Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, January 20, 1876, Image 2

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

Sf i(taps and Jxct*. ? Whole years of joy glide unperceived away, while sorrow counts the minutes as they pass. ? Sewing is taught in the Boston public schools, and a committee of thirty competent ladies recommend that the system shall be extended. ? Truly, of making books there is no end. The annual report of the librarian of Congress shows 15,000 copyrights during the year. The library now numbers nearly 300,000 volumes. ? The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has negotiated in London a loan of ?1,350,000, and the Philadelphia and Reading of ?2,000,000. The aggregate amount of the two loans in our money is about $17,000,000. ? Kentucky's bonded debt is only $184,394, and against this she has in cash $1,195,362. The State has, therefore, money on hand enough to pay every dollar it owes, and leave a balance on hand of over $100,000. tr i 11 J x _ 1_ _ 1 ? new lorx jewellers are sam w ue uusy preparing elegant new pins to be worn by gentlemen this season, upon which is engraved "Engaged," "Married," "Don't want to," "No ma'am," or something of the like, to be used as protection during Leap year. ? A petition, signed by 23,360 Mormon women, has been presented to Cougress, praying for the admission of Utah as a State, and the abrogation of the law against polygamy. They fear their relations will be arrested for polygamy without warning. ? A man never looks so helpless and insignificant as when standing around in a dry goods store, waiting for his wife to get through trading, and a woman never looks so disconsolate as when waiting while her husband "talks horse" with a neighbor. ? The colored taxpayers of Georgia last year returned property to the value of $5,393,885, upon which they paid $29,969 as taxes. "rn /? 1 j They own ayo.ooo acres 01 iana, or ncariy five acres to every colored poll in the State. Thev own city and town property to the value of $1,203,202. ? A. T. Stewart pays about $120,000 in taxes on real estate in New York city. His wholesale store is assessed at $1,150,000, and taxed $32,200; his retail store, assessed at $850,000, pays $23,800, and he pays $16,800 tax on his house on Fifth Avenue, which is assessed at $600,000. ? There is a dead-lock in the Louisiana Legislature about appointing committees. The Democratic Speaker of the House will not appoint until he sees how the Democrats fare in the Senate, and Lt.-Gov. Antoine refuses to appoint until he sees the showing given the Radicals in the House. ? The New York Staats Zeitung attacks Mr. Blaine with great severity for his speech about Jefferson Davis. It holds that no good can be accomplished by it; that its only apparent object was to revive the passions of war as a means of furthering his Presidential aspirations, and concludes by roundly denouncing it as pure demagogism. ? A white man named Miller is haranguing the blacks of northern Alabama, and persuading them to apply to Congress for a separate country of their own, from which whites shall be excluded, and which will then befnmfi a naradise. having black lawvers and I ? ? y doctors and black merchants. He proposes to be the Moses of the movement, but whether he will dye his skin is not stated. His harangues are producing much discontentment among the laborers. ? Scene at a Brooklyn wedding breakfast: Company all seated about the table. A pause in the conversation. Happy husband to his wife's little sister at the other end of the room. "Well Julie, you have a new brother now." Julio - "Voa hut mnthor ooi/t tn papa, thfi other day that she was afraid you would never amount to much, but that it seemed to be Sarah's last chance." Intense silence for a moment, followed by a rapid play of knives and forks. ? A cooking school, recently started in Boston, has been successful. It is under the management of a company of ladies, who hire the rooms and see that the cook teacher is competent. Ten lessons of two hours each are given to classes of two, three or four, or to a single pupil, at preference of the learner. The pupils do the cooking themselves under the direction of the teachers, and may, if they wish, eat what thev cook. Many of the class es are composed of middle-aged ladies, who are excellent housekeepers, but go to cooking schools to learn to make delicacies or ornamental dishes, in which the teacher excels. ?Senator Alcorn, of Mississippi, who has just arrived in Washington, is reported to sj)eak strongly against the Ames regime in that State. He says the time has come when corrupt men from other States, backed by the ignorant elements, can no longer control a single Southern State. He believes there was intimidation during the last political canvass in Mississippi, but says that "if circumstances render intimidation excusable, that used in his State was at least partially justified, in view of the oppression which the people suffered from a bad State government and ignorant and vicious rulers generally." ? A New York letter of Saturday says: "Merchants who have been selling largely to the South within the last six and nine months, report collections from all that quarter as very satisfactory, except from Louisiana, where they are rather backward. There have been few or no failures of late, except at New Orleans and Montgomery, Ala., and even these latter were of but comparatively little account. The people generally have more money than they have had at any time since the war, and the indications are, therefore, the southern influence will soon be favorablv felt on the early spring trade." ? According to Dr. Cumrnings, of Loudon, prophet of good or evil, as opinions and tastes differ, the year upon which we have just entered is to be distinguished by the advent of the iuillenium. The Jews are to return to Judea, the Turks are to disap|>ear as a nation, which ought to pretty thoroughly settle the Eastern loan question, and Christ is coming to earth again sometime before September, 1876. Dr. Cumrnings has tried his hand before as a prophet; the day and hour upon which his predictions were to be fulfulfiled came and went, but chaos did not come again, and the earth kept on revolving with such a serene regularity that the impression gained ground that the power which governed it had not fallen in with Dr. Cumrnings' arrangement. ? Commodore