coln, 14,296; Mount Wilson, 14,280; Long's Peak, 14,271; Uncompahgre Peak, 14,235; Crestone Peak, 14,233; Mountain of the Holy Cross, 14,176; Mount Sneffels, 14, 158; Pike's Peak, 14,147; San Luis Peak, 14,100; Culebra Peak, 14,079; Mount Ouray, 14,043.

The primary triangulation, under Mr. Wilson, covered this season about 25,000 square miles. This party established 26 stations, and located many points by foresight intersections, on which monuments were set up by the secondary surveying parties. The area covered by the Snake River party's triangulation was 12,500 square miles; the monuments erected numbered 104. This division was under the direction of Henry Garnet, with J. E. Mushback, assistant topographer, and Dr. A. C. Peale and F. M. Eastman, geologist and assistant geologist. Mr. Beckler's party surveyed 6,000 square miles and erected 40 monuments. The work laid out for the survey in 1877 included over 30,000 square miles, lying mainly in Wyoming Territory, but partly in eastern Idaho and Utah. It was divided into three districts: the Green River and Sweetwater districts to extend as far south as parallel 41° 45', where they about meet Clarence King's survey of the 40th parallel, and as far north as the parallel 43; the Sweetwater or eastern district was bounded on the east by the 107th meridian; and the Green River division was bounded on the west by the 112th meridian-meridian 109° 30' dividing the two fields. The Snake River division explored the territory extending to latitude 44° 15' N., and covering the whole area north of the two other districts.

During a part of the summer of 1877, the primary triangulation party, under Mr. H. D. Wilson, was engaged in establishing astronomical locations in the Wind River range of mountains in Wyoming Territory. Fremont's Peak was found to be situated 15 miles to the north of the mountain so designated in Captain Jones's map, whose true name is Wind River Peak. The range extends from the Sweetwater River, beginning about latitude 42° 15', longitude 109° W., in a straight line northward to Union Pass; its length is about 75 miles. It is the greatest mass of mountains in Wyoming Territory, and contains the highest peaks, unless the unexplored Big Horn Mountains surpass them. In form it is a double parallel ridge of mountains, with connecting mountains or "saddles" running across at short distances apart, thus forming a series of circular links, inclosing deep valleys, each containing a lake, whose waters are frozen over four fifths of the year. These valleys contain only a few scattered trees around the edges of the lakes, which fill nearly the whole of the bottoms, the sides of the mountains rising abruptly, sometimes in vertical walls 1,000 to 2,000 feet high. The outer descents of the mountains are in terraces, separated by cañons, with rugged foot-hills below: the traces of glacial action on the most gigantic scale are visible in VOL. XVII.-22 A

all the forms of the landscape. The Wind River Mountains yield a larger drainage, in proportion to the extent of their area, than any other system of mountains in the country; the Sweetwater, Wind, Big Horn, Green, and Snake Rivers rise in these mountains, as well as the principal feeders of the Yellowstone, Gros Ventre, and Clarke's Fork of the Columbia. It is the most stormy region in the western country. The mountains consist of granite, with some gneiss. Indications of gold, silver, and other metals were frequent, and every variety of metalliferous quartz was met with.

GEORGIA. The regular session of the Legislature of Georgia began at Atlanta on the 10th of January. On the 12th, Alfred H. Colquitt was inaugurated Governor for a term of four years. On the 16th N. C. Bartlett was elected Secretary of State, J. W. Renfroe State Treasurer, W. L. Goldsmith Controller - General, and James P. Harrison State Printer. These officials were chosen by the Legislature in joint convention of the two Houses. A United States Senator was elected for the term of six years, beginning March 4, 1877, to succeed Thomas M. Norwood. Several ballots were taken before an election was made. The first stood 95 for Thomas M. Norwood, 77 for B. H. Hill, 29 for James M. Smith, 10 for H. V. Johnson, and 4 for D. A. Walker. The final and decisive ballot, taken on the 26th of January, was 116 for Hill, 86 for Norwood, 5 for Smith, for Johnson, and 1 for Charles J. Jenkins; and Mr. Hill was elected.

