Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? II? li EO IV E E COUBCIEIl. HY KEITH, SMITH & CO.~~ "VtLT?xJLlxfvll?v. 0. O, THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1882. JJQT ibr subscription, $1.00 /jcr ?ninuM, rMiy fn advance; for six months, 76 wit?. 8?T Advertisements inserted at one dollar per ?ifuan of one inch or les? for the first insertion <?*d fifty cents for each subsequent' insertion. ??* Obituary Notices exceeding five lines Trlbnbes of Respect, Communications ef a pcr~ tonal character, when admissable, and Announce' mauls of Candidates xoill be charged for as adver Utmtnts. JJ?* Job Printing neatly and cheaply executed Jj?* Necessity compels us io adhere strictly t o tht requirements of Cash Payments. Liquor Lie on so-Stock Law. 'flioso trt'o subjects hdvo been oxoiting lin ds un! interest in our Stnto during tho past year, and in tho prosont Legislatura they oc cupy a prominent position, both on thc cal* O'ndar and in dobate, From ull sections pe titions havo boon proscutod from timo to time asking tho paseago of Acts prohibiting tho otilo of spirituous liquors in various towns ami Tillages, while in somo oases towns, which havo onjoyod suoh prohibition from adte lierotoforo passod, havo presented peti tions asking tho ropoal of suoh Aots. Tho County of Oliarloaton, foy a strong petition, asked that it ho oxomptod from tho operations df tho liquor law of 1880. but after a hard fight tho bill for this purpose wno defeated. Fruitions offerts havo also been mndo to ro poal tho license tax of ono hundred dollars required to bo paid to tho Stato. In tho carly part of tho sossion a modification of tho law of 1880, so ns to permit liquor to bo sold in packages of ton gallons, was attempt-? ?d but failed. Tho liquor interest has sought ovory way to looson or broak tho restrictions imposod on it, while tho tempor?neo men arc Striflng to fat tlier limit it and finally prohibit its salo absolutely. Judging from tho local prohib? tieri granted and hoing granted, tho tompornnoo causo is gaining ground, and its advocates may rensounbly hope that in a few years prohibition will ho mado a Stato law. Wo are eatis?od that n revolution of this character will not go backward and no ono noed ozpect that ground gained will bo lost to tho cause of tempor?neo. It will bc nblo to hold what it lins won' nnd will most proba bly extend thc aroa ot prohibition every yoar. Tho etook law, which u (Teeta thc industrial interest:) of tho Stato, is also a promiucnt sub* jcot of legislation, lt has its advocates and opponents in every section, but it is gaining ground dvory day. Adopted in a few locali ties as an experiment a few years ago, it now covors tho State. P?titions for its repeal and modification aro daily presented and great excitement exists about it in many sec tions. It is another mensuro which will not go backward, and even if it bo slightly modi? lied, nil may expect in a fow yours its provis ions will only bo limited hy our boundaries. Wo earnestly hope that our people will ac copt un T? proparo to moot tho requirements of tho law without bitternoss. Let us nil exer cise charity towards each othor and give tho law R fair trial beforo condemning it. The Lieu Law? Our views on tho lion law have boon long known to our readers. Wo have fought it for years as an enemy to tho farmer and to thc prosperity of tho Stato, giving lo all a pre carious credit nt tho expenso of a ruinous profit, whilo it also encourngos (ho buying of articles neither necessary nor needed by thc farmer, lt lins been constantly abused not only by extravagant profits but also by Belling undor lion articles not lognlly covered by tho terms of tho law. It has, however, been so long in toreo that tho debto and demoralization of tho pooplo from its effects havo becomo such that many think it now one of tho ne cessities of tho timos. With this ?doa n bill ban been introduced in tho Legislature to substituto for tho present lion law another which divides lions ns to preference into thrco olnsses and provides for thoir collection in a summary mnnnor. Lions for rout, not exceeding ono third of tho crop, unless moro bo agreod on and duly rcoorded, is profcrrcd Over all othor lions. Noxt to rent actual and necessary agricultural supplios aro a lion on tho orop\ nnd when they aro personal prop erty a chattel mortgage on tho supplios thom' solves, tho lion first registered, where there rs moro than ono, having thc proforonco. Tho bill then provides for a third lion for fertile ZOrs. Unless otherwise stipulated in tho contract rent is pnynhlo in