University of South Carolina Libraries
Scraps and ?fart5. ! The telegraph briefly mentions that 1 Tweed has escaped from prison. A large number of professional and business men at Louisville, Ky., have organized a society for wearing old clothes. j Five thousand bricklayers of New York, in a written communication, demand work from the municipal authorities. It is estimated that by the 15th instant | 10,000 laborers in the Pennsylvania coal I mining region will be thrown out of employ- i ment. Old Sauta Glaus has sent word in advance to the little girls that on his next an- j nual round he will have nothing to do with striped stockings. t i t i taxing pnoiograpiiB at mgiu, nuu c*c? | heard of' such a thing! It is done, nevertheless, and by burning bisulphate of carbon with peroxide of nitrogen, a light is produced which has the same artistic effect as sunlight. ? The maddest man in Wisconsin is John Leigh, of Oconto. He was a candidate for member of the assembly, and, beiug a conscientious man, voted for his opponent, who was elected by just one majority. The New York Chamber of Commerce have appointed a committee of five to consider the effect of a longer continuance of the Cuban struggle on commerce, and whether the chamber should memorialize Congress on the subject. A tyrannical Kentucky judge has decided that no matter how anxious a farmer may be to push his work forward, he has no right to harness his wife to a plough. They had better justice than that a hundred years ago! Since October, 1874, the secret service of the Treasury Department made two hundred and fourteen arrests for counterfeiting, and captured thirty counterfeit plates. Eighty of those arrested were convicted and sent to the penitentiary. The official vote for and against the new constitution of Alabama, was counted at Montgomery on the 1st instant. The majority for ratification is fifty-six thousand four hundred and forty-five. The total vote cast was one hundred and fourteen thousand eignt huudred and seventy-nine. A certain colored deacon, on occasions of missionary collections, was wont to shut his eyes and sing, "Fly abroad, thou mighty Gospel," with such earnestness and unction that he would quite forget to see the plate as it came around. "Oh ! yes," said the plate bearer, "but just you give something to make it fly." An enterprising Louisiana rice planter, Capt. Sypher.of St. Mary's Parish, has boldly struck away all established rules, and planted rice upon the highlands, where, instead of the uncertain sluice supply, he has assured an abundance of water from powerful steam pumps, and where the flooding of his fields is absolutely under his control. Capt. Sypher went still further?putting in his crop with a grain drill and taking it off with a reaping machine, and actually threshing it by steam power. The Louisiana papers admit that the result of these innovations was eight hundred barrels of the cleanest and best grade of white rice ever received in New Orleans. Old-fashioned marriages, binding "until death do us part," are likely to grow into disfavor. Already some strong minded females have insisted on the elimination of the word "obey" from the marriage service, and it has been done in many instances. We now hear of a marriage in Michigan, where the couple ignored the injunction, "What God has joined together let no man put asunder," and put in their marriage contract the saving clause: "If the union and harmony that now exists between us should continue through our natural lives, then this contract is to remain in force; otherwise to be null and void." Probably we shall next hear of marriages good for a year, six months, or for a week, which is about equivalent to "good for nix." A new phase is given to the third-term discussion by the Chicago Tribune. Whiie declaring that the President must retire at the end of his present terra, it makes this suggestion : "There is just this much of truth in the third-term talk which has arisen in view of this retirement: After Gen. Grant has beeu four years in private life, providing his successor, during the next four years, should not prove satisfactory, it is not impossible that the people in 1880 may give him another call. It would not be a violation of anything in the written or unwritten Constitution. There is, therefore, as we conceive, a chance for a third terra for President Grant in 1880, or even as late as 1884. At that time he will still he in the prime of life, in vigorous health, and young as compared with others who have .sought and occupied the position." A correspondent writing from Mexico describes the conditiou of affairs as vastly improved under the presidency of Lerdo. Ten years ago all was anarchy and confusion. Now all is peace and progress. Since the days of Montezuma Mexico has not enjoyed such general quiet and prosperity. Railroads have been constructed, highways repaired, marshes and lakes drained, canals dug, and manufactures encouraged. A railroad is opening rapid transit between the city of Mexico and some of the most populous towns and districts of the valley. It is a purely Mexican affair, and built with the proceeds of a lottery, combined with the contributions of hnldpra The street. ear lines of the citv wvwv?*?v*MV.v. *NV ~ - -J of Mexico are also in a prosperous condition, and the visitor can ride on a tramway to the famed tree of the "Xoche Triste," where Cortes, three hundred years ago, wept as the remnants of his defeated forces filed sorrowfully before him. The Washington Star says: Among the minor offices connected with the House of .Representatives, for which there is considerable struggle, is that of caterer or keeper of the House restaurant. This place has been held j for several years by George T. Downing, a j well-known colored politician, and, as he j claims, a citizen of the State of Xew York. I Downing is a candidate for re-election or re- j appoiutment by the new House, upon the | grounds, first, that he is a celebrated caterer; i and second, that if the Democracy wish to show their love for the colored race, they have ; a signal opportunity to do so in his case, as one of their representative men. Downing says he was always kind to the Democrats in j the House, and made no discrimination against them in the distribution of his pies and pastry when they were in the minority. , lie is of the opinion that the Southern Democrats especially have now a magnificent opportunity toshow their love for theSouthern j brother by retaining him in his present posi- j tiou, and selecting him to dispense their daily indigestion. If they retain hira he is willing to do all that he can to divide the colored vote in the South, and, in his own words, 