The Lancaster ledger. (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, April 01, 1852, Image 2
COMMUNICATIONS.
[For the Ledger.]
Charleston, S. C, March 20.
U will afford me much pleasure, Mr.
Editor to comply with your request, and
give you from time to time, a brief history
of some of the Charleston residents.
I was in a reflective mood while walking
on Bay street this morning, thinking
who would bo the first hero of my story,
when upon turning the corner of Broad
Street I met one coining out of the South
Carolina Bank, whose history may possess
interest to the readers of the Ledger.
Mr , camo to this count.y when a
boy, from Ireland. He was poor, and the
only means offered hy which his industry
could be made available for his support,
was to drive a dray. For several years he
could have been seen driving his dray,and
then a cart along our principle streets.?
But suddenly ho was missing. lie had
managed by strict economy to amass a
little sum, which he invested in r. profitable
business, and by losing none of industrious
habits, but rather being more persevering,
he met with that success always
the reward of judicious management and
persevering efforts. Mr. now lives
in ono ot the finest houses in the city, be idee
he owns a number of others. He
has a wife and a number of children. lie
, vu? iuiiu une ; jor " deducted,'*
read, didactic ; for 441 contulated
you,** read I congratulate you ; for 4 papers'
read, paper; for4mark old Lancaster,'
read rank old Lancaster; for * It will do
all of( read it will do all of it; for 44 the
prido ard solaces of this li fis" read the
pride and solace of his life; for 4 all editorial,'
read all his editorials ; for 4 future
iriocity end prosperity'; read future felicity
and prosperity; for 4 but I do not say
any more to them, my worthy and esteem*
ad friend Bailey,' road but I do not say
any more so, or able than, Ac."; for 4f my
memory serves me aright,' Ac., read if my
memory serve me aright; for 4it steads
is a V?VT Mwito -? * J
?j i" ? ?/ wjuuniKv, raw on n Tirj
pretty eminence; for1 poeseming some afflh
oaciou* medicinal proponMtica,' road poaMMfag
sotno effijaciou* medicinal proper
ties; for * it is eaid to conceive,' read itie
bard to ooncoiro; for ' where I com e/ read
when r cm?; for 'h 3 U driVJeii quite a"
/
>r f
has given a good education to all of his
children, and is considered one of our first
citizens. A man respected and loved byall
who know him.
It is warm this morning, I will go over
to Dauson Blackmail's and get a glass
of Soda water. " tiood morning Mr. B.
how arc you to-day." This man once wa
the envy of his fellows. Fortune smiled
upon him and the lavish manner in which
sho showered her gifts at tlio same time
dampened and chilled that ardour of mind
of which he was originally possessed.?
When a young man, knowing the wealth
he possessed?doated upon by two aged
parents, B. went where he chose, and did
as he pleased. When he was about twenty-three
or four, his father died and his
large possessions camo into his hands.?
He thought as did his pareuts that it was
worse than folly that he should learn any
trade or profession, therefore, B was merely
the gentleman, the man of the world.
At twenty-six he married a beautiful
and respected young lady. She brought
her husband some property, though not a
great deal, still he had an abundance of
his own. Things went on swimmingly
for a while?but soon " a change came
over the spirit of that young wife's dream."
B, from having nothing to do, got into
loose, vicious habits, lottery tickets, billiards,
cards, 6ic., possessed attractions for
him.
Twelve years have elapsed since that
time?B. is a jx>or man, he is sorry for
past l ut that drw# v.-:.? v:_ e -
._>iiijy ins lortunc
back. Owing to the little property his
wife possessed being made over to her, he
is enabled to find a support.
My cogitations have brought me to
King Street before I was aware of it.
Accompany me in imagination and let
us take a glance at the beauty and fashion
of this great city. Sec yonder store, the
proprietor of that house can draw Fifty
Thousand from the Bank ; eight years ago
he was a poor young man, he luckily procured
a situation with an upright, respectable
tradesman and he made a man o
him.
"Good morning, Miss ," poor girl !
how dejected she looks! She has a bundle
under her arms, she is carrying to the
owner?Rome sewing she is paid to do.
Ten years ago when she had just entered
\er teens, I heard her say it was vulgar to
associate with a workman's daughter. Verily
it is a map of busy life. Next week
I will introduce you to some of my friends
up King street and if the weather be not
too warm will take you up and down Calhoun
street. Should this be the case I
will take you to tho battery where I might
probably find something to interest the
readers of the ledger.