September, sup ply lions in October and lions for fertilizers in November, nnd executions may bo issued nt the end of any month uftor tho lion is due. Prior to tho issue of executions for supplies or fertilizers tho lienco must filo with tho Clerk a list of nil articles furnished with thoir cost price, to which tho Clork shall add 25 por cont., except for money on which only sovon por cont, shall b? added. Power is alto given to issuo oxeoutions and seize and soil property, whothcr tho Jdobt bo due or not, whenever tho Honor is endeavoring to sell or transfer hie crop or do any not to d? font tho lien. Wo cannot say we npprovo of nil tho fem taros of tho Act, especially those which allow the Clerk to add on tho profit to sales of goods. Wo believe, however, that lions should have somo order of prefcronoo and tho ono designated by tho bill is founded on principles of right and justioo. Tho land lord should havo his ront first and necessary supplieo to moko tho orop should bo preferred to fertilizers. Wo hope the day will come whoo tho whole Inw can bo safoly dispensed with. On Saturday morning, at ?-} o'clock a col.< lieion between two fast trains occurred or tho Savannah and Charleston Railroad noat Adams Hun and somo twenty-sovon milcf from Charleston. Mr. II. A; Fox, of thc mail Borvieo and Bradley Soott, a colored Uro,) an, wcro instantly killed'and severn! others periously injured. Tho mattor wil undergo thorough investigation. WASHINGTON, January 20.-Tho National Board of Health to day officially dcolarci: smallpox to bo epidomio in tho United Statos and is now ocoupying itself in devising meas? uros to protect tho oountry ngainst tho dis oaso< Tho Guiteau Trial. No trial has over ocourrod in thia country which has created grontor interest or been watched moro olosoly than tho ono now draw? lng to n clo PO in Washington. Tho excited condition of tho country nt tho timo of tho mordor of President Gorfiold and tho cir cumstances which, in tho publio mind, wero tho impelling motives to tho orimo, hnvo given it a national and political cast. Tho de fe nco of insanity is not well supported by the Cvidonco or by tho law ns oharged by Judgo Cos nt tho opening of tho 'argument? and yet a rational mind can hardly conceive that a sano man, In broad daylight, in tho prosonco of a mu h i tod J ot' wituosscs, would, without provocation, shoot down tho Chief Exooutivo of n, great nation. This is tho strong point of tho d?fonce, and Mr. Scovillo in his argument pressed it, whon ho stated that Arthur, Conkling and Grant aro deoply interested in a verdict of guilty, ns they oculd thon claim that no snno man would bavo committed tho act and expected to gain any benefit thereby. On tho other hand, if Guitoau bo acquitted because of insanity, thoo tho responsibility would fall on thom, whero it truly belongs, as thoir unrighteous war on Garfield, because Of u petty office in Now York, would then bo regarded ns thc spark which inflamed tho diseased mind of Cu ilea o to kill tho Presidout, behoving that ho was doing God und the country u good ser? vico. Ilia arraignment of Arthur, Conkling and Grant will bo found on our first pngo, and is but tho outspokon expression of an opinion largely entertained in tho South nt tho timo of tho shooting of tho President. Wo hardly boliove any ono thinks theso mon intondod or expected that thoir war on President Garfield would bavo such a termi nation, but not a few believe that it hud much to do with it. Tho trial is now in its sixth neck and will probably closo beforo another issue of this paper, either by n conviction or a mistrial. Judgo Porter and Mr. Davidgo have spoken for tho prosecution und Mr. Heid nnd Mr. Scoville for tho defenco, tho hitter occupying four days. Tho caso will bo cloted by dla? trict attorney Corkhill and then thie nieinor ablo trial will bo closed, though if thc defendant bc convicted other effurts will bo mndo ns to the jurisdiction of tho court and perhaps on other grounds. Tho Gold Buried in Oconeo. A correspondent of thc NeWS and Courier has this interesting story in reference to thc Confederate gold: Thc following interesting story about tho Confederate gold has just been related to ino by a prominent and thor nighly rcliablo gentleman of Ocunec County who is now in Columbia: Mr. William Dickson, who lived in Oconeo County nt the close of tho war, and who subsequently moved to Dallon, Ott?, where he died two or three years ago, gate' to a promi nent citizen bf l'ickens county, shortly after tho war, somo very interesting facts about I ho disposition of n largo amount of