Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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fcrap* and fads. I ? - Army worms have appeared at Green- j ville, Mississippi. A convention of the surgeons of the late Confederate States will be held in Atlanta j on the 20th of May. The Supreme Court of Louisiana has j adopted a rule limiting the arguments of law-1 yers to fifteen minutes. Snow from twenty to thirty feet deep and solid as ice, is still lying in various parts of California. Of the thirty-one Senators who voted for the ?400,000,000 limit recently, fifteen were from the West, fifteen from the South, and only one from all the North and East. In most parts of Europe the weather has been just as mild and lovely this winter as in the United States. Italy seems the only j exception, and is suffering from an extraordi- | nary cold season. Texas is rapidly recovering credit since the overthrow of the carpet-bag administration. Gov. Coke advises every persons who holds a just claim for money against Texas, that it is worth every dollar it calls for, and if he will only hold it 100 days, he will get his money. The Legislature ofNorth Carolina has passed an act eutitled "for the better security of human life." It provides that any person who mntifactures, sells or deals in spirituous liquors sis a drink, of any name or kind, containing foreign properties or ingredients poi- j sonous to the system, shall be punished with j five years' imprisonment in the peuitentiary. j The certificate of a competent chemist shall be prima facie evidence against the offender. Henry Ward Beecher has expressed the opinion that Charles Sumner should have died three years ago, before he differed with the prominent leaders of the Republican party ; to which the Boston Herald replies that it would have been infinitely better for the country if the leaders had died at that time, and adds that Mr. Sumner's protest against demoralization and corruption in his own party was the bravest act of his life. Gov. Campbell, of Wyoming Territory, has borne favorable testimony as to the practical working of woman suffrage in that Territory. Ex-Gov. Lee, of the same Territory, bears similar testimony, and in a late lecture iu Boston said that no domestic jars have occurred in conseoueuce of female suffrage, even when in one ease a husband and wife were rival candidates for the same office, the one 011 the Democratic, the other on the Republican ticket. The womeu usually vote for the best candidates and cannot be bribed, and the whole political situatiou is improved. To round out the Bald Mountain volcano story and make it appear symmetrical, a Xew York correspondent, writing from the spot and describing the awful sights and sounds, says that the first information was brought to the outside world by an illicit distiller, who kept his still in the depths of the mountain and was so terrified by what he heard, believing the day of judgment at hand, that he experienced a change of heart and came down to ask the forgiveness of the revenue collector, but whether for illicit distilling or for telling iufaraous lies, the correspondent does not state. It is a notable fact that at the present time, the world, so far as carnal warfare is concerned, is almost entirely at peace. The Cuban revolt and disturbances on that island, and the Acheneese war, which the Dutch are waging, are now the only armed strifes being waged. Acheen is on the northwestern extremity of Sumatra, an island of the Indian archipelago, where the Dutch have various possessions. According to the last accounts ' the Dutch bombarded an empty fort (the Kraton) for four days, but do not say much about the victory. It is reported that they are buying up the neighboring chiefs, and mav win a bloodless triumnh bv theiudicious J * J %> distribution of money. Concerning the colors which will most prevail in ladies' dresses this season, a fashion writer says: "The mingled tints of the last few seasons are disappearing, aud a tendency towards the more positive colors which were formerly in vogue is observable. Still there are shades aud tints in infinite variety, and the silks which are exhibited for spring wear are delicate and beautiful. Silver gray is predominant, but browns will, to a great extent, divide the popular favor. Chestnut and mahogany, which are the favorite lines, include all shades from the deepest and richest to the palest and most delicate. Bronze and olive tints, which were so popular, have almost entirely vanished." A number of very respectable and strictly moral young gentlemen of St. Louis have organized au association to be known as the "Gallants' Club," the object of which is to furnish young ladies who have no regular beaux to church, concerts, lectures and places of amusement. All members have to undergo m r?i /I avnminotion no f a aK n i?n of nr Ko. a iigiu ^Aauiiuauuu ao t\j tuaiatiti, u^., U^fore they are admitted, and they obligate themselves to obey all orders of the executive committee. Any lady wishing an escort has only to apply to the president of the society, naming the eveniug, and a young man is detailed for the purpose. As soon as a young man becomes engaged, he must withdraw from the organization. The average value of each immigrant arriving in this country has been frequently estimated by writers on political economy, but no two of them agree on this question. This value varies from ?750, according to the lowest estimate, to about ?1,500 in the highest; but in either case it is evident that in a more restricted material sense it is cheaper to import our population than it is to produce it ourselves. Assuming each child of fifteen to have cost ?1,000, and that the money thus expended would have been otherwise saved, we find that the man who has raised a family of five children and remained poor, might have accumulated a su insufficient for the wants of old age had he not been sbjected to this expense. The lights and shadows of Washington life can not be better illustrated than in the death, last month, of the Baroness Boileau, in Paris. She was Susan, the youngestdaughter of Senator Benton, and the sister of Mrs. Fre- j mont. She was a beauty and a belle, and for j two vears reitrned the envied of woman, a ' queen of the beau monde of Washington. Her husband, Boilcau, formerly attached to the French legation at Washington, became involved iu the entanglement of General Fremont's speculations, and was convicted by a French tribunal and sent to the penitentiary j for a series of years. He was only allowed ; one interview with his dying and heartbroken wife. She leaves six children to mourn their loss. The fashion of wearing pantalets is about to be revived, and a lady correspondent tbus goes into raptures over the new mystery of woman's wardrobe: "You can show j 'em in the spring. There's so many