Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, March 09, 1876, Image 2

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fctaps and Jacts. ? Robeson, Secretary of the Navy, in addition to hia own duties, is acting as Secretary of War. ? The opinion is gaining prevalence that Westervelt, convicted under the Charley Ross excitement, is innocent of the crime. ?The Connecticut Democracy, in their platform, adopted the name of "The Democratic Liberal party." ? The Light Guard, of Green Bay, Wis., are going to walk all the way to the Centennial?1,033 miles. ? Ex-Governor Letcher, of Virginia, was stricken with paralysis on Thursday last, and is in a critical condition. ? In the Louisiana Legislature the House ordered a discontinuance of further proceedings in the impeachment of Kellogg, which ends the matter. ? In the time of Charles II tobacco was supposed to be a mighty antidote to the plague, and Hearne says, when at Eton, the worst floggings the students ever received were because they ref used to smoke. ? Mr. Bird, the English chess-player, who came over here with the title of champion, is now only a "prominent" player. He has been badly beaten both in New York and Philadelphia. ? It is stated that appropriate committees on the part of the Senate and House have agreed to recommend a reduction of the salary .of the members of Congress to 84,500 per annum. ? Mr. James H. Mason, of Taunton, Massachusetts, has a family Bible, inherited from his mother, which descended from Sir Thomas Davis, Lord Mayor of London, in 1552, in which year it was printed. ? Western Representatives are hearing from their constituents on the hard-money business, and the cry everywhere is, "let up." In Ohio, particularly, Republican petitions are going round calling for the immediate repeal of the resumption act. ? The Statesville American learns that the report of the difficulty between Isbell and White, in which it was stated that White was killed by Isbell in Wilkes county, N. C., was very much exaggerated. The American says that White was not killed?only slightly injured?and the parties are on very friendly terms. ? The envelope makers and printers assert that the government loses $700,000 a year in the maiufacture of postal cards, to say nothing of the cost of carrying them as mail matter; and they claim that if the government i should abolish stamped envelopes, wrappers and postal cards, it would save $2,500,000 a year. ?The Law Journal suggests that there ought to be a uniform law of marriage and divorce throughout the United States. The Courts, it says, are powerless to remedy the discrepancy and diversity of decisions in the various States. And itis indeed becoming more and more a pertinent question, "Who is married and who is not ?" ? The Republican State Convention of Connecticut nominated Henry C. Robinson for Governor. The platform adopted declares that the welfare of the country demands necessary legislation to carry the resumption act into effect at the time specified in the act of the last Congress, and believes in the unwrit ten law of the land, which declares it unwise for the Chief Magistrate to hold office beyond two terras. ? A Washington letter of Saturday says : "It is stated here to-night that a conference was held to-day between Senators Oglesby, Logan and Morton, and the question was discussed whether it would not be politic to anticipate the action of the House oy proposing the repeal of the resumption act in the Senate. Friends of Senator Morton state that he is preparing a currency speech, which he will shortly deliver in the Senate, wherein he will advocate the repeal of the act." ? Rev. Dr. Payne, of Cincinnati, thinks that notwithstanding the splendid pertinacity of President Grant, the voice of the country on the third term question will be decisive with hira. In illustration, the doctor told a-story of a venerable negro in Iowa, who was on trial for an offence against the State. When 1?> /lAtlwf ftfo fo lilt; ttuc was auuuuuicu iu i/uum, | of Iowa versus Sampson Caesar," the aged African exclaimed, "What! de whole State of Iowa again dis chile! Den I surrenders." ? One morning during the recent cold weather, Miss Lilly refused to get up and be washed. Her aunt, who follows the modern mode of dealing with children, and considers that they should always be argued with, but never made to do as they are bid, in vain exhausted her eloquence in describing the excellencies of purification, for the infant logician fairly confuted her by this ingenious antithesis : "Aunt Mary, you do as you like, and let me do as I like. You like to be clean and cold ; I like to be warm and dirty." ? A strong movement is on foot among the dry goods commission merchants of New York city in opposition to the proposed repeal of the bankrupt act. A petition against the repeal has already received the signatures of dry goods commission houses, representing aggregate sales estimated at $150,000,000. Similar petitions are to be circulated among the bankers and other classes of business men in that citv. Petitions of the same character have been signed in Boston by most of the leading houses. ? In the case of Raymond vs Thomas, from South Carolina, before the Court of Claims in Washington, it was held that the war of the rebellion terminated in South Carolina the 2d of April, 1865, and that military officers remaining in command there between that date and the return of the State to the Union, had no authority under the acts of March and July, 1868, to annal a decree of a Court of Equity of the State, hence such an order made by Gen. Canby was an arbitrary stretch of authority and was properly disregarded by the Court below. ? A severe tornado occurred in portions of the West on the 28th ultimo. In St. Charles, Mo., the court-house was unroofed and the front blown down. The jail was also unroofed and the walls blown down, leaving the iron cells exposed. Two persons were killed, and