In

Benjamin H. Hill was born in Jasper County, Ga., in 1823, and was educated in the private schools of his native county and the University of Georgia at Athens, where he graduated in 1844. He was admitted to the bar the following year, and practised his profession without interruption for several years. 1851 he was elected to the Legislature as a Whig, and took a prominent part in its debates. In 1855 he appeared as a leader in the Native American or "Know-Nothing" party. In 1859 he was elected to the Legislature again by the Whigs and "Know-Nothings," and in 1860 supported the Bell and Everett ticket in the national canvass. He was a delegate to the convention that adopted the ordinance of secession, but joined with his old political antagonist, Alexander H. Stephens, in opposing that measure. Having failed to prevent the secession of the State, he yielded to the majority, and took a prominent part in support of the Southern Confederacy, being chosen by the Legislature to the Confederate Senate. After the war he opposed the reconstruction measures, and naturally found himself working in the ranks of the Democratic party, to which he had never before belonged. He was elected to the 44th Congress from the 9th district, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Garnett McMillan, where his course was generally liberal and conciliatory. His successor

was appropriated for the expenses of the convention. The session of the Legislature came to a close on the 22d of February. On the last day the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted:

erty itself.

up and pulled down at will, and the foundation of justice itself polluted, it does seem that the overthe present state of the Republic the voice of every throw of our common government is imminent. In patriot is needed; apathy is a crime, and silent acquiescence in the conspiracy against our liberties is ruin.

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly met, That we hereby declare it to be the sense of this Assembly, as well as the firm belief of the people of Georgia, that Samuel J. Tilden was fairly elected President of the United States for the ensuing four years, and that Thomas A. Hendricks was elected for the same term VicePresident, and if they shall fail of a peaceful inauguration, then will the people of the United States have been defrauded of their choice, and a fatal and integrity of the Government. blow be given to public honor, and to the stability

Resolved, by the authority aforesaid, That the General Assembly views with alarm and most decided condemnation, and hereby enters into a solemn protest against, the interference of the authorities of the General Government with the full exercise of the ballot in the several States, whether that interference is manifested in the control of returning boards, or in the presence of United States troops at the polls, or in the arbitrary elevation of its favorites to supreme power in place of those chosen by the people.

We, the representatives of the people of Georgia in General Assembly met, deem it a duty which we owe to ourselves, our common country, and posterity, to utter a voice of condemnation as well as of warning, in view of the state of the Republic. The disregard which for years has been shown for the strict letter of the law, has naturally degenerated into a disregard and defiance of its spirit, and we now stand confronted with tremendous peril to libOur servants have been our masters, and neither the laws nor the Constitution can protect us. Could reason be left free to combat error, and the people to effect reforms where they are needed, we should be hopeful of the future. But the facts of our present political history declare that the very safeguards of the ballot have been taken away from us by the wicked instrumentalities which have been devised for the purpose of robbing the people of power and free suffrage, and we are powerless to redress our wrongs. The patriotic of all parties can but feel how earnest the effort was in our recent presidential election to redress the evils which were affecting the country, by a peaceful and honest use of the ballot, and the whole world proves how a wicked oligarchy has defeated the purpose. If fraud no longer vitiates the actions of men or States, then, indeed, are we hopeless of the corrupt and lawless who now hold power and may hold it forever. If the highest tribunal in our land, which we have fondly looked to as the last stronghold of freedom, has declared that frauds on liberty and law must stand unreversed and irreversible, then, indeed, we are a doomed people. With the law trampled upon, the name of State sovereignty a byword of reproach, governments, in the South, at least, set

There were 409 acts and 17 resolutions

passed during the session, but nearly all of them were of purely local concern. Many county lines were changed, and a large number of acts related to county courts, the sale of liquor in certain localities, municipal affairs, special corporations, and other matters of local administration. Among the few general laws was one "To prevent joint stock companies,

corporations, and other associations, from declaring dividends when they have not realized an income on investment," and one "To prevent the maintaining or carrying on of any lottery in this State."

