Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Mhrdorbf Jalnes 8. Ledford. Thursday morning news came to this place that Mr. James 8. Irtdford, until recently a resident of this place, had been foully murdered by a band of desperadoes on Tuesday afternoon, ni l.andfum Station, in 8011th Carolina, three miles beldwlhe Hlock House, on the Spartanburg k Ashcville Railroad. An excursion party left Spartanburg on the day mentioned and run up To baud rum, where there was a sale of town lots. Among the excursionists was Ledford, who informed his friends hero by letter that lie was going there to buy a lot. Messrs. C. W. , Duncan and Col. Jones, two youug men of this place who were temporarily stopping in Sptirlanbugt, accompanied Ledford. Shortly after the arrival ^of the train at its destination, Ledford approached his friends and said : 'Roys, yonder is Weaver, a man 1 arrested about three weeks ago for violation of the Revenue laws, lie sent nie word that if he ever saw me, he would kill me." Soon after this conversation Weaver stepped up iii front of Ledford nnd said : "I suppose you arc the Revenue man that shot nt inc ?" ? Ledford replied, "I'm the boy that doue it." 'Well," Baid Weaver, "do you want to try it over? If you do I'm ready for you. Mad you any authority?" Ledford replied, "yes; nnd if I had tho same authority I would do just what I did ; but I have no authority now and want no difficulty." Weaver then walked otl but in a short tiiue returned, and said : "I believe you ate the damned Revenue that shot at me? nnd any time you get ready, I'm ready for you. If you arc ready, just step your distance, ami I'll try you." Ledford repeated that he wanted no trouble and again left him. This occurred shortly aftei the arrival of the train ? about 11 o'clock a. m, Throughout the day and up to tho time of tlx ??* * - htnrtfvnit, I*?v MKurvftrtwd uf TTTllfri ntnt txj Ledford off, on the pretense of wishing to take frintwllv ilrinb iwilli liim Lut I L.I I...:... VMXIJ ? % UIIII llllll , UUV liVUIWI M , UCI IT Vlll^j their object to be his assassination, declined tc K<>Thus matters stood till 1 o'clock in the after noon, the hour for the departure of the train All the passengers were aboard, and anionp thcin Led ford, who was sitting on an improvised seat ou a flat car. Wcat er and his gang collec ted around the car, and after cursing Led ford and defying *iim to conic down, Weaver said : 'You damned cowardly dog. Hoys, pull him down." At this bidding a desperado named Casey seized Ledford by the arm, and jerked him down. Then ensued a struggle between tht two, in which Ledford threw Casey. WliiU leaning over him, he was bcatcu over the head with sticks ami pistols, and finally pulled of Ids antagonist. Before he could regain his feet he was fired upon by both Weaver and Casey.? tine of the balls entered behind his left shoul tier blade and lodged in his lung; the other car ried oft the second finger of his right hand.? While in this condition the fathor of Casey?? man 70 or 7fi years of age ? ran up and stabbed him three times in the back. Ledford ex claimed: "Oh Lord! I'm dead." The mur dercrs then desisted, and commenced to tlcc .Sheriff Thompson ordered those present to ar rest them, and two or three followed Weaver * but were intercepted, and warned that if tliej continued the pursuit, tliay would dft it nt then peril. Led ford was carried to ft box-cur where every thing was done to relieve his sufferings. He survived only about three-quarters of nn hour, but was conscious of his condition during tlint tiuic. He conversed with those around him.? Among his last cxpiessions were: "1 always thought I was to die this way. 1 knew I would be killed." Ho requested Mr. Carpenter, n nicrchaut of Spartanburg, tj secure his pocketbook and watch and send them to his father: and to send for his hro'.hor Andrew, who was then at Cross-Anchor, in South Carolina, about '2't miles from Landrum. The body of the un fortunate man was taken to Spartauburgand plac edina inetaliccotlin. Wednesday about 11 o'clock Andrew Led ford, Charles Duncan and Calvin Joans left that town with the remains, arriving here about daylight on Friday, and he was buried the same day in the grave-yard at JnrreU'j melting-house, shout three miles from here, and net far from the residence of his father, lib mother is interred iu the same place. The deceased was deputy sheriff of this coun ty under J. M. Young, and marshal of the town in the year 1875. Iu these capacities he led * stormy life, as it brought