Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

fcraps aad (facts. | ?? Some one has defined polite society as ! being a place where manners pass for too I much and morals for too little. The Sons of Temperance of Live Oak, Florida, after long discussion and delibera- j tion, have decided that egg-nog is not a bev- i erage. The San Francisco Bulletin says there | arenotless than 1,000 miles of narrow gauge railroad planned and in various stages of for- j wardness in California. The editorial staff of the New York, Tribune, is composed of thirty-four editors, ! seven ladies inclusive, and twenty-two reporters. A story comes from Georgia that three j boys in Worth county, in that State, with ; three mules, last year, raised 12U hales ot cot- j ton and 700 bushels of corn, besides oats and potatoes in abundance. In Germany, when the vote of the jury ! stands six against six, the prisoner is acquit-' ted. A vote of seven against five leaves the j decision to the court, and in a vote of eight; against four the prisoner is convicted. The Koran says: "When a man dies they who survive him ask what property he has left behind. The angel who bends over | the dying man asks what good deeds he has sent before him." A Parisian landlady requested a Christmas party on the third floor to cease dancing, as a man below was dying. The guests acquiesced. Returning an hour later, "My dear children," she exclaimed, with the most benevoleut smile, "you may begin?he's dead." "Well, farmer, you told us your place was a good place for hunting; now we have tramped it for three hours, and found no game." "Just so," said the farmer; "as a general thing, the less game there is, the more hunting you have." An exchauge gives the following simple recipe for "greasing the griddle:" "Take a turnip, cut it in half and rub the griddle with the inner side, and you will find the cakes will come off nice and smoothly, and you will be rid of the disagreeable odor of burning fat." Dr. Schlieniau furnishes the New York Herald an extended report of his researches in buried Troy, where he began to excavate in October, last year. He has found a well, an immense tower, fragments of urns, vases, goblets, etc., and some healthy toads, which he supposes are at least 3,000 years old. Who dares affirm that the down-trodden colored race is incapable of high civilization after hearing that a San Francisco negro has sued another of his race for 810,000 damages for libel, and that in Brooklyn a dusky maiden has instituted a breach of nromise suit against a good deal duskier man? A Boston hard drinker says he doesn't like the idea of straightening the streets when the burnt district is rebuilt. The by-ways and alleys were so crooked that he had a good excuse for auother drink, just to test the question of sobriety, and he cannot see the benefit of the new improvements. A new peril has been developed for unmarried doctors ; a western widow having escaped paying a bill for medical treatment by pleading that she thought the calls were social and unprofessional. Esculapian callers upon marriageable ladies would do well to draw a distinct line between professional advice and society small talk, and between pills and kisses. Philosophers do sometimes commit suicide. One did in Cleveland, Ohio, the other clay, and the modus operandi was interesting. He first loaded his revolver, and connected it with clock-work, so that it should be fired off at a certain time. Then he took a dose of chloroform, and before he awoke had passed paiulessly and peacefully into eternity. The expenses of the November election in the city of New York have just been footed up. 136,000 votes were polled, and the expense to the city of holding the election was 130,000, or nearly one dollar for every vote polled. The expense to the United States was ?400,000, or nearly three dollars for every vote polled. Gold is found in Vermont, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tenucssee, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon aud California. Maryland shows but $108 for total, Vermont 85,615, and Kansas 81,009. California has contributed in twenty-four years 8643,121,499 ; North Carolina's total is 89,865,253, and Georgia $7,250,000. Virginia and South Carolina have each over a million. In noint of cotton manufacturing. Co r ? o' lumbus, Ga., claims to be the first city in the South. From a late number of the Sun it appears that every interest is prospering and the city itself shows a steady progress?the cotton factories alone paying in wages over S21,000per month. Including the other factories of various kinds, the monthly pay roll amounts to $30,000. This seems to be a pretty good showing. A new civil rights bill, with a general amnesty bill attached, has been introduced in Congress by Representative Morey, of Louisiana. It provides penalties for the rejection of any citizen by reason of race or color from the full and equal enjoyment of the advantages and privileges furnished by inn-keepers, common carriers, theatres, common schools and other institutions of learning supported by general taxation. Private schools, colleges and cemeteries established exclusively for white or colored people, and maintained by voluntary contributions, are not to be interfered with. Provision is made for the annulment of all laws and ordinances making discriminations against any citizen by the use of the word "white." The amnesty section completely removes all political disabilities, and it would relieve Congress from numerous applications for special relief bills for the benefit of persons whose claims may be disallowed. A Washington telegram says: "Some sensation has been created here by the announcement of the Chicago Tribune that it intends for the future to adhere to what is still termed the Liberal Republican party. The Chicago Tribune is the most powerful and influential journal of the Northwest, aud its continued adherence to the principles of the Cincinnati platform, in the face of the decisive majorities in all the Western States for General Grant, has caused considerable surprise amongst the Western politicians. This action on the part of the far-seeing men who nnnfml ttio Trihnnp ia fnlrpn ne a phpprinnr in WMklW* VUV * WWkkVM w ** v"vv* * "to *M dicution that the principles laid down at Cincinnati and reaffirmed at Baltimore are gaining force with the people as time rolls on, and that good fruit is yet to be borne of them. This view is still further strengthened by the news from New York that the Tribune of the East will still be ranged under the same