Howell, chief of the bureau of yards and docks, in his last annual report, recommends an appropriation to erect inexpensive wooden buildings at Port Royal, with necessary machinery and tools for artificers of the squadron to work and make necessary repairs of vessels needing them, as there are generally from four to five vessels at that place at one time. A sufficient force of blacksmiths, carpenters, sailmakers, riggers and others could be collected to do extensive repairs, and vessels would not have to be ordered North to receive them. At Key West, the former headquarters of the station, there was a small establishment of this kind; but every summer it had to be abandoned on account of the yellow fever. ? The Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives had the one-term bill under consideration on Tuesday last. Some of the members favored a six years term for the President, and that he should he ineligible thereafter for election. Others inclined to the view that the term should remain four years, as at present, and the President should be ineligible for re-election until another term of four years has intervened. The opinion of the committee was sufficiently decisive to show that some proposition will be reported embracing the main idea, which is to prevent a President intriguing for the succession while in office. Of course, it cannot be acted 011 by the State Legislatures in time to affect the coming election. ? The matter of advertising, as a business measure, is often misunderstood. It is an undeniable rule of trade that advertising pays. Of course, judgment and prudence must be I exercised in advertising, as in any other part ; of one's business. If this is not done, instead I of paying, it may become a source of loss. It ; is more necessary to advertise now than it was I fifty or a hundred years, or even twenty-five i years ago. People are more busy now j than they were then. They have less time I and leisure to look about for what they want, i They look to the newspaper to learn where 1 their wants can be supplied, and they accept it | as a settled rule that the man who advertises j the commodities which he has to dispose of, ' instead of waiting for the people to find it J out themselves, is the best man to deal with, ! and most likely to give satsfaction. fbr fJttrferiUc ^oquirrr. YORKVILLE, S. C.: THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 20, 1876. Ilowte 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 Enquirkr is delivered free of postage to all subscribers residing in York county who receive the paper at post-oflicos within the county; and to all other subscribers the postage is paid by the publisher. Our subscribers, no matter where they receive the paper, are not liable for postage, it being prepaid at the post-office here, without additional charge to the subscriber. Watch the Figures.?The dafeon 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 DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE. We publish, in another column, the address of the State Democratic Committee, and invite the attention of our readers to the recommendations therein contained. As will be seen, the Executive Committee earnestly advise the people of the State to reorganize thoroughly the Democratic party in preparation for the State Democratic Convention to be called hereafter, and in the light of recent events we are fully persuaded that the future welfare and safety of the State depend, in a great measure, upon the prompt, concerted action of the Democratic party. Although in a minority, if concentrated and properly directed, it can be made to wield a power, heretofore unfelt, for the weal of a State prostrate under the misrule and corruption that has marked the course of the party in power. With the exception of South Carolina and Louisiana, all the Southern States have been redeemed from the robber governments inflicted upon them by the results of the war. Mississippi has redeemed herself, and, with the proper effort, we do not see why South Carolina cannot do likewise. The cause is worthy the effort?an earnest united effort?in which all who desire good government shall be willing to bear their part. The first step to attain the desired end is to organize, and the time for organization should not be long delayed. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. In the Senate on the 10th, several petitions were presented asking the repeal of the resumption act. Conover, of Florida, presented a resolution requesting the President to issue a proclamation declaring the strictest neutrality between the Government of Spain and the people of Cuba. Ordered to be printed and lie on the table. Dorsey introduced a bill to organize the territory of Oklohoma. In the House, among the bills introduced were one by Mr. Wood, of New York, providing for the resumption of specie payments and to facilitate the resumption of specie payments without contraction of the currency ; repealing stamp duty on checks. By Vance, of North Carolina, for the payment of mail contracts to 1861, and for public buildings at Asheville. Mr. Randall moved to suspend the rules in order to proceed to the considera tion of the amnesty bill. This was opposed by Blaine, who said the centennial appropriation bill should be first considered. A spirited debate ensued, participated in by Messrs. Blaine, Randall, Cox, Garfield, and Kelly. The passage of the bill was finally rejected by a vote of 172 to 97. The speech of Mr. Blaine on the Amnesty bill, while propitiatory in tone toward the people of the South, was extremely virulent against Jefferson Davis, not, he said, because Mr. Davis had been the head and front of the rebellion, or that he had been an efficient enemy of the Government, or that he had distracted the councils of the Confederacy; but that he had been guilty of the greatest crime in the annals of history?the murders of Andersonville. The horrors of that stockade he represented as casting into the shade the atrocities of the Duke of Alva in the Netherlands, the massacre of St. Bartholomew and the terrors of the Spanish Inquisition. His speech was replied to by Cox, of New York, in a most satirical vein, it being treated as a movement for the Presidency. Cox contrasted Blaine's position on the question of amnesty with that of President Grant, who always favored general and unqualified amnesty. But then, said Cox, Grant was a brave soldier, not a scurvy politician. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, made a strong speech against Blaine's amendment, excluding Jefferson Davis from amnesty, and in favor of the original bill. In the Senate, on the 11th, Mr. Morrison introduced a bill preparatory to redemption of United States notes and the resumption of specie payments. A bill was also introduced reducing clerks to committees from 35 to 25, and reducing pay in several instances to $4 per day. In the House, Mr. Hill, of Georgia obtained the floor and replied to Mr. Blaine's speech of the previous day on the amnesty bill. Mr. Hill's speech occupied over two hours, and was heard with marked interest. Closing, he said : "And of all the atrocities, both at Andersonville and Elmira, the Confederate Government stands acquitted from all responsibility and blame. But the South is here, and here she intends to remain. [Enthusiastic demonstrations on the Democratic side and in the galleries.] Let fanaticism do its worst; let it pass its nullifying acts; trample on the Constitution ; abnegate the pledges of the fathers ; incite raids on our people ; multiply infidelities until they shall be like I the stars of Heaven or the sands of the sea shore, 1 without number; but know this, that for all your iniquities the South will never again seek a remedy in the madness of another secession. [Renewed applause.] We are here?we are in our father's house?our brothers are our companions, I and we are at home, thank God." [Enthusiastic : applause.] After eulogies upon Mr. Johnson, the House adjourned. In the Senate, on the 12th, a number of bills were introduced and referred. In the j House, Mr. Garfield, of Ohio, obtained the | floor, and spoke on the amnesty bill in reply to Mr. Hill. He proceeded to discuss the exchange of prisoners and gave a detailed history of the causes of the suspension of exchange. He claimed that the central point of difficulty was the determination of the Confederate Gov eminent and people to exclude from the common rules of war officers and men of negro regiments. He said the object of the outrageous treatment of prisoners at Andersonville had been to make Union soldiers so that when exchanged they would be valueless. It seemed incontrovertible that the record adduced on that subject was true, and Jefferson Davis having been the conscious author of that terrible work at Andersonville, the American people still held him unfit to be admitted among the legislators of the nation. In the House, on the 14th, the amnesty bill being still under discussion, Mr. Banks, of Massachusetts, made a speech of thirly minutes in favor of the bill. In the course of his remarks, he said : "Therefore, sir, I do not hold either that the President of the United States is responsible for all or for any of the acts of his subordinates, no matter how near he may have been in connection with them, nor how closely they may be allied to him by friendship or political relationship; nor do I hold Mr. Davis responsible for anything that occurred under the Government of which he assumed to be the head. In regard to the atrocities at Anderson and elsewhere, I dismiss irons an consideration the declarations, arguments, aspersions, criminations and recriminations which for a weok past I have heard so constantly in this chamber. I do not doubt that the soldiers of the Confederacy may have suffered in the North, nor do I doubt that the soldiers of the North may have suffered terribly in the South. It was incident to the condition of things. For the guilty, whoever they may be, I pray forgiveness. For the suffering, whoever they may have been, I invoke the blessings of God. For the crimes themselves, I say, let the earth hide them ; let us shut them out of sight. [Applause on the Democratic side]. There is one thing, Mr. Speaker, which is especially desired by all the people, and that is peace?general peace?peace in all sections, with all parties, classes and races. This declaration of amnesty is the first step that has to betaken to that end; thovery first stop. Nothing else will answer in the place of it. Credit has been claimed for what has been done already in the way of amnesty, but every step in that direction has been compelled by the people of the country. I speak in part for New England. I speak in part for Massachusetts, and I hope that Massachusetts will give a vote approaching unanimity upon this question. There is no act of any Government since the creation of the world that will compare in sublimity with this act if it shall be passed, and to take this sacred document, this majestic declaration of the people, and plaster it over with the crimes that may be charged against an individual, is to blur the grace ana glow of clemency, to take the nose from the fair forehead of a Godlike act and stick a blister there. [Applause.] Mr. Speaker, when the people of other States shall come here during the present year to witness tho achievements of our Republican Government after the expiration of a century, remembering as they do. even better than ourselves, the events of our great war, our highest triumph will be to let them hear the shouts of the whole people in joyous congratulation upon this grave act of peace and oblivion to all classes and persons, for all crimes connected with the late war." [Applause on the Democratic side.] Tarbox, of Massachusetts, said that the message from Massachusetts had been spoken to the House by his eloquent and distinguished colleague (Banks). His colleague had sent back the answer of Massachusetts to the gaunt and gory spectre which the gentleman (Blaine), like some magician of the black art, bad, with devilish ingenuity, called up to mar the festal cheer of the Republic. [Applause on the Democratic side.] When Mr. Banks concluded, Mr. Randall moved the recommittal of the bill with instructions to report it, with an amendment proposed by Mr. Banks, modifying the prescribed oath, which motion was adopted. In the House on the 14th, Mr. Knott reported back the amnesty bill, which reads as follows: "That all the disabilities imposed and remain: Kir irixtnonf tha fhifiApfinTl nf I lllg Ull rtll V ^UIOUU UJ YUVUOUl VUV vvw?.v.. v. the 14th article of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States be, and are hereby removed, and each and every person is and shall be forever relieved