tho Confed?ralo trcasuro which has recently been so much discussed through tit1 ,'iress of tho country. Mr. Dickson informed tho gentleman to whom I have referred that within a few days nfter tho capture of Mr. Davis by the Federal troops, three brothers by tho name of Rogers who belonged to Wheeler's cavalry came to his hou&o on horseback with as much of thc treasure ns they could carry on their horses. What amount ho did not know, but they employed him to go with his team to Washington, Ga., whero they had buried moro of tho treasure, and bring it to their I1OU8O near Mr. Dickson's, in Oconcc County, then lMekcns District. Ile stated that ho proceeded to "Washington, Ga., with tho Rogers brothers, whero they loaded bis wagon with, ns they stated, ono hundred thousand dollar? nod bc returned with them to Oconcc County. They then employed bim to carry their treas uro to Atlanta, where they took the train and went to Mexico. They also stated to Mr. Dickson that they had buried a considerable amount of the treasure near their house in Oconeo County, and tho gentleman from whom I get this information informs me that it was generally said in tho neighborhood tlint tho treasure was so disposed of and (hat ho himself had seen parties searching for tho buried treasure. Tho father of tho Rogers brothers carno tu Oconcc during tho war, purchased a tract of land and paid about one-half of thc amount ho lind promised, but tho family gave up the placo, carried only a few articles of fur 11 miro with them, and left everything else in tho house without making any disposition whatever of any of it. lt would now be in ordor for tho Legisla ture to direct 11 thorough investigation of this matter and to pr?vido for tho development of tho hidden mines where (he Confederate gold has been buried. J. C. ll. The great Hood ia tho West has caused muoh destruction of property ond somo liven Tennessee lins been tho greatest suf ferer. Tho ('timberland River has been higher than at any time sinco 1847-being fifty feet obovo low water murk at Nash, ville. Fifteen hundred people hnvo been forced to abandon their houses in Nushvillc and tho water has been in many bouses whero tho peoplo have taken refugo in thc upper stories. Moro than twclvo inches of rain has fallen in January. Thousands of peoplo are being cared for and fed at thc expense of tho cities and tho charitable. Alabama, West Virginia and other States huvo suffered greatly from tho floods. Tho waters aro falling slowly. I Walla Walla Watchman.] wiNtiWonis of a Willing Witness At tho clooo of n mass meeting, according to tho report of tho sumo published in a La Orange paper, refcrenno was made to tho phenomenal efficacy of St. Jacobs Oil in tho many painful disenscs to which mankind is subject. Wo rofer to tho above ns showing how strong n hold tho Old German Remedy for rheumatism, has on thc experience nnd good wishes of tho groat public. Tho Directors of tho Stnto Penitentiary bavo passed a resolution granting to Col. Vcrdoicy, Prosidontof tho Greenwood, Lim rons and Spartanburg Railroad sovonty-flvo convicts for ono year nt $12.50 per month. Thoro aro about sevonty?fivo convicts yet lo bo disposed of, whom it is proposed to put to work on tho improvement of tho Colombia Canal Legislative Correspondence. CoLUMUiA, 8. C., January 28, 1882. Editors of Keowce Courier: I rench?ri tho city of Ihe capitol in duo timo on Mouriuy evening last and found my co-representatives, Messrs. Shonklin and' Yo mer, both in go?d liealth|ond at tho post of duty OB faithful sentinels of tho people. During tho few days of my obsouco tho House, lind taken up several important measures, which had been carried ovor until ofter tho recess, and was making progress, but had finished none of them. On Tuesday last tho consideration of tho bill reported by tho Commission on tho subject of registration and tho clcotion laws of tho Stato was resumed and several amendments proposing modifications of somo of tho loading features of tho bill were voted down and finally tho ooll of "thc previous question" was mario ami sustained upon tho whole molter, thc operation of which W09 to cut off all further amend ments and discussion of tho measure and tho bill pressed to a Vote, upon its passage to a third reading, W'iich resulted inn de-I feat thereof by a vote of 55 to GO, which brought the advocates of tho rneoBuro to their soti8Cs nod gave} time for reflection and deliberation. Of* Wednesday a mo tion was uiado to reconsider thc action of tho Iluuse whereby it refused to poss tho bill and order it to a third reading, which