'to ; emancipate his people from their thraldom < to the carpet-baggers.'" Apropos of the death of Wm. B. Astor, a New York correspondent is reminded of other of New York's money kings who must in the nature of things soon pay the debt of nature and pass away. There is A. T. Stewart, with a wealth estimated at forty-millous, now over eighty years old, but clinging as closely to his vast business as if he was in the prime of life, lie is childless and has no heirs, except distant relatives in Scotland and England. It is thought that he intends to leave the bulk of his money to various institutions in and around New York, but as yet he gives no especial sign of any such intention. Of late Stewart has bought great quantities of real estate, and has made money rapidly. The Yanderbilt property is put at thirty or forty millions. Old "Corney" is far on the shady side of life, and his prodigious fortune will before long come to be divided among expectant heirs. It is said his yearly income is three millions of dollars. Vanderbilt has many children. His eldest is William Henry, a man of fifty-five, and the good right hand of his father iu business. He is likely to get the lion's share of the estate. The Commodore is very liberal with his money, but he don't begin to spend his income. There will be a large lot of heirs to take what he leaves. Peter Goelet, a bachelor, has a property worth ten millions. He is seventy-five, and will probably leave his money to a nephew and two sisters. George Law is working as hard to get money as he did years ago, when poor. When he dies nearly twenty millions will go to some one who would hardly thank him for all his toil and trouble to make it. Daniel Drew is likely to die with a great mauy millions, and then the Methodist church, it is expected, will come in for a good slice. The rich bachelors of Gotham constitute a very interesting group, and would look well in a picture. Ibe f (rrbviUe inquirer. YORK VILLE, S. C.: ? THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 9, 1875. How to Order the Enquirer.?Write the name of the subscriber very plainly, give post-office, 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.?1The Enquirer is delivered free of postage to all subscribers residing in York county who receive the paper at post-offices within the county; and to all other subscribers the postage is paid by the publisher. Our subscribers, no matter where thev receive the paper, are not liahle.for postage, it being prepaid at the post-office here, without additional charge to the subscriber. Watch the Figures.?The dateon the "address label*' shows the time to which the subscription is paid. If subscribers do not wish their papers discontinued, the tlatc must be kept in advance. Cash.?It must be distinctly understood that our terms for subscription, advertising and jobwork, are cash in advance THE FENCE LAW. Necessity knows no law. The time is fast approachiug when the laws of South Carolina, respecting fences, must be altered. We say must be altered, advisedly. In most sec tions of the State, the absolute necessity exists at present, and in a few years the necessity will be pressing and universal. The laws now in force require the crops to be fenced and allow the stock to go at large. The exigences of the times require the law to be reversed. The sooner this change is made, the better it will be for all concerned. If it is not done by legislative enactment, it will be done by the people themselves. The time has come, in at least, nine-tenths of the State, when the farmers cannot fence their crops. Some have not the timber; others are not pecuniarily able, and it is too expensive for any to fence the crop and permit the stock to run at large. No one thing has, at present, so powerful a tendency to retard the farming interests of the State as the fence law. It is a continual drain upon the time and purse of every man who labors in the held, or owns land. It is a heavy rate of interest which the laborer has to pay annually, semi-annually, quarterly, monthly and daily, upon every foot of land he cultivates. It is an expense without any profit, which falls upon both the land owner and the laborer; but most oppressive upon the latter. The laborer is forced to build fences before he plants, and repair fences during the whole time that his crop is growing, and is liable, at any time, so long as his crop is in the field, to have it destroyed by his own or his neighbors' stock. This is a clear loss. No one is profited by it. On the contrary, the laborer is poorer after making a crop thau he was before. He has been fooled. He spent the first three months of the year in making rails and building fences and in repairing old ones. A portion of almost every day of the remaining months that the crop was in the field was spent in stopping hog holes, building up places of the fence over which cattle had broken, or repairing water gaps. At least one hour in each day is spent in this way, and in most cases far more than this amount of time when the crop is closely looked after. At the lowest estimate, one-tenth of the laborer's time is consumed in watching his crop, to say nothing about the winter work of making and hauling rails. The present system imposes a grievous and useless expense upon the land holder. It fixes an inconsistent value upon his lands. Poor lands, with an abundance of rail timber, are worth more in the market than rich and fertile lands with no timber. Intrinsic worth is not regarded. The timber sells the poor land, whilst the rich land, without timber, is aimost unsaleable. If the present law continues in force for half another generation, the best lands in the State will be turned out and be known by the name of "old fields," whilst the poor barren hills only will be cultivated. lhis will decrease ttie aunuai crops 01 tne State; decrease the value of land, and consequently the value of all other property. This is not imagination. It is a fact. The crisis is coming just as fast as old rails rot. At present, there is scarcely a decent fence in the State. On all the large farms there are scarcely any fences at all. The places where the fence once was, is marked by small trees and briers. The change for which we are pleading is simply this. Fence the stock and turn the crop out! Those who desire to fence both the crop and stock, let them do so ; but require all to fence the stock. We make no sort of pretensions to prophetic knowledge, but such is not necessary to warrant any one in asserting that a change of the present fence law must take place in less than ten years. During the expiratiou of that period, all the fences in some sections will be so decayed that