him in contact witli some of the worst elements of our society. Ir the discharge of his duties lie always exhibited a remarkable decree of intreuiditT ami firmnnaa lie itu about 26 years old.?Aahtvillc I'ionetr. War Gossip tiir watch on tiie daxl'll*. London, June 12.?A dispatch from Erzeroun reports that the Turks havo assumed the oll'en sire. Mouktar l'uslia detached a Hying coluu.ii to attuck lire Russians ut Olti. The Russians fearing an attack, have retired to Pcnyah.? Mouktnr Pasha holds possession of the road.' from Olti to Dclibaha, a town forty-eight miles southeast of Krzcroum. The Grand Duke Michael, commanding the Russian army, accompanied by a portion of his tnfT, is personally reconnoitering the environs of Kars, which still holds out against the Russians, notwithstanding the severe freezing weather. The town is closely invested and an attempt will probably be made to take the place by storm. Heavy firing was reported yesterday in the neighborhood of (.ivana. London, June 13.?A special despatch fron Vienna says the Turkish detachment which has entered the Russian district of Aehal/.ieh is threatening Russian communication with Arda han. Note. Should the Turkish cominnnil succeed, the task of victualling the Russian armies will he very difficult. iVeu Free Prett. of Vienna, has a special dc spatch from Erzeroum, which says that on th< approach of the three tlying columns sent b^ Muhktar Pasha against the Russian right wing, the Russians not only evacuated Olti, but Penuek, at the foot of the pass over Kanly Range, leading to Ardahan. Roth Olti and I'ennek were reoccupied by the Turks, who also went in pursuit of the Russians. The Vienna correspondent of the Tunes, snsakini* (if itic -- ? - - * *? - . J n v. ...? WII ill UIV>I I vpui IS U1 Iii*! Fabian tactics on the part of flic Russians in Asia, says if the Russians really retired beyond Ptnnck without resistance, this would seetn to ahow there was only a small force there, and that the bulk of the Russian column is still on the Ardahan side ot the Kanly range. l'os?iafter all, the Russians, before advancing on Erzeroum, will make an effort to bombard and reduce Kars, bo as to leave their rear quite free Another Usf.or Cotton*Sr.r.n. ? A Florida pa per mentions a now use to which cotton seed hat recently been put, that is of no little importance It is in the shape of a uon-hcatconductingcovet for steam boilers, and is described thus: "It is the cortical part of the seed with the lit11? fuzz attached that is used. A layer of these cot ton seed hulls is put around the boiler with the aid of slats, and limn the whole is covered with a layer of plastering. Willi twenty five pound.-* of steam on, the surface of thecusing wan barely warm ; and we are a-Mircd that both in the engine ami fire rooms the temj crntitre had been greatly rndueed. so ii? to be much lev,s oppressive since the casing w-i? put on I hi- -:-n,-? to he something entirely new -hi I though in tin present instance it is highly b it is factory, the party who tried it thinks he can suggest some improvement a* to render the n >u conducting of "it-at 'ill m jre i cifeci ~ ?; ?i. ?lic WdccMg Pinion Slimes. tt. M. STOKES, Editor. UNION. FRIDAY JUNE Mm J TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. 1 ropy, one year, in advasck, M.00 2 Copies one year, " " 0.50 5 " " 11.00 10 " " " " " 20.00 ADVERTISING. One square or one Inch, first Insertion, - - - ft.00 Knelt subsequent insertion, ------- 73 l.ilMTnl discount made t<> merchants and others advertising for six months or by the year. Obituary Notices of ten lines or less, inserted free. over ten lines, charged as Advertise A head of wheat was plucked from a field belonging to Col. Davidson, on Thickely Creek, which contained 109 grains. It had six grains to the mesh. ? . . - - ? The rainy spell wound up with a heavy I thunder storm lust Monday. We are informed that it did much damage to the bottom lands on Fair Forest, und blew down the wheat in many place* in tlint region. .?. BtaT The good reports of the wheat crop eon- I tinue to come from all quarters of this and adjoining Counties. If the present clear weather continues a few days the largest crop of wheat ever grewn in the upper County of South Car1 Una will bo safely harvested. The kind words of the Charleston Xeirs i ami Courier, in behalf of the Union Times, is higly appreciated. Coining as they did from a paper acknowledged to be one of the best conJ..... J M (lie flotlttr, f fir or lilt) ! compliment is greatly enhanced. , .?? J "My Motiieh's Daughter."