University of South Carolina Libraries
00 LFM BT A. Wednesday Morning, Feb. 27,1867. Thc So-called Reconstruction Ulli. One of tho most noteworthy inci? dents connected with tho passage of the military government bill was tho vote and the explanation of Hon. Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland, who voted for the measure, although he argued most vigorously against its tyrannical usurpations, because he saw in it thc only hope for the ad? mission of the Southern States. Mr. Johnson is an able and expe? rienced statesman and lawyer, and, we believe, au honest politician. Ho is said to be in the confidence of the President, and therefore much im? portance has been attached to his vote, and tho remarks he made, on the occasion of passing the Sherman bill; but we believe that his anxiety to see the Southern States restored blinded him to the fact, that sundry provisions of the bill, which clearly and plainly indicate that reconstruc? tion, or restoration of the Southern States, was the very thing the joint originators and engineers of the mea? sure intended to defeat, at least until after the next Presidential election, if not for an indefinite period. We .were at first disposed to come to the samo conclusion-that thc most odious features of the origina' hill having boen modified, this', per haps, should be accepted as the bes! terms the suffering and excludec States could obtain from the radica majority. The appointment of tin Southern military governors having been given to the President, insteac of to the General of the army; hi; final approval of thc sentence of th< military tribunals authorized by tin bill, and the recognition of tho wri of Jiubeas corpus, all tended to per suade us that its provisions wouh probably be the mose favorablo tba would be conceited to the South lr this or thc next Congress, which, tin radicals have ordained by law, wil meet on Monday next, the 4th pros We are not sure, as at present ad vised, that the President will not ap prove the bill under protest, or tba he will veto it, and suggest anothe plan; but in either case, judgin from the temper of both houses c Congress, as evinced by their actio in regard to this measure, wc nee not hope for any enactment, bookin to reconstruction, less onerous an degrading to the South than it pr< vides for. But as a measure of reconstructioi it is a misnomer to call it so. Tv agree with the Baltimore Sun, in n< ticing Senator Johnson's justificatio of hie vote, that a calm examinatio of the bill, and of tho motives an declarations of those who passed i tlat it does not mean, and none < its manipulators understood it 1 mean, that the Southern States a] to be admitted, under its provision between this time and the next Pr sidential election. The Sun says th; it is the fixed determination of tho in power to exclude the Southe) States from any participation in th election, ?nd that the bill is a devi, so transparent that no intelligent mi ought to be deceived in that partie kr. The evidence is complete, this regard, on the face of the bill : self, as the fifth section clearly co templates that the people in tho se\ roi States, in the Constitutions tb may form, shall exclude from t elective franchise those who had pi ticipated in the rebellion, whi means, of course, the white popu tion, to an indefinite extent, with c ceptions not now to be estimait This fifth section extends the right suffrage "to thc male citizens of st State, twenty-one years and upwarc of whatever race, color or previc condition, who have been resident said State for one year previous to t day of such election, except such may bc disfranchised for particij tion in the rebellion," &c. Our readers will seo in this clav what is provided for ns at our el tions next fall for members of t Legislature. Such men as Gener Hampton and Kershaw, Colon McMaster, Wallace and other gall? subordinate officers and privates the Confederate army, will be eluded from the polls, while any v gar or illiterate negro will march and deposit his vote. This is bad enough; but it must observed that what we think is worst feature of thc bill, Shallab ger's amendment, declares: "That until the >eople of th States shall be admitted to represen? tation in Congress, 'any civil govern? ments that may exist therein,' (which of course includes all th1' e constitu? tions they may form um this mili? tary bill, as well as the present governments,) 'shall be deemed pro? visional only, and shall be in all respects subject to