ALPHA.
Mr. Editor : Allow me to call your attention,
and that of tho readers of your
paper, to a communication in No. 6, by
" A Son of Lancaster."
I wish to correct several mistakes I no.
ti?e, typographical or the author's carelessness.
Tbo following are they :
It. is I oft out it! *u:?1 >5 '
able and useful surviver,' read l?e is doub t
leas quite an able Divine, I guess; for Msis*
doms choose,' read wisdom chose ; for * a*
professor,' reaa is professor; for 4 comemt*,'
rcad commentfor aA assistant,' read an
adjuvant; for 4 the Heavens and earth,'
read Heaven and earlli; for 4 numbering
some,"' (you lire a very liberal guctaser, indeed,)
read numbering some 70; for 4 we
initiated some ten or twelve meeting before
last meeting (!) seven,' read we initiated
ivii mi intivi-iii our inst meeting.and
some 7 meeting before last; for President
Trash,' rend Rev. R. Walsh ; fur ' Kenlnle,*
road Kendall; for ' desirsable,' road desira.
I ble, A Son ok Lancaster,
C. F. College, March 23, 1852.
TFor the Ledger.]
Stony IIill, March 27.
Mr. Editor : Sir?I had written a piece
in reply to your views on the Homestead
Law in the first number of the Ledger,but
from the press of other business 1 have
been unable to finish it and from the lapse
of time had finally concluded to dispense
with it, but in looking over the 7th number,
25th instant, you seem to be champing
and knashing with your mental grinders
as though you wished something ; 1
have concluded to throw you some nuts
to crack, least your masticators might be
rendered unfit for use when you might
need tliem, I assure you I am in perfect
good humor and hoping you are therefore,
1 may take some liberty I otherwise would
not, and in the first place I wish to assure
you that I by means regard the Homestead
Law as being perfect among man
than other human enchantments, for it
would be very difficult to find any Law in
all of its bearings that would not be objectionable
in some respect,ard I do not suppose
that I am any greater friend, or, advocate
of this law than all of those who
voted for it, and I think it yet remains to
be tested, whether it will be beneficial or
not. With these remarks I shall proceed
to notice your version of the mattei.
First, the Exemption Law of Virginia,
and as she is a prosperous State, therefore
it is to bo inferred that her prosperity in
some degree, is connected, if not entirely
dependant, upon the nature of her Exemption
of property fr? m levy and sale. This
may be so, or not; but if Virginia or any
other State's prosperity is owing to the
small quantity of property exempted from
levy, Ac., then, I think, it would be bad
policy to exempt any and I think the debtor
would be infinitely better off not to l>e
encumbered with his bed, bedding, wheelcards,
working utensils, cow and cooking
vessels, <kc., if he has to shoulder them a d
hunt a shelter to protect him and his distressed
family from the inclemency of the
weather. And at least if he should l>e ever
so fortunate he must stop on some person's
premises, possessed of more humanity
than his unmeieiful creditor, and seek
employment for a day, a week, or a montli
without assurance that at the expiration
of the time he will not have to move elsewhere
or take as a remuneration for his
labor whatever he can gel. Secondly you
next infer from the number of vagrants in
Massachusetts and New York is owing to
the amount that is exempt, as you proceed
to quote the provisions of the Acts,
this must be the conclusion to carry out
<our aphorism, now sir, do you not know
that there are other causes for vagrancy
existing in these two States as well as
in the most of the Northern States. I
think it cannot have escaped your notice
that Boston and the City of New York
have been the landing places of thousands
annually of emigrants (as well as other
Northern cities) from every nation, kindred
and tongue, under heaven, then
this in connection with other circumstances
are sufficient to satisfy any reasonable
friend the cause of vagrancy in the Northern
States, and Sir your reference to the
Homestead Laws in the North, if it proves
any thing it proves too much to carry out
your object; it evidently shows the density
of the population which must exist from
some cause, and what can it lie, if it is not
from the great desire to become settlers of
the country ? Consequently the Exemption
Law adds much to the value of the
same. In the third place you proceed to
notice the Exemption Law of this State
prior to the late Act, and concluded it was
enough and those who differ from you
are not only guilty of the height of folly
but are perfect ignoramuses, consequently
you must be wo fortunate as to be numbered
with the few Solomons of the present
day, and as you assume the character
of conducting a free press, you give us
your opinions most frankly, therefore we
hope to avail ourselves of the opportunity
of doing likewi&e, and aa you still pronounce
anathamus upon the Old Bankropt
Act, we presume Homestead is equally
resting under your sentuncc ofcondemnation.
