Madison County AlArchives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat June 21, 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com December 14, 2006, 10:13 am Microfilm At Huntsville Library June 21, 1882 PERSONAL MENTION Col. R. B. Rhett and family, and David L. Moore, are announced as guests at Blount Springs. Chief Justice Brickell left, on Saturday night last, for Tuskaloosa, to address the Law class on Monday. Dr. H. W. Bassett is sojourning at Blount Springs, as a resident physician during the current season. Mrs. M. W. Steele and Mrs. W. W. Garth have gone to Marshall County, to visit Mr. John Newman’s family. We are told that John Allen Neal came home from Washington on Sunday last. Miss Lucie B. Lewis arrived at J. W. Clay’s yesterday morning to spend the Summer. Mr. Charles Cox, of Louisville, Ky., is in the city, a guest of his brother- in-law, John D. Cabaniss. Mrs. Priscilla Cooper Goodwyn, an elocutionist and dramatic reader of rare excellence a grand-daughter of President Tyler and also of Mr. Cooper a celebrated tragedian of more than 50 years ago, arrived in Huntsville yesterday morning, and became a guest of Rev. Dr. Banister. Mrs. Goodwyn lives in Montgomery. Wm. M. Lowe, who ousted Gen. Wheeler from his seat in Congress by Radical votes, reached home from Washington City on Sunday last. He does not look as robust as he once did. We hear that he can scarcely speak above a whisper, from some disease of the throat or lungs, or both, and that he contemplates leaving, shortly for Colorado, for the benefit of his health. LOCAL ITEMS O. K. Stegall is, now, running an Omnibus to the Railroad Depot and all parts of the City. All orders, left at the Stegall House or the Huntsville Hotel, will be promptly attended to. State Colored Normal School ------------------------------------- This institution under the tutelage of Prof. Wm. H. Councill, as Principal, and Mrs. Sophie J. Scruggs and Prof. S. J. B. Carter, as Assistants – all colored teachers-had its annual commencement exercise, last week. We were unable to attend the public examination of its over two hundred pupils, from this and other counties in North Ala., June 13, or its educational meeting, June 14. But we accepted the polite invitation of the Principal to the entertainments, consisting of declamations, dialogues, dramatic performances, tableaux, and vocal and instrumental music, at the Opera house on the nights of June 15 and 16. It afforded us great gratification to witness the progress exhibited in every department indicating the competency of the teachers, their careful training of the pupils, and the laudable ambition of the pupils to excel. The performance of the various exercises were of a character that would do no discredit to white schools. The order and decorum, both on the stage and in the audience, (we are sorry to say) were in striking contrast to the noisy, disorderly behavior too often exhibited at white schools and other entertainment. The principal delivered an excellent off-had address, at the close of the exercises, in which he congratulated his race on the encouraging progress of the school and improvement of its pupils, through the appropriation of $2,000 by the State and $500 by the Trustees of the Peabody Fund, and stimulated his people to still greater efforts for the intellectual and moral elevation of their race. He, the, bestowed small bronze busts of Mr. Peabody, sent by State Superintendent Armstrong, as prizes for deportment, industry and scholarship, to the most worthy. We do not hesitate to say that the Normal School and its teachers are entitled to public approbation and to liberal encouragement – and that such teachers entrusted with the education of more than 200 pupils, ought to be better paid. Citizens Meeting -------------------- A large number of citizens of Huntsville met, at the Court House at 12:15 p.m., June 17, 1882, to consider and adopt some measures to secure the location of the consolidated Machine Shops of the East Tenn., Va., & Ga., system of Railroads in Huntsville. On motion of A. S. Fletcher, Gen. L. P. Walker was called to the Chair, and on motion, J. W. Clay, Frank Coleman and C. C. Ross were chosen secretaries. Gen. Walker briefly stated the purpose of the meeting and urged zealous and earnest action. On motion of Lawrence Cooper, Rev. Dr. J. H. Bryson was invited to address the meeting, and earnestly and ably presented the benefits of the location of the shops here in increase of population and our material, moral and religious prosperity. Capt. Milton Humes urged the adoption of measures in the line of Dr. Bryson’s suggestions, and moved, That a committee of seven by appointed by the Chair, who shall be