motion prevailed, and tho question bciog ogoin opened for consideration was re ferred to a special committee of teu, com posed ol' two fiom ench Congressional District in the State, ffvc of whom wcro to bc appointed from the friends ond five from the opponents of tho measure, ns it then stood, lo seo if they could not harmonize thc conflicting views of. thc members on this most vexed question. This sp?cial committee submitted their report on Satur doy morning which brought in several im portant amendments which were adopted and ihe bill finally passed and ordered to n third reading by a vole of 57 to 39, auri eo I presumo tho measuro will now certainly become a law, through much tribulation and not without serious opposition. The regis tration feature is objectionable in some of its details, but to tonio of us, nt least, the tiiu'li box system was much moro so, nnd in my judgment nola necessity, and should therefore have been eliminated; but now that it will, I presume, certainly become tho law, it behooves us all to accept it ns such and to UUliO upon it mid forgetful of our differences here, press forward to achieve political success under it. Whatever may have been our indi*' vidual views upon tho subject before, now that it will become thc law, those views should bc merged in the notion of tho majority for tho common safety ond weal of t??C State; for wo''cannot, nt tnis time, tilford to divide politically upon this or any other question, however teemingly vital to many of us. The bill reported by tho commission on the subject of com mot) carriers is an important mensure, which will soon become a law. This provides for only one Railroad Coil)missioner lo be elected hy the Legisla ture, but enlarges his powers und duties, empowering him to regulate freights mid farce and prevent discriminations and other abuses; in fuel it undertakes to regulate and control thc whole system of railroads in this State, and the amendment which was proposed and passed in thc present interest, as it is ti1 leged, of tho Hmo Ridge nnd other routes seeking to pcnctralo llie motiu tains to thc West, allows one railroad com pa ny to subscribe to the stock or guarantee tho bonds of another, which was inhibited under thc provisions of thc bill ns origin oily reported, becauso it was feared tho privilege would foster combinations nnd destroy competition. Under this amend ment it is suggested and expected that thc Kiel)mond nod Danville and South Caro linn Railroad Companies with other in terested capitalists of New York, will unite their strength and efforts tor the completion of thc Rluo Ridgo to Knox ville. The bill on ihe subject of tho assessment and collection of tuxes has been under con sideration during tho past week and some changes nnd new features oro introduced into thc syftcm. It provides first for the lease of delinquent lands nt a publie letting after duo advertisement for a period of not more than seven years to tho person who will take the least number of acres of tho land for tho shortest period of time mid pay tho taxes, penalties, cost*; &0.J mid then in oase of tho failure to lease for want of bidders nt tho pu bl io letting thc landa oro then rc advertised for two weeks mid sold os delinquent lands as here tofore, except that thc owners thereof aro allowed ono year instead of ninety days within which to redeem their lands. Tho i time allowed heretofore was rogntdcd ns too short and sometimes operated u hardship on persons of limited means. Hut tho most sweeping chango is in roferenco to thc rules of evidenco in regard to tho proof of tax titles under this bill, which provides ns follows: "Tho leoso of any land let nt a delinquent land lotting and tho conveyance of land sold at any de - linquent land salo shall bo prima facie evidence of tillo and shall create tho pro sumption that every prerequisite of thc law bas been fully complied with, thc bur den of proof being in every inslnnco upon the party impugning such lease or convey ance." This provision reverses tho law as it lins heretofore been understood and ad - ministered in thia State, mid different from what it is in most if not all ibu States in tho Union, nnd in my judgment is unfair and unwise- and I therefore opposed its pas- ' sago. A further amendment to allow County Treasurers of thc several counties of tho State tho sum of two hundred dollars annu ally iu addition to thoir prosont salaries fixed by law for derk hire. This J also opposod for tho reason that tho present salaries and perquisites of oflico aro ampio compensation nnd has not failed to .secure tho services