banner with the Tribune of the "West. That Mr. Whitelaw Reid is able to control the large amount required to purchase fifty shares of the Tribune at the large advance of twelve thousand dollars per share, cannot be regarded as a symptom that the advocacy of "Liberal" doctrines in the East does not pay." A New York telegram, describing the burning of Barnum's Circus and Menagerie in Fourteenth street, on Christmas Eve, says: The fire was first discovered at 4.16, bursting through the roof of the circus, immediately over where the giraffes were kept, and immediately after animals and birds began howling and screeching in a terrific manner. An alarm wa3 sounded, which quickly brought the district engines on the spot. A second j and third alarm was sent out, but the flames spread with such rapidity that almost before j the firemen could get the water on the circus j was gone. Some of the firemen, who were first on the ground, state that the roars of the animals were something frightful to listen to, during the short time that it lasted, as they were speedily put out of misery by the rapidi-1 ty with which the devouring element lapped j up the tinder-like structures in which they were caged. The only animals saved out of the valuable collection, which Mr. Barnutn had taken such pains to secure, were two elephants and a camel. The building was two stories in height, and composed nearly altogether of corrugated iron and wood, which, with that portion of the building used as a circus, was totally destroyed?the whole building burning as though it were a tinder-box. Nothing could be done to save any more of the animals. The firemen state that they would sooner risk falling walls, any time, than enter a den of wild or tame beasts in a case of this kind. (Shquim. YORKVILLE, S. C.: THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 2f 1873. Watch the Figures.?The date on the "addresslabel" shows the time to which the subscription is paid. If subscribers do not wish their papers discontinued, the date must be kept in advance. T 11 (, l\/\ /Itafinnfli* nndntH<i/wul fliof vasu??"It lliuaw UD Ul^UUV,tl> UII\(Viov\/wvi biiuv our terms for subscription, advertising and jobwork, are cash, in advance our prospects. We commence the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three under more favorable circumstances than any year since the war closed. We make this declaration without fear of successful contradiction. Generally, good crops of corn aud wheat were made and provisions of all kinds are plenty. The cotton crops, when the price is taken into consideration, was far above the average. There ought to be a great deal of money in the country. If we, as a people, had only learned to be economical, we are now in a fair condition to rise above all our pecuniary difficulties. In this country we need something which would supply the same place in our pecuniary affairs that a ratchet wheel supplies in machinery. We need, in plain English, a principle fully developed which will enable us to hold what we get?to save what we make. It is hard for us to get rid of a come-easy, go-easy practice which has prevailed at the South from time immemorial. Generally speaking, our people produce enough to make them rich ; but unfortunately spend enough to keep them, if not poor, entirely too dependent. The miser and prodigal are extremes. The former is poor in the midst of his hoardings; the latter is poor from his want of saving. Those who are wise enough to choose the golden mean are blessed with plenty and are comfortable. propertyTnd labor. It is clear to every observing man that the recuperative power of South Carolina is in the proper development of her agricultural resources. Since the war there has been an effort made to bring out these resources, but it has been only a weak and occasional effort. We have learned, since the conclusion of the war, some things; and we have undertaken to do some things which will ultimately be of great importance to us, if we only persevere in the proper direction. The last seven years have demonstrated clearly some very important principles. All that we have to do now, if we have been prompt in learning, is to go to work and put our knowledge into practice. One principle that has been clearly demonstrated, is, that the soil of South Carolina can be cultivated on the plan of tenantry. Evidently, there are in the State two classes of citizens?property-holders and laborers. The property-holders, as a mass, are not laborers ; and the laborers, as a whole, either have no property at all, or at most but very little. It is clear to any reflecting man, that what is the interest of one of these classes of citizens is the interest of the other. The estate of the property-holder is valueless without labor, and that class of citizens which is possessed of no real estate is dependant upon the propertyholder for a subsistence. There is a mutual dependance existing between these two classes. Neither can exist without the other. It is a fatal policy for the property-holder to attempt to crush the laborer, for he crushes himself at the same time. The same is true with respect to the laborer. Every strike he makes at the property-holder is a blow aimed at his own interest. It is clear that it is to the interest of the whole State that all her resources be developed. It may be set down as approximating the truth, that the only class of resources in South Carolina, at present available, is her agricultural resources. We do not mean that South Carolina has no other available resources; all we mean is, that at present our people generally, from education and the force of habit, will not engage extensively in anything but tilling the soil. Such being the case, it is the duty of the land-holder to have as much of his land as is possible put into cultivation ; and it is the interest of the laboring man to cultivate as much land as he possibly can. Uncultivated fields are only so much dead ca;>;tal. What we mean by a system of tenantry is simply this. Let the land-holder divide out his land into small farms. On these let him erect comfortable houses and lease out these small farms to laborers, making it a point to give the cultivators of these farms remunerative wages. In this case the land-holder has the choice of labor. Hence it will be to the interest of the laborer to be industrious and make as many improvements on the premises as possible. His improvements will be remunerative, both to himself and the owner of the premises. Such a system, we believe, would have a tendency to increase the number of laborers and greatly improve the kind of labor. The laborer would be dependant upon his own industry and honesty for a home. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Several cases of small pox have appeared in Anderson county. ? Beaufort has three newspapers, four printing offices, and only one poor house. ? rjnrpnnr AfnsM lms flnnninf.erl Col. "W. C. v,w,w"v* -?ww?? rr ? ? Beatty, of Yorkville, a Notary Public. ? Carlos J. Stolbrand, the present incumbent, has been re-appointed Superintendent of the State Penitentiary. ? Thos. P. Slider proposes to commence the publication, at an early day, of a'new paper at Newberry, to be called The Progressive Age. ? On the 17th ultimo, Hon. R. B. Carpenter qualified as Judge of the fifth Circuit and entered upon the discharge of his duties. ? The horse disease is gradually disappearing from the State, and has ceased to excite any alarm. ? George Tuxberry, of Union, has been appointed a Commissioner of the United States Court. ? The Charleston Courier printing establishment is offered for sale. This course is necessary in order to settle up the estates of three of the deceased partners. The Courier is the oldest paper in the State, and for many years has been one of the most prosperous. ? Attorney-General Samuel W. Melton ami I ex-Attorney-General D. H. Chamberlain, ( ! have formed a co-partnership in Columbia 1 for the practice of law. ? A National Bank, with a capital of $50,000, has been organized at Anderson. Joseph j N. Brown is President, and J. A. Brock, Cashier. ? Kev. J. Lee Dixon died at Pacolet Station, in Union county, on the 20th ultimo. He was a native of Lancaster and was just; about entering his forty-fifth year, ? Several of our exchanges mention the | destruction of gin houses, by carelessly per-1 mitting matches to get amongst unginned cot- J ton. ? Mrs. Mary Richardson, who would havb | attained the age of one hundred years on the 4th instant, died in Columbia on the 26th ultimo. ? In relation to the Patterson bribery case, the Phanix of the 18th ultimo says : "Theal leged bribery case against l.'oJ. Patterson, j Gen. Worthington and Fortune Giles, mem- ; ber of the House, wore heard yesterday, by | Justice Richmond. In the cases against Gen. j Worthington and Fortune Giles, the parties j on whose affidavits the charge was made swore i in court they had been imposed upon in ma- j king said affidavits; that they never saw j Worthington give or promise anything to Giles, and never saw Giles receive anything. There not being a particle of evidence in these cases, the complaint was dismissed and the parties discharged. In the cases of Miller j and Ellison, who made affidavits against Col. j Patterson and Gen. Worthington, a number of witnesses were examined, who proved clearly the falsity of the charges. Several witnesses swore that Miller and Ellison both admitted that their charge was false, and that Miller, especially, only made the affidavit to compel Col. Patterson to pay him 81,000. It was also proven that Ellison offered to vote for Gov. Scott for 81,500. The evidence being so overwhelming in favor of the innocence of Col. Patterson and Gen. Worthington, the cases were dismissed and the parties discharged." ? The Columbia correspondent of the Charleston iVeivs says : "A peep into the report of the late Comptroller-General Neagle, which has been made to the Governor, but is not yet published, discloses the following interesting item : The public bonded debt is stated at the same figures as last year, viz : ^ ft ftrvw ft- ,i ! ?i l _ 5 $iO,8di,dZi.dO ; or tnis amount it is ciamieu that $1,600,000 is under hypothecation in New York as collateral security for a smaller loan. The total expenditures for the fiscal year ending October31,1872, are $1,634,835.61. The receipts are said to be the same, and the deficiency is placed at $1,266,405, which would make the total expenses of the last fiscal year $2,901,240.61. Among the receipts is credited to Kimpton the snug little sum of $303,000. From the general license tax is acknowledged only the pitiful sum of $62,670. From what sources Kimpton received the money which he paid into the Treasury does not appear. The estimated expenses for the current year are $2,054,347.10; this includes $1,425,547.10 for interest due upon the public debt up to the close of the last fiscal year." NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? A recent fire in Morganton destroyed the dwelling house of Wm. C. Erwin and the store house and goods of Robert Presness. ? A tract of land seven miles from Charlotte recently sold for $19.80 per acre, which, says the Democrat, is twice as much as the same land would have sold for five years ago. ? The Merchants' and Farmers' Bank, and the First National Bank of Charlotte, have each declared a semi-annual dividend of five per cent, ? The Iron Ore Hill Manufacturing Company in Chatham county have commenced operations, and are making four tons of pig iron per day, which in the Northern markets is worth $56 per ton. ? The sale of the Western N. C. Railroad has been postponed, in order to give the litigants time to settle certain legal points involved, and to definitely arrive at the correct status of the road. ? Jacob Morton, a shoemaker by trade, aged about fifty-five years, committed suicide by hanging himself in Greensboro, on the 23rd ultimo. Mental aberration, caused by the death of one of his daughters, is supposed to have caused him to commit the rash act. ? The Legislature adjourned on the 19th ultimo to meet again on the 13th instant. But little business has as yet been perfected. The salary of the Governor has been reduced from 850*00 to 84000 per annum; and the pay of the members of the Legislature was settled at 85 per day, and twenty cents per mile going and returning from the capital. The State printing was awarded to the Daily News, a Democratic paper recently established in Raleigh. The State printing in North Carolina has always been considered one of the "jobs" properly belonging to the most deserving paper of the party in power, and much dissatisfaction is expressed by some because the printing was not awarded to the Sentinel. ? Andrew Strong, the last but one of the famous Lowrey gang of outlaws in Robeson county, was shot and instantly killed on Thursday last at Eureka, a station on the W. C. & R. Railroad, in the heart of the Scuflletown region. Wm. Wilson, a clerk in a store, had detected a negro in a petty theft and after exposing him and recovering the stolen articles, Strong became so incensed at Wilson, that