The question of holding the constitutional convention excited a good deal of interest, and occasioned considerable discussion prior to the election, which was held on the 12th of June. The result was 87,238 votes cast: for the convention, 48,181; against the convention, 39,057; majority for the convention, 9,124. The Governor issued a proclamation, calling upon the delegates chosen to meet at the Capitol, in Atlanta, on the 11th day of July. The convention assembled at the time appointed, and promptly organized, with ex-Governor Jenkins as President. Robert Toombs was Chairman of the Committee on Revision, and among the delegates were many of the most conspicuous public men in the State. The convention continued its session until the 25th of August, when the Constitution as completed was adopted as a whole by a unanimous vote, and an ordinance passed requiring the Governor to "issue his proclamation ordering an election for members of the General Assembly, and a vote upon the ratification or rejection of the Constitution as therein provided, and a vote upon the capital and homestead questions as provided by ordinances of this convention." The matters which had occupied the largest share of attention, and occasioned most discussion, were the Bill of Rights, the provisions regarding the elective franchise, the location of the capital, the mode of selecting judges of the Supreme and Superior Courts, and the adjustment of the financial obligations of the State. The preamble of the Constitution is as follows:

To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen, and to transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we, the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Among the declarations of the Bill of Rights, comprising Article I. are the following:

SECTION I.-1. All government, of right, originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole. Public officers are the trustees and the servants of the people, and at all times amenable to them.

2. Protection to person and property is the paramount duty of government, and shall be impartial and complete.

3. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, except by due process of law.

4. No person shall be deprived of the right to prosecute or defend his own cause in any of the courts of this State, in person, by attorney, or both.

7. Neither banishment beyond the limits of the State, nor whipping, as a punishment for crime, shall be allowed.

13. No inhabitant of this State shall be molested

in person or property, or prohibited from holding any public office, or trust, on account of his religious opinions; but the right of liberty of conscience shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness,

17. There shall be within the State of Georgia neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for crime, after legal conviction thereof. the subject of legislation.

18. The social status of the citizen shall never be

21. There shall be no imprisonment for debt. 25. All citizens of the United States, resident in and it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to this State, are hereby declared citizens of this State, enact such laws as will protect them in the full enjoyment of the rights, privileges, and immunities due to such citizenship.

SEC. II.-4. All lotteries and the sale of lottery tickets are hereby prohibited; and this prohibition shall be enforced by penal laws.

5. Lobbying is to be declared a crime, and the General Assembly shall enforce this provision by suitable penalties.

6. The General Assembly shall have the power to provide for the punishment of fraud; and shall proconcealed from the creditor. vide, by law, for reaching the property of the debtor

SEC. IV.-1. Laws of a general nature shall have uniform operation throughout the State, and no special law shall be enacted in any case for which provision has been made by any existing general law. in any particular case by special legislation, except No general law affecting private rights shall be varied with the free consent, in writing, of all persons to be affected thereby; and no person under legal disability to contract is capable of such consent.

2. Legislative acts in violence of this Constitution, or the Constitution of the United States, are void, and the judiciary shall so declare them.

SEC. V.-1. The people of this State have the inherent, sole, and exclusive right of regulating their internal government, and the police thereof, and of altering and abolishing their Constitution whenever it may be necessary for their safety and happiness.

Article II. relates to the elective franchise. It provides that the vote at all elections shall be by ballot, and defines the qualifications of voters as follows:

2. Every male citizen of the United States (except as hereinafter provided), twenty-one years of age,

who shall have resided in this State one year next preceding the election, and shall have resided six months in the county in which he offers to vote, and shall have paid all taxes which may hereafter be required of him, and which he may have had an opportunity of paying, agreeably to law, except for the year of the election, shall be deemed an elector: Provided, that no soldier, sailor, or marine in the military or naval service of the United States shall acquire the rights of an elector by reason of being stationed on duty in this State; and no persons shall vote who, if challenged, shall refuse to take the following oath or affirmation: "I do swear (or affirm) that I am twenty-one years of age, have resided in this State one year, and in this county six months, next preceding this election. I have paid all taxes which, since the adoption of the present Constitution of this State, have been required of me previous to this year, and which I have had opportunity to pay, and that I have not voted at this election."