several severely hurt At Princeton, Indiana, thirty-nine houses were prostrated, among them five public buildings. Several persons were injured, one or two fatally, and great damage was inflicted throughout the surrounding country. A terrific wind, accompanied with thunder, prevailed at Chicago, and was particularly severe at Milwaukie. ? A strange case of sudden death from fright comes from New York. The victim was a boy who had been ill for some time, but there was nothing in his condition to denote the early approach of death. On Thurs 1 /v_1 1 l.J 1 Li 1 nay morning nis iatner, wuu u?u uetsu uiicuuing his bedside during the night, desired to administer to the patient some medicine which had been prescribed by the physician, and so gave, by mistake, some aconite. Discovering ' his error, the father indiscreetly communicated ! the fact to the sick boy, who became so fright- j ened that he was instantly seized with spasms ! and died. The physicians who made the ex- i amination of the body came to the conclusion that death was caused by disease of the heart, tb^ result of fright. ? One of the most interesting features of' the "World's Fair at Philadelphia, will be the ; Women's Department?not a department j merely presided over by women ; but devoted exclusively to the exhibition of the products ! of woman's invention, genius, and the results of her industrial pursuits. The proposition to give the fair such a feature was first made in S873, when several women of Philadelphia set to work and raised some $95,000 for the purpose. After that, applications for space to exhibit women's achievements in the arts came in so fast from foreign countries, as well as from j different part of the United States, that it I was determined to construct a special pavilion and make the women's exhibition a separate department This made more money necessary. The women of Philadelphia responded promptly with subscriptions amounting to $15,000; Ohio followed with $15,000, and Massachusetts subscribed $5,000 more. This leaves about $15,000 still to be raised before the pavilion can be completed, and the women of New York have undertaken to make up the balance. fotktiUe ghtquiw. YORKVILLE, S. C.: THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 9,1876. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. In the Senate on the 28th, a bill was introduced bv Mr. Ransom for United States build ings at Asheville, N. C. A number of petitions from all sections were presented in favor of a repeal of the bankrupt act. The judiciary committee reported favorably on the removal of the political disabilities of Robert Tansill, of Virginia. The bill to enable Colorado to form a State constitution passed, and goes to the President for approval. The bill appropriates $20,000 for the expense of a constitutional convention. The West Point ap-' propriation bill was discussed until adjourn- j ment. The proceedings of the House were i unimportant. In the Senate on the 29th, Mr. Bayard reported a bill, which was passed, extending the time to February 1st, 1877, when lands held by the United States under laws levying direct taxes, may be redeemed. Mr. Sherman, from the committee on banking, reported adversely on the bill authorizing the organization of national banks with $50,000 capital, independent of the population of towns. The Naval Academy bill was resumed and passed as reported by the committee. It goes to the House for concurrence. In the House a message was received from the President urging an immediate appropriation for the deficiency at the Red Cloud Agency. Mr. Randall said the committee was unable to get needed information, and had requested the President to send an officer te Red Cloud to report the cause of the deficiency. Unless the report of that officer was unnecessarily delayed, he thought the committee might wait for it. The bill limiting the cost of the customhouse at Memphis to $400,000 passed. The pension bill was resumed. Mr. Jenks, of Pennsylvania, moved an amendment that no arrearages be paid to pensioners of the war of 1812 who participated in the rebellion. Mr. Cook, of Georgia, insisted that the rights of these pensioners had been restored by the decision of the Supreme Court. The debate assumed a somewhat angry and sectional character, and finally the bill was recommitted. Mr. Luttrell, of California, offered a resolution that it was the sense of the House tliat the Secretary of the Treasury should commence at once to issue silver accumulated in the Treasury. The resolution was referred and the House adjourned. In the Senate on the 1st instant, a bill ap propriating &YD,UUU to continue wont ou me custom-house and post-office building at St. Louis was discussed. The committee on agriculture reported adversely on a bill to investigate the grasshopper plague, and favorably on a bill for the protection of agriculture against injurious insects. Mr. Alcorn presented a bill appropriating $3,200,000 for the purpose of repairing and in part rebuilding the levees of the Mississippi river, providing for its expenditure and for other purposes. It was referred to the select committee on the Mississippi levees. Mr. Morton moved to take up his resolution admitting Pinchback, and the question of that swarthy claimant's credentials was discussed until adjournment. In the House, Hopkins, of Pennsylvania, from the committee on the Centennial celebration, reported a bill, which passed, authorizing the President to appoint two Centennial commissioners for the State of Texas, on the nomination of the Governor, in place of those now acting. The Pacific railroad committee, by a vote of 9 to 4 laid the consideration of the Southern Pacific Railroad aside, subject to be called up by a majority of the whole committee at any time. This action is considered favorable to the Texas Pacific Railroad. The Territorial committee have agreed to report a bill for the territorial government of the Indian