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that oar future minutes be transcribed therein, and that he receive Twenty-five Dollars additional salary for the same, annually. On motion ef Bro. Thayer, the following resolutions were passed unanimously, by a standing vote. Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this Grand Division are most justly due, and are hereby most warmly presented to the Officers and Members of Taylor Division, No. 8, particularly to the Committee of the same, for the very admirable arrangements made by them for the entertainment of the Delegates of this Grand Body which will ever be cherished by them as one of the most pleasing and delightful reminiscences of , their lives, t Resolved, unanimously, That the preceding resolution be communicated to Taylor Division and as nsual, published in the Journals of Columbia. Resolved, unanimously, That the thauks of this i Grand Division be presented to the Presidents and j Directors of the King's Mountain, Greenville and 1 Columbia, Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad j Companies, for their great kindness in permitting j the members of this Grand Body, to pass and re- ; pass for one fare. Resolved, uuanimously, That the Grand Scribe I do communicate the preceding resolution, to the j respective bodies above mentioned, and that it be j published in the public Journnls. Or* Mntinn Resolved, That this Session of the Grand ! Division do now adjourn, to meet at Branchville, on the 4th Wednesday in January 1 1857. , S. CORLEY, Grand Scribe. . Cl]e|0flibille(^n()iurtr: EDITED BY SAM'L W. MELTON JOHN L. MILLEH. YORKVILLE, S. C. THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 18,1856. PERSONAL.ALL persons indebted to the Enquirer Office, i for Subscription, Job-Work or Advertising, " xr /iDTcm i i are requested to can on u. at. umci ?uu iwih i settlement, who is fully authorized to receipt in i our name. MiLLKR Si MELTON. Yorkville, Dec. 18, 1856. ENQUIRER?CLUB TERMS. 1 copy 1 year, in advance S 2 00 10 copies 1 year, in advance 15 00 | 1 copy of the F..vqpirer, and 1 copy of either Godey or Graham, one year, in advance, 4 00 j Persons making up clubs of ten snbscri- j bcrs, are at liberty to add as many more names at the same rate as they desire. The money to accompany the list in every instance. INDIAN LAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. We ore requested to state that a meeting of the | Indian Land Agricultural Society, will be held at , Rock Hill on Thursdny, the 1st day of January ; next. A punctual attendance of the members is j desired. j. THAT ORDINANCE. We publish somewhere in this issue, a somewhat j ^ remarkable Ordinance, emenating from the Town ! Council of Yorkvillc. It is the most arbitrary j1 exercise of a "little brief authority," that we | hare over heard of. If the prosperity, of the vil- j lage or district would be promoted by this extra- 11 ordinary proceeding on the part of the Council, \ we would remain silent: but as it is at war with i every consideration of interest both to the planter j and merchant?in fact with every class of the i community, we most solemnly protest ngainst it. ! Where do you get your authority gentlcmeu? The broadest possible construction, will not give it to 1 you under the Charter.. There is not a provision in it, that gives you the slightest semblance of authority. Even if there was ample authority for j such a course, what good purpose would be sub- {' served by adopting it! Is the interest of the planters of the District ! protected or promoted by such au Ordinance V? I < ill they be enabled to get better prices for their ' produce ? We have tried to learn the why and ! the wherefore of tb:s strange proceeding, and the ' only pretext that is given, is that non-resident j Cotton buyers pay no taxes This is simply ridiculous. The money they scatter broad-cast j throughout the District, is a far greater consideration than a uir.e nominal tax paid into the treasury. Is it tne small tax paid by a few resident cotton buyers that establishes a market here ?? Will the planters of the District be content to re- ; ceive a less price for their produce, simply because . the buyer pays a tax into the treasury of the j Town Council ? If you impose this tax ou the cotton buyer, of course the farmers have it to pay. The presumption nrises, that he can afford to pay 50 cents more on the bale than other buyers, but when the j tax is imposed, he must lower his price, and the | interest of the planter suffers to that extent. It j was surely a short-sighted policy that originated j sucu a uicasurc, uuu vuv iu?i mu vvrjr sciiuusi^ i affect the pecuniary affairs of our District. It can result in good to none, not even to resident cot- ! ton buyers themselves, because it is a direct stab j at our traife, and will cause it to seek another channel, and leave us without a market. We hope, therefore, the Town Council will at once retrace their steps, and avoid the evil consequences that will iuevitably result from it. Not that wc consider their action legal, but if persisted in, it will create a prejudice that will operate unfavorably to the best interest and prosperity of our village and District. SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE. EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE. Titssdav, Dec. 0. The discussion in reference to the repeal of the Usury laws was resumed in the Senate, yesterday, j on Mr. Porter's amendment. This v as rejected I by a decided vote, and on recurring to the original ! bill the whole matter was dismissed by a vote 16 to 2-1?Mr. McCaw voting against the bill. No j proceedings of special interest were had, in that ! body,to-day. In the House, an animated debate occurred on j the Report of the special C-m:nittee on the Slave | Trade, asking leave to sit during the recess of the ! Legislature and to report at the next session. Mr. i Veadon moved that the consideration of the sub- ( ject be indefinitely postponed, and he was warmly i supported by Messrs. Mitchell, Perry and Pope, of Charleston. Messrs. F. D. Richardson, El- > i liott, Mullins and Dantzler warmly advocated the extension of time asked for by the Committee, on the grounds mainly that a proper courtesy to the special Committee forbid such a summary disposal of the subject, and that the importance of the question demanded that they be allowed ample time for an elaborate and careful consideration.? ! The debate really involved no expression of opin- j iou as to the expediency or propriety of re-open- j ing the slave-trade; aud the vote approving the recommendation of the Committee, was given dis- [ tiiictly on the ground of courtesy to them and to ; the Governor, and of a correct regard for the 0 weighty import of the matter under consideration. As I have before indicated, though utterly opposed to the policy recommended in the Message, I think the vote giving time to the Committee emi- , uently proper. Messrs. Chambers and Moore voted in the affirmative; and Messrs. Black and j White in the negative. -x Mr. Memminger made a long and exceedingly i V \ able argument in behalf