The handling Mr. Paterson gives the statistics of emigration is worthy of careful study. His conclusions as to the whites are that the native whites of the North increase at the rate of 15.7 per cent., and at the South 30.4 per cent. in a decade. We can scarcely agree with a conclusion which makes the disparity so wide. The estimate of colored increase is based on the census of 1870, allowing 1.5 per cent for error, at 33.3 per cent. The error, we think, was probably not far from 11 per cent. instead of 1.5.

Upon his own basis he estimates the native whites of the North one hundred years hence, 1980, (their present number being 24,403,000) at 105,000,000, while the colored population will have increased from 6,577,000 to 117,000,000.

His estimates on the movement of the colored population are more satisfactory. But new and now unknown conditions are likely to affect the problem, and upset all our calculations based on the past, and supposing the future to be more constant than it will probably be.

INCREASE OF THE WHITES.

The relative increase of the whites at the South is somewhat rore difficult to estimate than that of the blacks, because more affected by emigration and immigration. In the census of 1870 the whites were probably better counted than the blacks. By it the increase of the whites in the decade ending in 1880 was 28 per cent., while that of the colored people was 33. The whites lost by excess of

emigration over immigration, however, much more than the blacks. The blacks lost little by the war, chiefly infants and old people, for a short period after freedom. The prolific age (corresponding with the military age) was little affected, while the losses of the whites were from this very age, telling, for a time, heavily on ratio .of increase.

ANOTHER TEST.

In 1870 there were living in the United States, including Geor gia, 719,124 whites born in Georgia. In 1880, 933,061, an increase of 30 per cent. The enumeration of the whites was more nearly correct than that of the blacks. A like comparison of the blacks shows 589,929 in 1870, and 786,306 in 1880, an increase of 331 per cent. Allowing for errors in 1870, their per cent of increase would be reduced below that of the whites.

The South-the whole country-is deeply interested in this question, whether the country is to be Africanized. No State has a deeper interest in it than Georgia, the centre of colored population. But there is no such black outlook. The wild use of statistics raised the apprehensions, the serious and sober use dispels them. We may safely dismiss these vain fears as unwarranted by the facts.

COMPARISON OF 1870 AND 1880.

The census of 1870 was unreliable, and its errors aggravated at the South by peculiar conditions. The worst errors related to the black population, and these were concentrated on the Southern tier of States, especially on South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana. Georgia herself was then (in June, 1870,) under military rule.

The census of 1880, on the contrary, was the best ever takenwith improved machinery and with the utmost care. This very fact exaggerated the contrast between it and the 9th census.

Instead of a gloomy view, we think the future full of hope and promise. This fine country was not conquered from the red man for the black; it will never cease to be a white man's country, unless all history is false, and the superior race shall yield to the inferior. Other principles will come into play when any such result is seriously threatened.

There was in slavery, whatever its faults, nothing to retard, but everything to stimulate, the increase of the colored people. As it waз with King Lear, "the king lacks soldiers," even so with the master he wanted slaves. There were no such things as improvident marriages, for there was no difficulty about bringing up children. There are more drones in the colored hive now than then.

All this is said in perfect kindness towards the colored race. Such a rate of increase were as bad for them as for the whites. Civilization would perish in their hands.

As regards Georgia in particular, we would as soon risk her to take care of herself, as any other State or people. She has before her a future of growth and development, of largely diversified industry, increased agricultural diversity, united with immense increase in manufacturing, mining and all other forms of industry. Coal, iron, lumber, water power, cotton, rice, sugar, climate, soil, health, all these she has, and a beautiful country, for a superior race. The tide will turn this way, probably, in a peculiar and desirable way, not so much by direct immigration from abroad but rather from the North, overflowing this way, a population already assimilated, and in the second generation indistinguishable from our

own.

INSTITUTIONS OF THE PEOPLE.

CONSTITUTION, GOVERNMENT AND LAWS.

State Government-Constitution of 1877.-The limitations upon the powers of government in this Constitution are unusually complete and pronounced, embracing nearly all the provisions for the protection of liberty and personal rights to be found in any State Constitution, and some additional safeguards, which have been copied in other States.

Prominent among them are the provisions limiting taxation, limiting State credit and City and County credit (the most dangerous powers of government), regulating railroads by law, requiring a majority of all the members of each house, instead of a majority of a mere quorum, to pass bills, requiring a two-thirds vote in sundry important cases, and the like.

Some defects in the Constitution and suggestions as to the remedy have been recently discussed in an able series of articles by a prominent citizen, with a view to remedying the defects without hazarding the valuable features of the Constitution, or incurring the expense of a Convention. The suggestions were the following viz.:

To strike from the Constitution the provision as to the introduction of, and action upon, local and special bills.

To fix the limit of the biennial session at eighty days, and at the same time to reduce the time to be devoted to local legislation.

To restore to the Governor, subject to the approval of the Senate, the appointment of Judges of the Superior Courts and Solicitors. To extend the terms of the Governor and heads of departments to four years, with a disqualification on the part of the Governor for re-election to the next term.

To increase the number of Senators to eighty-eight, and

To restore the provisions of the Constitution of 1868 as to the selection of jurors for the trial of civil and criminal cases.

The writer of these suggestions was a member of the Convention, and for years since a member of the General Assembly, with opportunities of observing the practical operations of the Constitution.

His views will doubtless receive the careful consideration of the Legislature.

Synopsis of the Constitution-First Principles.—The Constitution opens with a declaration of first principles. Government is for the good of the people, and its officers are their servants. The object of government is the establishment of freedom, limited by justice; to this end, the protection of person and property should be impartial and complete.

Source of Power.-The people are the source of power, and all rights not delegated are reserved. Suffrage is bestowed on all male citizens 21 years of age, of sound mind, not criminals, and who have paid all taxes for the support of government. The number of females exceeds that of males; and the number of minors exceeds that of adults; the elective body constitutes, therefore, rather more than one-fifth of the entire body of citizens.

On election days the sale of liquor within two miles of the polls, is prohibited.

Delegation of Power-Extraordinary.—A Constitutional Convention is the supreme representative seat of power. Such a Convention may be called by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected of each house. Amendments to the Constitution may be made by such a Convention, representing the sovereign power of the State, or they may be proposed by two-thirds of all the members elected, of each house, and submitted to the people for ratification or rejection.

Ordinary Powers-the State Government.-The usual distinction is made into three departments-Legislative, Judicial and Executive. Bill of Rights-The declaration of rights limiting all departments of government, and protecting the citizen against them all, precedes the bestowment of delegated power on any department. The Bill of Rights provides for liberty of person, prohibits slavery, declares that the writ of habeas corpus shall NEVER be suspended, provides for liberty of speech, complete liberty of conscience, equality before the law, the proper publication of law, which shall not be ex post facto nor retroactive; provides that the social status of the people shall not be a subject of legislation, and makes numerous and powerful provisions for the protection of property.