Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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i |! quoted Jo ^BUtunHurc, Sortiqultuq, gom^sJiq (Sqonomg, golitc Jfttptun}, Jjolitins," and thi( Current .gjtws of lite gag. _ ^ VOL. X?New Series. UNION C. II., SOUTH CAROLINA, FKBRUARY 21, 1879. NUMBER 8. ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS ! the duties you performed or tho exposure j SOUTHERN FIELD AND FOREST RESOURCES, .finger i?i half n nint r?f k?ii:l~ ?* 1 The True Inwarilnett of the l*eu?ion aud risk you suffered for "our couiuiou | We uppeud u few infcer??*?i?i?? ?- 4,1 -lrrcoro BiU. ootihtrv " Washington, D. C., Feb, 3, 1879. To tlic Editors of the News and Courier : On tho 25th of January, Mr. Ilayes approved the "Arrears of Peusiou liill," thus making it tho law. Every mail sinco has brought me one or more letters from friends iu South Carolina expressing gratification at this fact, and iuquiring how tho writer should proceed to secure hia (ar hurt.Auiafe pAyy roe ne or sne; pensioner, had-been in tho Seminole, Black Hawk, Mexican or somo other war, with which tho "Arrear bill" had notliiug to do. Befors this reaches you their hopes will have boon blasted; ?? * - - - * " ' vu? iw uiujr uui uu uuuss to puousn a low thoughts upon tho subject of pensions, as our pcoplo ut tho South aro morbidly sanguine that tho present Congress will givo many of them material relief by passiug pcusion laws, which will apply to Southern us well as Northern soldiers who were in wars anterior to 1861. . In 1878 (I think) a pcusion law was cn| acted granting a peusion to every soldier who had been disabled, (or his representative if he had boon killed) in tho "war waged for tho suppression of the rcbollion." Of eourso this uicuut only Federal soldiers. Tho day of payment of tho pension was to dato from the passage oftho law, aud all soldiers who did not withiu five years from that date apply for a pension were to be debarred. The "Arrears of Pension Bill" amends that law so as to dato tho day of puyuicut back to the day of the death or wounding of the soldier, and removes tho five years' restriction. So, if a soldier was wouuded at the first battle of Mauassas aud is drawing but $8 t month, this bill gives him additional pay of nearly 81,000 in the aggregate. There arc over 300,000 of these pensioners, und thoir number will now be greatly iucrcased by tho removal of tho fivo years restriction und this lumpiug off to them of ten years' pay at one payment No one estimates that it will require less than 830,000,000 to pay these arrearages, and some say it will require all of 8100,000,000. Tho only obstruction now in (he way, is the passage of a bill to appropriate money to meet tho demands of this arrears bill.? Whether this will do an impediment of any consequence, you may judgo when I tell you a woodeu-legged Federal general framed aud introduced tho bill iu a Demo i!. TT ?* -I * *' * ' * erutio xiouac wiuuu passeu it ; it tuou passed n Republican Senate, and was approved by a Republican Prcsideut who, couvinccd at least of its impropriety, hesitated several days before he would sign it but had not the ucrvc to veto it. The appropriation committee will doubtless iecouimcnd the necessary appropriation tho Southern members will not oppose it, from that delicate senso of honor peculiar to them, the two parties, North and South, will vie with each'other in approviug the appropriation, tho money will bo required to come forth, and the man who chews tobaooo or takes an occasional glass of grog will have to pay that much more for his quid and his toddy. The surviving volunteer soldiers of the war are really a powor in the land, and the two parties North are vieing with each other to socure their votes, so that this arrears pension matter is not, and cannot be considered, a iust claim UDon the treasurv of the United States, but is virtually, if uot really, a politioal measure, advocated by either party to defeat the othor. Neither vrill gain or deserve special credit, and so honors will be easy." A tew more words upon the general question of pensions: On the Oth March a law was enacted to pension the surviving soldiers, or widows of soldiers of the war of 1812. Would you believe it, there nro on