Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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tt-m 11 in imi??bi?g=am?wa?a The Eleatoa Jury. At half-past 0 o'clock, all the attorneys for the defence being present in ?eurt, as well as the prosecuting attorneys, tlio Chief Justice sent a deputy marshal to bring the jury into court.? They were soon brought fotth. When they had all taken their seats and answered to their names as called by the Clerk, Chief Justice Waite said: "Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a verdict?" Geo. W. Williams, the foreman, replied that they had not. The Chief Justice next inquired whether they had agreed upou the guilt of any party. A similar reply was made by the foreman. The forem*. man was then asked whether ytey had agreed upon the innocence of nny one of the accused.? George ltush, the black jury leader, said that they had agreed upon the innocence of onepnrty named in the indictment and none others. Mr. s.imcnouse anal tliat they had not Agreed upon any; tint such a thing was only mentioned, but no vote had been taken upon it. That as fur ns ho was concerued, lie was in favor of acquittal from the outstart as to all the accused, and that he would continue so to theend; further he snid they might remain there for twelve .months without changing the vote of one man. ' The Chief Justice then instructed the jury to rclirc to their rooms aud consider further; that if they could agree upon the inocence of one or more, or ns to the guilt of any one of the accused, they could make such a verdict, and report upon , tho others as disagreeing. Mr. Williams enquired of the Court whether they must bring in a written verdict; the Chief Justice snid not; that in such a case as the one ' before them it must be made orally. The jury then returned to their rooms, and after an absence of a few seconds returned into court, when i Mr. Williams, the foreman, announced that the j }' jury unanimously agreed upon a verdict of not / ns regards Mr. Abner W. Atkinson, rcuiauid|^^^H The Judge then ordcrei a mistrial to enter in ' .flic cnitsc as regards the balance of the defoti- c dants, nnd dismissed the jury from further nt-tcndance upon the Court. The nnmes of the jurors in this case were Geo. ? W. Williams, foreman, George Lever, K. J. Lime- ( house, Lintisford Ilarley, Joel Copes and M. F. Tighe, white; all of whose politics, excepting Mr. Williams, tended in the past toward Repub- 1 licanism. The other half of the jury were George Curtis, ( M. II. llolloway, CatoT. Stewart, J. M. Clinton, i Addison Walkei, and Isham Greenwood, colored j or black men. . The first of these, George Curtis, who was the lender of the negroes, a kind of foreman, is a ( lorcign negro. This fellow is a constant contributor of trash for Daddy Cain's sheet, the Missionary Record. I M. If. Hollowny hails front Marion County.? t He filled the office of School Commissioner in ( that county under the Republican administration. ' J. M. Clinton, a violent negro from Lancaster, ( is the son of Radical Senator F. A. Clinton, a t member of the present Senate. j Cato T. ?tcwnrl is a rccular coru field hand, lie is a trained juryman, having acknowledged 1 that he was one that sat on Ku-Klux trials.? This accounts for his being here, as old Ku Klux Korbin knew his man. * a Addison Walker another ignorant corn field c hand, is likewise a trained juryman. He sat on . the Ku-Klux cases also. Isham Greenwood is a disci pie of Daddy Cain. ' lie claims to be a minister of thcGospcl, and runs p a sundry shop in his retreat. He was the only j, negro on the jury who was inclined to listen to . the reasoning of the intelligent white men, and would hare voted for acquittal had it not been for Curtis. At the inception of the case, when the jury were drawn, considerable speculation was had > as to the probable standing of the jury, and from w day to day ns the case went on, it was apparent ? that the negroes would cling to color. George Curtis showed clearly on his face that he had r' gone there with lite determination of convicting, fi ami did not waver an inch during the tedious c trial and arguments. His face during the arguments gave the expression of a heart made up * and hardened for conviction, and his being shut ' up at night together with the other negroes ac- c * fftuim fbrrrre coTor liue drawn. b The case, ns the public are aware, was handed <o the jury on Friday, at half past 10 o'clock? 