnri.,;dictiun of tht I~ailro:td C't~llltlli""i<>ll of thi.; Stat(' on;r

all thl' milrt>:ttb in til<' ~tatt i:-; fully "'utldi,dlt'tl, tlti.~ n.;nJt

is \'l'l'\. <rratihino.

'h

h

would ha \'t' bt'l'll :-itri"u"l: t'lll ha 1'1 a.-c..;ed in ih opttat i1 ns,

au<l absolutl'ly prt'\'l'tllcd from making a ~(htduk uf rntt.s

of uniform npplitati<ln to tlw railroads onr \\'hieh it \ras

intl'tHlt;d to han jmi~dieti('n.

Since my Ja,.;t np<~rt, a ea:'<' in which the Stnll' i." largvly

inttn,;tcd, gro\\ing out of the biltn'l' of tl!l' CitiZl'll" Bank,

ha::< het'll tril'd in thL' Supl'rior Court of Fulton tounty, ntHl

j,- nuw pcucling in tlw Snprt'llll' Court of thi::< :-:.ratt. The

ea,.;l' nftl'l'l'tl to i. thnt of I-I ill and Thump"<>il, n.;.-cigtll'l'" and

receiver:; of the Citizt'n" Bank, a~.ninst t'('l'taiu .-tod.;holdcr,;

of the bank, bting a hill fill'tl by tht a.,.;ignt'L'" and ntPi\l'rs

to ncovpr l'l'l'lain unp:titl suh.;l,ription" to thl' l'apital stul'k

of the bank, clainHd to lw due by ;.;aitl ;.;tneklwlder:-i. :\s

:;tatetl in my tornwr nport, the ca.;( was rcf'l'tTl'd to a :\l:ts-

tm in ChanCl'l')', who was dindetl to nport to the court

what 3tockholclcrs, if auy, were illlh>hted tor nupnitl :-;ub-

scriptions, and thl' amounts due by thrmrespcetivdy. Afttr

n protracted invc,.;tigatinn, the :\Iastl'l' lll:t(le hi;.; rpport shtnr-

in)!: that a e"n~i<l,ral>i< ntt'll''''l' .,f th< ;;tod;:h.,Jd,r.-i wn~ in<hbt<d f.,r uupaid .-'lllL-nipti>II-, :tJJ(I till' allllllliil" ~1.rally dtw by f'aeh. T" thi,; l'i'Jl"l't txr:tption,; \\'('!'<' tiltd Ly tlw stockh~>ldtr~; and at tilt' fall tI'JJJ, J.')S/, of thl' :-;ll]>ri"r Court of Fult<>ll ,.,,unty, a trial 11a, Ita.! o11 till' ('X<'tpt.i.,n..-
su fill'd, lli~ Il"n''r .\. P. ~\!an~.-, .Jud.~,.;c 11f th Sttp ri"r
Courts of thl' Ea~tnn Circuit, prl'-idin~, in pla<'t' 11! till'
Judge of thl' Atlanta Circuit, wiJO 1ra,; di"'J''alifitd on account uf rdati<>n..-hip to ~otm of tl}(' partit" Tlw Jnain
qtll'>ition in\tdYt:d \\:1:' till' ri;,!:1t uf tit<: bank to ntluc, it.-: capital ,.;((JCk in tht ah-l'lll'l: of any art of th1 legi~latute authorizing ,;ueh rtducti"n; the .-;tuckhuldl'r,; ha1ing ~h<>l\'ll that soon aft('!' tlw organization of th~.: bank a rc.-;olution h:H! brtn pa.~-:cd hy the dir,.ct<~r,; l'lducing tht: eapital .-;toLk onehalf~ ;1nd thtr\'h: l'l:lta-ing tht .-;t<)(:kltllldtr.-: to that t'Xli'nt from liaLility i~n tltt' attl<dlttt-: ori.c:ill:tlly ~uh~cTihtd hy thttJI.
An.,thcr important qut-ti<>n rai..- . d l>y tht t'Xl'<'ptiPtL' fjJ,.,J wa,;, the ri~ht of till' ,.;to('kiJ"!tJ..r.-: t" ~l'l "11 dt'l'''"it a<>unr' pnrclw.;cd by them .-;inn tl11 J:tilut< ol' th1 !,ani;, :ti:',:tin~t their lial.ility f()J .-;uh-nipti<m~ to tll'' (':tpital ,;(,l<'k. Tlll'l'l' Wl'l'e ,;till othl'l' qu<.~tiotl:i itJ\'oiYd; b11t thl' right 1>1 th, direetors to redll('l' tlw ~twk, :tlld of till' .-:tol'klw!d,r.-; to ,.;l'l off' the <lnim.-: pun:ha't'd fro111 dt]''"ito~,..;, \l"l'r tht 'l!l<'~ti .. n,..; principally in..-i-td o11 hy th< "''"kh"ldtr.-', 11ho 1\'\'r.' r.prselltcd o11 .-;aid trial b~ lion.'\' .f. llatiiiiilllll, .Jud~, llillyet, ,Julius L. Bmw11, 1>'1., 1:. F..\l,hotl, J.:,,l" (',J. 1'. L. :l\Iyuatt aud a nurnlll'r "f otlli'r <:ttiti<'IJI IJll'nJlHr.-' of till' Atlanta har. Till' a,..;~igtl<'~ :Ittd l'l'<'<i\,r.' 1\'cn l'o']'l'<'-'l'tilt'd by :\ft.~~rs. Caudln ,\: Th.tilj>'"n, 11'111' \\'l'l'l' :1.~-i~t.-d l>y Capt. Ht'lll')' ,J:wk~llll :ttJd ltJy.-,.lf, IJ :Il't'llii!JI ol the f:wt that till' State \\':1.' and i.- l:tl .. ly ii<ttr<-'td in thl' r.~trlt "t the east'. ThP trial of tlw a,, '"'''IIJ>i<d til< tin~o c>l tltc' court f(>t' m;Irly a \\'t:l'k. Til< pn-idi11~ judg<' ll\.t'l'l'lrlcd all thl exeeptioll-' liltd hy tltt' .-;tcwkltl)ldns, vX'<'j'l thl' litH' involviug tht right of the l>:tnk t" rdtt<'t' it.-; l':lpit:rl ,..;t<ll'k.
On t!Ii~ lJl'anl'h of thl' ca.~l' lw h<ld, and iil~trtidl'd tlw jttl')'