therefrom, on his apppearing before a Judge of any Court of the United States or of any Court of Record in the State of which he is a resident, and taking and subscribing the followingoath, to be duly attested and recorded : "I, A. B., do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and obey all laws made in pursuance thereof, and that I take this obligation freely and without any mental reservation or purpose of ?va?ion whatever." After considerable parliamentary skirmishing between Blaine,|Raudall, Cox, Knott and Frye, the House proceeded to vote on the passage of the bill. The vote resulted?yeas, 182 ; nays, 9^. The requisite two-thirds vote Dot being obtained, amnesty, for the present, was defeated. Of the South Carolina members, Mackey voted in favor of the bill, and Hoge, Smalls and Wallace against it; Rainey not voting. A Washington dispatch says : "There was intense interest manifested as the call of the yeas and nays proceeded. Some of the prominent Republicans brought their influence to bear on some of the members of their party who had voted aye on the preceding vote, either to vote in the negative or to refrain from voting. Mr. Rainey, of South Carolina, was conspicuously the object of such attentions. He did not answer when his name was called. Mr. Haralson, of Alabama, who was in the same position, also withheld his vote at first, but finally rose and an*Via nlonrlito nf fha Domn. swncu aj c, aunvi vnu |^iuuvi?vu w* v.<v w?*?v crats. Mr. George A. Bagley,of New York, who had voted in the affirmative, changed his vote to the negative, at which the Republicans rejoiced. Mr. Wells, of Mississippi, tried to explain why, although he was in favor of general amnesty, including Jefferson Davis, he voted no, but the Democrats shouted him down. Mr. Lynch, of Mississippi, however, managed to get the chance of saying that, though he was in favor of the bill, he voted no with a view of letting Mr. Blaine offer his amendment, although he (Lynch) would vote against the amendment. Mr. Purman, of Florida, who had also withheld his vote when his name was tirst called, afterward rose and voted no." The Republicans voting in favor of the bill were Anderson, Banks, Egbert, Far well, Harolson, Kelley, Landers, of Indiana, Lutrell, Mackey, Pierce, Seelye?12. After passing the pensions appropriation bill, the House adjourned until Monday. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Chester county is a creditor in Hardy Solomon's bank to the amount of $1,998. ? The taxes in Spartanburg reach twenty-1 two mills. ? The Grange mentions that active efforts are being made by the people of Rock Hill to obtain a town clock. ? The new Methodist Church at Rock Hill is reported as rapidly approaching completion. ? Gen. James Chesnut, of this State, has been chosen to deliver the annual oration before the literary societies of Princeton College, New Jersey, at the commencement. ? A colored individual in Camden has been compelled to pay $120 to get out of a pig stealing and cotton stealing scrape. A losing investment. ? Congressman Wallace has introduced a bill into Congress for the erection of a postoffice, court-house and revenue office at Greenville. ? Governor Chamberlain has appointed A. L. Cobb treasurer of Greenville county, in -1 -C T M T? nnmn foo 1 or! in />nnQA. I jjuiuts UL O lU* lvuiuuu, x wiguvu y *M vwuww quence of his inability to give a satisfactory bond. ? The Grange gives the following as the result of the municipal election in Rock Hill last week : Intendant?J. M. Ivy. Wardens? R. J. Hagans, J. V. McFadden, R. H. McCosh and \V. H. Taylor. ? The citizens of Indian Land township, Lancaster county, have entered into an agreement that after the 1st of March next, all stock are to be fenced in and a substantial boundary fence to be built, the fence to be built and kept in repair by the land owners in the township. ? The Port Royal Standard?Congressman Smalls' paper?publishes the following news: "On Saturday last a large mass meeting was held on St. Helena island, endorsing the action of the legislature in their recent election of Hon. W. J. Whipper and P. L. Wiggin, Esq, as judges in the first and second judicial circuits. Speeches were made by Lieutenant-Governor Gleaves, Senator Sam'l Green, Representative H. Gant and Thomas H. Wheeler, Esq." ? The Executive Committee of Greenville county has promptly endorsed the recomraen elation of the State Democratic Committee in favoring a thorough organization of the Democratic party. Committees were appointed for all the townships in the county, and Friday, February 5, was designated as the day for meetings in the different townships to elect delegates to the Couuty Convention, which is to assemble on February 12. ? John Morris, a young man, about twentyeight years of age, living near Langley, went to a masquerade on Saturday night last. Some ludicrous feature of the masquerade caused him to set up a fit of laughter, when suddenly he stopped and fell to the ground. He was picked up and a physician sent for, but he pronounced the case hopeless, as Mr. Morris had ruptured a blood vessel. The unfortunate man lingered until Sunday morning, when he died. ? The board of State deposits, consisting of the Governor, treasurer and comptroller-general, met in Columbia on Friday last, and designated the Carolina and the Central National Bank of Columbia, and the First National Bank of Charleston, as banks of deposit for all the State funds raised during the present year. They also designated the last named bank as the sole depositary of all moneys collected during the present year for payment of the interest on the public debt. ? Judge T. J. Mackey, last Saturday, issued o V*on won?on fftr fko n Profit rvf Trial .Tnntire I T.R. Robertson, of Winnsboro, who is charged therein with official misconduct in compounding a felony. The offense consists in drawing up a paper binding the two colored men who were whipped in that town a week ago for stealing, or on a charge of stealing, not to prosecute the parties who were known to have done the whipping, the particulars of which we published last week. Mr. Robertson was released on entering into a bond in the sum of 8300. ? The Columbia correspondent of the New and Courier relates the following : "A gentleman living near Midway, in Barnwell county, who had suffered considerable loss from the depredations of cotton thieves, in common with