Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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tumorous gcpattment. DINAH'S STOCKINGS. Cuffee Johnsou wa3 a white washer by profession. His sign, painted in straggling, uneven letters, so informed the passer-by in Sullivan street. An airy colored dandy was Cuffee, in spite of his poverty and bad clothes. When he sallied out, with bis brush over his right shoulder, his pail of whitewash in his left hand, and his hat balanced airily on the side of his woolly head, all the admiring wenches showed their admiration in broad grins. But if he was captivating in his working clothes, how shall I describe him in his eveniug and Sunday dress?the dress in which he leaned against lamp-posts and wore in his hours of relaxation ? T")in?Vi WhpHpW wna nt thic finip hv r?n?n mon consent, the darkey belle of Thompson street. Her hair was the kinkiest, her skin the shiniest, her teeth the whitest, and her lips the thickest. Dinah was the daughter of poor but honest parents. Her father was connected with the peanut interest, and her mother drank bad gin with assiduity worthy a better cause. Therefore, Dinah's exchequer was as lean as a church motlse. Her wardrobe was not extensive. Her education had been sadly neglected. In the course of Thompson and Sullivan street events, it fell out that Cuffee Johnson and Dinah Hucklebee fell in love. Cuffee was an attentive lover. He took his Dinah to the colored balls?and right here my story properly commences. There was to be a grand Terpsichorean event?the greatest Ethiopean shin-dig of the season. The swell waiters of the Broadway restaurants were to be there, and the waves of excitement in colored society ran high. "Shall we go ?" said Cuffee. "If yer says so," replied Dinah, showing her ivories in blissful anticiDation. That settled it The night came; and Cuffee called for his Dinah in ample season. His get-up was of the most agonizing description. It actually included a "biled shirt" and a paper collar. But Cuffee found his Dinah in tears, burning tears. "What under goodness is de matter, Dinah ?" questioned Cuffee. "J c?c?can't g?go," whispered the sable beauty. "An' why, in de name of common sense, can't you go?" "'Cause I ain't got no stockin's, Cuffee. Pop promised to get me some to-day, but he didn't?an' now I c?can't g?go." The sight of his sweetheart in tears fired Cuflfee'8 manhood. "This hain't no time for hesitation," he exclaimed, waving his arms in melodramatic style; "this are a time for action. Wait you here my Dinah until I return." Out he bounded, leaving the stockiugless belle in doubt as to his sanity. "He's got 'em for sure," she murmured. "I tole him dat Robinson's whisky was de wust whisky in de hull ward. He's got 'era for sure." Within ten minutes Cuffee returued, bearing the implements of his trade?a brush and a pail of whitewash. "You shall go, Dinah," he cried. "You shall go. I've got a idea. Stick out your ieeu Dinah did as she was bidden, and by a few dexterous brushes by the artist in lime, they were neatly whitewashed. "Have 'era long or short ?" he paused to ask. " 'Bout raiddlin', CufTee," was the reply. "Middlin' it is; stand up a second. There yer are, an' a whiter, cooler, or better fittin' pair of stockin's no gal ever had. "Yes, an' dey saves garters, too, Cuffee." And so they went to the ball in spite of adverse circumstances, and were the jolliest company of jolly negroes in the whole jolly assemblage. Cuffee thinks of getting out a patent on his invention, but Dinah says if she catches him furnishing any other girl with whitewash stockings, she will break his skull with a paving-stone. GATHERING "LORLS." Col. Jack W tells a good joke on a sergeant of his own regiment, the ?th Texas Cavalry, which occurred during the late unpleasantness. Sergeant Willey was a lank, gawky, but impulsive son of the wilds of the Lone Star State; worthless as a soldier, and still worse as a non-commissioned officer, he nevertheless was enabled to maintain his grade, owing to a peculiar tact which he possessed of procuring forage when all others would fail. One wet moraine he aDDeared with a lone face before his colonel's tent, and grumbled something against the sergeant major of the regiment, and which Col. W finally understood to be a complaint that Willey was put on picket duty out of his turn. The story seemed so plausible when it was clearly placed before the colonel that the sergeant-major was summoned to the tent, and in a few minutes it was agreed that an unintentional injustice had been done to Willey, and the party separated. "Never mind, Willey," said the sergeantmajor, as they walked off together, "when your turn comes again you shall be exempted from duty." "That's well enough," grumbled Willey, "but it mayn't be a wet Dight." "That doesn't matter, Willey," again said the sergeant-major. "When this war is over, this little trial will be counted as another laurel for you." Willey left his superior, and for half an hour after was noticed wandering about alone muttering something unintelligible. At last Willey made straight for the colonel's tent, and without preliminary, apostrophized him in a twangey voice: "Kernel," he said, "what's a lorl ?" "A what?" said Col. W. "A lorl ?' again asked Willey in a louder tone. "A what ?" "What's a lorl ?" this time fairly shrieked | Willey. Col. W. was now nearly out of patience, being as little informed as before on the lorl subject. "Willey," said the colonel, "if you will only tel| me who uttered that word in your presence and under what circumstances it was uttered?if you tell mo something that occurred immediately before or after it was uttered?I may be able to enlighten you." Willey then explained how the sergeantmajor had spoken of his laurels. "Oh," said Col. W , "I understand. "Well, you see, Willey, when the ancient Romans returned triumphant from the wars their brows were crowned with leaves of laurel, which are synonymous with glory." "NVilley slowly crept away, apparently understanding the situation less than ever. In due course of time, one dark, cold rainy night, while Willey was snoring vigorously, he was awakened from his sleep and ordered to go on picket duty with a squad of men. In a few minutes he had hitched up his clothes and, rushing out of his tent, he yelled out frantically to his men, "Come on, boys, we are going after some of them cussed lorls!" + ? I?" A Pennsylvania young man had a lady friend who was the