But sir, there is a material
difference between the two, and when you
show us that there is every analogy txis
ting and that their objects are the same,
~ i .?>:i ? -L.11 ? -
I vucii) ??uu nut uiKii uicDf bubii we iw
ourselves at liberty to make the distinction
and as yon seem to think both are calculated
to propagate villains and your objection
arises from the amount that is exem
pted being too much the legitimate conclusion
is drawn from your views the
less a man has, H makes him J? be
more honest, virtuous, and tealy the
better man consequently adopt the doctrine
of the Apotactilac are Ancient Sect
who affected to follow tlie example of the
Apostfea, and renounced all their effects
and possessions die., lluck's Theological
Dictionary page 29. Fourthly, you quote
this accursed Homestead nnd tlicu sup"
jxae a case immediately under its provisions,
which I most frankly confess that it
is mv misfortune not to possess a sufli
ciency of the gift of Solomon to discourse
its application unless you intend to convey
the idea, however, much it might be
to the advantage of the owner of the
Homestead to yield to the solicitations of
llis frioilll tllilt lip rnnU imf rlicivwn 5#
but sir, if lie was in debt and though it
would be to his advantago to go, could
assign it over to the bom lit of his creditors
and then be about as well off as those
were anterior to the passage of this act.
Now sir I feel that I would be trespassing
upon your patience to proceed to notice
all of your petty objections for they are
such as I regard would naturally suggest
themselves to the mind of one who regards
his own pecuniary interest more
than Suffering Humanly and they bore
considerable resemblance of the spirit of
the creditor who took the debtor by the
throat and said, " pay mo what thou
owest." I\ T. 11.
I
IfnnrnotiT Mgrr.
I.aiicastervillo, .
THURSDAY? APRIL 1, 185*.
A Watch maker could do a good business
in this town. So we think.
TolijRE
A FIRST RATE NECllO CARPEN |
TEK.
Apply to R.S. BAILEY.
? 1 M
RAIL ROAD BETWEEN LANCASTER
AND CHE8TER. /
_ / //
/ *
In a proceeding number of our paper,
an esteemed correspondent advocated the
policy of connecting Chesterville and Lancaster
C. II. by Rail I oad. Tliere has
been such a furorec on the subj??ct of Rail
Roads in our State for the last year or two
that we did not think it prudent when our
friend's article appeared, to adopt his opinions
at onee, before giving the subject due
consideration, and in the event that we
found it would be practicable, and at the
same time sufficiently profitable to repay
the Stock holders for the capital they w ould
be obliged to invest, then we determined
as far as we were able to exert our powers
to build the road. We linve conversed
with some of our most intelligent citizens
on the subject, and from what wo can learn
we are firmly ]>orsuaded that this road
would not only be of infinite advantage to
the planters on the line, and to the community
in general, but we believe the stock
will be profitable. We very much doubt
if there is a section of country in the whole
State, twenty-eight miles in length, where
there is more wealth and intulligcnc< than
| l**tween Lancaster and Chester. Nor is
[ this all, this wealth is not confined to two
or three, but the country is thickly settled
! and it is equally divided amongst the resij
dents. From what we can learn, there
| can bo no doubt the Charlotte <fc South
! Carolina R. Road Company will subscribe
i at least 860,000 to the enterprise. The
Stato is also legitimately bound to aid in
the work; Chester District und village
will subscribe,and old Lancaster was never
behind yet. If wo recollect correctly, Lanj
caster subscribed $125,000 towards the
Charlotte Road when it was first eonteinj
plated to build it by way of Camden and
] Lancaster. If Lancaster subscribes 8100I
000 to this road, our word, for it, it will
l>e built. We are glad to say that our
District js not in debt. But few cases
i were returned lust Saturday, (return day.)
and the fact is, as regards new business,
our lawyers have but little to do. Neith
! it uo we wish 10 see our 1'istrict involved
l in debt, but if an enterprise is propose*^
and u|>on examination it is found to l?e one
, which will advance the ir terest of our
: people, then it is the duty of the people to
I accomplish tho end.