Territory. Gen. Pike addressed the committee on Indian affairs in favor of the bill. Dr. Linderman, Director of the Mint, was before the appropriation committee. He thinks it feasible to commence specie resump- j tion now. There are about 815,000,000 of ' silver coin and bullion ready for use, with a j large amount of quarters and dimes on hand, j He says he could start the mint on silver any j time. The committee adjourned, undecided whether to withdraw the appropriation for printing fractional currency. In the Senate on the 2nd, the Pinchback j matter was called up, but at the request of Mr. Morton was laid over. A bill pension-1 ing the widow of Gen. Lorenzo Thomas passed. Also, a bill reducing the number and in-1 creasing the efficiency of the medical corps of, the army. The committee on commerce re- ' ported adversely on a bill making Chattanoo-j ga, Tenn., a port of delivery. Mr. West pre- 1 sented joint resolutions of the Louisiana Leg- : islature relative to stocking the waters of that1 State with fish. Referred. In the House the ! committee on appropriations reported a bill! appropriating $163,000 for the Bureau of J printing and engraving, and directing the sec- j retary of the treasury to issue silver coin in exchange for fractional currency, whether now in the treasury or presented for redemption. The committee on ways and means will have permission to offer an amendment1 extending the limit of silver as a legal tender. | Mr. Randall gave notice that he would call up the bill as soon as practicable, and moved its recommittal, which was agreed to. In the Senate on the 3rd, Mr. Hamlin introduced a bill fixing the rate of third class mail matter and for other purposes. Mr. Robertson introduced a bill to restore the | franking privilege. Mr. Morton gave notice that he would, at an early day, call up a bill for counting the vote for President and VicePresident. Mr. Maxey presented a memorial of Choctaw, Seminole and other Indians, remonstrating against the organization of the territory occupied by them into a territory of th$ United States. Resolutions appropriating 815,000 from the contingent fund of the Senate for the purpose of defraying the expenses | of the contested election case of Spencer, from the State of Alabama, were adopted. The Pinchback case was next taken up and dis- i cussed uutil adjournment. The proceedings of the House were unimportant. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Mad dogs are the sensation in Pacolet, Spartanburg county. ?The planters of Barnwell are preparing to devote greater attention than heretofore to the raising of grain. ? Robert M. Wallace has been con6rmed by the Senate as United States Marshal for South Carolina. - j ? Mrs. Joanna Bryant, of Spartanburg county, last Sunday evening, after a widowhood of three toonths and twenty days, married Mr. Latshaw, of Union, formerly of Canada. This is her third marriage within ten years. ? The Lancaster Ledger gives currency to a rumor, that the leaders of the Regular Republicans in Columbia, have settled upon a portion of their candidates, whose names will be presented and carried through the State r* ? rpL_ xvii?:? *;..W V^unveuuuu. 1 lie iUJIUVYIlig 10 UlC tiixit/i; ow far as made up: For Governor?D. H. Chamberlain, Rep.; Lieutenant-Governor? Gen. J. B. Kershaw, Dera.; Attorney-General?R. B. Elliott, Rep.; State Treasurer?G. ' A. Trenholra, Dem. ? James Rowland, of Donaldsville, in Abbeville county, a young man about twenty years of age, met with a most painful accident last week which threatens to take his life. The facts are as follows: Young Rowland tried to draw a load out of his shot gun but failed, and heating an iron rod nine inches in length and about three quarters of an inch in diameter to a white heat, threw it into the barrel of his gun and ran. The gun discharged itself and the rod entered the young man's hip, passing almost entirely through on the other side. The rod was so hot that it could not*be taken from the suffering victim for about five minutes?and only then by the help of a pair of blacksmith's tongs. Rowland suffered untold agony, and is now at the point of death. ? The Spartanburg Spartan gives the following additional particulars in regard to the killing of H. B. Hall, in Spartanburg county, by Corporal Davis, of the United States army, a short time ago: "It appears that Hall, who is said to be a quiet and inoffensive citizen, was charged with defrauding the revenue. He had been some months previously arrested for unlawfully retailing liquor, but the indictment had been quashed in the State Court. On Tuesday night, the 22ud ultimo, a detachment of soldiers went to arrest him on the charge of illicit distilling. He was called, and on appearing at the window was shot and killed by Davis. Davis claims that the gun was accidentally discharged by the movement of his horse. Other reports are that Davis was not mounted. The evidence at the inquest is reported to have been that Hall was asleep when called, that he stepped out of a low window, that Davis exclaimed "halt!" and then shot him. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of willful killing. Sheriff Dewberry, of Spartanburg, demanded the slayer from the Federal authorities, but they refused to deliver him up, upon the ground that the offense comes within the jurisdiction of the United States Court. Hall was a good soldier during the war, and his death excites great indignation. He leaves a wife and six children. IMPEACHMENT OF BELKNAP. Quite a sensation was produced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday of last week, when Mr. Clymer, (Democrat) of Pennsylvania, from the committee on expenses of the war department, presented resolutions of impeachment against W. W. Belknap, who early on the same day tendered his resignation as Secretary of War, which res ignation was promptly accepted by the President. In the midst of great excitement, and with an unusual stillness in the House, Mr. Clymer rose and said: "I ask permission of the House to make a report from the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department of so grave importance that I am quite certain that when it is heard the House will ! agree that I am justified in asking that permission at this time." Permission was given, and Mr. Clymer, taking his position at the Clerk's desk, read the following report: "The committee found, at the very threshold of its investigation, such unquestioned evidence of the malfeasance of General Wm. W. Belknap, then Secretary of War, that they found it their duty to lay the same before the House. They further report that this day, at 11 o'clock, a letter of the President of the United States was presented to the committee accepting the resignation of the Secretary of War, together with a copy of his letter of resignation, which the President informed the committee was accepted about 10:20, this a. m. They, therefore, unanimously report and demand that the said William W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, be dealt with according to the law ot the land, and to that end submit herewith the testimony in the case taken, together witn tne j several statements and exhibits thereto attached, and also a rescript of the proceedings of the committee had daring the investigation of this subject, and submit the following resolutions: Resolved, That Win. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, be impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors in office. Resolved, That the testimony in the case of Wm. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War. be referred to the Judiciary Committee, with instructions to prepare and report, without unnecessary ' delay, suitable articles of impeachment of said j Wm. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War. Resolved, That a committee of five members of I the House be appointed and instructed to proceed i immediately to the bar of the Senate and there i impeach Wm. W. Belknap, late Secretary of ; War, in the name of the people of the United j States, of high crimes and misdemeanors when 1 in office, and inform that body that formal articles of impeachment will in due time be pre- 1 sented, and to request the Senate to take such or- I der in the premises as they may deem appro- : priate. Mr. Clyraer then proceeded to read the tes- j timony of Caleb P. Marsh, taken the day pre- \ vious before the committee, showing that he > had paid Secretary Belknap about $20,000 in ' consideration of his appointment as post trader ; at Fort Sill, Indian Territory. The reading j was listened to with intense interest by the j members of the House and by a large audi- j ence in the galleries. In the more pathetic ; portions of the narrative Mr. Clyraer was fre-; quently forced by his feelings to pause until j his voice recovered from its tremulousness and j himself from his agitation. At the close of j the reading, and after the many members who i had taken up positions near the Clerk's desk, [ the better to hear the testimony and accom- j panying statements, had returned to their ! proper seats, Mr. Clymer, who had also gone ; to his own seat, again rose and said, with i great emotion: Mr. Spkaker? I would not if I could, and I1 could not in my present condition, if I would, add anything to the facts just reported to the House. Another occasion may be afforded me to ' do so. They are so plain that everywhere through- j out this broad lana and throughout Christendom, i , wherever the English languago is read or spoken, I they will, for long years, constitute a record of : ! official corruption and crimes such as there is no j parallel for in our own history or in that of any : other country that I know of. If, in this hour, one ! sentiment of pity, one word of sympathy, could find utterance from mo, it would be beo-ause I feel j ' that the late Secretary of War is but the proper j outgrowth, the true exponent of the corruption, | the extravagance, the mismanagement, that have J ' cursed this land for years past, That being my . own reflection, I will discharge my duty best to ; myself and to this Houhc, by demanding the previous question on tlie adoption of the resolution. ( Mr. Robbins, (Democrat) of North Carolina, a , member of the committee, pleaded bis mental and ] physical exhaustion from bis continuous serving on the committee as the reason why he should not addresB the House at any length. He spoke i of the report as presenting a case of great shatne 1 and disgrace to all American citizens. As to the i question of the impeachability of an officer who j < had resigned, he was not prepared to speak worth-. j ily, except to suggest that it could not be true that 1 an officer who was being investigated and who ( had been found by evidence to be a criminal, 1 could flee from Justice. He alluded to what he. 1 called the unseemly acceptance of Secretary Belk- M nap's resignation, and referred to the English 1 I cases of Warren Hastings and Lord Franois Ba- i con, both of whom bad been impeached after ! they had ceased to hold the offices in which they ; committed crimes and misdemeanors. Mr. Bass, (Republican) of New York, another member of the committee, questioned the statement of the chairman, Mr. Clymer, as to this case having no parallel, and said that he would not have to leave his own borders in order to find not only a parallel for It, but that he could find cases compared with which this case was as white as the driven snow. He admitted that a mere statement of this case as presented by the testimony was sufficient to justify every member to vote for the resolutions presented. Mr. Lamar, (Democrat) of Mississippi, inquired from Mr. Bass his opinion as to the impeachability of a resigned officer. Mr. Hoar, (Republican) of Massachusetts, in reference to a casual remark of some member as to this being a political question, entirely