of his bill, of which I hare belore given you an idea, for the establishment of the Common School system. I have not time now to dwell upon it; but, as the discussion will be continued, I shall recur to it. The election of Governor was held this afternoon, and resulted in the choice of Col. R. F. W. Allston?the vote being, for Col. Allston,88; Col. J. D. Allen, 43; 11. J. Johnson, 20. The canvass occasioned very little excitement. Towards the close it assumed a somewhat political cast; the violent advocates of reform iu our electoral system directing their exertions in behalf of Col. Allen. It was not, however, by any means a test election. Inasmuch as the name of our favorite, Gen. Wallace, was not presented, I think our people have no reason to bo dissatisfied with the result. Col. Allston is an accomplished scholar; he has for years served the State efficiently and well; and will adorn his office by a display of those rare and noble traits of the gentlemau which are, in our State, the chief ornament of the Gubernatorial Chair. The inauguration will take place, probably, on Thursday. Immediately after the election, a balloting was had for Lieutenant Govrenor, which resulted thus?Hon. Gabriel Cannon, of Spartanburg, 82; Dr. J. W. Hearst, of Abbeville, CD ; with several scattering votes. You mayjmark down the following appointments of new Managers of Election: At l'orkville, Joseph Ilerudon, vice II. C. Thomasson; Elentzer, A. Fewell, vice E. Avery ; IFi/too/iV Store, James Adams Wallace, rice James McElwee, and Thomas S. Wallace vice Peter McCallum ; Shiloh, Win. II. Pong vice J. II. Crawford; Iiock mil, A. E. Hutchinson vice A. Whyte; Clark's] Store, G. W. Hamrick vice Edward Leech; Bird's Muster Ground' Ira Hardin vice A. Henry; Moore's Wm. Moore, jr., John Young and Obndinb Sarratt. My worthy right-hander, the Commissioner, requests you to advertise the sale of the Stroxk land, on the premises, on the 8th of January. As Mai. Jones used to sny, Yours ''til deth." >1 elton. Wednesday Evening, Dec. 10. Last evening the Press Association held their annual mcetiug at the Athenajum, and heard the address of Mr. W. r>. Johnston, editor of the Examiner. My other duties prevented my attendance?for which I am duly and really sorry, for our friend Johnston, besides being a very clever sort of man, made, I am told, a capital speech.? His subject was "the duties and responsibilities of the press;" discussed, I know, in a direct, earnest and practical manner. You will, of course, permit your readers to enjoy the perusal of it, as soon as possible. Mr. Ycadon, of the Courier, was re-elected President of the Association ; ntid hr t? w Oihhea. of the Carolinian, was chosen Annual Orator. The proceedings in the Senate, to-day, were of unusual interest. Upon the announcement by the Committee of his election as Governor, the Hon. E. F. W. All8ton resigned his office of President, which with much of dignity and ability he has held for several years, and in a few feelingly-spoken sentences took leave of the Senate. Hon. B. J. Johnson was called to the Chair, and the Senate immediately proceeded to the election of a sue- | cessor, which resulted as follows: Hon. James Chesnut jr., of Kershaw, received 22 votes; Hon. F. J. Moses, 10; scattering, tf. Contrary to the i usual order of things, no candidates were announced ; there was no electioneering and no "logrolling." The Senators were left to their own | preferences, without any sort of effort to influence the prejudices of anyone; and the result may, therefore, be regarded not only as the most haypy, but one most happily-attained. Col. Chesnut will make an admirable President?a more Jilting man could not have been selected from any quarter.? j With a never varying urbanity of manner and all the courtesy of the well-bred gentleman, he lias that quick perception of the proper and that clear and sound judgment which ought to be combined in the qualifications of one who presides over such a deliberative assembly as is our State Senate. Of all men, Col. Chesnut is the most uniformly and intensely proper. I do not mean to say that he belongs to the class of proper men wl:o "never said a foolish thing and never did a wise one." Insert the "foolish" expletive in both members of the sentence and you have it. As a sample I must beg you to publish, just here, the short address of his to the Senate, which I will clip out for you to-morrow. Is it possible to say or do such a thing in better style ? [Gentlemen of the Senate: To be chosen as the presiding officer of a body like this, may well be taken as a mark of confidence, to which the most callous can not be indifferent. It confers an office not merely of complimentary honor, but one of high trust; and pre-suppposes in the occupant the possession, in some degree at least, of those quali tics, essential to a succcsstui aumimstranon ci us duties. Impartiality, a close attention to business, a certain quickness of perception and readiness in decision are among the more prominent qualities, to be exeicised in conducting properly the consultations of a deliberative assembly. To the possession of all these, in any measure of fullness, I am aware I connot justly pretend. But, gentlemen, as the most ample ability might be thwarted and rendered ineffectual by factious opposition, op by the hindrances, of a listless indifference, so a very moderate capacity with zeal, industry and honest purpose, may be made efficient by the kind co-adjuvaney of the individual members of such a body. Upon this then I rest the hope of dis- | charging the duties incident to the Chair. Order in the conduct of business; urbanity in general intercourse; in debate an elevated courtesy, which is by 110 means inconsistent with the warmest feeling, or the utterance of high glowing thought in burning phrase?these constitute that j decorum: the observance of which has secured to : the Senate of this State a fame both ancient aud honorable. To preserve this, I am sup* we all agree, is not only due to our own character, but is necessary to the harmonious, wise and complete discharge of th functions of our olfice. Belying then on your constant and kindly aid, 1 aud askiug your indulgence for the unintentional errors I may commit, 1 will assume the dities of the Chair, desiring first to express to you the profound sense I have of the distinguished houor you have conferred on me.] By the electiou of Mr. Cannon, we agaiu are made to preseut the anomaly of a State without a nVt-governor. The Lieut-Govenor elect will continue to be a member of the Senate, and according to the Constitution cannot qualify for his office.? Now suppose by a dispensation of Providence we should be deprived of our Governor. lVho is prepared to take his place ? Not Mr. Cannon, certaiuly; for unless he conforms to the prescribed moth oil of qualification, he can be no more entitlcil to the position than you or your correspondent.? So one has the least objection to the election of Mr. Cannon; the choice wus an eminently good one. 15ut if he desired to have the honor, he should, I think, be ready to meet its requirements. As it