6

aecordirtg!_,. that thl' atl<tnptd r.dul'tion ll'a~ Yalid n,(!ain~t

all 1\'lw ,,.,.r, ll<>t er,dit,;, ,f th< b:tnk at the iinw it \\'a.~

matlc, jll'<>Yidl'll til\ .-tll'k 11a.~ not ndtl<rd hel<>ll' the ~tlltt of

8:!tH1,000.11tl, ,\'l,i,h IYa.- the tl:inillllllll :llli<'lltlf th <'hat;tct'

rc<fllil'l'cl to bt ~u\,,nill('d lwf<>re tl1c' l:tnk 11a~ authoriztd to

enlllllll'lll'<' Lu."illt''' Tl1c' <'<lj>ital ~tock hac! in f:td htcn

rcdtll't'd to a lra<'tion IJt'inl\' ~I.-..:t),O(lti.OII, and th pn~icling

judgl' IHId that till ~t<ll'khrddtr~ 1\'trt liahll' for tht dif1l'r-

rnec lwtl\l'l'll that :llllotlllt and tiH ~11111 o: :3:21Hl,llilll.lli'l, and

dirl'ctcd a I'CI'di,t :\t'l'"nlil<.~l:. Till Jnr~ rdllnHcl a Ytr-

dil'i iu al'l'(J!'llalic'c 11ith th in,(l'lll'li<riL" nf tlw cottrt, ancl

n.. a cLc'f'((' \\a.; ('ll(t:\d Ill pur-l\:111('(' llf .;aid Yndid.

th

~i,l<'-' Pxccptcd t th: ntlin:-'> ,,f rht jud~, a11d tht ea.;c j,;

Jl<~\1. }'l'IHiing itt t Ji,. :--;IIJII'I'illt' ( '<>11rt of' thi" ~tal. The

)lt'arill;!: in that c'lllil't i" drl:tncl J,_.,. t!H di-qualili<:tti"u of

Chicf .JtHin l\],.,.LJ,.y. 11ho 11:1' liJl'lltl'l'!y u!' col\11~,1, and by

the ,;icknt,;: of .\""''i:,,,..ltt'ti Ll::n.JJ;,rd. ILii!.c> a c:r.;p of lltttl'it ittlprtt:t:;<,, lot!, r:n :tn.. u.t:t <~I thv :tlilllttttl and

tht pritwiJ,J,., i:,\rrhlll, it i' ttllit'h '" h1' ck.-ir;d ti;:tl it ~l11tll

lw lll'ard, if' l''''";i,:, .. ''" :1 !ttl! L"tll'lt.

TJ,nt' <lt!tcr <'a- .:2''"'\i:>;.: <ll:t ,,( till' l:tiltit'<' ol tit, <"iti-

z. n,.; lhnk 11cr :t-.-i;:;: d lt' tri;:! itt till' ~~n;t:ri<ll' (_'"ul'l "'

Fultr>ll'cIJtltlt.'. :ti it..; l:t-l li'l'il!, a:,d ~~~:till -11\1'1 tit.' l'>~lll-

11H'Ill'<'llt<'llt of it< ji -"Iii l<'t'l:>; IH:t J'lll'tl.' 1rlllll J>l'>l'id< lt-

tial l':tit:..:.- :tlll !::rtl.: i, .1<1 ,,j I lit di!ii<ttlt\ of j:,,tll'lltg'

a jud!t'' t<> h<::r t:l<'ltl, 1.1:1:~.~ \I. .1. ('!:trk< :ttrd J:i,IJatcl

H. ('Ja:k \)('in.:'., 1: .J;.,i:::li:i,l.l tiw.' L:il'' tt"t .'' t I,,., 11

brt>u;:l:t (1> tri:tl. .\:Jr>t!J,.,. r.:t.->~ll f,r the tIIIJ'''~':Ii'." I' ''l-

JHIl<'IILtil o! (\1:'-. e:1-.r,.; :1[ til jli'l'"l'lli kl'llt 1\':l" !II,'' itlltl>iiity

to IH prt.,:nt :tl (~!(' titli'' 1;\<d 1"1' till !tt:trit;;:, L,,:tu, l 11a..:

rallccl t<> \\'a-.!tir~c:t"ll ( 'ity !11 ~\I'.C:Ill' tit< t:t- ,.( til<' (;,rrrgia

Hailt,.ad & 1\:tlil;in~~ ('"lil!illl)' ~'' thc l{ailro:tcl ( 'rrtntni."i"ll

in thc ~lljlt'C:Illt' ('!lilt'( rrl tilt l'nittd ~t:lll'." Tlw-l' 1':1:-'l':i

are suits brought hy t\11 a"i;..:tll'l'." and ne,il't'l'.~ of tl11 Citi-

zen;,; B:lllk to l'l'CtJ\'l'l' l'l'l'taiu bond:-: and "thcr a.;,,(." "f the

bank, turned O\'cr to el'!'t:tiu fa1ored crl'ditor.; aftl'r th1 tailnre

7
of thP bank, and either inl!l!ediatdy h<fore or <"nt<l''l'''raneously with the executi"n "f thl' a-~ignlll('llt n1arl l,y the
bank. It is claimed un lwhalf qf tlw a-~ignt<'-', tl,at nn<l<t
the laws of this Stat<, whil~t a l,ank or any otlll,l' l'<>l'Jl >J':Ic tion can make an a."'-'i;;lllll''lll l"r till' lwndit of it- <'l'<rlitqr,; generally, it has tl< ri~ht wllfn in-d\11!1, to a~~i.~n a:1y of it!; assets to a prl'i<ntd creditor. It i~ abo cl::il:lld "" behalf of thv a,;,ignc<':', that ,,lwn tJ,,. ],"nd- a11d 11tlll'r a.-~..t,; ~ucd fi,r \\"l'l'l' <l<li\'l:nd to thl' la\'IJr,d <ndit"i'' <~;..:ain,:t whom the "nit,; }Wilding \\'1r1 bruu.~l1t, the ""~i;..:llllll'llt had
already been t'X<<'llted, and tl,at tilL' titJ,. to th< },.,nd.o ""d
other a;.:sets th11,; t!PiiYt~nd, had alrLady \'l':'tl'<l in the assignet'S., I haY<' b,.,.n a:-."i.-ting the t'UIIIJ-'d of th1 a--i~""''-' (.:\Iessr.:;. Hopkin,; & Gl<'llll and C'<J11dkr & Tho'''l'~'n) in these ca,;es, Lcl'atl.'il' till Stat.' i." int<n-'tld i11 tht n.-ttlt.
There i." a :3llit jH'III!ing iu tlw SIIJ"'I'ior ('ourt of Fnlt1111 <;OU!lt)', brought \,y c\tit~I'II<'_Y-(;I.Ili'l':d : l:lllllli<>l!d :1;_::1in.ot the Georgia lbilroad & lhn!;i11~~ ('"I"Jil!l,'o', oi' \l],i,li I h:11! no knO\dt>dge until alwut t\\., "~' th1,.,. ,,ar.-' nc;". Thi,.:
suit wa!" lH'tlllght in lll'h:dl <>f ti~< :-;t:Jtt t<> '''''"'r "nt:1in
overcharg<,; 011 throug], lnig!<t, "J,i,h Lad J,. ... I, !aid by the " 1 estl'ru & ,\tlantic !(:lilrJ:td ( "I!IJ':III.\' t't>l' tlw t;,.,,lgia Hailroa<l ,\' Banking ( 'IIIIIJ':lll.\. It <'l'nJ.; tl;:lt till' Rome & Dalt11n Hailr,,:Hi ('IJIIIJ!all.'' !,ad 111:1111 a t'"lltral'l with thr South ( 'al'l>iina H:1ilr<>:1d ( '<>lllJ':<ny, tht ( ;,or~~i:l Hailmad & Banking C'<IIIIJWI." a11d til \\,.-tnn ,\: .\il:111tie Hailroa<l Comp:lll_Y, !11 tr:II'-J'"i'l f'I'III ('J,arJt.,..t,n, -.:. ('.,to eithct Hom<' or l>:dt .. n, a I:Jt.~, ljllailti., "' r::ilr:i.l ir"ll at CPrtain redul'<'d rat<:-:. .\itr 11 JHrtilll ,,j' til<' i1"'' h:1.! '"'t'll hauled owt tlll':-:l' thnt 1'11:111.", 111111 ddiYtnd a,; ,,.'luin,! J,y the eontraet, the (;1orgi:1 lt:Jil1,.:1d ,\ lhnkiu,C', ( '<inl':III_" inercastd tiH ratt, a11d thu- ''"ll1<t d a largvr "lllll lnr t!11 transportation of tht Jt,;t of tlw ir"n than it ''-''"d.! h:1n' been entithd to had tl11 rat< "ri.:.:iually agr<ttl 11n bt,n ac\lwred to. On a final ,.;ttt 1<1111'111 "f at'('llllllt,.; hl't \\'t't'n the
Rome & Daltoll Hail road ( 'oiiiJ':I"." antl tht \\'e-tt'l'll &

