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Jwaps and Jacts. The Democrats now claim a majority I of five in the Florida Legislature, which, if i correct, gives them the Senatorship. The cost of the various expeditions for observing the transit of Venus is estimated at ?1,500,000. The Knoxville Whig, with William G. j Brownlow as editor, will make its appearauce j on tho first of March. Santa Anna is living comfortably in i the city of Mexico. He is described as still1 of an upright, soldierly figure, with eyes as black as coal, and thin but not gray hair. A Frenchman has opened a restaurant in Thompson street, New York, where he gives | a piece of bread, a plate of vegetable soup, and j a plate of vegetables to order, for five cents. : France has now but one doctor to ev- i ery twenty-four hundred inhabitants. Amer- j w?. iit?w vuw wv wivij iiuuuicu, auu 10 none the healthier. According to the Eufaula (Alabama) Neios, the negroes of Barbour county are collecting money to be used by negro women in obtaining divorces from their husbands who voted the Democratic ticket. When you meet with men who do not scruple to make use of a woman's name in a recklesand unprincipled manner, shun them ; they are the very worst menbers of the com- j munity?men lost to every sense of honor and every feeling of humanity. The Ohio State temperance convention, , which met in Columbus recently, adopted a memorial to the general assembly for the 1 passage of a "law disqualifying habitual drunkards from holding office, and for the | removal of such persons now in office." , Iowa spent last year $5,683,641 in , the support of her common schools. Of the . 491,244 children in the State between five and twenty-one years old,'357,572 are on the pub- : lie school rolls; 12,132 are'enrolled in the private schools, and 131,640 do not attend. i The Augusta Constitutionalist says: The most popular man in South Carolina just now seems to be Governor Chamberlain. He has recently exhibited an earnest determination for reform, and has, so far, proved himself a better man than his accusers thought him. A St. Louis woman, separated from her husband, recently sent him a long list of propositions, upon his acceptance of which she would live with him agaiu. Womanlike, she indicated the only real cause of difference in a postscript, as follows: "Your mother must leave the house at once and forever." Among the humors of the election in Worcester, the other day, was the fact that in ward two a husband and his wife were the 1 opposing candidates for the school committee, Mr Rogers having been nominated by the 1 "citizens" and Mrs. Rogers on the independ- I * * rn? n i eni ncsec. ine wire provea a stronger candidate than the husband, and received twice as : many votes, or thereabout. A man in Michigan procured a divorce from his wife, intending to marry another woman. The latter, however, got tired of waiting and married another man on the day the divorce was granted. Then the fellow : hesitated whether or not to makeup with his wife again, and while he was hesitating, his ( wife married another fellow. This is what would naturally be called getting left all round. The text of the bill "to regulate elec- ! tions in the States of North Carolina, South 1 Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana," introduced in Congress last week, i has at length been published. It is some- , what after the style of the enforcement act, and seems to have been prepared with the view of anticipating any property or educational qualifications of voters which may possibly hereafter be engrafted in the 1 constitutions of the States named. i Thecoraraitteeon the Districtof Columbia report in favor of the transfer of the entire government of the district to a new department , of the government styled the "board of. regents," to consist of three men appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. ' This board shall have the entire management of the affairs of the district, except that the ! board of education shall be elective ; they shall report their doings annually to Congress, hold office for fixed terras, and be removed for cause. One way to settle the dispute over the cotton tax has been suggested by Mr. Smith, member of Congress from North Carolina. He has introduced a bill which provides that the money collected from the Southern people as a tax on their cotton product shall be appropriated to pay the debts of the Southern States. The secretary of the treasury and the attorney-general are directed to confer with the creditors and agree upon a compromise. The money paid as cotton tax by the people of the State to be devoted to the payment of the debt of such State. If the amount is insufficient to pay the whole, it is to be applied to the debt of the oldest date as far as it will go. Where there is a surplus, it shall be paid over to the State for free school purposes. The cotton product of 1874, as estimated by the cotton growers in their returns to the department of agriculture, somewhat exceeds 3,500,000 bales. The yield per acre is reported less than in 1873. In most of the States the weather for ripening and gathering the top crop has been very favorable. The reports are nearly unanimous in stating that the proportion of lint to seed is large. The ? ,.C 1??|. pcacuiagcs ui last jcai o ag^icgaiu ui uaics in the principal cotton States are as follows : Virginia, 89; North Carolina, 89; South Carolina, 82; Georgia, 93; Florida, 100; Alabama, 95 ; Mississippi, 90; Louisiana, 89 ; Texas, 90; Arkansas, 60; Tennessee, 57. This result corresponds very closely with the indications of the monthly statements of the j conditions made by the department during j the season, which have been printed, and show a larger crop than the reports of cotton exchanges. The success with which the experi-; ments in cottou raising have been attended ; in California the past season, gives much pro- | raise of the future of the State as a cotton | grower. It is said Tulare aud Fresuo coun- j ties will put in market about 40,000 pounds j of cotton, making the total yield in the State j foot up to about 220,000 pounds, aud that 1 the yield in Merced county the present season j will be fully one hundred pounds per acre : more than that of the most favored Southern t States. There are upwards of one thousand ; acres of land devoted to cottou growing in that section alone. The average yield of the county, says a contemporary, will be about! three huudred pounds per acre. This year j will afford a full and sufficient test of the ca-, pabilities of