other planters in the neighborhood, jadiciously distributed the business ends of a few friction matches throughout a heap of seed cotton, and left it in an accessible quarter of his gin-house. The lot disappeared in the usual mysterious manner that night, and the next day a gin house and store at Midway, the property of a noted midnight merchant, vanished in smoke in a no less mysterious manner, the conflagration being preceded, as he innocently observed, by "a sorter poppin' and crackin' in the gin." NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? The prisoners, seven in number, confined in the Lexiugton jail, effected their escape on the 8th instant ? The pulpit of the Associate Reformed Church at Statesville, was filled for the first time last Sabbath by its pastor, Rev. W. B. Pressley. The edifice has just been completed, and is a handsome structure. ? Wra. L. Erwin, a venerable and esteemed citizen of Steel Creek neighborhood in Mecklenburg county, dropped suddenly dead last week. The immediate cause of his death is supposed to have been heart disease. ? The grave of Mrs. Rebecca Bradley, who was buried eight years ago at Gastonia, was opened one night last week, it is thought to rob the corpse of the gold plate attached fnm- fiiloo oetli % TKp affair Via a proa toff considerable excitement in the vicinity. Two negroes have been arrested, charged with committing the deed. ? At Gastonia, on Monday evening of last week, a little daughter of Mr. Samuel Grissom, about four years old, was playing near the fire, when the flames caught her dress, causing her to be so badly burned that she died next morning. No one was in the house at the time. ? One of the Stamper brothers, wno was con Aned in jail at Lenoir, made his escape last week in this way : His wife went to see him about day break and told the jailor that she was going to Alleghany, and begged him to let her see her husband before she left Her entreaties were too much for him, and he j allowed her to go to the cell where her husband was confined for murder. After about 15 minutes she (as was supposed) returned weeping bitterly, with face covered with a handkerchief, entered a carriage and drove away. When the jailor went to give Stamper his breakfast, he saw that the bird had flown, and in his place, in the cell, was Stamper's wife. They had changed clothing and thus the wife freed her condemned husband, who is now basking in liberty and laughing at cells. editoiiialTnklings. Democratic Organization. At the late meeting of the State Democratic Committee, the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That a sub-Committee of Ave, to be known as the Committee on Correspondence, be appointed, the Chairman of whicn Committee shall communicate with the gentlemen appointed to organize the several counties, and see that the organization of the party is promptly effected. The members of this Committee are: Col. William Wallace, of Columbia, and Messrs. ? - ? ' t\ TT 'li XIT T"V J. S. Jttichardson, o. r. namnion, *v. u. Simpson and M. P. O'Connor. The Solomon Bank Failnre. Proceedings have been instituted to recover from Hardy Solomon $81,105 charged by him to the South Carolina Bank and Trust Company for "legislative expenses," and $75,000 paid for "capital stock retired." The names of the members of the Legislature who are alleged to have been bribed are not shown; but Congressman Rainey, Senator Maxwell and Representative Joe Crews, are among those whose stock was "retired." Suit has been brought separately in each case, each bill of complaint containing six allegations, accompanied by exhibits of transcripts from the books of the Bank. Republican National Convention. The Republican National committee met in Washington, on the 13th instant for the purpose of agreeing upon the time and place of holding the National Convention of the Republican party. Garfield, one of the committee, urged Cleveland, Ohio, saying the convention should be held where it would do the most good, and that they could not afford to lose Ohio, and must save the Republican party. Cincinnati was selected as the place, and the 14th of June, 1876, as the time for holding the Convention. The Sonth Carolina Election Cases. The case of the contested election from the third Congressional district of South Carolina, is likely to assume greater importance than was at first supposed. Last Saturday the House Elections Committee heard the argument of W. H. Trescott, in the case of the third district, he contending that the district is not entitled to a representative because not wholly contiguous territory, one county not touching any other of the six. No argument' was submitted in behalf of Hoge, represent- j iDg the district Judge Pascal suggested that; the question submitted by Trescott bears upon the validity of all the Carolina representatives. If one district is null the State has not been legally districted. The present Legislature must re-district it, and order new elections in all the districts. The Election Committee have decided to take" the map as evidence in the contest, which shows that one county is separated twenty-five miles from the rest of the district, and plainly in violation of the act of Congress. The committee, however, before acting, will enquire into the manner of passing the act by the Legislature, and if satisfied it was done for preventing representation to the minority, Hoge will be unseated. The question of unseating the balance of the delegation is not before the committee. It is a mere side suggestion. organize'fob victory. THE ADDRESS OF THE 8TATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. To the People of South Carolina:?The 8tate Central Executive Committee of the Democratic party do not deem it necessary to publish any lengthy statement of the reasons which induced them to meet at this time. It is sufficient to say that events with which the people of the State are painfully familiar, made it indispensable that the organization of the Democratic party in South Carolina should be revived, as the speediest and most practicable means of bringing together our hitherto scattered forces, and of concentrating them in the struggle into which we are forced for the maintenance of liberty and law in the State. Thus it has become the duty of the State Committee to take such steps as will enable the people of the State to begin the work of party