fortunate possessor of half a dozen gold fish. He went fishing one day and caught a pound trout He preserved it alive, thinking it would be a nice companion for a gold fish, and concluded to surprise the young lady by putting it into the aquarium while she was away. The surprise was complete ; for the trout swallowed all the gold fish, and then calmly turned over on its dorsal fin and died of indigestion. ? jjgy A negro held a cow while a cross-eyed man was to knock her on the head with an axe. The negro, observing the man's eyes, in some fear inquired, "You gwine to hit whar you look?" "Yes." "Den," said cuffee, "hold de cow yourself, I ain't gwine to let, you hit me." I gfpadment. [Original.] ADVICE. It matters not what is dear or scarce, advice is always cheap, and advisors are always in great abundance. If a young man or woman wants to be told wherein he or she has done wrong, and in what way amends can be made, nothing more is required than to submit the case to every one that is met. Everybody feels confident in pointing out the errors of every other body, and every one professes to understand perfectly well by what plans others could succeed, whilst in all probability the life of the advisor has been to no purpose, and he himself is nothing but a worthless drone. The simple fact that advisors are so abundant, and advice so cheap, should make us suspicious of the persons and cause as to attach but little value to their advice. Good things are generally scarce, and cheap goods are usually poor goods and dear in the end. We do not advise young persons to rely entirely on their own judgment. This is a dangerous extreme; but no more dangerous than to suspend our own judgment, and rely wholly upon the judgment of others. Experience teaches that it is a mark of wisdom in a young man not to make known his plans and aims any more than can be avoided. A general, who is worthy of the name, never sits down and narrates, to even the commissioned officers in his army, his plans of future campaigns. He has his war councils to be sure, but they are composed of a few, not of the multitude. It may be set down as a 6xed fact that the young man who will be counseled and advised by no one, will soon work his own ruin. This is one of the extremes. The other is the young man who never does anything without consulting everybody he meets. Such a boy can never make a great and useful man. He may make a good kind of a fellow; but it will be a good for nothing fellow. No man is capable of giving good advice but a man of wisdom and experience, and a man of wisdom and experience is very cautious in advising others. As a rule, the multitude of advisers are not remarkable for anything but giving advice which they have never followed. From such persons advice comes with a bad grace. It is like an old and incorrigible toper abusing drunkards and drunkenness. It is often better to consult the dead than the living. A young man can get more good advice by reading good books than by talking to living men. It is wonderful, the amount of good and practical knowledge of men and things, a boy of ordinary common sense and industry can acquire by reading the Bible and such works as Shakspeare. From such books he sees himself as he is, and in seeing himself he gets a good view of the whole human family. One advantage of gettin? advice from books, and not from living O r w men, is that when living men advise us, they think that we should look up to them ever after and feel dependant upon them. This is the pay they require. They give us five cents worth of advice and expect us to serve them a life time. Books make no such demands. A BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT. A young man once ran away from the galleys of Toulouse. He was strong and vigorous, and arrived next morning before a cottage, and stopped to get something to eat, and get a refuge while he reposed a little. But he found the inmates of the cottage in the greatest distress. Four little children sat trembling in the corner?their mother sat weeping and tearing her hair, and the father was walking the floor in agony. The galley-slave asked what was the matter, and the father replied that they were that morning to be turned out of doors, because they could not pay their rent. "You see me driven to despair," said the father, "my wife and my little children without food or shelter, and I without means to provide for them." The convict listened to the tale with tears of sympathy and said : "I will give you the means. I have just escaped from the galleys. Whosoever brings back an escaped prisoner is entitled to a reward of fifty francs. How much does the rent amount to ?" "Forty francs," answered the father. "Well," said the other, "put a cord around ray body. I will follow you to the city, where you will get fifty francs for bringing me back." "No, never!" exclaimed the father. "My children starve before I would do so base a thing." The generous man insisted, and declared that he would go and give himself up if the father would not take him ; the latter yielded, and taking his preserver by the arm, led him to the city, and to the Mayor's office. Everybody was surprised to see that a little man had been able to capture such a strong young fellow. The fifty francs were paid, and the prisoner sent back to the galleys. But after he was gone, the father asked a private interview with the Mayor, to whom he told the whole story. The Mayor was so much affected, that he not only added francs to the father's purse, but wrote immediately to the Minister of Justice, begging the noble young prisoner's ' ? ^1- - A??niviinA4^ mf A f liQ release. mu luimsiei cahiuiucu mw <.u^ affair, and finding it was a comparatively small offense which had condemned the young man to the galleys, and that he had already served out half of his term, ordered his release. LOVE WINS* LOVE. "Mother, the birds all love father," said a little boy of five summers, as he stood with his mother watching the robins enjoying their morning meal of cherries from the old tree that overhung the house. "Does anybody else love father, Charlie ?" "0, yes ! I love him, and you love him ; but we know more than the birds." "What do you think is the reason the birds j love your father ?" Charlie did not seem to hear this question, j He was absorbed in deep thought. "Mother," at last he said, "all creatures love father. My dog is almost as glad to see him as he is me. Pussy, you know, always comes to him. and