with his customary assurance and bragadocio, he ordered Wilson to leave the county, swearing that if he found him there at 6 o'clock next morning, he would certainly kill him. This and other threats so exasperated Wilson that he raised a double barrel shot Ano Korrol of flip nilflftW i gun auu uicuiaigw vuv vi**4v? mv vuv wMV.? ,, , j planting eighteen buckshot in his neck and | head. He expired at once. Wilson deliverj ed the body of Strong to the Sheriff of Robe1 son county, and received a reward of one i thousand dollars which the county had offered ! for Strong, dead or alive, and besides this amount there is a reward of five thousand j dollars to be paid by the State, as the reward ; offered by the Governor under authority of ! the Legislature. CONGRESS. i Congress adjourned on the 20th ultimo, to ; ; reassemble on Monday next. The last few days previous to the adjournment were uot : ; marked by the transaction of important busi! ness. A large number of bills was introduced and referred to appropriate committees, and i the postal telegraph bill, the only pending 1 measure of interest to the public, was favorably reported in the Senate. j The Potomac River.?As regards color J the river now cannot be distinguished from i the land, and as far as the eye can reach, it ] presents, in either direction, a sheet of un- ] i trodden snow, for it was covered with ice be- ( fore the snow-storm commenced, and willingly received the covering afforded it. Navi- . gation is, of course, entirely suspended for 1 vessels of all descriptions, and no track has ] been made through its icy coating. 1 LOCAL AF7AZHS. ' ] NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. T. M. Dobson A Co.?1873?Look the Post Office? Ready-Made Clothing?Dress Goods. W. II. tfej. P. Horndon?Syrup?Fruit? Flour? 1 Meat?What?Buckets?Dry Goods?Salt? , Snuff?Lard. .5 J. W. P. Hope?Many Thanks. i S. H. Meaeham & Co., Chester?The New Boot and Shoe Store. i J. A.Corry, Principal?Malo School at Limestone Springs, S. C. W. W. McElwee-Fresh Brea<l. 1 John C. Kuvkendal?Compliments of the Season, i M. Strauss A Son?A B C of M. Strauss A SonNotice?(treat Bargains?Spool Cotton. < Col. A. Coward, Principal?King's Mountain , Military School. ' J Carroll, Clark A Co.?1873 New Year! 1.873. < Yorkville Grange. A. B. Douglas, Blaekstoeks, S. C.? Strayed or 1 1 Stolen. | | F. Happerfield?Yorkville Marble Yard. James F. Hart, Intendant?Town Election. i ' Rev James Douglas and Dr. W. S. Dudley, Prin- [ . cipnls?Yorkville Female College. W. L. Grist-Josh for 1873. ' R. H. Glenn. S. Y. C.?Judge of Probate Sale. . j PUULIC DOCUMENTS. ! ] Our thanks are tendered to Hon. A. S.' Wallace, for a number of valuable public 1 documents received since our last issue. I PERSONAL. Hon. A. S. Wallace, the representative in 4 Congress for the fourth Congressional Dis-! J trict, has been on a visit to his home in this county during the Christmas holidays. He left here this morning on his return to Wash- ' ington. ! THE SNOW. Christmas eve was boisterous and cold, with ' | rain, sleet and snow, and snow fell nearly all , of Christmas day, though it did not attain a ] depth of more than three or four inches. The weather has been very severe for this latitude, ' but not so cold as it was two years ago at thi^ season. This week the temperature has been , more comfortable, though it is unmistakably evident that winter is with us in earnest. . 1 THE TAXES OF YORK COUNTY. The aggregate amount of the tax levy for York county, and which is now being collected, is 879,424.22. The following are the j items: , State Tax 58,470 22 County tax?general purposes 14,017 55 Catawba township school tax 315 02 | York " " " 534 28 Kn-klux tax 2,436 20 ( Polls 3,860 00 i $79,424 24 The taxable property in York county, is assessed at $4,872,518. I APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments have been recently made by Governor Moses for York county: County Auditor?John G. Enloe. Jury Commissioner?John Newton. Agent of the Catawba Indians?M. L. Owens, vice P. J. O'Connell resigned. Trial Justices?R. L. Simmons, James K. Wagoner, H. K. Roberts, Kirkland L. Gunn, vice Samuel Blair, removed. ( DISTRESSING ACCIDENT. On the evening of the 21st ultimo, while two little sous of Mr. R. A. Black, near Blairsville in this county, were engaged at chopping wood, Willie, the eldest, aged about eleven years, feeling tired, reclined himself ou a log, extending his right arm at full length on the piece of wood, when the younger brother ; stepped to the same log, aud preparatory to i sitting down, intended to chop his axe into the stick of wood in the manner usual among wood cutters, and not perceiving the extended hand of Willie, it being quite dark at the time, the axe came down on his hand, severing all four of the fingers. We are glad to learn the sufferer is doing well, and bears his misfortune quite heroically for one of his tender years. TIIE HOLIDAYS. The Christmas holidays were colder and more inclement than usual, which prevented the out-door recreations resorted to by many, and proved a source of bitter disappointment to several Nirarods, who had intended to avail themselves of this leisure time for the purpose of bagging all the game in the adjacent woods and fields. Not that the huntsmen were dismayed at the weather?for the cold would only have added zest to the sport and been exhilirating to the last degree?but after consultation, it was unanimously conceded that the birds and rabbits would not come out until the weather moderated, which sound reasoning no doubt contributed much to extending the lease on life of many innocent hares and unsuspecting partridges. Whether this disap puiimueub leuueu iu muieuac tuc uuhduiuj^hvij of egg-nog it becomes us not to say. We only know that the price of eggs suddenly went up to fifty cents per dozen, with a brisk demand, and the only out-door amusement indulged in was sleighing on a small scale, by those who could command the necessary outTRANSFEKS OF REAL ESTATE. , The following transfers of real estate in York county, have been reported , to the , County Auditor since the 14th ultimo: Jane I. Roddey to Thomas Spencer. A tract of 207 acres of land in Catawba township. Consideration 81279. j I. D. Witherspoon, trustee, to W. B. Wil- ] son. Forty-nine acres of land situated with- < in the incorporated limits of Yorkville. Con- , sideration 8990. j 0. R. Guntharp and F. W. Moore to Gen- , eral Marion Moore. A tract of 178 acres of land in Cherokee township. Consideration | 8810. William Ferguson to Dr. John F. Lindsay. A tract of 188 acres of land in York town- , ship. Consideration 8605. , William Henry Hardin, Executor of the estate of John McKee, deceased, to Joseph ( W. Hal<*. A tract of 300 acres of land in ] King's Mountain township. Consideration ] 8300. , H. C. Thomasson to Diza Brown. A tract j of 23 acres of land in York township. Con- ; sideration 875. , YORKVILLE FEMALE COLLEGE. 