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Scraps and .facts. | ? The new President has done no official act that has been made public. ? Governor Nicholls has issued a proclama*tion convening the Legislature of Louisiana. ?The Columbia Register of Tuesday reports the condition of Chief Justice-Moses as unchanged. ? None of the Supreme Court Judges being present last Monday, except Justice Willard, Court was adjourned until the 15th instant. ? The Columbia Register says there are quite a number of members of the Legislature in the city. ? The State House in Columbia, S. C., is still occupied by Federal soldiers and Chamberlain's constabulary. ? The Boston Post thinks it will be no gain to the country to lose Grant and retain Grantism. ? Failure of the army appropriation bill to pass both Houses, renders an extra session of Congress necessary. ? John Reilly, late auditor of North Carolina, is in a Baltimore hospital, dying of consumption. ? The fine residence of A. P. Eckel, of Greensboro, N. C., was destroyed by an accidental fire last Thursday morning. ? Quent Busbee, a prominent lawyer of Kaleigh, N. C., died suddenly on Tuesday of last week. ? The failure of the North American Life Insurance Company, of New York, is announced. ? Myers, the Richmond distiller, recently :onvicted of violating the revenue laws, has >een unconditionally pardoned by President Grant. ? Georgia farmer, say this is goingto be a great crop year, and are consequently making arrangements to cultivate as much land as possible. ? Fifteen Republican Senators held a meetiug last Friday and resolved that if Hayes' Southern policy is to be against the Republican party of the South, they should know it. ? The total number of hogs packed in Cincinnati from November 1st to February 28th, inclusive, are: 523,576; during the same time last year, 563,359. ? Governor Colquitt, of Georgia, has signed the bill passed by the Legislature requiring fire insurance companies doing business in that State, to make a denosit of 825.000. ? The Louisiana State House is barricaded, and guarded by about 500 adherents of Packard, who fear that Nicholls will take possession of thd building. Two companies of United States troops are quartered in rear of the State House. Gen. Augur will interfere only for the prevention of a conflict. ? The Raleigh (N. C.) Sentinel has been purchased by the proprietors of the Raleigh Observer, with which paper the former has been merged?the name of the Observer being retained. The Raleigh Observer is one of the best, as it is the most enterprising of the North Carolina dailies. ? At a meeting of the stockholders of the Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railroad, in New York last week, it was determined to issue 8500,000 preferred mortgage bonds to relieve the present embarrassment of the company and put the road in good working order. ? Bishop Wilmer, of Louisiana, who last week visited Governor Hayes at Cblumbus and laid before him the deplorable situation of Louisiana, telegraphed to New Orleans at the close of his visit: "Le; our people remain absolutely quiet," which shows sufficiently that he was satisfied with his conversation with the Governor. ? About 10 o'clock last Monday morning, Sergeant R. A. Edwards, of Company G, 18th Regiment, stationed at Columbia, committed suicide by shooting himself with a Springfield rifle. He was a man of about 40 years of Age, and went through tho lato war as a sol dier on the Confederate side, from the State of Alabama. ? A fire occurred in Camden, S. C., on m ? /* I * _1_ !- 1 J _ l uesciay 01 last wees, wnica aestroyeu nan a block of the business ps.rt of the town and entailed a loss of about fifty thousand dollars. The fire originated at the rear of Archer's store, and is charged to an incendiary. Forty thousand dollars of the lo3s is covered by insurance. ? Cabinet speculations are now rife, though nothing yet is definitely known from Washington on the subject. It is stated that Eugene Hale, of Maine, has declined an appointment. and that ex-Senator Key, of Teuuessee, will be Postmaster General; Evarts, Secretary of State; Morrill, Secretary of the Navy. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston is also mentioned in connection with the Cabinet. ?Judge Wright has turned up in Charleston, from which city, he stated to a reporter for the Journal of Commerce, that he thought he would go to Washington, and' would remain there for several days. The reporter who inter J .1? T..j i? :J .i_ viewed me errant uuuge cays ue io eviueuuy in an imbecile state of mind, giving "clear indications of the bender that he has been on. In simple, plain unvarnished English, he was on the verge of delirium tremens." ? The last Senatorial act of Senator Robertson was to prevent the confirmation of William Stone as United States District Attorney-General for South Carolina. On the expiration of Mr. Robertson's senatorial term he was presented with a splendid boquet, the card accompanying it expressing a farewell trust of esteem and reghrd from the granddaughters of Col. William Washington, of the Revolution. ? State Senator Nash, applied to Governor Hampton again, a few days ago, for assistance for the Colored Orphan Asylum in Columbia. In his application he recognizes the Wallace House and refers to Gen. Wallace as Speaker, but as he explicitly declared he did not recognize Governor Hampton, after having received aid on the first occasion, the n.momnp hnldo Vila apnnnd annlir&tinn nndar V-./?v.wv. ~~~~ rr..v?.v consideration. ? Mrs. Hayes' wardrobe is the subject of a special leaded telegram from Cincinnati to the Chicago Inter- Ocean. Mr. Jenkins reverently and picturesquely says : "By good fortune your correspondent obtained a description of the dresses as decided upon by Mrs. Hayes and her intimate lady friends and advisers. The inaugural dress will be of elegant black silk, cut princesse in style, and will be high in the throat, with long sleeves, and, of course, full train. It will be trimmed with black velvet, blue satin and Valenciennes lace, and, although rich and elegant, is pronounced very plain. The cost will be five hundred dollars. The evening or reception dres3 will be of Quaker gray, with corsage waist,square neck, demi-sleeves and full train. It will be trimmed with Valenciennes lace, fringe and flowers, and will cost three hundred dollars. The morning dress will be of blue cashmere, handsomely trimmed with silk of the same shade, with fringe to match, with demi-train and princess polonaise." ? The Darlington (S. C.,) News of last week says: "On Suuday.the 18th ultimo, a compar- i atively young gentleman and lady, richly clad, and bearing every appearance of wealth, i drove up to Society Hill in a buggy and made inquiry for Mr. Wilson. They were directed to Mr. Wilson's, where they called and unveiled a male infant about four days old, which they desired to give him, stating that they had been informed he would take it. Mr. Wilson declined on the ground that his wife's health wa3 delicate, and that he had two children of his own, which were all he could care for. They were then directed to Mr. Patent to whom