muddy j places. They must be wide, elaborately trimmed with lace frills and embroidery, and reach the ankle. The irreverent youth who enjoyed the privilege of taking me to the ! charity ball beheld these pantalets for the ( first time beneath the raised train of a belle. I was too late to interfere. He rushed forward, and, iu the most mysterious and anx- j ious manner, whispered to her that she was ' 'losing 'era off.' No words can describe the | look she rewarded him with. Poor dear! he i fell back discomfited, and let two or three} couples pass liira when he exclaimed, 'Why,, they are all losing 'em off,' and that's the cf-1 feet of the pantalet." The Spanish fort of San Juan de Pinos, now called Fort Marion, at St. Augustine, Fla., is the oldest fortification on the Western continent still used as a place of defense. It, covers about an acre of ground, and would i accommodate a garrison of 1000 men, with 100 guns. It was begun in 1520 and completed in 1756, the Indians being compelled to do the labor and building. Over the en trance is the Spanish coat of arms and the name of the then Governor, the chief engineer of the works and the date of the completion of the fort. In 1835, a dungeon was discovered by the caving of the wall from above, and in it were two iron cages, just large enough to admit the body of a man, and each contained a human skeleton. Who the victims were, there is no tradition to tell. In one of the dungeons, Osceola was chained, previous to his removal to Fort Moultrie. The fort is now garrisoned by an old sergeant. $Itr ^uquirer. YORKVIL.L.E, S. C.: THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 9,1874. : How to Order the Enquirer.?Write the name of the subscriber very plainly, give post-oflice, county and State in full, and send the amount of the subscription by draft or post-office money order, or enclose the money in a registered letter. Postage.?The postage on the Enquirer, to any part of the United States, is five cents per quarter,or twenty cents pervear, and is payable in advance at the post office where the paper is received. 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. Cash.?It must be distinctly understood that our terms for subscription, advertising and job- { work,are cash in advance / THE TAX-PAYERS' DELEGATION. j ' In our report of Congressional proceedings, ( will be fouud the action taken by Congress on the memorial of the South Carolina tax-payers, which was presented in both Houses on j the 31st ultimo. As will be seen, a counter | petition has also been presented. The com- ( raittee bearing this document to the Capital , consists of Lieutenant-Governor Gleaves, Speaker Lee, D. H. Chamberlain, L. C. Car- ( penter, H. G. Worthington, B. F. Whitte- | more, J. L. Neagle, Y. J. P. Owens and T. . o I m fn oKI n f n uiip. I ?J? v UUUOUU. xugjr V/UU ill H/ UO UU1W KV uuv cessfully refute the statements made by the memorialists, and to show that South Carolina has not only a Republican form of govern- ( ment, but that a large majority of her citizens, both white and black, neither seek nor desire interference from the United States Government. They further claim that the memorial- ( ists represent no considerable body of citizens of either party, neither tax-payers nor politi- ! cians, and that it is the same struggle that has been going on ever since reconstruction? J simply a fight between the outs and the ins. On Friday, the case was considered by the judiciary committee of the House, who appointed a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. ' Tremaiue of New York, Eldridge of Wiscon- * sin, and White of Alabama, to hear both sides. The tax-payers'delegation has appoint- < ed Messrs. Porter, Kershaw, Butler, Elliott, ' Lathers and T. Y. Siqjons a sub-committee to conduct their case. The rest of the dele- ' gation have returned home. The point now * aimed at is to induce thejudiciary committee to recommend an investigating committee, so { that Congress may be officially cognizant of * the condition of affairs in this State, which is considered an indispensable preliminary to ^ Congressional action. * Regarding the remedial measures that may be proposed, that of the cumulative system of voting has been suggested, and also a property qualification of the voters for at least one branch of the Legislature. Of these propositions the Washington correspondent of the New York Tribune writes to that paper: "The most effective remedy suggested is to have the State Senate elected by voters having a property qualification. Another plan, less certain to accomplish the desired result, is the enactment of a sytera of cumulative voting, which would give the white minority a representation in the Legislature of influential men, who would be able to prevent the majority from perpetrating the most glaring frauds upon the tax-payers. It is scarcely hoped by the delegation that Congress can be persuaded to take so novel a step as to reorganize the government of the State in accordance with this or any other plan ; but, if no such results come from their visit to Washington, they think some good will be accomplished by enlightening the public as to the condition of affairs in that State." The delegation had a hearing last Monday before the House sub-judiciary committee, the counter delegation, accompanied by Congressman Elliott, being also present. Gov. Porter, Colonel Lathers and General Kerslmw addressed the committee on grievances. Tre- c maine, of the sub-committee, expressed a de- j sire to discover some justification for interpo- t sition by Congress in the domestic affairs ofa 1 sovereign State in the Union. Porter pointed ? out that the present anomalous government g is a creature of Congress ; that since its estab- t lishment Congress has legislated to protect ? persons, when it was alleged the State authorities omitted to do so. Now it is alleged ( there is au omission of authorities to protect c property, and the same right exists in Con- J gress to legislate to protect property in danger ( of confiscation, as formerly, to protect persons ? from alleged ku-klux conspiracies. This is a j conspiracy against property. The impression i on the committee was favorable, y t y PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. Iu the Senate, on the 31st, Mr. Sargent presented a memorial signed by seven thous- t and citizens of California, asking legislation to pronioit ttie manuiaciure auu saie 01 iu- j toxicating liquors. Mr. Fenton presented i the memorial of the tax-paxcr3 of South Carolina, asking for relief against the misrule t and corruption prevailing in that State, t which was referred, without debate, to the 1 judiciary committee. The currency question \ came up as unfinished business and was discussed until adjournment. In the House, ( Mr. Dawes, Republican, of Massachusetts, 1 presented the South