authorized to confer with the city authorities of Huntsville, as to the inducements that should be offered by the city, to secure the location of the consolidated machine shops at Huntsville, and, also, to unite with said city authorities to ascertaining from the Rail Road Company what inducements said company will require to locate the shops here. Adopted. J. J. McDavid urged a definite and liberal proposition by the City of Huntsville, and subscriptions by individual citizens, to the R. R. Company. Dr. Bryson urged a conference between the citizens of Madison county, Ala., and of Lincoln county, Tenn., to secure the building of a railroad connection between Huntsville and Fayetteville. Oscar R. Hundley gave the substance of information he recently received from a prominent official of the Nashville and Chattanooga R. R. Co., favorable to the building of the road from Huntsville to Fayetteville. Remarks were made by Judge Richardson, W. L. clay, A. S. Fletcher, and Judge H. C. Speake. Judge Richardson offered the following resolution: Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen should exempt the consolidated shops from taxation so long as said shops are located here, and extend free water privileges to the same. Judge Speake, D. D. Shelby and J. J. McDavid opposed the suggestion of exemption from taxation, on the ground that it would be contrary to the constitution of Alabama. The resolution was adopted with only a few dissentients. The committee, under Capt. Humes’s motion, were requested to confer with the Mayor and Aldermen at 5 o’clock this pm. Judge Richardson offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Chairman of this meeting is authorized to call an adjourned meeting, to receive the report of the Committee, after conferring with the Mayor and Aldermen. Adopted. Paul L. Jones moved to amend by adjournment to 12 m., on Monday next, which was adopted, and the meeting adjourned. L. P. Walker, Chairman. J. W. Clay, Frank Coleman, Secretaries. C. C. Ross, City Officers Pay --------------------- We are told that, last night, in the absence of Mayor White from the city, a majority of the Aldermen adopted a resolution to increase the salaries of the city officers (Mayor excepted, because, we suppose, of a direct legal prohibition) by ten per cent. We and, we believe, a majority of the taxpayers of Huntsville, are opposed to this increase. We do not believe that, under the Constitution of Alabama, the pay of public officers can be increased after their election and during their term of service. Besides, the officers, elected in April last, sought the office, with the salaries or monthly pay as they then existed. They were elected without any proposition or reasonable expectation of an increase of their salaries. Their election, of their own seeking, and their acceptance of the offices, respectively, amounted to a contract between them, severally, and the city, that they would serve the city for twelve months for the compensation authorized by then existing ordinances, subject, alone, to the resignation of the officers or their death or removal from office. As a question of law, of contract, of justice and equity, the Board had no right to increase the pay. Another serious question is involved, and that is the ability of the City treasury to stand the increased pay of public officers, in its present depleted condition, with a heavy debt hanging over it, the necessary prospective increase of that debt by $4,000 for the erection of a public school on the Greene Academy lot for a white public school, and the fact that many taxpayers are, now, submitting to a heavier tax, for the benefit of the people of the city, than they believe the statutes of Alabama and the city charter authorize. We do not believe that a majority of the city taxpayers will sanction this ten per cent increase of officers’ salaries or monthly pay. Mrs. Goodwyn’s Readings and Recitations. ---------------------------------------------------- Last night, at the U. S. Court Room, Mrs. Priscilla Cooper Goodwyn gave an entertainment of rare merit. Gen. L. P. Walker’s felicitous introduction of her to the cultivated audience, as a lady who had inherited her talent, on the one side, from a great statesman, President Tyler, on the other, from Thos. A. Cooper, a great tragedian, naturally raised great expectations. The genius of “Junius” has stood under the shadow of one name for a hundred years, and, yet, maintained its brilliancy. Mrs. Goodwyn’s genius cannot be adumbrated by the brilliancy of the two great names of her eminent ancestors. She is an emanation from their combined genius. She more than fulfilled our great expectations. We have never seen her superior in