.\tlanti< l::tiltn:Hl Cotnpa:t~, (whi('lt \\a~ th<~ cl<>liverini!: road under th through <'lltJtr:wt "riginally mad< for th<~ tratl:'jl<>!'tation of tlw ir"n rt'ftrnrl to) it was di,.:<'O\'l'rl'd that tltv (;,r>rgia Hailr":ttl ,\- Banking- Company had l'olled<'l a l:ll.~tr .~l!lll f',lr tlt<' tr:ttl.'[l"rtation ot th<' re,.;t of the iron tlwtt thv ratt origin:tlly :t.~rl'l'd on <ntitlLd it to dtman<l; "hcnupcllt tlw H"nw & 1hlton l~:tiln>ad C'otnpany nta<l< J'l'l'l:un:ttion l>ll the \\'t'>'ltrn ,\: .\tl:wti(' nailr<J:Hl Company, a~ till' d.livnitt.!: lin", tfr tit. <1\'<'l'L~lnrg tlm~ nwde by the Gl'orgia U1ilr"ad ,\- lbnkit:g f'otnpatl_,., and the :l!nonnt of
tlw <>\'l't'l'lt:trg,. wa,.; paid h~ thl' \\'<;-;(<'I'll & ~\tlantie l~ail
roa<l Company. \\'hct1 tlw latl<'l' <~ompany mad<~ d<~mand on th<' Georgia Hailrpad & lbnkin12; Con1pany to lw reimbur,;ed tlw anwttnt tlttt.' paid, tlw G<'orgia lbilroa<l Company nftt".d rrJtnpli:tll<'<' ,,ith ":tid detnand, cl:timil!g that in th1 <'lllltral'l nwd(', it did nut undtrtaki or agr<'<' to il':lll')lort :t!l:, ddinit(' qu:ttttity ,{' ir1111 at tlll rate originally agl'<'('d 011, hut only :t.u;J't:('d to tralt.~port durini!: thl >'lllllllll'l', whi,l> \\a~ ;t dull 'o.;:a-lltt, .-l!l'll 'l'Ja:dity o4' irun a~ ,.;\,,Htld he shipptd o\<r it~ ruad, at t \t, jll'<.-f'rihl r;t((; and that the iro11 on wlticlt it ('h:trg(d :111 itl<'l'l':t.'<'d rate \\'<t.~ shipp(d in thl' fall and \\intn, \YIIl'lt tllt\ lnt>'in(',.:,; of tht road \\'as hc:l\y; and whtn it L'<ndd not aflind to tran,.;port iron or any other fnight,.: at tht l'l'dtl<'''d rate.,; whi<'h it had originally n~.''<'<d on and ,,hil'h it intl'ndtd to be applieahll' to the sUillllll'r Jll(lntlt-; on!~ :\,.; soon a,.; po,-,sihl< :tltn l found th:tt :'tJL'h a Ia,;" ,,.a, ptttdittg, I had it brrHtglil to tri:d, :tttd r!J,. l'l':-'Ult \\':h a \'trdi .. t in favor oJ tlw Stat<' for ah<~ttt :3/,0()IJ, itll'lndin:..; ini<'l'<''t. I \\':1~ a,.:.-i."tl'd at tl1<' trial
by :\J,,.;.-r,.;. X ..l. llammrlltll :\lid Sptar" & Sinttlton,.;, who had originally bi'!Jught tlw ,;nit; tliL' Gt<ngia l~ailtnt<l & Banki11g Contp:tny lwin.~ l'<'!'l'l'"~'ltt< d by i\lt.,;,-r.-<. IIi I.''<'!' &
Brothl'r. The (\H."l' Wit>' altt'l'\\.:lrd.' ('arried to tlw t\upn'IIl<' Court of' thi.,; Stall-, \Yhicl granttd a n"w trial, h<eanst' of
the n-jel'tion by tlll' cottrl IH'low of a certain nHInoraiHinm whieh was sought to bl' introduetd in tvich-nce by the