seems to know exactly what he is saying, i V.ven the nlrl mw follows him all round the meadow, and the other day I saw her licking j his hand just as a dog would. What can be j the reason, mother ?" I "Think, Charlie; try and find out a reason yourself." | "I think it is because father loves them, mother. You know he will often get up to j give pussy something to eat; and he pulls carrots for the cow, and pats her, and talks | to her; and somehow I think his voice never sounds so pleasant as when he talks to the i creatures." "I think his voice sounds pleasant when he i is talking to his little boy." Charlie smiled. "Father loves me," he said, "and I love him dearly. He loves the birds, too, I am sure. He whistles to them i every morning when they are eating cherries, and they are not a bit afraid of him, though : he is almost near enough to catch them. ! Mother, I wish everything loved me as well as they do father." "Do as your father does, Charlie, and they will. Love all things and be kind to them. Do not speak roughly to the dog. Do not pull pussy's tail, nor chase the hens nor try to frighten the cow. Never throw stones at the birds. Never hurt nor tease anything. Speak gently and lovingly to them. Feed them and seek their comfort, and they will love you, and everybody that knows you will love you too." leading for the $ahfcath. CONDUCTED BY REV. ROBERT LATHAN. i [Original.] BAD DISPOSITION. It is often said that it takes all kinds of men and all sorts of things to make a world. This may be true. In fact it is true; for in this world we have an inbnite variety of men and things. Variety in things contributes to the beauty of the universe. The same is true with regard to the variety which exists amongst the human family. The fact that amongst the millious of human faces and trninoq lini-o ore nn tiun ovnollw fllitn id Pmi -""""J ? nently calculated to increase our reverence for the Maker of us all. The dissimilarity which exists amongst the different members of the human family with respect to disposition and temperament, is very great, and eminently conducive to the happiness of the several individuals, and to the good of the whole. Variety, however, with regard to disposition, has transcended its original bounds. We read in the Bible of certain individuals who were possessed with devils. The same is true yet. There are individuals in the present period of the world's history who, if not possessed with devils, may be said to possess devilish or devil like dispositions. This we conceive is not speaking disrespectfully of God as the author of the universe; for we feel satisfied that there are several things in this world that God never made. They are not his creatures, neither directly nor indirectly, although he suffers, for wise and holy purposes, their existence. Sin exists in a multitude of forms, aud we know that it is impossible for God to sin. Under the general head of sin may be placed much of the disposition which is in all men, and all of the disposition which is in some men. We read in First Samuel, of a certain man in David's day, by niU rt nma an/tk o dan aP llie nuillc ui iiauni, nnu n?o ouvn u ouu ui Belial that a man could not speak to him. This Nabal seems to have been a regular snarler. He had no love in his heart for any one, and nothing good to say of any one, or to any one. As his name implies, he was wick-1 edly foolish. He let his corrupt passions and wicked disposition so far control him as to cause him to do and say things which put himself and his household in imminent danger. There are few men who bear the name of Nabal now; but unfortunately for themselves, and for the general good of mankind, there are some men yet who are such sons of Belial that a man cannot speak to them. We say unfortunate for the individuals themselves, for they arg actually miserable. Life to such persons resembles more than anything else the life of a hyena in an iron cage. It is unfortunate for the world that any persons possess such a disposition as Nabal. Such persons keep up a continual war in their own breast, and in the community in which they dwell. It is a profitable exercise to study the philAn/\?\Utr aP n Karl rli'onAoifi'nn Tt Ja nnf. nn.t.11- I USUpli y l/i (4? W?U UlOpVOIVlVUt av IW MVV mmvw ral. We mean a bad disposition was not given to man when God made him. There is no doubt but that it is one of the many sad and ruinous effects of the fall. It is a child of sin?the work of Satan. The disposition of all men is bad. We see it in babes in the cradle. They are iritableaud impatient. As a rule, the disposition as exhibited by the words and acts of the individual, is a good index of the moral state of the affections. A snarling tongue is moved by a snarling heart. The temperament or disposition is subject to education, and especially is it moulded and controled by the grace of God. Naturally, and by early education, both Peter and Paul, and probably John, were violent and rash iu words and acts. By the grace of God they became as gentle as lambs. Perhaps in nothing is the work of God's grace so visible as in the effect which it has upon our sinful dispositions. Bad dispositions like every other bad thing, grow with wonderful rapidity and attain fearful magnitude. It is related as a historic fact relative to Nero, the most beastly cruel of the Roman Emperors, that when he was young, and it became necessary for him to sign the death warrant of. a malefactor, that it so affected him that he wished he had never learned to write. This tender hearted youth became one of the most heartless monsters on which the sun has ever shone. We often hear of sour dispositions. A sour disposition is generally a sign of a sour heart. Disappointment is the heritage of man in this world ; but God's grace enables his people pleasantly to triumph over disappointments. In a social point of view, the cultivating of a bad disposition leads to many very foolishly wicked acts. Men have been known to let their bad dispositions get the mastery over them so far, that they hated the property of their enemies, and had no scruples in attempting to destroy it. Individuals have been heard of who delighted in inflicting pain upon the dumb brutes which belonged to their enemies. This is Nero-like. Or rather it is devil-like. With regard to our bad dispositions we all should remember that we live in continual * ^ ??' /-vl AM nr\ tYiotr jeopuruy. j\ siunu ui icmuu viwicutu <uaj burst from a cloud not larger than a man's hand. In fact, peals of thunder and streams of lurid lightning may proceed from a sk}'I which is covered with a cloud only in our imagination. Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall. Keep up the Family Attachment.? I One of the saddest things about a large fara: ily who have lived happily together for years i under the old roof-tree, is the scattering to distant homes, which takes place as they grow up, one by one, to years of maturity. It is often the case, that in the cares and bustle of : business, letters grow more and more infre! quent, and finally brothers and sisters will ! sometimes entirely lose sight of each other. I These kindred ties are much too sacred to be j thus lightly severed. It takes such a little while to write a letter, and the expense is so | trifling, there can hardly be an excuse for the ! neglect. A loving family circle thus widely severed i adopted a curious but beautiful plan for keep, ing informed of each other's welfare. The j two most remote on the first of each month j write a part of a page on a large sheet coni taining the principal news of the month, and ! this is sealed and forwarded to the family I next in order. Some member of the house1 hold adds a like contribution and sends it on : to the next, and so on until the whole circle ! is complete. Thus the family circular goes j its rounds twelve times a year, and each one is kept well informed of the joys, sorrows, i *i_ ./ xL. T7* :i__ plana ana pursuits 01 me omen*, ramuj j ! gatherings are frequent in such households, , and the old home attachments never grow ! cold. Sons, in particular, away from home, are 1 apt to grow very neglectful of letter-writing. Oh, if they knew how many heart-aches such i neglect often causes to the loving breast that pillowed their tired heads in childhood, they would not be so thoughtless. If they knew | the joy that a letter brought, and could see i 1 how its lightest words were dwelt over and talked over by the fireside, they would not be so sparing of the messages. Are not some of us sadly in arrears in this particular ? i ?Christian Advocate. IpsaltottMMjs Reading. GARDOZO AND THE BOND FRAUDS. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,) Office of Secretary of State, [ Columbia, August 8, 1872. ) To the Editor of the Phoenix: Sir:?Enclosed please find a copy of a letter that I have addressed to my attorneys, Messrs. Melton & Corbin, which I desire you to publish. The Financial Board of this State have =n<iii fit. to jinnlv. t.hroiicrh Messrs. Morton. ,,vw" "w ? **rrv ? 1 Bliss & Co., of New York, for a peremptory mandamus to compel me to seal more conversion bonds. I have silently and patiently borne the blame for scaling bonds, and have been considered by some ignorant and malicious persona responsible for their issue; and I now deem it an act of simple justice to myself to state to the court and to the public what part I have taken in these transactions. I think my letter will plainly show not only that I am not responsible for the issue of these bonds, but that it was through my care and positive refusal to seal, that several raillions more, perhaps, have not been added to the debt of the State. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, &c., F. L. CARDOZO, Secretary of State South Carolina. Secretary State's Office,") Columbia, S. C., August 6, 1872. j Messrs. C. D. Mellon and D. T. Corbin, Attorneys and Counsellors at Law. Gentlemen :?Having been able to retain your valuable services to show cause why a peremptory mandamus should not be issued by his Honor Judge S. W. Melton, on Wednesday next, August 7, to compel me to seal conversion bonds, I desire to submit a few reasons why I think such a mandamus should not be issued. In November, 1870, I began to suspect that the conversion bonds that had been sealed by me were not being used for the purpose for which they were intended, viz: in exchange for any of the other various bonds that had been issued, or certificates of stock, which were to be cancelled as soon as exchanged, and kept in the Treasury, as evidence of the conversion bonds issued.in their stead. I then endeavored to learn from the Treasurer the purposes for which so many conversion bonds were declared to be needed. He replied that the finances of the State were under the control of a Financial Board, consisting of the Governor, Treasurer and Attorney-General ; and that it was not my province or right to know their action, except so far as I could learn them from the public reports they might make through the Treasurer and Financial Agent; and that he thought it was simply my duty to seal as many bonds as they required. I then communicated with the AttorneyGeneral, requesting from him a written opinion as to whether I had the power to require I from the Financial Board a knowledge of their transactions, before I should take the responsibility of sealing any more bouds. The Attorney-General gave the opinion that my duty was simply ministerial; that I had no I right to know the transactions of the Financial Board ; and that it was my duty to seal as any many bonds as the Treasurer, instructed by the Financial Board, requested ; that the Financial Board had the absolute and ex elusive control of the issue and sale or hypothecation of bonds, and the disbursement of the proceeds of such sales or hypothecations, Though I believe this opinion to be according to the letter of the law, it did not entirely satisfy me, or convince me, that I had no responsibility in the matter, and I therefore determined to use ray utmost exertions to learn whether my suspicions, as to what I deemed to be the misapplication of conversion bonds, were correct or not. During the legislative session of 1870-71, a law was enacted to create what is known as the "sterling funded debt" of South Carolina, and a board of five officers, called the "Sterling Fund Board," was authorized to manage the negotiation of these bonds, which board consisted of the Financial Board referred to, viz: the Governor, Attorney-General and Treasurer, with the addition of the Comptroller-General and myself. I then felt in a better position to remove or confirm my suspicions with regard to the use being made of the conversion bonds, and determined to use my opportunity to the utmost This loan, as those who are acquainted with the law are aware, was to consist of 86,000,000 of bonds, which were to be negotiated in London, and the proceeds of the sale used in