the county so far as cotton is con- i cCrned, and the excellent condition of the fields at this time gives assurance of splendid crops,, ?nW in ennsenuence. a verv laree average of. 1 ' f / O I cotton may be expected in the future. A correspondent, writing from the ro-' mantic mountain region of Chihuahua, in Mexico, tells a strange story which, if true, will go far to dispel the notion that cannibal- i ism is confined to the Fiji Islands. The alcalde of a small village there had been observed to meet his friends late at night at a house in the outskirts of the town, for supper j and a genial outpouring of wit. The princi-1 pal dish at these gatherings was said to be the savory fiesh of swine or kids. To this there ; could be no objection, and the alcalde's orgies awakened no suspicion. But one day a neigh- , bor missed her little child, and at once began to accuse every one in the vicinity. She had already selected several unfortunates as agents in iter child's disappearance, and punishment would have speedily come to them, had not another and another and yet another neighbor reported the losses of their infants. Great ex-!, citemeut ensued. At last suspicion fell upon ( the midnight suppers of the alcalde and his companions. The "political chief" ef the sec-, iion was summoned, and he penetrated these- (( cresy of the alcalde's mystic rendezvous, and J lliere discovered the heads and bones of thir-i I teen children. The alcalde confessed that! the missing infants had been barbecued, and the cannibals, ere they were hanged, told the political chief, with fiendish joy, that "had he ever tasted the roast he would have joined the infernal association." This history all the papers of the City of Mexico vouch for, and the children in Chihuahua are not allowed to leave their parents' houses, even to play about the doors. lite ffurMIe (fhtquim. YORKVIL,L,E, S. C.; THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 24, 1874. FENCES. As the law of South Carolina now stands, every planter is required to keep a lawful fence around his cultivated grounds. A lawful fence is defined to be "a fence made close ly and strongly of rails, boards, or posts and rails, or of an embankment capped with rails or timber of any sort, or live-hedges five feet in height, measured from the level or surface of the earth." There is also provision made for a navigable stream or deep water course being regarded as a lawful fence when such 3tream bounds cultivated grounds. In case stock break into fields inclosed by a lawful fence, the owner of the field may seize the 3tock, and within six hours after the stock have been seized, inform the owner of the stock, or his or her agent, of the fact. In case the fence is a lawful fence, the owner of the stock is bound to pay the owner of the field for all damages. The law also makes provision against the abuse of stock which break into fields, that are not inclosed by lawful fences. It will be seen that the law, as it now stands, requires the crops to be fenced, but permits stock to run at large. In other words, stock can only be regarded as tresspassers when they break into fields enclosed by lawful fences. In view of the attending circumstances, we are of opinion that the law Bhould be reversed. The stock should be fenced or guarded, aud the crops be turned nut Fnr this nninion we have manv reasons. Some of these we will at present give. In many sections of South Carolina, timber is very scarce. There are many large plantations in many of the counties of the State, that have not enough of timber on them at present to put a lawful fence around the Gelds. Supposing, however, that timber is abundant, it is attended with no inconsiderable expense to fence the crops as the law requires. The cheapest practical form of a Geld is a perfect square. It will take fewer rails to fence a square Geld, thau any other shape except round ; but a fence built in a circle would not, only in exceptional cases, be practical. To put a lawful fence around a one acre patch in a square form, would take about twelve hundred rails. The cost of making the rails and hauling'them, together with the timber and the building of the fence, would be uot less than three dollars per hundred. This would make the fencing of one acre cost thirty-six dollars. The larger the Geld, of course the less would be the cost of fencing it per acre. A ten acre Geld, in a square form, would cost more than one hundred dollars to put a lawful fence around it. Ordinarily this is the full value of the land. To fence a Geld of one hundred acres in a square form, with a lawful fence, would cost three hundred and Gfty-six dollars. Hence the cost per acre would be three dollars and Gftysix cents. But it is only occasionally that !? r\Anfr>nf cnuoroc neius uuu uc anttu^cu m pcnti/i The boundaries of moat plantations zigzag in every possible direction. To fence up most plantations in the State, of a few hundred acres, would require as many rails as to fence as many thousand acres were they in a square form. It may be set down as a fact that it costs more to fence a field- than the field and rails would sell for. We heard an old practical farmer say a short time ago, that if any one would pay him for the rails on his plantation, at the rate of what it cost him to put them up, he would throw the land and other /-V_ 1_:?i ? ? u improvements m. uu 1113 piauwmm uc uu^ a good two story dwelling house, good barn and stables, and a good gin house and screw. Another thing should not be forgotten. Fences need repairing every year, and renewing every fifteen years. Some kinds of timber will last longer, but other kinds uot so long. The time spent in making rails and building fences might be more profitably spent in making manure. It is, perhaps, impossible at once to change the law so as to require the stock to be fenced or guarded, and the crop turned out; but something could be done to test the practicability of the scheme. A law could be passed leaving it optional with certain counties or townslpps whether they would fence the crop or stock. The fence law as it now stands does not apply to the Islands of Edisto, Wadaraalaw, John's Island and James' Island. The inhabitants of T ;---i ii? these islands are not requireu, as are me luuauitants of other sections of the State, to keep a fence around their cultivated grounds. We are not prepared to say why an exception was made in favor of these Islauds; but in all probability it was for some of the reasons we have specified. No doubt many objections might be raised to the proposed change. Some