1 As will be seen by a reference to our ad- < vertising columns, the exercises of this insti- i tution will be resumed on the 3rd of Februa- < ry. The Yorkville Female College is so gen- < erally known over the State that there is j < scarcely any need on our part, of speaking in j ? With the cxeention of 1 UUI1J lliCUUmiUIl UJ. 11/1 f f ?V 4- _ a short period of suspension duriug the war, it 11 has been in operation for nearly twenty; 1 years. Since the war it has each year been increasing iu capabilities for usefulness. The ' ( present faculty, with the Rev. James Doug- J i lass as President, is an able one. Recently, j 1 Dr. W. S. Dudley has been added to the list11 of accomplished teachers. This gentleman j 1 comes recommended by men of undoubted ve-, s racityas an accomplished gentleman, accurate j 3cholar and enthusiastic and successful teach-1 ^ cr. Miss A. E. Perry, a recent graduate of 1 this iustitution, who has also some experience j c in teaching, and is represented by those who 11 know her as a young lady of excellent intel- ! i lect, and fine attainments, has also been secur- j t cd as a teacher. Arrangements have been ' r made by the President to furnish by the open-18 ing of the session, chemical and philosophical! c ipparatus, so that the professors of these 11 branches may ho fully prepared to do good ! r ,vork. Every tiling taken into consideration, mrentsand guardiaus cannot do better than , X) send their daughters and wards to the York- ; rille Female College. The location is heal- j ,hy, and the government of the institution military, both in an intellectual and moral point of view. TIIE NEW TAX LEVY. County Auditor Enloe has received instruc- j .ions from Comptroller-General Iloge, which , ixes the rates of the tax levy, for the year j commencing November 1st, 1872, as follows: ; For State purposes, for the fiscal year, five mills ' en the 81 ; for payment of deficiencies for the | year ending 31st day of October, 1872, five mills on the 81; for educational purposes, two mills on the 81 ; making in the aggregate, for State purposes, twelve mills on the 51, or one dollar and twenty cents on each ' hundred dollars of the assessed valuation of property. For county purposes, the levy iu York and Catawba townships is four mills on the 81? i dirpp mills fnr crpneral nornoses : one half! mill for the support of "indigent widows and j orphans of persons who have been killed bemuse of their political opinions and one- i hair mill for township school purposes, making the aggregate assessment in these two j townships, for State and county purposes, sixteen mills, or one dollar and sixty cents on the one hundred dollars valuation. Owing to the fact that there was no levy in the other townships for school purposes, the aggregate in these is fifteen and a half mills for State and county purposes, or one dollar and fifty-five cents on the one hundred dollars valuation. In an advertisement in to-day's Enquirer, Treasurer Watson gives notice when he will visit the various neighborhoods for the purnose of receiving the taxes. WASHINGTON ITEMS. ? C. C. Bowen is reported to be in Washington City ready to press his contest for the seat in the House now held by DeLarge. ? Attorney-General Williams is reported to have recently said that the President has determined to pardon all ku-klux prisoners whose neighbors ask for executive clemency. ? Ex-Gov. Orr, of South Carolina, the new Minister to Russia, had a long interview with the President on Thursday. Gov. Orr expects to sail for St. Petersburg duriug this month. ? The House Committee on the Judiciary, at its last meeting, refused to take any action on the bill limiting the President of the United States to one term. It is now settled that this measure of reform will not be considered at all in the next Congress. rr\t TT n <!.. O ? ine nouse uomraiuee on i^ivu service Reorganization have agreed to report a bill providing that all Government appointees shall be absolutely independent of political influences. This bill is certain to excite terrible opposition, and it is believed that it can never pass through Congress. ? A determined effort will be made during the next session to obtain the passage of a bill, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to refund the tax collected on cotton. The amount involved is about seventy millions of dollars. All the claims (or mostly all) have been already bought for a mere song from the original holders, and are in the hands of the lobbyists, who say they will spend ten millions of dollars to get the bill through. ? ? EDITORIAL INKLINGS. "The Working: Man." Such is the title of a paper which Rev. Tilman R. Gaines proposes to publish in Columbia, the first number of which will appear early in this month. The paper will eschew politics and sectarian questions; and as its title indicates, will be devoted to "the education of the masses?the manufacturing, mechanical and agricultural pursuits of the people of our country?and the encouragement of all the Christian and benevolent enterprises which tend to ameliorate the condition of humanity." The Working Man will be a large eight-page weekly, and furnished at the low price of two dollars a year. The enterprise has our warmest wishes for its success, and we feel assured it will possess strong claims for the patronage and support of the houorable classes to whose interests it will be specially devoted. Destructive Fires. The close of the year is marked by disaster both on sea and land, not the least element of destruction being the flames. On the 22d ultimo not less than eight destructive fires occurred in different cities, involving a loss of near one million of dollars. These losses are confined to Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Oregon, and Helena, Ark. j the 24th a second fire occurred in Philadelphia, destroying 850,000 worth of property, and on the same day Barnura's Museum in New York was entirely destroyed, the camel and elephaut being the only animals saved. The loss by this fire is variously estimated at from 8150,000 to 81,000,000, several adjoining buildings being also injured. A block on Centre street was also burned on the evening of the same