file now in the pension office more than 26,000 applications for pensions under that bill ? I did not think this could possibly bo tho case, but so it is. liuiuan longevity has been admirably illustrated since the passage of that bill. As I have received what appeared to me to be a fair proportion of these pension claims from the veterans of tho war of 1812, I have multiplied that number by 292, tbo number of representatives upon tho floor of tho IIouso. and find that tho nroiluet is a little more than one-third the reported number of applicants. I have woudcrcd where these 2(5,000 veterans or surviving widows came from. The eflcet of this unanticipated number, I fear, has killod the possibility of the passage of a law pensioning the surviving soldiers of the Seminole or Mexican wars. These wars were fought principally by Southern soldiers, and this will be another reason why pensions will never bo paid to I their veterans. When the pension bill ro" lating to these wars was recently under consideration in the Houso, some one moved co amend oy auamg a clause granting a pension to ovcry volunteer soldier who was in the Fedornl army from 1861 to 1864, inclusive. Would you bclievo it, it passed by nceIauia?ion, which really killed tho Sansion bill; thereforo I can but say to tho outhorn survivors of the Florida, Bluok Hawk or Mczioan wars, possess your souls iu patience, for I do not bolieve the Forty^ fifth Congress will award you oue dollar for ^hero is another pension bill jet to be reported to the House, which restores to the pensiou roll those men and their widows ol the South who wore once on the roll, but were stricken from it by an act passed in February, 1802. Whether it will be reported this Congrass 1 am unable to say.? And if reported, whether it will become law, no one now can tell. You have heard Uiau who said uo one but a -Creator of a jury. Y<fo ffrKY coutt diaguosu tho hidden verdict of a half dozou juries, even South Carolina post bclluui juries, easier than we could anticipate the fate of a bill in the forty fifth Congress, unless it wc.ro a bill knowu to be for the benefit of the eutirc North. I do not bclievo tho bill restoring the Southerners to their rights will pass; first, because fchc Republican party do not think wo have any rights that they are bound to respect; and secondlv. bocanso it?r> NnriK . . . J ?"" cm Democracy arc so aenrly of tlic same opinion that they will not oppose the Republicans ia order to favor us of the South. The National Democracy to day aro practically divided by the Potomacand the Ohio, and unless something is done to remove this line of division before 1880,1 can see uo reason why Grant or some other nominee of the Rcpudlicau party may not walk without molestation from private life straight into the White llouso. Your obedient servant, D. W YATT AIKEN. Tea Culture in tiie South.?Savannah, February 1.?Leaving Snvauu&h Friday morning 1 arrived at Mcintosh, a small hamlet about fifty miles southwest of Savan nah. Here I secured the only buggy and best horse of tho place, and after a drive of twelve miles through a swamp that the darkey jehu, Abraham Lincoln by name, (thcro are no more Goorgo Washiugtons now,) assured me was full of llligators, I arrived at my destination, Mr. Screveu'b tea gardou, which is on slightly elevated ground and well adaptod to tho successful growth of tea. Here I was delighted to find tea Dlants errnwino' as fin? as mnv I ever 1 saw In tJbinft or Japan". The bushes were very vigorous, but the owner did not kuow the necessity of trimuiiug tho plants, consequently they are only producing one-half of what they otherwise would if properly pruned. I tasted tea made on this plauta1 tion by the ladies of the family, who had i used the. crudest modes both of nickiucr and i & a curing; and to my surprise the tea was very fair iudced I uui quite couviuced that with a uiodcrato amount of care, with no more skill than is required to put up tomatoes or preserves, au article of tea equal in every respect to that wo get from China could be produced from theso leaves. It will be about a month or six weeks before the young leaves will bo ready for picking, ind there are 011 this plantation and one about ten miles distant 400 large and 3,000 smaller