of these objections would be real, but many of them would be merely imagiuary. We | have space at present only to call attention to this subject. At some future time we hope to be able to elaborate it more fully. ? ? CHRISTMAS. As the Enquirer greets its numerous j readers on this Christmas Eve, Hi a thousaud i homes, loving hearts?happy or sad?are ; filled with thoughts of kindness and sympa-: thy and love. Busy hands are weaving offer-! ings for the morrow; busy ieet are Hastening ; homeward to cheerful firesides; and childish j curiosity, on the eve of "great expectations," j is manifest in the eyes of the little ones, j while picturing in their imaginations the expected visit of Santa Claus. It is the season of mirth and merry-making?of pleasant associations?of domestic charms and cheery thoughts?joyous gatherings and fresh impulses of good will, waking us up to renewed interest in life, and filling our hearts?even the saddest of us?with gleeful animation. Like many other festal occasions, Christmas has a double origin. As a day set apart in commemoration of the birth of Christ, its first observance dates back to the close of the second century. There has been, however, much controversy as to the true date of Christ's birth ; and although the 25th day of December was at last decided upon as the day of celebration, it is generally conceded that it does not correspond with the actual date of the Saviour's nativiiy. The 25th of December ' has for ages been at once a religious, domes-! tic and merry-making festival, equally for : every rauk and station ; and it is in the spirit, i more than a mere date, that its observance is ! of importance. Hence, in the enjoyment of ! the convivalities of the season we should re- i member that Christmas is a holy day and that its meaning is at the very origin of Christianity. Our festivities and the joys that gladdeu those who have arrived at the years of discretion and maturity, should be attributed to the Saviour, whose unutterable love has given us so great a privilege thus to be able to miugle his sacred name with our earthly happiness. But while we condemn the carousing, semibarbaric manner in which not even many j generations ago the day was celebrated, far be j it from our thought to oppose innocent amuse- ' ments with either old or young. Such ocea- j sionsare necessary for our existence; and j especially should the children, for this one I .In.. tin a 11 /\?i*Art 11,ck full Knnt nf tlioir ! KACkJ ab icaob, UC UllUlTCU bill/ tun uv/tiu vi vtivit i inclination for childish glee and sport. They, of all others, look forward with bright hopes j to the visit of St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle or j t Santa Claus, and in the realization of their j dreams, noue should be disappointed. As the \ act of making gifts to loved ones on this day symbolizes the gift of Christ to us, so is there an impressive propriety and tender beauty in thus commemorating the event. Desolate must be the house in which there are no prattling children to hang up the traditional stocking, an honored observance among the juveniles, in which they will be as eager tonight as were their fathers or grand-fathers before them. Broad as is the field for the exercise of charity, and opportune as is the occasion, while in the performance of this sacred duty, giving to the needy as the more fortunate have been prospered, let us not forget the children, typical emblems of Him who lay in the manger, and has been the Guiding Star of mankind for centuries. In this connection we cannot resist the temptation to publish the following poem by Mrs. Sophia P. Snow, which is the most exquisitely touching and beautiful we have ever read. It will reach the hearts of all who read it, besides being peculiarly appropriate to the holidays: ANNIE AND WILLIE'S Pit AVER. 'Twastho eve before Christinas; "Good night" had been said, And Annie and Willie had crept into bed : There were tears on their pillows, and tears in their eyes, And each little bosom was heavy with sighs? For to-night their stern father's command had been given, That they should retire precisely at seven, Instead of eight; for they troubled him more . With questions unheard of than ever before; IT/i liti/l tfilrl Hinm ho fhnnirhf f.hifl rlolnsinn ji sin. No such being its Santa Claus ever had been, And he hoped after this he should never more hear How ho scrambled down chimneys with presents each year. And this was the reason that two little heads So restlessly tossed on their soft, downy beds, Eight, nine^and the clock in the steeple tolled ten; Not a word had been spoken l)y either till then, When Willie's sad face from the blankets did peep, And whispered, "Dear Annie, is you fast asleep?" "Why, no, brother Willie," a sweet voice replies, "I've'tried it in vain, but I can't shut my eyes; For, somehow, it makes me so sorry because Dear papa hits said there is no 'Santa Claus;' Now we know there is, and it can't bo denied, For he came every year before main ma died ; But then, I've been thinking that she used to pray, And Cod would hear everything mamma would say; And perhaps she asked him to send Santa Claus here, With the sack full of presents he brought every year." "Well, why taut we pray destas mamma did then, And ask him to send him with presents aden ?" "I've been thinking so, too." And without a word more Four little bare feet bounded out on the lloor, And four little knees the soft carpet pressed, And two tiny hands were clasped closed to each breast. "Now, Willie, you know, we must firmly believe That the presents we ask for we're sure to receive; You must wait just as still till I say the Amen, And by that you will know that your turn has come then." "Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me, And grant us the favor we are asking of Thee; I want a wax dolly, a tea-set and ring; And an ebony work-box, that shuts with a spring; Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see That Santa Claus loves us far better than he ; Don't let him get fretful and angry again At dear brother Willie and Annie; Amen !" "Please, Jesus,let Santa Taus turn down to-night, And bring us some presents before it is light, I want he should div me a nice little scd, With bright shiny runners, and all painted yed ; A box full of tandy, a book and a toy; Amen, and then, Dcsus, I'll bo a good boy." Their prayers being ended, they raised up their heads, And with hearts light and cheerful again sought their beds; They were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful and deep, And with fairies