they went, and who agreed to take the child. They left with Mr. j Patent a small trunk containing some money and other things for the baby, and promised to send it some things from time to time until it became capable of taking care of itself. They refused to tell either where they hailed from, give their names or tell where they got the child, but said that the little fellow had never seeu his mother. The gentleman who ihas charge Ojf.tJ# child says it is doing well." i ike fotMle gutter.; ? r YORK V ILL E, S, C.: , THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 8,1877. j PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. Id the Senate on the 27th, the House reso| 4totions in respect to the memory of the late _ Speaker Kerr were called up, and after a J number of appropriate eulogies were delivered by Senators, the resolutions were unanimously agreed to. The bill creating a sink- ' ing fund for the Pacific railroad was post- , poned until December next. The House Kill TrViinh t?RQ nnssprl frn-Hftv rptrnrHinor Vft r- ? ?J ? - cj l ! cancies in the office of President, was read by title and referred to the committee on privi leges and elections. In the House, most of ( the session was spent in the consideration of ^ the sundry civil appropriation bill, which, however, was not completed. A bill to provide for vacancies in the office of President ^ and Vice-President, that may arise through the failure of the two Houses to count the electoral vote, was reported by Field, of New York, from the committee on elections, and after a brief discussion was passed. The bill ] provides that in case of such vacancy in the , Presidential office, it shall be filled by the President of the .Senate, if there be one, or by the Speaker of the House, if there be one, or by the Secretary of State in office at the ( time of the vacancy. A motion to suspend ( the rules and adopt the resolution recognizing the Democratic governments of Louisiana ( and South Carolina was made by Schleicher, , of Texas, but failed for want of a two-thirds majority. So also did a resolution offered ( by Watterson, of Keutucky, commending the President for his reported opinions in support of the Nicholls government in Louisiana. The clause to pay Southern mail contractors for work done before the war, was restored to the sundry civil bill. In the Senate on the 28th, Mr. Robertson ( submitted a resolution that the decision of the ( Commission upon the electoral vote of the State of South Carolina stand as the judgment of the Senate, objections made thereto , to the contrary notwithstanding. Mr. Merrimon, of North Carolina, submitted a reso- : lution that it is competent to receive testimony ?o sustain several exceptions to the decis- ; ion of the Commission. Mr. Edmunds, of ( Vermont, raised the point of order on the | ! resolution of Mr. Merrimon and argued that , the Senate must either affirm or reject the decision of the Commission, upon which point ( of order a discussion ensued. The point of i order that the Senate must vote either to sustain or reiect the decision of the Commission 1 was carried by a vote of 43 to 18. After an elaborate debate, it was decided, by a party vote, to count South Carolina for Hayes. After returning from the second joint session, , the Senate agreed to count the full vote of | Vermont for Hayes, and took a recess. In , the House, on re-assembling after separating , from the Joint Convention, the yeas and nays , were called for a quorum. Saylor offered a j resolution that the House meet the Senate at j ten minutes past twelve. This breaks the legislative day, but was in the interest of the propriation bill, which, by unanimous con- < sent, was taken up and passed. The ruling i of the Speaker was sustained. ' Further mo- i tions for recess were made, which the Speak- i er declared were out of order and refused to 1 entertain appeals from the decision. The i Speaker directed the Clerk to read the decision of the Court and objections when conclu- ( ded. Mr. Phillips called for the reading of ] the testimony, 1,200 pages. Wood objected < and the motion to read the testimony result- i ed: yeas 86; nays 177. Walling moved , that part of the testimony read be ruled out , of order. Franklin moved that the report ; of South Carolina be read and the Speaker i decided the report not before the House. Fi- , nally the two hours' discussion allowed was , opened. At its close, several motions were , made, and it becoming evident that unless one party or the other yielded, the session would continue all night, it was compromised to i allow the count to proceed until Vermont was reached. The House took recess upon objections to Vermont. In the Senale on the 1st of March, no legislative business was transacted. The objections in the case of the electoral vote of Ver- < mont having been disposed of, the Senate awaited the action of the House on that matter. In the House, all bills recently passed by the Senate removing political disabilities, were passed. After the failure of various dilatory motions, a two hours' debate was comI menced on the Vermont electoral vote, and at 11 o'clock P. M., that State was counted for Hayes and Wheeler, and the Senate notified of the result. In the Senate on the 2nd, immediately after convening at 11 o'clock, A. M., Vermont was counted for Hayes, aud Virginia and ! West Virginia for Tilden ; and finally, after separation and two hours' discussion, Wiscon- < sin was counted for Hayes. At half-past 4 Mr. Ferry said: "This concludes the count ! of thirty-eight States. The tellers will now ascertain and deliver the result." Senator ! Allison, one of the tellers, declared the vote : j Rutherford B. Hayes, 185; Samuel J. Tilj den, 184. "Wherefore I announce Hayes and ! I Wheeler duly elected President and Vice- I. I President for four years commencing March j ( i 4, 1877." There was a solitary hiss. The ! Senate retired, the House adjourned and the j J flag was lowered for the first time since Feb- j i i ruary 1st. The following are the legislative i i proceedings: Mr. Gordon, of Georgia, called , ( i up the Senate bill to authorize the Secretary I of War to adjust and settle claims of the State j 1 of Georgia against the government on acj count of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. ( i Passed. Mr. Morrill, of Vermont, submitted t a resolution authorizing the appointment of a i, committee of three Senators to make the nec! essary arrangements for the inauguration of the President elect on the 5th of March. . Agreed to. The nomination of William Stone as Attorney-General for South Carolina was ( read. Mr. Ransom presented the credentials j of M. C. Butler as United States Senator from .i a?.iu n 1:? me ocaie Ol OUUUI ^/aiunua iu1 oi.v jtaio himu , March 4th, 1877. The credentials were signed by Wade Hampton as Governor, and had the seal of the State attached. They were read and placed on file. The printing of 300,000 copies of the agricultural report was ordered. The Senate then adjourned. In j the House, a resolution with the extraordinary preamble that the Louisiana Returning Board be discharged from arrest, so as to as- < siet the members