tea plants. To givo some substantial encouragemout to their proper care I told Mr. Scrcvcu that if ho would pick the leaves according to directions, nud scud them to Baltimore by express, I would give him oue dollar a pound for all the tea that could be made out of the leaves, aud, ns it takes about five pounds of fresh leaves to make oue pound of tea he would receive about twenty cents a pound for fresh leaves. I believe that the iatelligont farmers havo it- 1 1-J iu_ f uwu tiviiiijf uivrusiuu iu tuu auL'UC'h.s 01 Gen. Le'Due's experiment, and the editors of the Southern press also, and that tea culture will receive an impetus that it could not otherwise have received.?Mr. Gill tit Bait. Sitit. Nihilist Industry.?The iugenuity of the ltussiun Nihilists is amazing. They have succeeded in smuggling regular files o* thoir revolutionary papers into tho political prison at Odessa whuro three hundred of their friends are confined, and the officials have been forced to forbid tho reading of literature of all kinds iu tho cells. A govermcut official was recently traveling from St. Petersburg to Odessa, whoro he was to take part in a criminal process instituted against cortain Nihilists. He received a warning from tho revolutionary tribunal not to meddle in the affair, but, noc heeding this advice, prooccdcd 011 his journey. Arrived at Odessa, he could not find his trunk, which was somehow missing from the baggage-wagon. Aftersome delay, however, it was found. It had been opened and although none of its marketable contents had been abstracted, the papers relating to the pending trial had all disappoarod. T.. ~l e J . I-.. iu kuuii |;iuuv wiiu piuturui iuuuu a ii'ucr from tho secret government, blaming him for having neglected their woll meant caution, and informing hiin that as his conduct had not been in any other respect reprehensible, the executive committee contented itself with depriving him of the papers connected with the trial in which he was engaged. The new chief of the gendarmo, General Drentoin, has entered upon his duties at St. Petersburg, but his head cannot rost easy on his shoujdera.? He has already rocoivod notices from the Nihilists that it will bo woll for him to preparo for death. When ho nppcars in the street the Cossack patrols are doubled. ' _ _ ?uAiiavv from I)r. I'orcher's valuable book, with ? i hope that they may bo interesting and instructive to our readers, ?nd that thoy uiay bo utilized by thorn .? Charleston Weekly News. Wild CuKRRir.?One of tho most valuable of our indigenous plauts. Tho bark from any part of the tree uiakcs a very powerful tonic, but that frotu the root better than from the body of the tree. It is peculiarly suited U> tho. ix I ?. >*, . . ble iu dyspepsia, atteudod with ueuralgic symptoms. Tho bark should never be boiled, but have its virtues extracted by cold water. Half an ounce of tho bruised bark macerated in ouo piut of cold water for tweuly four hours, and taken three or four times daily in doses of two to three ounces, is a good tonic. Five ounceB of powdered bark, tvo pounds of sugar, and enough water to moisten tho bark through, kept in a close vessel for twenty-four hours, and then rnixol with enough water to get a piut of liquor by filtering, will make a touic that uiay be taken in?lialf ounce doses. This liquor coutaius elements that will kill a cat in five minutes, if administered in small doses. Cherry cordial is made by filliug n vessel with cherries aud covering with whiskey ; let it stand lor several weeks, pour off the clear liquor, press the juice out of the cherries, add fivn ninf* nf sugar and Gvc piu'.s of water, nud boil to desired consistency. Sumacii.?Tho bark of the root boiled iu equal parts of milk and wu'.cr, and .with flour made iuto a poultice and applied to burns, will cure without leaving a scar.? The exeresccuces on the leaves are sometimes as large us a persimmon, and arc powerfully astringent, and a perfect substitute for tannin. An iufusioo from the inner bark of the root is, wheu used as a gargle, a spcciiic iu tho sore throat attending mercurial salivation. The bark is considered a febrifuge. The berries make ouc of the haudsomest black dyes for woollen fabrics, if boiled in layers with tho wool or fabrics, without