it will be utterly impossible to so repair them, as to make it at all safe to risk a crop in the fields. Law or no law, the change we advo cate will take place. If put into force now, it would save the people of the State a vast amount of labor and money; besides, it would relieve the minds of farmers of a care which is oppressive. Let those whom this thing most especially concerns think about it and speak out candidly. - ? SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? A drove of fifty hogs were recently sold in Abbeville county at nine cents gross. ? The grading on the Cheraw and Chester Railroad was commenced at Cheraw last week. Capt. Ellis has the contract from that place to Lyuch's creek, which leaves a gap of only seventeen miles on the whole line not yet contracted for. ? A colored man in the Monterey section of Abbeville county went otf into a trance a week or two ago in which he remained for several days On returning to consciousness, he was questioned as to what he had seen during his sleep, and answered that he had been to heaven ; but that he had seen no negroes there. ? The annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons, will convene [ in Charleston on the 14th instant. All Ma, sons and their families from the 9th to the 19th i instant, having paid full fare going to Charles' ton, will be returned without further charge, upon the grand secretary's certificate, over the following roads: South Carolina, Northeastern, Savannah and Charleston, Port Royal, Cheraw and Darlington, and Spartanburg and Union. The Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta, and the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroads, will sell round trip tickets, which in all cases must be purchased at the starting point, at six cents per mile for adults, and four ceuts per mile for children. Masons, passing over these two roads, will therefore be careful to purchase their return tickets at the starting poiut. ? Governor Perry has written a letter to the Charleston News and Courier in wbich he opposes the organization of the Democratic i party for the purpose of running a "straight" j ticket at the next election. He says that | "the only question at issue now in South Car- j olina is reform, and an honest administration 1 of the government;" and all who are sincerely j in favor of this should unite "in purging the j Legislature and our public offices of roguery, corruption and incompetency," and instead of declaring that it is the purpose to destroy the Republican party, say to them: "Unite with j ..O in i.oP?hminiT flio rrMtrorn tnpri f and mil ahull no m ivwiuiiug vow j share with us the offices and distinctions un- 1 der our State government, when reformed." j He also advises that "a Convention be held j by the representatives of all who are in favor j of an honest government, light taxes, compe- j tent and honest officers, and an economical ex-1 penditure of public moneys; the Convention to be composed of both parties, acting separately in making their nominations and laying down their platform?"the nominees and the platform to be adopted by both parties as a compromise." NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Mecklenburg county sent twenty convicts to the penitentiary last week. ? The Catholic church building in Greensboro is about completed, and as soon as practicable will be dedicated. ? The grand jury of Mecklenburg county present the court house building as a nuisance, and strongly urge the erection of a new one in another part of the city. ? The busiuess portion of the town of Beaufort, comprising twenty-five stores, was burnt last Wednesday night. The loss will reach ?150,000, with light insurance. ? Mr. A. H. Tate, living near Charlotte, has had five children to die of diphtheria within the past five weeks. His entire family of six children have died of that disease since last June. ? The Shelby Banner says that $100,000 worth of commercial fertilizer was used by the farmers of Cleveland county the past year, and many of the farmers made hardly enough cotton to nav for the euano thev used. ? The white citizens of Wilmington have offered a large number of special premiums for the Industrial (colored) Fair Association, which will hold its first fair in Wilmington during the Christmas holidays. ? The Messrs Tiddy, who have for several years been conducting the book and stationery business in Charlotte, and were proprietors of three paper mills?one in Clevelaud and two in Lincoln?suspended last week. ? The North Carolina M. E. Conference was in session in Wilmington last week. From the report of the ministers it appears that tha sum of?137,816.01 has been contributed during the past year for church purposes. The average salary of the preachers is $535. ? Timmons McSwain, of Cleveland county, says the Shelby Aurora, met with a sad accident on Tuesday of last week. His house, cotton, furniture and all of his clothing were pnnsnnipd hv firp while he and his familv were in the field at work. WASHINGTON NEWS. ? It is stated that Governor Ames withholds credentials from the Mississippi Congressmen. They will participate in caucus, hut cannot act in the house until their credentials are furnished. ? The President's message was not transmitted to Cougress until noon on Tuesday. It is longer than the message of last year, and the contents were studiously concealed before the reading of the document in Congress. ? The West and the South carried all the offices at the disposal af the House of Representatives, at which much surprise is expressed in Washington. For the two or three hundred subordinate positions, there were not less than a thousand applications. ? The following are the contested seats in the House of Representatives: Florida, Finley vs. Walls; Alabama, Bromberg vs. Haralson ; Louisiana, Spencer vs. Morey, and Breux vs. Durell; South Caroliua, Lee vs. Rainey ; Virginia, Piatt vs. Goode. ? Judge Advocate Holt, who maintains the rank of Brigadier General in the army, has been placed on the retired list ut his own request. Holt is a native of Kentucky, and until hostilities between the two sections actually commenced, gave his sympathies and influence with the South. After the war commenced, however, he went to the other side, and was the implacable and vindictive enemy of every Southerner who fell into his clutches. ? The caucus of the Democratic members of the House of Representatives, held last Saturday, was presided over by Mr. Lamar, of Mississippi. The balloting for officers of the House resulted in the selection of the following gentlemen : For Speaker?Hon. M. C. Kerr, of Indiana; for Clerk?Mr. Adams, of Kentucky ; for Postmaster of the