Tho distance between Chesterville and
| to Lancaster C. II. is twenty eight miles,
say the length of the road will be thirty
i miles, it would cost we presume to build
: it, iomething iilce two hundred and fifty
or three hundred thousand dollars. If
Chester subscribe $100,000, the Charlotte
, Road and State $100,000 and Lancaster,
j One Hundred Thousand, the road is
| built.
Rut we do not wish to lead our people
i blindly into any measure which is propoI
sed, we wish them to do as they have ali
ways done?think for themselves and act
for themselves.
Our friend of theChester Standard might
give us some iight on the subject.
Vorth Carolina Payers.
We receive in exchange four excellent
papers from Raleigh, N. C. The Star is
an excellent paper of large aire, and filled
weekly with such oditoriala, aa characterise
the editor to be a writer of literary attainments,
and good judgment. Teraae
#2.00 per year.
Our thanks to brother Lcmay for the
_* . . . .
favorable toaoair in which he has noticed
Th% Times is another good paper published
weAly, at two dollars, ]>er year.?
Edited by 0. C. Raboteau.
The Weekly Poet is a ne>v paper, not
much older than the Ledger, this Wing
the 17th number. It is a literary paj>er,
and contains some sensible editorials on
....i ,.4?
vmivun cuujmn.
Tho Live Giraffe though last, is not
least. The Gimffe is richly worth two
dollars jxt year the price of subscription.
Here is a specimen of the Giraffe :
Important Announcement.?The very
fact that the Giraffe is the only popular
paper in North Carolina, induce* the editor
to offer it on such terms, as will enable
every body, however, poor or stingy, to subscribe
for, and read our Path Illuminator.
It is, therefore, offered to clubs, as
follows. For ?a club of five subscribers,
with the dimes in advance, ?!8 ?10 subscripts,
$15?and where a club of fortyis
made up, the Giraffe will lie sent for
one dollar, each?and one copy, free of
charge to whoever sends the club. It is
hardly necessary for us to ask if these
terms suit the times?they do, and we
expect to hear from the forty club pretty
extensively.
Verily, a WirrY-cur presides over the
Giraffe?his hark drives away the ''blues"
whenever we receive his paper.
HOMESTEAD LAW-P. T. H.
Our friend from Stonev Hill, should be
careful how he "throws Stones at Glass
Houses," for we think we can clearly and
conclusively prove, that lie does not know
what iu the Homestead Law. lie does
not understand how, and what property
should be exempt,or if he does, we can conclusively
show that he is recommending
the very course or tri? s to do it which
would favor the views of rascals and swiudlcrs.
liut before we do this, for fear that
the blustering he might got into, added to
the extremoheat of the present time,might
produce such a calamitous effect upon his
corporeal faculties, or might be attended
with serious eonaeiiiii.iie<.<i u<? will ?if? l>w
piece through, and endeavor to verify
what Byron nays, "that a little learning
is a dangerous thing."
In the first plaee, to judge from what
our friend says " that I hy no means regard
the Homestead Law as heing perfect
more than oilier humane enactments?and
I do not suppose that I am a greater friend
or advocate of this Law than all of those
who voted for it, om/ I think it yet remains
to be testt(I irhcthfr it irill be brncficial
or wo/."
Now here in plain language, we can see
that our friend is sorry he voted lor it,
" do not suppose I am a greater friend ot
this law," and to make his excuse the more
palatable, he recommends lis to try it, and
see how it will do. So we are to infer
from this that our Legislators go to Columbia,
arid enact speculative laws to see
how they will do?if these laws should
bring distress and trouble to the people,
then they will be repealed. Beautiful the.
ory practically carried out in lioinstead
Law 1
Our friend is most ogregiously mistaken
when he thought we based the prosperity
of Virginia upon tho fact of her exempting
no real estate of the debtor. This
nuiy be in part the cause, and no doubt is
and wc can assure our friend, that wc think
it infinitely better for a man to shoulder
his bed, &c., and go to work to make n
livelihood having a clear conscience,than to
dwell in a home which should rightlv lie sold
to pay his just debts. As regards vagrants
in the Northern States, we can inform
our friend that not one in five hundred
who arrive in N. V. or Boston,
locate in either tho State of N. V. or Mass.
and we will warrant the assertion, that in
proj?urtion t> the number of inhabitants,
there are as many foreigner* in Char
teuton or in South Carolina as in N. Vork
city, or New York State.