disclaimed and repudiated such an idea. On the point of the impeachability of a person not in office, he referred to the case of Whittemore, of South Carolina, in which the House had deter milieu mat ? iuiiiiai| auvutti icuuuviawvu vt an officer terminated the office, and that any American citizen could lay down an office held bv him without any acceptance of his resignation. .fudge Story laid down the doctrine that it could not be done in England, but there any citizen could be impeached; therefore, the English cases of Warren Hastings and Lord Bacon did not apply in America. No man could be impeached but a civil officer, and when he ceased to be a civil officer he ceased to be within the literal description of the Constitution. In this country the only judgment that could be rendered in an impeachment case was removal from office and future disqualification from holding office, but by the statutes, a person guilfy of such offences could be indicted, tried and sentenced by the criminal courts of the country. He protested against hot haste in this matter without having the testimony printed. He thought Huch haste unworthy of the grave question, and if ho stood alone lie would still staud here to say so. Mr. Blackburn, (Independent) of Kentucky, another member of the committee, expressed his satisfaction that the report which had been read by his colleague (Clymer) showed to the world that nothing had been left undone by the committee to shield and shelter from dishonor every person except the one whom it was the duty of the committee to investigate and report upon. He would not consent that the gentleman from Massachusetts should make this a political or a Eartisan question. He would not consent that is side of the House should be placed in the position of prosecutors and the other side should take up the position of defenders. It was a question which addressed itself alike to every member of the House. He regarded the case as an unprecedented one in more respects tlian one. The action of the President in accepting Secretary Belknap's resignatiori under the circumstances was unprecedented, and this was the first instance in the history of the country where any man, claiming manhood and holding an exalted station, had sought to shelter himself from legitimate investigation by interposing the dishonor of a wife. [Sensation.] Passing to the question of the impeachability of Mr. Belknap, he suggested that the question, as Judge Story nad intimated, might properly be left to the decision of the Senate. On such astate of facts would the House be asked to shrink from the performance of its duty because there might be the mist or shadow of "a doubt on that point? The House could not do so. It would not be admissahle. He quoted from the impeachment case of Lord Bacon, in which it was stated that when the Lord Chancellor had sought to save himself by a resignation of bis high office the attempt was vain, as the King did not and could not interpose. Was the House to be told that the man in power at the other eud of the avenue was able to rob an American Congress of a right and power which the King of Great Britain could not take from Parliament? [Sensation and applause.] It UBed to be the theory that the King could do no wrong, but no man had ever been bold enough in this country to say that the President could do no wrong. If the man who had uttered the memorable sentence, "Let no guilty man escape," held it in his power to rob an American Congress of its right to inflict punishment or to pronounce censure on a publicly convicted criminal, where was the barrier to be found beneath whose shelter the liberties of the people could rest secure ? [Applause.] Mr. Hoar. Does the gentleman say that Congress has the power to punish any man in this country ? Mr. Blackburn. I will not submit to interruptions. I am the last man who would introduce one atom of politics into this discussion. It is not admissible here. The Republican members of the committee were as earnest and honest in the prosecution of this inquiry, and in the presentation of this report, as the members representing the majority of this House. We have seen no difference in the committee room. I appeal to the members of the House that there shall be no difference manifested here. If fraud has been perpertrated, if criminality exists, if corruption has 1 nrnvflfl lot fhfi ranrouAntntivPQ nf t.flfl nfiOnlp in this House so declare it and send the issue to the court, where it may finally be tried, and if we nU'Ounable to punish U'hjOro guilt io (iltnout.oponly confessed, let the responsibility for that failure rest on other shoulders than ours. Mr. Danford, (Democrat) ofOhio, another member of the committee, expressed it as his judgment that the acceptance of Mr. Belknap's resignation in no manner changed the position of that officer to the country. He disagreed, however, with the statement ol'the Chairman (Mr. Clymerj ihat the conduct of this officer was the legitimate outgrowth of the principles of the party in power, and he expressed the hope that there would not be a single vote on the Republican side of the House against the resolution. Mr. Kasson, (Republican) of Iowa, of the committee, said that a few years ago there had gone from his State a young, well educated and gallant gentleman to fight the battles of his country. He had gone through the war, and the President had afterward called him to a seat in his Cabinet, placing him at the head of that army of which he bad been an humble but somewhat distinguished member. This morning, for the first time, the delegation from Iowa had heard that that gentleman, who had been so much respected in his own State and so much honored by the nation, had been found guilty of receiving compensation for some act of official duty, and that that compensation had been continuous. The House would judge of the emotion with which the members from that State had listened to the reading of the evidence. He had never heard anything read fbnn fnnnff aryA whon WlUl^l UntCi JlllCIUOt tunii uidb tvpwn, ukm f> mv?