House? James Stuart, of Virginia ; for Chaplain? Rev. J. L. Townsend, Episcopalian, of Washington ; for Sergeaut-at-Arms?Mr. Thompson, of Ohio; Doorkeeper?C. H. Fitzhugh, of Texas. Call for a Tax Payers' Convention. Gen. James Chesnut, the President, in accordance with the requirements of the constitution of the State Tax Union, has issued a call for a Convention of Tax Payers, to be , held in Columbia, on Tuesday the 14th in| staut. The following is the resolution adopted I by the State Tax Union, at a meeting held in ] Columbia on the 23rd instant: Resolved, That the State Tax Uuiou does , hereby call upon the counties in the State to I select delegates from each county, in numbers according to its representation in the lower : Iwtnao r?f the General Assembly, to he assem j bled in general convention, in Columbia, on I the second Tuesday in December, at 7 P. M., for the purpose of urging that the Legislature j adopt the recommendations contained in the veto message of the Governor, and to consider 'j auy matters touching the general welfare of I the State. Addressing the tax payers of the State, Gen. Chesnut says: Subjects of great moment demand your attention, and the time indicated is thought to I be auspicious for a convention coming fresh : from the people, and in numbers sufficient to | speak with authority. We trust, therefore, I that you will respond promptly to this call by I sending a full number of delegates. LOCAL AFFAIRS, j NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. J. A. McLean, Judge of Probate?Notice. W. H. A J. P. Herndon?Canned Goods?How to Liquidate?Notes and Accounts?Hollow and Tin Ware?So Long?Sugars?Buckwheat. T. M. Dobson A Co.?Keep's Patent Partly-Made Dress Shirta?Credit Customers?Samuel E. Moore?Guano?Flour?Window ShadesShoes?Shovels and Tongs?Chewing Tobacco?Salem Jeans?Shot Guns?ReadyMade Clothing.. T. W. Clawson, Deputy Messenger?In Bankruptcy?First Meeting?In the Matter of Allen Poole. Joseph A. McLean?Judge of Probate?Citation? John B. Mint/., Applicant?Samuel VVylie, R. H. Glenn, S. Y. C.? Sheriff's Sales?Judge of Probate's Sales. J. F. Wallace?Sale of Land. John P. Sehorn?Fine Drove Hogs. PARDON OF CHARLES H. KANE. Last week, Governor Chamberlain pardoned Charles H. Kane, a discharged U. S. soldier, who was formerly a member of the 18th Infantry stationed at this place. At the October term, 1874, of the Court of Sessions foj this county, he was tried and convicted of robbing a Mr. Magrath, near the railroad depot, and sentenced by Judge Mackey to three years' imprisonment in the penitentiary. The pardon was granted upon the recommendation of Judge Mackey, Hon. J. H. White and Representatives Bates, Steele and Davies, and Lieut. H. H. Beuner, of the United States array. THE UNITED STATES COURT. In the United States Court at Columbia, last week, the grand jury returned true bills against W. R. Love, W. J. Trent, and Oliver Jenkins, of this county, for violations of the internal revenue laws. W. R. Love was tried and convicted in two cases. On the first case he was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment in jail and to pay a fine of $100. On the second case, to nine months' imprisoumeut and to pay a fine of * ? - m 82UU, the second imprisonment to taae enect at the expiration of the first sentence. Jacob Mull was sentenced to pay a fine of five hundred dollars and to be imprisoned for six months; and not to be discharged until the fine shall be paid. SALES-DAY. On Monday last?sales-day for December? the following lands were sold under execution by the sheriff: Interest of T. W. Manning?50 acres?in tract of laud ; bought by Margaret Vinson for 8102. Interest of T. W. Manning in "home place"; bought by A. F. Smith for 8128. Interest of J. M. Manning in "home place;" bought by Henry Green for 8221. Under judgment of foreclosure of mortgage, at the suit of J. B. Goode vs. W. J. Kidd, the sheriff sold a mill and tract of 15 acres on Broad river, which was bought by the plaintiff for 8700. By order of the judge of probate, the sheriff sold the following property : Lands of estate of Jeremiah O'Leary, deceased?House and lot in Yorkville; bought by Mrs. R. A. O'Leary for 8600. Tract of 1471 acres of land near Yorkville; bought by G. H. O'Leary for 81,770. Lands of estate of Jno. M. Tate, deceased? Home place, 291 acres, more or less ; bought by S. D. Siraril at 812.50 per acre. One-half interest in 170 acres, known as the "Wallace tract;" bought by Mrs. M. L. Watson for BBOU. Tract or too acres, Known as me "Cross Roads tract" ; bought by Mrs. Emily D. Tata for 82.176- -TW^SfoWtoa tract," 110 acres ; bought by Mrs. Emily D. Tate for 8440. "Anderson tract," 54 acres, bought by I). W. Barron for 8216. Half-interest in the "Carothers tract," 45 acres, bought by R. F. Hall for 8137.25. Land of P. W. Galloway, deceased? Tract of 240 acres; bought by Samuel Kirkpatrick for 89.05 per acre. Lands of J. H. Adams, deceased?Store house and lot in Yorkville; bought by J. W. P. Hope for 83,400. Lot of 13 acres; not sold. Lot of i acre; bought by T. M. Dobsou for 8150. Half interest in house aud lot on Madison street; bought by Col. W. H. McCorkle for 8160. "Brandon tract," 87 acres; bought by J. L. Adams for 8430. Right and title of deceased in the "Solomon Quinu" tract; not sold. Lands of Sarah Merritt, deceased?Tract of 140acres; bought by A. H. Merritt for 86.25 per acre. The lands of R. G. McCaw, deceased, were offered by the executors of the estate; but a sufficient sum not being offered, were bid in. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. Meeting: of Congress. Both houses of Congress assembled last Monday. The Senate was called to order by Mr. Ferry, and the usual resolution to notify the President and House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate had assembled and was ready for business, was adopted, when the Senate adjourned, after the statement of Mr. Authony that the President's message would not be received until Tuesday. The House of Representatives was called to order by Mr. McPherson, clerk of the last House. Two hundred and eighty members were preseut, and the new members were s vorn in without, delay. The credentials of the Mississippi delegation were signed by the Lieutenant-Governor. Mr. Lamar, of Mississippi, offered a resolution declaring as the officers of the House the gentlemen agreed upon in caucus on Saturday (whose names we give under the head of Washington News.) Mr. Kerr, on assuming the duties of Speaker, addressed the House as follows : Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: I am truly gratified for the honor you have conferred in calling me to this exalted statiou. I profoundly appreciate the importance and delicacy of its duties. I shall doubtless many times need your patient indulgence. I pray that you will grant it, and, with nothing but kindly feeling toward every member of the House, I promise that in ail official acts I will divest myself to the utmost of my ability of 11 II* _ J I I.