the purchase of our other bonds at a lower price in New York, and thus prove a great saving to the State. This was one of the reasons given to the Legislature to secure the passage of the bill. lu accordance with this law, I sealed 83,500,000 of these bonds during the summer of 1871. I then refused to seal any more of these bonds, as I inferred from a conversation with the Treasurer that an effort would be made to execute this law contrary to what I conceived to be the true purpose and intent of the law. The Treasurer informed me that they, the "Sterling Fund Board," had the authority to use the proceeds of the sale of these bonds to pay any existing public debt of the State. I further learned that the existing public debt would probably be very large, perhaps the entire amount of the loan!?86,000,000. This statement astonished me beyond measure. I immediately informed the Treasurer that nothing should be done with the sterling loan bonds except at a full meeting called by the President of the Board through me, the Secretary. I was determined to prevent, if possible, what I conceived to be a diversion of the bonds to a purpose entirely different from what was intended by the law. On inquiry from the Treasurer, by what method it was intended to apply the sterling loan bonds to such a purpose, I was told by him that he proposed issuing sufficient conversion bonds to cover not only all other bonds and stocks that had ever been issued, but also the "sterling loan bonds," and then Himnlvnlaofi t.hem in the Treasury, and report L'-J I y that they had been converted by the holders. The conversion bonds could then be hypothecated for loans by the Financial Board, independently of the Sterling Fund Board, as they (the Fiuancial Board) claimed that they had a right to do, under the lien permitting them to hypothecate any bonds in the Treasury, or in the hands of the Financial Agent, where these bonds were, and the moueys thus obtained used to pay off' all debts hitherto authorized by law. And thus, instead of the sterling loan bonds being sold in London at a higher price than they could bring in New York, and the proceeds of the sale applied to the purchase of our other bonds here, they would have been simply exchanged for conversion bonds which conversion bonds would have been hypothecated for loans, and then forfeited and sold, and the moneys thus obtained applied to the payment of all debts hitherto authorized by law ; and they (the sterling loan V. knnn (in nrlrlitinn an UUlJUSy ?UIIJU lllUd lliiYC UbbX 1**4 Mv.va.ww alleged debt of between $15,000,000 and $16,000,000. It perhaps would not be amiss here to state that the Treasurer, or Financial Board, who had possession of the sterling loan bonds, amounting to 86,000,000, meant to hypothecate these bonds even as late as last March, without the knowledge of the Sterling Fund Board, as such, for loans, and was only prevented from so doing by the timely repeal of the act and cancellation of the bonds by authority of the Legislature. From November, 1870, to this period, (August, 1871,) I sealed, under the advice given by the Attorney-General, sufficient conversion bonds for converting the one million of seven per cent, relief of the Treasury bonds, and $700,000 of the Land Commission bonds, as the Treasurer positively informed me that he desired them for this purpose only. I was coolly informed by the Treasurer, last September, that these same "relief of the Treasury bonds" and "Land Commission bonds," for which I had sealed conversion bonds for the purpose of exchange, and which were so exchanged, had never been canceled, but had been re-issued from the Treasury, and are now either hypothecated for loans or forfeited and sold. The Governor also informed me that these were facts within his own certain knowledge, especially with regard to the "relief of the Treasury bonds." uuring the month ot October, le/i, tne Treasurer requested rae to seal a small amount of bonds, for the express purpose, as he said, of saving a loan of between three and four millions of bonds, which had been hypothecated, and would certainly be sold at a sacrifice, if more collaterals were not put up to save them. I at first refused to do so, reminding the Treasurer that the same reason was alleged several times before, and that I did not feel satisfied of the correctness of his statement. He then requested me to accompany him and the Governor to New York, and satisfy myself, by conferring.with the Financial Agent, of the necessity that existed for the sealing of these bonds, for the purpose of preventing a sacrifice of those hypothecated. The Treasurer requested me to take my seal along with rae, so that no time be lost. I had previously consulted with the Attorney-General 011 the lawfulness of taking my seal to New York, and the Governor on the propriety and necessity of so doing. The Attorney-General assured me it was perfectly legal, and the Governor, that it was necessary. I took on the seal with me very reluctantly, believing I would be in a better position to insist upon knowine t.ha t.rnt.h nf what. T had so lone sus pected. The Treasurer also informed me that the Sterling Fund Board, of which I was a member and Secretary, would meet in New York and take some definite action in regard to the negotation of the sterling fund bonds. This last statement determined me to proceed to New York. I went, and upon the representation there made, sealed $250,000 of bonds. You may imagine my surprise when I saw this amount of bonds, the sealing of which had been performed by me upon the urgent representation that they were absolutely essential, as additional collaterals, to prevent the sacrifice of several millions, handed back to the Treasurer by the Financial Agent, after they were sealed, as being unnecessary for that purpose; and then the Governor informing the Treasurer that he might use them in any manner he pleased ! I soon afterward informed the Treasurer that I would not seal another bond, unless compelled by the courts of the State, where he would be required to make an exhibit of what had been done with the conversion bonds; that I considered the hypothecation of conversion bonds by the Financial Board, which I strongly suspected, as positively illegal; that they were simply for the purpose of exchange, as indicated in their title, and the bonds exchanged, canceled and filed in the Treasury, as vouchers for the con version bonds. This was in October, 18/1. I have not