colnpan~ Thr t:~~ w:~~ ;,~ain trid in the Supl'rior f'<!llrt of Fulton <>UIItY nt ih la-t ,.;pri11~ t<1'111, :~n<l rrIIt<-rl in a mistrial. I h"P'' that a liu~tl dipo:-<ition (Jf it <:an \,e 111adL: {lurin;.;- tlw prr11t lt'rlll.
At thr datr:- of my lat l'l'jl"l't, I had nrr,,cIHl a .iwl.c:-
mcut in fin"r of til!' Stat in tl11 .-11it again.~t .Tall!<'" llr~an,
of Buth rlllllt.l, and li<'Ill'\' .T. L:1mar, of BiL\1 ('11\IJJty,
brought t< eanrrl the: \ra~r of tlw lattl'r to thl' Indian Spring Hr':'(l'\,., 11hid1 hr: l~<ld \,y 1irtll<' 11! :111 ad "{' tip G1neral Ao-semhly, :q>pr"\ed :\brl'lt !It h, 1:-:l(i:J, ka:-<ing 1\1 him aml
his a,.;-ign :1irl l'l':'l'l'\'l' f"r thr pl'ri"rl of thirty yrar-: and a
writ of ('!Tor 11':1" pcnding in the Supn'\1\l' Court to l'l'\'l'l'"l' that judgnwut. Thr ea"l' wa~ ,.;tJl'"''ll Ul'nt ly ht:nrl in that court, a!lll a Ill'\\' trial 11a.~ gmnt1d to ""ai,J La1n:ll' and til ~aid Bryan, hi:; a-"i)2.11L'l' . .\t thr Spring tnm,] ,..,S:-:1, of Butt,.; Hnpni1>1' Clilll't, :\[l'.~:-<r:". L:llllar and llry:1n ll'ithdrr'\1' tll\ir ckf(nc anrl all"''vd IlJt t11 t:Ikt a fiJial <ll'l'l'l'l' <':,Jw,llin:.!: thl' lra~r and r~-Lnin.~ tl,, pr1>prrty aiJd nil thr iiJljllo>\',,_ llll'III" ll'hi<'h had I11'1'Il pL:ccrl tlll'l'l'olt, t11 tlw ~tall'. Thi
tlwy dirl on Ill)' agTc,iii.!.!' to :l<hi..;r that thl' St:IIL' .dlt>tiid
with<lral\' the "nit which I had tlll'l'l't<drl!'t' L'lll<lllll'lll'd tu
rccov<t fr"lll :"ai1l Lamar a I11ill IYhi<"h ht had <'t'l'r'tl'd in a strcd l>l>nkrillg llll tlJ,. r,.,_,.,.,.,., and ll'lti,h mill. it 11:1,.;
claiintd, l'tnrt<d to th< ~t:tlt l!lldtI and \,y Yirtttt 11! thr
11e! of Fl'hru:try :2:3nl, ] "lili, ka~ing till' ll.:ttl'l'-jH'II'tJ' 1111 ,;aid l'l'Sl'l'\'r' to .John U. !'ark and lti a,;.igu.~, tlll' ~:1id L:un:Il' h:11ing pnrl'lta~td tltt' k:I-'t' of ~:1id \\'altl' P"ll't'l' t't"nt tlll' said !'ark, and .~aid l:t"t' h:11ing 1'\:pir,.rJ lll'l~>n tht co!lllllt'lll'r'ltll'lll .,{'.~aid -"II it. 1 agt,.,.r] 111 ahil' th, 11 ;t!tdrall'al of tl1at ,.;uit, \,c,aiH' (Jil turthl'r l':\alnin:Iti"u ,,f tlH qur:-tion,.; inl'oh<l, l t'JII<'l'l:tilit'd .~tlit>ll' d"uht :t." 111 till' ri.:c:ht ol th,. :-\tat< t" n<'""'r .":lid Illill, and lH,:IIt:'t' I fPiill.l th:tt
tlw ritizrtl:' "f Butts eot111t.1 llrttu,tl it a Ill:ttll'r ''' thtlltlt\1>-'l import:tJH'I' that tht l'l',.t'l'\'( .~hoitld Ill' l't'.~t"nd '" tht ~t:tll' with"ut furthr:r d1lay, and it 11a.-< iu till (H>II'l'l' ,d :\1, ~"~'" La1t1ar and Bryan, if thtl had in.~i"tl'd on thl'ir tll'l'ln<'<'" t<'

10

thP -:uit (fl <atwcl the lta-:v of' the l'l'"l'l'\'t, til po-:tpntH' a Yeat
or two longer till' final di'p(l.-iti~>n ,f ,-aid :-;uit. 1 \\a-: al:-;o

intlnPnced bY thl' fad that tht> mill in tontnnr,;y wa~ of

incon,;idttallt YaltH', and it.-' l'<'<'OY<T_'" by till' Stat< l!<trdly

worth ct~nt<tHling fir. Thi-anang<'llll'Jtt ml'l \rith tlHl'ntin'

fc. i}lI'll'OYal

of

the

k:Hling c

eitiztJt,; of

lluth tounty who n.-:idtd ..

at or ncar thl' 1ndian Spring. In pnr,;uant'l' of the agrte-

nH'lll nwdt by nH, 1 a<hi.c thc ,,ithdramd of th< :-;uit

b1ougltt t" nen\tr ,;aid ntill. The ta,;p nlating tu tht ]pa,;e

ot tht l'l'."L'i'\"C haYing t<Tminated, th< State j,; now at liheTty

to tuakc ;;ueh'tii"]l"'ition of th:tl prop<It_Y a,; till' 1-tgi:-;latnre

may dclln aJ\"i.-ahlt. 1 :till .-::tti.-:fitd that it c:ould he "old on

tPrnt.-' atl,anta;.,>:<'tlll.' to th< St:lt<', the fnt tt.-:{ of thl' watl'r, by

thl' publit hl'ing t'l':-;L'l'Yl'd. l'o,,il.ly it lltight lw l<:t.-'t'd 011

bctttr !l'rm,.; th:tn it w:1,.; lt-a,;td t11 I ,a mar. Soml'lhing ;;lwnltl

be d<llll' in tny judgtlll'tt!, to tn:tkt tlw pl:tct altr:wti\"l to

yi,_it"t", PI' at k:L-t, to lll:lkt it tll thv int<n.-'t of tl~t owntr,_;

of propcrty m:tr tlw lnt1i:tl! ~ptini-':, to pmYidc tnon txtcn>'i\,ly f",. tiH <'ullilllt'(alJIL' iIJtvrt:tiitii;I'!Jt of' pl'l'"""~ wlto

wi.-lt Ill tr_,. tltc virtut of it.' \i:l!tJ'.-'. If' the grtliiiHl.~ 11"<'1'<~

pland a1:tl kl'pt in guod l't>ildition, and thL ro:;cb and p:1th-

"""Y" lc :tding t" and irllttl tlH ,;pring ,,,n kl'pt in gHHl
onl<r, it' Jll>jll!!:trity :1." a \l":tltrirlg pl:ti't' '""'Ild lw in a l:irgt:

lilt :!;;tire rc.-t";''l.

Th1 <':tt'o' in\,,hing thtpr"]H'I't: J',,l'llll'rl:lwionging to tlt1

Gc"rgi:t ~U1t1 L"tt1r.', :tn ,_ti!l plnding and lllt'li.'P"'td llf'.