81 After an elaborate charge from the Chief Justice h ?such a charge as any unbiased person could m ittu t? ngi-cc u|ion n vcruici or acquittal without hesitation, as tlie Chief Justice dwelt at length upon the case only being based upon circumstantial evidence, and that in order to find 0 the accused guilty they must be convinced bey* o ond a reasonable doubt. Notwithstanding this, b when they entered their room and a vote was taken, tho division line was formed at the jump and stood 6 to 6?black again-1 white?all of the 11 negroes voting for conviction, and all of the ci whites for acquittal. Repeated votes were had, ol with the same result, nndnfter thirty-three hours trial the whites were unable to change a single vote. Curtis, it is said, offered a compromise, which was that they would all agree to an ac- 'a quittal of all the accused but the two Bowers.? ni As a matter of course the whites would make no ( such compromise, and the negroes stood up for conviction of all. The negroes said they would 81 remain there for any length of time so long as they were fed and received three dollars a day for so doing.? Journal of Commerce. C Planting White Skin on a Black Man.? r Thcro is a coal-black negro man in our vicinity Q who will soon have a beautiful white stomach? a stomach covered with as pure white Dcmocrnt- " ic skin as ever grew in Edgefield. This no doubt v sounds both ridiculous and alarming, but we will ri explain. Some weeks back. Dr. Walter Hill and . Dr. Wallace Bland cut off from the stomach of this negro a huge tumor weighing many pounds, and ^ upon the largehnrespot left by theoporation thoy si have planted numberless little stars of skin nipped x from their own arms. These stars have taken root and are fast spreading out to meet each other, so that, as we have already said, the black t( man will soon have a beautiful white Democratic tl stomach ?at all events on the outside. Science 0; is wonderful, and in this case noble. Skin is about all the Radicals and negroes have left us, p and to be thus generous with it is certainly very magnanimous.?Abbeville Medium .Vaj, 23.. ? ? DivEnsirr.?JLfter tea wo proceeded to inter- S Tirw mo squire on nu raoue or terming. We asked what was his spaoialty or market crop.? ^ He replied, "1 hare no specialty, sir. 1 sell from this farm every article of production, from 11 nn egg to a herse." "To-day," said he, "I sold in town a beef weighing over six hundred pouuds, e and I sell a number of heaves every year. I have not bought a horse in twenty-five years, always keep from six to ten on the farm, and soil 0 one or two every year, of my own raising, at good prices. I sell bacon, pork, flour, wheat, oats, p corn, mutton and lambs every year, aad actually (he said with a hearty laugh) the old woman, licre, lately has been selling chiokcns and eggs * in addition to her usual sales of hutter, sweet and Irish potatoes, cabbage and turnips.?Ra- ft Iti'jh Obttrvtr. Cvrino Clovkr.?The proper time for curing n clover is when about one-third of the blossoms % have turned brown. Clover should be exposed very little to the sun in the process of curing. n Cut it down (not wet,) and haul it to the place A for stacking as fa*l as it is cut; commence at 0 once and lay ene.foot of wheat straw at the.bot- ^ torn on poles, old rails, or brush, then one foot of clover as fast as hauled, alternating the lay- ' era to the top of the stack, which shoul'd be- of g straw: thus put up, in ? very short time it be- y comes pmeniy enreu. nna not name to spoil tn feeding to elook of all kinds. The straw is ent v en us greedily as the clover, and the nlover is ^ kept of a bright and beautiful color all the time, v Always uee a ladder in stneking hay.?A'. C. f Farmer. t Tiik Last or tiir IIaiiprrs.?New York, May n 21b?Fletcher Harper, of the firm of Harper t Ill-others, died this morning of gastric fever.? p He was the last surviving member of the firm , of four brothers who founded this well known publishing house. At the time of his 0 death he was in his 72d year. ii ?lw wHrrltl? Union ?imts. R. M. STOKES^EdiUr. ""UNION, FRIDAY JUNE 8. 1877. TERM8 OF 8UB8CR1PTIOH. 1 Copy, out? year, is adVamck, V TO 2 C?|Ufii ont? year, " " 5.50 5 ? ? 11.00 10 " " " ' ?' 20.00 On# square or on^hclf ... f 1.00 Each subsequent insertion, 75 Liberal discount made to merchants and others adrer1 in In <7 for !* mrvnlK- k- ** - ? Obituary Notices of ten Hues or lass, iOp^ted free. ? " " o*r ton Hue#, charged aa Artvertlae went*. 20 per cent additional for advertisements ordered not to appear in consecutive issue*. The Union Times For Sale. BEINO anxious to retire from the Newspaper business, 1 offer the Times for Bale Two industrious Printers, or a mail competent to Edit the Paper and attend to the business of the office, with an industrious Printer, could make a handsome tiring out of it. It will he sold at a fair price and on accommodating terms. It. M. STORES, Editor and Proprietor. May 11 18 ttgff" No rain yet, nnd the crop prosp?cls are rcry gloomy. The wheat is turning out well. IPX. The Insurance Agents are promptly on innd adjusting the losses from the fire. S?. Mrs. Shodair, after making such a narrow escape, is now back again in her store, ready o supply Dread, Cakes, ke., to her customers. Mgg^Asmall bunch of Keys found in the WWfcwWwj.i "I 'i iM>i 'mi n eft at this office, which the owner can get by tailing here for them. As a natural consequence, the fire untitled everybody and everything in town for wo or three days, and it has been impossible for is to pny our usual attention to getting out a >apcr this week. . ? -? If you want to see a regular "iuussnolly," take a peep into Rice, McLure & Co.'s, f. 11. Rodger's and J. T. Hill k Co.'s. stores.? The goods look as if a dozen little and big nc;rocs had been stiring them up with sticks. ?