of the Commission who completed the work of the Returning Board, at the inauguration, was defeated, Republicans as well as many Democrats voting nay, as i t the preamble contained matter insulting to Hayes. Only 18 affirmative votes were cast. The conference report on the deficiency appropriation was adopted. The army appropriation bill was reported. It contains a clause that no portion of the appropriation shall be used to support any State government by the army. A special clause exists that neither the governments of South Carolina or Louisiana shall be supported until recognized by Congress. The motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill was agreed to. The bill goes to the Senate. This action is regarded as equivalent to the success of Hampton and Nicholls. The river and harbor appropriation bill failed to receive a two-thirds vote, and must take its regular course. The conference committee on post office appropriations were also unable to agree, aud a new conference was ordered. Heard, of Ohio, reported a resolution reciting that as it had been declared that the President of the United States may be inaugurated on the fraudulent action of the Louisiana Returning Board, its members should be discharged from custody, pea3, 89; nays, 97. The bill for the payment if claims passed upon by the Southern Claims Commission passed. It appropriates 8474,)00. The bill allowing the proceedings in die nature of a quo warranto to try the title )f a President or a Vice-President, was defeated by 66 to 99. In the Senate on the 3rd, the pession was levoted to discussing the provisions of the army appropriation bill, and resulted iu the adoption?by a strict party vote of yeas, 32 ; aays, 23?of a substitute for the House bill, which provides that the troops shall be re moved from the Southern States. In the House, the resolution that the investigating committees be discharged from further conjideration of matters committed to them, and that persons held for contempt be discharged, was adopted. The conference on the sundry civil appropriation failed. In the legislative appropriation bill, all points in dispute were compromised except as to the President's salary. the House voting to insist on a reduction J <-( to $25,000. A resolution was reported by Knott, of Kentucky, and adopted by a strict party vote, 137 to 88, declaring that Tilden had received 196 votes of duly qualified electors, and was thereby duly elected President, and that in the opinion of the House, Hendricks having received the like number of electoral votes, was thereby duly elected VicePresident. Both Houses were in session all of Saturday night and up to noon on Sunday. In the Senate a new conference was asked for and agreed to with the House committee on the army appropriation bill. The legislative appropriation bill passed with the President's salary fixed at ?50,000. After further routiue business, Mr. Blaine from the conference committee on the army appropriation bill, reported that there had been a third conference on that bill without any agreement, explaining as the reason therefor that the House would not recede from the provisions of the hill requiring the removal of the military from the Southern States. At this point, the hour of 12 M. having arrived, Mr. Ferry pronounced his valedictory and the session closed. The House proceedings were confined to the military appropriation bill, the majority adhering to the restricting clause, and when the hands on the clock dial indicated five minutes before noon, the Speaker rose and delivered his valedictory, announcing the close of tho present Congross. EXTRA SESSION OF THE SENATE. On the 5th the Senate convened in extra session. Ferry was elected President pro lem. After the Senate was called to order, the new Senators were called and the oath of office administered to those not objected to. Those objected to were Kellogg, of Louisiana; Morgan, of Alabama, and Lamar, of Mississippi. The President pro tem. announced that there were two sets of credentials from South Carolina, and there was but one vacancy. Mr. Gordon, of Georgia, objected to the oath being administered to any one claiming a seat from South Carolina, and the credentials of Corbin and Butler were also laid over. When the name of LaFayette Grover, Senator elect from Oregon, was call- { ed, he did not respond. The Senators not objected to having been sworn in, Mr. Ferry asked if the Vice-President elect of the UniStotoQ toqa ronriv t.n tftkft the oath of of ? J -w ? fice. After a few minutes Mr. Wheeler entered the Senate chamber, leaning on the arm of Mr. McCreary, of the committee of arrangements, and was escorted to the * desk of the presiding officer, when Mr. Ferry,said?"I have great pleasure in presenting the VicePresident of the United States." Mr. Wheeler made a brief address, at the conclusion of which Mr. Ferry retired from the chair, saying: "With great pleasure, Mr. Vice-President, I surrender the chair to you." The Vice-President then announced that the Senate would proceed to witness the inauguration of the President. After returning from the inauguration ceremonies, Mr. Hamlin submitted a resolution that a committee of three Senators be appointed by the VicePresident to wait ypon the President of the United States and inform him that a quorum of the Senate had assembled, and that the Senate will be pleaseed to receive any communication he may be pleased to make. Agreed to, and Messrs. Hamlin, Morton and Ransom were appointed such committee. The Senate then adjourned till 12 o'clock Tuesday. EX PARTE TILDA STEPHENS. We publish in another column the opinion in the above case of Associate Justice Willard of theSupreme Court. As is familiar with our readers, the case involved the question of the rightful governorship of South Carolina?the petitioner, Tilda Stephens, being a convict pardoned from the penitentiary by Governor Hampton, which pardon the Superintendent of the penitentiary refused to I recognize until Hampton's right to grant it could be judicially determined. The case has been dragging in the Court for several weeks, and before the testimony was concluded, the Chief Justice was stricken down with disease, leaving on the bench Associates Willard and Wright. The testimony was concluded and argument made before these Justices, and it was currently rumored in Columbia that a decision of the case would be read from the bench on Friday last. It ap pears, however, that on Taesday previous an order was prepared and submitted to Justices Willard and Wright, for their signatures. Judge Willard expressed his willingness to approve it; but Judge Wright declined on the ground that he excepted to certain portions of the order. A second order was then submitted, in accordance with Wright's expressed opinion, and this he signed without hesitation, as did also Judge Willard. The following is a copy of the order thus signed: Supreme Court: Ex parto Tilda Stephens alias Tilda Norris. It is ordered, that the relator be .lischarged frmtn the custody of the superintendent of the penitentiary. A. J. Wjlparp, A. J. Presiding. I concur in the above. J. J. Wright, J. This order was