of good aud efficient mon. This amendment after coneidernblo discussion was lost. An effort was inado to exempt Charleston oity and county from tho operations of tho act of 1880 to further regulato tho salo of intoxicating liquors in this Stato, which provokod a warm and protracted discussion, nod it was finally determined to allow no relaxation or modification of tho present general law upon this subject, which seems to bc giving general satisfaction throughout tho State, except in Charleston, where it is alleged Ibo law has not been properly en forced. Thc bill appropriating $15,000 lo repair and rc-open tho Slate Military Academy had passed tho House during my absence and bad been som over lo Ibo Se?alo and carno up for considera Hon on its second rending iu that body on Fri day Inst and passed and was ordered to a thin reading by tho casting voto of thc President or tho tie of 15 for and 15 against thc measure and so General Kennedy takes thc responsibility of deciding lo rc-open this institution, which in my judgment, is unwise nnd inopportune am imposing an nuncccosnry burden upon our peo ple at Ibis (imo. Thc bill passed on its thin reading in Ibo Senate on Saturday, and wil llicrcforo br-coino a law, unless Clov. Ilngooi should interpose with tho veto power, which In will hardly do, ns he is himself a graduate o thc Citadel of former days and is understood b favor the measure lo re-open it now. The bill introduced by Mr. Vcrner, to exomp th? mountainous portions of Oconeoeounly fron (he operations of the general stock law for th State, came up for consideration on Friday nigh and provoked a good deal of opposition, a establishing a precedent as lo whether oxeep lions were to bo allowed under this Act. / motion to strike out (bc enacting words of ih bill was carried by a very large majority, am thus settles tho question finally so far ns lb exemption of any part of Oconeo county is cou cerned, that lhere is lobe none. We have mad (he (Hort for ibo relief of our people in tb mountains nod failed and wc think Hie cul wisc course tc ft fm" Iben? is lo acquiesce in Iii law, gel ready for ?ls operation as early as tho can and give it n fair (rial, and if, ft fl cr export ment, they ?ind th- change so unsuited to tbei location and condition, and so injurious to tbei interest that they eatmol live <>r prospor undo it, then to seek relief of succeeding Legislature by modi Heat ion or repeal of the law. A motion to fix tho day of adjournment wn made thc special order for Thursday next Imme di.tt?-ly after I he morning hour. It ia the im pression thal we will get through and adjoin" some lime between thc 1st and 10th ol Februar proximo. We arc fast disposing of the mos difficult nml Important measures before us an no new bills uro to be introduced after to day except through (bc Committees, and I hope w will bc able to adjourn at an carly day. A Greenback newspaper (so calle I) is soon t be started in this city, which means perhaps ft effort to unite tit: disaffected elements in tb Stale and solidify Iben? into a nucleus for tb new party ol* which wc sometimos bear and bid for thu Republican vote of the Stale. Thor are and will be but two parlies in (bis Slate Deinocrats and Republicans-under whatovc name ibey may guise themselves. My heall ll bas improved since my return nu I feel almost well again. We have bad much rain herc also, but to da it is olear and cold. Vo us, truly, DKXDY. 'I ho Work of tho Legislature* In the Seilftlo Iba following bills were en rolled for ratification: A bill to regulate tl distribution of books by thc Clerks of tl Courts of Ibis Slate lu I li e county officers; joint resolution to direct Hie purchase of ?M copies of the law of Trial Justices, prepared 1 Junina ll. liva ns; also, bills lo prohibit thc sa of Spirituous or intoxicating liquors within tl (own of Seneca City, Oconeo County, thc low of Lancaster ill Lancaster county, and (bc tow of Yorkvillc in York county, except by dru( gisls. The bill to authorize the rc opening of (I South Uarolina Military Academy, after a loi discussion, resulted in a tie vote, the Preside of thc Senate casting his voto for thc bill ai (hereby passing it. A bill was introduced and reported favorab to create a now judicial circuit composed Ibo counties of Ornngcburg, llerkeley, Collete and Clarendon, to bo known as thc ninth circi and lo provide for thc election of a Judge a Solicitor therefor. In thc House a bill was introduced to pr bibil Ibo sale of spirituous liquors in thc lo^ of Johnston in F.dgclicld county; also, a pol itt from the citizens of