<a?On the 1st inst., terrific fires were raging hrough the timber lands of Michigan, which nreuiea 10 dc as Destructive as the tires in tlint Hate of 1871. Villages are entirely surrounded >y fire and all communication with them is cut >ff. Settlements of Lumbermen have been enirely destroyed?not a house is left standing n oue town. The whole of llurrou County is >eicagucrod with ttauies. The Legislature, at last accounts, was nt l dead lock upon the appropriation bill. The oinmittee of conference could not agree upon nserting or expunging the $270,000 interest ause, so a committee of free conference was aplointcd. The per diem and mileage of members i also a bone of contention. The difference is etween $5 a day, and $000 or $800 for the wo sessions. "Cherry llipc." Our little friends, lisscs Mamie and Lula Hay, of Cross Keys, 'ill accept our thanks for a bucket of nice ripe herries. We hardly knew that Cherries were ipc and here comes the "first of the season" roin two sweet little girls the bloom of whose hecks would rivnl the cherries themselves.? ucli favors arc the green and cheering spots in ne oasis of an Editor's life, but they are doubly hearing In the consciousness that he is remcmered kindly in the social circles of his subcribers, particularly by the young and pure of cart and thought. ? As it seems impossible to get up a fire bmpany in this town, the next best thing, in ur opinion, is for the Town Council to pass an rdinance forbiding the erection of wooden uildings on Main Street. So farsuch buildings avo proved a nuisance, causing the loss of im. teuse amounts of property, and the Council srtainly have the power to abate and prevent nc nuisance as well as another, and to protect le lives and properly of the ettizens of the >wn. In most other towns such an ordinance i rigidly enforced, and we cannot discover any laterial difference in the Charters of Uuion and ther towns, that would prevent the exercise of ucli a power. C&T A new way of getting up a Club for a ounty paper has lately been discovered : Ten ion get together and throw in twenty cent* piece. The paper is ordered to be addressed to nc of theiu. They "lake turns" in sending to le I'ost office for it, and on the day of its arri hi mcjr ?u uieei logeuier mu one 01 me lyiuo cads the paper out loud to the others. They Iso take turns in reading. The one that roads eeps the paper, so that the family of each subcriber (?) gets a paper to read every ten weeks, he plan is found so economical in time and toney that in one neighborhood they are trying > get ten more to join the club so as to reduce ie price to ten cents each and make the labor f going to the Post office and reading the paer come lighter on all. Where the Bnrnt-Ont Can be Found. J. P. Mullhimx has opened bis Boot and Shoe hop in the room over Spears A Col ton's Store. Thos Nelson's Tailor Shop is now in the room i the second story of Spears & Col ton's build g J. T. Hill k Co., have rented the Store formrly occupied by W. C. Harris k Co., It. F. Briggs ha- rented the building in rear f Spears k Colton. W. McNeace now occupies the Beef Market luilding next to W. L. Palmer's 8tablea. The Bxpross office and Frieght Agent is in fr. W. A. Nicholson's Building. P. II. Counts' office is in B. F. Bawls k Co s tore. pqjf- During the past weak we have receired jany very kind assurances from friends in lmost every part of the County that they would take efforts to increase our subscription list.? 111 request us not to give up the paper, but, as ne of them expresses it, "do as we have to do, ive on hope, if you can't get credit on a lien, or there is a better day near, when Hampton cts'his.government in.good working order:"? fell, fricflds^ wo.. apprOQiate ysur. very kind rords to us, but can assure you alt that we have *en almost living on hope for six months, and ro have but a very small quantity of even that liinsy article left, liesides, we are compelled o have u change of diet, and the Paper Maker nd Printers say it is absolutely necessary for licm to have something to teuton the hope wc tavo boen feeding them on. You see the point, lon'tyou? Don't defer the consummation of ur hope too long, or we shall all get too sick to isu j a paper. I !5 rThe Fire Fiend It Vnloa A|?tai. $100,000 DESTROYED 19 2 1-2 HOURS. n * Railroad Depot and Shops (jtonel 26 BUILDINGS BURNEED! A HATCH DOES THE MISCMRF. Sunday, (lie 3d day of June, 1877, be remembered by the o^tisens of UniMjelM | of ihe hottest fcnd saddeal days they Everajut i perienced. T About half past l'J o'clock, while four-fifths of our white inhabitants were at Church, llie dreaded alarm of fire was sounded upou Main street, and by the time many could arrive upon the spot the wooden building occupied by W. U. Hriggs A Co., ndjoining Hill & Co's. large brick building, was one sheet of flume and the boxing under the caves of the latter building on fire the whole length, and in a quarter of an hour the whole inside of the upper story