signed on the 27th ultimo, ind would have been published aud filed on that day but for Wright's earnest request for delay, accompanied by his equally earnest declaration of fear that its publication at that time would seriously endanger his personal safety, if not his life, at the hands of persons of his own race and party. This request was so far complied with that the order was not annouuced at the time, but remained in the custody of the Court. Subsequent proceedings in the case, and occurrences pertaining thereto, are related by the correspondent of the Charleston New and Courier as follows: "During the two following days and nights Wright was subjected to the well-organized system of espionage, persuasion and intimidation to which I have before had occasion to refer. Without the needless repetition of names, I have only to again remark that all the leading Republicans in this city, and some who seem to have been called for the purpose from other portions of the State, combined in the common cause of intimidating aud cajoling the one judge upon whom they felt that their political fate now depended. Bowen and Dunn hurried off to Washington I to secure telegraphic influences from leading Radicals there, while the others, to whose [ number was added last night W. J. Whipper, redoubled their exertions by day and night, in ; and out of season here. The remarkable expedient of sending a band of negro women, members of somt; long-named society, to pray a favorable decision on suppliant knees, was resorted to, among numerous other equally novel and, as the sequel proves, efficient aids to the wavering judicial mind. The fruit of these exertions came to-day. I am informed that Wright sent to Judge Wil^rd and requested possession of the order above given, *Mi.mAaA r\P orootnrf hfa namo Wil tUT IUC Ul oirioiug uiu uv..Uw. ., .. lard spurned the proposition with honest in* dignation, and, rightly regarding the order as the final judgment of the Court, declined to entrust it in Wright's facile and trembling hands. But Wright had gone too far and had stooped too low to stop now, and, by'the advice or command of his masters, he proceeded to consummate his own infamy. At 12 o'clock the clerk of the Court waited oh Judge Willard, and handed him a lengthy opinion, upon which was noted, in pencil, "Filed March 1, by 12 o'clock M." To this opinion was appended the following remarkable retraction: "Having attached my name to an order discharging the petitioner in this ease, on the 27th day of February, 1877, after more mature deliberation, believing that the order should not have been made, I now hereby revoke, recall and cancel said order, so far as my signature may have given it sanction, and substitute the foregoing opinion in its stead. J. J. Wright, A. J., S. C."# Wright's pusillanimous apology for his course is that he signed the first order under duress and in fear of his life from the Democrats, if he decided adversely to them. The fact is th it he signed the first order in the consultation room, no one being present except Judge Willard and himself. It is also well known that he stated to Governor Hampton and to many others on several occasions that he hesitated to decide in favor of HaraptoD,only because be feared he would be killed by persons of his own party and race if he did so. A large crowd, assembled in the Supreme Court room on Friday morning, expecting to hear the decision in the Tilda Norris case. After waiting nearly two hours, Judge Will 1 ?i?An/) oai/) tKof Y\q harl in. laru euieicu muuc auu omu wui tended to give to-day the results of his own conclusions as to the habeas corpus case, involving the question of the validity of Hampton's pardon, but owing to the absence of a member of the Court, Justice Wright, he was unable to do so, as the Court could not be convened. He could discover no reason for the absence of his associate, who was in town yesterday. The sheriff had been sent to bis house for him, but returned with information that he haB boon absent since yesterday morning. He said he would reduce to writing, and place 011 file at an early date, the results at which he had himself arrived. He ad journed the Court until Monday morning,> at 11 o'clock. Judge Willard then caused the original order signed by himself and Wright to be placed on the record of the Court, and Tilda Stephens was, on Friday evening, discharged from the penitentiary. The correspondent of the Journal of Com-, merce telegraphs that paper: "Governor Hampton expresses entire satisfaction with the situation, and declares that he prefers the present state of matters to a unanimous decision in his favor, as it lays hare,in all its horrible deformity, the villainy of the Radicals before the country, and shows the character of Chamberlain's conspiracy. He is more hopeful than ever. A general feeling of buoyancy and exultation seems to Drevail. notwithstanding Hayes' election." I ' ... THE LOUISIANA CASE. Among the last official acts of President Grant, was an order removing the status quo in Louisiana, or in other Words withdrawing the military from the support of the Packard government. ^This was in compliance with a pledge he had previously made, to withdraw the military so soon as the result of the Presidential election was officially declared. The result of this action, it is thought, will have the effect of ending Packard's claims, and be a practical recognition of NichoMs as Governor. Under date of the 1st instant, Packard made the following appeal to the President: Statements are authoritatively made here that you have announced your purpose to withdraw the Uuited States forces from the various positions to which they have been assigned in the interest of peace and public weal in this city and State, so soon as the electoral vote shall have been tleclared. It is further stated that assurances have been given on the part of Nicholls and his supporters? who I may state are identically the same organization under the name of the White League that rose in insurrection against the State government in 1874 and were suppressed by your orders?that if the support of United States troops be withdrawn the government of which I am the head would disintegrate, and Nicholls be installed without vioKln/^otio/1 Tf la f?nrrpnt.lv renorf.ed icuuo auu uiwuoiiuui av iu ? and believed here on the other hand, that the White League are under orders to attack the State House, and will attack the State House as soon as the soldiers are withdrawn from the city, their purpose being, by the annihilation of the officers of this government, to leave no Republican in the State for your successor's recognition. The validity of my title as Governor of the State having been passed upon by the only tribunal known to the State laws and beiugnow confirmed by the decision of the national tribunal, I deem it my duty to maintain thej-goveroment by all means at my command. I; therefore, most respectfully but urgently request to be informed whether any changes be contemplated by you in orders heretofore given to General Augur, commanding this Department, in order that I may be able to take such measures as circumstances, ?i ? a..