in dreamland were roaming in sleep. Eight, nine,and the little French clock has struck ten, Ere the father had thought of his children again : He.seems now to hear Annie's half-suppressed sighs, And to see the big tears stand on Willie's blue eyes. "I was harsh to my darling," lie mentally said, And I should not have sent them so early to bed ; Hut then I was troubled?mv feelings found vent For bank stock to-day has gone down ten percent, Hut of course they've forgot their troubles ere this, And that I denied them the thriee-asked-for kiss; Hut just to make sure, I'll steal up to their door, For I never spoke harsh to my darlings before." So saying, he softly ascended the stairs, And, arriving at the door, heard both of their prayers. Ilis Annio's"blesspapa"drawsforth the big tears, And Willie's grave promise falls sweet on his ears. "Strange, strange I'd forgotten," said he with a sigh, "How I longed when a child to have Christmas draw nigh, I'll atone for my harshness," he imvardlj' said, "Hy answering their prayers ere I sleep in my bed." Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down, Threw oil'velvet slippers and silk dressing gown, Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out in the street, A millionaire facing the cold, dri ving sleet, f Xor stopped he until lie had bought everything. From the box full of candy to the tiny gold ring; Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store, M1I..I il,n .....Imiii iLnuantu nil f ti n n, I > Cl.ni'fi i uai iiiu yauuu.i i/ubuuiiiwvi v?? ? .7w. v. Then homeward he turned with his holiday load, And with Aunt Mary's aid in the nursery 'twas stowed. Miss Dolly was seated beneath a pine tree, By thosiiieofa table spread out for her tea; A work-box well tilled in the centre was laid, And on it a ring for which Annie had prayed ; A soldier in uniform stood by a sled, "With bright, shining runners, and all painted yed." There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing to see. And birds of all colors were perched in the tree, While Santa Clans, laughing, stood up in the top ; As if getting ready more presents to drop. And as the fond father the picture surveyed, lie thought for his trouble he had been amply paid, And he said to himself as he brushed off a tear, "I'm happier to-night than I've been for a year, I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before, What care I if bank stock fall ten per cent, moro ! Hereafter I'll make it a rule, I believe, To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve.'' So thinking, he gentl}' extinguished the light, And tripped down stairs to retire for the night. As soon as the beams of the bright morning sun Put the darkness to flight, and the stars one by ono, Four little blue eves out of sleep opened wide, And at the same moment the presents espied ; Then out of their beds they sprang with a bound ; | And the very gifts prayed for were all of them ; found. They laughed anil they cried jn their innocent glee, And shouted for "papa" to come <juick ami seo i What presents old Santa Clans brought in the J night, (Just the tilings that they wanted,) and left before light. "And now," added Annie, in a voice soft and low, "You believe there's a Santa Clans, papa, I know;" ; While dear little Willie climbed upon his knee, j Determined no secret between them should bo; And told, insolt whispers, how Annie had said That their dear, blessed mamma,so long ago dead, j Used to kneel down and pray by the side of her chair, And that God in heaven had answered her prayer! "Then we dot up and prayed dust as well jus wo ! tould, And Dod answered our prayers, now wasn't lie dood ?" "I should say that He was, if lie sent you all I these, And knew just what presents ipy children would please, (Well, well, let him think so, the dear little elf, 1 'Twould be cruel to toll him I did it myself.") j Blind father, who caused your stern heart to relent? And the hasty word spoken so soon to repent ? 'Twasthe Being who made you steal softly up ' stairs, And made you His agent (<> answer their prayers. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. The Senate, on the 15th, was occupied, most of the session, with District of Columbia affairs. The House, in committee of the whole, considered the legislative appropriation bill. The Speaker announced a special committee to investigate the recent disturbance atVicksburg, and also a committee on that portion of the President's message relating to Southern affairs. The Secretary of War informed the House that the quartermaster-general had caused to be distributed to sufferers by the overflow of the lower Mississippi, the follownnn nona Anno wnnlpn lug (li UWIWO ?w,vwv *ww .. vv.vblaukets, 25,000 pairs boots and 25,000 sackcoats, all in good order. In the Senate on the 16th, joint resolutions of the Legislature of North Carolina were presented, asking repeal of the tax on leaf tobacco, improvement of Cape Fear river, and the erection of public buildings at Asheville. A motion to make a special order for Monday to consider the House bill to restore to the pension rolls the names of persons stricken therefrom in cousequence of disloyalty, was rejected by a vote of 29 to 17. In the House a number of appropriation bills were discussed. The sum of $500,000 was appropriated for the support of the asylum for disabled soldiers. A motion to strike out from the executive aud judicial appropriation bill an appropriation of $100,000 for the purchase of official postage stamps for the treasury department, was rejected by a vote of 71 to 77. During the discussion of this motion, Mr. Garfield stated that the abolition of the franking privilege had not met the economical expectations of its advocates, but had increased the deficit of the post office department. Mr. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, said that the repeal of the franking privilege was obtained by fraud, and several members urged the restoration of the franking system. In the Senate on the 17th, the bill to provide for a new form of government for the District of Columbia was dicussed. In the House the legislative appropriation bill was considered. No business was transacted in either House on the 18th, the day being occupied in formally receiving King Ivalakua of the Sandwich Islands, after the conclusion of which ceremony, they adjourned until Monday. In the Senate, on the 21st, Sherman reported the financial bill agreed upon by Republican Senators in caucus. The provisions of the bill are as follows: First?Free banking to be open to all individuals and associations, without limitation of capital. Second?The retiring of an amount of greenbacks equal to eighty per cent, of the amount of new national notes issued until the greenback circulation shall be reduced to three hundred millions, after which no further reduction of the greenbacks is to take place. It is claimed that by this provision there will be neither expansion uor contraction of the currency, as about twenty per cent, is now required as bank reserves. Third?The withdrawal and destruction of the fractional currency, and the substitution of silver coin, the arrangement to go into effect as soon as practicable under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, who is authorized to use the surplus money in the treasury for supplying the silver coin. If this is not sufficient, to sell the requisite amouut of bonds of the new series to obtain the funds for that purpose. Fourth?Removing the cost for coinage of gold at the several mints. Fifth?The resumption of specie payments to commence on the first day of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to use the surplus specie in the treasury; but if that is not sufficient to sell bonds in order to obtain gold to pay the treasury notes. But this last provision does not, like the others, go into immediate effect. The legal tender act remains undisturbed. In the House, Mr. Hayes, of Alabama, offered a resolution for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the political affairs in Alabama, and also as to the necessity for Federal soldiers in that State, the alleged intimidation of voters, &c. Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, suggested that the committee should also iuquire as to the distribution of rations voted by Cougress for the destitute of Alabama. No objection was raised and Mr. Hayes' resolution was adopted. The House adopted a resolution adjourning from Wednesday to the 5th of January. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Tim Hurley has been appointed and confirmed as Treasurer of Charleston county. ? A man in Kershaw recently killed a hog that netted 496 pounds. ?Twenty German immigrants arrived in Anderson last week. ? The orange trees in the private gardens in Charleston are burdened with fruit. ? A slight fall of snow is reported in Charleston, on the 18th. ? At a recent tournament at Blackstocks, Miss Sandifer, of York, was crowned first maid of honor. ? Mr. T. M. Wilkes, United States Commissioner, and formerly a temporary resident of Yorkville, was married in Lincoln county, Georgia, on the 16th instant, to Miss M. E. Murray. ? The Legislature has agreed to take a recess from Tuesday, December 22, to Tuesday, January 12, 1875. ? Large ripe strawberries were plucked from the garden of Capt. H. H. Thomson, Spartanburg, on the 7th December, grown in the open air. ? The Governor has appointed A. Tolleson, Auditor of Spartanburg county, and S. T. Poiuier, Treasurer, in place of W. D. Camp, removed. ? Miss Elizabeth Rose, formerly of Yorkville, daughter of W. E. Rose, Esq., was married in Columbia, on the 17th instant, to Mr. H. W. Smith, of Lexington. ? An inquest was held on Monday of last week, upon the body of B. C. Chambers, of Rock Hill, and a verdict of death from inflammation of the brain, caused by excessive use of intoxicating liquors and narcotics, rendered. ? United States Marshal Wallace publishes a notice revoKing mo cuimuiaoiuua iwu^u n# i deputies and special deputies by himself or j his predecessors. The notice may be found in i our advertising columns. ! ? Mr. T. B. Braddy, of Marion, lias gath- j ered and packed this fall thirty bales of cot- j ton, averaging 450 pounds to the bale, on ! eighteen acres. On one acre he raised 4,100 pounds of seed cotton. ? The youngest son of Judge J. P. Reed met with a serious accident a few days ago, at Anderson. In goiug over a fence, whilst, hunting, his gun fell out of his hands and exploded, the load entering his arm near the i shoulder, severing it almost from the body, j The wonnded member has been amputated.. j ? A destructive fire occurred in Charleston, [ on Tuesday of last wpek, which destroyed the j new Champion cotton press, corper of Church j and Cumberland streets, together with abpuf 3,000 bales cotton. The grocery store adja-: cent was badly damaged ; the two-story brick ' building next door was entirely consumed.' There was a partial insurance on the property destroyed. The loss is estimated at $300,000. ? The Washington correspondent of the News and Courier, under date of the 17th in; stant says: "A curious case of tit for tat was developed here to-day. Samuel Lee, the opponent of Rainey in the late election, holds a position on the police force at the Capitol. Sergeant-at-arms Ordway received a letter from Rainey, to-day, protesting against Lee's ; being retained in that position. This was shown to Lee, who thereupon gave notice of i his intention to contest Rainey's seat." j ?-'In the cases of the Richmond and Danj ville Railroad Company against the County ! Treasurer of Greenville, and the same against j the County Treasurer of Spartauburg, the Uuited States Circuit Court has decided that the property of the Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway Company, in this State, is exempt from taxation. The same court has ordered a peremptory madamus to be issued against the County Commissioners of Pickens County, to compel them to levy a tax to pay the interest due on the Air Lino bonds of that County. - ?? ? ? NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Henry Tate, of Greensboro, raised, the past season, five hundred bushels of corn on nine acres. ? The Southern Home learns that the working of the copper mines of Ashe county is a grand success. Three hundred hands are employed, and the profits are about $1600 a day. ? The sentence of David Martin, the young Wilmington murderer, has been commuted from the death penalty to imprisonment for life. ? The project of opening navigation of the Yadkin river from the bridge of the North Carolina railroad is aguin being agitated. A company is organizing for the prosecution of the work and will apply for a charter. ? A resolution has passed the Senate, providing for a conference of the joint committee on the public debt with the creditors of the State, and calling a meeting of the committee in Raleigh on the 14th of January next. ? J. W. Beasley, U. S. Revenue Gauger, and formerly a Senator from Bertie county, has been convicted in the U. S. Circuit Court of forgery and sentenced to the lightest penalty the law admits?viz: five years