is, the office is ft complete nullity. Iu fact, it i? a nullity, under ordinary circumstances; but an untoward event may transform it into a trust, of the very greatest moment. It is not nn election to the post, but the act of qualifying and the fact of commission, that invests a mau with the office of Lieutenant Governor, and entitles him to assume, under certain conditions, the place of the Governor. So, at least, I think : and then, I take it, I am in duty bound to write. Tbe Senate laUnl, by a vote, of 20 to 10, Mr. Mazyck's resolutions on our Federal Relations, which you published recently. The disposition has been made very manifest in both Houses, this session, to adopt a more conservative and conciliatory course towards our sister States in the South, and in reference to the Democratic party nt large. The resolutions if I remember aright, told the truth, and in regard to the perpetuity of the Union foretold what, in my opinion, must eventually come to pass; but they sought to cow ; mit the State to the "time-honored" policy of exclusireness and of dictation to our co-States, and for this reason they were rejected. In the House i Mr. Bryan's anti-Convention idea and the Slavetrade matter and certain extreme resolutions have ! all gone "over the left." After all, our politicians ; who have in federal matters taken a conservative position, find themselves in the ascendency. The : co-operation idea?which some folks could not at the right time distinguish from a myth, has come to be a reality?a living, sensitive, absolute and j concrete fact. It will yet, take my word for it [ aud wait patiently, be developed, more than a | mere fact?the neeleus around which will chrystaiize and constellate the great elements of a glo| rious Southern Confederacy. ! Some of your readers may not know how Legislation is effected. The member desiring to introj ducea bill must give notice to the House on the day ; prcviosu. When the bill is introduced, it is read the first time and referred to the appropriate Committee, who, upon deliberation, report upon itfnvora| bly or unfavorably. It is then placed upon the j "Calendar," and for a second reading must await j its turn in the regular order of business. As the ses ?' tHonaofttirtn r\C oil fit a hll . SlOll 13 IUU SUVirV IUI HIV HUUlttVllVII v. **?4 ?MV I siness presented, many of these bills are never heard of after they have reached the Calendar.? Whenever a bill happens to be "reached," howcvj er, it is read a. second time, and a vote ;9 taken whether it shall be "sent to the Senate." If yea, , it is subjected to two readings in the Senate and, ! if agreed to, is returned to the House for the third reading; whereupon, it is "putupon its final pas| sage," and after a third reading, also, in the Sen| ate, becomes "An Act." When a measure is first i introduced into the Senate, the reverse proccedure takes place. After the third reading, each I has the right to rejecta bill upon the "final vote"; , but the vote on the second reading is, with very | few exceptions, regarded as final, for the reason, simply, that a body would stultify itself by sendj in* to a co-ordinate body a bill which did not , first meet with its own apnrovul. In cvery-day I talk, when a bill has received two readings in each 1 house, you may count it a "good egg." In the House, to-day, the "colored seamen's" ' bill, of which I wrote you lost week, was again taken up, and made the matter of a most elaborate . and spirited debate?one side strenuously arguing that the very existence of the institution of slavery j depended upon the arrest aud close imprisonment 1 as the law now requires, of every colored seamen who might be driven into port; and the other, that to require such seamen to keep, on board his , vessel while it remained in port, was equally ef I I fective of the end, and more conformable to huI mnuity and good conscience. The bill (embodying the latter view) passed the' second reading, and was sent to the Seuate, by a vote of 61 to 49 ?all of your delegation voting with the majority, i The message from the Seuate, proposing to adj journ on the 18th iust., was laid on the table.? | Thus far the House has scarcely nude any imi pression at all upon the "Calendar," which has j upon it at least double the usual number of bills, I and they rightly refuse to agree upon a day of adjournment, until they can "see daylight." Very many of these matters are of a private and local and comparitively unimportant nature, but they nevertheless require deliberation, j Mr. Boylston offered a resolution, which was j agreed to, for the appointment of a Committee to 1 inquire into the propriety of selling Rocky Mount | Canal, and report to the Legislature at the next ( j session. Mr. Green reported a bill to prevent the : J sale of intoxicating driuks by itinerant traders, j i The Committee of Ways and Means reported fa- I volubly upon the petition of the Historical Society j | of South Carolina, praying aid in the publication j of original papers connected with the early history ! i of the State. The petition asks forSoOt) annual | ly, which certainly ought to be granted. After this day, the House will begin the night sessions, and go earnestly to work. Yours, mkltojt. I Thursday livening, Dec. 11. The inauguration of the Governor, to-day, was | ; the event of the season. At an early hour the i j Gallery of the House was in bloom, like a henuti- I : fill garden in the Spring-time. Von know that a j ; lovely woman is the loveliest object in all creation ; ! and I have often told you that our South Carolina women?especially those who have been flirting around the capital this winter?are peerless in j the realm of beauty. To one seated in the hall, j whence distaucc lent enchantment, the view was I | surpassingly fine?now taking in but one feature, j and then presenting nn entire picture blushing ; witli the glow of associated splendor, like a very galaxy of twinkling, sparkling, shining constellations. Do you catc'n the idea ? You mny have a 1 notion of the natural portion of it, but you can- ! not, without seeing, grasp a full realization of the effect of the artificial half. Oh ! how gorgeously, ! how stupendously maguificently the women, now-aj days, do put their clothes on. It is the perfection ! of art?exccceds everything recorded in the his- j [ tory of fashion. I was in such a train of thought, looking up j | into the Gallery, when the Appeal Court Judges ; were announced, and in their own dignified man- \ uer made their way up the Hall. A fine-looking, j I noble class of men they are ; hut I liavn't time I fur the sketch. At one o'clock, the Senate was | | announced, and the members thereof ranged them- j selves along the aisle; when the Governor elect ! accompanied by Governor Adams and the Com- ; ! mittee of Arrangements entered the Ilall and ad' vanced to the Speaker's desk. After the ceremony of reception, the Governor delivered his inaugural, and the oath of his office was administered to him ; by Mr. Speaker Simons, in that peculiarly impres! s'.ve and imposing manner which characterizes all : j that Col. Simons does in the Chair. The