Further, 1*. T. II. says, our reference
to the Homestead Law in the Northern
States, if it proves any thing it proves
too much,' and further, ho takes that us
the reason for the density of the imputation.
"Oh judgement thou art fled to brutish
beasts,
And men have lost their reason."
We can inform our friend that multifarious
reasons keep men at the North,
and at the same tiinc to give him us
much information asweca-i, will inform
him that the Northern Slates Wing the
first settled, of course have a larger population,
on the same principle that England
has a much larger population in pro|?ortioo
than the New England States. It
doea not follow either, that the inhabitants
of England remain there because
they aro favorablo to the laws of
Great Britain ! The fact is, friend, at the
North aa it ia ia England, the people rent
*in because they can't get away?they
have not money to take them South. On
?hU Aik.. 1. 1 -I
?? uimt uwu, uiuu is anomer reason
why Northern men in Affluent or even
oomfurtahle circumstances, prefer to remain
there, it, they don't like slavery at
the Bouth?there are men at the North
who although they are opposed to
tlavery do not meddle with our "peculiar
institutions"?theae, men do not like to
work with negroea, mod therefore remain
there. Uad we time and apace we could
make thi* matter dearer to yon, ao that
in II n?fc?
you may probably un<l? utaud it, but al- ^
low us to ask you, if wo lf?ve uota great ^
number of Northern meat not only in our w
own Stato. but in th* whole Southern
Country! K
Fudge Friend?nonsense, to even ^
dream that exemption of f>rojH'rty should I
! keep northern men at hoiue. ludced would
we have a contemptible opinion of them r
if sueli were the ease. P.ut enough of
this. o
As regards the Bankrupt net, we have ti
not that law, hut we stili adhere to what a
we at first said, according to the ends at- ii
tAined by the Bankrupt act, and the
Homestead Law, place them in the same g
eatigou^ as perfectly nna'jgous. If we e
understand the provisions of the Bank- p
rupt act?a man when ho Wocame in- o
volved, only had to declare his bankrupt- n
j cv bv some legal form, and was then free
from the obligation of paying; the only ^
: difference between that Law and the .
Homestead Law, is that the latter exI
einpts his real esta'e to the value of
'five htrtlrol dollars, and the debtor is j
[ saved any further trouble, his creditor can ^
whistle for fifty or one hundred but
it is of no use to attempt to collect it,
for by this legal right nil the debtors
property is out of his reach. We are o- P
bli^ed to pass over some of the strictures '
of our friend as we have not room sufhci- S
! cut in this paper, and will say a few words o:
in relation to his last sngg?>*tion, " if a it
man were in debt, and thought it would
he to his advantage, he could assign his
property over to his creditors, and be (J
as well off as he was anterior to J,
the passage of the act. h
r ilir ^ipriicnivtwlimf mticf c?t ?.*!?.
- ....... muni 1KIUIV ^
there is more honesty in the world than w
we ever thought. We are inclined to
douhtifa man could do this, hut even
admitting that he could, would there bo
one case in one hundred, where this would
he done? We repeat that those men
would shelter them-eves under the wing
of this Homestead Law. It is from this
fact, that we protest that this law is calculated
to encourage vagrancy and Idleucss
in our Land.
The Law of man, the law which was
made when he was made, and strengthend
as man by the power of intelligence
and religious reform, made known and
propagated the ''glad tidings of great
joy"?this Law, we say, which eminated Cl
from the Giver of all good to add to man's
several comforts?this law is equal- c]
Iv as obligatory upon you as on me, this
law is ,-Love tiiv neiouholii ah tiivr
g
Are we carrying out the provisions of
th:slaw,which was instituted by God, when tj
i mv house an 1 land arc entailed on my ^
family?you or no one else can have c
' nnv recourse upon it, and probably I am
in debt to you for thia land ? .