Tltt d,a;lt uf .Jude!.,. (,,l('hr:tiJ:'. \rh" \l:t.-: tltt pritwip:tl

dtlttJii:tllt tll ti11 !.ill,.; like! in hl'h:tli ,,f till' ~;t:tt.', :Iiiii tltt

<J..l:l\ atttitdin<>r-- til( /o""""'r:tlil llr il'lll'l'.-' uf :tdtnini.-tr:ttioll llll hie"t:tt\', Ita,.. \l('l'll tit\' ltl:titl t';IIH nfpt't'\'tntinga tri:1l .,f'tiw"'\'

ea,;1 .-. It 1:-' ]JO]ll'tl, ho\\"l'\.t'l', t!tat (lll'y \\"ill le di'"'P""'''d of

<irhl'r :tt the prt~~nt or dnring till' lll'XI .-:pring lnttl of

Fulton StqH'ri"r C'onrt.

Tltt ca.-:c of tht Stall' rs. ,J"hn .Jon1-:, (fot'IIH'l' Statl' Trl':I-:-

unr,) and till' .-'lll'l'li\'s on hi.-:olli1ial bond, io: :d~o ,;till]H'tllling

and uitdi.-po .:e<l of. T\11 difli<tttltit" in the wav nf a tina!

II
1fispositiou of tlli.~ <af'c an llU:<H'r<lll~. :\J.,,.,t of till' sureties ha\'l' div1l ;;inN tilt' .~uil 11as <"olillll<'ll!'l'd and t),,. e~tates of,;l\'l'ra: of thv111 an, it i.~ IJelie\'l<l, in,-111\'t'llt, a::d unnpr<'="l'llll'd, .~o far a-; I :1111 inf<JI'IIIerl. Thtrt ha\'t' l,!'l.ll other olhta<l<" in thl' \\'ay of a trial of tlj( <:a.'<', 1rhi"h I deem it lllllll'l'<'s"an to mention "!Jl'Cificall.' The ,.],j,.f ditliculty in the \\'rl.l' of a ;;tH'Cl':':'ful trial i.~ Oil<' wl1ih should not bv ;;tatvd in a public rlport.
I mention<d in my lac:t olliti:d rpnt tlwt thl' l'ulli:l:lll
Palm< Car Cotnpany had filvd a ],jJJ ngain..;t thr (\nnptrol],rGcneral in the Cireuit Court of tit< Cuittd Stall,.; j;,,. :lll
NortlHru J li~trict of Georgia, to enjoin thnt oflic<'r r,.,,n
collecting a tax upon the gro~- reccipt,.; of tltc <:olllJan.~,' claiming tlwt a large proportion of it.~ n<eipt..; were deri\'t d fn11n inttr-,;tall btt."illC',...~, and tl1at any tax 1111 reccipt~ ."O dcriycd \\a-; a regulation of <'fllllllll'l'<t ll('l\\'l'l'll tlte S:at~. and, thtrtlort, \'iolati\'l' of tl:at prt,\'i~illl of til< ( 'on.~tituti~>l! of th< l'nittd ~;t;lt<..; \l'iJirh ~il't':' ('"l:.~1r-'- tl1r t'\f'IJL,in prl\\'l'l' (II l'<'glll:tll' :'t[('L l'llllllll<Tr:. Tilf' !,jJJ \Ill>' l!r:tl'\1 Lefon .) l!d:.!,r' 1':1rdr, at Xt'\\' ( )rlt:u~.<, and 1\'rl.-' arglll'<i hy llly~rlf, l'l'JII'l''l'l!ling: th< Stat.', arJd I,y :\lt,;,.r,;. 0 . .\. Luclir:tiJt' & :-;on, and :\Ir. ll1trry, njJI'r:tntin: tiJ<' <'!Jtllp:tn:: . )urlgr Pardr:l' granted tl11 =njtllll'lion pray<d lor. Tilt Supnn1r' C'ottrl ul thv l'nit d :-;irl!t.~ !Jrll'i::.~, <illf't' .lttdg.r l'a~tlvt.',. d:('i,;ion atlirn1cd it..; C'flt'l'< ('I JJ<':-', 1<1 tfl',ct, 111 I!IJUtilt'l' ra-, (:-;rr 1:!1 1'. ~. f:t']'lll'h, I' Ill) I :~thi-rl the C'o:npt r.dl,r-(; n<ral that it 11:1.- 11-<1'< I<> :ljlil<':tl '1'<>'11 till dt f'i.~i<HJ ,,f .)nd,:.!.t' l'ardtr, :Iilli thr rlllfl:Jll,l' 11:1~. in
pur:-uant "' Ill _I' athi, ... , l'<'<Jilird !11 p:l_l' t:J\<'.' 1111 t J.,ir gt'"'" t't<ript:- dri\,d lr"JIJ illt,in<-< d<llr r\rlll-ilrly 1rithi11 th, :-\tat<, :!lid"" ~tll'iJ l'nipt< 11111.' Til!' :-;11]>1'<111<' ( 'r!l: t,
ill tilt' r:t..;< rrfti'l'td to, tl<,idtd th:li :t tl,gl:qoh t'lllllj::ny
I!OII]rJ 11111 !Jt l'l'il'lil'l'd !1_1' a :-;1:11< J:t11 (fl ]'11_1' l:t\<'< 11!1 J'rr,ipt.c drrind lrolll lll<'.-'":lg<.~ .>t'IJI fr"Jll Ill' to i'"il<h <>llt.-i.J,. 11! tlw Statt, hnt that it t'II!Ilrll,t lt't]llirrd to pay trl\h on J'!(',ijt~ ritIind trolll tll<'~:-agr,; ..;t'llt lr11tl! and 1<> ]'"int.~ 11itliin tlw

