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^ftajDS and Jarts. At a large meeting of Methodists, held in Boston on Monday, at which Bishop Haven i presided, the renomination of Gen. Graut was urged as a measure of public safety. A Japanese editor has avowed his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, so that he may hereafter have the privilege of speaking his mind with entire freedom. A wagon load of specimens of North Carolina woods, selected from the mountain region, has been sent to Philadelphia for exhibition at the Centennial. When a Chinese bank fails, all the officers have their heads cut off and flung iuto a corner with the assets ; and it has been five ? ? * - .1 L.^1. i*.!l nuuarea years since mere was a Dana iauure in that country. In Maine, Sunday cursing is taxed two dollars per oath; on week days the rate is lowered to only one dollar per oath. The law is rigid, and the proceeds, when collected, are to go toward founding a lunatic asylum. The Democratic triumph in Mississippi involves the cutting down of the State printing bill from 8100,000 a year to 816,000, aud Republican newspapers in the country are very generally suspending. The commissioners of Mecklenburg county, N. C., have decided to petition Congress to turn over to the county the building of the United States branch mint in Charlotte to be used as a court-house. In Virginia, Mr. Allen Hannah has married Miss Hannah Allen, and now Miss Hnunah Allen is Mrs. Hannah Hannah, and is perhaps, the only woman in the world whose name can be spelled backward and forward. That's what's the matter with Haunah. Ex-President Johnson's only son, Andrew, editor of a weekly paper at Greeuville, Tenn., was married the other day, to Miss Bessiel M. Rumbough, of Warm Springs, N. C., and the couple are going to live in the old family residence. The Charlotte (N. C.) Observer says that on Saturday of last week the negroes aud whites of Pineville had quite a fracas, resulting in pistol shots and the rousing of a good deal of bad blood, but the spilling of none. The parties had a hearing in Charlotte on Monday. West, Edwards & Co., a heavy grocery house of Atlanta, Ga., have failed, with liabilities, it is reported, of 8640,000 and assets of 8250,000. Their creditors are, it is said, principally in the JNortb and West, out rumor raeutions that other parties residing in the South are considerably involved. The firm sold about two million dollars per annum. A petition to Congress, asking for the repeal of the bankrupt law, is in circulation in the several States. It is alleged that the effect of the law is to tempt creditors to avail themselves of its advantages without any pressing neccessity, and that the cost and shrinkage of values which bankruptcy procedings involve, often constrains creditors to compromise their claims for a small percentage of what is due, and for much less than the debtor is really able to pay. The National Temperance Society have moved on the Centenial commissioners in brave array, and requested them to cancel all grants they have made for the sale of wine at the Centennial. An International Exhibition on the temperance plan would be a novelty, but it is feared that it would not excite the admiration of Johnny Bull, Johnny Crapeau, or even the visitors from the Faderland. The "National Temperance Society" had better withdraw its request to the Centennial commissioners. Senator Christiancy, of Michigan, was given a farewell banquet by his friends and neighbors previous to his departure for Washington last week. In a brief speech he declared himoplfin fawnr nf the flpppdiest pncaihle ~ return to ?pwi?payment, ?ppoootl to m tbird term, and in favor of that policy which would be best for the country, without regard to party. Both party platforms seemed to him alike, and while he had always been a Republican, he should continue to act with the party only when he could do so and not go contrary to his convictions. There is a lady in New York City who was once engaged to be married to John Wilkes Booth, but broke off the match and requested the return of her letters, which he refused. Her story goes that she never heard directly from him again until two years after his reported death, when a man called at her house at dusk. She opened the door herself; he handed her a sealed package and disappeared. On opening it she discovered her own old love letters to Booth, and a line unmistakably in his hand. It was: "I return your letters." Inside the letters was a piece of a Cuban newspaper. She firmly believes that Booth still lives. The Charlotte Observer reports a shocking tragedy which occurred at Wadesboro, N. C., last Thursday afternoon. Milton Jow - i 4i 1?t>: : i L?4l era ana Aiexauuer jjuiiiiiigiittiii, uuhi f?|rctiably connected, had a dispute about a gun, which was in Birmingham's hands at the time, and Jowers being stricken, turned and seized a stick, with which he pursued bis assailant, and was about overtaking him, when he turned and with the gun almost at the breast of Jowers, fired, the whole load lodging in the body of the uufortunate man, who dropped, and, with the exclamation, "Birmingham has killed me!" expired instantly. The charge made a frightful wound, the whole of Jowers' heart having been shot out. Birmingham immediately fied, but was arrested next day, and is now in jail. Says the Wilmington (N.C.) Star of! the 10th instant: A man by the name of W. H. Britt, living about nine miles from Cliutou, | Sampson county, was arrested about day light on Thursday morning last, charged with conspiracy and murder under what is known as the Ku-Klux Act of 1870. The arrest was effected by Deputy U. S. Marshal VauSoclen, j assisted by Special Deputy C. H. Strode, who j left here on Wednesday morningfor that pur-! pose. The conspiracy and murder alleged ; against Britt is said to have been committed about five years ago, the victim being a colored man by the name of Oates, for which an indictment had been found against him in the Vm'to/t fttotPQ f!irpnit fYinrt Tha fact that lie has not been arrested before is only accounted for, as we are told, on the ground that he has hitherto set at defiance the efforts of those who have attempted it. The arrival of Col.Robert Des Anges, deputy collector of the port of Xew York, at the Albany peniteuiary, to which he was sentenced for swindling the government out of $200,000, brings to mind |some other distin- j guished prisoners now in that institution, such as ex-Senator William M. Graham, who i swindled the Walkill Bank out of $135,000; j Frank L. Taintor, cashier