reorganization at once, and make it thorough and complete. In the contest in which we are about to engage we must win. Defeat cannot be borne. Success, however, cannot be expected to.crown our labors unless there be absolute unity in the Democratic party, together with such discipline us will ensure the prompt and efficient execution of its policy when declared. From our adversaries must we learn, at last, the lesson of organization and activity. When the agencies on which society relies for the conservation of its varied interests menace those interests with destruction, and threaten a whole people with ruin, politics are no longer a matter of seatiment in which the citizen is free to engage or not, according to his tastes. Upon the management of our political affairs depends the security of property, as well as the safety of person. By political movements - ' ? ? A Cfnfn r?ATfnm_ aiUUti CtUI LUC puiiuumuu VI kllC UMK ^utviument be accomplished. Only through political instrumentalities can honesty, fidelity and capability regain a preponderating influence in the councils of the State. To politics, then, for their own salvation, must the people of South Carolina now address themselves with the vigor, the persistency and the systematic endeavor which mark their conduct in business life. It would not be wise to declare a policy before the party which shall give effect to it is ready for both deliberation and action. The officers must not be chosen until the rank and file of the political army shall have been mustered in and trained. There should be, in fine, such organization in each ward, township and county, that when the State Convention shall assemble, it shall represent by its delegates, the known wishes, opinions and purposes of the organized Democracy of the State. Then will its voice be the voice of the people; its determination theirs; its fight their battle. To such organization, searching and far-reaching, should the people of the State without delay address themselves. Without it the State cannot be saved! The State Convention, when it shall assemble, will determine authoritatively the policy of the party ; and by the decision of that convention shall we all be bound. As, however, the Democratic party, as such, has had no active existence in South Carolina for some years, tire State Committee desire to say em-j phatically that, in recommending its instant and comprehensive organization, their sole ?o rtk+oin on tinnoof and pnnnnmi pui^iwco IO VV UVM1U wu UWMVWV wuv. cal government in South Carolina, which shall maintain, without abridgement or change, the public rights and liberties of the whole people, and guarantee to all classes of citizens the blessings of freedom, justice and peace. And in this crisis in the constitutional life of the State, when civilization itself is in peril, we look for and confidently expect to receive the sympathy and aid of every citizen whose aims and desires are like unto our own. In common with their fellow-citizens, the State ^Democratic Committee have watched with anxious solicitude and growing confidence the course ^f the present Governor of the State. They %ognize and appreciate the value of what he has done, promoting reform and retrenchment, during the past year. They applaud his wise and patriotic conduct in exerting his whole official power and personal influence for the undoing of the infamous judicial election. And they declare their belief that the Democracy of the State, rising above party as he has done, will give an unfaltering support to his efforts, as (Governor, for the redress of wrongs, for the reduction of taxation, to obtain a just administration of the law, and make the State gov I ernment a faithful guardian of the public and private interests of the people. Therefore, the State Executive Committee earnestly advise the people of the State to reorganize thoroughly the Democratic party, in preparation for the State Democratic Convention, which will meet at a time and place to be hereafter designated by this committee. The following gentlemen are charged with this organization of the party in every precinct, ward and township in their respective counties: Abbeville?J. 8. Cothran. Anderson?James A. Hoyt. Aiken?G. W. Croft Barnwell?T. J. Counts. Beaufort?William Elliott. Clarendon?B. P. Barron. Chester?W. A. Walker. Chesterfield?A. McQueen. Colleton?J. J. Fox. Darlington?F. F. Warley. Edgefield?J. Scott Allen. Fairfield?John Bratton. Georgetown?B. H. Wilson. Greenville?T. B. Ferguson. Horry?J. T. Walsh. Kershaw?E. M. Boykin. Lexington?Gerhard Muller. Lancaster?J. D. Wylie. Laurens?B. W. Ball. Marion?A. Q. McDuffie. Marlboro?J. H. Hudson. Newberry?Y. J. Pope. Oconee?R. A. Thompson. Orangeburg?J. F. Izlar. Pickens?R. E. Bowen. Richland?John McKenzie. Spartanburg?J. H. Evins. Sumter?T. B. Fraser. Union?R. W. Shand. Williamsburg?S. W. Maurice. York?James F. Hart. The organization of Charleston county is entrusted to the committee of fifteen, of which Col. Charles H. Simonton is chairman. In conclusion, the State Committee earnestly say to their fellow-citizens that we are not as those who are without hope. The magnitude of the task before us can hardly be overrated. Every step is beset with difficulty, if not danger. But, knowing this people, the committee are confident that the future can be made as bright as the present is dark. This is the accepted time! By organization, labor, patience, boldness and liberality, can peace and plenty and political security be restored to the 8tate. M. C. Butler, Chairman, Samuel McGowan, John 8. Richardson, Thos. Y. Simons, W.. D. Simpson, W. W. Sellers, Wm. Wallace, S. P. Hamilton, Johnson Hagood, M. P. O'Connor, F. W. Dawson. . LOCAL AJTAXRS. I NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. , M. 8trausa?At New York Cost H. P. Adiokes?New Good*? Pocket Cutlery?Salem Jeans?Jaconet?Table Cutlery?Sta- ( tionery?Books?Lamps?Notions?Gents' Hats?Crockery?Boots and Shoes?Violin < ' Strings?Hardware. J. M. Adams?Remember the Tin Man. T. M. Dobson A Co.?Our Millinery Store?Our ' New Milliner. , Hunter A Oates?R. S. McLean?Shawls?ReadyMade Clothing?Boots and Shoes?Yarn and Shirting?Flannels?Plaid Linseys?Sport- . ingGoods. John C.Kuykendal?Another Call?Paints. Oils, I Ac.?Drugs and Medicines?Headquarters? 