dramatic reading and recitation, in facial expression, in clearness of articulation, in descriptive power, in intonation of voice, in appropriateness of gesture, in impressiveness of manner. She suited the voice and action to the sentiment. She so personated characters that we saw as she saw, heard as she heard, we rejoiced, triumphed, sorrowed, laughed, wept, agonized, with her. Thus she enlisted the sympathies of her enlightened audience, and won hearty plaudits after every reading or recitation, “from grave to gay, from lively to severe.” “You are enthusiastic.” Yes, we are, under the spell of genius. “You are dazed.” Yes as one dazed by the lamp of Aladdin. “You are carried away.” Yes, as by the wand of Prospero. We confess to a complete captivation by her charming presence – her moral and intellectual superiority, displayed in her person and her performance. Capt. Dan. Coleman announced that Mrs. Goodwyn would give another entertainment to-night, but we regret to say, she was summoned to Blount Springs by a telegram to read there. ANNOUNCEMENT ------------------------- To The People Of Madison County I announce myself a candidate for STATE SENATOR for Madison county, at the election on the 1st Monday in August. I am subject to no party caucus dictation or nominations. I favor a repeal of the amendments to the Election Laws, the abolishment of the County Court, and the convict labor system of Madison county. I favor liberal appropriations for the free schools. I am in favor of free thoughts, free speech, and free government. These and other questions I propose to discuss before the people, and will give notice of the time and place. Any gentleman who may dissent from these views will be given a fair division of time. Jun21-tf JOHN J. MCDAVID. U.S. NEWS Threw Her Child in a Well LYNCHBURG, VA., June 10 A negro woman named Belle Lipscomb, finding that her child had small pox threw it in a well in the city suburbs several days since, and escaped to the woods three miles from Lynchburg. The dead body of the child was found Thursday and the authorities of Campbell county captured the mother last night. She had contracted small pox from the child. If she survives she will be brought here and tried for murder. LEGAL NOTICES Final Settlement ---------- STATE OF ALABAMA, MADISON COUNTY, ---------- Regular June Term, Court of Probate, June 20, 1882. ---------- Estate of James J. Colt, deceased. This day came V. A. Nuckols, Administrator of the estate of James J. Colt, deceased, and filed with the Court his account and vouchers for a final settlement of his administration of said estate, It is considered, ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that the 14th day of July, 1882, be and the same is hereby appointed a day on which to make said settlement. It is, also, ordered by the Court that due and legal notice of the filing of the accounts and vouchers, the nature of the same, and the time appointed by the Court for settlement, be given, by publication for three successive weeks, in the Huntsville Democrat, a newspaper published in the County of Madison, State of Alabama; at which time, all persons interested can appear and contest said settlements, if they see proper to do so. WILLIAM RICHARDSON, Jun21-3w. Judge of Probate Attachment Notice ---------- State of Alabama, Madison County ---------- John J. Dement, Plaintiff vs. Attachment. Mary A. E. Otto, Defendant ---------- In Justice’s Court, Robert W. Figg, J. P. Whereas, John J. Dement, having applied to the undersigned Justice of the Peace, in due form of law, for an attachment against the property of Mary A. E. Otto, and having obtained the same returnable at June Term of said Court; and whereas it appears to me that the said Mary A. E. Otto is a non-resident of the State of Alabama, and that she resides in the St. Louis, in the State of Missouri; now the said Mary A. E. Otto is hereby notified of the pendency of said attachment and that the same has been levied upon as the property of defendant and that if said Mary A. E. Otto does not appear before me, at my office in the City of Huntsville, County and State aforesaid, on the 2nd Monday in July 1882, I will give judgment in said attachment (ex-parte) in the same manner as if said Mary A. E. Otto, defendant, was present to answer and defend the same, and will, as the law directs, award execution, order of sale or other process as the case may require. Given under my hand this 13th day of June, A. D., 1882. ROBERT W. FIGG, Justice of the Peace J. J. McDavid Att’y for Plaintiff. jun21-3w File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/madison/newspapers/itemsfro1216gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 14.8 Kb