*.. fi'tro r\f fhn .Qfqto a nit my uutj ao \j mci v u? uuv w??w may seem to require. I again most respectfully request at your hands the recognition of the legal State government. S. B. Packard. To this appeal Grant turned a deaf ear, and caused the following reply to be sent by telegraph to Packard: In answer to your dispatch of this date, the President directs me to say that he feels it his duty to state frankly, that he does not believe public opinion will longer support the maintenance of State government in Louisiana by the use of the military, and that he must concur in this manifest feeling. The troops will hereafter, as in the past, protect life and property from mob violence when the State authorities fail j but qnder the remaining days of his official life, they will not be used to establish or to pull down either' claimant for the control of the State. It is pot his purpose to recognise either claimant. C. C, Griffin, Secretary. I INAUGURATION OF HAYES. Mr. Hayes took the oath of office in the red room of the White House, at 7 o'clock last Sunday evening. The oath was administered by Chief Justice Waite. There were no witnesses to the swearing. The inaugural ceremonies took place on Monday. Nothing unusual characterized the events of the occasion. The procession was small, but handsome, well handled and orderly. The programme was followed in all its details, and nothing omitted that had been previously arranged. The following is the INAUGURAL ADDRESS. FeliSow-Oitizens?We have assembled to repeat the public ceremonial begun by Washington, and observed by all my predecessors, and now a time-honored custom, which marks the nnmmonmmont nf a n?w term of the Presidentis# office. Called to the duties of this great trust, I proceed, in compliance with the usage, to announce some of the leading principles on the subjects that now chiefly engage the public attention, bv which it is n?y desire to be guided in the discharge of these duties. I shall not undertake to lay down irrevocably principles or measures of administration, but rather to speak oi the motives which should animate us, and to suggest certain important ends to be attained in accordance with our institutions and essential to the welfare of our country. At the outset of the discussion which preceded the recent Presidential election, it seemed to uie fitting that I should make known my sentiments in regard to several of the important questions which then appeared to demand the consideration of the country. Following the example, and, in part, adopting the language.of one or my predecessors, I wish now, when every motive for misrepresentation has passed away", to repeat what was said before the election?that my countrymen will candidlv w.eigh and understand it, and that they will feel assured that the sentiments declared in accepting the nomination for the Presidency will be the standard of my conduct in the path before me, charged, as I now am, with the grave and difficult task of carrying them out in the practical administration of the government, so far as depends under the constitution and laws on the Chief Executive of the nation. The permanent pacification of the country upon such principles and by such measurers will secure the complete protection of all its citizens In the free enjoyment of all their constitutional rights, is now'tlie one subject in our public affairs, which all thoughtful and patriotic citizens regard as of supreme importance. Many of the calamitous effects of the tremendous revolntion which has passed over the Southern States still remain. The immeasurable benefits which will surely follow, sooner or later, the hearty and generous acceptance of the legitimate results of the revolution have not yet been realized. Difficult and embarrassing questions meet us at the threshold of this subject. The people of those States are still impoverished, and the inestimable blessings of wise, honest and peaceful local self-government are not fully enjoyed. Whatever difference of s opinion may exist as to me cause <u im? cumu tion of things, the fact is clear that in the prog- i ress of events the time has come when such gov-. < ernment is the imperative necessity required by' ] all the varied interests, public and private, of f those States. But it must not be forgotten that ] only a local government, which recognizes and t maintains inviolate the rights of all, is a true self- f government. With respect to the two distinct races whose peculiar relations to each other have brought upon us the deplorable complications and perplexities which exist in those States, it ' must be a government which guards theinterests of both races carefully and equally. It must be a government which submits loyally and heartily < to the constitution and the laws, the laws of the ' nation and the laws of the States themselves, ac- < cepting and obeying faithfully the whole consti- < tion as it is. Resting upon this sure and substan- , tial foundation, the superstructure of beneficent local governments can be built up, and not oth- < erwise. In furtherance of such,obedience to the i letter and spirit of the constitution, and in behalf of all that its attainment implies, all so-called party interests lose their apparent Importance, 1 ana party lines may well be permitted to fade in- i to insignificance. The question we have to con- . sider for the immediate welfare of those States of the Union, is the question of government or no 1 government; of social order and all the peaceful j industries, and the happiness that belong to it, or . a return to barbarism. It is a question in which every citizen of the nation is deeply interested, ' and with respect to which we ought not to be, in i a partisan sense, either Republicans or Demo- f crats, but fellow-citizens and fellow-men, to whom the interests of a common country and a f common humanitv are dear. i The sweeping revolution of the entire labor system of a large portion of our country, and the advance of 4,000,000 people from a condition of servitude to that of citizenship upon an equalJoot-_ ing with (.hull tin mer masters, cotllj riot occur without presenting problems of the gravest moment to be dealt with, by the emancipated race, by their former masters and by the general government?the author of the act of emancipation That it was a wise, just and providential act, fraught with good for all concerned, is now generally conceded throughout the country. That a moral obligation rests upon the national government to employ its constitutional power and influence to establish the rights of the people it has emancipated, and to protect them in the enjoyment of those rights when they are infringed or assailed, is also generally admitted. The evils which afflict the Southern States can only be removed or remedied by the united and harmonious efforts.of both races, actuated by motives of mutual sympathy and regard; and while i in duty bonnd and fully determined to protect the rights of all, by every constitutional means at the disposal of my administration, I am sincerely anxious to use every legitimate influence in favor of honest and efficient local self-government, as the