( at the close of the reading, he had made an appeal to his friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. Clymer,) not for himself alone, but for his colleagues,whose pride and honor were so touched by the character of the report, for a moment's'delay, that they might find whether there might not be in the evidence one extenuating circumstance, he had been mot bv the demand for the previous question. He did not desire to claim any exemption for Mr. Belknap from all the penalties to which his acts entitled him, but be found the most painful feature disclosed b}' the evidence to be the fact that not one word of it touched the officer in question until the death which broke a heart had occurred. [Sensation.] Was he to be blamed that he and his colleagu&s wanted a night to ascertain the extent of that officer's guilt by reading the evidence in print? Was he to be blamed that when he found the most delicate relations in human life involved in this proceeding?a relation so delicate that he dared not allude to it in detail?he. asked an opportunity to oonsider whether there was anything to be said in extenuation of so high and so great a misdemeanor ? But it was too late to go back to that now. He and his colleages had been refused that opportunity and now he only asked the attention of tne House to the question whether the House did not need more time to ascertain whether this officer was impeachable. After quoting from Judge Story on this point he argued that the powers of Congress were limited by the Constitution, and that if Mr. Belknap be impeached the Senate could not execute the constitutional provision which declares that he shall be removed from office. If he were liable to impeachment let it be understood that they were all, without exception, for impeachment ; but if the House was establishing a precedent which did not reston the Constitution, and which was dangerous for the future, he thought it right that the House should pause and consider, oy a report irum iwi <jnujuinry ^umiuittee, the question of its right to make this impeachment. If the House could impeach n man not in office it might go hack and impeach Jetlcrson Davis and John B. Floyd for conspiracy. Mr. Robbins, suggested that there was a great difference between a conviction on impeachment and a conviction on indictment. In the latter case the man might be pardoned by the Executive, but in the former case he could not be. As to the suggestion as to the impeachment of Jefferson Davis, he replied that it had been decided that a Senator could not be impeached, not being an officer of the United States. The debate being closed, the House proceeded to vote on the resolutions, and they were unanimously adopted. The Speaker appointed as the committee to notify the Senate of the action of the House, Messrs. Clymer, Robbins, Blackburn, Bass and Danford, these members composing the Committee on the Expenditures of the War Department making the report. t. i : 13 lvtnr^vi iho nnaf 11 iruuspiiua Limt VjttlCU A . luuigu, uiv J/VM. trader, made the bargain with the late wife of Secretary Belknap and paid the money to h6r. After her death, the money went direot to the Secretary, the last payment being for the ijuarter ending December, 1875. Marsh, who figures so prominently in the ' transaction, and who is the principal witness j against the late Secretary, was brought to | Washington in custody and gave his testimo- i ay as an unwilling witness, the investigation i laving its orgin uuder the following circumstances : While in search for a home for his family, in December, Hon, I}. B. Lewis, of Alabama, was eferred to ft. A. Armes, a real estate agent In this ' ?ity. During their search for a house; Mr. iVrrnes, in conversation, stated to Mr. Lewis that ie had formerly lwlonged to the army, but was i lismissed through the enmity of Belknap. That f he had the assistance of a member of Congress, ie could, in sixty days, develop facts that wouhj^ brce Hclknap to resign. Mr. LewiBJtggfl^gd! lis assistance and they su bsequen^r^d several interviews. Mr. Lewis, being impressed, sought the advice of Mr. Randall, who advised that the facts be brought before Mr. Clymer, Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department. Lewis ana Armes saw Clymer, and the latter gave a list of the witnesses, including Marsh. Afterwards Clymer thought Armes was acting in bad faith, as the Secretary said Armes had proposed, if he was restored to the army and i certain other conditions complied with, he would drop the matter. Lewis said if Armes was seeking only to levy black mail, of course they would nnthlnu tn rln with It. hut. oHviiuwl. no Armes bad furnished the names of witnesses,' that they be called and examined which was done. On the next day after the above proceedings, Mr. Clymer, in the House of Representatives, made the following report: "In obedience to the order of the House and in the name of all the people of the United States of America, we impeach, as we were directed to do, William W. Belknap, late Secretary of War of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors while in office, and we demand that the Senate shall take order to make him appear before that body to answer for the same," and announced that the House would soon present articles of impeachment and make them good; to which the response was made : "Order shall be taken." In the Senate the following members were ap])ointed as a select committee to consider the resolutions of the House in regard to the impeachment of Belknap: Messrs. Edmunds, of Vermont; Conkling, of New York ; Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey; Thurraan, of Ohio, and Stevenson, of Kentucky?a majority, consisting of the three first-named, being Republicans. At the Cabinet meeting on Friday it is reported that the