imprisonment and one thousand dollars fine. For the forgery in which Beasley was 'detected, be received two hundred dollars. ? The Charlotte Observer learns that James Boyd, of Chester, who was recently drugged and robbed in Charlotte, has lost his reason since the occurrence. He is also physically prostrated. Soon after the drug was administered his tongue swelled to an enormous size and bursted, and all in all his condition is a very sad one. ? On Monday of last week a shooting scrape occurred in Greensboro between A. G. Moore aud G. J. Greene. During the summer a slanderous postal card was circulated in the mails, charging Mr. Moore with seducing and abducting a young woman, and Mr. Greene was charged with being instrumental in publishing and mailing the card. The parties met in a hotel on the day above mentioned, when Moore fired at Greene, but fortunately bystanders interfered and prevented a serious termination of the difficulty. NEWS OF THE DAY. ? The President has issued a proclamation dated the 21st, commanding all disorderly persons in Warren county?the scene of the Vicksburg disturbances?to retire to their homes and abstain from forcible resistance to law, and to submit to the lawful authorities of the county. ? At the formation of a financial reform league iu Philadelphia, last Thursday, a resolution was adopted in favor of the Govern ment issuing paper money to be a legal tender for all debts, public and private, based upon the broad, solid security of government as a medium of circulation, and that all laws providing for the establishment of banks of issue be repealed. ? In New Orleans, 011 the 17th, the students of the central boys' high school appeared at the lower girls' high school to compel the removal therefrom of a number of colored pupils. A committee of five entered the school and stated the purpose of their visit, threatening to use force if necessary. All colored girls present promptly and quietly left the building, and the boys returned to their own school. It is believed the school board will establish an additional high school for colored children, thus obviating further trouble. ? Two men were killed on the morning of the 14th, in the act of burglary, at Bay Ridge, near New York, one of whom, before dying, confessed that they were the men who stole Charlie Ross from his parents in Philadelphia, last July. The mau who made this confession did not know where the boy is concealed, and his companion in crime having been killed outright, no further clew was obtained. The detectives are confident, however, that if the boy is still living he will yet be found and restored to his parents. ? A body of one hundred and fifty disguised men eutered the jail at Des Moines, Iowa, one day last week, and after knocking down the jailor and binding him hand and foot, proceeded to the cell wherein Charles Howard, a murderer, was confined, and taking him into the yard of the jail, hung him to a lamppost. Howard, 011 the day before had been found guilty of the murder with which he was charged, and was sentenced to the penitentiary for life, which sentence, however, did not accord with the views of the community. ? It is stated that there are 5,000,000 bushels of wheat in store in New York city, which is * 1 1 ?? -- ? ? kua Kaon aooui tnree limes us muvu m tucic n?o ?vu there at the close of navigation siuce 1871. Cougress and the South. As showing the present attitude of the Republican members of Congress to the South, and the dissensions likely to spring up in the party, owing to diversity of opinion respecting the future policy to be pursued, the following item from Washington has some significance : The Republican Senators held a caucus this afternoon, at the solicitation of the Southern Republican Senators and Representatives, at which the condition of the South was considered. The Senators of the South advocated the sending of troops to several of the States of that section. They feared that the Republican party was hopelessly dead unless decisive 8tep3 were taken during the present session i- l .Un fn rkn Innf W'!iit"Pq ThfiV IU JJ14 L uimil lug buiuutvui. ...... confessed their inability to poll white votes. The Northern Senators did not endorse the proposition, and some of then) openly e*-1 pressed themselves against any further interference with the affairs of the South, saying they had lost many votes in the North by it. Senator Lewis, of Virginia, declared the Republican party had lost power iu the South, because of the bad character of many of its j would-be leaders and the advocacy of the Civil Rights Bill, which he considered a most iniquitous measure. The South could only be carried for the Republican party as at present organized, by sending soldiers enough to prevent the people from voting. The majority evidently agreed with him, as before a vote was taken, many Senators left the room, and Senator Morton, wljo was relied upon by1 the extreme Republicans, did not come to tljeir relief. 1 i LOCAL AF7AZKS. i . NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. i T. M. Dobson it Co.?'Thanks?187/i?Read This? Kemember?Look to Your Interest?Dobson's is the place?Cash?Credit? Dead?No Credit?Come to Dobson's?A New System. Yorkvillo Furniture Store?Chairs?BedsteadsWardrobes and Safes?Repairing?Otttce Chairs?Pay Up?Bureaux?Hat Racks. H. F. Adiokes?Prints. 1 John J. Smith?New Grocery Store. { R. M. Wallace?United States Marshal's Ollice. j J. R. Schorb, Clerk?Town Election. Joseph A. McLean, Judge of Probate?CitationJohn L. Chambers, Applicant?B. C. Chambers, deceased. | Fur Cane Found. < W. H. Dowdey, Acton, S. C.?Cotton Seed. S. R. Neel, Rock Hill, S. C.?Ebeuezer Academy. R. Lathan?School Notice. M. Strauss A Son?Money Saved, Money Made? New Supply. G. H.O' Leary?Saddles?Harness?Vacuum OilBridles. Joseph A. McLean, Judge of Probate?Ciiation? Dr. SI A. Koll, Applicant?Sarah Thorn, deceased. Joseph A. McLean, Judge of Probate?Citation? S. W. Creighto^Applicant?ElizabethSturgis, DeceasetJ^^*"nilllTV rdMMKUinVRHS. L-U fil & & \-/ V KA il? We have been requested by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners to announce that there will not be a meeting of the Board 011 Monday next. IHILLEK'S ALMANAC. Those of our subscribers who wish a copy of the old reliable Miller's Almanac, for 1875, calculated for this meredian,can obtain the same gratis, by calling at this office. Persons desiring the almanac by mail will please enclose stamp for pre-payraent of postage. MASONIC ELECTION. At the last regular communication of Philanthropic Lodge, No. 78, A. F. M., the