true resource of those States for the promotion of the contentment and prosperity of their citizens. In the effort I shall make to accomplish thia r>n mnsfl. I ask the cordial co-operation oT all who cherish an interest in the welfare of the country, trusting that party ties and the prejudice of race'will bo freely surrendered in behalf of the great purpose to be accomplished. In the important work of restoring the South, it is not the political situation alone that merits attention. The material development of that section of the country has been arrested by the social and political revolution through which it has passed, and now needs and deserves the considerate care of the national government, within just limits prescribed by the constitution and wise public economy ; but at the basis of all prosperity, for that as well as for every other part of the country, lies the improvement of the intellectual and moral condition of the people. Universal suffrage should reftt upon universal education. To this end liberal and permanent provision should be made for the support of free schools by the State governments, and, if needed, supplemented by legitimate aid from national authority. Let me'assure ray countrymen of the Southern States that it is my earnest desire to regard and promote their truest interests, the interests of the white and of the colored people both, and equally, and to put forth my hest efforts in behalf of a civil policy which will forever wipe out, in our political affairs, the color line and thedistinc; tion i etween North and South, to the end that we any have not merely a united North or a united South, .but a united country. I ask the attention of the public to the para mount necessity of reform in our civil service?a v reform not merely as to certain abuses and prac- ( tices of so-called official patronage, which have come to have the sanction of usage in the several j; departments of our government, but a change in ? the system of appointment itself. A reform that s shall be thorough, radical and complete. A return to the principles and practices of the founders of the government. They neither expected nor I desired from public officers any partisan service, r They meant that public officers should owe their whole service to the government and to the peo- . Ele. They meant that the public officer should 1 o secure in his tenure as long as hiB personal c character remained untarnished and the perform- anceof his duties satisfactory. They held that appointments to office were not to be made nor 1 expected merely as a reward for partisan services, t nor merely of "the nomination of members of * Congress as being entitled in any respect to the control of such appointments. The fact that both u the great political parties of the country, in de- t daring their principles prior to the election, gave j a prominent place to the subject of reform of our civil service, recognizing anci strongly urging its ? necessity in terms almost identical in their specific import with those I have here employed, ( must be accepted as a conclusive argument in behalf of those measures. It must be regarded as J the expression of the united voice and will of the ( whole country upon this subject; and both polit- t ical parties are virtually pledged to give it their r unreserved support. The President of the United 1 Stages, of necessity, owes his election to office to \ I the suffrage and zealous labors ot a political par.- r i tv, the members of which cherish with ardor and | regard as of essential importance the principles of 6 their party organization; but ho should strive to a be always mindful of the fact that he serves his r party who serves the country best. In furtherance of the reform we seek, and in other important respects, and a change of great importance, I re- c ! commend an amendment to the constitution pro- r j soribinga term of six years for the Presidential j office, and forbidding a re-election, c With respect to the financial condition of the ( i t chaii nnt.nttflmnt an extended history ? I of the embarrassment ancf prostration which we ^ J have suffered during the past three years. The * ; depression in all our varieci commercial and man; ufacturing interests throughout the country, : ! which began in September, 1873, still continues. -J i It is very gratifying, however, to be able to say " j that there are indications all around us of a com- f J ing change to prosperous times. j I Upon the currency question, intimately connected as i| is with this topic, I may be permitted F to repeat here the statement made "in my letter of t acceptance?that in my judgment the feeling of e uncertainty inseparable from an irredeemable . paper currency, with its fluctuations of values, is 1 one of the greatest obstacles to a return to pros- e perous times. The only safe paper currency is r one which rests upon a coin basis, apd is at all * tinges and promptly convertible into coin. I adhere to the vievys heretofore expressed by the tn favor of Congressional legislatirtn in behalf of an early resumption of specie payment, and I am satisfied not only that this is wise, but that the ! interests as well as the public sentiment of the h country imperatively demand it, j E Passing from these remark* upon the condition J of oqr own country to consider opr relations with ? other |anc]s, we ape reminded by the international complications abroad, threatening the peace of D Europe, that our traditional rule of non-interferince in the affairs of foreign nations has proved >f great value in past times, and ought to be itrictly observed. The policv inaugurated by my lonored predecessor, President Grant, of submitlug to arbitration grave questions in dispute be;ween ourselves and foreign powers, points to a lew and incomparable mode of nettling interna;ional disputes?the best instrumentality of the preservation of peace?and will, as I believe, besome a beneficent example of the course to be pursued in similar emergencies by other nations, [f, unhappily, questions of difference should, at iny time anringthe period of my administration, irise between the United States and any foreign government, it will certainly be my disposition ind my hope to aid in their settlement in the same peaceful and honorable way?thus securing o our country the great blessings of peace ana mutual good offices with all the nations of the world. Fellow-citizens, we have reached the close of a political contest marked by the excitement which iisually attends the contests between political paries, whose members espouse and advocate^.with jarnest faith, their respective crqeds. The cirinmstances were, perhaps, in no respects extraprdinary, save in the closeness and the consequent mcertainty ef the result. For the first time in fie history of the couutry, it has been deemed pest, in view of the peculiar circumstances of the ia.se, that the objections and questions in dispute with reference to the counting of the electoral rotes, should be referred to the decision of a tripunaf appointed for this purpose. That tribunal, istablisned by law for the sole purpose, its mempei.