Carolina tax-payers' me- c morial. In presenting the petition, Mr. j Dawes said the paper bore the signatures of t a large number of prominent and influential men of that State. Mr. Randall, of I'cnnsyl- n wflni? nrrrnrl nn flif> rrrniinfl of Ktlif.fi rif'liln J *" 0~"? * b-- - "o ' that Congress had nothing to do with the ' matter, and asked if it whs in the power of ? Congress to do anything. Mr. Dawes said he j r did not exactly know what could ho done about it; but lie thought it just and proper ' to receive the petition. After further di.s- j f cussion, the petition was referred to the com-: h mittee of ways and meaus. After discussing f the Louisville and Portland canal bill, which, i after several amendments were adopted, f passed as a substitute for the Senate bill, the House resumed consideration of the currency 1 question. c In the Senate, on the 1st instant, the finance i bill introduced by Mr. Sherman was under i consideration. Mr. Gordon moved to pro- i vide for free banking and an apportionment f to each of the States of circulation according i to wealth and population, based on the amount now outstanding in the State of Maine. This c was amended by moving to base the cireula- i tion on Pennsylvania instead of Maine, which ! Mr. Gordon accepted; but the proposition was rejected by the Senate. A motion to restrict the issue of fractional currency to forty millions was also lost. Pending further discussion, the Senate adjourned. In the House, Rainey, colored member from South j Carolina, presented a memorial from the Re- j publican central committee of South Caro-! linn, as a counter statement to the petition ' presented in the House by Mr. Dawes. The j committee say the statements made by the | tax-payers are inaccurate and untrue, and | charge that the difficulties complained of are due to the action of the petitioners in resisting reconstruction. They admit an increase ?* * /InKf r\C tkn Gfnfn on/1 nlio rrrn f?nr in VlIU VIVl/l) v/l IUV VlitltV) ?/? ?? v | ruption in the Legislature rests as well upon j Democrats as Republicans, and allege that the signers of the memorial of the tax-payers are prominent politicians of the old regime. After a lengthy discussion, the House passed the Senate bill supplementary to the act to develop the mining resources of the United States. The consideration of the currency bill occupied the remainder of the day, with no results. In the Senate, on the 2ud, Mr. Ramsay, from the committee on post-offices, reported the hill for the transmission of correspondence by telegraph. The finance hill was again under consideration. The amendment of Mr. Merrimon, offered several days ago, providing for forty-six millions of additional bank circulation, thus placing the entire paper circulation of the country at 8400,000,000, divided equally between the government issues and the banks, was adopted by a vote of 33 to 19. Several other amendments were offered and 3everally rejected. The House was mainly occupied in discussing the currency bill. In the Senate, on the 3rd, Mr. Gordon presented a petition of Georgia planters asking an increase of United States notes. The bill to provide for the redemption and reissue 3f United States notes was taken up, but, on motion of Mr. Sherman, was laid over until Monday. A good deal of discussion ensued du a motion to refer the bill and amendments io the committee on commerce. The House was engaged on private bills. On the 4th, the Senate was not in session. [11 the House a number of private bills were considered, when the currency bill was taken jp and discussed until adjournment. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. , ? The Grange reports the killing of a madlog in Rock Hill ou Sunday of last week. ? Green peas are abundaut in Charleston it twenty-five cents per quart. ? Governor Moses has appointed Robert Mills, of Chester county, a notary public. ? Governor Moses has appointed William A. Bolt a trial justice for Union couuty. ? At the recent examination to fill the State scholarships in the University, Nelson A Davies was admitted from York county. 1 ? Arrangements are being made for imme- ' liately beginning the survey of the SpartanDurg and Asheville Railroad. ? It is said that there is a colored school 1 ;eacher on one of the islands adjaceut to Charleston who can neither read nor write. I ? Col. D. Wvatt Aiken, of Abbeville, has jone to Washington to take charge of the 1 Grangers' Bureau of statistics. 1 ? President Grant has nominated Cyrus H. 1 Baldwin, of Columbia, to be assistant United ! states Treasurer at Charleston. ? The Mills House, in Charleston, was sold 1 it public auction on Thursday last and pur- ! shased by G. W. Williams for $27,100. ? The town council of Marion, at its last 1 neeting, instructed the marshal to arrrest and mprison any one using profane or indecent ] anguage on the streets. ' ? A rumor is current in Columbia that ' vithin the next six weeks, the Federal troops < low stationed iu this State will be sent to the >' tlnlno ] ? The Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta s lailroad has prohibited news-boys from sell ng newspapers on the passenger trains of the > oad, as heretofore. ? Some ten or twelve mandamus cases are ( >ending against county treasurer Shaffer, of < iValterboro', to show cause why he has refused I o take the bills of the Bank of the State in ' jayment of taxes. ' "Many Republicans," believing in the < irinciple of rotation in office, in a communi- ' lation to the Columbia Union-Herald, present < he name of Judge Thompson Cooke as being 1 he most suitable person to represent the ' fourth Congressional District in the next i Congress. ] ? Thfi Columbia Phoenix savs that Secretary* if State Ilayne declines to commission ap- i lointees of Gov. Moses to positions as audi,ors and treasurers, on the ground that the aw recently passed entitled "An act to reduce , ill acts and parts of acts relating to the as- ! lessmeut and taxation of property to one act! md to amend the same," virtually takes the ippointiug power out of his hands. ? Last week county treasurer Smith, white, if Fairfield, was arrested and lodged in jail in the charge of embezzling county funds, [lis defalcation is put dowu at about $10,000. bounty treasurer Humbert, colored, of Ormgeburg, was also arrested and lodged in ail, but was afterward released on bail. He s charged with being a defaulter to the ex.eutof $30,000. NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Plato Durham announces that he has deermined to become a candidate for Congress. ? A paper mill near Wilmington is proected, and rice straw is the material to be lsed. ? The post-office at Lilesville, Anson coun1 1 1 11 ? _ 1 j. T _ P y, nas oeen cioseu uy special agent l^ung, ui ; ^ he post office department, for the reason that j iquor is sold in the store where the post-office j vas kept. | ^ ? (Samuel P. Hill, of Caswell, a lawyer of listinction, and who was Speaker of the i1 [louse of Commons in 1858-59, died in Yan- jk ;e) ville on the 2Gth ultimo. Mr. Hill was a imminent Democrat, and was one of the vie-. ,ims of the Kirk-Holden war in 1870. ? One of our North Carolina exchanges r lays that Tim Lee, of Wake, has confessional j1 iHpirations. This news is too good to be true. ' [ [Tic printer evidently meant to say congres-, 1 ioual aspirations, which disease is by no ' , nouns confined to Sheriff Lee. ? As showing that home enterprise will sue- : 1 :ood, the Crecnshoro Patriot says the demand i .. l> .1 t. i??