following persons were elected officers for the current year: Col. A. Coward, W. M.; J. F. Wallace, S. W.; Dr. L. Alexander, J. W.; P. B. Darwin, Treasurer; H. W. Hope, Secretary. THE HOLIDAYS. In accordance with the universal custom of the weekly press, we will intermit publication during holiday week. We congratulate our readers on the recurrence of the festive seasoD, wishing each and every one of them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The next issue of the Enquirer will be promptly made on the 7th of January, 1875. ? NAVASSA GUANO. Of the various commercial fertilizers in the market,the Navassa ranks among the best, and as will be seen by their advertisement, Messrs. Jefferys& Metts, agents at this place, are prepared to offer planters unusual inducements for the coming season. By special arrangement, the rates of freight have been reduced, aud the agents can deliver the fertilizer at the depot here at the same price it can be furnished at Rock Hill, Chester, or poiuts on the Air-Ljne road. As will be seen, those who cannot pay cush are offered favorable terms on time. POSTAGE ON THE ENQUIRER. We observe that several of our exchanges have determined to add the amount of postage to their regular subscription rates after the 1st day of January next, at which time the new law requiring the prepayment of newspaper postage will go into operation. The publishers in some of the Eastern States, have, in concert, agreed to a similar plan. We shall pursue a contrary policy to this. r>n anri affprthp 1 sf,nf.Tanuarv the Enquirer will be sent free of postage to all subscribers, which practically amounts to a reduction of twenty cents in the cost of the paper. THE CASE OF SAFAUGH. The case of Elijah Ross Sapaugh was finally disposed of in the United States Circuit Court, at Charleston, last week. It will be remembered that he is one of the parties arrested in 1871, and tried before Judges Bond and Bryan, on the charge of murder and several other counts, and that this trial was one of the test cases, the Judges beiug divided in their opinion as to the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court to try a case of murder, which opinion was certified to the Supreme Court of the United States, where it has been ever since, Sapaugh, in the meantime, remaining in the Yorkville jail. Although Reverdy Johnson has argued the case twice before the Supreme Court, that tribunal has failed to pass upon the question of constitutionality, and having evaded the points raised, Attorney-General Williams, a short time ago, instructed District-Attorney Corbin to dismiss the proceedings below, and accordingly on the arraignment ofSapaugh lust week, Mr. Corbin moved to nolle pros, the case as to five of the counts, and to pass sentence on the remaining count, which charges intimidation and violation of the enforcement act. Counsel for the prisoner resisted the motion, on the ground that the case was a Supreme Court proceediug, aud should be acted upoo there. This argument was overruled aud the Court fouud the prisoner guilty of the count pressed fur trial, and he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and to pay a fine of 8100. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. A Royal Visitor. King Kalakua, of the Hawaiian Islands is on a visit to the United States, having recently completed the journey across the continent by railroad from San Francisco to Washington. The King has been the recipient of marked attention from the officials of this Government ever since his arrival. On Tuesday, the king and his party called at the Executive mansion, and were met on the north portico by Secretary Fish, Lieutenant-Colonel Fred. Grant, and Lieutenants Hooker and Totten, the latter in full uniform, at 2 o'clock. Secretary Fish received the King and escorted him to the vestibule of the Executive Mansion, where the President met him, shook him rnrrlifillv bv the hand, and bade him welcome. ? J ' / Headed by the President and the King, the party then moved into the Blue Koora, where a general introduction took place. All the 1 members of the Cabinet were present. The j interview was brief, and at its conclusion his j Majesty and party retired to their hotel. Subsequently the King and his suite were prei sented to Congress. . It is intimated that the object of his visit to Washington is with refj erence to the annexation of his Island to the I United States government. Intimidating a Governor. ! Newspaper readers of the present day j are doubtless familiar with all manner of sto ries respecting the infringement of the rights ! of citizens and plje intimidation of voters; but1 the idea of the citizen intimidating the Qoy-! ernor of a State is novel, and decidedly orig-! inal iu political or party tactics. To the irre- j pressible Dr. Neagle?he who rose from the obscure position of Confederate surgeon in a wayside hospital to that of a Radical million- j aire under the Scott regime?belougs the honor of originating this novel, though not successful inuovatiou, by using boisterous language, divers threats and vengeful imprecations toward Governor Chamberlain, iu case | the Governor should dare remove him, the j ^foresaid Doctor Neagle, from the office of County treasurer of ^.ichlautj. The fdllow: i jng affidavit of the Governor tejls the whole story, and besides vesting it with the air of official confirmation, it also conveys the important truth that our State Constitution might possibly be improved by an additional amendment, to say nothing of the necessity for an enforcement act to secure the Governor in his rights as an executive official, and to protect that officer from violence, intimidation and fraud: State of South Carolina?Richland County. Personally appeared before me, Trezevant Sill, a trial justice in and for said county and State, D. H. Chamberlain, who, being duly sworn, deposes and says : That on the 20th day of December, _ ? 