copperas. When ground they are often used for flavoring tobacco, nud the powdered leaves are sometimes uiixuu Wiin uooHtuu, iu iiiujiuiau n There is no uioro valuable agent in tanning leather thau the leaves of the Sumach.? They should be gathered in the fall as one gathers fodder, dried in tho shado, and frequently turned while drying to prevent hcatiug. They are sold by the pound and arc worth iu Euglund from $75 to $100 per ton. Thousands of pouuds are shipped annually from Virgiuia. SrAXisn Oak.?This and many other oaks produce an excrescence called guil | nuts or oak galls, which contain tuunin and are used for making iqk. Tho fresh oak I .??u ?:.u * Qiui iuuueu up nil.ll I1IUIUU11.I1 UI11W1IUUI will give relief if applied ic hemorrhoids. A decoction is administered with grout success in dysentary, pulmonary and uterine hemorrhage, and some physicians have used it successfully iu intermittent fevers. All the oak family are astringent, and make valuable dyes, lied oak decoction, with sulphate of copper, will make green or black color, aud is everywhere used for tanning leatter. Other woods dye different colors. Hickory bark with copperas will mako an olive color ; maple gives a purple dye; the tea leaf a yellow and the white oak a browu color. Walnut leaves without copperas aud repcatodly boiled will make a black dye. Blacksmith's dust is n gjod substitute in dying for copperas. Acorns from the Spanish and white oaks are almost us valuable as corn or'food lor hogs. aldek. ? l no bark is astringent, and a decoction is valuable as an alterative in scrofula and cutaueous diseases. Poultices uiado of tbo leaves are used as a looul application to tumors, sprains, swelling, &c.? Tbe leaves are applied externally to wounds and ulcers. The inuor burl: of tbe root is emetic aud lias been given in intermittent*. Tbe shoots cut in .March will impart a cin namon color lo cloths and flannels. Hoi I tbe bark, skim aud strain wet the cloth in strong lye and dip in the alder ilquor and let it remain uutti cool enough to wring the color will l>c iudelliblc. The alder is used by tanners and dyers. Slippkry Elm.?This treo is perhaps too well known on accouut of its bark tu be introduce here, but we give a few coudensed sentences from Dr. Porchcr's book. The bark is an excellent demulcent employed as a softening application, is recommended to be used internally in suppression of the urine, iuilamation ol the bladder, dysentery or diarrhuoa. A decoction of this bark, combined with the root of tho sassafras and gnaiao, is valuable as a drink to increase cutaneous transpiration, and to improvothe tono of the digestivo organs.* Wahoo.?A hard, tough, fiao graiued wood ; tho bark is used in making rope, and is strong enough to eord a bag of cotton. Tho bark will slip in tho fall as well as in the spring, and henco may bo used at any soason for making rope. Tho process of manufacturing is tho aamo as that iu ordinary use. Black Walnut?The leaves of this treo aro used in scrofula. Tho infusion is Imado by cutting up tho leaves and infusing a good pinch hetweon the thumb and fore g?- v. uvuiu^ wmcr j sweeten with sugar : to a grown person two ot thrco teacupstul should bo given daily. Dry leaves may be used throughout tho wiuter. A salve made from the extract of the loaves, clean lard and oil of bergamot, is excellent for 6oro? A strong decoction of these loaves is excellent lor .washing sores. Sweet Gum.?A soft wood but not durable. A decoetiou of the bark in milk of casef of diarrheal aud dysentery. A syrup 1 may be prepared from tho bark as from tho 1 bark of the wild cherry. Tho leaves of tho 1 sweet gum contain much tannin, and are : recommended to bo used iu tanning leather ' instead of oak bark. Sweet gum, sumach, myrtlo and blackberry leaves, and green 1 persimmons coutuiu tho largest amnuut of 1 tannin and arc very valuable in tanning t leather. 