1:2
Statt. \\"lun the hill rtkrrl'd to""''"' fill'd, tlu la\\" of thi:-; Stall' r<qttind ..:kq1ii1g <'ar <'Ill\ ani''" to p<ty a tax of on<
pn ('l'tll. on all tll(ir ;.::r""'" l"t etipt..;, lrhtthvr dvrivtd fr()lll
lwrth:..: .-:<>ld !'rum antl to P"int, \\ithin thi-: ~tat1, or front tht ~ale of lll'rth.-: ttl p<>int,.; out.-id, <II th< St:Jlt.
At th(' b.-:t '"''..:-:ion of tlll' nvnnal .\,.-:vtnldy thl' la" "a,.; elwugPtl ,;()a.-: to l"L'Cjllir, . ..:lttping car t'<~tnpanit.- l':tt:l~ '" pay a tax of :3:2,000 f(,r d<~ing hn-itw..::-: in thi..: Stat1, ill-:ILad ..{ payi ug a tax on t llt'i r gro..:,.; l"l'l't'i pt..:. .\ hill i" now pl'nd ing in the 1"nited State.-: ( 'inuit Court '" L'ttjoin tlJ(' <'lllktlint of thi;-; tax, and I gnatly fl'ar tl1at th< injttlwtion will IH granted; the Supntlll' C'"mt of tlu 1"nit1d :--:att":-; ktYing, at ih last trrm, in n ca:..:c whi<'h \\"c'lll up fr,ltll tht Stall' of Alabama, tlPcidttl, in dl(t'l, th:tt a11y att<llljll illl tilt part of a Stat1~ to <'otnpcl a <~<>I'JHH:tti"n t'ngagl'd in in!tr-Stall' htt-illt:..:,.: to pay a tax lor tlw priYil,gt' <>f tJ,.ing hu>illt'=-'" in tlu, Stall' i-: a violatiLll of thl' Contitntiou of" tlll' Fnit1d
~tal..:.
In Yit\\ of tl:l''t' tJ,.,i.-:iotJ,. by tlw Snpr:JJl!' ( '"tlrl oi tiH
Cnitl'tl StalL:..:, it i..: dil'!i('ttlt \ll tkltrtni!lt' 11 lt:tt llll'lho<l of taxing <'lll'jltll'<lt j,q:,; <ng:t,:.!'''d in int,r-~;tak \,u..:in,:..:..: !'an ht atlopltd 11ith<illl l'i<>l:ttitl<,: ll'i1:tl i..: kll<l\\'11 a..: thl' t'\lllllll'l'l't' clan."'<' ,.f tlt< C'<lll..:tittttion of tllt' 1'nittd StalL~. fn a <'11:-'t' wlti<d1 li"<'lll 11p to tktt <'tllll't lro~m tlt< ::-;tat< <lf \[:h~at.hn.-:tth th1 <tJttrl ha rtttntly d<cidtt! (o-t't' J :::> l'. S. l:vprt,.;, !' 5:}0,) th:1t :1 ltlLgTaplt t'lltllp:tll_l" t':ttl h t:t.x<d on ih \'~'''P''~''Y or l':tpital <ltdk, i11 I lit P""l"'tti"ll th:ti it..: P~'"Jltrty i11 tlw Statv tax inc: it hca:. to it,.; wl,"Jt. l'~"''l"'rt.' :tnd Ih:1t thi~ <an bv a-<'nl:litJ<d by c<ltllp:tring th< J,.n~th "' tb lit~c,; of till' ttltgT:qdt eotnpany in tlH St:tlt \\it.. it;; l'lllin litll'~, a11d taxing the cotnp:tny in tllt' J'I'tj"rli<lll tlt:tt th. lvngth of it:-: lin''" 11ithit1 th1 Stat< IHat~ t" t\11 lt'll:.!lh ,,fit.~ vutin litl(':'. Tlti:-: nwtlllJd of taxation, and a Ia:-.: on tl11' l'l'l't'ipt:-; tlt-ril'td ltolll lnt,.;int'>'..: dt~lll' t:-.:eln ..:i\tly \\ithill til! Statt, ,.;('('Ill t" lH' the only ml'thotb which a Statt l':tll :Hlpt 1rithont l'iol:tting thl' el:tu;-,1' of tht' Cou:-:titntion of' thl Unitt<] Stat<,; to whil'h

rdlert'll~( ha,- IH'l'll marlt. "\,.; a tax on reeeipto; <lcri1rd from bu,.;int'."'" d.,nl' witl1in tl11 ~tatt aiJlotlnh to a Yr,n in~ignifiemt sum, it \\otdd ,.;ctm prefnahk to tax ttl graph nnd othn eorporati"ll-' cn;_!.a;u<l in int<r-State bn-itll'"'"' according t" the IJIL'thod ad"ptt-d in till' Statt; of ~Ia,-a<ltll sctts, and apprt>\'(<1, a- ,.;(at('d, by tilt Snprrnw Court of tilt' United Statts. In tilt' del'i:-:i.,n la,.;t nft.rl'lrl tn the Suprtl'l'' Court ;;ay>' that the method adoptttl by-till' Statt: of .\la.--ach.u:-'dh sPenh to lw altugl't iwr j u4 and cq u i!a bit, a11 d I re.-;pl'ctfully athise tltat our la\1,.; rr.>ptcting tht taxati"n .,f tht':-w corpor:ttion.-' lw fr:tnJtd ,.;uh.;tantially in conft>mtit~ with tho:'(' nt that Stall. TIJ,. principlr applitd in th, ta:-:ation .,f teltg-raph cnmpanit..; ran, it srtm.; to lliC', bt made tquaily applil':,blc t" othn e>~qv>rati<>ll" <ng:tgcrl in inttrState Lu:-;i nes:-:.
I have, a,;; required hy law, rcprl',.;entcd, PitllC'r in per,.;oJI or by brit,f, c:wh capital ca.;t 1\hich ha;; lHcn carried to tht SnprPmt Court of' tbi.; State ,.;int'c my last report.
By dircc! ion of your exclltnry, I npn,cnt<tl tlw defl'nd-
ant in error in that court in th ca'(~ ot Carolim Danill~ r:<. the Ptincipal Kct'pcr of tbr 1\nitl'lltiary. In that l'~l'l, Caroline Daniel"' appli('tl to .lu(lgt R li. Clark fo1 tit(' 11rit of halwn,., COI'JHL", claiming th:tt .she \\'a:-; illegally confinvd in the pcnitPittiaryof tbi- State. She ha;.;ecl thi,.; claitn on the all(gation that she had btLn conyicted when tlw Su]wrior Court nt Ftn ton eonnty 11a- bci ng he I< I by J mlgL' \Ia r-
shall J. Clarkt, Pngagy(l in trying the l'ivil bu:-<illL'."'"' in
that court, anti by .ludgt' Hi<har<l ll. Clark \\'Ito \\a.; at tlw same time cngagcrl in di,pn.;ing of tlw nitninal bu.-'itw-." in that court. She furlhl'r l'l:tillH'd that th( latttr judge presided at the trial 1rltich rl',.:ult<d in lwr conYietion, and that whilst tht nl't of thP Ltgi,;]atun ('}'l,ating th(' Stollt' ~Tnutt tain Circuit authorized tltt judgt of that ('ircuit to aid thl judge of the Atlanta Circuit in the trial of ca.~e,.: pt'IHiing in the Suptrior Court of Fulton l'Ollnty, it t'xprc:-;sly eXl'l'pttd prosecutions for felonic:-;. She claimetl, thcnf(,n, that,

1-1

ina~IliiWII a. .;]w bad IH<'IJ <'<lll\'i<ttd of a l<lony, th1 judg1 ol tl1c Stont ~fountain Cir<'llit prt,;id,d ll'ithlltlt antillli'itr

ol law at tlw trial nf the <'il"l', and that ;;h< had IHcn ,;1ntenccd to till' jH'llit<ntiary hy a cottrt h:tYing no juri"didion

of tht C:t:'L'. Jln appli<ati"n to k di,;<i:argcd fro1n the

p<nittntiary \\a.- rdn,;td, and thi,; d<ci,.;ion \l':t' afllri!Icd hy the SIIj>I'L'IIl<' Conrt; that court holdinf,; in :-;uh,;tatlt~t, that

the jnl:..: of the :-:-t"ll'' :\f"unt:tin ( 'lnuit bad authority,
]a,,. und<r till g-rtwr;d of till' Stare, to prc,;id, in any Supe-

rior Court of the State \\'hcn l'~'"Jll'rly nqn<,;t<d to do so.