?"My Mother's Daughter," an intensely interesting story from the pen of Mrs. Ophelia Keid, of Entonton, Ga., 't will lie commenced in the Savannah Weekly .Yews I of June 20th, 1877. The price of tlie Weekly Xeus is only SI.00 for six months, or S- 00 per ' year, postage paid 2t i BUT Dur sweet little friend, Miss Tullula J Gregory, is entitled to our thanks for a bucket of ( delicious plumbs. They were greatly enjoyed , by "\vc, us and family," and we feel thankful I that wo arc not forgotten by the "yauny folks ^ at home.' We wish all our friends were as ' anxious to "plutu(b) the mark" with the Editor, as Tallula is. .est some of our citizens should oTcr- | L look or fororel llml llm ? r ' - -- O ? "?K'V?"| "?u?t IU |'?y I the full tux is now a penal offence, we reiiiiml tliein tlmt a tax of ?1 is levied npon all mule citizens?with the usual exceptions?bc. tween the age of 21 and t?0, and a fine of $ "> or , imprisonment for 150 days is the penalty for not paying it. SisEf We regret to state that Mr. Hiilip Dunn met with a serious accident some days ago which cainc very near being fatal. Mc was walking in the road, leading a mule, with the reins hanging on his arm, when the animal suddenly bej cainc frightened, knocked iiitn down and IramL ped on his breast nnd side. For some days Mr. Dunn lay in a very critical condition, but we ; are pleased to say he is now fast recovering.? 1 It would have killed a man of ordinary physical strength. Hi'j)'" We arc compelled to omit two cummuiii| cations from much ret peeled friends. Wc arc r not iii the habit of publishing praises and commendatious of our own efforts ami tho paper J over which we have control. This may be a ! fault in us. but we cannot overcome our repugnance to such apparent self-laudation. One of our correspodent.s has a perfect right to be heard ' through our columns, because, six yenrs ago he .......... j"i (c/i r/niiK tiioicrijtiivH lo (lie \ Times. Hoth communications shall appear next I week. fcif" The papers throughout the State report generous and welcome rains during the first three days of last tVcok. The crops have genei ally recovered from the drought and begin to look promising ; but all reports state that the ' crops arc from three weeks lo a mouth later than [ last year. An early Fall would, consequently, i materially shorten the Cotton crop. From nl' most every county we learn that tho wheat crop is very tine. In this County it never was better, \ but there is danger that the eight days rain hns t done it some damage. fl*aY" We have been requested to publish jra(i.<, long communications front Slate oflicials to County officers, upon matters of importance to the people, which wc have declined to do, , upon the business ground that wc find the same i communications appear in tho daily papers of ' Columbia and Charleston as regular advertise meats. We can no better afford to do such work , for nothing than our city ootemporaries. And further, if those State officials wish their communications to reach the people living off the lines of railroads they will, undoubtedly, request the Conn'ry papers to publish them. for Whenever an Kditor reports auy produc- I tion or occurrence beyond I lie usual standard, . he is at once accused of lying. Such was the accusation by inauy of our readers against us when they read our report of I>r Fowler's wheat with sfvnt grains in a mesh ; but what will those doubting Thomases say when we tell them that a ' very reliable gentleman informed us last Monday that a head of wheat had been found in a field belonging to Mr. J. C. Spears, on Thickety, with I )iinr t/raiiw to the mtth ? I Upon hearing the latter, we confess that we felt somewhat like the man who heard a fellow tell two marvelous stories about his dog. The i last story was so very doubtful that he exclnira* cd, "d?d if I don't doubt the other now." . . JfctV' Heretofore we have been publishing all calls for public meetings ami other announcements for the public benefit, without receiving s any pay. Our advertising columns are. Ions,, as the bolts of I>ry floods are to Iho merchants, i ?for sale by (be inch. N'o people would ask a Merchant to give one or two dollars' worth of } eloih at. cvrv public meeting, and wc don't see i j ll.u justice in inv us I uiate that uuioiint j of roil'good'' ni*r\ lime a Hioii of the public \ | iii.iy sec tit to call nil us j 11 ri i a tier wc shall ( li.iioc .on n ..m la r jo ice fur all iidvrilisenieiil". ulu-tlno for private or public benefit or convenience. I'liose ordering i the adxciii loiirtiis must pav for tliem before hoe will a pi cat * " - ?