day. Six lives were lost and 8500,000 worth of property destroyed. Cold Weather. For the past two weeks the weather has been unusually cold in all sections of the Union, the far South not excepted. At Montgomery, Ala., the weather has been bitterly cold, the bright noon sunshine not even thawing the surface of the frozen grouud. r - 11 \T--tU U? A.?rti4 mno + Vl n a Kopn Ill Mitt J^UlLlly IJUWCVCl, tilt? nvunuw ****** WWM truly cold, and the heaviest snow storra known in New York for twenty years, fell last week, which entirely stopped travel on the railroads and closed navigation by sailing vessels as far South as the Potomac. At Evansville, Ind., the thermometer indicated a temperature of 10 degrees below zero, and at Wabash, in the same State, the cold was 2ven more intense, from the effects of which much loss was sustained by the freezing of jattle and hogs. Much suffering is reported, ^specially among the poor of the crowded jities, many of whom are out of employment and unable to procure fuel and other necessaries, while the limited supplies at many places jives cause for serious apprehension. Railroad Casualties. In consequence of the severe weather >f the past two weeks, a large number of railmad accidents have occurred, involving much oss of life and property. On the 26th ultino, a passenger train leaving Corry, Ohio,1 jroke through a trestle work near Pleasant' itation and was plunged down the bank.1 The cars caught fire while falling, and two ! vere completely destroyed. No water could j )6 procured, and but little effective assistance iould be rendered to the passengers, of whom wenty-one were killed and twenty-five others j njured. On the previous day a passenger j rain, containing fifty persons, was wrecked lear Prospect, Pennsylvania. All the pas- j engers crowded into one car, which caught \ ?n fire, and twenty-five of the number were cilled and sixteen injured. Many other railond accidents and casualties are reported i from other sections, indicating that disasters of this kind have been more frequent, and attended with more fatal results than during = any previous winter. The Muddled States. The Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama difficulties have not yet been solved, and the statusof the respective States remains virtually unchanged. Since our last issue a dclega-!, tion from Louisiana, headed by Judge Campbell, visited Washington city, and besides : having an interview with the President, issued a lengthy address to the people of the United States, in which the grievances of the people of Louisiana were fullv set forth. Judge " I Campbell and bis associates profess neutrality,: personally and politically, so far as the claims of either Warnioth or Pinchback are concerned, though they claim that justice to the true , interests of the people compel them to present j the claims of Warmoth. The President adheres to Pinchback and says the decisions of j Judge Durell shall be maintained, which in j this day of bayouets and Gatlin guns, is equivalent to saying that Warmoth will have to succumb to the Pinchback faction. Already has Warmoth's Legislature dissolved, and the probability is, that the Pinchback party will have everything their own way, to which the people in uue time will become reconciled. The latest advices regarding the situation in Louisiana represent that the Supreme Court of that State will render a direct decision on the 13th instant on the legality of the Warmoth returning board of electors. The opinion prevails that the decision will be adverse to Warmoth. A special messenger, bearing the vote of the electoral college of Louisiana has arrived in Washington. He is an elector at large on the Grant ticket. The crisis in Arkansas affairs has not yet been reached. The 6th instant is the day appointed for inaugurating the Governor elect. Both candidates for the office claim to have been elected, and each one expresses his determination to be inaugurated. At present both parties are skirmishing with injunctions and mandamuses, which, it is to be hoped, is the heaviest artillery that will be brought to bear ; though on the decisive' day trouble is apprehended. Both the Alabama Legislatures continue to meet, notwithstanding-the professions of the Court House or bogus body to accept the proposition made by Attorney-General Williams, which we published in our last issue. The Court House body has passed a bill providing for the issuing of State bonds to the amount of 82,000,000, which action is contested by the other body, and the press of the State warns capitalists against investing in the said bonds, for the reason that the body which passed the bill had no authority to act for the people of the State. The S. C. Legislature. On the 20th ultimo, the South Carolina Legislature adjourned until the 7th instant. [ Previous to adjournment, the following acts I were passed and approved by the Governor : "An Act authorizing and directing the Comptroller-General and County Commissioners to levy certain taxes; an Act to repeal an Act entitled "An Act to provide for a general license law a joint resolution to make appropriations for printiug ordered by Geueral Assembly of 1870-71, 1871-72. The Burning of Columbia. The Washington correspondent of the Louisville Courier-Journal, furnishes that paper, under date of the 12th ultimo, with the following in regard to the burning of Columbia by the Federals in February, 1865: General Sherman was examined before the American and British Commission to-daj, in regard to the burning of Columbia. He denied that he had issued orders to burn Columbia, but admitted that the army was greatly exasperated against South Carolina, and said this exasperation was increased by Gen. Hampton's rear guard firing into his camp a night or two before entering Columbia. which exasperation he and his officers participated in, and this was known to the men. A correspondence was then shown to General Sherman, purporting to have taken place between him and Gen. Halleck, while on his march to Columbia. The communication from Halleck desired him to destroy Charleston and sow it with salt, so that there might no more nullifiers or secessionists grow up there. To this, Sherman, in reply, wrote that Charleston and Columbia would soon be in his hands, and Halleck would have no cause to complain of his treatment of them ; that he had the Fifteenth Corps with him, and that corps did their work well; and further, that he (Sherman) would not spare the public buildings in Columbia, as he did at Milledgeville. Gen. Sherman admitted, on his