President stated emphatically that he was not aware of the enormity of the charges aguinst Belknap at the time of ac cepting his resignation. The President further stated to the Cabinet that while he could take no steps which might look to the prosecution of any one, he had determined to shrink from uo responsibility that rested upon him, and he, therefore, asked the AttorneyGeneral to take immediate steps to proceed with criminal charges against Belknap, Marsh and all others shown by evidence to have had a part in the transaction. The impeachment trial and the criminal prosecution will be entirely independent of each other. In case of conviction under criminal prosecution, the penalty prescribed by statute is three years in the penitentiary and a fine three times the value of the bribe received. ? EDITORIAL INKLINGS. Throwing off the Partjr Yoke. On the 1st instant a delegation of colored men called at the rooms of the Demo. i n _ \ir _l? cratic national w)mraiiiee in wusnmgiuu, asking political recognition. In their printed declaration, which was adopted by a large meeting held in Washington on the previous Friday, they say: "We, colored men, representing nearly all the States and Territories of the United States, are tired of our self-imposed partyyoke, its injustice to us and its flagrant violations of the Constitution, in order to trample out local self-government and insult brave and well disposed fellow-citizens of the South, anfl earnestly believe that a division of the solid phalanx of colored voters will act beneficially upon the two great parties, and therefore we propose to stand by principles and will support only those men who will do the most for us. This policy we believe will enure to the lasting tranquility of the country, and a speedy return to good feeling between the late master and the now free citizen will follow. And we invoke the blessing of * i ^ i <1 /? 1l_ J Aimignty ijoa upon mis careiuny couamerea departure, invite the hearty and cordial cooperation of the colored people of the whole country, who, like us, have^ cause for well grounded 'complaint;' to organize, fblhe* en<T " that the ballots may subserve the peace of the country, the fraternization of all the people, and the prosperity and unification of all the sections of our undivisible republic." All persons in favor of the movement, desiring information, are requested to address Rev. Garland H. White, President, No. 1,013, 18th street, Washington, D. C., or Howard L. Smith, Secretary National Independent Political Union, Washington, D. C. Proposed Postage Rates. The bill introduced by Senator Hamlin, last Friday, fixing the rates of postage on third class mail matter and for other purposes, proposes for such matter the following rates of postage, graduated according to the distance: For distances not exceeding 300 miles, 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fractional part thereof; for distances between 300 and 800 milca 9. opnt.q? fnr distances between 800 aud 1,500 miles, 3 cents, and for each additional 1,000 miles 1 cent additional for each 2 ounces or fractional part. A special rate is, however, proposed for transient newspapers and magazines, namely, one cent for every two ounces or fractional part thereof for any distance not exceeding one thousand miles, but for any greater distance double this rate is to be paid. The bill also provides that all occasional publications, such as prices current, catalogues and annuals, and all regular publications devoted primarily to advertising purposes, or for free circulation, or for circulation at nominal subscription rates, shall hereafter be considered and charged as thirdclass mail matter. Other provisions authorize the creating of a brief form of presentation, or of a brief description upon books, magazines, or any other articles mailed as thirdclass matter, and allow insufficiently prepaid matter to be carried to its destination in cases where there has not been an evident intention to underpay the full amount; provided that double the deficiency shall be collected at the other end. Where the sender is known, however, he is to be notified and required to make full prepayment. The South Carolina Contested Cases. In the contested election case of Lee vs. Rainey, from the first South Carolina Congressional district, the House committee on elections have agreed to the following resolution as a substitute for the order passed February 21st: Resolved, That the contestee, Rainey, have fifteen days for the taking of testimony as to illegal votes cast for Lee anywhere in said district, and that Lee shall have twenty days (o take testimony as to illegal votes cast anywhere in said district for Rainey, and that said Rainey then have ten days to rehut the testimony of Lee, and then Lee shall have five days to rebut the testimony 01 earn nainey. This action reopens the case entirely, which j is said to be unsatisfactory to both parties, j It will be remembered that Lee contests the election on the ground that a considerable number of the ballots cast for Raiuey were in the name of "James H.," instead of "Joseph H.," his proper cognomen. Not counting the ballots on which the mistake occurred, Lee would have a majority of the votes cast in the district. Regarding the Hoge case from the third Congressional district, a Washington letter says it seems to have been ignored entirely. Hoge has now occupied his seat for one year, half of the term for which he claims to have been elected, and it is probable that no action in his case will be taken for the remaining year of the term. Hoge displayed considerable cunning in declining to make an . argument, for this gives him an excus^^gjr around to the members of thejM||^^individually and presentJi^ casitTthem. Col. Trescot's argyyoiefifr^meanwhiBi remains unan8wafeJ7and though his bry jg before the t!