the paramount authority of the United States, at any time to abolish, modify, control or supersede the same; and in all elec? tions to any office under such provi? sional governments, all persons shall be entitled to vote, and nono others, who arc entitled to vote under the provisions of the fifth section: and no person shall be eligible to any oflice under such provisional government who would be disqualified from hold? ing office under the provisions of the third article of the constitutional amendment.' " It is almost needless to comment ou this. Congress reserves to itself the right at uny time to abolish, con? trol or supersedo any State Govern? ments which may bc initiated. It is virtually a doom of exclusion forever, if some revolutionary earthquake does not overthrow these Satanic plottiugs. -? -? ?- ? Tl?c Military Hill und t ixe Presiden?. We select the following from our Northern exchanges, received yester? day. The Halional Republican, (the President's organ,) of Tuesday, says: The bill providing for the estab? lishment of military despotism over ten States of the American Union, "and for other purposes," touching the next Presidential election, (see Shellabarger's amendment,) reached the President after 4 o'clock p. m., yesterday. This fact will probably be a sufficient answer to the nume? rous inquiries, made yesterday, why he had not vetoed it. A bill of such magnitude and importance requires the most careful consideration, and there can be no doubt that it will re? ceive such attention from the Pre? sident, notwithstanding tho imme? diate pressure of public business upon him. The Washington correspondent ol the Baltimore Sun says: I understand that the message o! tho President vetoing the Shermav. bill may be expected to be sent tr Congress about Wednesday of nex week. The occasion presents an op portunity for a scathing rebuke t< the perpetrators of this outrage upoi the Constitution, which I learn wil be profitably employed. I predio that this official paper will excel, ii massive argument, any that has ye emanated from thc present Execu tive. The correspondent of the Ne\ York Tribune, of Friday, says: A protracted session of the Cabine was held to-day, to consider the mili tary reconstruction bill. The Pres dent would sign the bill but for th first section, which provides for d: \ viding the ten States into five militai districts. The other features of th measure are not so objectionable, a though he much preferred the simp! Blaine amendment. It is understoo that the Cabinet take nearly the sam view. The most earnest supporters of th reconstruction bill now in the bane of the President, affirm that althong he will veto the bill, he will, on Moi day or Tuesday, return it to th House of Representatives, in wilie it originated, thus affording au o} portunity for Congress to take actio upon the measure. The New York Times, of Saturda; says editorially: The opinion at Washington a cepts as a certainty the veto of tl j reconstruction bill. The President j recorded opinions are so widely ; I variance with its principles and pri visions that any other course cou' hardly be expected. He could m sign it without either distinctly su rendering his views of constitution right or convicting himself of il grant inconsistency. A veto will, this instance, be the legitimate resn of his position, and will occasion i surprise. But though Mr. Johnson finds hil self nuable to concur with the Co gressional majority, it does not f< low that his veto of a bili which w nevertheless become law, should a gr?vate the quarrel to which he is party. It is in this connection tli thc forthcoming message will looked for with anxiety. Much i" pends upon its tone. For it is coi petent to the President, while vetoi thc bill, to mitigate hostility, ul impart faith in his purposes, or by ill-judged display of temper, towid the breach that separates him fr< Congress. THE INCOME TAX.-The income t is fixed at five per cent, on tho exc< of all incomes over 61,OOO. In ad tion to tho 81,000 exempted, are a to bo exempted all national, Shi County and municipal taxes ps within the year, all losses actua sustained during the 3-ear from fir shipwreck, or trade, all bad doh the amount actually paid for the r< of house or premises occupied a residence, and the amount paid usual or ordinary repairs. The Washington Republican si ; "the day is breaking." Let it bro The Sherman Bill. The New York Express is strong in its denunciations of the infamous provisions of this bill, and says it should bc called a bill of the party in power to keep ten States out of the Union till after the next Presidential election, unless thc whites of the South consent to bo governed by ne? groes, Elemeut 1. The destruction of State Governments, tho State Judi? ciary, and State iaws of all kinds. 