*s, all of them, men of long established reputa;ion for integrity and intelligence, and with the >xception of those who are also members of the tupreme judiciary, chosen equally from both poitlcal parties, its deliberations enlightened oy he research and the argument of able counsel, vas entitled to the fullest confidence of the Amercan people. Its decisions have been" patiently iwaited and accepted as legally conclusive by the general judgment of the public. For the present, >pinion will widely vary as to the wisdom of the leveral conclusions announced by that tribunal, [fiis is to be anticipated In every instance where natters of dispute are made the* subject of arbi,ration under the forms of law. Human judg ?' miff iu rorAlv refrarried IHMIt in JICTDi unuiiiu^, c??*v? m> . U. W.J . is otherwise than wrong by the unsuccessful pary in the contest. The fact that two great politi?1 parties have in this way settled a dispute, in egard to which good men differ as to tne facts ind the law, no less than as the proper course to je pursued in solving the question in controversy, is occasion for general rejoicing. Upon one joint there is entire unanimity in public sentinent?that conflicting claims to the Presidency nust be amicably and peacefully adjusted, and bat when so adjusted, the general acquiescence >f the nation ought surely to follow. It has been eserved for a government of the people, where ;ho right of suffrage is universal, to give to the world the first example in the history of a great lation, in the midst of a struggle of opposing parties for power, hushing its party tumults to pield the issue of the contest to adjustment acjording to the forms of law. Looking for the guidance of that Divine hand t>y which the destinies of nations and individuals ire shaped, I call upon yoil Senators, Represenatives, Judges and fellow-fttizens, here and everywhere, to unite with me in an earnest effort to secure to our country the blessings not only of naterial prosperity, bnt of justice, peace and unon. A union depending not upon the constraint if force, but upon the loving devotion of a free seople; and that all things may be so ordered and lettled upon the best and surest foundations that peace and happiness, truth and justice, "religion ind piety may bo re-established among us for all generations. mnciu wrrriRTva npi\in\. 3upreme Court?Ex-parte Tilda Stephens, alias Tilda Norris?Opinior by Willard, A. J. A final order was made in this case on the 27tb day of February last past, with the conjurrence of Associate Justice Wright, at a :onference of the court on that day, from which the Chief Justice was absent by reason jf severe illness. The order in question'terminated the present proceedings by habeas wrpus by discharging the prisoner. At the request of Associate Justice Wright, I suspended the filing of the order until Saturday )f this week. On Thursday an.opinion was placed in my hand by the Clerk of the Court, purporting to be the opinion of Judge Wright, ilthough not endorsed with his signature in ;he customary manner. This opinion was iccompanied by a memorandum having the lignature of Judge Wright, purporting to be i revocation of the previous order in which le had concurred. Without receiving any subsequent coromulication from Judge Wright, I attended the luant to adjournment. It was my intention to express orally, at ;hat time, the results to which I had arrived is to the questions involved in the case, but n consequence of the absence of Judge Wright Uq Annrf aia a nonodaarilv adionrned. and no fUO WUi 1/ 1IMU uvvwv>?> mj ??J ! ipportunity afforded for swell statement. I leem it important, in view of the important juestions involved, deeply affecting the interest and feelings of the people of the State, and n view of the anomalous and unprecedented iharapter of the recent proceedings taking ilace before a court of last resort, to put on -ecord a brief statement of the results arrived it by myself, intending to place them in the orra of a formal opinion at the earliest practicable moment. My conclusions are: 1. That, according to the returns of the managers of election in the several counties, nade in duplicate, and one copy thereof ;ransmitted, sealed, to the Secretary of State, ind the other filed in the office of the respec;ive clerks of the courts of the several counties, Wade Hampton received the highest lumber of votes for the office of Governor of ;his State at the election held on the 7th day if November last. That such being the fact, he became Govirnor of this State by direct declaration of the ^institution, contained in the following words: 'The person having the highest number of rotes shall be Governorthere having been 30 contest of tbe votes lor ijovernor, recoglized by a concurrent resolution of the two souses of the General Assembly, as prescribed 3y law, under the authority of the .constitu;ion, contained in these words: "Contested dections for Governor shall be determined by ,he General Assembly in such manner as ihall be prescribed by law." (Art. 3, sec. 5.) That inasmuch as no contest existed under he constitution, and no two persons bad equally the highest number of votes, the Gen;ral Assembly had no function to perform, except to establish by law a day on which he ihould be installed; that day being required )y the constitution to be during the first seslion of the Legislature. That the only object of the opening and jublication of the returns was, in such a case, lotice of the facts disclosed by the returns. I also conclude that the provision declarng the person Receiving the highest Bumber if votes, according to the returns communisated to the Secretary of State and filed with he clerks of the oourts, is independent of bat preceding it, prescribing the duties of he Speaker of the House of Representatives, is it regards opening and publishing the returns in the presence of the houses; so that f the latter is unperformed the former is enitled to full force and effect. 2. I conclude that the acceptance by Mr. Chamberlain of the declaration of an unauhorized body to the effect that he was elected xovernor, and taking the oath of office theremder, was an unlawful usurpation of the ofice of Governor, inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution in reference to the ight to hold over until his successor is electd and duly qualified, and does not present i case for holding over within the contemilation and intent of the constitution. S T pnnnlnrie t.hat Mr. Chamberlain is not apable of being duly recognized as de facto Governor, as he is withont the recognition or ooperation of the popular branch of the jeneral Assembly, and by reason thereof inapable in point of fact to execute the funcions of Governor. 