>? ' Or fM'rgCUIIl (X .UUXyHUiujr o uuuiviii^ otuvco 10 10 profit Jin to tax that department of their oiunlry to its utmost capacity to fill orders; ind host of all, the stoves give universal satisactiou. : ? The Raleigh Xews says it is contemplated jy the Adjutant General to revoke all the ' jommissionv heretofore issued in the militia,' md to take a new start in a militia move- ] ncnt, appointing new officers, and with the ' lew appointments, to inaugurate the old-; I ashioned militia, with the yearly "general i nusters" and all. j < ? Miss Maggie Miller, a beautiful aud ac- ] :omplished young lady of Columbia, 8. C., i ecently died suddenly in Salisbury. She I was the affianc6e of a young gentleman name< McCorkle, of that town, and when the new of her death reached him, he became s< frenzied that he attempted suicide by shoot ing himself. It is thought the wound he in flicted will not prove fatal. ? A resolution was adopted by the las legislature "to provide for the celebration o the huudreth anniversary of the Meckleu burg declaration, by an exhibition of the art of the State." The printed journal, as hande< down for posterity, substitutes the word rat for arts, and the question is, shall the patri otic citizens organize a grand rat-catchinj association ? NEWS OFVIIE DAY. ? One thousand workmen are thrown ou of employment by the burning of a knittinj mill at Cohsos, New York. ? Three Indians were hancred at Fort Smith Arkansas, last Friday, for murders of whit citizens committed last year in the Indiai country. ? McGelian, the Ohio desperado, whom C L. Vallandiglmm was defending when he ac cideutally shot himself during the trial, wa shot and severely wounded at Hamilton Ohio, one night last week. ? W. D. Coleman, a clerk in the treasun office of Virginia, has been tried and fount guilty of embezzling the funds of the State The trial developed irregularities of the Stat< treasurer, and a defalcation by that official and he has gone crazy. ? The strike on the Erie railroad, in whicl over nine hundred men participated, has en ded. Two regiments of State militia wen ordered to Susquehanna to protect the rail road company in its rights, and, if necessary ? j? IU suppress nuiuua ueuiuiiabiuiiuiia uj iuiu of arms. ? The Georgia Direct Trade Union, Pat rons of Husbandry, ha9 organized at Atlanta and elected A. H. Colquitt pres'dent. Twelv< directors were chosen. The meeting wai largely attended, all parts of the State being represented. This body expects to coutro all the cotton exported from Georgia. ? Gen. McLaws, of Georgia, was nominated by the President, and has been confirmed by the Senate, as collector of internal revenuf for the first collection district of Georgia This is the first instance in which a promi nent ex-Confederate has been appointed 01 confirmed to office without having previously sealed his allegiance to the dominant party EDITORIAL INKLINGS. Gen. Johnston's Book. Gen. Joseph Johnston has written f book on the late war, which has just beer published. As would seem natural, whethei the imputations are just or not, the Genera attributes the failure of the Confederacy t< the bad management of the civil administra tiou, and is quite severe in his criticisn of the Richmond government. Gen. John 3tou does not admit that the superior popula tiou and resources of the North caused the de feat of the South ; nor does he attribute th< defeat to defection, or indifference, or want o: harmony in the Confederate movement. Th< great mistake, he urges, was the financial pol icy adopted in the early part of the war. H( seems to entertain the same views which Mr Stephens urged in 1861, in regard to taking the cotton on hand in the Confederacy ant sending it to Europe as a basis on which tc rn !ur> futifla Tho ninrnw ttina rAitipH in frPII Johnston's opinion, would have been amplj sufficient to equip half a million of men, anc yet leave in the treasury sufficient means with which to defray the other expenses of the war This criticism of State affairs by one sc prominent and distinguished in the military branch of the Confederate Government, is at trading much attention, and has already svoked a reply from Mr. Memminger, firsl Secretary of the Treasury, and also a comma aication over the signature of "T.," which is supposed to be from the pen of Mr. Treuholm Mr. Memmiuger's successor. These articles ippear in the Charleston News and Courier, I.v argument in these replies is in effect, thai the Confederate Government could not have jbf.a.ned the cotton for shipment before the blockade became effective, except by seizure, which would have been impracticable; that il die Government could have bousrht all the 20tton on hand in the South, there were nc vessels with which to transport it; that before the Government was fairly organized the crop was beyond its reach ; and, at that time, nobody, North or South, thought the war would last long. Domestic Volcanos. The excitement occasioned by the recent volcanic disturbances in North Carolina has ilraost entirely susided, without inflicting fur;her serious damage than the demolition of ;he widow Nannie's chimney, which is not represented as having been a very durable strucureatthebest. Gen.Clingmau, who has givjn the subject much attention for many years, vnd who is an enthusiastic student, says the phenomenon of the past few weeks is not new n that section, and he further believes that it ;an be traced to the remotest traditions of the Jherokee Indians, and thence by scientific reiearch to the volcanic upheavals from which diese mountains were undoubtedly formed, [n the northeastern corner of Haywood coun:y, near Fines' creek, forty miles northwest ol Stone mountain, there is a mountain which las been subjected to periodical shakings, after intervals of two or three years, ever since :he year 1812, and for how long a period before he cannot tell. The immediate locality in nk/Mtf a milo in InnortVi JI LI 1 CSC U191UI U21UI/C9 19 UUUU ii n UJIIU KJ ivugiu ind a quarter of a mile in width. The shocks inder this mountain have not been, within [lis recollection, of a longer duration thau a few minutes ; and yet with each recurrence) ifter an interval of rest of two or three