* L . - **? 1 The Court. The Juno Tern of Court was opened las( Monday, Judge Nortliop presiding. By the Into law the June or spring terms ol the Courts throughout the State are set apart foi th%cousi deration and trial of cases on the Gen' era! Sessions docket, consequently no other bus iniess has been transacted, and as tho Judge and Sfllctor will commence court at Spartanburg nfxt Monday, the court here cannot be prolonged after tomorrow. j THe Judge delivered his charge to the Grand Jur^.Vhioh #a? replete with Sound legal instruo tion,' % Solicitor Ball was promptly ut his post and cuvigcuu iu ine ui^nurgu ui ins wnuic uui/ .? His high-tone and courteous deportment to all in the court room, his unflinchingdcterminatior to "let no guilty iiiuu escape," his evident pur pose to deal justly with all and allow neithci fear nor favor to swerve him from the strict lini of his duty, his fine natural and acquired abil ilios, have mndo for him many warm friends it this county. The crime of cattle and hog stealing is s< alarmingly on the increase in this county thai four-fifths of the cases on the sessions docket at this time, arc for those crimes, and the So licitor is determined to do all in bis power t< stop it. Tho following bills wcro sent to tlio Gram Jury and acted upon by that body : ^atc vv Am\y and lluftis Jeter Grand bar cvii}. True Bill. Tried and found "not guil ty." State vs. W. It. llriggs. Unlawful entry 01 lauds after notice. True bill. Continued. State vs. Thos. Islcy, alias Thos. Ivey.? Grand Larceny. I rue lull. Guilty. State vs. Jack Rice, alius Jack Jeter. Grant l<arccny. Tric<l, and resulted in mistrial. State ys. Den Gore, Grand Larceny. Triet and found guity. State vs Perry Gist, Dick Davis, Frank Wright Alison Wright and Garland Hughes. Gran< Larceny. True Bill. State vs. Chanter Gist. Assault with iuten to murder. True bill. State ys. Fred Gist. Burglary. True bill. State vs. Jack Jones and Ben Gore. Gram Larceny. True bill. State ys. Titos. McGraw. Assault with dead ly. weapon. True hill Continued. Stato vs. Jes. Thomas, alias Joe Jeter. N< bill. Stato vs. Frank Webster and Noah Webster Assault with deadly weapon. Truo bill, contin ucd. Stale vs. Win. Palmer, Isaac Rogers, Reubci Cheek. Grand Larceny. True bill as to W Palmer and J. Rogers. The power and effect of the straightoui policy is now exhibited in every election in tin Stuff* Tn ( Minvtpr OrAnrrnltnm nnrl DSnlil.rn.l ... . ....v. tbrcn of the strongest Republican Counties elections have been held sinco the Hampton gov eminent was firmly established, and in each o those counties stiuightout democratic candidate! have been run, nnd elected by handsome majori ties, bast Tuesday an election for 1'robaU Judge was held in Kichlaud County, and Mr Andrew Crawford, a pronounced democrat was elected over tlio Radical candidate, <1. 1. lloonc It was a sipiaro fight nnd right, and justice won And arc believe that even Charleston will, at t!i< special electiou next Tuesday, electa full democratic delegation to the Legislature. This i< just what we repeatedly stated would he the result of straightoutism. The upper counties could and would elect a democratic Legislature and State officers, and then secure to Charleston frci elections and a fair count, hy which, with proper and energetic efforts, the best men in that county could always be elected. Were we right or wrong? Let the people of Charleston answer us next Tuesday. ?. ? - ? . I-'or the Times. a taicKon uispuie. Fittr.sn Srot<i'.s.?In your issue of the 2"?tli ult., you niaku the following statement: "Out champion hen is whipped. A hen in this town last week brought forth eleven chickens fron ten eggs. That lays in the shade the theory thai an egg with a double yolk won't hitch." Now, has it ever occur re I to you that a licit docs sometimes lay an additional egg after slu has gone to sitting ? May not this account foi the additional chicken? As you seem to be learned in the chicken business, I wish to propound the following question? : 1. Suppose you should place ten duck eggs under a sitting hen and she should hatch eleven ducks, which would be the lone Mother of the ten ducks?the lieu that hatched them or the duck that laid the eggs? Also, which would be the mother of the eleven ducks? An answer will oblige many readers of the Times, and an ANXIOUS KXtJl'l Ill-ill. Probably the hen did lay an additional egg after she had gone to sitting. As we