4. I hold that no executive, legislative or udicial act is requisite to fulfill any condiion, or remove any obstruction, impeding the ull execution of the purpose and intent of he clause of the constitution deolaring the person receiving the highest number of votes o be Governor, and that Wade Hampton is ntitled to claim the efficacy of that clause of he constitution, and in virtue thereof is Govrnor of the State of South Carolina, and his iardou duly issued is entitled to be respected, A, J, WlM<AR?, Presiding Justice, ?T, ? * a^rThe improvements in the long-range firemis have made the bayonet and sabre comparatively innooent playthings. During the iVanoo-Prussian war only twenty one men ?ere killed on the German side by the bayonet and lance, and but six in cavalry charges. LOCAL AFFAIRS. t i NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Latimer A Hemphill.?New Goods. John C. Kuykendal.?An Advertisement?Old Cases?Wholesale Agency?No Irish Need Apply?Liquid Pepsin?No Name. Kennedy Bros." A Barron. -New Goods?Fine Coffees?Flour?New Orleans Molasses?To Our Friends?Plow *Steel?Canned Goods. Hunter A Oats.?Dry Goods?Bargains?Dress Goods and Prints?Genta' and Boys' Hats? Gents' Furnishing Goods?Crockery and Glassware?Hardware?Shoes. H. F. Adickes?The first Gun for Spring fired at the Corner?To Fellow Merchants. T. M. Dobson A Co.? Goods Cheap fqr Cash?Cassimeres?Ready-Made Clothing?Hoes?A Buggy?Meal Bags?Axes?Piques?Garden Seeds?Prints?Molasses?Coffee and Sugar?Crackers?Essence of Coffee?Well Chains?Bacon?Northern Checks?Cash * Store?Calicoes?Dress Goods?Shoes and Boots?Black Alpaca-How to make money. W. Blake, Florist, Chester, 8. C,?Blake's Nursery Garden. * R. H. Glenn, 8. Y. C.?Sheriff's Sales?Judge of Probate's 8ale. H. C. Heise?Bakery and Confectionery. SNOW LAST MONDAY. * Last Monday was a genuine March day? raw, blustery and disagreeable generally?answering admirably to Mark Twain's description of New England weather, one day of which furnishes an assortment of that which in other climates is enjoyed only in regular seasons. First, it rained, then hailed, sleeted, and finally snowed,.winding bp with a clear evening, the temperature remaining quite cool. ' COLUMBIA REGISTER. The increasing business of the above daily having randflifd mono aoimnoiiionn ijuni turn necessary, the publication office has been removed to the large rooms over Seeger's store, formerly used as Democratic headquarters in Columbia. The typographical appearance of the Register has also been greatly improved.. 1 We note these evidences of success with pleasure, wishing.the Register the full measure to which the enterprise of its publishers and the ability of its editors entitle it. TRIAL JUSTICES QUALIFIEp. The following Trial Justices for this county, appointed by Governor Hampton, have qualified before the Clerk of the Court for the performance of the duties devolving upon them as such officers: P. B. Darwip, J. 8. Lewis, A. L. Nunnery, R. T. Gillespie, 6. L. Davidson, D. M. Wallace, J. J. L. Gill, J. C. Chambers. We learn that the following have also qualified and are in the discharge of their duties^ 3. M. Fewell, B. F. Powell and R . L. Crook. THE HAMPTON TAX* i -.j-tfcJt; Up to this date the total amount of the Hampton tax of 10 per cent, paid in by the tax-payere of York county, is $4,926.00. Thia sum has been contributed by 1,298 tax-payera, of whom, the agent informs us, about 100 are colored citizens, the greater number of them paying tax on property. Dr. Robertson requests us to announce that, as heretofore, he will be 'in Yorkville on Monday and Tuesday of each week for the purpose of receiving additional payments, and in bis absence payments will he.received by J. F. Wallace, Esq., Clerk of the Court, who will have the books in charge, and is authorized to give receipts. , 8 ales-Day. a On Monday last?sales-day for March? the Sheriff sold the following real estate: By virtue of writ of fieri faeiae, 900 acres of land levied on as the property of D. H. - WhiUi. Duught by a Br White for 11,770. By virtue of au order of the Courts the laud whereon,W. M. Kerr now resides, near the town of Yorkviile?100 acree.~ Bought by T. A. Moore for $500. By virtue of an order of the Court, on complaint for foreclosure of mortgage, 397i acres of land?property of B. J. Massey. Bought by W. L. Roddy for $1,000. By order of the Judge of Probate, lands of the estate of Isaac Spencer, deceased?114 ' acres. Bought by A. B. Springs, at $3.70 per acre. Also, reversionary interest of. 60 acres in same tract Bought by A. B..Springs for $130. By order of the Judge of Probate, lands. of the estate of Samuel Wylie, deceased? ,150 acres. Bought by J. F. Hart, for $2.50 * per acre. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. 1 Judge Xackey's Tiews. On being asked what was his legal opinion as to the effect of Judge Wright's attempted retraction, Judge Mackey replied ta bis interviewer as follows: ? The so-called cancellation of Judge Wright of his signature to the order which discharged Tilda Stephens, and thereby decided that Hampton is the legal Governor of the State, can have no effect to invalidate the decision of the Court. The judgment of a court <?, last resort can only be reviewed by the cou* itself. ' The two justices who rendered the judgment in this case constitute the judicial unit termed the Court. Neither, separately, can constitute himself a Court of review as to a cause determined dy the uourt tn oane. The judgment is the expression of tbeir concurrent conclusion. The 'order is a statement of the conclusion, not of ene.justice, or of the two justices, but of the legal entity termed the Court. The filing of the order ? simply the publication of the judgmeot. To hold that, after the order is signed by the Court, one justice can set it aside, as is intended by this alleged cancellation, is to constitute one of the justices a court of review over the Supreme Court itself. The filing of the order has this effect, that the Court cannot set it aside, except upon a proper motion^ but it in nowise is requisite to render it a. complete and final judgment * , Receipts and Disbursements. Johnson Hagood, the acting comptroller and treasurer, has published a statement of the receipts and disbursements by the Hampton government from December 14th, 1876, to March 2,1877, from which we compile the following: RECEIPTS. Contributions on acoount of taxes from ' the various counties, $H9,432.41 ' Offloe fees received, ; 709,36 $120,141.77 DISBURSEMENTS, . Judicial Department?Salaries,.... $6,439.40* Legislative Expenses 11,002.75. Executive DepartmentSalaries, $2,091.63 Messenger, 40.00 2,T31.6S Penitentiary, ., 4,824.24 Lunatic Asylum, 8,449.70 Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute...... 1,586.32 State Orphan Asylum, ? 1,000.00 Printing and Stationery,...,,,.... % 492.00 Telegrams, .'. 113.70 Legal expenses, witness fees, briefs, Ac., 700.00 Governor'scontingent fhnd,.v.. 850.00 Postage, fuel, furniture and petty expenses, 143.85 Express on remittances,.,...... 60 00 $37 794.04 On deposit in different banks $82'.347.13 I - ?: . #120,141.77 Seeking Light by a $100,000 Spectroscope. The singular conduct of Judge Wright, in the famous Tilda Stephens case, is possibly explained in the following account of an interview that official sought with Governor Hampton on Tuesday of last week, the dap he signed the order to release the penitentiaryconvict. The correspondent of the Nemandl Courier gives the following account of' theinterview as related to him by GovernorHampton : Without being partfcdfor in regard to the. order of the remarks* the following is sub