*. !?.!_ an personal mas, auu unserve cumpieie lairness and impartiality towards all the great aud diversified interests of our country represented in this House. After the transaction of other business pertaining to the organization, the House adjourned until Tuesday. General Sherman Surronndcd by Rebels. During the session of the National J Railroad Convention which assembled in St. Louis, Mo., last week, for the purpose of dis- j cussing the Southern trans-continental project, ! the following episode occurred, as reported by j the St. Louis Times : Gen. Sherman had entered early into the, hall aud had gone upon the platform. Later it was aisu iuuvcu tuat ucu. uuiiuobuu uiou ug , invited to take a seat alongside of Gen. Sherman. Over this broke out a storm of applause. Before all minds there arose in a moment a picture of the past. It was a war picture, glorious with battle flags and stormy ! with steel. Here a column drove onward, or was broken ; there the blue and the gray, under a powder cloud thatshutout the sun, strug-11 gled in either scale to hold its own with des-; tiuy ; and over yonder?when the night had fallen?the dead lay out under the starlight, I j waiting the resurrection. There was a trans- j formation, and the meeting of the two Titans? ' i the oue the hero of the march to the sea, and the other a hero also of the same march. These were the central figures of the scene. As they stood up and cordially shook hands? Johnston and Sherman?for the space of five minutes the temple shook with applause'as though a storm was raging. There was uo longer any war in the land. Two of the prominent men of the civil strife, coming together in the interests of a restored Union, had met to set an example of fraternal intercourse and reunion. The spirit of these two soldiers was communicated to the delegates as if by an electric spark, and the effect was magical. Johnston was gray and cool; Sherman bronzed and happy. Both were old friends. What mattered the past ? Peace is to have her victories also, and this time the Federal and Confederate can march under the same flag to the Pacific. Immediately succeeding this greeting came an ovation to Beauregard. Gen. Sherman met him as he * ? " it 1 stepped upon the platform, shook nanuB who hira cordially, and led him to a seat. There sat the trio, the past in the shadow and the present in the sunshine. Was it fate, after all, that had made commerce more powerful than war? Tbe Mexican Banditti. Regarding the aspect of affairs on the Texas border and the depredations of Mexicau cattle stealers, General Sheridan has submitted a report to the War Department, from which the following extracts are taken : "The troops stationed along the Rio Grande have had the humiliating duty of attempting to protect our citizens and their property from raids by the people of a foreign country, who came over the boundary in armed parties to steal cattle, and do not hesitate to attack and kill our citizens when necessary to accomplish their purposes. The low stage of the water in the Rio Grande, and its great length, from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred miles, makes the duty of protecting it difficult, in fact almost impossible, with the few troops available for this purpose. In speaking of this duty as a humiliating one, I do not mean it is not perfectly legitimate; for any duty is such which has for its object the protection of the lives and property of the people on an international boundary line; but when it is considered that these armed parties, as soon as they are pursued, take refuge on the opposite bank of the Rio Grande river, and there, in sight of our troops, which dare Dot cross, graze and slaughter the stolen cattle with impunity, the sight is very mortifying to those engaged in the protection of that frontier. This condition of affairs has been going on for the last twenty years. In the department of the gulf everything seems to be getting along quietly. Last winter when the department came under my jurisdiction I thought it best to call a halt in a forcible way on much lawlessness from armed bands; which action brought the attention of the government and the law-abiding and good people of the country to a growing and inhuman evil. Peace has been the result, and prosperity, I hope, will follow." Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. LETTER FROM CHESTER. Chester, December 6, 1875. Mr. S.J. Couch has introduced a bill into the Legislature, providing for the adoption of a fence law for this county. A bill of a similar nature passed the House last winter, but failed to make its way through the Senate. When about to pass, Dublin I. Walker stretched forth his Senatorial hand and slew it. He probably thought his old cow, or that of one of his friends, had a perfect right to roam the country, and that other people should be required to fence in a vast area of territory to avoid the depredations of the said old cow. Possibly, by this time the Senator's old cow is dead, or if not, he is dead, politically, and his voice will be raised in vain to defeat the passage of so good and excellent a bill as that most certainly is which provides for the adoption of a fence law for th's county. So eo ahead, Mr. Couch, with your bill, and do not be apprehensive of any opposition from the dealer in fraudulent public school certificates. You have now an opportunity for covering a multitude of your political iniquities by your exertions in behalf of a good cause, and the success with which these exertions will be surelv crowned, if you are true and persevering to the end. I have been informed that Mr. Couch will, if he has not already done so, insert a clause in his bill, providing for the enclosure and pasturage of stock of persons without land, upon laud of others at a 6xed price. This is in accordance with a law in some of the Western States, which has been found to work admirably. D. T. Legg, who was shot by Robert Crawford a few days ago, in the neighborhood of Landsford, has sufficiently recovered to leave this part of the country. The ball lodged in his neck, making so serious a wound as to excite expectations of his death at any moment for some time after the occurrence. He will act wisely if he never returns. His escape with his life from a neighborhood, where he has occasioned a fearful amount of sorrow and distress, should make him