did not own the eleven-out-of-icn hen, wo cannot gain say your theory. As to the lone maternity of the ten or eleven ducks we will answer you somewhat, catechctically by steam ! In the reproduction of the animal kingdom without a single exception, the male and female is necessary. Now, steam or heal are of no gender. and yet both are successfully employed to hatch eggs. Von can't, therefore, claim that steam or heat is the mother of the hatched ducks so you must cither say the ducks hatched by that process hadno mother or come to tire conclusion that the duck that laid the eggs was the ','lonc mother of them. Again. Anxious l'iH|tiircr. you know as well as we do that in all crosses?tukc the mule as an example?the progeny exhibit points indi? :?lint both parent?, but did you ever see a duck li?te!!< 1 by '< Hi u .-du.w points to indicate thai if wo* i-rons I.. f vccii a < !n k< n and :? dm ' It w.ii can iiilii.lilcn n upon those point*', we are open In conviction. ? yi- . I i* ! ! S"d . w tie? at Ml- Sli'. I Public Meeting M ARROW-UAUOK ROAU TO Oil K.STKR. r At a meeting of the most influential citizens r of this town, held in the Court House on thr 16th inst., Dr. B. F. Bawls was called to the chair, and A. It./Stokes requested to act as Secretary. I Mr. It. IV. V-and stated to the meeting that \ he, with other friends, had lately eisitcd Chester and while there beenmo much impressed with the efficiency and cheapness of construction of I tho the Narrow-Gauge railroad now in operation - - te that town, and concluded by stating that such a railroad could and ought to be built firom Union I to Chester. Hon. T. B. Jeter addressed tho meeting in I earnest ndvocacy of the road, and gave much i valuable and encouraging information upou the topography of the couutry through which it r would pass. > Mr. Munro also earnestly advocated the buildiug of the road and showed the immense advani tages which must accrue to the County from it. Every one appeared deeply in earnest upon > the scheme. I Mr. Shand offered the following : , Resolved, That a Committee of ten be appointed . by tho chair to enquire into the practicability of organizing the Chester and Union Railroad at } an early day, and that they confer with tho citizens of Chester for that purpose. 1 The resolution was passed without a dissenting voice, and the chair appointed the following gen tlemon as the Committee : It. W. Shand, lion. T. B. Jeter, W. Munro, It. M. iStokcs, ll. L. (Joss, A. II. Foster, W. A. i Nicholson, F, M. Farr, J. E. Colton and J. M. Gibbs. It. M. Stokos offered the following, which was adopted : 1 Res?lvt<i. Thai said roniinil tee also confer v.tli the citizens of GatFncy City in reference to Uuildj ing a railroad from Union to that point. Mr. II. L. Goss offered the following, which which was unanimously adopted : j Retolrtd, That it is the senso of this meeting that the Town Council of Union will subscribe 523,000 towards the building of such a road. ' On motion of Mr W. A. Nicholson the proceeding* of ihis meeting was ordered to he published iu the I'mon Timt* and that the Chester 1 Reporter be requested to copy. On motion, the meeting adjourned, subject to the call of the Chairman. AM" ttv-Chairman. > A. R. Storks, Sec'y. For the Time*. The Johnson Rifles. This Company assembled on the Academy Green last Friday aftcrnoou, and engaged in the preparatory drill, from Upton's Manual. So ardent was the Military c'sprit that the squads readily mastered the preliminary steps of the | Soldier, which was an earnest of the accuracy and efficiency they strove to attain. Union has material to form a Company of which the County and State may be proud, and it should he the effort of every one to give to this organization j. their hearty support, to place it in the position held by the old Johnson llitlcs. There is magic in the name of "Johnson Ri?!.... > ( V 1 1 . iivn. ciiumrru u? our people i>T oiii associations ami socrcd memories. A touchstone, at which our hearts throb with pride, kindling tlie same feelings that tlie mention of I he "old Guard" calls up in the breast cf the French Veteran. Where arc those whose heroic deads kept green the laurals of South t'arolina's Battalions? Terrible in war, arc they laggards in peace ? Will they ijot again enroll their names and lend to the young guard that counsel and advice which their hard earned experience so well enables them ? To those whom the cloud of war did not envelope, restrained by swathing bands from responding to their country's call, a club of this