1 Pokewekd.?The juice of the leaves or j berries, thickened to the consistency of an extract and applied to a bard tumor, will J dissipate it. Uuc ounco of the dried root, infused in a piut of wine, acts kindly as au ^ emetic in doses of two tablespoonfuls. A . spirit distilled from tho berries will kill ? dog. It is narcotic, nets slowly as ap erne- 1 tic, and sometimes as a purgative ; produces e vomiting without pain ; in overdoses is a dangerous medicine. An ointmcut prcpar- / ed from the powdered root or leaves and 1 lard(onc drachm of the powdered root and one ouuee of lard) c .n be applied with ad- v ventage in diseases of the scalp. The bcr- ? rics, steeped in whiskey, is considered an efficient remedy in rheumatism. A dccoc- r tion of tho root will cure the uiaugc on dogs. I Dig the root iu the fall and winter, and E powder, and keep in closely stopped bottles, as it deteriorates. ,, Dock ?A decoction is astringent, alter- j native and tonic, aud resembles rhubarb ^ in its mode of operation. Tho powdered i rjot with milk, or as au ointment, or the j expressed juice may be applied externally r iu ring-worms, itch and eruptive diseases. a c Examine The Comb*.?It is the casi- ? health', even in tho incipint stages of any t disoasc or ailment, if you but examine your j flock carefully. Tho comb of teach fowl is j, a true index to the workings of their sys- 3 terns, if they be in ill health, the couib r will lose color and will become fur less firm a in tcxturo ; as the malady increases the col- u or decreases, till a very sick bird will show j| a comb almost devoid of scarlet color, bciug t, of a livid dull crimson, or else pale or ashy 3 iu appearance. If the cholera or any dis- fc, ease should come into the flock, carefully j examine the combs of each bird, morniug H( a.id night, aud all those which are wanting in that bright, rich color which denotes ? perfect health, remove at ouce from the 0 flock to a place remote, where thej should at once be put under medical treatment. - r The comb of the fowl is an houcst index j of the true inwardness, and should daily be (j consulted by the fancier who values the 4 health and well being of his flock. Look at tho comb of a laying hcu or pullet! She is in the height ot health and strength and 1 carries her unfailing sign of healthfuluess 0 on her head, in the shape of a blood-red, bright and full comb. A vigorous cock or cockerel will carry tho same sign, though not, perhaps, in so cmiucut a degree.? Atmrican Poultry Yard. : A Model Farmer.?Mr. John G. Brazel who farms about twelve miles below Columbia, in llichlaud County, has set an example to all who arc in tho habit of thinking and teaching that farming docs not pay. Last year he ran three ploughs, touding about eighty-five acres, and he made sufficient provisions to keep his family a year, and a considerable quantity to soli, both of gruiu and bacon, ilis farm yielded him (ou bales of cotton, about seven hundred bushels of corn and peas, and any quantity of rough food for stock, such as fodder, peavines, &c., besides a good many chufas, not measured, also, about 150 bushels of potatoes. His wife raised 60 turkeys, aud a great many chickeus, of which latter she sold 825 or 830 worth. He attributes his suco :ss to the fact that he and his two sons did their own ploughing; worked early and late, or as he has expressed it they "were at work when the whippoorwills hollered in the morning and when tho whippoorwills hollered in tho evening," and finally, they abstained from intoxicating i liquor. j | ; I The county newspaper is always prepared | to protect the citizens against every imposi- | tion and to defend every worthy person < from an unjust attack 'It does not prosecute or defend for foes, but always defends the peoples' interests. To build up your i homo paper advertise your industries and i secure a power to oxccute your short-coin- i Logs. The county paper is as indispensa- i bio as a oook stovo and as handy as a boot jack. < Young housewife: "What miserable little eggs again!?You really must tell them, Jane, to let the hens set on them a little longer." f assage ok Edmunds' Resolutions. ?Washington, February 5.?Senator Morgau a substitute aud all other amcuduients were voted down, aud tho original Edmunds' resolutions finally passed without amendment, aud tho Sonate, at 11 P. M., adjourned. The resolutions wero submitted by Senator Edmuuds on Janaary 7, and arc as follows : Resolved, Asjtho flf-thg-S*****that ^oua'UgOny aud arc as valid aud of the same paramount authority as any other part of tho constitution ; that the people of each State havo a common interest in tho