years, die shocks have been sufficiently powerful to i>rea^ up the mountain, as one may say, into lew fissures, hillocks, upheavals and cavities, >0 far as to change its general appearance. General Clingman says that twenty-five fears ago he called attention to these phenomin a in an article published in the National Tntelligcnccr, and has often wondered that the itteution of men of science has never been Irawn to the interesting volcanic disturbances n the mountains of North Carolina. Regarding the failure of an eruption at Bald mountain, the New York Graphic hunorously says: "Nothing could be more unfair than to require a new volcano to equal, at the very :iorf vnlrvinnq that, have been in constant jse for centuries. Only give the North Carolinians time to thoroughly comprehend the thing, and they will doubtless produce as good in article of volcano as can be found in any :>f the effete monarchies of Europe." The Tax-Payers' Delegation. Notwithstanding the snubbing which President Grant gave the delegation of the South Carolina tax-payers' convention, when ;hey formally met him at the Presidential mansion, and the fact that the rash utterances )fan indiscreet member of the convention produced a bad effect in administration circles, t seems that a review of the proceedings ol lie convention has somewhat changed the nil 1 favorable feeling at first entertained agains s the convention in Washington. The Wash 3 ington Chronicle, an administration paper ' and exceedingly hostile to the efforts of thi -1 delegation, makes the following admission which is quite complimentary at least: t j The committee from the Tax-payers' Con f vention" of South Carolina, now in Washing .; ton, are earnestly engaged impressing theii j views and opinions on the attention of tht 3 Government officials and other iufluentia J persons at the national capital. Among th< 9 means used for this purpose is the circulatioi - of the printed proceedings of said convention x i containing the reports of its various commit j tees and the addresses of its officers, and ir | the form of an appendix the speech of Rich i ard Lathers, made at the opening of said con ^ I vention. This pamphlet contains altogethei r I over one hundred octavo pages of priutec 3 j matter. Its contents manifest a high ordei j of ability on the part of the gentlemen whc i composed this assemblage. Some of the pa e! pers would do credit to any deliberative body i j and, as a rule, are free from abuse of their po j litioal opponents. Thespeech of Mr. Lathen I is, however, an exception to this rule. A careful perusal of the proceedings of tlx convention will be sufficient to release tlx 3 majority of its members from ail purposes o , vituperation or assault on the officials of tlx National Government. All allusions to then , in official papers are couched in terras o 1 proper respect. We take pleasure in record ing this fact, because the character of some ol !* the speeches delivered before this conventior 2 were grossly offensive to the President anc , other leading statesmen connected with tlx Administration party, which has made an im j pression all over the North which we are now satisfied the majority of these gentlemen d( not merit. 3 In their efforts to secure the full redress o: " every wrong and a correction of every act o: , injuctice under which they may be suffering 2 we are certain they will have the cordia sympathy of the President, his Cabinet, anc every member of both branches of Congress. Work on the Railroad in Lenoir. I The Hickory Press contains a length} 3 account of the formalities observed at Lenoii r on the occasion of commencing the work o I grading the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge railroad at that place on the 27th ul I tirao. Several hundred persons assembled r and after a brief and appropriate prayer, th< j contractor for the first section, the veuerabh James Harper, was introduced to the assem^ bly. The account then proceeds : r "Mr. Harper said that he could make ik speech, but that, in recognition of the compli mentary manner in which he had been noticed he would try to do some work. He then step ped on the line, and threw the first earth frorr the cut upon the fill. Rev. Mr. Rankin, with a mattock, andJ(Col. Green Moore with a i shovel, assisted Mr. Harper, and the worn 1 was begun. At Capt. Moore's suggestion the r young ladies of the Episcopal, the Methodist I and the Presbyterian schools then continued } the work until relieved by the gallaut young gentlemen of Finley High School, who in their turn yielded the ground to the citizens 1 and they to the regular working force of the contractors. As each detachment went tc - work, they weregreeted with three cheers from ; the spectators. Before theasserably dispersed , the five clergymen present, Messrs. Rankin 1 Ivey, Bland, Robey and Beall, each trundled a wheel-barrow full of earth from the cut tc J the grade, amid the cheers and laughter oi their pashioners and pupils. To judge from } the spirit and enthusiasm shown by to-day's . proceedings, the work thus auspiciously beP gun, will neither falter nor fail until its suej cessful and speedy completion. "To all who knew the venerable citizen whe ' threw the first earth, there was something pe culiarly fitting in his selection for the cerer mony. Nearly seventy-five years old, he can [ remember when there was not a railroad in , the world. Nearly fifty years a resident ol North Carolina, he remembers that when he came south, there was not a railroad in North 1 America, and now, after a long life spent ic usefulness, he is spared, in a vigorous old age - to join with his neighbors, kinsfolks and de' scendants, in breaking earth on his own land, t for the first Narrow Guage railroad in the . State. May he live to see the road finished i and be able to ride by rail, from his own dooi to Charleston, S. C., from which place he used ' to haul his goods by wagon a generation ago.' . THE RAILROAD MEETING AT CHESTER. \t CONSOLIDATION OF THE KING'S MOUNTAIN RAILROAD COMPANY AND THE CHESTER 1 ANI) LENOIR NARROW GAUGE RAIL? ROAD COMPANY. r Pursuant to previous notice, a meeting oi stockholders of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company wa3 held at Chester, on Friday, the 3d day of April, instant. Charles S. Brice, Esq., of Chester, was j called to the chair and L. M. %iat, of York, appointed Secretary. On motion, the Chairman appointed a committee of three, consisting of Dr. A. H. Da' vega, W. H. Brawley and James F. Hart, to 1 verify proxies. The Committee submitted the following report: The undersigned committeo, appointed to veri. fy proxies at this meeting, respectfully report: That they find two thousand two hundred and eighty (22.S0) shares of stock represented by proxies, and forty-nine (40) shares represented in person ; making a total of two thousand three hun* dred and twenty-nine (2329) shares, and a majority of the stock. A. H. DAVEGA, J. 1<\ IIART, WM. H. BRAWLEY. 