Prosperity praying that t sale of liquors bo not prevented by law. A concurrent resolution was introduced adjourn on thc 1 Ot li of February, while sugg* lions wero mudo lo adjourn thc ?td of Febrnr and Hie ?Hst. instant. Thc resolution went cr and was made thc special order for next Thin day. Sonnie bills (o prescribe a general railn law, lo appoint a board of railroad comm missioners and to prescribo their powers i duties and Ibo bill lo create Ibo county llerkeley out of a portion ol' Charleston cou passed their third reading in thc House f were returned lo thc Senate. Thc bill to provide for (bc bettor cnforccin of thc poll tax was rejected. An effort was made to amend the Act prtn ing for the assessment and taxation of propc so ns to allow $200 for clerical scrvico for Treasurer in each county, nflcr discussion, tabled. Thc law was so amended ns to pr?vido leasing delinquent lands, instead of their s ns now provided by law. Tho House pnssed a bill to pr?vido for ptinisllmont- of persons disposing of a t under an agricultural lien without the kn Iodize and consent of Ibo owner; also, a bil prevent cattle from being driven into tlie To ships of Pulaski, Cimluga and Whilcwatci Oconeo County, between Hie I Cl ll of March tho 1st of October in any year for (lie pur of herding of grazing. Tho bill to exempt Ibo mountainous p?rtio Oconeo cornily from the operations of Ibo s law was defeated. In the discussion of bill thc legislative mind is shown lo bc j Blinken ns lo (bc benefits of tho sicote law and that Ibo luw munt stand. Tho election bill was passed, inoluding ?ts registration olnuso. Ou Saturday a number of bills of local inte rest passed Ibo lhird reading in tho Sonato, also tho Ciladol bill. A bill lo amend tho convict labor Aol so as to authorize tho Hoard of Directors of (ho Peni tentiary to compromiso forfeitures ou account of tho escapo of convicts was rcjoctod. A report was made lo tho oiTcot that tho cor ridors of tho State House codld bc heated with hot nh* furnaces placed lu Ibo basement at a cost of $5,000 to $0,000. Tho bill lo regulate and determine the right of dower was rejected. A bill was introduced for Ibo better protection of lifo and property from tho uso of petroleum. It prohibits after next Juiy Ibo salo of any illuminating oils havhig a fire test of less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Tho Committee on Agriculture reported un favorably on a bill to repeal tho general Block law. In discussing tho report, a point of order was raised that tho present bill could not bo entertained, because il was a rulo thal when a question has been submitted to a deliberative assembly and decided it cannot bo again brought in question. Tho only rulo lo meet a change of opinion in such cases is a motion to reconsider, which must bo made in a limited timo and by a person voting willi tho majority. In seeking lo repeal an Act passed this session, asking tho Senate to reconsider its action without conform - ing lo the rules, tho precedent would bo dan gerous nul would lend to interminable legisla tion, ns an Act could pass ouc week and a bill lo repeal it bc introduced thc next. Oilier Senators denied tho analogy and contended thal tho stock law being now a law of tho State, could bo repealed ns well as any other Aol, and that Ibero was no antilogy between thc bill tc repeal and a motion lo reconsider. The Presi dent of (lie .Senate reserved his decision and thc bill and report wont over till Monday. In Hie House a bill was introduced to provide for thc distribution and sale of thc Genera' Statutes; also, a bill lo create a ninth circuit, being tho Senate bill. The vote rejecting thc bill for thc better cn for?aient of Hie poll tux was reconsidered ami the bill placed on thc calendar. Tho bill as lo thc boundary lino bclweci: North and South Carolina was rejected. A favorable report was made ou a bill tc facilitate Hie settlement of intestates estates. A concurrent resolution lo suspend all dc liuqucul land stiles ami instructing Counlj Treasurers lo receive taxos with penalties 01 same until the 1st of March was passed. Thc assessment Act wns so amended ns tc allow lands sold at delinquent laud sales to bl ! redeemed within ono year instead of ninetj days as now fixed by law. After sonic ol bel amendments Hie bill passed to a third reading. Railroad Contracts. Thc Directors of the Atlantic and Kreuel Broad ltailroa I have entered into a contrae with Messrs. Child & Oliver, of New York, lt complclo their road, running from Tricket!), ii Abbeville County, by way of Abbeville Cour House, Due West, Hell