2. The substitution in lieu thereof of live brigadier-generals, men of epaulettes, "men on horseback." 3. The abrogation of every princi? ple of British liberty, as laid down in Blackstone, or won at Runnymede, as extorted by the barons from King John-as fought for by thc'Puritaus even, under Cromwell-as died for by Hampden and other British patriots .-as guaranteed in the revolution of our British fathers, that took a prince from Holland and put him on the British throne, and as solemnly set forth in our Declaration of Independ? ence and in the Constitution of the United States, viz: the principies of magna charta, thc right of petition, the bill of rights, &c. 4. The President of the United States (sec. 5) is clothed with absolute power over the lives of 12,000,000 of human beings, without judge or jury-for he creates the live govern? ing brigadier-generals, and their mili? tary commissions. These horrible provisions of law, known in British jurisprudence only in the Tudor days of Henry the Eighth, and unknown even in the reign of the Stuarts-that species cf law which Cromwell impos-.ed upon Ireland, and which British people are realizing the fruits of to this day -in eternal insurrections and uni? versal hatred-provisions adopted from Austria, Turkey, Egypt, and unknown, now, even in Prance or Italy-powers more potent than even the high Hiearchy of the Papal Church ever grant even to the Pope of Borne, are to be grapsed, and to be held on to, until the South concurs to the following conditions: 1. That universal suffrage be given to male negroes, (all the while exclud? ing women, even white women,) ne? groes just emerged from slavery and semi-barbarism, not so much qualified tor suffrage, three-fourths of them, as are our small children. 2. That the late rebel whites be dis? franchised. Until these important conditions are complied with, it will not be pos? sible for the people of ten States tc have any voice in the Government ol the Union, or in the Government ol their own States, against thc "men on horseback" there. And even if al' this is done-there is not one man ir one hundred thousand from thoSouti who can honestly take the test oat! now required by law of a member o: Congress. MALICIOUS FALSEHOODS.-The com mittee appointed by Congress to in quire into the murder of certaii United States soldiers in South Caro lina, report that there is no safety fo Union men in tho Southern States and that military rule is the only euri for the evil. Never was a baser false hood uttered. The President havinj been called on for violations agains thc civil rights bill, a few days since reported only three cases. Report were sent from all the departments and three cases wer? only produced. IN A HORN.-The following, whicl we find in the Meridian Messenger touches the raw, but is good for on of the prevailing diseases of thi country, which is regardless of coloi Col. Horn pitches into lazy^peopl like a tinicorn : "A great many people are greatl exercised about the negro's working The way the negro works (or don work) is the topic of conversatio everywhere, where two or three ar gathered together. The dispositio of the negro to labor (or not to laboi is watched with intense interest, b those who seem to take no special ir tei-est in anything else. We are sic and disgusted with this everlastin talk about the short-comings of th colored population. In God's nami can't out people elevate their thought above the negro, or bestow them upo worthier objects? We claim to fe< as kindly towards the negro as li deserves of us, and when wo seo hil about to be engulphed and lost i idleness and vice, we feel, we hope, rational concern. But, at the sana time, we honestly confess to the ii stiucts which gives our own race tl preference in all our thoughts. If w are concerned about the dispositio of the negro to do or not to do, y( our concern sinks into indifferent: compared with the concern we fe for the conduct of the white. Whi some are fretting and fuming abot the laxy negroes they see in the towi and villages, who refuse to contra? and engage in regular eniploymen we are immeasurably more distress? at the sight of lazy white men and AVI men. If negro, as a free mau, ? all tho work and earn all the wages, 1 will prove himself the better man < the two. We are anxious for tl white man to assert his superiority i all things by his works, and th ere foi our anxiety for the white man to <: to work." WASHINGTON ITEMS.