'PL 4. nfin, .1,1,;,. J, fko ' i. lit: TCJJUl b nao UUU^ICU, uuti nmw HIV meeting was declared to be duly constituted. The proceedings of the last meeting of . stockholders, held at Newton, N. C., ou the 10th day of July, 1873, were read and con* firmed. i For the information of the meeting, G. W. Melton, President of the King's Mountain i Railroad Company, read the following as the proceedings of the meeting of stockholders of that Company, held at Yorkville, on the 25th i of March, 1874: i Yorkvili.e, S. C., March 25th, 1874. The stockholders of the King's Mountain Railroad Company met in the Court House at 2 o'clock, p. m. The meeting was organized by calling Dr. A. H. Davega to the Chair, and requesting W. D. Simpson to act as Secretary. A committee, consisting of Major J. F. Hart, H. F. Adickes, Esq., and U. A. Albright, Esq., was appointed by the chair to examine and verify proxies. The'committee reported 1205 shares represented in person, and 90 shares represented by proxies. Total, 1301 shares. Thero being a majority of stock represented, the Chair declared the meeting ready for business. On motion of J. J. McLuro, a committee, con, sisting of J. J. McLure, H. F. Adickes and I. D. "r:iL - """ fA nAtvilnufoa pfflci , \Y HIlUraUlHMl, ?t? iu ?|'UI1,U.VV..^.V?. ilent ana live Directors to serve the ensuing year. , The following gentlemen were nominated and afterward elected to those positions, to wit: Geo. i W. Melton, President; J. H. Smith, J. J. Mc. Lure, W. II. Ilardiu, John H. Adams and J. F. ; Hart, Directors. The President reported, verbally, tho road in | pretty good condition, relatively. ' Tho committee appointed in February last, to consider and report a plan whereby tbestockhold; ers in this Company might consolidate their stock ! into tho stock of tho Chester and Lenoir Narrow . | Gauge Railroad Company, made the following re| port which was adopted : Yorkvillk, S. C., March 25, 1S74. i To the Stockholders of the Kini/'s Mountain Rail Road tympany, in Convention assembled : Tho undersigned committee, appointed at a stockholders' meeting, held on the 12th day ot ' February last, to report a plan whereby the stockholders of said road may consolidate their stock j into that of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge | Railroad Company, respectfully report that they i have had tho matter under consideration, and re' commend that the stockholders of this Company ; authorize its President and Directors to enter into i' a joint agreement with tho President and Direc| tors of tho Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge i Railroad Company, for the consolidation of the stock of this Company, into consolidated stock of j the saitl Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Coin1 pany, provided an equitable agreement therefor } can be effected between them ; and provided furI ther, that tho following stipulations be incorpora'1 tod in the said agreement: *| 1. That for every two shares of stock now held I by the stockholders in this Company, not less I than one share of consolidated stock be issued in t return, upon the surrender and cancellation of said iirst named stock. 2. That of the four Directors provided for as being from this State, in the act of assembly per- I ' mitting this consolidation, at least two shall bo 2 selected from stockholders resident in York conn- j ty, and two from stockholders resident in Chester 1 ' county. :t. That no discrimination in charges for freight j . or passengers, to or from Yorkville, over said road, shall ever bo made; but such freight or pas- j * sengers shall be convoyed to either terminus of r said road, or to its intersection with any other j railroad, at the lowest pro rata through rates, j \ charged for such freight or passengers. 1 JAMES P. HART, 1 3 J. J. MeLURE, , B. T. WHEELER, j J. L. CLARK, > II. P. A DICK PS. The following resolution, offeree' by J. J. Me- ' 1 Lure, was adopted, to wit: Revolved, That in ciise consolidation of the j King's Mountain Railroad Company with the ! Chester and Lenoir Marrow Gauge Railroad Com- j r pany be effected, the President and Directors of j the King's Mountain Railroad Company are hereby authorized to transfer to said Chester and Lep noir Marrow Gauge Railroad Company, all the ) road, properties and franchises, estate, personal, 1 1 ?: 1 ooOl IT i n n,* ci \f mi ntdiri rcai unu jjiiAru, ui me oaiu i?iu^ o Railroad Company and make delivery thereof. ? Meeting adjourned. A. H. DAVEGA, Chairman, j W. D. Simpson, Secretary. The following was then submitted to the > meeting: i STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, f Articles of Consolidation of "The King's Moun4 tain Railroad Company" and "The Chester and ' Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company," l bodies corporate in and by the laws of the said f State, made and entered into pursuant to the provisions of an Act of Assembly of the said State, " entitled an Act to incorporate the Chester and Lei noir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and to aui thorize the consolidation of said Company with I the Carolina Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and the King's Mountain Railroad Company, ap5 proved February 26th, A. D., 1873. 1. "That said king's Mountain Railroad Comf pany" and "The Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company," agree to consolidate > and form one and the same body corporate under the name of "The Chester and Lenoir Narrow p Gauge Railroad Company." p 2. The stockholders of the King's Mountain i Railroad Company shall surrender their respect, ive certificates of stock and accept, in the stead | thereof, certificates of stock in the Chester and . Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, at the ' rate of one share of stock in the last named Company, to two shares of stock in the former. "The King's Mountain Railroad Company," and upon the surrender of the said certificates of stock in f the said "King's Mountain Railroad Company," the said "Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company" shall issue to the holders of said f surrendered certificates, respectively, new certificates of stock in the "Chester and Lenoir Narrow J Gauge Railroad Company," at the foregoing rates . of one share of stock in the latter Company to every two shares of stock in the "King's Mountain , Railroad Company." 5 3. In the direction and management of the affairs of the said consolidated Company, there shall 3 be elected at least two Directors from stockholders resident in Chester county, and at least two Directors from stockholdersresidentin York county. 