Is this fultillitig the law of God, love
thy noighltor as thyself i In this the way
you would have me d<>? Nonsense! It
. tl
low not require the wisdom of Solomon to ^
see the uuj'.istiioss of this Law, nn?l we
trust our friend will ls? ultimately brought
to the knowledge of his error.
editor'? tIvble
e.
rhila<lelphia certainly rank* first
among the cities in the l.'nion, in the
works of art. If yon see a tine Portfolio, ,
a
a beaut'ful hound l>ook, or a handsome
n
engraving, upon enquiring you find each ^
article came from Philadelphia. To sup- ^
jM.rt this opinion, we have three handsome
Magazines before us, each containing a ^
number of well executed engraving*. First ^
we take up I
Gooky's Lady's Hook?L. A. Godey, .
Piiilndelphia.
This is the April number, and it is a .
fit companion friend Godey for our fair
friends in this delightful season, partieu- .
larly delightful in our baltnv, pleasant
climate. There is an excellent article in
tli s number, on steam, illustrating the jj
use and power of the steam engine, by
....... .:a? .t ;- m
<t|?|M ' rjfi UWIUCT 1111%
there are a numlter <?f pieces calculated to
please the most fastidious t?ve. We are
pleased to see quite a number of Godey's .
Book taken here, and truvt the list will be ^
still larger?the price of the Iaidy'a Book ^
is three dollars j?er year, or two copiee
for fivedollars. Wo will give a copy of
the Ledger and the Book for four dollars.
Ghaiiam's Magazink, Geo. R. Graham,
Philadelphia. ^
The April number wc have received. }.
What a beautiful plate "Coquetish aeven- ^
toen I" m
Graham's Magazine contains 112 pa- |j,
ge* of reading matter from some of our m
most popular writers. Jatnss, Herbert,
Fre<lrieker Bremar, A. J. Requier, of r
our own Sf* e, and Mrs. S C. Hall, beaide*
a number of others liave articles in | v,
thin number. Grabam i* ft thorough go- u
ing fellow, a strong advocate of tha C
Main Liquor Law, and is down upon A)- ?
eohol and its adherents. The price of y,
Graham'* Magazine is three dollars for a vj
copy, or two copies for 6 00. See Proa- y<
pectus in another column. m
Saktain's Maoaunb, juo. Surtain Editor,
Philadelphia. ni
We are under obligations to tha pub- gi
hahera for sending us the January, Feb'y ?
March and April numWr* of their Maga- oi
sine. Rartain's is a new Msgasiae com- d
pared with Godey's and (jfrahamV, bat w
has established a great reputation for ar- (
f * ' f
'"" ' .. '*.afa
stic skill, '^crnry .merit wherdver ft
i taken.
In the April omnber the mezottet enraving
of the uMagie Lnken ? indeed
eautiful M Cromwell before the battle of
htmbar." It strike* na that there la too
iucIi of a medly about this picture to
ender it attractive.
"
R. II. Stoddnrd, T. 11. Clovers, ami
ther writers of eelibrity are regular conributors
to this Magazine, that this fai t
lone is sufficient to warrant us in sayig
tlie reading matter is of the first order.
Terras, three dollars j?er year-for a single
copy?five copies for ten dollars, eight
npies for fifteen dollars. We will Ik
leased to receive subscriptions for either
f these Magazines, and will show specimens
to any one desiring to see them.
Southern Standard.?Our thanks to
rother l'ressly for the favorable manner
i which lie has noticed our paper. We
ere a subscriber to the Standard prior to
ur coining to Lancaster, and when we
id not receive the Standard in exchange
>r the Ledger,we were quite disappointed.
Notice A.C.Dunlap*. advertisement in this
npcr. That is the store to find every thing
ou need.
ce also byadvertismont what an assortment
f groceries S. Benson offers at his store
1 Camden.
U'? 1 I .. .1. . I?J!. .* . 1?
>?.- ?rv iruuiwu uv ilie ivuuor ui me
'million Journal to state that lie will l>o at
Ancoatervillu during Court, and lie would
e much obliged to tin wo <?f his patrons
dio are in errvars if they would come for
ard prepared to give hitn a helping hand*
Several editorials prepared for this paper
re left out for want of room.
Pleasant IIill.?Our papers are sent
gulnrlv, in order that you should get
lem by Thursday's Stage. It is not our
mil if you do not receive them.
From the Charleston Courier.
W ABiiiNOTON, March 22.