Asseiu| lily then adjourned to the Senate Chamber, when j the President delivered the commission; after j which his Excellency was escorted to the eastern , ! portico of the Capitol, and the Sheriff of llichland ; j proclaimed liiin, "Governor and Con.ionuder-in- I Chief in and over the State of South Carolina for ; two years and until another election by the Gencr- J al Assembly :?and may God save the Comnionj wealth." All this ceremony was done royally, and | constituted a pageant admirable in character with j the tone and spirit of our people?haviug just j enough of kindliness about it to suit the tastes of ! our daintily-conservative little Republic. All this | over, the company of ladies and gentlemen paid j their respects to the Chief Magistrate aud for a time the Executive Chamber was as sparkling and i as lively aud entertaining as a ball-room, j Gov. Allstou received these congratulations with I all the courtesy and kindliness belonging to his I uature, but his worthy predecessor, Gov. Adams, j who was present, really seemed to enjoy the ocj casioa with the best zest. And so a man may | feel, when the cup of his ambition is full, and he ! surrenders a trust well and thoroughly discharg' ed. I do not, and you cannot, applaud every n?t j of his official career: but we can say with truth that as a Chief Magistrate Gov. Adams has been more than ordinavily popular with and 'cceptable to the people, and that he can go iuto the peaceful retirement of his home with the just and fond ! consciousness that lie has performed the office of a "true and faithful servant." The new Governor paid to him a marked compliment, and gave to j us an ample guarranty of the future, by promisj ing "to pursue, generally, the like course of administration which has been so well illustrated by my (his) distinguished predecessor?duly pro! gressive, yet eminently conservative.'' This, I am told, however, must not be understood to in| elude the unlucky mention of the Slave Trade. % With the exception of the paragraph committing j his influence to the Blue ltidge project, the Innu; gural gives, in a remarkably chaste and concise J style, n view of our domestic and political policy j which will command the unanimous approval of your people. You will not have room for the cn| tire document, but 1 must beg you to append to j my letter that portion in regard to our federal re| lations. It has the exact ring of the true metal I in it. After the inauguration, both Houses went to work, and passed several important measures, of I which I shall tell you to morrow. heltox. I _ Extract from the Governor'* Inaugural. i With regard to our Federal relations, I would j willingly be hopeful of the future. But the hisj tory of the present Congress, the forbidding ns' pcct of New England, and the many repelling circumstances which mark the recent Federal eleej tion, taken in connection with their antecedents, i constitute a solemn warning to the Southern coun! trv, which we cannot overlook, and must not fail 1 L?.i n.J .. ? ? ?i.?. j IU Iieeu. VIUU gruilt It JI1JIJF nci IV IU Uiun uiv I States affected nearer together in confidence and counsel. The spirit which would peril tho pence and ! union of the Confederacy, rather than witness the ' extension of domestic elnvery into the Territories, J is the same which succeeded twenty years ago in : imposing on the staple States the burden of n protective tariff. Strengthened and emboldened now ; by various sucesses, and embittered by the corai mingling with it of a reckless fanaticism, it must ; be rebuked, or the bond of Union will be broken ; and destroyed. To our Constitutional Union is justly to be ascribed the wonderful progress in prosperity and power of the United States. Abroad it is known only as National? tho "American Union"?and j there it is a tower of strength to the citizen, with; in the shadow of whicj^hi3 life and property are safe. At home, we recognize it as Federal?com! posed of independent States, and integral parts, I each of which, as it enjoys the benefits derived , from the terms of the Constitution, cannot escape | accountability for the co-existing dnties imposed | thereby. Upon the observance of those terms, in j their true spirit, as to herself, it is the right and j duty of the State to insist, ns well as to see that : due observance of the same is rendered ou her i own part. It is sad to perceive that the Statos of | the Eastern and Northern section are diverging j more and more from their ancient affection and J common duty to the Southern and South-westeru ; States, thus nursing estrangement of feeling among their citizeus towards us, and hostility to j the institution (our birth-right) which has constituted so material an element of their wealth, as | well as of our happiness and prosperity. At the time the Constitution was adopted, prop' crty in African slaves was held legalized and pro j tected iu a majority of the Confederated States, j Since the period of admission of the five States I which were organized in the Northwestern Territory ceded by Virginia, the number of States still I holding such property was reduced to one-half of j the Confederacy. Most of the other half or section deny their obligation to recognize thisproperj ty and their duty in relation thereto toward their co-States where it is an institution. Now, in order to preserve, in some measure, i the power to protect the rights of the Southern States in this behalf, we must preserve therquili briutn between the two sections in at least one of j the Federal Councils. That equilibrium in the I Senate was disturbed by the irregular admission , of California?it may be restored by the admission of Kansas. Whenever it shall become the settled policy of the Federal Government, that States which adhere j to the institution of domestic slavery shall no j more be admitted into the Union, then the SoutUJ ern States, unless their people shall have become utterly blind to their own interests nnd safety, making common cause for a common interest will combine to throw off that Government, or will prove themselves unworthy of a wise and brave ancestry, and rogardless of the duty to posterity. Just now the country rests in momentary calm, nfter the uuhappy troubles in Kansas, and the exhausting excitement of a heated canvass for President and Vice President of the United States, an excitement pervading the whole land, which has betrayed, throughout the borders of New Englnud, a fanatical bitterness of hostility to Southern in; stitutions, which cannot fail in uniting the Southern people warmly in their vindication. Gratefully we have received as a heritage those institutions, wisely and discreetly we will enjoy and improve them, without quarrelling with others (if they only let us alone; because they cannot view them as we do: and with the blessing of God, (keeping always in view our accountability to llim,) faithfully will we transmit them to our children. Wo. of the States Rights school, have been identified in the late election with the great Democratic party. That patty has triumphed, and I sincerely sympathize in their triumph. Grnt ful should we be for this, as for all the least of God's blessings cn our efforts in the right direction. At a moment when defeat would have been destructive to the peace and order of our common country?when revolution and anarchy would have been the consequence of a triumph to those whose motto seems to be "rule or ruin," the canvass has resulted as the people of the State desired, in the appointment of Electors favorable to our views? favorable to the election of a distinguished citizeu of Pennsylvania, ripe in statesmanship, experien-"'1 ?