17.16. George Woods A Co., Cambridge, Massachusetts, i Parlor Organs. W. H. A J. P. Herndon?Garden Seed. Marks A Reid, Rock Hill?Furniture House. CHESTER AND LENOIR RAILROAD. I Track-laying on the Chester and Lenoir ( Narrow Gauge Railroad, under the contract of Messrs. Fry and Deal, was commenced, with a full force, at the intersection with the ' Air-Line road, last Monday. The iron is J being rolled and delivered from the mills : near Chattanooga, Tenn., as rapidly as it is j1 required and the shipments made over the Air-Line road, which is the reason of com- {1 mencing the work of track-laying at that 1 ? A -?J ?> ? ?V A??lr_ I point, I1UU UULlilLlg ill IUD uiicwuuu ui avi>yille. We learn that several thousand dollars of 1 the bonds issued in aid of the road, have been sold to home capitalists within the past week, 1 and that the demand for these securities is increasing. From, present indications, we have every reason for believing that the road 1 is now in a fair way for early completion 1 from the Air-Line to this place, and that ere many weeks a new outlet for freight and travel will be open to this section. CLUB-MAKERS. For the convenience of those who may wish 1 to subscribe for the Enquirer through a 1 club-maker, we give below a list of persons , who are engaged in forming clubs. As other club-makers are reported their names will be 1 added to the list: John L. Miller, John J. Good, A. E. Carroll, D. W. Mayes, 1 Mrs. N. H. Mason, A. W. Parks, Mrs. S. R. Logan, T. G. Culp, i W. M. Boyd, Miss J. Lou Brandon, ; Joseph R. Howe, A. F. Lindsay, Brainerd McLure, 6. L. Milling, R. L. Crook, J. L. Parker, Willie Ferguson, Miss Katie McCully, 1 L. George Grist, J. JN. .Roberta, W. P. Ferguson, M. L. Dickson, H. E. Johnson, Mrs. C. V. Williams, Rev. T. J. Taylor, 8. D. 8imril, Miss Rebecca Barnett, Mrs. Mary C. Grier, J. C. Saunders, 8. G. Brown, A. J. Matthews, W. 8. Garrison, Major Myles Smith, Capt E. R. Mills, 1 T. J. Roach, John T. Grist, 8. M. Roach, W. R. Davis, , E. M. Faris, Dr. W. M. Meador, J. E. Craig. G. L. Riddle, Zirari Carroll, D. T. Lessley, J. C. Patrick, Mrs. M. A. Glenn. Mrs. E. M. Hogue, A. H. Mulholland. CIRCUIT COURT. Court adjourned on Thursday night last, after disposing of all the cases on the sessions docket. Owing to the absence, in attendance upon the Supreme Court, of a large number of the lawyers of the Yorkville bar, no civil business was transacted. The following are the crises disposed of in addition to those reported last week: State v?. Wra. G. Turner, white; assault and battery on the pereon of Ainaley WilliAmo IIOIUO. VIU11VT* State vs. F. R. McKnight; murder. Under instructions of the Court the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. State vs. Rufus Adams alias Rufus Rattaree, colored ; grand larceny. State vs. Junius Massey, colored; grand larceny. Mistrial. Prisoner required to renew bail in the sum of $300 with good sureties. . J . On Thursday evening just before adjournment, the Court pronounced the follo wing sentences : Amzi Darwin; burglary and larceny ; two years in the penitentiary. Margaret Thompson; petit larceny; ten days in county jail. Alfred Smith; burglary and larceny. One ; year in the peniteutiary. Joseph Peeler; rape and assault Ten years in the penitentiary. Napoleon Worth; assault with intent to kill To pay a fine of fifty dollars and costs, and sixty days in the county jail. Amzi Darwin; petit larceny. Three months in the penitentiary. Margaret Thomasson; petit larceny; prosecuted in the same case of Amzi Darwin. * .? _ ?1 i Ten days in tne county jau. Wm. 6. Turner; assault and battery. One year in the penitentiary. Cornelius Moore, Minor Moore and Henry Massey; assault and battery with intent to rob. Cornelius and Minor, two years in the penitentiary. Henry Massey, one year in the penitentiary. Alexander Berry and Joseph Leech; grand ' larceny. Alexander Berry, one year in the penitentiary.' Joseph Leech, five years in the penitentiary. Joseph Leech; grand larceny. One year in the penitentiary. William W. Williams; resisting an officer. Three months in the penitentiary. John Love; resisting an officer. Three months in the penitentiary. Rufus Adams alias Rufus Rattaree; grand 1 larceny. Three years in the penitentiary. On Monday morning, all of the above , prisoners, sentenced to the penitentiary, were i escorted to that institution by Deputy Sher- I iffs Grist and Simril. TRAN8FER8 OF REAL ESTATE. , The following are the transfers of real estate recorded in the office of the County Auditor since our last report: Ed. T. Avery to A. Barron. Tract of 340 acres in Ebenezer township. Consideration 62,923.50. , E. T. Avery to J. P. Hutchinson. Tract of 102 acres in Ebenezer township. Considers- i tion 81,224.00. ] E. T. Avery to J. Lumpkin. Tract of 47 ! acres in Ebenezer township. Consideration J $2,814.00. John G. Enloe, County Auditor, to John i W. Grigg. Tract of 50 acres in King's ' Mountain township. Consideration $150. 1 W. D. Russell to J. Wilson Marshall. Tract of 29} acres in Fort Mill township. Consideration $806.25. 8ame to same. Store house in Fort Mill. Consideration $100. J. F. Hart to Jack Johnson. Lot in York- 1 ville. Consideration $202.00. < L. S. White to W. D. and E. W. Rankin. ' Tract of 135 acres in Fort Mill township. ' Consideration $2,400.00. j S. E. firatton to James E. Bratton. Honse < and lot in Yorkville. Consideration $955.00. j S. Huddleston to Robert C. Millen. Lot ^ of 2 acres in Bethel township. Considers* 1 tion $40. | W. B. Metts, Assignee, to Eleaxor Parker. ^ Tract of 1324 acres in Broad River township.; g Consideration $132.50. j Mary E. Houser to Faithy Honser. Tract ( in Cherokee township. Consideration $800. * Jane Gofortb to Faithy Houser. Tract of I 399 acres in Cherokee township. Consider^* ? tion $1,000. , H. J. Hullender to J. B. Hullender. One* c half interest in Whisonant Mill property, in t Cherokee township. Consideration $900. c Mary R. McMackio to Charles B. Bjers. Tract of 487} acres in Cherokee township. Consideration $1,200. Mrs. L. E. Lowry to J. E. Lowry. Tract )f 150 acres in Ebenezer township. Considnation $1,500. r J. T. Lowry to E. D. Mitchell. Tract of 112 acres in York township. Consideration *885. ; / )^/ E. M. Shannon to W. A. Steele. Tract of 111} acres in Bethesda township. Considertion $500. J. H. Hood to G. D. Hood. Tract of 30 acres in Bullock's Creek township. Consideration $600. J. P. Hood to J. H. Hood. Tract of 125 seres in Bullock's Creek township. Consideration $1,600. E. H. Abell to John