of the Atlantic j Bank, Xew York, who swindled the bank out; of $70,000; Charles Phelps, deputy treasurer of the State of Xew York, who swindled the ! State out of $350,000. Ih addition to the above we have any number of mail agents,; postmasters, government clerks, &c., the whole forming the most interesting and aristocratic body of shoe-makers ever seen in this ! or any other country. Many a man is making boots to-day who would have fainted j away at the sight of wax a few months since, j The important committees in the present House of Representatives will be composed of seven Democrats to four Republicans. The "rule of three" is applied to the problem, which is stated to be: The whole number of members of the House (291) is to the number of Republicans (109) as the number of the committees (11) is to the number of Republicans which will be appointed to each committee. The result gives four and a small fraction. The party in the majority has always taken advantage of any fraction arising from the proposition, but in no case has the representation of the minorty beeu reduced below the whole number in the result of the calculation. The Republicans are entitled to four places on each committee of eleven, three on each committee of nine, and two on each committee of seveu. In the committees of eleven, the divison of seven and four i9 as nearly equitable as the representation of the two parties could be made in any Congress. Ihc fathviUc #nquiw. YORKVILL.E, S. C.J THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 16, 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.?The 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 lia. >- . :.1 Die lor posujfie, ll< uuiug jjrt?|iciui iu uio pu.iiruiui? here, without additional charge to the subscriber. Watch the Figures.?The datcon the "addresslabel" shows the time to which the subscription is paid. If subscribers do not wish their papers discontinued, the date must be kept in advance. Cash.?It must be distinctly understood that our terms for subscription, advertising and jobwork, are cash in advance THE FENCE LAW, AGAIN. It is the duty, as well as the interest, of every man to lop off every useless expense. An expense which is not profitable, but conduces in some degree to our innocent enjoyment, may be retained, provided it does not curtail things that are an indispensable necessity. We lay dowu this proposition : The fence law at present in force in South Carolina, is a useless expense. It profits no one any thing, and costs every body a vast amount of time and money; besides, it inflicts upon all classes in society much anxiety and subjects every farmer to grievous losses. To be more specific. There are no wild beast iuour country whose nightly depredations make a fence around every field necessary. The few wild animals that remain in the country, bid defiance to any fence that can be constructed. The only use that we have for a fence iu this country, is to protect the crops from the domestic animals. These domestic animals are the property of the inhabitants of the couutry. They have either been bought or raised. They are not public property, but belong to private individuals. It is clear that the burden of maintaining and protecting these animals should, in simple justice, fall upon the owner, He expects, under the law, to claim all the profits accruing from these stock ; and, under the law, he should bear all the expenses connected with them. If the stock of the country were public, or if the cows, hogs, sheep and goats were, by the laws of our country, regard ed as simply wild auimais ana not property at all, but belougiug to any and every one who might capture them, a fence around the crop would be a necessity. The law regards all these animals as property. They have a value. Hence the owner should support them. The present fence law is detrimental to all parties?both the laborer and the land holder. It keeps the price of labor down, because it decreases the profitableness of the productions ?xf tha farm. It isauLH ha ioapruiaiMo Ux ststy . which suffers most by the present law, the laborer or the land holder. One thing is certain, it is destined, in connection with some other things, to keep the price of labor at a low standard in South Carolina so long as the law has an existence. If labor is low, it is so because it is not profitable. It is an onerous burden for the laborer, who runs a one horse farm, to be forced to fence fifty or sixty acres of land in order that he may protect his crop from the depredations of all the cows and hogs in a whole community. It is alike onerous on the land holder that he is forced by law to pasture his neighbors' stock. Change the law, and every one becomes the recipient of the product of his own toil. To such a law no reasonable individual can raise an objection. It is not a question of no fence at all; but of less fence to auswer all the present purposes of fences. The change of the law would not compel the people to make and repair more fences, but it would require them to make perhaps not one-tenth of the fence which at present they are forced to make, aud all the ends of fences would be met equally as well as at present. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. On Tuesday, the 7th, both houses were occupied in perfecting their organization, and ' * * ' 1 n ? T\ 1 x k P in hearing the message or tne rresmenc. Alter the reading of the message, Mr. Cox, of New York, presented in the House the me? morial of William Heury Frescott, of the third Congressional District of South Carolina, in relation to the mode of districting that State. Referred to the committee on elections. The House then adjourned to Friday In the Senate on the 8th, Mr. Robertson, of South Carolina, introduced a bill providing that the United States shall guarantee the depositors in the Freed men's Savings Bank from all loss, and that United States bonds shall be issued to supply the deficiency after the exhaustion of the assets. Mr. Patterson presented joint resolutions of the South Carolina Legislature, praying the prohibition of the issue of licenses to retail liquor at large. Various other bills of a private nature were introduced, all of which were laid on the table to wait the formation of the committees; when, at 12: 30 P. M., the Senate adjourned. In the Senate on the 9th, the standing committees were annouuced and agreed to. Of the various committees, Mr. Robertson, of South Carolina, is on the following: Manufactures, of which he is chairman ; on the District of Columbia; Enrolled Bills, Mr. Patterson, of South