on, Williumslon, Caslej Station, Bickens Court House, to Asheville, N C. Work is lo commence in September nex and thc road is to bc completed in three years The Directors of thc Edgeficld and Aiken Rail road have also entered into a contract with (lr same gentlemen lo complete their road in (lr sumo length of lime. Tliis road connects will (lie Atlantic and French Broad Hoad at Trickett! Thc Kdgcduld, Trenton and AiVcn Hoad and th French llro-.d Valley Hoad, after consolidation aro to bc consolidated with a road in North Ca rolinn lo connect with thc Morristown uni Cumberland Cap Hoad nt Morristown, Tenn Tho completed road is lo constitute an indo pendent linc connecting Cincinnati willi Louis ville and Nashville ami willi (Ito seacoast 0 South Carolina. Tho line of road in Nortl Carolina is to run down (bc West fork of Bi Pigeon Uiver to Morristown, Tenn. Thia is a most important enterprise and w arc glad to learn that lhere is so (inc a prosper, ol ils early completion. A Mysterious Conference. COI.UMIIIA, January 20.-A political con fcrencc was hold in one of tho Senate Com millee rooms last night between a number < white men and Miller, thc colored Republi can Senator from Beaufort. Thirteen whit mon, all of whom uro said to have boo Democrats, were present. They hailed frot seven counties und wero all front thc ur country, excepting ono, who was froi Charleston. Ci con ville and Anderson Cont tics wero represented, but tho nnmo of tl partios prcsont aro refueod by Miller, wi says that tho objoet of tho meeting was ascertain tho moaning of his rccont speech c tho registration bill, and to adopt some ph for futuro political notion independently 1 tho Democratic organization, Tho stric est sccresy is preserved ns to tho rt suits of tho deliberations. Miller, who vice-President of tho Republican Kxccuti Committee, denies that thcro has been ai conference of Republican leaders, or th any appointment of a conferonco in Fcbrun has boen made. COI.UMIIIA, January 22.-Thc dispatch the NctOS awl Courier concerning tho my tenons emile) euee ot thirteen whito Dcm orals willi (ho colored Republican Senat from Beaufort on Thursday night lins cr ated Considerable speculation in political ci cleo. Ic is not certainly known who t While men wero, but from various circu stances which have como to light it has be pretty well determined that J. llondt McLano, tho Greenback prophet from Fon lorvillo, W. W. Russell, n prominent Orang from Pendleton, Anderson County, and 0 Judgo Thompson II. Cooke, of Oreo vii lo, were in tho conferonco. courso I do not stttto positively that (hoy wc present, but circumstantial cvidenco Btronj supports tho conviction that they took an 1 live part in tho mongrel conspiracy which intended lo disrupt tho present Dcmoern organization mid secure control of tho St government. On tho night of tho conforcnao McLi wns with Miller, and soveral days ago C IJ. J. Patterson, the Senator from Kersh County, was approached by Bussell willi quest (hat ho would uso his inlluonco to h tho grange adopt tho new paper wh Mci,ano is about to establish nt this placo its ofiicinl organ . Thc proposition was t tho paper would duvoto ono column to advocacy of Orango principios if tho Grui would recognize und support it. lt is har necessary to say that Gol, Patterson most emphatically declined to liava anything to do with tho pnpor. Rustioll was p rose ii ? ot my^ recent intcrviow with MoLnno, ho has beor/ closely associating with tho Greenback apoa tlo for se ve nil weeks, ho mudo tho proposition to Col. Patterson above related" and ho was* in Columbia on lust Thursday. But little importance would attach to all this, ho wovor,' il it wcro not truo that other ngonoios aro at work and other schemes on foot to bring about n coalition between tho disaffected Dem?crata throughout tho Stato and tho reg ular Republican organization. Last night 1 mot tho Rev. Bruco Williams, tho colored Republican Senator from George town County, on tho street and applied my interviewing pump with indifferent success. ' Hu would not say what prcoiso lino of notion would bo adopted in tho coming campaign; but deolared that tho prosont Democratic ~. party oould not hold together; that it wus al?