-We take the following items from the Herald, of Sunday, the latest dates from that point: ? It is stated from Bichmond that Virginia will, very probably, be tho i first of the Southern States to fall I into line under thc new Congress I ional plan of reconstruction. Gov. Pierpont was in council with the ! State Senate last evening, and ad ! vised the speedy endorsement of the j plan. His views seemed to meet j with general approbation ninon g the j members. Senator Johnson, of Maryland, has I received a letter from General Fitz ?John Porter, now in- New York, I highly approving his course on the I reconstruction bill, and stating that i he had conversed with many in New I York and New Jersey wko held tho I same views as Mr. Johnson, who also wore much pleased thereat, believing ? that the best interests of thc country ! were subserved by thc bill. Mr. Johnson asserts that, in his belief, had not this bill passed, or if it shr.il j finally fail, that the next Congress j will parcel out the lands of the South among the negroes of that region. The radicals in Congress having achieved their groat measure of mili tary governments over the States of the South, were, on Friday, in re? markable good humor. The House of Representatives struck out a clause in a Tennessee college bill, prohibit? ing Confederate officers from holding professorships in the institution, and they repealed the cotton tax. -. .- - SOPKANOS.-Thc New York Evening Gazette has a capital article on the various styles of sopranos who sing at our churches, and thus photo? graphs the most offensive and best known class of all: A very numerous class, alack, is that for which we can devise no more expressive and truthful title than that of the impudent soprano. This crea? ture usually sings with energy, vigor, and often with good taste, and is popular with the congregation. In the choir, however, sho is a besom of destruction. To be associated with her there is to bo tied up in a coffee bag with a scorpion. She knows, in her own opinion, far more than any? body else in the choir. She wants to sing all the solos, and is bitter and uncharitable to every singer who at? tempts one. As to other sopranos, she is pitiless. She was never known to say a kimi word to any professional sister. She refuses to sing the music se^ ! looted for her by the chorister; and if ? he insists, she declares he is no gen? tleman. Then she runs with a gar? bled story to thc minister or music committee, and assumes the air of injured innocence generally. She is generally spoken of as "a Tartar," which is an unjust aspersion upon a remote and comparatively inoffensive people of Asia. She affects great in? timacy with the clergyman and bis family. By her constant efforts af predominance in the choir sho ac? quires a masculine and forward style of behavior, which she mistakes foi dignified independence. She thinki the other singers are intended bj Providence as accompanists to he] own singing, and is vehemently op posed to singiu 5 any music not calen lated to show off her own ability. She is altogether a mysterious dis pensatien of Providence-like mos quitoes, small pox or the income tax SMUGGLING.-The Government ha; received information of the seizure o a lot of hogsheads of sugar import?e from Cuba, lauded at Bull's Bay South Carolina, without payment o duties, and then carried into tin country. On seizing and openinj them, each hogshead had a barrel ii the centre of the sugar. Seven bar reis were filled with West India rum on which the duty was over 870 ; barrel, and five barrels with high priced segars, &e. [Charleston Courier. j THE NEW CUSTOM HOUSE.-Th Collector of the Port has succeedei in getting an appropriation of $30, OOO, in addition to the 310,000 appro priated last year, fer the purpose c improving tho new Custom House and placing it in habitable condition The Committee of Appropriations i the House have added this addi tiona! amount to their bil!, v/hie passed that body, and tho Collecte has received the assurance of Senatoi that the appropriation will be p ?se in the Senate.