Carolina, is on the following committees: Territories; Education and Labor, of which he is chairman; Civil Service and Retrenchment. After the announcement of the committees, Mr. Bayard said that! in behalf of the minority of the Senate, he desired to express their regret that in the Committee of Finance they had been allowed but two members out of nine. In view of the mSnAMifv ort/J tVimr rounntiQi. ; UUlIiUCIO Ul tlic IUIUV/1UJ uuu HIIWII tvo|/vuwt | bility for the legislation emanating from this | committee, they thought they should have additional representation. It had been intimated to them informally that hereafter this increased representation would be accorded them, which was not done now because of the j absence of the Senate members from Illinois and Nevada?James and Logan?who were members of the Finance Committee. He hoped that at an early day the majority j would give the minority the additional mem- j ber. A number of bills were then introduced, j when the Senate adjourned uutil Monday. In the House, on the 10th, Mr. Gibson, of Louisiana, moved an addition to the regular committees of the House a committee of elev-, en, to be known as the Mississippi levee com' I mission, which was adopted. An ineffectual j attempt was made to pass a bill reducing the j third class mail matter to ons cent per two ! ounces. Adjourned to Tuesday. In the Senate on the 13th, Mr. Merrimon, of North Carolina, introduced a bill to repeal section 4,716 of the revised statutes, which forbids the payment of certain pensions. Referred to committee on pensions. Also, a bill to repeal so much of section 3,480 of the revised statutes as forbids the payment of accounts, claims and demands against the United States which occurred or existed prior to the 13th of April, 1861, in favor of any person who promoted, encouraged or in any raauner sustained the late rebellion. It further authorizes the settlement of such claims, and appropriates 8400,000 for that purpose. It is understood that the President will, at on oorlu Hnu Jponamif fn flnncrPRS A snecial ?> </? .J " " o ? " I message devoted entirely to Southern affairs, and especially to the late troubles in Mississippi and the manner of conducting elections in that State, the information having been gathered by persons designated for that purpose. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? James A. Dunbar, a carpet-bag politician and the law partner of Speaker Elliott, died in Aiken last week. ?'Twenty miles of the Laurens Railroad have been completed, leaving a gap of nine miles. ? In the "little bonanza" bill, which passed the House of Representatives, is included 82,145, unpaid appropriations due the Catawba Indians. ? Meetings have been called in different localities in Laurens county to consider the fence law and the cotton-shop nuisance, both of great interest to the farmers. ? Judge Townsend adjourned court in Marion on last Friday, after a session of one month. Fifty cases were tried during the terra. ? The endowment of Furraan University reaches 8240,000. When 810,000 more shall have been subscribed the university will offer free tuition for ten years. I ? The wife of C. C. Bowen, sheriff of I Charleston county, died in Charleston on I Saturday last. Mrs. Bowen was a daughter of Jas. L. Petigru, and was known through- < out the State as Mrs. Sue Petigru King. I ? James H. Ezell, of Spartanburg, was I tried and convicted in the United States Court l at Columbia, last week, and sentenced to eigh- i teen months' imprisonment in Albany peni- ' tentiary, and to pay a fine of two hundred i dollars for violation of the internal revenue I laws. i ?The following South Carolinians, now in 1 California, have been elected to the offices ' named, in that State, viz: James M. Johnson, ' Spartanburg, Lieutenant-Governor; Law- ? rence Archer, Abbeville, member General ' Assembly; W. Alston Hayne, Charleston, i member General Assembly; Thomas P. Sto- 1 ney, Charleston,judge Napa county; John ' G. Pressley, Williamsburg, judge Sonoma I cnnnt.v .Tnhn K. Law. Darlington, district ' attorney, Muca. ? D. P. Chandler and Jerry Davis, the former a conductor and the latter a brakeraan on the Air-Line Railroad, were arraigned iu the United States Court at Columbia last week, on an indictment charging them with ejecting two negro men from the train some time ago. The negroes swore that the conductor and-brakeman-haiLmitlhem.ofiL_.The-couductor and brakeman admitted that the negroes were ejected from the train, but denied that they?the conductor and brakeman?had anything to do with putting them off*. Under the circumstances the indictment was quashed and the prisoners were discharged. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. Arrest of James Fetner. Governor Chamberlain has made a requisition upon Governor Brogden of North Carolina for James Fetner, charged with murder, while acting as engineer in charge of the train that occasioned the recent fatal accident on the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad. Governor Brogden accordingly issued a warrant of arrest. Fetner was arrested one day last week on the line of the Air-Line Railroad and taken to Charlotte, when, under advice, he refused to be conveyed lurtner, upon tne ground mat ( he had been arrested in Georgia and without ( authority. The case was carried before Judge \ Bynum, of the Supreme Court, who, after ar- i gument, adjudged that there was sufficient 1 cause for his arrest, and reraauded the prisoner to jail for six months, unless sooner called J for by the proper authorities. The warrant < of arrest was given to an officer of South ' Carolina, who at once brought the prisoner ] to this State. < N. C. Conference. < The following are the appointments by ^ the N. C. Conference for the ensuing year in the districts named: Shelby district?R. G. Barrett, P. E.? t Shelby station, H. T. Hudson ; Shelby circuit, < J. W. North; Double Shoals, S. D. Peeler; t Cherry Mountain, D. P. Goode; Rutherford- i ton, S. Leard ; Columbus mission, J. B. Car- \ penter ; Marion circuit, N. G. Whittiugton ; i Upper Broad river mission, J. D. Carpenter; ( Dysartville circuit, J. C. Crisp ; Morgan ton ( circuit, J. S. Ervin; Caldwell circuit, George t W. Ivey; Lenoir, W. M. Robey; Happy I Home circuit, J. C. Hartsell; Newton circuit, { L. Shell; Rock Spring circuit, J. W. Puett; c South Fork circuit, C. M. Andersou ; Dallas i circuit, P. F. W. Staraey; Lincoluton circuit, Junius T. Harris; President Davenport Fe- < male College, W. M. Robey. ] Charlotte district?W. H. Bobbitt. P. E.? \ Charlotte station, P. J. Carraway, J. C ( Thomas ; South Charlotte circuit, Miles Foy ; \ Piueville circuit, W. D. Lee ; Pleasant Grove i circuit,T. H. Edwards; Monroe station, D. i May ; Munroe circuit, M. H. Hoyle; Concord, 1 C. M. Pepper; Mt. Pleasant circuit, A. D. i Betts; Albemarle circuit, T. P. Ricaud; Stan- 1 ley circuit, Ed. Howland; Ansonville circuit, M. C. Thomas; Wadesboro station, James ? \V. Wheeler; Wadesboro circuit, Jesse H. < Guinn; IJlesville circuit, T- P. England. The Pence Question. ' Several of our North Carolina cotemporaries are turning their attention to the , fence law, urging its adoption, and proving , the success it has met in various localities of < that State, where it has been adopted. ? A correspondent of the Charleston New 1 and Courier, writiug from Washington city, < gives the following as the result of his obser* vations of the working of a similar law in New ( England: I "I notice that the News and Courier is ad- i vocatiug a no-fence law in South Carolina. I During my visits to the coast of Maine, the past two summers, I have seen such a law in I operation, and have heard it well spoken of by j all. In the town of Belfast it has certainly j 1 been productive of the best results. Since | < this law went into operation there, most of the < citizens have removed the fences which sur- ] rounded their dwellings and replaced them by \ hedges or softly sloping terraces, thereby j < greatly improving the appearauee of the town, j i as a fence is rarely ornamental, no matter bow I costly or elaborate. Indeed, it may be said < the njore elaborate the fence the less orna- 1 mental it is, ^.nd it certainly js more rea- 1 sonabje to require those who own cattle to I keep them within proper bounds, than to com-1 pel every one to erect fences for the protection of their grounds and gardens. The nofence law, if adopted in South Carolina, will, I am sure, meet with general approval." Riot in Mississippi* A riot is reported to have occurred on the night of the 27th of November at Rolling Fork, Issanena county, Miss., where a party of negroes had assembled and were driuking and carousincr. As the storv croes, one of them pushed agaiust a youth whom he met in the street, using rough language at the same time. The youth drew a knife and inflicted a scalp wound on the negro and then fled to a store for safety. The negroes became very much exasperated and vowed vengeance. To prevent this a warrant was obtained for the youth, charging him with assault with inteut to kill, hut before it could be served the negroes broke into the store and beat the young lad severely with an iron bar. Finally one of the party shot the boy in the thigh. At the report of the pistol the negroes ran, hut the whites had begun to assemble, and, fearing a general riot, pursued and captured ten of them, and put them in the station house aud placed a guard over them. During the nightone of the guard not upon duty, came out on the porch with a gun on his shoulder and was ordered away by the seutiuel ou duty. As he turned his gun, which was cocked, it struck agaiust a window aud was discharged. The negro prisoners, thinking that they were being fired upon, stampeded, and the guard opened up au indiscriminate firing, wounding two of their own number aud two negroes, all slightly, but the prisoners escaped. Sunday the most intense excitement prevailed there, as it was learned that Noah Parker and Arthur Brooks, two notorious negroes, were trying to organize the negroes for assault <-n the place, and the whites were organized under Rev. Mr. Ball, a Baptist minister, who arrested Brooks and Parker, and in the attempt to rescue them the rencontre occurred, in which seven negroes were killed, rhe Escape of Twoed. Siuee the fact of Tweed's escape from prison was made public, the New York papers have teemed with lengthy versions and learned theories of the manner in which the escape was effected. It appears that Tweed was J-; -I r. ?f.i : I jri veil, iu unurgeui twu ui tue pnst/u umuaio, from the jail to his residence, late in the afternoon on Saturday the 4th instant, aud while the party were seated in the parlor, Tweed asked permission to step up stairs to see his wife, who was sick. After he had been absent about ten minutes, the warden who had tiim in charge, suggested that it was time to return to the jail, aud requested Tweed's son to notify his father that the officers wished to return early to the jail. The son ascended the stairs and in three minutes returned with the startling intelligence that his father had not been to his mother's room at all. There was instant excitement, and apparently much confusion, and a thorough search of the premises was at once made, and the heads of the police force throughout the city and in Brooklyn were at once notified of the escape. The slatemeuts of the officers who claim that they accompanied Tweed to his residence ? ? hohomIIo tSionrwSifarS in 'Maui Ynrlr thft V guilWMUj uiqvivmivwvi ?u *1 v?i * w> >>.? belief prevailing that he did not go to his house at all, and that his flight was made at an earlier hour in the day. The arrangements for the escape were no doubt well planned ; and if, as is asserted, Tweed could have easily spared his two custodianfloa-thg-QCcasion $50,300 each, there is no doubt that every facility for his safe exit was afforded. No blame seems to attach to Sheriff Connor ; though the laxity of the prison officials is severely condemned by the press of the city. The Tribune says the great prisoner did not escape from the jailors?that they granted him every privilege he could ask?and under their kind treatment he was doing well; but that he found it absolutely necessary to escape from his own lawyers, who, in the shape of enormous fees, were swallowing up his vast possessions. This is no doubt the true theory of the flight, after all. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. LETTER FROM CHESTER. Chester, December 13,1875. In my last correspondence, reference was made to the tournament which takes place at liich Hill, on the 23rd instant, and the names some ot the Knignts wno win rice on tnat occasion weregiveu. In addition to those already mentioned, the followinggentlemen will ippear: Mr. J. D. Brown, Knight of the Grange; Mr. J. M. Saye, Knight of Oakley Hall; Mr. J. T. McCullough, Knight of Gladlen's Grove ; Mr. P. W. Hardin, Knight of oandy River; Mr. C. S. Cook, Knight of Chester; Mr. J. A. Pagan, Knight of Lewis' furn Out, and Mr. W. S. Brown, Knight of Rossville. Who will be the "Ivanhoe" of the iccasion, the developments of the 23d must tell. Doubtless the presence of some fair Rowena" will animate the hearts of the gallant riders to the performance of deeds rivalng iu greatness those of the "Disinherited Knight." And it is to be hoped, too, that ;he presence of beauty will have the effect of checking all belligerent impulses, and making jverythiug lovely and serene. The last tourlament at Rich Hill was not favored with a ;ery happy ending, which was due to causes, the neution of which is not necessary at the presmt time. Let the knights remember that "like iauses produce like effects," and directing heir conversation and conduct so as to profit ly this fundamental principle, which holds jood in tournameuts as well as in the world )t nature, the enjoyment of the day will be narred by no unpleasantness of any kind, On Tuesday last, a distressing calamity occurred in this county. The only son of Mr. [. McD. Hood, while playing near the gin ! vhen in motion, became entangled in the ma- j chinery, and before relief could be given him, j was so badly crushed and mangled that there ; s very little hope of his recovery. Mr. Hood, vho is one of the best citizens of the county,1 las the earnest sympathies of his mauy friends j u the aflliction which has so suddenly befal-; len him. A colored man, living on Mr. William Jones' plantation, in the lower portion of this county, met with a terrible end last week.' While engaged, with others, in packing col-; :ou, and when work had stopped, and all had left the screw for a time, with the exception A' himself, he concluded to take a sleep, and unfortunately decided that the box for receiving the cotton was a good place for the enjoyment of this pleasure. So he laid himself down to sleep, but; alas, it proved to be j the sleep of death. Shortly the other laborers returned to resume their work, and being entirely ignorant of the fact of any one being n the box, filled the same with cotton, and then turned the screw upon it. Of course j :here could be ouly one end to the unfortuuate man sleeping in this dreadful place, and j that was death of a most horrible nature. Mr. S. J. Couch, one of our delegates to ;he Legislature, cast his vote with the Conservatives upon the iniquitous tax bill recently passed by the House. The Conservatives , if this place accord him due credit for this ; exhibition of good sense and independence. His fence bill has been favorably reported jpon by the committee, and will come up for jonsideration before the House on the 26th of sext month, The bill provides, as I have seen informed, for its adoption, in the event i sf its becoming an act, by the people in ;own8hips. If such be the case, it may happen that one township of Chester county may se favored with the fence law, and another deprived of it. Jeff Jordan, one of Chester's colored delegates, has introduced a bill in the Legislature, providing for the registering of liens, and the approval of contracts by trial justices. A drover, with hogs, was in our town last week. His price was nine cents per pouud, gross. Notwithstanding the exorbitant price, a considerable number of hogs were bought, and, as a consequence, the good days of spareribs and back-bones have once more arrived in our midst. Fortunately, the realization of hard times and the apprehension of the coming of harder times, do not interfere with the enjoyment of these good things. Our "city fathers," having observed the wretched condition of our sidewalks during the late wet spell, are taking active measures to prevent a similar condition iu the future. A good portion of the pavement along York street has been sanded, to the great comfort of those who daily have occasion to make use of it. When the rains again come and the floods pour upon this pavement, the benefit of the sand will be more highly appreciated. and a more kindly feeling will be enter tained for those in authority, especially by some of the sterner sex who not unfrequently go out at night, and desire to reach their places of destination, with boots glossed, and in a happy frame of mind. Considerable improvement has been made upon the sidewalk, leading from the depot to the hill. Mr. C. C. Macoy, who is the mo9t active member of the Town Couucil, gives his personal attention to the good work of placing the streets in proper coudition, and for the same, receives, as he is justly entitled to, the thanks of the community. Mr. \V. H. Motz, from Lincolnton, was in our town on Friday, and reported considerable progress in the grading of the railroad between Lincolnton and Dallas. He is the contractor between these points, and has in his employ a large number of hands. The securing of the iron for the road, between Yorkville and Dallas, has tended to kindle anew the enthusiasm of the people living along the line with reference to the importance of the great enterprise, that promises to open up and develop tbe resources of their country. The consequence is the pushing forward of the good work with greater zeal and activity. Information has been received here, from Mr. C. S. Chamberlain, of the Roane Iron Company, of Chattanooga, that one hundred tons of iron for the Chester and Lenoir Railroad Company are in readiness for shipment. So the iron will soon be on the way, and before the rolling by of many weeks Chester and Dallas will be united by rail. Then the time for rejoicing and throwing up of hats will be in order. Mr. J. A. Frye, jr., and Mr. J. A. Deal, have contracted with Dr. A. H. Davega, for laying the track from Yorkville to Dallas. They will begin operations in the course of a short time. A party of fast young men spent one night last week in destroying the lamps of our town. The names of those who are charged with committing this act of wanton destructiveness I will not mention at the present time, for they may be able to establish their innocence at the examination before the Trial Justice, that takes place this week. If the preponderance of proof is against them, the nublic will be made acquainted with their names. As it is my duty to expose the misdeeds of evildoers, they must lay the blame at their own doors, and not at mine, if they are the subjects of unfavorable comments in ray correspondence. The alarm of fire was sounded here on Friday night, about nine o'clock, occasioning, for a time, considerable excitement. The town bell was rung, and in a remarkably short time the Stonewall Fire Eugine Company was out and on their way to the fire; but, fortunately, its extinguishment before their reaching the ground, served to dispense with their services. Saturday was a lively day in town. Business was brisk, and