kind has many attractions, and not the least of them is Target shooting for Prizes. The natural desire to excel should urge them to come forward and take an active part, i The beat of the drum inspires to deed* of prowess, and he whoso ardour it fails to stir is i recreant to chivalry, and deserves neither the k fellowship of brave men nor the smiles of fair t women. The papers arc filled with accounts of the rei vival of old volunteer Companies in almost every i part of the State, and each day adds numbers to their ranks. I.et it, then, not he said of us that we manifest no interest in perpetuating the time honored . institutions of our fathers. YOUNG GUARD. l-'or tlic Time.*. Ski li. Siioai.sS. f'., June 18th 1877. Mr. Kditoii : Allow mc through your column*, for the benefit of oil whom it may concern, to stole that certain individuals, it is 1 thought, will (if they have not already done so) invoke the aid of IhcCounty to open a new road in tlio direction of Flat Kock Church, crossing l'ackolel Biver about four or four and a half ' miles below tlrindal Shoals, and to build abridge at that point, which would be highly prejudicial to the citizens about Skull Shoals, which is really the proper place for a public bridge, as it would accommodate all that section of Country in the fork of Pacolet and Broad llivcrs. While 1 have no desire, even if it were in my power, to abridge the rights of the citizens, I at the same time believe that a bridge at Skull Shoals is a necessity and would be of immense importance to our County scat ; and think the matter should receive tho careful and impartial i consideration of our County < oininissioiiera. This community has heretofore presented several petitions, with liberal private subscriptions from the citizens, but failure rewarded our efforts. ! Owing to the hard times, we havo not as yet petitioned the present Board, but we have an abiding confidence in their intelligence and sense of justice, believing that nothing can cn>isr them to move indiscreetly or in a wrong direction, for the special benefit of any private person or pi rly, that would not be conducive to the Bel interc-ds of the county. It is to be hopc l thai ihf '1?,- ..f Ibidii ol Jobbery an I wire pulling is forever and I hut those in powei and authority will for the Inline consult the best interests of the people, ns a whole, before acting upon anv important puhtii ui ilti r \ \ \ Bit \ I t Letter from Charlotte. 1.earing Union ou Thursday morning we readied Yorkville (lie sauie evening about sundown, quartering for (lie night at (lie King's Mountain llotel, under the management of Mr. Rawlinson, who "knows how to keep a Hotel." The fare is excellent and the rooms scrupulously clean and neat. It was our first visit to York inco the war, aud wo were si rprised to find sucli little improvement in the place. On tlio York aide of llroad Kiver we found the crops rather in advance of those in Union, especially so as we neared Yorkville?both corn and cotton looking healthy and fine, and wheal excellent. At eight o'clock next morning we t6ok a run down to Chester, on the Chester & Lenoir narrow gauge Kuilrorul. It was tlio first Narrow gnu go rou<l we hnd ever seen and was quite a curiosity. The passenger Coach is neat and comfortable, with the ndvnntnge of singlo and double seats, as one may prefer. The road bed is in good order and the ride delightfully easy and comfortable?free from jolts and jumps. The Lnginc is quite a curiosity, being so very dlminutive,|hnvii.g more the appearance of a little toy than a llailroud locomotive. It is much smaller than the little "Tom Thumb" of the S. & U. lload, famous for its track-jumping, which many of your readers no doubt remember. How much greater would have been the advantage to the Merchants and Farmers of Union, had the ono hundred and fifty thousand dollnis voted to the Spartanburg and Ashcvillc road been appropriated to building, with the aid of ChosYef,~a Narrow-Cauge road to tho latter (own, where we would have been placed in open communication with the outside world and in competition of freights via. Norfolk, Wilmington and CharlesIon. lu (jii?d(cr we touml more or the life, stir au<l bustle of a City, and apparently mere business doing than in Union and York combined. Leaving Chester at half paet two o'clock P. M., we _ reached Charlotte, the "future London of the j South," at six o'clock, under the care of our polite friend CapL Briggs Green, of Columbia, who is now Couductor ou the C. C. & A. ltuilroad. Let me here