I abo, hy direction of your ixrell<nl'y, rt']ll"l'"<'llti<l the

,;]]('riff of 1),Kalh been itllliett-<l tor :1

co\t1io11lat.rtiinnnaocfa,;<the,,llwoeracl

lllll' opt

:\Ii ion

lllanw'

"' haYitw
pa,;~ttl

for that county, applied to ,) ndg< l'anitt, in thl' Cireuit

Court of the lnitt<l StalL'" for tin Xorthr~m ])i,triet of

Georgia, to lw relta,;td f't'<llll tht <'ll'lHly of tlw ,.;heriff; he

claillling that thl' Legi.;latun of tl1i." State ha' no Cnnstitn-

tiqnal autlJority l<l prllhil,it 1ht lnaiJilfaetnrL of litp!or:-; in

thi,; State, or in any l'0\111(.\' tl~tr<of, wit!Hlttt making pr"vi~

ion to e<>mpcn~:!lt tJt,. O\\'lll'l'~ of propcrty u~ed in tltt man-

factute of' .'tl<'lt liqn"r~, Y>ltil'h i,; l'f'JIIltontl vahuJt.-~ hy stwh

prohibitory Ia\\'. The c;t,;t \\;1,.; Hl'g'llt'tl at gTeat len.~th by

J. Carroll Pa_\'lll', in !whalf of th< applicant, ant! by :\11'~"1''

..:\lcxandc'l" ,\ Tnrnhull and lil_l'"''lf, in lJt'halt of tlw ,;hniff.

Jut!~< I'artl<t dt,itlttl ad\'t'l''t'l_r to tht~ applil'ant, and h"ld

that tl11 Ia,, pr"ltihitin,'-! tit< 111:\llld:tl'ttll'l' of li<[lltll'.; in tlw

county of ]),KnllJ i.; l'<HI:-'tittltiHJ:JI, altholl,cdl ll<l prDvi,;ion

is tn:uJ,. t" '""lll]H'Il':tt fl\1'111'1'~ 1;,1. propl'rty rentltrctl valul'-

}<.,.;,,; by .;nl'it prJhihition. .\n apptal h:1~ ill't'll taktn to tht~

Snpr<'lllt' Court of tltc l'nitttl State,;, but ,.;int:l' "aid apptal

was entl'rttl tltat co11rt ha.; aflirllll'tl, in ellret, tlte dtc:i~ion

ol ,Judge Panke, in a case invohing tlw ,;amc qul',.;ti<Jn,

which wtnt up from the State of Kan:"a".

The Singer Sl'wing :\la<hinc Company fiil'tl a hill again,.,(

the Comptroller-General, in tlw Unite<l States Cireuit Conrt

for the Northern District of Georgia, to enjoin the eollrction

1.5
of the tax itnp-'r<l on tktt ClllltjJall_\ by \'irtue of thv Tax Aet pa~~c<l at thr la~t .~,.~ion of tht Crncral .\;.:-;(tlll>ly, tlw company rlaimin;.; that the tax intpll-r:d by that "\ct 11a~ not :t uniform tax, and i~ thr('f(H'L' lllll''lll"'titutional. ThP ea.-''' 1rns hPanl Ll'f(,re .Jttdg:< :Xt:\\,nan, nnd fully argued IJy .fttd:,.:t Hillyer, fur thL l'ntnpany, and by m;-~l'lf, in lwhalf of tht State. .Judge ::\,lrlltall rcfu,cd to ~rant thc> injutJ<ti,tt prayed for, and <li~mi;.:~l'd the l>ill. An apJwal '.;as l'llllrl'll by the company to the Supnmc ('onrt of the Unitcd .'-'tat<-;, :1::rl th< c::-; i" nnw ]H'tHlin~ in tktt \:ourt.
By dirl'ctiotl of your l'XC'I'iiLtwy, 1 a~-i"tl'd the St>licitor-
.Gencral of thl' :\lacon Cinuit in pr""'''ettting OIH' .T~>hn't"n, charged, in eonjunction with oth,,r-;, 1ritlt breaking opL'n tltt' jail of Bibb ('ounty, and taking thPrl'fmnt n pri:-;omr nattH'd .::\loore and hanging him. The riot which I'L'O'Ulted in the unlawful al't of breaking into tiH jail of that 1:nunty, and thl' banging of :\lou no, rn:atccl llltH'h l'XIittlllt'tlt at tlw tinw, :tnd as tlw judgt ,.f the :-;tqwrior Court ol tht \Iar:on C'inttit "" rt'fllle':'ll'd, your L'X<vlltney dL'<'IIHd it prnp('r to dir,7l'l Ill<' tn aid in the pro-;L'l'Ution. "\ trial \I'll." hnd in th1 :<Utllllll'r of 1887, anrl rl'sulttd in a failun of the jury to agnt, tht'I'L' being ninl' for cott\'iction a111l tltt' for al'<jllittal. It \1':1". believed by thL' judge prl',.;iding, :1- ,.11 a~ by the S"lititnrGenrral, my:=;elf nnd otlter;;, that ti1i~ tri:t!, in ll'hil'h the accused eamr Hl ncar !wing l'<>nlil'l,d, pr..dtutll a ,;alttt:try effect on tht' publil' mind. ,Joltn"tlln 11:1- tht onh man llf the man; ettgai.!:l'd in tltt' la1rlt'"" pr<H'L'l'dings nfttTtd l1l who 11ac. fully idvntified. Xo further trial of thi,; <'a"'' !t:ts bern had ,.:itH'<' that rl'>'Ulting in riH di,.:agnt.J<til 1ll till' jut.~ as afore,.:aid.
Thl einum"t:llll'l'S atlltHling tiH ~all' of tht ;;tn,.J.; hl'ld by tlH Stall' in tlw cbhtvill< & ~part:uti>urg Hailrll:td C\lillpany an lnll knmrn to your L'X<'l'll''ll<'.l', nnd ll't'rt' al,.;o commtlltil':ttt'Ll to the Gt'lll'l':ll A""''tnb\ at ih adj<ntnHd session in tlw :-'Ullllll\'1' of last year. ll'ill ;;imply ob,;ttn, that having attenhl a Hll'l'ting of tiH' ;;to<"klto]d,,r;; of that