merchants were happy. The colored population were in town in considerable force, and seemed to have a particular attachment for those places where strong drink is sold. Their love for the "ardent" is increasing, and each passing year beholds greater numbers of their race becoming victims of intemperance. A wide field is presented to the philanthropist who desires to devote his life in accomplishing the good of the colored race. If he could adopt and carry out auv measure that would result in arrest icg them in their downward career, he will have performed a great work. Mr. John B. Cornwell, who lives within a short distance of our town, had the misfortune to lose one of his children a few days ago. Another one lies, at the present time, in a critical condition. That dread disease, diphtheria, has made its appearance in his family. I have been requested, by Mr. F. B. Loyd, to state that duriug the late trial of Dublin Walker, colored, he was not asked by the counsel for the defense, questions that would have led to the disclosure of facts, which, when known, were effectual in securing Walker's pardon. Mrs. Roberson, a very old lady, departed this life on yesterday. She had made her home, for some time, with hereon, Mr. Banks Roberson, who lives in the lower portion of this county. Rev. Thomas Mitchell preached his last sermon during the present conference year, at the Methodist Church lastevening. He spoke with great fervency, and his sermon, which was excellent, was listened to with attention by a large congregation. Qui. For the Yorkvllle Enquirer. THE FENCE LAW. Mr. Editor :?I see that you are making a strike iu the right direction. You say "the fence law must be changed." I heartily agree with you. It ought to have been changed ~ ? ? ? i ? ? ? T C *L/\ 4?ma n * Una ka^n etjveiai jre?re ugu. 11 tuc tuuc wiat uao u&?u spent in milking rails, annually, for the last ten years had been spent in making manure, and in otherwise improving our fartn9, things would wear a different aspect to-day. Every farmer knows that it is to his interest to make his own manure, and drain all the wet spots of land ou his plantation ; but the difficulty is, farmers have no time in the winter to do any thing but make rails and repair fences. < Not only so, but there are thousands of acres in every county in the State which are lying out, not because they are poor, but because they cannot be fenced. A few acres of fine bottom land has to share the fate of a large field. Most of the field is too much worn to be cultivated with profit; the bottoms and some patches are fine, but it would cost too much to fence the bottoms and patches ; hence the whole is turned out to be fed upon by every roaming cow. The prop- < er way to get the desired change is by legisla- j tive enactment. The country needs the change now?at once. Should the legislature i fail to grant relief to the country by enacting a law requiring the stock of the State to be feuced, then farmers might meet in the several townships or precincts throughout the several counties, and agree among themselves to ( fence their stock and turn the crop out. It seems that such a course would be perfectly in accordance with the fundamental principles of a republican form of government. It i would at 6rst be attended with some difficul- J ties, but these difficulties would by no means be so great as the work of building and repairing fences. We most earnestly hope that the legislature will take this matter into con- , sideration and grant the relief so much de- 1 sired. Let it be distinctly understood that j all that is asked is to so change the fence law < that iustead of requiring the crops to be fenced, I the law shall require the stock to be fenced, j There are some persons who at present fence t both their stock and crops. Let them con- J tinue to do so if they choose, but require all to fence the stock. Ci.ay Hill. j X.OCAI. AFFAIRS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Clark Brothers?Cash Prices?Molasses?Mackerel?Sole Leather?Crockery. J. Lawrence Moore, Chairman Board TrusteesRock Hill Pine Grove Academy. Yorkvllle Furniture Store?Closing Out Sale. John C. Kuykendal?Grand Opening?Christmas Doings?For the Holidays?There's Something in It?Staple Drugs?Himrod's Asthma Cure. W. H. & J. P. Herndon?December?Flour?18 Per Cent?Oranges?Raisins?Cotton. R. Lathan?Pay Up.?School Notice. Moore <fe Burris?Last Call. R. H. Glenn, S. Y. C.?Sheriff *s Sales. PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. We are under obligations to Hon. A. S. Wallace for the Congressional Record and a umber of publicdocuments pertaining to me organization of the present session of Congress. MASONIC ELECTION. At the last communication of Philanthropic Lodge, No. 78, A. F. M., the following persons were selected as officers for the ensuing year: Col. A. Coward, W. M.; J. F. Wallace, S. W.; J. Ed. Jefferys, J. W.; J. C. Kuykendal, Treasurer; J. B. Allison, Secretary; W. J. Hyndman, S. D.; E l. Thomas, J". D.; M. Strauss and Geo. H. O'Leary, Stewards; A. Codey, Tiler. PERSONAL. We enjoyed a very pleasant visit last week from Mr. J. N. Robson, the enterprising fertilizer man, of Charleston. Mr. Robson is on a tour of inspection through the State, makiug the personal acquaintance of such of his numerous patrons as he can meet. His fertilizers are always duly advertised in the Enquirer, with the approach of the planting seasons; and while they have an enviable reputatiou for their superior qualities, we can recommend Mr. Robson as an honorable and reliable business man. MINISTERIAL CALL. Rev. Luther Wilson, of Georgia, brother of J. Lowrie Wilson of the Bethesda congregation in this county, has been called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church in this place, to 611 the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Rev. Henry R. Dickson. Mr. Wilson visited Yorkville a few days ago, preaching one sermon while here, and we understand he expressed himself as highly pleased with the result of his observations. We learn that he will remove here with his family early next year. OBITUARY NOTICES. We frequently receive by mail lengthy obituary notices with request to publish. Sometimes such notices are unaccompanied with a responsible name, and invariably the request to publish is made without the slightest allusion to payment for the same. The mere announcement of a death we will publish as an item of news; but lengthy obituary notices, in which only a small circle of readers can be supposed to take any interest, cannot be published unless paid for as advertisements. This