-Cltftrleslon Courier. The natural phenomena of the lai few weeks well deserve the cor sideratiou of atmospheric philosi i pliers. Tremendous falls of sno in nearly all parts of the countr I alternations, of excessive cold an I almost .summer heat, and destructs j freshets in various sections from tb j extreme East to the Western frontie have combined to render the wi uti j of 1866-'67 memorable in the anna of meteorology. j THE TAX ON CIGARS.-The Hom of Representatives, in considerir the amendatory interval revenue, bi] has fixed the tax on cigars as follow "On alli cigars, cheroots and cig? rettes, 8fi per thousand, and twenl per cent, (td valorem on the mark value." This is an important chang being a reduction of rate reported t the committee. A New Haven gambler, on his wi to Boston, won 35,000 in a smokir car. ANOTHEK ATLANTIC CABLE.-Wm. E. Everett, thc chief engineer of the International Ocean Telegraph Com? pany, sailed for Liverpool, on Satur? day last. He goes to England to su? perintend the construction of thc cable to be laid to connect the United States, Cuba and the West India Is? lands. It is expected that thc work will be finished by June 1. The Maryland Republicans are very generally signing a petition ask? ing the United States Senate not to admit Gov. Swann to a seat in that body next March, asserting that he secured his election through corrup? tion and fraud. Gov. Swann will doubtless share Stockton's fate, and be "histed" out of his. The Mississippi steamer David White, plying between New Orleans and Louisville, was blown up near Columbia, Arkansas, on Sunday, and thirty-eight persons are. known to have been killed and nineteen wound? ed. There are sixty-five passengers missing, whose names are unknown, as the books wore lost. There is a mau out West whose ' memory is so short that itonly reach? es to his knees; consequently, he . never pays for his boots. -_-, MARRIED, At Swansboro, N. C.,on Wednesday, the 20th instant, at tho residence of the bride's father. Mu. DANIEL L. SF.NN, of this city, to Miss MAGGIE S. McLEAN, of the former town. SHIP NEWS. POUT OF CHARLESTON. FEB. 26. A1UUVED YESTERDAY. Sehr. P. Boice, Adams, New York. Ship Southern Rights, Ross, Liverpool. On Consignment. -| ?f BOXES of TOBACCO, in good o JLf./ der. and for sale by Feb 27 2 H. D. MANAHAN. To Rent. AFARM, situated about three milos 1 from, this cit}-, with necessary out buildings, .indwell adapted for gardening purposes. Apple to Feb 27 2 _ H. P. HANAHAN. To Arrive, i EIGHT THOUSAND bushels PRIME; WHITE CORN. 1,500 busheis Oats. 50 barrels Pink Eve Potat H S. At BROWNE A SCHIRMERVS, Feb 27 Yolger's Old Stand. : Just Received ON CONSIGNMENT, 2? bales HAY. For sale bv EARLE & LEAPHART, Feb 27 1 Copi. Merchants, Main st. Richland Lodge No. 39, A. F. M. A AN extra communication of this VTVVT.ed^c will be held THIS (Wednes /Vx'lavi EVENING. 27th instant, at 7 o'clock, at Odd Fellows- Hall, forthepur? pose of conferring tin; Fast Degree. liv order of the W. M. Feb 27 1 R. TOZER,'Secretary. JUST RECEIVED, BOXES FINE ORANGES. 4 " " LEMONS. Low for cash JOHN C. SEEGERS A CO.'S. Feb 26 6 Extra Breakfast Strips ! PICKLED HAMS. Low for cash at Feb 20 J. C. SEEGERS A CO.'S. _ Fresh Crackers! JUST RECEIVED: 0 bbls. fresh SODA BISCUIT. 2 bbls. GINGER SNAPS. 2 " OYSTER CRACKERS. 2 " Extra Butter " 2 " Fancy Pic-Nic " 2 " Lemon Biscuits. All fresh from the bakery. J. C. SEEGERS A CO. Feb 26_ 10 BOXES CHEESE. IOW to dealers, at j Feb 20 J. C. SEEGERS A CO.'S. m. u Jj.ua ?UXV o/lu Li. 25 WELL-BROKE Y O U N G MULES for sale. Feb 26 CHAS. LOGAN. Third Supply of Fresh Seed. DAVID LANDRETH & SON. SILVER SEIN ONION SETTS, Radish, Green-glaze Cabbage, Turnip Seed, Peas and Beans, Extra Early Corn, Blue Stem Collaril, new Tomato Seed and other varieties, at FISHER & HEINITSH'S Feb 26 Drug and Seed Suire. Printing Material For Sale. AN assortment of TYPE and MATERI? AL, ennu ient to publish a large sized paper, is offered for sale at a very reason? able price. Tho TYPE is as good as new. For further particulars, apply at this office. _Feb 23 FRESH EGGS. ?}(\?\ 1 lO/EN for sale low. JJVJVJ E. A G. D. HOPE. Feb 23 ONION SETTS. 7BUSHELS WHITE and YELLOW ONION SETTS, tor salo by Feb 2:5 E. A G. D. HOPE. SEED OATS. A f\f\ RUSH. SPRING SEED OATS, Hc\J\J for sale bv " Feb 23 E. A G. D. HOPE. Breakfast Bacon. 11WO THOUSAND lbs. BACON STRIPS, for sale low bv E. A G. D. HOPE. Feb 13 EXTRA FAMILY FLOUR. ?