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company held at t'partanburt:, ~outh Carolina, in l>L'C<'llllwr, IRS(), and haYing di~l'o\ered whil>'t there that it \\"as the ol)\iou,.; polil'y ul the Hichmoml & Datl\ille Hailroad Contpany, t IHn holding a ntaj .. rity nf th< st ..ck, to :-;tarn the A;.heYilk & ~partauiJttr~ Ibilr(Jad by prenntiug it frotH carrying any through frl'ight, and thu~ call."L' it to dd:,nlt in the pa_vlllL'ltt of tlte inlL'I'L'.-'t ott it:; bond.;, ,.;n that the nwrtgage on tilL' road given to :'L'('lll'L' tho~l' bond,.; could i.J1~ foreel(J~ed, and the road ,.;old aud purdt:t."<'d on ih o\l"n term,.;, I ,.;ugg<.;ttd the appointlllL'itl ol a CO!lllllit1lv of which your cxelleney 11':1:> to Lc tltt' l'hairman, tu L'ottfn with the owner,; ol a majority of' the ,.;toek, and notify tlt<'lll tlwt unks;; thl'y took pwmpt ,.;tep." to ;;<(~ure to the minority :;tuckholdl'rs, (of \l"itich the :":'tate \Ya;; the prineipal on<,) their ju::;t righh in the jll'l'llli,-c.-, au appli('ation would be made to the eourh to put the r<1:.1d in the hand,; of a ncei\'cr, and otlwr llgal proc-<vdiug' \l"uuld he in:-:tituted to have the bond:-; lll'l<l Ly ulliClr~ of tlte Hit:lttnotHl & Datl\illc Hailroad Co. held invalid. .:\ly prtlpn:-;ition \Yas adopted, and afterwanl,-, the C't>llltnittl'e, 1rith your <'X('llleney at it,; head, visited ~l'\\. York, (l af'lompanying the couttnittce, by yont ~equL.~t,) aud obtaimd the l'<>tlt'entHc de;,ired, wltieh re.-ul!t'd in the promi~e of a further cont'Lnnee, wheu it 1ra,; stali'd, some pt'Ol)(},;itinn \HJUid pr<>bably be made. Shortly thereafter, and before the tinH appoimed tor the sl'eond conltrence, the holder,; of a majority of the ;;tock m:tde a proposition to pureha."e till' stoek held hy th< State, at f(nty-Jiw cents on the dollar, in ea,-lt. Tlti~ prupo,.;ition wa-; :H'ctptl'cl
by your exedkney, and the lliOllL'Y wa:-;, :;oon thl'reaftl'r,
paicl into tlte tren-ury. Your action in tlti,.; matter 1ras ap)H'O\'eU aml ratified ],y the Gcueral r\,.;:;embly, at its adjourned ;;e::;c;ion, held in thl ,;umntLrol Ja,t year. Jt wa,.; altogether a mo;;t adYantageoth ;;cttknll'nt i(n the State, and enabled her to di.'IH>,;e of her ,.;tOLk at a good pric'l', at a time when it really had no market value, aml \Yhcu there wus great dangPr that the State wouhl be compellccl to re::;ort

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to expensive and vexatious litigati<Jn t<J pnn:nt it flillll being retHlered utt~rly wortldl':'-0:-i.
The circumstance,; attending th-:: convict lea:-;e iiJYe:-:tigation, in which your cxcdlcney ancl my~df were tngag<d J', '~' 80 long a tinw during the fall of last year, an: ."o faltlili:tl' to your excellency and to lllCtlllJcrs of the General .\~-e1nLly and the publie, and the re,;u)t of that inve'itigatiun i.-s ,.o well known and HtHlerstoocl, that I ncPd not rc1er to it
more in detail. A resolution of the last General As,;cmbly requc.,tc,J thv
Governor to in,;truet the ;\ttomcy-Gcneral to cxamim' inl11 the facts attending the makiug of a eontraet bet\n'Cll tltL' Superintendent of the \\' eiitem & "\tlantie Hail road, \d1il~t it wus operated by the State, and the \\'e.-'i!em L'nion Telegmph Company, and directed tlw latter to in:::tirulc proeecrli ngs to canc1:l sai,J cunt ract i1 lw tlwug ln t hnc were "good gr<llind"" thc't'dur.
I h:nc made the examination coull'mphtcd, and a1n "f
the opinion that the Stale i.~ not no\i' in a position to vbim the rcsC'i,.;siou of the nmtrad rdl'ned to.
The font' and eJTed of that eonti':Jct a,;; lll't\ll'L'll the )eRsce:; of the \\"e,;lern c\: .\tlantic Hail road, and tlH' \\',,.;(c'rn Union Telegraph Colllpany \\'<Tl' p:L'~Ld on by the' ::-;upnIIl<' Court of the l'nit1l Stall'.' in !Jl L ~. HPporb, p. :!.~:\.
The court held tl1at ,;o long a,; tlw )p,.:,:c'c's u~ed thl' wirvs of the tc>kgraph eolllpany, tbl'y mu,;t allitle b.' th1 tt>l"IIJ~ of tht' contrad. So lung a~ tl11' l'<J:lll i~ in thL' po,;:-;,.~,;iou of the lc,;~eL:o, till'~- alo1w an :d1<'dLd h.Y the proYisi<lJJ:-< and term~ of tlll':ontract. \rlll'u the !vase 1:-.pin.~aull thl':--;lalL re~lllllc's P"''"v~sion uf thc roa1l, :-;hv can refu:-:e to u"e t!J,. wires of thL tclq.~raph company, and if the co1npany ""''];,.; to eonq)(l htr to ''lllllply with tlw onlr:wt, ,;Jte can :-d up its itwaliditY.
A~ your L'Xl'L'II .. IJ('Y is awan, thL' l"l'Slllutions ol tiJ,. l:t,;t General "\,;,;pmbly, rPlati,e to ,.c,rtain mattn,; pending bctwelu tl1e Statl' and the :\Iaridta and :'\,1rth ( ;tot~ia

18
l:;~ilrna<l Company, \\"!'!'<' dnh <"on,idcnd both by tht> Exl(utin and ~\t!orn(y-UctHr:d. :'l[y \\Titkn opini"11 on th<~ ,;llhject i.~ on lilc in tltc V\:l't'tttiY,l' uflic~t. 1t 1rn~, in ~nbst:tnce, that tlw Cott:'titttlinll confvt't'ctl 110 po\\'l'l' <'itltet on tltc G<>\"l'l'll<>r Oi' tltc: .\ti.>:'iicyGvneral to adjtl.~t tltc m;tttct'.-' itt eontr<J\'et-y and tlt:tt tiHy "'"uld !tan to a1rait tlw fur:h.:r nl'tion oJ tit<' Gcnvral .\~,.;ttnl,Iy.
Yl't'\" re,.;pc(( f'nlly, CLIFF( )\U) .\KJH:H:-)0.:\,
~\ t t'y-Gen'l.