is an inflexible rule, aud we require payment in all cases to be made in advance. TUT r<a muul'I i OilPfiQ A ftAU V/liUI a. We were pleased to receive a call, the first of the week, from Mr. R. P. Yorkston, the expert pressman and the first printer who succeeded in producing on the cylinder printing press chromatic work equal to the "chromos" introduced by Prang, of Boston, some years ago, which were executed by the slow and expensive process of lithography. This achievement of Mr. Yorkston, which was undertaken mainly with the view, to test the capacity of the Campbell printing machinery, completely revolutionized th9 class of printing known as "chromos," it having been soon demonstrated that the lithographic process could be excelled on the letter-printing press, and furnished at a much lower price. Mr. Yorkston was on his return from a business tour extending as far South as Texas, and we were glad to learn from him that he has been quite successful in introducing the Campbell machinery in the Southern States. This machinery includes presses of every conceivable style, speed and price, from the $1000 "country press" of 800 imiMiMoiAno no* Kaii* fa ko I nrooo nf picooiuuo j/ci uuu I w vuw nvuuuiiut |/?vw va recent construction which prints an eight-page paper, pastes and cuts the pages and folds the sheet?all at one operation?at the speed of 15,000 perfected copies per hour. The uniformly neat style in which the Enquirer is printed (if we may be permitted to make the allusion without the semblance of vanity) is due in a great measure to the press on which it is printed?the Campbell press of the "country" pattern. Our press has been in constant use since July, 1869, and like a good fiddle, improves with age and use. So well, indeed, are we pleased with it, that we would not take it down to make room for a bran new one of the same style, at an even exchange. It is always ready, has never been out of order, and during the six years we have been using it, has not cost $5 for repairs. To those of our contemporaries contemplating the purchase of a power press, of any style or capacity whatever, we can cheerfully and conscientiously recommend the Campbell machinery. THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE. Monday December 6. The House met at 8 o'clock, p. m., but a quorum not being present, adjourned until 11 o'clock, a. m., on Tuesday. Tuesday, December 7. In the Senate, the proceedings present nothing of special interest. In the House, the proceedings were confined to the discussion of a question of privilege raised by Paris Simkius, a colored member from Edgefield, and the chairman of the committee on ways and means. The offender in this instance, is Mr. J. K. Blackman, the Columbia correspounent of the Charleston News and Courier. The cause of complaint is the following exrtact from one of Mr. Blackman's letters to the News and Courier : Are all the republican members equally responsible for this foul and dirty work ? I would say no ; not equally so, but in a measure they are all to blame. Those who are not leaders are the slaves or dunes of unscrupulous and cunning politicians, whose word is law, and whose powerful influence is comprehended in the talismanic watchword 'party.' Who are these corrupt leaders ? They are chiefly the nine republican members of the ways andmeuns committee. There is no disguising the fact that, although there are enough corrupt members in the house to advance any unprincipled measure, the hot bed of nearly all the iniquity is the ways and means committee room. The fathers of nearly all the jobs are these picked nine. A survey of the actions of this committee during the past week will g? far to sustain this grave charge. What have they done in an honest way? Notning. vvnat nave tney done in tne way of corruption ? Everything." The correspondent, in regard to the proceedings, on the occasion of his expulsion from the privileges of the House, says: "After a discussion, which lasted over three hours, I was expelled from the privilege of the house to-day by a vote of sixty-three to twentysix. The cause of complaint was the showing up of the tricks of the ways and means committee, in my letter published yesterday. Paris Simkins, colored, captain of the Nine, introduced the resolution of expulsion, and supported it with a torrent of Billingsgate too coarse to report. Miller, colored, of Beaufort, the member who was so vigorous in opposing the bill to prevent cotton stealing a day or two ago, followed in the same i strain. Ex-Land Commissioner Leslie spoke : for over an hour, taking the ground that the re- : porter was not responsible, and that his letter was anly the key-note to a most foul conspiracy or-j minted by the editor of the New* and Courier and : Judge Aldriuh, followed by the Conservative par- ! ty, to carry the next State election by the bullet indknife; to try the Mississippi game, tomurder ihe colored people and take possession of the State by force. He called upon the Republicans to be prepared for this. He Knewabout the plan which j !iad been hatched in the State Tax Union. Let' them come on, he said, ami we will show them that the News and Courier and the Conservatives can't massacre the whole State, and that two can play at the shooting game. He knew, he said, of a conspiracy to massacre him. He knew the men who were to do the dirty work ; but the day that he fell Dr. Miller, Judge Aldrlchand Prank Wan* namaker would bite the dust. .Hayne, Whipper, and others of the same stamp, made threats of personal violence; but they took good care to offer none. Hamilton, of Beaufort, and Freeman, of Charleston, were the only Refiublicans who had the courage to oppose the reaoution. Mr. Barnwell, who spoke for the-Conservatives, also opposed the resolution. There was a quantity of tare; bnt not onoof the injured crowd attempted to prove the report incorrect. It was not its truth that they minded ; it was that the truth should have been told. I will, by letter, take occasion not only to prove that auoru matAriul Qllpfrofioti in fliA /thianflnnaKIn letter i? correct, but that every statement made "" on the door regarding its incorrectness is absolutely false. The vote on the resolution showed "* 4 the power of the Corrupt Nine, and the abject J slavery in which thev hold their cowardly followers, when the party lash is cracked. Having exhausted both their malignity and their strength, after two futile attempts to transact public business, the House adjourned." Wednesday, Dec. 8. In the Senate, the judiciary committee reported favorably on hills to amend