In the debates on the I Mieioncy Dill,
1 the House; the subject of Government
kpeuditures has been considered by sevral
of the speakers. The Administration
as defended by Mr. Brooks from the
liargo of wastefulness of expenditure.?
onie have imputed the fault to Congress,
nd otherwise to the Executive, but it is
eneially acknowledged that th* expendiires
nre greater than they need l?e. On
ic eve of a Presidential election both pares
always become great advocate* for eonomy.
The Committee on Ways and Means
avc applied themselves to the work of rcrenchineuL
Last year they cut down
iie army estimates very much, and now
hey arc again Applying the pruning knife,
t is said, also that they will not jeport
ny Fortification Dill at this session. No
ppmpriations were made last year for forfi
cations.
The system of fortifications was adoptd
immediately after the late war, and
as devised and in part executed by Genrul
Bernard. It is now asserted that in
considerable measure the system is erroeous,
and that many of the works will be
*und useless. This may 1*5 true, but still
icre arc some iui|>oruuit strategetical
oinU that ought to be fortified.
The Committee have cut down the esmatc
of the Ceusus Bureau from a hun
1 I H 1 1 II A
reu anu iiuy uiousanu uuiiars 10 nuy
lousaud dollars, for the next year. There
an iudication of a determination to liiuthe
preparation of the Census returns
> the enumeration of the inhabitants ami
te statistical return.-*, omitting all the ex-anoous
matter which Mr Kennedy hod
ropoMcd to introduce. A committee of
te Senate have the subject in hand, and
ill probably report in favor of the simplest
nd cheapest form of publication that can
o devised.
The dilatoriness of Congress is the subct
of general remark. The Committee
r the House have not been called upon
?r reports for six weeks?most of the disunions
relate entirely to party politics,
ud have no refcroucc to business before
[ouse.
The debate on the Intervention subject
to be continued ii. .lie Kenate to-day,
y Mr. Scule; tmler he should yield the
dot, for the prcaent, to Mr. (i win, who
ant* to bring up the hill fo> the uatabdirnent
of n navai depot and Navy Yard
L San Frnnciaeo. The amendment pening
provide* for the completion of the nay
dock at tyan Franciecn. hy the addition
f a haain and railway. The eo*t of the '
irioua public work* aliout to be authoriid
in California, will be ciiorroou*. The
alifornia Mint will prohahly be eetabhshI,
and it will coat nearly half a million a
ear, aa mm of the Californiana aay, prorfed
the sold product expected, for eome
Mr* to come, shell l-e coined at that
lint.
Mr. Wright, late member from Caltfbrta,
and CoL Fremont, have gone to Enland
for the parpoee of breaking off the
mtract for the sale of hie Mariposa traol
f goid bearing land. The tale wa* eonoded
in thi* city between Col. Benton,
ho waa authorized a* Col. Fremont's
p*t, agd Jhoq^aa I>egny 8zrgeant, mi
t ? **" ' i son j fl
\ r
__ i
this city. The tonus wore a hundred tkoi
and dollars down, and a million when ?
title should bo executed. An agent
wnt sent to Calilbruia to iake passession
of the property, and Mr. Sargannt
went to England to complete his arrangements.
Mr. Wnglit Is inlcrcstcxf lOthc
tract Willi Col. fremout, ami he stated,
when here, that tho title wa* good, and
that a million of dollar* waft an made
quatc price for it. Ho and Col. Fremont
have, therefore, gone to I?nglnnd for th?
purpose ef availing themselves of sonx
difficulty as to the conrtittOiw'of sal#, foi
the purpose of breaking it off. Tlio Californians
appear to l?e crazy on tha Abject
of mining. Some of thcin say tnnt
they will produce, after the ne*t three
years, three or four hundred millions m
year. f ? c .if
From the Uuiouville-JournaL
The Homestead Law.
All attempts of Government to intcflhro
in the private affairs of individuals, and to
prevent idleness and improvidence (ton*
meeting its just reward, by Poverty aad<
more or less suffering following in im train
has liertofore, nnd'always will,signally failL
The fiat of the A'miglity has gpno forthi
that man shall earn break by llwewaa*
of his brow; not by every -mo hoeing, or
plowing or chopping, or harvesting, but by
energetically following some occupation or
pursuit, that will cam for himself and family
an honorable livelihood. IfGovernraent
? ere to act so unwisely us to compel by law
an equal division of all property between
every individual, such a condition of things
would last but a very short time. The
same inequality would soon again take
place, and those who, from want of industry,
frugality and economy had nothing 0
iM'tore tlit* divison, would suddenly relapse
into their former condition. We arc authorized
hy the language of the bible, in
saying that God himself contemplated
such inequality in the condition of hta creature
man- Not only in the Old, but in
the Now Tostiment, we bear of the" high
and the low,the rich and the poor,'"and
no Legislature has the riglitt (if it could,
by its action,) to make the lich man poor.