1874, at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, John L. Neagle visited deponent's house in the city of Columbia, in said county, and called deponent out upon the piazza and demanded to know if depo- / nent intended to remove him, the said John L. * Neagle, from the office of county treasurer of said county ; that deponent informed said Neagle that if he had nothing to say upon that subject, and J thereupon thesaid Neagle, with foul and indecent ^ language, raised his hand, and shaking it at de- ? ponent in a threatening manner, dared the deponent to remove him from said office,and declared that if deponent did remove him, he, the said Neagle, would lick him like hell, and would beat him to death, and used other words of like import ; that, about one hour later, on the same day. thesaid Neagle returned to deponent's house and attempted to see deponent again, and, on being informed that he could not see deponent, the said Neagle again indulged in abusive and threatening ? language toward the deponent; that deponent, ^ from these facts, and from the manner ana words qj of the said Neagle, believes that the said Neagle ] intends bodily harm to the deponent; that his J conduct as herein set forth is in derogation and I contempt of the public peace, and especially of I the peace of the deponent and his family. For jM this cause deponent prays that the said John L. I Neagle may be forthwith arrested and be made to S give suitable bonds to keep the peace, especially m toward this deponent, and be dealt with in such 1 other manner as may appertain to justice and the laws of the State. * D. H. Chamberlain. 1 _ Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 20th I uay 01 uecomoer, a. ij. 10ti. j Trkzkvant Sill, Trial Justice. | Notwithstanding the bellicose demonstra- i tions of Dr. Neagle, the Governor promptly ? removed him from the office of County Treas- urer, appointing in his stead George A. Darling, and he also removed Neagle from the position of director of the State peuitentiary. Dr. Neagle was arrested on the warrant sworn out by the Governor, and on appearing before Trial Justice Sill, was placed under bonds to keep the peace, with two qualified sureties, in the sum of ten thousand dollars k each. ^ Speaking of the affair, the Columbia UnionHerald says: "The whole community is unanimous in its ' denunciation of the outrageous conduct of / Neagle, and if any further attempt is made " by this notorious disturber of the peace on I the governor, he will receive the punishment ) which long ago ought to have been dealt out to him." I Correspondence of the Yorkville Enqnirer. 39 FROM CHESTER. % Chester, Dec. 21, 1874. The indications are that the affairs of this county will be properly managed during the ^ next two years. The retiring board of com- I, missioners ran the county in debt to the ex- ' V tent of several thousand dollars. While a good portion of this indebtedness is/raudu- >. lent, and should be repudiated, some of the claims are just and should be met. Whether , this will ever be done or not, is more than I acan say. The probabilities are that the present debt of the county, amounting to about 84000, will never be paid. The chairman of the present board of county commissioners, r E. T. Atkinson, states that he is willing to ^ pay the just claims, but is resolved not / ^ to pay the fraudulent claims, though they have been audited and ordered to be paid by ^ the retiring commissioners. Our county is ' fortunate in securing the services of Colonel Atkinson on the board of county commission- _ ers; he will keep a watchful eye over its funds, and see that not a dollar is wasted or improperly applied. He tells me that the roads and bridges of the county are in a deplorable condition; but so far as the means at his disposal will permit, they will be placed in good order. Trade was very dull in our town last week, anmnarpd with the* activity of nrecedinc weeks. This was occasioned by the decline in cotton, which affected business materially. The cotton wagons seen on our streets were few and far between, giving them a deserted t appearance, similar to that presented in mid* i summer. The farmers who have not sold their cotton are lamenting bitterly the decline, and those who can, are determined upon holding for higher prices. Mr. W. N. McMullan, who has been merchandising for several years at Landsford in this county, met with the misfortune of losing by fire bis storehouse and stock of goods a m short time ago. The torch of the incendiary ' ^ 1 is supposed to have done the work. Mr. McMullan's loss, which was about S6000, was covered with insurance to the extent of about 84000. On next sale day, 'January 1st, a large amount of land will be sold in this place by the Sheriff. A good opportunity will be presented to those wishing to make investments in ? real estate. A tract of land on the Catawba river, belonging to Jesse C. Clifton, a tract of land on Fishing creek, belonging to Sam- ^5 uel Campbell, two tracts of land on Susy Boles creek, a tract of land on Broad river, two - \. tracts of land situate on the waters of Sandy'- '"* river, lands near the town of Chester, and valuable property in town, will be sold at public outcry on sale day. Those who are blessed with the good fortune of having a superfluity of greenbacks, will on that day, be favored with the opportunity of making splendid investments. As the terms of sale are cash, and as there is an exceeding scarcity of ' money, the property to be. sold will hardly bring its full value; consequently "the few who have plethoric purses will be able to make advantageous purchases. The taxpayers of this county are responding quite well to the demands of the tax-gatherer. As far as my observation and information extend, they are paying their taxes without complaiut. This is due to the great difference between the taxes of this and last year. 1 One of my farming friends tells me?and he is a fl] small farmer, too, that his taxes this year are 840 less than they were last year. The reduction of the taxes is to be attributed simply and solely to tne indefatigable efforts of the Tax-payers' Convention. Our corrupt rulers * ' " ? A . I \ stand in tear and trembling or tnis poweriui ^ organization. Let it continue its good work, * "unshaken, uuterriBed, unmoved," and it will exert a power for good in the State, that no language can express. Some man of this county, of an inventive genius, has made a trap for catching rabbits. He has already succeeded in entrapping, during the past few weeks, about an hundred of these animals, a considerable number of which he has salted and stored away for winter use. \ The supposition is to be mildly entertained that there is an extreme scarcity of bacon about his establishment. The invention is a box-like concern, with an opening, and then an enclosure, when the fatal trigger is sprung. Mrs. Susan Robinson, widow of the late Allen Robinson, is extremely ill, and no hope is entertained of her recovery. The festivities connected with the season have already commenced in our community. ft was my privilege to attend, a few eyenjngs since, a delightful entertainment, graced with fi considerable array of beauty and gallantry.