the law in relation to obstructions in streams; to amend the law in relation to arrest, commitment and bail; to authorize foremen of grand juries to administer oaths; and to relieve defendants in criminal cases from attendance on the supreme court pending appeals. The hill to authorize the voters of Chester county to vote on the question of a fence law was laid on the table. The following new bills'were introduced: Bill relative to the forming or letting of contracts by corporate authorities; bill to amend sections 7 and 8 of an act to regulate the fees of probate judges, clerks of court, trial justices and other officers ; bill to repeal an act regulating the payment of all claims against the counties of the State; bill to repeal the charters of certain lottery companies ; bill to authorize and empower F. A. Clinton to erect and maintain gates across a public road in Lancaster county. The bill to make the obtaining of money or property under false pretenses indictable* was ordered to lie on the table. t ^ A bill to amend certain sections of the're^ vised statutes relative to liens on crops, passed ius oovuuu icauiuj^ mtu ou auicuuuicub prvr viding that the bill shall go ioto effect on the first day of January, 1877. In the House, Mr. Harriott introduced a joint resolution proposing an amendmeut to the constitution reducing the terms of office of sheriffs and clerks of courts to two years. A bill to provide for the settlement and payment of certain claims against the State, and known as the "big bonanza," was passed to a third reading by a vote of 75 to 25. The enacting clause of "a bill to provide for the payment of certain indebtedness to the State," and known as the "little bonanza," was stricken out. Mr. Gantt moved to reconsider, pending a discussion on which the House adjourned. Thursday, Dec. 9. In the Senate, the judiciary committee reported favorably on a bill authorizing the appointment of additional trial justices in Uuion county. The bill to authorize the foreman of the grand jury of each county, to administer oaths in certain cases and to punish false swearing, passed its second reading. In the House, Mr. Spencer from the committee on engrossed bills, reported as duly and correctly engrossed, and ready for a third reading, a bill to raise supplies for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1875. After Mr. Simkins, on behalf of the ways and means committee, had offered certain amendments, which were adopted, tho bill passed without a divisiou. The bill levies as follows: Salaries and contingents, one and one-quarter mills; charitable and penal institutions, one and one-quarter; free schools, two; legislative expeusea,oneaud one-tenth; printing,one-half; _* i. 1 n ! i U/LI luierest, iwu; ueuueucies, one aua iwii uuuh. Total, nine and one-half milk This is one and one-half of a mill less thau the bill of last session which the Governor vetoed, and a fraction less than the one he recommended. The House also passed the bill to its third reading which provides for the payment of certain claims (the big bonanza.) It levies one-half mill annually for four years. It is probable that thirteen-fifteenths of a mill will be lev- ^ ied annually for four years under the bill known as the "little bonanza." This will bring the whole State levy, exclusive of the county taxes, within eleven mills. The special order being the motion to reconsider the vote whereby the enacting clause of the "little bonanza" bill was stricken out, produced considerable debate, and resulted in the bill being recommitted to the committee on ways and means with instructions to report a substitute. The enacting clause of the bill to repeal the lien law was stricken out and the bill to amend the lieu law was taken up. Mr. Hirsch defended this bill and stated its objects, which were, in brief, that corn, bacon and mear sufficient for a family should be exempt from the lien law. Mr. Boston approved of it in a long and a strong speech on geueral grounds. He said iJ i iko iii wuuiu ue au lujurjr w wc pcupio ui ?u? State if the lien law is any advantage at all; that it interferes with the liberties of American citizens to make contracts alike detrimental to the laborer and the farmer. Mr. Nesbitt favored the bill in a speech, in which he attempted to show the advantage that would flow to the laborer from giving a lien on his corn crop. Mr Hamilton opposed the bill, and classified it as a companion of the homestead and bankrupt laws, which he denounced as frauds, which were detrimental to the poor man. The homestead law, he was persuaded, kept men poor. On a motion to strike out the enacting clause, the yeas and nays were taken, with the following result: Yeas 54; nays 46. On motion of Mr Livingston, it was reconsidered, and numerous amendments were adopted. By a vote to lay an amendment on the table the bill was carried with it. It was again taken up upon motion of Mr. Whipper. ci c-u -ir?i ? iur. jjHiupiieiu uuotcu iuo lununiug m ? substitute to section 1 : Section 1. That section 55 of chapter 120 of the General Statutes be, and the same is hereby, repealed. This section of the General Statutes embraces the lien law. Pending the consideration of which, at 3 p. m., the speaker declared the house adjourned until to-morrow, 11 a. m. Friday, December 10. In the Senate, the committee on finance reported favorably on bills to fix the salaries of certain public officers ; and also to levy a special tax in Lancaster. Mr. Bowen introduced a bill to |regulate marriage by license. The supply bill was made the special order for Monday, 13th instant, at 12:30. The bill to authorize additional trial justices in Union county, was read a second time. In the House, the committee on enrolled acts, reported as ready for ratification, "An Act to regulate the distribution of moneys recovered from officers of this State, in smts .< brought on their official bonds," ana "ad act to incorporate the Chester and Union Rail* road Company." Mr. G. H. Holland introduced a bill to classify and regulate the transportation of freight and passengers on the several railroads in the State of South Carolina. Bills to amend section 1 of chapter 1 of the General Statutes relating to fences ; to amend chapter 91, section 1 of the General Statutes, relating to the annual returns of executors and administrators; to make the survivors of parties to a certain transaction impeached for fraud competent and compella- " ble to testify in certain cases ; were read the third time, passed, and ordered to be sent to the Senate. Bills relating to the bonds of sheriffs and