mention that we passed through a portion of Mecklonburg County, N. C., where the stock law is in force, and as the train stopped at the different stations I took particular pains to inquire of White and Black as to how they liked the change, and I have yet to meet the first one who is not morn tli.vn well *' pleased. I was particularly desirous of fiuding some of those who objected to the law and voted against it. that I might get their views now that it is in force. I found such cf both color?, who are now among its strongest adherents. One colored man said he had bitterly opposed it, voted against the stock law and against the Democrats and found that he was wrong every time, and henceforth lie would act with the true whites as they were his best friends and advisers. The people in that portion of York County north of the t'atawl a lliver, joining Mecklenburg?I believo the section is known as Catawba Township?all fence their stock, by unanimous consent. Charlotte, like all other places, feels the stringency of the times, ami is now almost at a stand still. Trade is dull compared to thw rush and bustle of two year* ago yet the cil'y has not entirely ccascd to grow, as come mag niticcut residences recant iy completed testify.? For its size Charlotte can boast of as much wealth, culture ami enterprise an any similar city in America, and is even in advance of some cities more pretentions. Willi her six Railroads, magnificent Hotel accommodation*, the energy of the Merchants, coupled with the probability of the early reopening of ;he II. S. Mint for coinage?now only an assay office?will soonplace Charlotte as a city of no mean significance. N. V. J. .? For the Times. Pio-nio at Cross Keys. Mr. KniTon:?I wouljl respectfully ask a place in your columns for tho purpose of giving a short sketch of the pic-nic at Mr. W. T. llctsill's, near the Keys, on last Friday. Notwithstanding tho oppressive heat and <*xtrcme dryness of the weather, Cross Keys sent forth her prettiest belles and most gnllnnt knights to participate in the joyous festival, lieiug unavoidably detained, it was late before yeur corres pendent arrived on the grounds; hut I was surprised, knowing that it was the busy season, to meet so many bright faces and plensn nt acquaintances engaged in an animated but social conversation. The beauty and chivalry of Cross Keys and other townships was well represented. Tt seemed that all had determined tothrow aside their cares and have a good jolly day. The party soon repaired in one solid procession to a hall near by, prepnred for the occasion, to engage in whatever amusements their inclinations suggested. Some were soon lost in the giddy mazes of the dance, whilst others led their lady loves to some retired nook to pour into willing ears the story of their loves. Cn-^ pit! was evidently there, arrayed in all his glor^fl^ and splendor, as alternate expressions of pleasure and pain could he observed flitting over the countenances of his subjects ; and it was especially marked on a young M D's face, who bod ridden miles through the heat and dust, with the. determination written upon every feature to learn his fate with a sweet blandc of about sixteen summers. Others amused themselves in talking of the dry weather, the Hampton goveminent, and the "No fence law," which iQ rereived by many with applause. Dinner was thon announced, and 011 returning we found a table spread in a beautiful grove in front of our host's residence, groaning beneath luxuries and substantial* for the inner man.? mere was not only enough for (he parly assembled. but several of the dusky tribe were noticed to grow sleek around the table, after the last of the white parly had left. Our kind host and hastes did all they could to mnko the day enjoyable. After sonic time spent in promiscuous conversation, we returnned to the hall, and the amusements as before filled up the afternoon. Our dusky friends about this lime appeared on the scene, peeping in from doors and windows, with glaring eyes and open mouths, drinking with amazement I lie whole proceedings, sca-^^H I soned occasionally with a morsel of black gnats. as some one remarked, making a good hive for the troublesome tribe. Thus theevening passed with roinaiilir inklings and trite savings, ami discussions the various topics of the day : until il,' I.likening shadows and advancing hen ins .if .a western siiii I roimlil the social joys to a close, ami with a heavy sigh we reluctantly turned f?'ifi n place thai had given us >n much pleasiue t. T .r. * 1 i