- * ready going to piooes, and that it would cer tainly moot with vigorous and determined opposition throughout tho Stato in tho ap proaching struggle. Ho said, moreover, that tho pUn ho had adoptod in Georgetown County two yoors ago would bo tho plan adopted for tho Stato at largo. It amounts, in a fow word-*, to a fair and equal distribu* ' (ion cf tho offices without regard to raco or party affiliations. Under this ariangemont' in Georgetown County tho Senator nod ono Representativo in tho Logislnturo, tho Judgo of Probato, tho School Commissioner and ono County Commissioner wcro oleoted from tho Republican party, and ono Rjprodontativo, tho sheriff, tho dork of court, tho coroner and two County Commissioners woro tnkon from tho Democratic party. A similar dis? tribution of tho officos in tho remaining Counties of the government will bo adopted hy the new party as ono of tho strongost planks in its platform, upon which, according to thc Georgetown Senator, many of tho' most influential Democrats of tho Stato will . tako their stand. When I asked my victim what would bo thc controlling issues of tho campaign ho do* dined to say, upon tho ground that it was "too carly to go into partioulnrs." Ho de clared, howover, that tho prosont Legislituro' had succeeded in making u great many issues, and was confident that they would ho used to good account in tho campaign. This view is not held by him alone, for, ns n Democrat of tho straightest sect told mo yesterday, "?fe seems as if tho Logislaturo is bout on kick ing up a row." It is intimated that the pub1? lio will not be in suspense for n great while, and that thc plans and purposes of tho now party people will shortly bc given full circu* laliou. *s A Groat Fire in Atlanta. ATLANTA, G.v., January 21.- A firo broko out about 1 o'clock thin morning in tho fivo story candy und cracker factory of F. li. Mock. Owing to r. lack of water tho flames gained rapid headway and soon spread to all tho adjoining buildings. Seven buildings wero destroyed. Tho losses on stocks and buildings will aggregato a half million doh. lars. Tho principal losses aro. as follows: Joseph E, Drown, building $38,000, insuranoo $20,000, Harry Jackson, building $20,000, insurance $10,000, tho Wilson House, owned by Ben j. Wilson, $23.000, insurance $12,000, W, W. Simpson, building, insurance nob known, Mrs. M. E. Kirnncy, building, $10, 000, insuranoo not known, F. E Block, candy and crackers, loss on stock $75,000, insu rance $00.000, Howard, Wood & Co., tobacco, stock $20,000, covered by insurance, Woll houso &. Son. paper bags, $200,000, insuranoo $110,000, John Stovons & Co., groceries, stock $20,000, insuranoo not known, L. Cobon Ss Co., liquors, stock $25,000, insurnnco not; known, John R. Merchant, groceries, stock $10,000, insuranoo not known, Benjamin Brothers, grocers, stock and insurance not known, Campbell & Johnson, liquors, stock $1,000, insuranoo $2,000, W. O. Ncff & Co., soaps, stock $3,000, no insuranco. A. Haas & Co., provision brokers, loss slight. Brad streets Commercial Agency occupied tho Brown building and Ii, G. Dun & Co. oc cupied the Jackson building. Both woro destroyed. Thcro wcro many other smaller losses. The firo was not subdued for ihrco hours, during which timo it had full swoop at all tho buildings in thc locality vs here it originated. Early in thc morning aftor tho firo a rumor wns circulated tint a man by tho namo oP John P. Wickham, of Virginia, had boen burned in tho Wilson llouso. Ho had' reached Atlanta on Friday morning with a car load of mulos, which ho intondsd to uso on tho Georgia Pacifio Railrond. Inquirios at the stable and in tho oily of his whoro itboutri worn fruitless, and in tho bolief that he had been buniol up, tho ruins woro ex amined and sonic of his romains wero found in thc debris. Ho occupied room 2G and' anolhor person was in tho same room who roused him up, but not having boon in bod for fivo or six days it is thought ho dropped tO' sleep again and wa? consumed. Tho loss by tho firo is estimated at about fivo hundred' thousand dollars with insurnnco to tho amount of two hundred and sixty ono thou? simd seven hundred dollars. A largo por tion of tho insurance companies sustaining losses uro English companies. New Advertisements. IMPORTANT NOTICE. MESSRS. VERN BR & ST RI OLINO, Westminster, S. C.,', MKSSKS. VERNElt k KR VIN, Seneca City and Walhalla, S. C., And Mr.ssits. JAMES HUNTER & SONS, Pendleton and Central, S. C., HAVE been appointed and have accepted tho' Agency for tho sale of our Engines and' Machinery, and persons wishing topurohnso tho best Engines for tho least money will savo money by calling on them for particulars. COMMON SENSE ENGINE COMPANY, Pr.u WM. LAY. January 20, 1882 10-It* PUBLIC SALE. .X7V. rKLX-JXrCSV WILL offer for sale at Mountain Rost Farm on FRIDAY, tho Kith day of February next, his Household Fiirniluro, Farming Imple-' ments, Wagon.*, Stock, &o. Terms cash. January 20, 1882 10-21'