<! dinlnmnov. sound in riinstitutional vv>. uuu , ? law, of honesty and remarkable equanimity. It is j true, lie is not familiar with Southern society, and knows not the people who so warmly sustained him ; but I regard it as due to our own share in the late contest?to the common bond of union which still subsists?to the few persistent majorities, and the several respectable minorities in the North and East?to the fair promises and honest purposes of the President elect himself, to render to his administration a candid consideration and reasonable, generous support. So long as it shall prove able to resist the sinister influence which will be brought to bear upon it by those who possess the design and facility to combine against the interests of the plantation States, so long, I am persuaded, you will be unwilling to embarrass or obstruct its legitimate progress. Maintaining firmly, however, the principles of States Rights, State Equality, we will devote our energies to the increase of the moral power, the productive capital, and the commercial independence of the Commonwealth. Puiday Evening. Dec. 12. My letter of Tuesday, I notice, did not appear in this week's issue; and I presume it did not reach you in time, You must place the censure upon the Post-Office at this place. At any rate, the fault is not mine. I have been more than once taken to task for my wholesale criticism upon the calibre of the country delegation, in the last Esqukkr. To tell the truth, the remark was rather too "wholesale"; but I think the most evonly-tempered among you would have been provoked to make it. You remember that it was written in connection with the the resolutions in regard to bank taxation. This measure had for us but one face; right in principle, correct in policy, just to all and conservative of our own interests in its practical operation, the resolution ought to have received the hearty support of every member from the rural districts.? | Nevertheless, the Charleston Delegation, looking [ solely to tho interests of their constituency, united ! against it, and rode rough-shod through the ring. ! When the debate ended, Mr. Winsmith could not ! gather around him a coiporal's guard. Now, t doubtless, there arc several Yery able men in the i House, outside of Charleston; but can that kind j of ability be called talent which, when it is called , for, proves itself ineflicent and devoid of influence? : Within my experience, I know of scarcely a sin| gle important act of legislation which has been ! nonlnel ?l,a InflnnnKO fllB fill firlpst Oil I VJiVUlVH U^.HIIOW lug iiliiuviivv W. - ? | Delegation. They "rule the ranchc." This is i what I meant to say, and, like the notable witness, j I "slick to it";?not from any feeling of partialiI ty, however: for I have yet to acquire enough of j the dog's spirit to "love the whip" that constantly ! lashes me. In the House, last evening, Mr. Boylston's bill j "to amend the judiciary system of this State," passed the second reading by a majority of 3?Mes srs. Chambers and White in the affirmative, and and Mr. Black in the negative. This bill provides i for an additional Judge aud Solicitor, a new ciri cuit, a through re-arrangement of existing circuits, and that the appeal court shall, as at pres! ent, consist of six I have before alluded to the ! effect upon the courts in our locality. The dcj rangemeut of the circuits is the only ground of 1 serious opposition. Every member desires to pre| serve his own locality harmless, and such is the extent of the dissatisfaction that, if the Senate j approve the bill, I would not be surprised if the | House should reject it on the third reading. I trust not, however. As a whole the bill is a good | one, especcially so as it will serve as a permanent j block in the way of the seperate appeal court j scheme; and members should certaiuly have suffi| cientjiberality to sacrifice their individual pref; erences and their petty local interests for tho genj eral good. The candidates for the new Judge-ship and for j Solicitor of the new circuit, arc preparing in advance for the canvass. Among the former, I have .heard the names of Solicitor Fair, of Newberry, j Mr. John A. Inglis, of Cheraw, Mr. F. J. Moscs^ i of Sumter and Mr. Aidricli of Barnwell. | The House also perfected, yesterday, and passed I ou the second reading a very important measure, ; introduced by Mr. Meinmingor, "to extend the j system of Public Education." This scheme proj vides : 1. That the Commissioners of Free Schools lay out one or more school divisions in each district, and erect for each a commodious schoolhouse with suitable furniture?the expense to be defrayed one half by the school-district and tho j other by the State. 2. That they procure suitable j teachers and books, and admit all children, rich and poor alike, between the ages of 7 and 17, regulating tho number and salaries of teachers and the syslom of instruction to suit their particular locality. 3. That the expenses of each school be borne, one half by the State, and one half by a tax upon all pprsons residing in the school-district ; and to this end each Hoard is empowered to levy a tax not exceeding twenty-five per cent., as now done by the Commissioners of the Poor. 4. Each District can elect for itself whether to adopt this plan, or continue to use tho proportion of the free-school fund as now provided by law. This, you will see, is practically a Common School system, providing for the eJucation of all classes in common; and in addition to the present tax exacts the amount which would otherwise be | paid for tuition fees?thus securing a good school I in every neighborhood and making it the intereit ] of every citizen to send his children to it. I con! fess that, at the first blush, the plan accords with I my judgment. It is really designed as an cxperij ment, to be perfected in future; and if it results ; in no good, it can work no injury. And all will i agree, I think, that any system would be preferaj hie to that now in operation. The bill passed the House by a large majority?73 to 45 ; your deleI gation voting unanimously against it. The fate i of the scheme iu the Senate is, of course, yet to ! be determined. j The bills to increase the Governor's salary, and i those of the Judges, were brought up in the House, j to-day. and rejected. Verily, your readers may be sure of their pockets, this session. The opposition "agin all appropriations" is really becoming ; alarming; especially iu regard to small matters. To speak seriously, there is nothing which more j richly deserves tho contempt of sensible men than : that trifling and despicable spirit exhibited by ; representatives, who, fancying thus to ingratiate j tbomscRes into the popular esteem, make it a ! rule to vote against any "appropriation of whatever i kind. Introduce any sort of a bill involving ex-' ; penditure, no matter how conducive to the public j good, aud I can tell you with unfailing certainty j the names of twenty or thirty members who will vote against it. They do nothing else. Utterly destitute of principle, and without one particle of j liability or independence of character, they trim ! their course with an eye single to the next election; j i and vote for nothing, and do nothing, which can j in any event affect their personal popularity.? i j They do not seem to learn from the past: they do not appear to know that, in the end, the people i always repudiate the man who never dares to j think for himself?the demagogue. If they could j learn from experience, their own regard for sclfj promotion would prompt them to act in strict ac! cordancc with an cnlighted judgment, and leave ; the consequences where they belong. Watch snch i men ; like Shakspcare's music-haters, they arc | "not to be trusted." Every one will admit that it is bad economy to ! pay small prices for public services. It is true | that men can be had at any price; but men of j ability, reliable men, command a premium in our : day. It is evident that, in consequence of the increased prices of living, the compensation of our Judges is utterly inadequate. They receive three j thousand dollars ; but they are required to be ab-1 sent from their private business and from their j homes, 20 weeks in the year, at an expense of j I more than one-third of their salary. The result i | is that our best lawyers arc loth to go upon the j ! bench: and in a few rears our Courts will detcri- j I orate into real insignificancy. I The Blue Ridge Railroad "enormity" sas also J j brought into discussion. You remember that the j appropriation by the State, two years ago, was | conditional?requiring a subscription of $"?00.000, , by private individuals; and was founded upon the J correct principle that an enterprise which cannot command private subscriptions ought not to rect ive the aid of the State. It turns out that the Blue Ridge scheme is a failure in that respect; ! and, so, the Company now seek to have the condij tion removed, and the subscription made absolute. J Mr. Gregg threw a regular bomb-shell into the camp the-other day, which the President, Judge Frost, sought to extinguish by appearing before j the bar of the House, this evening, and arguing the I claims of the company. The coolness with which : his propositions, for the plunder were demonstrated, was refreshing. Rut they failed. Upon the j conclusion 01 uie auuress, a motion mr iiiuciiiiiiv postponcmcnt wasnbout tusucceed when (liefriends of the measure, that all-powerful Charleston Dele: gation, changed front and agreed to a postpone' inent until Thursday next. This is tantamount to n i defeat for the present session; and lam almost ready to blot out my tirade against our rural reprc! sentatives. But, mark me, the Blue Kidge will walk into the public purse, next year, like a )charm! The Senate agreed substantially to the rcsolu- j tions in regard to Port Royal Harbor; and, also, j to the complimentary resolutions voting a sword j i to our gallant friend, Maj. Hill. Mr. McAlillcy ' submitted a resolution reducing the salary of the | chief Architect of the New State Capitol, to $1000. ; The bill altering the constitution so as to allow j but one day for the election of State Senator and j Representatives, was passed?to go into effect in j 1800. The Senate, finding the House indisposed ' to adjourn on the 18tli, have undertaken to frigh\ ten them by sending a resolution for an extra ses' sioa in May. Don't be surprised if there should 1 be a regular "row" on the premises. Vours, mklto.v. Satu'kday Evening, Dec. 13. The Senate agreed to the resolution, by Mr. ; McAlilly, reducing the salary of the chief archi: tect to ?1,000; and, also, a resolution for the appointment of a joint committee for the investiga ! tion of nil matters relating to the New Capitol.? j The day was taken up, fur the most part, in the I reading of bills. In the House a resolution was agreed to, authorizing the purchase of Werner's cast-iron Palmetto Tree, now in front of the State House, for a monument to the dead of the Palmetto Regiment ?price, $5,000. The anti-appropriation men happened to be "out." They were also absent when a vote was taken, by acclamation, toiucrense the pay of members to $5 per day. The motion was carried almost unanimously?you never heard j such a noise as the very voting made. But unluckily, one ^of them happened to be tKcte and . called for the ayes and noes?a singularly attractive "call" it is, too?and lo! presto change! all of ; them turned up, and put themselves down on tho ' . .. ? lj ' negative! oh, if you could chance to look from be! hind the lobby, now and then, what a rich idea ! you might grab at! For several years a bitter dispute has been ra1 ging in Columbia about the Lunatic Asylum?one j party contending streuuously, upon decided medi- j ; cal authority, that the buildings should bo removed , beyond the suburbs of the town ; and the other, demanding further appropriation* for the erection of new buildings upon the present site. The mat- j ter was brought up nt the last session ; ar.J again, j this winter, upon the report of the Committee re- t commending an appropriation of $17,000, together i with an unexpended balance of $13,000, for the j erection of a building designed for the males in I the cast wing. The report was adopted, against j the wishes of those who contended for the removal of the institution ; and the question, it is to be j hoped, pnt^t rest forev.r. The House adopted a resolution authorizing the j appointment of Commissioners to codify the Stat- j ute law of the State, and report upon prison dis- J cipline and any reforms that may be required in i our Criminal code. The salary of the Commis- ' sinners was left to be determined hereafter. This j i3 one of the most important measures of the scs- , sioti: and we must earnestly hope that the Senate will concur in it. The session closed, to-night, with an entertaining buttle on the subject of the adjournment. The House refused to come to terms; but agreed to adjourn on Monday the 22nd. They are intently ! at work, however, and I thiuk it will be ascertain- I e?l that un earlier day can be made practicable. It is very late, ami my "time-honored" regard for Sunday warns mc to desist. Yours truly, mbltox. Monday Evening, Dec. 14. Both Houses have been busily employed to-day in making head way with the business on the Calendar. The Senate was in session but & short time, having perfected legislation up to the point i ' reached by the House; and they are waiting very ! I impatiently and noisily for somo movement towards an adjournment. Early in the day, the j House took up a message proposing to adjourn on Friday; but nfter another spirited struggle, laid it j on the table. As yet the money matters?the tar | and appropriation bills?have not been introduced; and, yon know, with the utmost dispatch | these can not be perfected in less than three days | for each branch of the Legislature. 