examination, that this correspondence was authentic. General Sherman stated that he occupied Columbia with the Fifteenth Corps. In reply to the question whether he kept the men in the ranks after taking possession of the city, he said no; he would not have done so to have^prevented the burning of every town in the State of South Carolina. These responses were drawn out by the representations of British claimants, who allege that their property at Columbia was destroyed wantonly and in violation of the usages of war. Gen. Sherman manifested a good deal of excitement during the investigation. The Sonth Carolina Conference. At the recent session of the South Carolina Conference, at Anderson, the following appointments were made for the Columbia District: Columbia District?Wm. Martin, P. E. Washington street?0. A. Darby. Marion-street?W. D. Kirkland. City Mission to be supplied. Columbia Circuit?S. P. H. Elwell. Richland Fork Circuit?J. K. McCain. Winnsboro' Circuit?J. S. Connor, supernumerary. Fairfield Circuit?J.T. Kilgo, J. A. Clifton. East Chester Circuit?J. M. Boyd. Chester Circuit?J. W. Humbert. Rock Hill Circuit?J. E. Watson. Yorkville Station?A. W. Walker. York Circuit?L. A. Johnson, Supernumerary. Lexington Circuit and Mission?J. C. Miller. Leesville Circuit and Mission?G. W. Gatlin. President Columbia Female College?S. B. , Jones. Agent Columbia Female College?S. H. ! Browne. P. F. Kistler has been appointed to Bam- ] berg circuit; W. A. Clarke to St. George's J circuit; J. B. Massabeau to Williston circuit; j J. M. Carlisle to Sumter station ; R. L. Har- .1 per to Camden station ; Laudy Wood to Tim- J monsville circuit; J. R. Little to Lancaster \ station ; J. A. Mood to Bennettsville circuit; i M. A. McKibben to Belmont circuit; W. W. ! Mood to Cokesbury station ; W. T. Capers to 1 Abbeville station ; Manning Brown to New- i berry station ; G. W. M. Creighton to Little ] ? - - ? ? - - * ./ * *ii . l Saluda; E. J. Meynardie to lireenvine station. W. P. Mouzon is Presiding Elder for the i Charleston District; W. H. Flemmiug for ' the Sumter District; J. W. Kelly for the Marion District; T. G. Herbert for the Spar- t tanburg District; H. M. Mood for the Cokes- : bury District; R. P. Franks for the Green- 1 ville District. ? The next annual meeting of the Conference 1 will be held at Sumter. ] ] SSf All the territories together have a pop- ] ulation of about 443,000?a little more than ; that of West Virginia. Colorado has only J 1 39,864, and Utah probably some 15,000), more. ! i Tin: u. S. CIRCUIT COURT. Tuesday, December 17. The session of the Court was occupied with the Laurens conspiracy cases, without reaching ft conclusion. Wednesday, December 18. After disposiug of some matters on the civil side of the Court, the Laurens conspiracy cases were resumed and continued until adjournment. Thursday, December 19. Ex-parte Lewis Merrill?petition for admission as counsellor and attorney at law. The committee appointed to examine the appel lant having reported favorably, on motion 01 D. T. Corbin, ordered that Lewis Merrill be admitted to practice as attorney, solicitor and counsellor of this court, aud, as such, to be duly sworn and enrolled. United States vs. Elijah Ross Sepaugh?conspiracy and murder. At the April term of the Circuit Court of the United States held in Charleston, the defendant was tried and found guilty, and recommended to the clemency of tho Court and the Executive. A motion was made in arrest of judgment. Upon a hearing of the case, and a duo consideration, the court announce that they are opposed in opinion to the questions submitted by counsel, to wit: whether the court has jurisdiction to inquire and find whether the crime of murder had been committed as set forth and charged in tho latter portions of the indictment, in order to ascertain the measure of punishmentto be affixed to the offense against tho United States, charged in the former portions of said count. Now, on this, the 18th dav of November, at Columbia, on motion of John Ficklcn, defendant's attorney, it is ordered that the pointon which said disagreement has happened, and which said disagreement, as above stated, is directed by law, shall be certified during this term of the court, under its seal to the Supreme Court of the United States, to l>c finally decided. The Court was occupied the larger part of the day, in the hearing of the Laurens conspiracy case. Mr. Jaeger presented his argument in a thorough, searching and close review of the evidence, urging upon the attention of the jury all the weak and disconnecting points. The District Attorney, D. T. Corhin. Eso.. reolied in the closing argu "" ~ * 1 ' l~ ^ WW* ment. Judge Bond then delivered his charge and the case was given to the jury. Tne jury then retired. All the jurors, except those on this panel, were discharged from attendance on this term. The court then adjourned until Friday at 10 A. M. Friday, December 20. The Union furnishes the following report of the sentences and statements of prisoners : John Whisonant, of York county, stated that ho belonged to Captain Mitchell's klan, but could not tell who swore him in; had been upon but one raid?that was when Alex Leach was killed and his brother whipped; 1(1 of the members of the klan met at Mount Vernon Church, he thought to go out and get the (militia) guns; did not know anything else was to be done; he went to within a very snort distance of Leach's house; did not see the act done, but was near by when he was taken out and killed; Jim Leach was whipped ; the whole crowd helped whip him with limbs of a tree; he gotagood many licks, when, as he ran, he was shot at three times; Alex Leach was carried to the creek by Jo Mitchell, Ed Leach, Sylvanus Hemphill and John Wallace, and thero killed: never saw him alive any more after they carried him to the creek; he was shot by the party named; they said they were going to kill him*; they volunteered to do it; he (Whisonant) could not help the killing if he had attempted;' John Wallace was the cause of his being killed; after whipping Jim Leach and killing Alex the party went home. Sentence?$100 tine and five years' imprisonment. Jerome Whisonant, of York county, said he never had joined the klan; never was sworn in ; received orders on the night referred to to go along with it; they were disguised ; met them at Mount Vernon Church; did not know the purpose of the raid, but supposed it was to get the guns; went to Alex Leach's house; part of the party went In after Alex, another part wont to get James Rice ; brought James back and whipped him; James ran after being whipped, and was shot at; the party took Alex to the creek and killed him; prisoner did not go into Alex's house, though he started for the house; made excuse and stopped near by; thought they went for guns and not to kill any one; did not aid in tlie killing or wnipping; supposed?believed it was the revenge of John Wallace that caused the killing and whipping. Sentence?