4. No discrimination in charges for freight or passengers to and from Yorkville, over the railroad of the said consolidated Company, shall ever bo made ; but such freight and passengers shall t be conveyed to either terminus ot said road, or to its intersection with any other railroad, at the lowest pro rata through rates charged for such 1 freight or passengers; such pro rata charges, i however, to be adjusted with reference as well to . the labor of handling, as to the distances over which such freights are to be moved. : 5. "The King's Mountain Railroad Company" ? agrees to transfer, assign, convey and deliver over to the consolidated "Chester and Lenoir Narrow | Gauge Railroad Company," all the property, real, ' personal and mixed, of the said "King's Mountain ; Railroad Company," including its corporate I rights, privileges, powers, immunities and franchises. its choses in action and assets on hand ; ? and tho said "Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge ! Railroad Company," consolidated, agrees to as( assume all of the contracts, debt^ and liabilities of the said "King's Mountain Railroad Company," 1 and to lx! answerable to the creditors of said latter I Company for the payment of the same. 0. This agreement of consolidation to take effect I from this date, the third day of April, in the j'ear 1 of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sov? enty-four. f Chester. S. C., April 3rd, 1874. We, the undersigned, the President and Direct1 ors of "The King's Mountain Railroad Company" I in meeting assembled, do horeby, pursuant to the . authority to that end, upon us conferred by "The King's Mountain Railroad Company," at a general meeting of its stockholders, held at Yorkville, S. C., on tho 25th March, 1874, called by its , President, after one month's public notice thereof, given in the newspapers of the towns of Chester and Yorkville, assent, on the part of the said "King's Mountain Railroad Company," to the i foregoing articles and terms of consolidation. Given under our hands the day and year above ' written. F GEO. W. MELTON, President. i JAMES F. HART, JOHN J. McLURE, 1 . W. H. HARDIN, l J. H. ADAMS, , J. II. SMITH, Directors. Resolved, That the Chester and Lenoir Narrow < Gauge Railroad Company, in general meeting ! assembled, do hereby assent to the articles and | terms of consolidation of the said company and , the King's Mountain Railroad Company, as embodied in the articles of consolidation, signed by I the President and Directors of the King's Moun' tain Railroad Company, and dated the 3rd day of April, 1874; and uo authorize the President of this Oomnanv to endorse and sien this resolution > upon the said articles of consolidation as the evidence of the assent of this Company thereto, and f to affix thereto the corporate seal of this company. Pursuant to the authority upon me conferred by the foregoing resolution, this dny passed at a general meeting of the stockholders of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, held at Chester, S. C., I have caused the foregoing f resolution to be endorsed upon these articles of consolidation, and hereby sign my name thereto ' as President of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow ; Gauge Railroad Company, and affix thereto the corporate seal of the said Company. ' Done at Chester, S. C., this 3d day of April, Anno i [l. s.] Domini, 1874. Signed A. II. DA VEGA, i President Chester and Lenoir N. G. R. R. Co. Maj. S. P. Hamilton, introduced a resolution which was unanimously adopted, assenting to the articles of consolidation of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and the King's Mountain Railroad Company, the full text of which is incorporated in the articles of consolidation as printed above. J. J. McLure, Esq., submitted the following, which was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the first resolution passed at the meeting of the stockholders of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company held at Newton, North Carolina, on the 10th ot July, 1873, which reads as recorded: "Resolved, that ' the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company authorize the President and Directors, in their discretion, to accept the proposition of G. W. Melton for the sale of the King's Mountain ' Railroad." Ac... be amended to read: "To accept the proposition of (i. W. Melton for the sale of his interest in the King's Mountain Railroad," Ac.; such being the true purport of said resolution, as the proposition of Col. G. W. Melton was only for the sale of his interest in said Railroad Company, as reported to tho meeting by the Committee of Directors to which the same had been referred. Maj. S. P. Hamilton offered the following , resolution, which was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the following be adoptod as rule 12 of tho by-laws of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company: Rule 12.?That the President and any four Directors of this Company, duly elected, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business within the Jurisdiction of the Board of Directors. J. J. McLure, Esq., offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company do hereby assent to the articles of agreement made and entered into between George VV. Melton, of Chester, South Carolina, of the one part, and tho Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company of tho other part, dated the 2nd day of February, 1874, signed by the said George W. Melton, by the said the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Rail road Company, by A. H. Davega, its President, and approved by C. C. Macoy, L. M. Grist, I. D. Witherspoon, H. C. Hamilton and Jonas Hoffman, its Directors, and sealed with the corporate seal of the said Company. Resolved, That A. II. Davega, as President of j said Company, be and ho is hereby authorized to execute, in tho name of tho Company, and under its corporate soal, the mortgage, bonds, and other obligations provided by said articles of agreement, and to deliver the same to tho said George W. Melton. The following resolution, introduced by W. H. Brawley, Esq., was adopted after some discussion: Resolved, That the President and Directors of j tho Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad i " Company be, and they are hereby instructed and I required not to dispose of any of the bonds issued by the counties of Chester and York in aid of! said Railroad Company, for less than eighty cents ; on the dollar of the par value of said bonds, nor , j Hypothecate lor less than sixty cents on the dol- 1 lar of the par value of said bonds; and no sale or i hypothecation, other than is herein directed, shall bo legal. After the adoption of a vote of thanks to ' j the Chairrhau and Secretary, the meeting ad- J journed. C. S. BRICE, Chairman, j L. M. Grist, Secretary. - ? j The women's temperance crusade shows j no signs of dying out, but is said to bespread-; ing on every