of that building was one roaring mass of flame and smoke. The wind was Mowing hard from the South-west by west, and the scene was truly terrific. I.arge flakes of fire were flying in the air, alighting on the parched roofs of stores and dwellings, near and far, threatening destrue tion to every building and fence in its course, for miles. The shingled roofs of the houses, from the long coutinued dry and hot weather, were like tinder, and it required the most active watchful exertions upon the roof of cajhffll aava? ' eiiitiiii * windward, and in a fcw'minutAtVy^BBHien houses of Mrs. E. D. Humphries, PhillijTDunn, R. F. Driggs (a new one) and Thos. McXally, were one sheet of raging, howling flame, while there seemed no hope thnt the brick buildings below, from Spears & Colton's to Foster & Wilkins' and tho wooden block below them, could possibly be saved. Thanks to the slate roof and substantial build of Spears & Colton's house they all escaped. The flames then leaped, as it were, from the burning stores to some small buildings in rear of Col. Young's and the Harris stores and demolished them like loose cotton. From there they took the building known as the "lotigliouse ' then the Davis and McXeacc bar rooms and every other building upon that block and laid all in ashes. But before flames had full possession of these houses, the cry came that the Railroad shops were on Are ; and here commenced sach a scene of terror and destruction as we have never before witnessed. The roaring flames, the dense smoke, the terrible heat from the midday sun, the howling of the wind, the blinding dust and the flying flakes of fire, nil combined to strike terror nod alarm to the stoutest hearts. It was a scene of horror. The weather was so intensely hot that, nlII.A...I. 11.- r.? u-.i ?1_ imc iuc iinu omy msicu on hour, the people were completely exhausted ntnl many stout men had fallen and been taken from the streets. In less than five minutes from the time the lire first struck the building the whole upper portion of the shops was one howling mass of flames, and the air around so hot that none cculd go near enough toenter and sure any of the machinery, tools, or materials in it. The lumberaround the shops, three cars ou the tract, the platforms in front, rear and ends of the depot, caugiit almost simultaneous with the shops and it was impossible to enter the depot. Soon a dense smoke issued from under the tin roof, of that building, and all bopf of saving it^rony t of Its contents was gone. By the time t*e roof of the depot fell in, the workshops, cam and all around were completely in ashes. The March of destruction ended ut the depot shops. It commenced at half past 1*2 o'clock and by 3?two hours and a half?the bare walls and chimneys of twety-four buildings alone remained to tell of its ravages. We have never witnessed so great destruction of property in so short time. This may be accounted for iu the fact that a month's dry hot weather had made the buildings as dry and inflammable as a powder house. HOUSES DESTROYED. Wooden ilouse, the roofs and wood work of two brick buildings belonging ? Thos Mcnnlly. New two-story building of R. F. Brings, Three wooden buildings of Fhillip Dunn. Wooden building of Mis E. D. Humphries. Wooden building of W. U. llriggs & Co. Two-Story brick building of Hill & Gulp ? In tho first story of this building was IH11 fiCb's largo store and Gibbs & Go's, Drug Store* lu the second story was the large town Hall, Thos. Nelson's Tailor Shop, J. P. Mullinax't shoe shop, Hill & Go's Counting room and sloping rooms. Ono small wooden building in rear oflFriedberger's store. Two wooden buildings belonging to Shears & Colton?one occupied by charloy Jcnkinl, Colored, the other unoccupied. Wooden building of Mrs. M. A. FantJ Small building occupied by colored p<xn>le. W. MoNeace's barroom and Ten-pin al(ey. W. R. Davit' bar-room belonging (o' John Rodger. The Long Ilouae, belonging to the estjte of Oilea Sharp. Small wooden house in rear of Davi^ bar room. Railroad Depot and Shops, and two<(snall buildings occupied bj laborers. Work Shop of Tinsley & Richmond, belonging to Dr A. W. Thomson. LOSSES AND INStiBANCK. ' R. F. Driggs. Loss, $2,000. Instance, $1,000, in Philadelphia Fire Association. Phillip Dunn, Loss $4,600 in buildings and stock. Krs. E. M. Humphries. Loss $800. Ftfly insured in Manhattan Insurance Co., , W. R. Briggs. Loss, in building and Stock $8,000. Insured in N. V. Home, fliOOfj; Vir ginm rim tiou murine, ^i,uuu; f ftrmtllB IDIU* rauce and Banking Co., $1,000. Gibbs & Co. Lois $2,600; insurance 32,000, in North America Insurance Co. Hill tc. Co. Loss $20,000 ; insurance|$8,000 ?Manhattan, $8,000 ; Georgia Homeq2^MX); Niagara, $8,000. llill and Culp?Brick building. Loto/$16,*000 ; insurance $8,000. 