$100 line and five years' imprisonment. Jamks A. Donald, of York. This prisoner was very nervous; the jury had recommended him to mercy, there beingextenuating circumstances; he stated that he was the last one who got to the raid on the night that Leach was killed. John Wallace came to him and ordered him into the ranks; didn't know anv of the other men as they were all disguised, "flic narrative of the whipping and murder was the same as above recited. Sentence? $100 line and imprisonment for two years. Alfred C. Lamaster, of Union?This prisoner plead guilty. Acknowledged to having been in the second raid on the Union jail when the butchery took place there; was also present at the killing in the Dogan raid, and had been on two other raids when the victims had been killed; also on several raids when colored men had been whipped; joined the klan in 1S70, in February; his first raid was on Jesse Long; went always in the night; a great deal was done on the Union jail raid; was not closo by where the hanging and shooting was douc; all the prisoners were put to death ; was 150 yards or so distant; could not see them, but heard them; two or three were hung? the rest were shot; there wero about 400 men in the party, all of whom were mounted and disfuised; was on the raid on Phil Ward; they illed him ; he was shot; heard the guns; there was nothing against Ward, but a woman lived in his house, who cohabited with my uncle; it raised talk ; we wont there to talk to her; she had a young child; I and another party went a distance to get some one to care for the child, while they whipped her; she was whipped; while we were gone, Ward came out and ran; Leonard, one of the party, ran after liirn, shot athim several times and killed him ; Ward was a good boy; we had grown up together; I felt bad when he was killed; Whitlock was with me to Bet some one to take charge of the child, while the woman was being whipped ; Whitlock is here; I said to Wbitlock, "It is too bad, they have killed Ward; the girl that was whipped had on her night clothes; she was taken out of bed and whipped with switches and limbs, twenty-live or thirty blows. Sentence?$100 and five years' imprisonment. John Whitlock, of Union. This prisoner had Blead guilty ; stated he was in both raids on the rnion jail the nights of the massacre ; was in the raids on Stein, on Phil Ward, on Dogan, on Gist, on Long, 011 Bluford, on Kennedy, Ben. Rice, Scipio Clark and others; joined the klan three years ago; was seventeen years of ajje then; didn't know anything about what it was lor; was sworn in blindfolded on his knees with men in front of him, in George Bouner's store, at Jonesville; helped whip Kit Stein; did'nt know what he was , whipped for; three or four of the party whipped him; didn't take his family out; Stein made little noise while being whipped ; was in the Ward raid; the crowd killed Ward; didn't know as the victim had been doing anything; he was a very quiet man ; was on the raid when Clarke was whipped for having two wives; Littlejohn got Leonara to head the raid, when Ward was killed; Ward and he had fallen out about something; was present on the Union raid, when the negroes were taken outand killed ; didn't help kill them; three or four were taken out on the first raid; seven, eight or nine on thesecond; they were all killed ; never got off his horse; all were disguised. Sentence? $100 and live years' imprisonment. H. D. Mathis. of Union. Was thirty-eight years of age; had been on several raids; was on the Squire Going's raid. [The District Attorney stated that Goings had just been elected by the Republicans as Probate Judge when he was raided upon.] Wont at eleven at night; whipped him, seven of us ; I hold tho horses. [The judge: It is hard to find a prisoner who did not hold the horses.] Goings was severely whipped until told by the chief, Charles Simms, to stop; licked him with limbs and switches for half an hour; he made no fuss; prisoner was a married man; Goings was a married man ; supposed if he had been raiqjpd upon the same way ho would desire the parties to lie punished; went into the klan as a home guard company; Charles Simms, the Chief, was 21 or 22 years'of age ; obeyed his orders; felt it was not safe to disobey them. In reply to a question from the Judge why he let a boy sixteen years, his junior order him, the prisoner said he was obliged to obey him; ho was the chief; wason the Jeff Mayburn raid, and none other ; never was on a murdering raid. Sentence?$100 and five years' imprisonment. Marion Fowler, indicted with the last named prisoner; stated he had been on five raids 5 was on the second jail raid at Union, when the negroes were murdered; was on the Squire Goings raid; helped whip him; never could count the licks; licked him a half hour; stood him up to whip liim; thrashed him, one at a time, until Charles 3imms, the Chief, said stop; am 19years old ; native of Spartanburg; cannot write; used to go to jchool when small; did not learn anything ; nave i father and mother living; didn't take any part in the Union raid, but was there. The District Attorney submitted a statement that the prisoner lid much of the whipping in the raids on Norton, Bowen and White. Sentence?$100 fine and four pears' imprisonment. Robert W. Moore, of York. Stated he was n the raid on Tom Roundtree, when he was killed ; never had joined the ku-klux. The jury found :his prisoner guilty on two counts. Sentence? ?100 fine and five years' imprisonment. When die sentence was pronounced the prisoner, who is poung, took his seat laughing, and commenced a conversation with the other prisoners. Rev. John S. Ezeli,, a Baptist minister of Spartanburg county, a man of intelligence and ability, was the next prisoner. Mr. Duncan appeared as his counsel, and submitted affidavits in tiis behalf praving for mercy, at theclose of which, Mr.Ezell reaifa written statement ofhis connection with the klan; his attendance at their meetings, expressing his regret that he had done so, and praying the most feeling manner for mercy from ;he "court. The District Attorney submitted affidavits to ihow that the prisoner had been an active member in the transaction of the klans.