1 do not now j ! sec therefore, how an adjournment can be effected , before Monday. I The Senate has agreed to the resolution making ' additional appropriations for the Lunatic Asylum. I Mr. Middletoti's Dbunion resolutions were nn! ceremoniously laid upon the table. The resolutions reducing the salary of the Chief J I Architect were referred to the Special Committee . i on the new State Capitol, in the carc of which they I 1 will probably remain indefinitely. The House refused to grant an additional ap: propriation to the Cheraw and Darlington Rail- j road Company, in the way of an endorsement of j ; their bonds to the amount of $75,000. This com- j pany has nlready received the benefit of the Stato 1 subscription, amounting to one fouvtli of the cap- j | ital stock; and, in regard to this as well as other ] ; roads, it seems to be the settled policy uot to cx- j cced this amount. The finances of the Stato are, i | just now, more in danger from railroads than from all other kinds of encroachment" ; and you will be gratified to learn that the let-alone policy has 1 come to be uppermost. j To-night, the bill to repeal the Usury Laws ro- j ceived a .very genteel quiet us?the vote being ou a i motion for indefinite postponement, oyes 61, nays I 45. Your delegation voted with the majority. { The report of the Comptroller General on the acrnnntu nf the ('iituwba Indians, was submitted to-day. The amount agreed to be paid to the In- j j dians in the treaty of 1840?$5,000, and $1,500 ; S annually for nine years?is $18,500 00 which has j been increased by interest to $24,74758. Of; this amount an unpaid balance remains, of $1,- | 187 47. I am under the impression, howevpr, that the Comptroller has neglected to compute interest from 1853, which will materially increase the remainder. The amount can easily be expended during the next year ; and. even if they did not themselves desire it, the failure of the State ! aid would compel the removal of the Indians to ! the West. The following Acts have passed both Houses, i and gone through the Engrossing office:? An .-lc/to revive and renew the incorporation of the Charleston Port Society for promoting the : Gospel among Seamen. An An to incorporate the State Agricultural ! Society of South Carolina. .An Act to incorporate the South Carolina Re! gatta Club. j An Act to incorporate the Liurcnsvillc Female | College. An Art to authorize the formation of a Volunteer Company of Pviflemen within the limits of the Independent Battalion. A Bill to alter and amend the tenth section of ! the first article of the Constitutiofi of this State. An Act to incorporate the Columbia Atherimum. : .4/1 Act to incorporate Newberry College of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. .4/1 .4c/ to incorporate the Colombia Steamboat Company. I .4/i .4c/ to incorporate the "Groenville and French Broad Bail road Company," within the limits of South Carolina. .4/i Act to incorporate the Mutual Benefit Loan Association. Yours, melton. ggy Persons desirous of purchasing land or j negro property, would do welll to consult the ad- | i vertiscmcnts of the Commissioner in this issue.? The negroes advertised, we are informed, arc as ! fine a lot as can be found in nny market. Adjocbnmknt or the Legislature.?The House ' yesterday adopted a resolution to adjourn on Sat: urday, 20th inst. The Senate will no doubt con- j nur f'/t m I in in ii 17//< in.it/inl. j ?3?" There was a light lull of snow iu Wilming" | ton, N. C., on Sunday last. |#1? Gen. Rufus Welch, the great circus and menagerie proprietor, died lately iu New York. i ?+??? A correspondent thinks that Utah will be ! admitted into the Union at the present session of ; ' Congress, and that she will be a slave State. i The Southern Commercial Convention ad- j i to meet at Knoxville, Tennessee, on the second I , Monday in August, 18">7. feifA student of medicine in Michigan, having j courted a girl a year, aDd got the mitten, has j turned round and sued her father for the visits he ; I paid her. I There are in New York at least two thous- j and gambling houses, and probably a hundred : j Faro banks in full blast, and were never in a more prosperous condition than now. | Fremont in Vjrcixia.?The entire votecastfor i Fremont in the Sta e of Virginia was 291, viz: J Alexandria 1, Brooke 40. Hancock 100, Marshall ! 20, Monongalia 2, Ohio 1 OS, Shenandoah 5, Scott | 5, Upshur 10. ' Fugitive Slaves in Canada.?We see it stated i in the Canada papers that a movement i3 on foot l in Canada to secure the passage of an act of Parj liament by which fugitiro slaves may be sent back j to the United States. I flSsTOn the Buena Vista plantation, owned by Wm. H. Harris, states in the Vicksburg Whig that four negro men and two girls picked, betweon daylight aud sunset, one day recently, 7,750 pounds of cotton, and kept it up for ten days. Number cf Delegates.?The Savannah Georgian & Journal of tho 9th states that the whole I mm m m number of Delegates to the Southern Commeroisl Convention, who had registered their names to that date was little less than 800. The States represented are Maryland, Virginia, North. Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. Negroes Hcno.? Four negroes, implicated in a conspiracy to rebel, were hung in Dover Tennessee, a few days since. Poor, deluded devils, they swing, tvbile the white-faced, black-hearted abolition devils who incite them, go scot-free! Montgomery Alabama Advertiser. OuTWAun-bou.nd.?The Rev. Jos. Cross, D. D., with a part of bis family, left this city, Saturday last, by Steamer Nashville, tor New York, whence he takes passage to Earope. The Rev. F. A. Mood, A of this city, will soon leave by ship direct to Li- fl verpool.?Charleston Courier. ^ The Extent or the Cottom Crop.?Soma two weeks ago, the estimates of the present crop of cotton, made by prominent commercial homes in New York, for their Liverpool and other European friends, were as follows: Wright & Co., under 3,000,000 bales; Talmaa & Co., not to exceed 3,000,000 bales; Neill Brothers 8,200,000 bales; Stewart & Co., 3,300,000bales. Free Steerage.?This great measure, which will secure to all persons in this State who are entitled to vote for members of the House of Commons, the right to vote also for Senators, has passed both houses of the General Assembly, and will be submitted to the people for approval or rejection in August next. We entertain no doubt of its approval by an immense majority.?North Carolina Standard. A Brisk Business.?On Monday and Tuesday last, there were no less than twelve marriage licenses issued from the Clerk's office of this county. All things considered, this is a brisk business. There have been one hundred and four marriages in this county during the present year, seventeen licenses for which were issued during the first nine days of the present month. Bedford ( Virginia) Sentinel. . -ew ' { A Chance foe Some One.?In one of the towns in Ohio there is an" editor who wants to selLoat, because (as he suys confidentially In a printed circular) "he is dissatisfied with the town and-the people who inhabit it, and believo the people.are equally dissatisfied with him; besides, there is a great deal too much meanness and ignorance among ihnm to suit him." There is an eligible opening for some agreeable young man. Washington City, Dec. 16.