The General Assembly is authorized to provide for the registration of voters; but the fol

lowing classes of persons shall not be permitted to register, vote, or hold any office, or appointment of honor or trust, in this State, to wit: 1. Those who shall have been convicted, in any court of competent jurisdiction, of treason against the State, of embezzlement of public funds, malfeasance in office, bribery or larceny, or of any crime involving moral turpitude, punishable by the laws of this State with imprisonment in the penitentiary, unless such person shall have been pardoned. 2. Idiots and insane persons.

Other important provisions of this article are as follows:

SECTION IV.-1. No person who is the holder of any public money, contrary to law, shall be eligible to any office in this State, until the same is accounted for and paid into the Treasury. 2. No person who, after the adoption of this Constitution, being a resident of this State, shall have been convicted of fighting a duel in this State, or convicted of sending or accepting a challenge, or convicted of aiding or abetting such duel, shall hold office in this State, unless he shall have been pardoned; and every such person shall, also, be subject to such punishment as may be prescribed by

law.

SEC. V.-1. The General Assembly shall, by law, forbid the sale, distribution, or furnishing of intoxicating drinks within two miles of election-precincts, on days of election-State, county, or municipaland prescribe punishment for any violation of the

same.

SEC. VI.-1. Returns of election for all civil officers elected by the people, who are to be commissioned by the Governor, and, also, for the members of the General Assembly, shall be made to the Secretary of State, unless otherwise provided by law.

Article III. relates to the legislative department. The Senate consists of 44 members, one from each district, and all the districts are defined; but the General Assembly may change them after each census of the United States, without increasing the number. The House of Representatives consists of 175 members, apportioned among the several counties; the 6 with the largest population having 3 each; the 26 having the next largest population, 2 each; and the remaining 105 counties, 1 each. The first election for members of the General Assembly was to take place on the first Wednesday in December, 1877. The next on the first Wednesday in October, 1880; and subsequently, every two years, on the first Wednesday in October. The first meeting of the Legislature was fixed for the first Wednesday in November, 1878; and subsequent meetings on the same day every two years; but an extra session might be called by the Governor, if, in his opinion, the public good should require it. Sessions of the Legislature are limited to 40 days, unless extended by a "two-thirds vote of the whole number of each House." The following restriction is placed upon the eligibility to the General Assembly:

SECTION IV.-7. No person holding a military commission, or other appointment or office, having any emolument or compensation annexed thereto, under this State, or the United States, or either of them, except Justices of the Peace and officers of the militia, nor any defaulter for public money, or for any legal taxes required of him, shall have a seat in either House; nor shall any Senator or Representative, after

SECTION II.-1. The power and authority of regulating railroad, freight, and passenger tariffs, preventing unjust discriminations, and requiring reasonable and just rates of freight and passenger tariffs, are hereby conferred upon the General Assembly, whose duty it shall be to pass laws, from time to time, to regulate freight and passenger tariffs, to prohibit unjust discriminations on the various railroads of this State, and to prohibit said railroads from charging other than just and reasonable rates, and enforce the same by adequate penalties.

4. The General Assembly of this State shall have no power to authorize any corporation to buy shares, or stock, in any other corporation in this State, or elsewhere, or to make any contract, or agreement whatever, with any such corporation, which may have the effect, or be intended to have the effect, to defeat or lessen competition, or to encourage monopoly and all such contracts and agreements shall be illegal

and void.

5. No railroad company shall give, or pay, any rebate, or bonus in the nature thereof, directly or indirectly, or do any act to mislead or deceive the public, as to the real rates charged or received for freights or passage; and any such payment shall be illegal and void; and these prohibitions shall be enforced by suitable penalties.