1 ' . ft pears It Co lion, two wooden buildfl|i^teii ' $700, insurance $400, in Farrarille Insurance and Banking Co. Mrs. M. A. Fant, wooden buildhg. Loss $760; insurance $600, in Farmville Insurance & Banking Co. W. A. McNeace. Uss?Stock $1,(00 ; gildings $2,000. No Insurance. ' < John Kodger, Daeis bar-room building. Lo4* $600. No insurance. W. H. I?avis, Stock. l.ors $600. No insu ' ance. I f f ) / t ? V ar * V T- ?Xong House, belonging io estate of Oile? Slnrp. Lose $1,000. No insurance. Railroad Depot, Shops, Cars, &c., estimated loss from $26,000 to $30,000. No Insurance.] | Besides the above, which were totally destroyed, Mr, Schoppaul, Messrs. Rice, McLuro & Co., Jos. II. Roger, Spears & Colton, J. T. Hart and Graham & Graham lost heavily from the removal of goods from their stores. The first four insured. jLThos. Nelson, .Tailpr, lost a fine Sewing Maiviine, a number of garments and all'his tools. J. P. Mullinax,"Bootmaker, lost everything in his shop. G. P. Jacobi, Watch Repairer and Jeweller, lost about $1,000, including all his tools, a quantity of clothing and Furniture. Phillip Dunn lost a stock of Groceries, but as Mr. Dunn is sick at his residence out of town we cannot state the amount of his loss. The whole loss cannot fall much short of (1100,000, with only about $35,000 insurance. Among the losses was the PnM?nwr r** the Railroad 11 mlcigoing thorough repairs and intended to be ready for the excursion to the Mountains orer the Spartanburg and Asheyille Railroad on the 11th. A turret had been built on it and in every other respect it would have been a vory handsome Car. The workmen had displayed their utmost skill in making it a credit to their own skil^aiuHfrt riuTroad shop. ^-SH^Tof ?lie fire is attributed to the careless throwing of a match among some loose by a4Tl#rk,iti-^? R. Hi igg? & atore, after lighting a cigar. He says htf had not left the store more than fifteen minutes when the alarm was given and the house was in flames. The most remarkable feature of the fire was the saving of the row of wooden buildings below Foster & Wilkins' store. Wc can only account for it from the fact that the brick stores above were so much higher than the wooden ones, that the wind blew the sparks over them and on to the houses in the block below. But there is no doubt that they too would have been destroyed but for the extraordinary exertions of Mr. J. II. Rodger nud many others, whose names wo cannot learn, who, notwithstanding the intolerable heat from both the sun and and tire, remained on the roofs during the whole time and applied water from bi ckcts. Tho buildings are old and as inflamnble as any iu town and their being saved appears miraculous. , By this fire Union lias suffered a loss that cannot Le estimated in dollars and cents, and will' be seriously felt for many years. At no iime has the people been less able to boar it. The depressed condition of the whole community, from the awful stagnation of busiuess, with ao money in circulation and the exorbitant - price asked for money by those who have it, Combine to put the prospect of rebuilding to ft very distant day. & We had the pleasure, last Saturday, of meeting Speaker Wallace and Representative l'cakc, who visited their homes, for the first time since the prcseut session commenced, on leave of absence. From appearances we should say that Legislative work agrees with them, for they have not lost an ounce of flesh. They gave us many points, unknown to us before, upon the trials aud tribulations the democrats of that body huvo undergone, in "bringing inorder out o^ chaos," with n stubborn partisan Republican majority in the Senate to harass, annoy und delay the progress of aouud legislation. We cau Wen uiierrttAiid their peoullhr position 1n flat respect. All the efforts that the democratic house might make to pass good laws and establish a sound, economical aud honest government, can and have been either delayed or thwarted by the Republicans in the Senate. It took all the tact and ingenuity of the democrats to do any gcod work at all. They had to move slowly and cautiouslyjwith any measure they wished to adopt, hence the length of the session and the small amount of work they have accomplished. We arc confident they have done all it was possible for them to do, under the circumstances, Ihey seem now as full of enthusiasm for "Hampton Home Rule and Reform," as they wcro during the campaign, and if they don't vote exactly as we think Ihey should, we believe they act upon the conscientious belief that they vote for the best interests of the State and the democratic party. We will have our own opinions, but we don't presume to any our judgment is superior to that of a majority of the Legislature. While we have complained?justly, we think ?of the management of the Spartanburg Union and Columbia Railroad, we hare a great attachment for it. It has received the fostering care of this county from the time the first move was made to build jt, and it is natural for our peopld to have a more than ordinary liking for it. In its prosperity we took pride, inthe advancement of its interest ,we contributed our money, and in its misfortqnw it has our sympathies. During the past week it has met with two very serious losses by fire, amounting, it is supposed, to over $80,000. First the depot at Strolhers, with all its oontents, was consumed ; supposed