enforcement of ,hc whole constitution iu every State in tho Union, and that it is alike the right and luty of Congress to onforco said ainendueuts, and to protect overy citizen iu tho .xercise of the rights thereby secured by aws of the general character already passed fjr the purpose, and by further appropriate egislation, bo far as such enforcement and iroicction are not secured by existing laws; ind that it is the duty of the executive Icpartuicut of the government faithfully tnd with diligence to carry all such Uwa nto impartial execution, and of Congress o appropriate all moneys needful to that nd. Resolved, further, That it is the duty of longrcss to provide by law for the full and i partial protection of all citizens of the Unied States, legally qualified, in the right to ote for Representatives iu Congress, and o this end the Committee on the Judiciary >e, and it hereby is, instructed to prepare and cport, as soon as may be, a bill for theirotection of such rights, and the puuishncnt of infractions thereof. m The Decline In The Piuce Of Cotton.?A report from the agricultural de)artmont just issued among other items ;ives the prices of the cotton crop, coucernng which it is said : We are guided by the mecs received by the planter, which have ulcd excessively low this winter, the aver-ige for the whole country being about 81 :enta per pound. The groat value of this irop is founded on the demand for export. he United Stafes Has I1fiSiiv mportation. During the war it fell off to> ess than 2 per cent. Starting in 18&6 at;7 per cent, wc find that in 1878 we had. cguincd the position we held prior to 1861,. nd that four fifths of the cotton used and mnufucturcd in Great Britain came from lie United States. The proportion of our otal crop exported to foreign ports was ,340,000 bales out of a crop of 4,750,000 ales during year cudiug September 1,, S78. The productiou of this great staple eems to be too large, and the result is shown a glutted markets and low prices, the larer crop of 1878 being worth less than that f the preceding year. Basing the calon* ition of prices on that received by the roducer, we find tho value of the crop of 878 to be $194,700,000, and for 1877 $240,. 00,000, while tho number of bales was ,750,000 in 1877 and 5,200,000 ior 1878.. Democratic Caucus.?Washington,. February 9.?An adjourned caucus of Dcmcratic members of Congress was held last light in the hall of the House of Itcpresen ativcs, Rl. Blackburu presiding. There vere present about niuety Representatives ind eight or ten Senators. At the former liecting the general sentiment was in favor >f attaching to one of the appropriation aills an amendment repealing the test oatlv now required of jurors, that they have not taken up arms against the IJuitcd States, nor engaged in insurrection against the same nor givon aid and comfort to the enemy.? fhc subject was now formally acted on,, and a committee appointed to put such imendment in proper form to be attached to the sundry civil appropriation >ill, which, among other provisions, inil udes tho pay of persons connected with he judiciary. The caucus also decidedipon an amendment repealing tho clauses if the revised statutes which provide for lie Federal supervisor of elections. The jommittco are also required to put this imendment in proper form. There was jntire unanimity on the abovo measures. The only point of difference was as to conelusive action nt tho present meeting.? Hut it was agreed that there should be an adjourned meeting on Monday night next, when thcro may be a larger attendance of members. The exact form of tho amendments will then be laid before 'the caucus for adoption. Some of those who attended the caucus say the Democrats will insist ou the amendments being incorporated in the bill, even at the risk of an extra session of Oongross. A quaiut writer says : 'T have seen women so delicate that they were afraid to> ride for fear of tho horso running away, afraid to sail, lor fear the boot might upsot, afraid to walk, for fear they might fall, but [ never saw ono afraid to get married. which it far more riskful than all the other* put together." , . "O, IiOrd!" a Kentucky minister prayed, "thou hast seen by the morning papers how the Sabbath was desecrated yesterday."