McGill. Two .lots in Abellton (Cherokee township.) Consideration $22.10. J. M. Hambright to D. R. Hambright. Tract of 581 acres in Cherokee' township1. Consideration $700. W. D. Russell to Nancy E. Erwin. Lot of 5 acres in Fort Mill township., Consideration $100. vi /; Robert 8. Warren to W. T.Alderson. Tract of 85 acres in Fort Mill township; Consideration $1,500. W. S. Absbear to Emily J. Moore, ISrpct of 66 acres in York township. Consideration 875. Eliza J. Steele to Jennie E, Smith. Tract of 200 acres in Catawba townsbip. Consideration $3,000. , j, ; F. H. Brown to Violet Mdlwainnnd John Mcllwain. Tract of 199 acres in Ebenezer township. Consideration $67&60. Margaret & Sarah Pressley to Rains Ingram. Tract of 82 acres in Cherokee township. Consideration $369. State ofSouth Carolina to Thomas White. Tract of 36 acres in Fort Mill township, ?joniideration $180. . \ n J. F. Wallace, C. C. C. Pis., to Mary, and L. R. Pierce. Tract ef 79 acres in; Ebeneswr township. Rhoda Jones to Reese Roach,;; Lot of 7 acres in Catawba township. Consideration .... it vt r: r. ~ J. A. Garrison to Joseph Milton. Trfwt of 491 acres in Ebenezer township. Consider* tion $299. J. M. Culp to J. R. Cook. Lot of 6 acres in Bethel township. Consideration $21 ? :: i L'.s 5 MERE-MENIION. The Prineess of Wales has $50,009;# year for pin-money. Governor Tilden has declined to pardon 8tokes,' the murderer of Pisk. The Georgia Central Railroilrii charges one thousand dollars a day ftr trans. f. ,.vt porting circuses. They don t have manyto transport. ""Under the new conoti$otion of Texas, nine of a jury may render a vert> diet Rev. Lovick Pierce, of timifethodist Episcopal Church, is said to be the oldest clergyman in the world. He has been ^Baching for seventy-two yeare."""",TTiree hundred negroes of Columbus, Georgia, propose to charter a train at $5 each, and igo^Ar: kansas on a prospecting tour. *"'A bill has J j .i? nt:. r Smt.L Deen miroauceu iu tue vutu uoghuwu? imposing a fine of fifty dollars for taking the name of God in vain. Engines of passenger trains on the Air .Line now run through front Atlanta to Charlotte instead of stopping and transferring at Tugalo and Central ~?? Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer* . LETTER FROM CHESTER. Chester," Jan. 17, 1876. As the public are generally interested in thesaleoflands.it may be well to mention the prices brought by some lands, lying in this county, at a recent public sale at this place. There were a large number of persons present at the sale, and if the prices are any index, the demand for land is very limited,1' One tcact, containing 221 acres, was bought by Mr. D. M. Peden, at $8.70 per acre; ahother tract, of 105 acres, was bought by Cept O. Barber, at $2.55 per acre; another tract, of 124 acres, was bought by Mr. Bishop, at $1.40 per acre; another tract, of 145 acres, by Gapt. 0. Barber, at $3.05 per acre, and a tract, fcontaining 121 acres, was bought by Mr. B,yR Kell, at $3.00 per acre. These various tracts of land were located on or near the waters of Fishing creek. A tract of land, containing 370 acres, and lying near to Broad river, brought $1.00 per acre. The low prices of land are to be attributed to the enormously high taxes that are oppressing and ruining the agricultural interests of the chantry. While so great a portion of the proceed# of the cultivation of land finds its way into the hands of the tax-gatherer, it will continue to be sold atthe present reduced rates. The average rate of taxation in this county is about twenty-one mills. In some townships it may be a half mill more, and in others a half mill less, owing to a difference in the .special school tax levied upon the various townships. Our people are paying their taxes trith considerable promptness. This is due m a measure to a notice imued by Treasurer Yocum, requiring tax-payers to settle their claims with the State by the 15th instant This notice operated harshly in" some instances ; for on Wednesday last, when cotton was considerably down, a considerable number were selling cotton with the view of obtaining money to meet their taxes. I am at a Id* to know the authority of the Treasurer for issuing a notice requiring the payment of taxes by the 15th instant. If-I mistake not, the law requires the Treasurer to keep open his tax books sixty days before the penalty for non-pt yment of taxes attaches. In these hard times it becomes a public officer to show every accommodation to the people, consistent with his duty. On Tuesday, a meeting of the Masters of the va rious lodges of the Third Masonic District mis held at this place to receive instructions from the new Deputy Grand MSster, Colonel A.. Coward, of Yorkville. The lodges represented at the meeting were Rock Hill, Rich Hill, Blackstocks, Reasterville and Winnsboro. A number of Masonic brethren frortithis place and county assembled with the Masters &nd were highly pleased with the interesting instructions imparted by: the Deputy Grand Master. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the National Bank of Chester was held on Tuesday. The following gentlemen were reelected Directors for the ensuing year: J- J. McLure, James Hemphill, Joseph Wvlie, J. L. Agura, Giles J. Patterson, W. H. Hardin, 1. L. Gunhouse, G. W. Melton, and Matthew White. J. J. McLure, Esq., was reSlected President After the transaction of business, the stockholders, with a large number oflnvi ted guests, sat down to an excellent and bountiful collation, furnished by die officials )i tne uanK. Want of space prevented me from referring, in my last letter, to the prominent points of :he late grand jury's report As this is a, natter in which the readers of the Enquirer rV ill be interested, it may not be amiss to nake the desired reference at thetpresent ;ime. In that portion of the report relating jo the school commissioner's department, the rrand jury state that there are eighty public ichools in Chester county, attended by 4000 )upils, of whom 820 are white and 8,180 are ralored. There are eighty teachers, of whom 16 are while and 44 colored^ During the )resent year the public schools will beinfcesion for eight months, which will be an im-. irovement of three months over that of last 'ear. The debt' of the county, in the school lepartment, is 85,332, all of which was eonracted by the previous board of public school 'flicials. Last year's appropriatioris exceeded