to be the work of an incendisiry ; then the terrible Are .on Sunday, sweeping away its work shops, with all its valuable machinery, tools and materials, the fine large dppot, containing a large quantity of merchandize, fixtures, old records, Ac.?the actual value of which not at present known.,? We, sincerely sympathise with the owners- It! their severe losses. TD '% ?' ' Johno m Rifles. .. ' H v The following are the Officers of Jbe JohusoiT Rifles, elected last Saturday night: \ CAPT. F. M. FARR* 1st Lieut. J. P. Mullinni? S ^ 2d D. Johnson Jr. i > 3d " J.H.Rodger 1st Serg't. H. M. Grimbnll 2d " Jaa. C. 8nrtor 8d " James Munro 4th " R. R. Rawls 1st Corp'l R. W. Tinsley 2d ' C.T. Rawls 3d " T. K. Palmer 4th " Jos. D. Arthur 6th " A. R. 8tokes Chaplain Rev. B. Q. Clifford Surgeon Dr. J. N. Moore Sec't k Trees. 8. S. Stokes Total Membership, 64. We are pleased to state that a large majoriry of the oelored neoule workid faithfullw . : - < at th# fir* iMt Sunday and did valuable services in *aring dwellings and store* Ihrtalened by th* flyiug spark*. W* cannot nam* them all, but most of their names are reoorded and they will be kindly remembered, whenerer opportunity offers t'o benefit them, by the white citizens. Among the most conspiouous workers, of them all wns Mary Davis, who we are told, worked manfully, in carrying water and removing good* until so overcome by the heat she had to be carried from the street. For the Time*. BOUND VIEWS UPON THE INTBHE8T8 OFTHE FARMERS AND FLANTER8. Union County. 8. C. 27th May. Mr. Eoitor : 1 nsk, with some hesitation, a place iu your paper, which is always on the side of right and justico, to give expression to certain views in the interest of the Farmers and riantere of tho State. The views expressed by "S.," as to the distressed condition of the planting interest in South Carolina and the much needed remody therefor,-4wta communication addressed to the Journal of yommerce, of a recent date, are, I think, entirely correct, and I will plunge at once into the middle of the subject, by saying that the pressont stagnation of trade throughout the ccuntry is, in some degree certainly, nttribu table to the fact that the agricultural districts around many of the towns and villages are in a state of collapse. The farmers and planters are reduced to the minimum of expenses, vix: what is barely sufficient for subsistence ; and as the agricultural classes are largely in the majority here, trade is necessarily stagnant. The unjust discrimination in freights on certain railroads, though doubtless bearing some relation to the matter, I y no means accounts for the very marked falling off of trade, in certain towns.? As was said bj* S. in the communication above referred to, the mercantile classes, by the enor.mous per cent age'demanded on nil articles of domestic Consumption, have killed the goose at laid the golden egg. It is time that the merchants, though often nning considerably risk in their transaction*, , might fairly liavoasked prices in advance of those which ruled in ante helium days ; but from one hundred per cent, on provisions to three hundred, was much more than a fair profit, and can be designated no otherwise than ns extortion.? Moreover, with such security as valuable land to back the consumer, tho merchants were tolerably sure of getting back their money. Like Dogberry, they have had their losses, but that they have prospered, on the whole, in spite of losses and risks, is a well attested fact. I, for one, do not grudge them their prosperity, if it had been attained while following the "Golden Rule," but prosperity built upon the total ruin of numbers of their fellow-citizens, is not to bo . , * envied. * . Suppose they had been content with a fair profit?risks taken into the accounts?upon their investments, there lirc'numbcrs of now ruined men who, with home rule, a minimum rale of taxation nud the labor system in a better conili/, r- .. nun, ub ii aoou-wiu oc,..wouia toon .no able, ir thej still held theirlands, to retrieve their fortunes", and place ^lieir families iu comfort^aud independence! ' But it is now too .late. That spirit of extortion; in some cases falsely called "splendid .business" talent," which has reveled in South Corolina during the reign of carpetbagcry, has wound up these unfortunate men, just one or two years too soon, and their cases are now hopeless. In reference to the subject in hand, it would he as well to inquire what relation the laboring class proper bears to the matter: The farmers and planters reduced, almost, to the lnstextremity, the condition of the laborers, is one degree worse, if this be possible, lie and his family arc iu a state of semi-starvation throughout the year. Is it strange that the white laboring classes are becoming bitter, as I think they are? They hive a vaguo feeling of wrong and oppresssion, which, defined and organized, would be. icom* rhttt startling thing callud Communism. Is it to be wondered at, when the provision merchant, getting his grip upon the laborer and alien;/* dictating cotton a* hit principal crop, sells