The moral code enjoins the obligation to
perform, and c imply with oontraeU, without
any compulsory |*<k ess, and it ia the
duty of Uie le gislature to give ita sanation
to tho moral codey, by suppiyiogthis com pulsory
process in cases where the moral \
obligation ia not sntHciently bending to in- V
duee the parties, from a sense of justice,
to do their duty.?This brings to to the
consideration of wliut is called tba itemsstead
Law, passed at tho lsst session of
the Legislature. The law providya that
the homestead of tifty acres of laod, not
exceeding in value live hundred dollars,,
to he lakl otf around tln? homestead most ' *
advantageously to the owner, nJto does \
not live in a town, shall be exempt from \
levy aud sale hy means of final prooess, A
for any debt contracted after ihiatAw goes
into operation?the amoui t of which ia, ^
ho may become indebted in aav way
w hatever, and if he is ooly worth five
hundred dollars in Innd, he may laugh at
his creditor, and put him at defiance, although
this creditor may bs a man who
has built him the house in which harffces
?tllf* ilavJuliAmr ivIia liaa
in the fields, and liis n .starving family at
home?or the kind neighbor who baa i s
loaned him half the proceeds of his last
little crop, to enable iiiin to purchaaa.WOrn
for his support. This is not all, nor the
worst lie may recklessly commit a trespass
upon his neighbor's lands?cut his
vnlunble timber?pull down his fences,
and let the stock destroy his arms and say
to him, 1 put you at defiance. I only own
four hundred and fifty dollars worth of
land. It will not do to say that all t> is
may be done now by ono not owning
any land or other property, lie would
have no foot-hold in the neighborhood,and
could be driven out of it These are not v j
all the ttfid effects of the law. Itaolaally
destroys the credit of the email farmer. ate
Before the passage of the law, a mam i
owning five hundred dollars worth of land^ I
and failing in his crop, could go to his
neight>or and borrow. $100 to buy grain.
Now it is unsafe to-him He may be
ever so honest but he may die, and hik
sons ina. not he like the husband and
father, and his credit might not ha very
5ood If he ow ned seven or eight hundred
oiler worth of land, for when tho dene*
missioncrs have laid off ftre hundred
dollars worth most advantageously Jot
hiin, the balance of the land, in tha
shape of a belt would be of hut little
value. Besides, tho law most necessarily
work badly, in its practical operation..
Suppose the house i;seif worth $1000, how
must the officer proceed 1 Must ha eat it in,
two. or trive the wtiiilu tJ ? ?
? ry- ? ..v.? rm w wvi'i'
or! If it t? given to the debtor om man
hiu flOOO worth of property exempted,
end othont only ?500; and ihna, the lew
would opemto unequally. If Ike home is
cut in two,or son*' pereon hidw the oriCinnl
owner purchase half of it, you will
eve two fiuniliea in one houeo, whkk wo
all know never doen well. And again to
how how utterly futile it in to atMmpft to ?
legialate prevent individual MSmmp^.
duoed l?y negligence or idlenom, I w?,why
hould rivx hundred doihwn wmtk W exempted,
and not mx. tux fifty, or ureal
It m no answer to Mty that it will tnko.
about Ave hundred dollar* worth of bud
to Uupovt a famiiy, huonnan aix or eovwn
hundred dollars worth ia m nooomary
for aomo familiar, aa five or woa bit
hundred for other*, lime agbn, tfctJnw
operate* unequally, but fOU will amv?*\
it ia impoMable to avoid k. l*?obly
to, and hence the objnatbo ho any attempt
at fogiabtion on lk>i mtym It
ia aaid that honmt and iodtAboMP**
aoid 011, J riven from hemOfefU ***
vi it mw 01 mi# wrt, by itwirJweeiing
MMurity and the phwdpi
indwatUiotM man fail* f IW t+mtk tii
wwtiji ium^ia hi> ru*im*?ir?; and i/ infcWM^rtS^nTta^^5s