sealed a single bond since, though repeatedly requested to do so both before and after the passage of the Validating Act, which contains an especial clause requiring me to seal for purposes of conversion only, thereby implying that the previous use of the conversion bonds, in hypothecating them for loans, was illegal, and which the Validating Act was supposed to legalize. The Treasurer made an exhibit in November last, wjiich showed that all my suspicions with regard to the use being made of the conversion bonds were correct. Since that exhibit I have positively refused to seal a single bond, telling the Treasurer that I had now positive knowledge from his published report than he had used more than 86,000,000 of conversion bonds for purposes of hypothecation, and which I believe to be forfeited and sold; that I considered this whole amount, which had been sealed by me under the most positive assurance that they were being used solely for the purposes of conversion, misapplied. The Treasurer now assures me that he desires conversion bonds for the purposes of exchange only, but I have received similar assurances several times before, and they have notDeen vermeu Dy suosequent incts; ana i have no authority to insist upon seeing the bonds canceled that are taken in the Treasury in lieu of the conversion bonds issued. The Treasurer resents this as questioning his veracity and integrity. The Treasurer has also informed me that this $182,000 of bonds is only the first installment of 81,700,000 that he desires sealed. If this mandamus, therefore, is granted, I will be compelled to seal that amount at least, and perhaps an indefinite amount more. I hold that I have already sealed sufficient conversion bonds for all legitimate purposes, viz: in exchange for other bonds. I believe l/v Ua i 11 .-von 1 on/1 fllflf if men iijrpuiuceubiuu iu ue m^ai, auu tuwu aa the Treasurer or Financial Board hypothecated them, he or they are personally responsible for the amount so misapplied; and that it is certainly not my duty to seal any more, with the positive facts in my possession which the Treasurer's report of last November shows. It will be seen from that report to the Legislature, page 469 of the reports and resolutions 1871?72, that the public bonded debt is stated as $15,851,327.35. Of this amount there are $7,191,700 of conversion bonds. Only $1,034,402.35 of this amount have been used for the legitimate purposes of the Act, viz: conversion. As will be seen, by reference to page 471, the enormous balance of $6,151,397.75 have been, I claim, fraudulently and illegally used. The relators in this application for manda*1)110 tn onmnol mo tn sjonl whn nlftim to suffer ?vwv -V, vUm,,v. J great pecuniary loss by my refusal to seal, and who threaten to hold me personally responsible for damages, should hold the Treasurer or Financial Board responsible. I have already sealed conversion bonds for the purpose of converting the bonds which they now desire to convert, and which have been certainly once before converted, and perhaps two or three times. If the construction placed upon this Act by the Financial Board be correct, viz: that they had a right to issue conversion bonds without exchanging them for the other.bonds, as they have done to the extent of more than $6,000,000, and thus increase the debt of the State by so much, the Act is unconstitutional. The Constitution, (Art. IX, Sec. 7,) requires three distinct conditions in the passage of all laws contracting public debts, viz: first, that it be passed by the vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch of the General Assembly ; second, that these votes be recorded by yeas and nays on the journals of each House respectively; and, third, that every such law shall levy a tax annually sufficient to pay the annual interest of such debt. It will be seen, by reference to the journals, that the Act was not passed by the required two-thirds vote, nor have the yeas and nays been called and recorded upon the journals; and it will be seen by reference to the Act itself that it has no section requiring the annual levy of a tax sufficient to pay the interest. I repeat, therefore, that the Act is unconstitutional, if the construction placed upon it ! by the Financial Board is correct. But I hold that that construction is not correct. I The Act simply provides for conversion or j exchange of bonds, as its title indicates. The I fact that it was not passed by the General Assembly in accordance with the constitutional requirements referred to above, which they were very careful to observe in the passage of every other act contracting a public debt, proves that they never meant it to increase the public debt. The Act has also internal evidence to show that it cannot bear the construction placed upon by the Financial Board. Section 3 requires that the Treasurer shall receive one dollar tee lor all Donas or swcks excnangeu, and fifty cents for every blank used in the transaction, thereby plainly showing that the conversion bonds, though signed, countersigned and sealed, were regarded as so many i blanks, until they were issued from the Treas-1 ury, and other bonds received in their stead, and of course, canceled and filed as vouchers or evidences of the conversion bonds issued in lieu thereof. 1 know, from repeated conversation with the Treasurer, that the construction now placed upon the "Conversion Act" by the Financial Board is an after thought, a pure invention, devised to extricate themselves from a difficult and perilous position. The rumor has been industriously circulated that I have never kept a registry of any or all of the bonds I have sealed. This statement. 'a nnt enrroet T lmvp k/>nf a pareflll registry of all the bonds sealed, except the conversion bonds. I have never supposed for a moment that those conversion bonds would have been used for any other purpose, except in exchange for the other bonds I had sealed and kept a registry of. But, as soon as I suspected that they were beiug used for other purposes, I did keep a very careful registry. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, F. L. CARDOZO, Secretary of State of South Carolina. HOW RATTLESNAKES ARE BORN. Some months ago Doctors Cardwell and Westmoreland captured, at Prospect, in the lower edge of Giles county, near the Alabama line, a rattlesnake four feet three inches long and five inches in circumference. The snake was sent to the exposition, but the managers not deemiug it proper to receive it, it was sent to the drug store of Messrs. Berry & Downville, who also declined to give it quarters. It was then sent to the drug store of M. C. Cotton, in South Nashville, where it has been since the 15th of May. When caDtured it had eierht rattles and a button. Since thut time it has been confined in a glass case, and has not partaken of one particle of food, though it has been tempted with mice and other small animals on which the reptile is accustomed to feed. The snake manifested no inconvenience from its confinement, nor did it lose any in size or bodily vitality. Its eyes continued to glisten like magnetic steel, and its fascinating tongue ready to protrude at the appearance of any one near the case. Dr. Cotton thought all the while it was a male. Though small mice and rats have been confined in the case with the snake until their own hunger urged them to bite at its scaly hide, the serpent refused to give them notice or to partake of food. On two or three occasions it has taken small quantities of water. On Thursday, at one o'clock on going into the back room of the store, where the case is kept, it was discovered that the snake had given birth to four young snakes, and by three o'clock she had given birth to three more, makiner seven in all. The vouue snakes ?' , o > o made their appearance one at a time, and in a coiled or striking position, their eyes glistening and their envenomed tongues continually darting out. The young ones are each from nine to fifteen inches in length, and in a state of perfect development. They are quick of motion, and possess no ordinary spinal vitality, as they crawl readily to the top of the case, and move with celerity across and around it from end to end. What is most singular and contrary to all the received notions concerning the reptiles each of these young snakes has a full button on the tail, which clearly refutes the idea that they have to he six months old before the formation of the button. The old snake was lying in her cage in a lethargic state, with some indications, as the doctor thought, of increasing the coiling family. The young snakes coil around her, and under and over her, and she seems to have for them the natural maternal affection of instinct. This snake has been in captivity near four months, nil *Vinf v\a?Sa/1 oIia V> o a nopfolmn JCl UUUUg Ull tliai ^^11UU QUO |7MI vuavti v? ot a morsel of food, and has brooded her young. As to exactly how long from inception the process of gestation or incubation has been going on, there is no means of ascertaining, as we can only date from her capitivity. Dr. Cotton informs us that he once before kept in the same case a large-sized rattlesnake for 3 years and 9 months, and that he studied closely its various moods and changes. This snake, he says, did uot partake of a particle of food for the first nine months, and but little water. He then gave it mice, rats, etc., putting the same into the case alive, and it commenced devouring them voraciously. It never would touch a lame mouse or a dead one, fresh as it might be. When a young rat was put into the case, it would plant its unerring fang in some part of the limb or body, and then wait until it died from the thorough inoculation of the poison. When quite dead it would turn it over, take it head foremost and swallow it, evidently drawing nutriment from the poison its own fangs had infused. It shed its skin twice a year?each spring and autumn?a new rattle appearing at each shedding, which explodes the popular notion that but one rattle comes a year. Yesterday morning the doctor took the case and placed it in the sun. From the effects of the sun three of the young snakes died. Two others became stupefied, but recovered their vitality on being removed to the shade. The circumstance attracted large numbers of visitors to the drug store to see the venomous family. John Robinson Enters the Canvass.? The Richmond Enquirer received the following telegram late last night from the great "circus man," old John Robinson : Cincinnati, August 8. Editor of Richmond Enquirer : Dear Sir :?I tender freely, and without charge, the use of my largest tent to the friends of either Presidential candidate, or both together, in which to hold their mass meetings, at the close of ray performances at three o'clock, on any and every afternoon they may desire to do so during the present campaign. My largest tent will comfortably seat eleven thousand people. Between this and November my great show will traverse the States of Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. As ray visitors average in number more than 20,000 per day, this affords a good opportunity to circulate ^amnnicrn documents, which all Dolitical parties are at liberty to do. I will also state to the managers of political mass meetings, that I will be with my great show in person to see that facility is offered them. Yours very truly, John Kobinson. Scott Deserts Grant.?In a speech at Greenville General Butler said that Governor Scott had told him that "he did not care if Greeley was elected." The trouble was that Mr. Grant had accused Governor Scott of stealing ; that Grant was poor and is rich ; that Scott could have bought Grant out, and now Grant could buy Scott out. This led Governor Scott to ask this pertinent question: "If I got my money by stealing, how did Mr. Grant get his f" These things confirm what is openly said in political circles in Columbia. Gov. Scott is not frantic on the subject of Grant. But what would the people think of Mr. Scott as the Greeley candidate for Governor of "our beloved State." Surely politics make us acquainted with strange bed-fellows.?Charleston News. * To Sweeten the Breath.?From six to I f?r? Hrnna nf t.hft rnnnentrated solution of the " wrv w* chloride of soda, in a wine-glassful of pure spring water, taken immediately after the ablutions of the morning are completed, will sweeten the breath by disinfecting the stomach, which, far from being injured, will be benefited by the medicine. If necessary, this may be repeated in the middle of the day. In some cases the odor arising from carious teeth is combined with that ot the stomach. If the mouth is well rinsed with a teaspoonful of the solution of the chloride in a tumbler of water, the bad odor of the teeth will be removed. An exchange says: "One of the prettiest I sights the human eye ever rested upon is gold in its liquid state." Whereupon another suggests that "the human eye in this