-A Methodist preacher from Louisiana hound homeward woe arrested to-day on board the steamer jTelegraph, under suspicious circumstances. A carpet bag jo his possession was found filled with Incendiary-documents, and the oridcnce is clear that he has liden engaged in running slaves to the freo States. In his possession were found docomeuts which implicates several distinguished northerners. Dividend.?We nnderstond (says the Wimtboro Register,) that the Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad, will pay a dividend of three dollars per share on and after the first Monday in January next, being at the rate of 6 per et. Yel the stock has been sold within a short time past as low as $57 per share. We are pleased to; know that the Road is doing well, nndet-its very industrious and indefatigable President. ' . A XovEr. Pi'KcrLATioN.?The Washingtonpor- j respondent of the Philadelphia Inquire^ states ' that soma adventurous individuals hrrve purchased of the proprietor of Mount Vernon ail tbetrees and shrubbery left on the estate, at a.cost of twenty thousand dollars, and that tho~same parties have erected a large baildingnoar the railroad d$put in Washington, at a cost of probaWy $10,000 more. This largo outlay is to be reimbursed by the manufacture and sale at Washington or Mount Verr.on canes. > r - -? <?? ? Fief,.?We regret to learn that the house of Dr. S. II. Prcssly was entirely consumed by fire on the night of the 2d inst. The family were in attendance at Church when the fire occurred. Nothing was saved except the furnitnre of the parlor and dining-room. The Rev. Mr. Phelps, who was staying with Dr. Pressly at the time, lost something like six hundred dollars worth of books. It is not known how the fire originated.?Darlington Flag. : v '- * ''! ~ Paying a Member ron Doing Nothing.?The net of lite last session for compensating members of Congress pays members about $25 per day for attendance, and dedncts $8.33^ for each day*# absence ; so that a member who stays away during his whole term will henceforth be entitled to draw about $4000 from the treasury. This is a pretty good premium fordoing nothing. If the principle + is right of making a deduction on account of absence. the amouut deducted should at least be equal to the amount received for being present Philadelphia Ledger. IIoos.?Within the past two weeks a large number of "grnnters" have arrived in Spbrtaqburg, hut in nearly every instance left within a Yew hours after they arrived. One sale, howeter, was made on Wednesday, the 3d inst, of about thirty, to take the market price at Christmas. Oa Tburfc: day several sales were made, amouuting in all to about ninety-six, at CJ. This, wo think, is rathe* 'too little pork for the shilling." The price now asking for pork is exorbitant, and we would suggest to our citizens the propriety of fattening it few more beeves, and using them instead.?Spartanburg Exprtu. ? - ft ' * ?.?-tw Rev. Dr. Palmer.?This gentleman, who has recently accepted the pastoral charge of the Piret Presbyterian Church in this city, arrived yesterday from Charleston with his family. Dr. P. is a gentleman of high reputation, no leas for his eloquence and learning, as displayed iu the pulpit, than for his amiability and general goodness in the walks of private life. We have no donbt that his congregation will be strongly nud sincerely attached to him from the first. He will deliver bis J first sermon to morrow, nt 11 o'clock, in Odd Fel- 1 lows' Hall, wjjerc the congregation meet during the rebuilding of their church. Arrangements have been made for heating the hall, so that no discomfort from the weather need be apprehended. Nete OrUam Ct'aeenl.Glh. The Slave Trade.?The Southern papers talk of re-opening the foreign slave trade. Should such be the case, we shall expect to see a general illumination in Bosson. It is a notorions fact, that eli<i A (Vioon uln vn two A hao Uaam I O nAoe ** ?-! ? viuuv u?3 www, 19 uun, auu iu all probability always vrill be, carried on by Northern hands. The vessels engaged in that trade are built and owned in Now York and New England. and are manned mostly by NewEnglanders. It would seem a little inconsistent that Abolitionists should be in favor of the slave trade, with all the horrors of the middle passage, bnt the inconsistency is not real. Revive the slave trade, and they enlarge the sphere of their commercial operations, supply the South with negroes with, one hand and steal them away with the other. This has been their mode of operations from the beI ginning, and we suppose it will continue so to the I end.?Syracuse Courier. Extraordinary Pricks for Slaves.?A letter from Lexington, Geo., December 2d, to the Augusta Chronicle, says:? About $100,000 worth of property was sold here ! to day?land and slaves. Some of the salea were ahead of anything we have ever heard. A'slave girl, 15 years old, sold for $1,280; another girl 14 years old, sold for $1,280; a girl, 14 years old, for $1,305; a girl, 18 years old, for $1,500 ; a boy, 18 years old, for $1,290; a man, 22 years old, for $1,500. They belonged to the estate of John Wynn, deceased, and were sold on a credit of 12 months. There wore fifty-seven of Wynn's slaves sold to-day, and brought $44,026. Of these a great number (more than ordinary^ were women and children, and a few diseased and old, sold low. a^tmnian cluroe fva 1 <1 kuiwla JL IIvy r* VI c tymwvu ctcawo unuw. But the most extraordinary sales were of three slaves belonging to the estate of Mrs. Mary Watson. Lcatli, a girl 16 years old, sold for $1,625 ; Harriet, about 20 years old, and child In her arms, sold for $1,840;?terms 12 months. Machine for Cuttixg Dow* Trees.?There is on exhibition in the Mechanics' Exchange, Sua Iron Building, a workiug model of a machiue for cutting down trees. It belongs to that class of inventions which arc manifestly practical and eminently useful, and convince the observer at a glance that iuveutivc genius has achieved a great restdt from the simplest means. An iron frame is maue to clasp the tree, and from this frame a chiselshaped knifeisbrougbt into contact with the trunk. By the turning of a wrench, the chisel is worked round and round the tree, cutting its way to the centre. The inventor chums for it an efficiency equal to the felling of a tree of four feet in diamtor in half an hour. As it cuts only a narrow groovo, il saves, a considerable portion of the butt of each tree. It will also cut so close to the ground as to leav^ no stump above tho surface, while it prepares a square butt ready for the mill. It is tho invention of Mr. C. G. Ehrsam, and iswell worthy the attention of persons interested in so valuable an instrumentality of ''progress" in this j country. v - - <- ^ fill ~