liiin provisions at IlOO per cent, and at the close of the second or third year takes not only his corn and cotton, but soils the poor man's cow, the only comfort left to his family, nnd takes even his cottou seed and rough fornge, the refuse of his crop? Shylock must have the pound of flesh from just above the heart, though the life-blood follow the knife. Under the Jewish despensation, usury Was expressly forbidden, and is repeatedly spokeu of in the Old Testament Scriptures us being on a plane with crimes of the most abominable type. And just hero we recommend, to those who have auflicient cnterest in the matter to do so, to read the first portion of the 6th Chapter of Nehemiah, as presenting a case singularly coincident with the condition of things just now prevailing in South Carolina. Usury was distinctly forbidden to the Jews?God's chosen people?under pain of Ilis express displeasure. "He is the same, yesterday, to-day and forever." Christianity is Judaism ennobled and purified?*" All civilised peoples owe^all 4ba^ ^s conducive to the welfare and happiuesa oi tlft. human race, in their relations as individuals, communities, and nations, to the spirit of Christianity. It is allpervading, nll-onfolding, so to*Speak, like the very atmosphere we breathu ; though if/^ipjluv ences, like that of the atmosphere itself, Js enjoyed by thousands who take ,nq cognisance whatever of the sourco> of th? bl&fin^fjwhich they enjoy. Nevertheless, jt exists in ^ .itfii wonderful powers No candid person will depj that the whole uacldojpo^C^is^wJiidi'lcOns^ tutes Christianity, is dirSalynopposed to usury ' and extortions* Is it possible, as has been asserted, that the Legislature of South -Carolina, has no right to leglslato against a form of opj>ressioiKavhlth~i?~d!reoSlySjppeaed to^tbtT^pMl of Christianity ! k V m ' In Frsuice, during tlie reign of ^Tapotson Do. na parte,'who placed himself a distinctthlitnde of-friendship towards the Jews -in^ hits Km pi re, *h?*aent a Commission to thenlfW^th 12 inquiries, which he asked of themr to um? imikhiiv and fully, relstivAfo the viewb which they heldi of tHeir' relation to the Government nnderwhioh they Heed, end m to the extent to which the. special featuree ef Jewish polity were observed amongst themselves. The ejsysnih anj| twelfth questions related to the sutyact ef usury., -'the answer was, that Jews had no hesitation in dealing with ths "Oeatiles" in what a Jewish authority considered a "shameful and dishonest traffic." The answer goes on to say. that the law forbidding usury towards a Jew, was intended for a people "who formed a State, and had a place among the Nations." I;j Ftglard, we ere told, the laws against usury, have been repealed. However that may be, and we are not posted upon this point, they certainly existed until recently, and the legal rate of interact there was what would have been considered absurdly low here, when our old law against usury was in force. We think it was about 6ve per cent. Has not England been for severnl centuries one of the most proapeious countries in the world f Her governmsut?one of the best certainly, if not the beet?never seems to have doubted for a moment as to their right to legislate upon ths price of money.-tfL P* a* * 0 ' And no one who has any acquantiancu witV English literature can doubt for a tnoment as to how usury \tos regarded there. Under tlie fostering influence of her laws against usury, and her homestead law, which Georgia gave to her people as soon as she attained the right of self-government?which she did sooner than any other State in the .Southshe speedily attained a pre-eminent prosperity, which is, as yet, unrivalled amongst the Southern States. I will now refer, Mr. Editor, to the resolutions of the Chamber of Commcrco of Charleston, against the reestablishment of the law against * usury, addressed to the South Carolina Legislature, and recently published, in the Journal of Commtrce: With perfect respect for the high character of the gentlemen who compose the Chamber of Commerce, I, nevertheless, beg leave to say that the doctrine of "the natural right of the individual to untrammelled Ireedom in the condnct of money and Commercial affairs," is a rather startling one. Certainly the Supreme Court of the United States knows nothingof this doctrine, for. a fo? ????? 14 J?'J * * * , ? J ?? ? aiuvu n UttHICU, lOW lowing in the track of the Declaration qf Indtf' pcndcncc, that "the rights of life and personal liberty were the natural rights of mnn.'