6. No provision of this article shall be deemed, beld, or taken to impair the obligation of any contract heretofore made by the State of Georgia.

7. The General Assembly shall enforce the pro

visions of this article by appropriate legislation. Article V. deals with the executive department. The Governor is to be elected for a term of two years, and after a second term cannot be reelected within a period of four years. His salary is fixed at $3,000 per annum. The first election of Governor under the Constitution occurs in 1880. The returns of the election for Governor are to be made to the President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, without being opened. The candidate having a majority of the whole number of votes is to be declared elected, and if no candidate receives such majority, the General Assembly must elect one of the two having the highest number of votes. No person is eligible for Governor unless he is thirty years of age, and has been a citizen of the United States 16 years, and of the State of Georgia six years. In case of vacancy, the President of the Senate is to exercise the executive power until the vacancy is filled, and in case of his death, resignation, or inability, the Speaker of the House will act as Governor Provision may be made for filling unexpired terms by special election. The Governor's oath of office is as follows: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will faithfully execute the office of Governor of the State of Georgia, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution thereof, and the Constitution of the United States of America."

The customary powers and duties are imposed upon the executive. If a person appointed to office by him is rejected by the Senate, he cannot be reappointed during the same session or the recess following. It is made the duty of the Governor, quarterly, and oftener, if he deems it expedient, "to examine

under oath the Treasurer and Controller-General of the State on all matters pertaining to their respective offices, and to inspect and re

view their books and accounts." The Secretary of State, Controller-General, and Treasurer are to be elected at the same time, and in the same manner, as the Governor. The salary of each is $2,000 a year, and he must have been a resident of the State at least six years.

Article VI. relates to the judiciary. The Supreme Court consists of a chief-justice and two associate justices, whose term of office is six years. After 1880, these are to be elected by the Legislature. It is altogether a court of appellate jurisdiction. There is a Judge of Superior Courts in each circuit, holding office for four years.

These are also to be elected by the Legislature. Superior Courts are required to sit in each county at least twice a year. Provision is made for minor courts and judicial officers.

Article VII. is entitled "Finance, Taxation, and the Public Debt." Exemption from taxation is provided as follows:

law, exempt from taxation all public property, SECTION II.-2. The General Assembly may, by places of religious worship or burial, all institutions of purely public charity, all buildings erected for and used as a college, incorporated academy, or other seminary of learning, the real and personal estate of any public library, and that of any other literary association, used by or connected with such library, all books and philosophical apparatus, and all paintings and statuary of any company or assochandise, or for purposes of sale or gain: Provided, ciation kept in a public hall and not held as merthe property so exempted be not used for purposes of private or corporate profit or income.

Restrictions

upon

the contraction of debt are

provided in the following sections:

SECTION III.-1. No debt shall be contracted by or on behalf of the State except to supply casual deficiencies of revenue, to repel invasion, suppress insurrection and defend the State in time of war, or to pay the existing public debt; but the debt created to supply deficiencies in revenue shall not exceed, in the aggregate, two hundred thousand dollars.

SEO. IV.-1. All laws authorizing the borrowing of money by or on behalf of the State shall specity the purposes for which the money is to be used, and the money so obtained shall be used for the purpose specified and for no other.

SEC. V.-1. The credit of the State shall not be

pledged or loaned to any individual, company, corporation, or association, and the State shall not become a joint owner or stockholder in any company, association, or corporation.

SEO. VII.-1. The debt hereafter incurred by any county, municipal corporation, or political division of this State, except as in this Constitution provided for, shall never exceed seven per centum of the assessed value of all the taxable property therein, and no such county, municipality or division shall incur any new debt, except for a temporary loan or loans to supply casual deficiencies of revenue, not to exceed one-fifth of one per centum of the assessed value of taxable property therein, without the assent of two-thirds of the qualified voters thereof, at an election for that purpose, to be held as may be prescribed by law; but any city, the debt of which does not exceed seven per centum of the assessed value of the taxable property at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, may be authorized by law