profoundly grateful, if he is capable of cherishing an emotion of this kind. There is a good deal of complaint among the farmers in regard to the unreasonable demands of the negroes in some sections of this and "York counties. The idea has taken possession of them that they are entitled to onethird of the crop, irrespective of the supplies furnished them during the year. This preposterous idea, to which they tenaciously cling, is due to some remarks alleged to have been moilo hv .T111]ota t.r> t.hp crnnd iurv at "J ??j ? -? o j j ? the last session of the Circuit Court at Yorkville. The language of this official must have been misconstrued, for it is not possible for any sensible man to entertain such an opinion. Still the injurious effect is the same, and in the name of the farmers of this and York counties, I call upon Judge Mackey to embrace the first opportunity that is offered to remove from the minds of a large number of the "colored population the erroneous impression held by them in regard to what is due them for their labor, in cases where supplies have been furnished. To use a homely, but a very wise proverb, they should be taught that they caunot"eat their cake and have it too." I know of an excellent gentleman in the neighborhood of Rock Hill who has been troubled greatly of late in making a settlement with his laborers. He deemed it but right and proper that the provisions he had furnished should be taken into the calculation, but they were unwilling to acquiesce in this arrangement; so the mighty arm of the law had to he stretched forth to adjust the difficulty. His experience is that of a host of farmers in York and Chester counties. The farming interest, which is the foundation of the country's nrosneritv. will receive an irre ^ 1 J 1 parable injury, if the uegroes do not receive proper instructions respecting their obligations, as well as their rights, and be made to act in accordance therewith. Let the Judge of this circuit see to it that he correct the false idea, briefly referred to, that prevails among the negro population. The difficulty between Seward Nolin and Robert Mills, both colored, in which the latter received a stab in the abdomen, was not attended with the serious consequences apprehended at the time of the occurrence. Mills' recovery is assured, and Nolin will probably be released from confinement in jail in a short time. The committee on railroads in the Legislature has made a favorable report upon the bill providing for the incorporation of the Chester and Union Railroad. It is my impression that this bill passed the House at the last session, but failed to get through the Senate. It is to be hoped that our Solons at the 1 .. If . ? il J it _ fi! I capital wui wunaraw tneir opposition, anu grant the charter for the Chester and Union Railroad. When all the lines, present and prospective, are completed, Chester will be a great railroad centre and a great place. A tournament takes place at Rich Hill on the 23rd instant. A number of gallant ; knights will appear upon the interesting occasion. Mr. V. B. McFadden will appear as Knight of the Belles; Mr. V. D. Brown, as Lone Cavalier; Mr. H. N. Stevenson, as Lone Star, and Mr. B. B. Cook as Knight of the Forest. The names of the other knights who will contend for the honor of crowning the queen of love and beauty have not been i reported to me. The list will be large, and | on the day of the tournament they will make a fine display oi their horsemanship, and ! their expertness in taking rings. The gallantry and beauty of the eastern side will turn out in full force, and the occasion will be one of great interest and pleasure to all whose souls are not dead to every sentiment of honor and chivalry. Mr. C. S. Chamberlain, Vice President of the Roane Iron Company, of Chattanooga, with whom an engagement to furnish the Chester and Lenoir Railroad with iron from Yorkville to Dallas has been made, arrived in town on Friday and spent a good portion of the day with Dr. A. H. Davega, President, and C. S. Brice, Esq., Attorney for the Railroad Company, in fixing up the legal papers connected with the transaction. ^ The papers were duly signed by the contracting parties, and the arrangements made with all the form and force of law. A more thorough acquaintance witb the condition of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad Company has increased Mr. Chamberlain's satisfaction with the iron-furnishing contract. He expressed himself in very favorable terms respecting the prospects of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad Company, and took bis departure with the intention of taking steps to execute bis part of the arrangement upon his immediate arrival in Chattanooga. This being the first Monday of the month, a large number of people were in town, and a considerable amount of property was disDosed of at nublic sale. A tract of land, be - I r longing to J. S. McLure, Esq., and containing 1,527 acres, was bought by Colonel A. G. Rice, of Union, for the sum of $6,700. Another tract belonging to McLure and containing 715 acres, was bought by Col. Rice for 83,100. These lands are located in the western portion of the county, on the waters of Sandy river. A tract of land on Fishing creek, containing 205 acres, brought 8450. Another tract on the same stream and containing 166 acres, brought 85 per acre. Mr. VV. H. Massey bought two tracts, both lying on the waters of Fishing creek, one containing 260 and the other 219 acres, for the first of which he gave $4.50 per acre, and for the other, $4.25. Mr. J. H. McClintock, administrator of the Garner Jamison estate, sold a tract of 160 acres of land, which brought $805. Two bales of cotton were sold by the Sheriff, bringing $11.90 per hundred. Twenty-five bushels of corn were sold at 81 cents per bushel. Fodder was sold at 70 cents per hundred. The tax-payers held a meeting at the Court House to-day, to appoint delegates to the taxpayers' convention that meets in Columbia, on the 14th instant. Gen. W. A. Walker presided over the meeting, and W. A. Sanders, Esq., acted as secretary. Major S. P. Hamilton made a brief speech, which was listened to, for the most part, by empty benches. On motion of Dr. A. H. Davega, a committee of six was appointed by the chairman, to nominate delegates to the convention. The following gentlemen were appointed : Messrs. A. H. Davega, J. J. McLure, Martin McDaniel, J. S. McLure, J. S. Wilson and George Gill. They retired to a jury room for consultation, and, returning in a short time, reported the names of the following gentlemen : General W. A. Walker, Major S. P. Hamilton and C. S. Brice, Esq., as suitable persons to represent Chester