hand. LOCAL AFFAIRS. NCIt ADVERTISEMENTS. J. W. Douglass?U. S. Internal Revenue Special Taxes. Hoarding. W. H. it J. P. Herndon?Lime?Guanos?'Teas? (finger? Plows. T. C. Duulap, Agent?Children's Carriages?Repairing?Cooking Stoves?Terms. Nelson C. Da vies?Certificate Lost. J. A. Erwin. Administrator?Application for Discharge. Emma Hays, Administratrix?Application for Discharge. II. F. Adickes?Decline in floods?Ladies' Dress Goods?Spring Cassimeres?Stationery. T. M. Dobson <k Co.?Our Millinery Store?Pique rivimi.liners?R leached Sheeting?Hamburg Edging?Dress Goods?Black Grenadines? Luce Handkerchiefs?Counterpanes?Straw Hats?Blankets?Cloth Shoes?Bacon?Our Grocery?Cassimeres?Ladies' Hose?Parasols?Fancy Groceries. R. If. (ilenn, S. *Y. C.?Sheriff's Sales?Judge of Prober's Sale. Kennedy, Latimer A Hemphill?Salem JeansGroceries. T. W. Clawson, Deputy Messenger?In Bankruptcy?First Meeting of Creditors?In the matter of Henry E. McFadden, Bankrupt. DEATH OF MAj! R. A. SPRINGS. We learn that Maj. Richard A. Springs died at his residence, in this county, six miles from Rock Hill, on Monday rooming last. He was one of the prominent men of his section, and for at least one session, in ante helium days, represented this county in the lower branch of the State legislature. ACCIDENTAL BURNING. On Sunday night last, about 10 o'clock, while a negro woman living on the premises of Capt. J. J. Wilson, in this county, was passing across her room with a torch, she accidentally set some straw on fire, and in their efforts to extinquish the flames the woman, a man and two children were badly burnt?one of the children so seriously injured that it died nevf d?v Tn save the adioininc buildings, it ~" * w " J ~o W was necessary to pull down the one on fire. WIT OF THE UNION HERALD. The wit displayed by the Columbia UnionHerald, iu comparing the freaks of a runaway mule in that city recently, to the speed of the "York railroad," is the happiest hit and the most pungent bon mot that sprightly paper ever made. It must be conceded, however, that the "York railroad" makes as fast time as the exigencies of the case seem to require; is a public convenience, and an indispensable institution?of almost as much benefit to the community, in fact, as the UnionHerald itself. EASTER ELECTIONS. At a meeting of the congregation of the "Church of the Good Shepherd," (Episcopal) on Monday after Easter, the following persons were elected wardens and vestrymen for the ensuing year: Wardens.-Col. W. B. Wilson, Col. A. Coward. Vestrymen.?W. B. Metts, W. I. Clawson, John C. Kuykendal, John S. Reynolds, Dr. Lawrence Alexander, C. Louis Stoney. Col. W. B. Wilson, Col. A. Coward, W. B. Metts and John C. Kuykendal, were selected as delegates to the Diocesan Convention, which assembles in Charleston on the 14th of May. THE SPRING AND'THE PROSPECT. In this section, the spring season has opened unusually favorable, with mild weather, and the ground in fine condition for the plow, of which advantages the fartofers are availing themselves. From what we can learn, more attention will be given to grain crops than has been the custom with the farmers of late years. The wheat and oat crops are quite promising, which condition is attributed to the mild winter through which we have passed. We learn from the dealers, that though commercial fertilizers have been bought to a considerable extent in this county, the demand has not been so heavy this season as last. There have been two slight frosts since fruit trees bloomed, but from what we can learn, the damage has been light. ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING. We learn that on the 28th ultimo, Thomas and Edward, sons of Mr. Henry E. McFadden, living near Bethesda church, in this county, went fishing, taking with them a little negro boy. They carried with them a gun, the little white boys riding horseback, one behind the other. On returning, in the afternoon, while the negro boy opened the gate for his companions to ride through, Thomas alighted and received the gun from his brother, passing in the gate, the gun pointing in the direction of the negro. In this position the hammer caught against the post, which caused the gun to discharge, the contents entering the breast of the unfortunate negro, from the effects of which he died within an hour. Trial Justice Bates, acting as coroner, held an inquest the next day, -and the verdict of the jury was that the shooting was entirely accidental, and exculpating Thomas from criminal intent. CIRCUIT COURT. The April term of the Circuit Court, his Honor T. J. Mackey presiding, convened on Tuesday last. The Judge dispensed with the formality of a regular charge to the grand jury, which he deemed unnecessary from the fact that they had been previously charged respecting their duties, and further, that having discharged their duties satisfactorily at previous terms, it is supposed they knew what their duties are. He would, however, invite their attention to the necessity of again examining into the administration of the several officers of the county; to ascertain the total amount of taxes collected and if disbursements have been properly made?though he did not deem a detailed statement necessary. In the opinion of his Honor, York county is peculiarly fortunate in having an honest body of public officers, who are faithful in the discharge of their duties, which exception deserves the special notice of the Court at a time when robbery and plunder is the rule in every official department of the State, without exception, and when official corruption stalks throughout the country. By lodging derelict officers in jail, and properly aided by the grand jury, his Honor hopes to check the march of corruption in the judicial district, and preserve in its purity the benign system of government wisely designed for our people, but which was brought into disrepute by the corruption of those who administer its affairs. Of the enormous taxes paid for the support of public schools in the State, with the exception of York county, all such schools in the State would be closed by the first of May, in face of the fact that $500,000 had been collected for the purpose of keeping them open. Nor is corruption confined to this one feature alone. So notorious is the corruption throughout every department of the State government that it has attracted the attention of the whole civilized world. This corruption can only be checked by prompt action of the courts and grand juries of the respective counties, which, in the opinion of his Honor, can wield the necessary power; but should they fail, so far as the speaker was concerned, he should feel it to be his duty to tell the people to check it by the might of their own arms. His Honor alluded to the annuity of the State to the Catawba Indians, under treaty* by which the State was to pay them the sum