%K BBLS. VIRGINIA FAMILY FLOUR. ?U*J For sale for cash only. Feb 22 E. AG. D.HOPE. BACON SIRES. TEN THOUSAND lbs. primo CLEAR RIBP.ED BACON SIDES. For sale low for cash orily. E. A G. D. HOPE. Feb 22 Refined Sugars. FIFTY bbls. CRUSHED, POWDERED and COFFEE SUGARS. For salo by Feb 22 E. A G. D. HOPE. Local Itouxs. The Charleston mail failed last night, but wo are indebted to the po? lite agents of the Southern Express Company for a copy of the Courier. ANOTHER CASE.-The Darlington SoiitJiemer says that on last Monday, an old acquaintance (once a sub? scriber) called into that office end subscribed again for the Southerner, giving thc following reason for so doing: 'Thad neglected to pay my taxes at the proper time. Thc tax-collector bad issued his execution to the she? riff, and the latter had advertised my land to be sold this very day. By the merest chance, some one saw the paper in which the laud was adver? tised, and gave me notice, aud here! have come to save my land ami take your paper." . * NEW BOOKS.-We are indebted to J. J. McCarter, Esq., for copies of the following books, just published by Harper & Brothers, Now York: ANNALS av A QCIET NEIGHBORHOOD. By George Macdonald, M. A., au? thor of "David Elginbrod," etc. This interesting work is, doubtless, as it purports to be, written by the rector of a country church, in Eng? land. Interspersed with tho narra? tive aro illustrations of character which would do credit to the pen of a Dickens or a Wilkie Collins-the retired man-of-war's-man. Old Bo? gers; thc cynical Thomas Wier and his unfortunate daughter Catherine: the heartless Mrs. Oldcastle: thc "white wolf;''and the inventive Mr. Stoddart, being apt illustrations The title of the book-"A Quiet Neighborhood"-is correct only to a certain extent-that is, to all outward appearance; whereas, down in the hearts of many of the char ictei'S, were cauldrons seething and bub? bling like unto those of Macbeth's witches. The story, be it under? stood, is by no means sensational; and the reader will lay thc book aside with thc fervent wish that the au? thor will, :vs he intimates, eontiune his sketches. THE SANCTUARY-A STORY OK THE CIVII, WAK. By George Ward Ni? chols, author of "Tho Story of thc Great March." With Illustrations. Major Nichols has attempted, in this so-called "narrative," to impress upon the reading public the impor? tant fact that he is an ardent admirer of "the old flag," as he had gazed on it in foreign waters with an admiring eye, and fought under it-as an aid to Gen. Sherman-on the famed soil of the South. He maintains the assertions made by him in his former i work, that the burning of Columbia j was attributable to the cotton fired by the Confederates; whereas, if he would only consult any of the regi ? mental officers, he would receive posi i tive information that, when the Fede I ral army entered the city, after its I evacuation by the Confederates, there icos no cotton on fire. That this work i will find admirers, as did "Uncle Tom's Cabin," in certain portions of the country, owing to sectional pre? judices, cannot be doubted; but we think no candid reader will give the author credit for much beauty of dic? tion or originality of thought. RACHEL'S SECRET. A Novel. By the author of "Master of Morton." Price 75 cents. This is another English story, and belongs to the series of Harper's pa? per-backed "Library of Select No? vels." It is very evenly written, and the reader will find that the heroine, like daughters of Eve in general, could, when it was essentially neces? sary, (and for her own interest,) keep a secret; butas "Rachel's" was of a very peculiar nature, the book is worth perusing, to unravel the mys? tery. _^ ^__ A remarkable discovery is reported in Italy, by which two persons may converse by telegraph, recognizing even the sounds of each other's voice. Thero was something like it here, some years ago, between New York and Boston, but it was given up on account of tho New York operator's breath smelling too strong of bad gin. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attention is can? ed to the following advertisements, which are published this morning tor the fir*: time: ll. D. Hanahan-Tobacco. Desirable Farm to lient. A. R. Phillips -Auction Side. Browne A Schirr or -Grain to Arrive. Barlo A- Loaphari-Hay. Extra Meeting Richland Lodge. Hostet tor's Stomach bitter.-. White A Mix. ' - Charleston Hotel. Diegen A Bakor-Livery and Salo Stable Tuc "HELP" QUESTION.--The question of kitchen ' help" is one of great moment to the American house-wife. The best help our experience bas found is a box of Col? gate's Soap for laundry purposes, lt saves a lar<i<- proportion of the labor of washing clothing or other articles.