county in the tax-payers' convention. The selection of the committee was eudorsed by the meeting. An adjournment was then in order, and persons left the Court House with the feeling that an inexplicable apathy has taken possession of the people in regard to the subject of taxation. Mrs. Israel McNinch, of this place, departed this life last night. Her death is greatly lamented by a large circle of kindred and friends. Intelligence of the death of Major C. D. Melton, of Columbia, was received here on Saturday. His death is said to have been occasioned by overwork in the Parker trial. The cause was not worthy of the sacrifice. A vast quantity of rain has fallen here within the past three days, and our streets are in a wretched condition. Mud prevails to a fearful extent. Qul THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE. Monday, November 29, 1875. In the Senate, a bill to limit the charge for certain legal notices received its third reading and passed. The Senate concurred in the House concurrent resolution providing for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the failure of the South Carolina Bank and Trust Company. Messrs. Swails, Whittemore, Duncan, Jones and Ward, were appointed the committee on the part of the Senate. The following bills were referred to appropriate committees: Bill to repeal the lien law; bill to divide the State into five Congressional Districts; bill to amend the law in relation to the bonds of sheriffs and judges of probate. A bill to authorize the quarterly payment of trial justices' accounts against the county, was rejected. A bill to amend the law for the protection of useful animals, so as to prevent the hunting of deer between February 1st and September 1st of each year, was ordered to be enrolled for ratification. In the House, Mr. Holland introduced a bill to make it a penal offense for trial justices to change their domicile; also, a bill to punish husbands for abandoning their wives and children without sufficient cause. Mr. Jefferson introduced a bill to authorize and empower the State Board of Canvas! sers, together with the Governor, to appoint, ! remove and reappoint Commissioners of Eleci tion for each county, and fixing the time for | appointing the same. j Mr. Connor introduced a joint resolution ; proposing an amendment to the constitution : of the State of South Carolina, relative to the ' term of sessions of the Legislature. The enacting clause of a bill to prevent ilI licit traffic in seed cotton or corn was stricken | out. The bill was introduced especially for the purpose of putting down, if possible, the night ; traffic between the couutry storekeepers and , the cotton and corn thieves. The Conserva; tives and soiue of the white Republicans voted in favor of the bill, but the black ana tan Republicans voted solidly against the bill, j In other words, fifty-four Republicans voted to kill a bill which looked to the abolition of cotton stealing. The committee on ways and means, as a substitute for the bill vetoed by the Governor, reported a bill to raise supplies for the fiscal year commencing November 1st, 1875. The I Columbia correspondent of the New and Courier furnishes that paper with the following information in regard to the bill: In the first section it provides that a tax of one and a half mills be levied to meet appropriations ! to pay the salaries of the executive and judicial ; officers, and the clerks and contingent expenses I of these departments. This is in accordance with ' the Governor's suggestion. In the second section, to meet appropriations ; for the penal and charitable institutions, a tax of ' ono and a half mills is authorized. This is one' quarter of a mill in excess of the Governor's osti, mate. In the third section, to meet appropriations for the support of public schools, a tax of two mills is authorized, which is what the Governor recommended. i In the fourth section, lor tne expenses 01 uie i General Assembly, in the plnce of one mill, as j I suggested l?y the Governor, the committee have | added a tenth of a mill, making the levy in this i section one and one-tenth mills. In the tifih section, for public printing, half a mill [ : is authorized in the place of the Governor's suggestion of one-third of a mill. The sixth section, interest on the public debt, remains in accordance with the Governor's recommendation, at two mills. In theeight section the committee have reduced tho Governor's estimate for the payment of defi- ; oiencioH from two mills to one and nine-tenths. The aggregate of these levi&s is ten and a half mills, nearly three-quarters of a mill above the Governor's recommendation. Besides this bill the committee have brought in a Baby Bonanza bill, made up of the sections which were recommended by the Governor to be stricken out This bill authorizes a tax levy of about four mills to meet appropriations for the payment of certain indebtedness of the State, but the collection of this levy will be made in two equal yearly levies. Next and last comes up a renewal of the old Bonanza under the title of "A bill to -p*ovid4 (hi tht ? settlement and payment of certain claims against " the State." These claims amount to ahout $250,000, and the bill authorizes a yearly levy of half a mill for four years, to begin* with ilm ensuing year. These three bills give us a tax this year of twelve and one-half mills, exclusive of thecounty tax. The bills were ordered to lie over for future consideration. After the adoption of a series of resolutions in regard to the death of Joe Crews, the House n -j n trlKn In t~\ C rno nn/it f r\ kio mom. aujvuiu^u oo u biiwubc wi bw ma wvui ory. Tuesday, November 30. In the Senate, Mr. Donaldson presented the petition of citizens of Greenville for an act to abolish the fence law iu that county. The Judiciary Committee reported favorably on a bill to amend the law in relation to bonds of probate judges and sheriffs. The committee on Privileges and Elections reported favorably on hills to antend the act dividing the State into Congressional Districts ; and to apportion the representation of the various counties. Mr. Hope introduced a bill to provide for the election of county treasurers, auditors, * trial justices and constables by the people. ' i In the House, the bill to make it a penal offense for trial justices to change their domicile, was rejected. Mr. Leslie, by unanimous consent, intro- Jk duced a bill to locate and establish the coun- Ifl ty seat of Barnwell county at Blackville. Mr. Ferguson introduced a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the Governor to make a special communication to the House, * setting forth the facts and circumstances which led the