^f We hear of no other natural "rights," Bare these t form this the highest legal tribunal in tho lnndt In the excellent editorial of the 15th of May, of the Journal of Commerce, entitled the "Legitimate Sphere of Government," we arc told that "Protection to property, protection against injustice, protection of the weak against thef s&ong, Is the legitimate sphere of gotornmentf*** and Jeremy Bentham, the great English political economist, tells us that a good government should aim at making such laws as will enable tho poor' man to provide a subsistence for his family.? Just now the farmer in South Carolina is in urgent need of such protection and such a law.? Should the capitalist, in the exercise of his "untrammelled freedom in the conduct of money and Commercial affairs," trespass, at might tomtlimet happen, upon his neighbour's right to provide an honest subsistence for his family, how then should the case stand 7 Is there not a law needed, which should step in just hero and say, (to quote again from the editorial above alluded to ) "thou shell not 7 The doctrine of "the natural right of the individual to untramniellcd freedom," &c., it strikes me, M{. Editor, is, so to speak, too broad and too long. The gentlemen of the Chamber of Commerce of Charleston are men of the highest character, as wo save said, but there are men of inonoy, here and there, who are uot, and wilfully misinterpreting the above resoluiiou, and citing it aa authority, they will baae upou it exceedingly crooked practices, in the use of money. As to the doctrine, also, announced in the resolutions of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, at the meeting above referred to, that the "Legislature hns no more right to legislate upon money than upon land," we merely ask, has it not been the practice, heretofore, of all civilized governments, to legislate upon their circulating medium, as they saw fit and as tho necessities of the times and the people demanded? There aro those, perhaps, who will think, (hat the statements of the wretched condition of the agricultural classes in South Cnroliun, are too eztrnvagant. "They hove," they say, "no kuowlcdge of such a condition of things ; they are constrained to believe that the statements are loo highly coloured." With pink and v^>iU? palma . upturned, with the self-satisfied urbane smilesof men with whom success, whether in business or argument, is a foregone conclusion, they demonstrate, t? their own entire satisfaction, than the whole thiug is a figment of the brain of some "lean and hungry Cassius;" or, if it in truth, "the people have nobody to blame butt themselves." Wrapped in the comfortable consciousness of "much goods laid up for many years," they ana totally unable to realise such things as konorublt poverty and blameUet mirfortunc. "Clothed in* purple and fine linan, and faring sumptuously every day," thay arc uuaware of any duty which calls to them in the shape of Lazarus sitting at the gate, in need of all things. Doubtless,, if Lazarus ever uttactcd the atlontiou of Dives,, the latter regarded tho wretched mtu with a, mixture of pity and contempt, and sagaciously reflected that the man must have been greatly to blame to bring himself ta such a horrible con.There ero hundreds, nay, thousands of mem in South Carolina, who can neither be bought nor browbeaten, nor wheedled, whom all the declarations, resolutions and statements, of all the Capitalists of tbe State, cannot blind to theplain facts of the case, and we hope they will, make themselves heard, as they have the power m*' and the right to do, iu demanding the re-establishment of the law against usury. In this case ? the "voice of the people would be the voice of God." , With this law again in force, South Carolina would be, indeed, redeemed, regenerated and~disenthralled ; without it, God help the 'poor. J. (9? While we sincerely sympathise with alb who loft prepererty by tho fire last 8unday, particularly those whs had labored hard for what they, obtained, ws cannot help feeling more deeply for those industrious and worthy Mechanics, J. P. Mullinax, Thos Nelson and T. P. Lemaater* Their leases were severe, because ft toeh-fVear them the tools by which they earned the food and clothing for their families. In particular was thpt the caaeof Mr. Lemaater. Ilis loss wmn $500,???100 worth of Carpenter's Tools, the 'doors, points, paper roofing nnd 600 t of lumber. Indented for a new house he Is bnlldfing a^ tasl Ad his daily ssrnlogh will allow. . All this he had purchased and paid for, by strist economy and eorrd^t habits, out of his monthly waged as n carpenter in the employ of the Rail* jroa<l?C^mranr. We know ofyaa more worthy or^nqBMriowe man in this eounty. nnd while wa know ne does not aak for ekarlty, we think he is entitled to the help and encouragement of thoea who wan extend relief. a_ Semuel Dibble, democrat, has hasn elected a Representative of Orangeburg County, by a majority of 112, over D. A. 8traker, Radi- ^ cat, who the present House refused to allow to take his seat, for contempt. . a Tux PiLonxe Rlach Post.?Liverpool, May 29.?The disabled steamer, City of Brussels, or nveu ni this port this morning at 10 A. M., after a passage from New York of thirty-eigbt Jays. The passengers bava landed. All are well. Deputations from the Liverpool Catholio Societies, went out in two tugs to weloente the . pilgrims. A large crowd cheered and congratulated the passengers on the landing stage. Tbo pilgrims were conducted to the Adelplii Hotel, to be eulcrtained by the Catholio Club. A Te deum is to be sung at the pro-Cathedral. Tbo pilgrims will then proceed directly to Bona#, ILs. 1