vicinity would be satisfied if it could see any of the metal in its solid state." ibe fovMle (frapim. TERMS?IN ADVANCE t One Copy, oneyear, $ 3 00 One Copy, Six months, 1 50 One Copy, Three months, 1 00 Single Copy, 10 Two Copies, one year, 5 00 Ten Copies, " " 35 00 j?8T'To persons who make up clubs often or more names, an extra copy of the paper will be furnished oneyear, free of charge. ADVERTISEMENTS Will be inserted at One Dollar and Fifty Cents per square for the first, and Seventy-five Cents per square for each subsequent insertion-less than three months. A square consists of the space occupied by ten lines of this size type, or one inch. No advertisement considered less tlian a square. Semi-Monthly, Monthly, or Quarterly AdverHaomontQ will hnpharcrpd Two Dollars ner ROIiare for each insertion. Quarterly, .Serai-Annual or Yearly contracts , m will bo made on liberal terms?the contract, however, must inall cases be confined to the immediate business of the firm or individual contracting. Obituary Notices and Tributes of Respect, rated as advertisements. Announcements of Marriages and Deaths,and notices ofa religious character,inserted gratis, and solicited. psr Personal Communications, when admissable; Communications of limited or individual interest, or recommendations of Candidates for of- v liccs of honor, profit or trust, will be charged for as advertisements. CAMPAIGN DISPATCH. A LARGE THIRTY-TWO COLUM PAPER FOR ONLY FIFTY CENTS! THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OP 1872 IS fraught with issues of momentous importance to the people of the South especially, as well as to those of the whole country. Everybody will desire information of the progress of the contest which has just commenced; will wish to note the movements of parties, the discussion of principles, and to receive the earliest news of all events affecting the final result To meet this general public demand we propose to make THE WEEKLY DISPATCH A FIRST-CLASS CAMPAIGN PAPER, and to put the price within the reach of all. It will be sent from the present time to the close of the canvass in November next, at the LOW PRICE OP FIFTY CENTS, when sent in Clubs of five or more addressed to one person. Single copies sixty cents. Besides the political news, the CAMPAIGN WEEKLY DI8PATCH ^ will contain all the important editorials of the ^ DAILY; a careful and complete summary of the foreign and domestic news; latest news bv telegraph from all parts of the world; full ana reliaable Stock, Financial, Cattle and general Market Reports; latest Agricultural and Horticultural information ; proceedings of Scientific, Agricultural, Religious and Literary Societies; all important Legal Decisions of State and Federal Courts; reviews of the mostinterestingandimportantnew Books ; and, indeed, everything of interest to the Family Circle, the Merchant, Farmer, Professional Man, Mechanic and Laborer. pSr The money must accompany every order. Remittances may be made at our risk in drafts, postal money orders or registered letters. Postmasters and others who get up clubs of ton or more will be entitled to a free copy. Address, COWARDIN & ELLYSOtt, Richmond, Virginia. May 16 20 tf SEWING MACHINES. ? k DO yon know JiaBCg^L that the latest imfflr A provementslnSew IIL* incr Ufanliinoa flro m ^AMERICAN4?* Being neat, simple, substantial in construction, noiseless and so easily operated that a child can work it.^ It has no American" will do all kinds of work that can be done on other Machines, while in several particulars it is superior, and is sold at a less price than other first " class Machines. But our "Combination American" will, in addition, make a perfect button and eyelet hole, and do overseatmng. All persons who think we claim too much for this Machine, are invited to call and see for themselves. Let not prejudice hinder you from getting the best Machine in the market. We are sole Agents for York county. We continue, also, to act as Agonts for the MASON A HAMLIN ORGAN CO. Their Instruments have no superior for beauty, sweetness of tone and durability. And while they are in- ' dispensable to Churches, Sunday-Schools, Ac., they also afford to homes a rational pleasure, and an easy means for developing musical talent that no head of a family ought to neglect. At the same time we continuo to perpetuate vour beauty or ugliness, as the case may be, upon taper, Metal or Porcelean, by means of PHOTOGRAPHY in all the various styles. We have now on hand a fine lot of STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS of the Yosemite. Pacific Rail 1 Mnnnfnino An olort n A I.Bl J MS. rtJttU, ?? 1IIIU iUUllllM?IIIOtlW* , .... J w all of which we offer at prices to suit the times. J. R. SCHORB & SON. ESTAB LISH ED 1857. L. H. MILLER, MILLER'S SAFE AND IRON WORKS, BALTIMORE, MD. SALESROOM: 265 BALTIMORE STREET, (One Door above Hanover,) FACTORY: Square bounded by Henrietta, Claret, Fremont and Warner Streets. Every variety of the Best Fire and Burglar Proo Safes, 'Bankers' Chests, Improved Combination Locks, Bank Vaults and Doors. Send for Illustrated Catalogue and Price List. 12,000 IN USE-TESTED IN 200 FIRES. Near References National Bank, Chester, Smith and Melton, Chester ; John Agnew & Son, Columbia, S. C. THI PARKER GUN. i PARKER BRtfS ( WEST MER1DEN?CT. KING'S MOUNTAIN R. ROAD. ^ DAILY TRAIN. HEREAFTER the trains over the KING'S MOUNTAIN RAIL ROAD will run daily, (Sundays excepted) as follows, making close connection with trains on the Cliarlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad: Leave "Yorkville, promptly, at 61 o'clock, A. M. Arrive at Chester at 81 o clock, A. M. Leave Chester at 5 o'clock, P. M. Arrive at Yorkville at 7 o'clock, P. M. All Freights must bo delivered at the Depot by 4 o'clock, P. M., on the evenings previous to the departure of the train. GEORGE W. MELTON, President. May 2 18 tf METALIC BURIAL CASES AND CASKETS. J HAVE just received a full supply of FISK'S METALIC BURIAL CASES, of all sizes, so a few of those beautiful full glass BURIAL CASKETS, surpassing in beauty anything of the kind ever offered here. J. E. SMITH, Agent. WOOD COFFINS, of any quality, made to order. J. E. SMITH. March 14 11 ly CAEOLIIA LIFE 1MICE CNfilY, MEMPHIS, TENN. \ Branch Office, - Baltimore, Maryland. ASSETS, $1,100,000. Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS President. Gen. WADE HAMPTON, Pres. Baltimore Board. J. D. KENNEDY, State Agent. W. B. SADLER, Yorkville, Special Agent. June 27 26 ly H