Financial Board to make de- ( posits in the South Carolina Bank aud Trust Company. Mr. Curtis introduced a bill to provide that all payments by the State Treasurer, except for interest on the public debt, shall be made on warrants drawn by the Comptroller General. Mr. Cannon introduced a bill to require foot peddlers, tramps and all itinerant salesmen, to obtain a license from the clerk of court of the county in which they offer their goods for sale. A bill to raise supplies for the fiscal year commencing November 1st, 1875, was taken up. The bill was put upon its second readiug. ^ The action of the House on the bill is thus ? reported by the Columbia Register : Mr. Barnwell moved to amend sectio. by strikingout, on line 1, the words and figures 'onehalf and insert "one-fourth." and urged upou the members to make a reduction, and to consider carefully the question of taxation. He had carefully looked over and compared the rate of taxation in this State and elsewhere, and it was de- * monstrated that the tax levies in South Carolina were in excess of those of any other State. He J wanted the tax reduced to 9 or 10 mills, then pass A a deficiency bill, and spread the tax over four or 9 five years. Mr. Simkins, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said the committee bad endeavored to comply with the recommendations of theGovernor, who predicated his recommendation of 1} mills upon a possible reduction of salaries, but this tax of 1} mills would meet all just demands for salaries. This section provides against deficiencies, and the Governor has advised us so to legislate as to prevent deficiencies. The people wifl not refuse to pay this tax on the plea of being onerous and burdensome; it is impossible to reduce it a single item. He was anxious to reduce taxation, but responsibilities must be met, and the one at this moment is to pass this tax of 1} mills levied by the first section of the supply bill for salaries # of the officers in the executive and judicial de-' partments of the government. The first section was then passed to a third reading. Mr. Barnwell moved to strike out i and insert i in the second section, which provides for 1J mills for support of penal, charitable and educational institutions. Mr. Duncan said that was a direct blow at education. On motion, the amendment was tabled and the second section passed to a third reading. Section :J, levying 2 mills for public schools, was Dassed to a third reading. Section 4 levies 1 1-10 milis for expenses of the General Assembly. . Mr. Barnwell moved to strike ont 1-10. He had made a careful calculation, and found that 1 , mill would meet all the legislative expenses of the General Assembly for a session of sixty days. Mr. Simkins replied that the tax for this par-' pose last year was 11 mills, but the committee found that 1 110 would be sufficient this year; and that expenses of repairs of capital and rural-, tnre would be paid out of this tax. . ,.1( The section was then passed to a third reading. On this voteadivision was called, when the following by-play occurred: Mr. Davies, of York, to Mr. Coleman, of Lau- 1 rens?Don't you want your pay ? 1 Coleman?Yes. Davies?Well, you had better rise, my boy. And he rose, you bet. Section 5, levying 4 mill for printing, and section 6, levying 2 mills for interest on public debt, were passed to a third reading. Section 7, which is the omnibus section of the bill, provides for all manner and amounts of county taxation, and the amendments offered were so numerous as to preclude our presenting them to our readers in a comprehensible form. After some discussion in regard to the tax levy in several of the counties, the bill was made the special order for Wednesday, 12 M. Wednesday, December 1. In the Senate, a bill to authorize the voters of Chester county to vote on the question of a'fence law, was postponed until January 26. The bill to incorporate the Chester and Union Railroad Company was read a second time and amended by striking out section 6, which provided for allowing the counties and towns to subscribe to the capital stock. In the House, Mr. Livingston introduced a bill to make the offices of county auditor and county treasurer in each county in this State elective. At 12 M. the bill to raise supplies for the year 1875 was taken up. Section 7, which provided principally for taxation for county purposes, was amended in many instances and passed to a third reading. The section cannot be published in an intelligent form until it has passed its third reading. Section 8 levies a tax of 1 9-10 mills for deficiencies in the salaries and contingent expenses of the executive and judicial departments; appropriations for penal, charitable and educational institutions; July and January, 1875, interest on the public debt; legislative expenses; claim of Thomas W. Price & Co., of Philadelphia, and pay of census takers. Pending the consideration of section 8, the House adjourned. Thursday, December 2. In the Senate, Mr. Swails introduced a bill to relieve defendants in criminal cases from attendance on the Supreme Court pending appeals. n.r- t-lA../.a/t a raanlnft/in trt in. lull liupc 1IJ tl uu uutu U <vou?mvivm ? ... structthe Judiciary Coramittee to consider and report upon the propriety of amending the State Constitution so as to permit the reduction of the number of sittings of the Court J of General Sessions to two in a year. The bill to incorporate the Chester and Union Railroad company was read a third ^ time. fl In the House, Mr. Livingston introduced 9 a bill to regulate and restrict the rate of in- M terest in the State and for other purposes. Mr. Rice introduced a bill to provide a new fence law for Union and other counties, and to make boundary lines of owners' lands lawful fences. The Senate sent to the House a bill to incorporate the Chester and Union Railroad company, with amendments, which were concurred in. The House postponed the consideration of aimnli* Kill fn?/\ flA/?fmna vKiaK fPmAin i(UC oupjiijr U1II| tnw tcv/vivuo wi - ?? to be considered, and took up a bill to provide for the payment of certain indebtedness of the State, and known as the little bonanza bill. Meetze moved to recommit the bill to the committee of ways and means. His purpose, he said, was to have the tax levy distributed over four or five years instead of two, as in the bill. After a severe fight the motion to recommit was lost, and the bill came up for amendment by the House. On motion of Hirsch the first section was amended from an annual tax of one quarter mill, to be paid in two years, to one-ninth mill, to be paid in three years. The second section was amended from three-eighths to one-quarter mill, to be