^mmittee, there is no assurance that it has been examined by them. J LOCAL A77AXAS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS* Ludden A Bates?Pianos and Organs. -v Nancy D. Tate and others?Pair Warning. T. M. Dobson?Fair Warning. D. G. Anderson, Cedar Shoals, Chester county, 8. C.?$20 Reward. . T. M. Dobson A Co.?Shawls?Shirting?Gfdce^ ries?1875?March 10th?New Goods?Remember the Date?Calico?Ready-Made Clothing?Spool Cotton?Peerless GlossHanging Baskets?Riin Locks?Dobson's is the Place?Crockery?Dress Goods. 0. H. Dixon?Boarders Wanted**-??? ? ??? W. H. McCorkle, Agent?White Goods?Glass ? ruit^A ana urocKervware?onoes?r?iw wuiw. J. M. Adams?Seeing is Believing. R. Brandt, Proprietor?A Furniture Establishment?The Chester Jewelry Store. H. K. Roberts, Chairman of Board?Road Notice. James Porter?Notice to Trespassers. R. H. Glenn, S. Y. C.-Sheriff's Sale. J. H. Clawson?Assignee's Sale.?In Bankruptcy?In the matter of James A. Barnwell, . Bankrupt. ...... TAXES?EXTENSION OP TIME. We learn from Major Briggs, County Auditor, that by recent order of the ComptrollerGeneral, the tax-books in the respective counties of the State will remain open for collection of taxes until the 15th instant, at which date the treasurers are required to close their books, and the penalty for non-payment will attach. This order allows the tax-payers of York county five more days in which to make settlement than was contemplated by the previous extension. TRANSFERS OP*REAL ESTATE. '! The following transfers of real estate have been recorded in the office of the County Auditor since our report last week : James R. Miller to Thomas H. Lominack. Tract of 80 acres in Bethel township. Consideration $900. John M. Ross to Jane M. Burris. Halfinterest in a tract of land in York township. R. H. Glenn to H. F. Adickes. Lot in Yorkville. Consideration $40. J. S. Bratton to Michael Duffey. Lot of one acre at Smith's Turnout in Bethesda township. Consideration $100. PARDONED. Wm. G. Turner and Harvey Herndon, the former white and the latter colored, who were sentenced by Judge Mackey at the last term of the Circuit Court for York county to one year's imprisonment each in the penitentiary, on the charge of assault and battery, have beeu pardoned by the Governor. Proceedings were pending for releasing the prisoners under writ of habeas corpus on the ground that the Court by which they were sentenced had no original jurisdiction in the cases; but a numerously-signed petition in the case of Turner having been presented to the Governor, he exercised the prerogative of his office and pardoned both. BOBBED OF*H18 MONEY. Mr. Edney, the butcher of this place, while out last week for the purpose of buying cattle, stopped on Thursday night at the house of Samuel Howell, near Howell's Ferty1 ob Broad river, and alleges that while asleep his room was entered and his pocket-book containing $130 in currency abstracted frdm under bis pillow. On waking at 5 o'clock in the morning, Mr. Edney discovered his loss and communicated the fact to Mr. Howell, who at once summoned before him every person on the premises; but a search of their persons, as well as a thorough search of the various rooms, failed to reveal the missing money. It is due to Mr. Howell to say tbat Mr. Edney does not impute to him any blame for the loss with which he met at his house. ? up/... i * sales-day. On Monday last?sales-day for March? the following property was sold by the Sheriff: By order of the Judge of Probate the house and lot in Yorkville belonging to the estate of J. Bolton Smith, deceased. Bought by Miss Luella Smith for $430. By virtue of writs of fi fa., the lands of Elizabeth Bennett Bought by Robert Mendenhall for $174. Lands of H. M. Moore?172 acres?bought by John Smith for $72.25. J. H. Clawson, Assignee, sold the following property belonging to bankrupt estates: Tract of 180 acres belonging to the estate of James H. Hemphill, nought oy j. n. Hemphill for 81,125. Lands belonging to the estate of T. W. Sturgis. Tract of 190 acres, bought by T. W. Sturgis for $1,900. Tract of 382 acrts, bought by T. W. Sturgis for $3,000. Lands belonging to the estate of B. F. Rawlinson. Tract of 235 acres, bought by A. F. McConnell for $1,057.50. Tract of 215 acres bought by B. F. Rawlinson for $86?. ____ THE RAILROAD. .' Considering the unfavorable weather that has prevailed for a portion of the time since track-laying on the Chester and Lenoir Railroad was commenced, the work has progressed quite favorably. From Mr. John R. Gardner, Assistant Engineer, we learn that the track is now laid to Crowder's Creek, a dis^ tance of nine miles from the Air-Line, and thirteen miles from Yorkville.' Timbers are now being prepared for erecting a temporary trestle over the creek, which will enable the material train to cross it by next Saturday A fnma ia nnw amnlnwvl IvJHiniy CYCUlUJJl IX IVkVV HJ MW it vtw^/?vj v%> Q cross-ties on this side the creek, and as soon as it can be crossed by the locomotive, the track-laying force will be increased sufficient ly to lay one mile of track per day, provided the weather shall be favorable. At a meeting of the Directors of the Company, held in this place last Friday evening, Mr. J. H. Fayssoux was elected freight agent ; at Gastouia, and Mr. S. B. Lathan was elected freight agent for Chester. Contracts have 1 been let out for the erection of depot buildings at each of the above places, the buildings to be completed by the 1st of April. THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE. Monday, February 28. ' In the Senate, the proceedings present nothing of interest, , . in iUXj u^vo^t wiuiuuuiwaviuuo 11 uiu tuuu' ty treasurers relative to the amount of bills of the Bank of the State, tendered for taxes in their respeotive counties were, submitted as follows: Aiken, $8,400 ; Anderson, $748 80; Barnwell, $232.80; Beaufort, $978.05; Colleton, $10; Charleston, $52,542.34; Kershaw, < $542; Lancaster, $200; Laurens $420.16; Marlboro, $185; Oconee, $225; Orangeburg, i $652 ; Pickens, 814; Richland. $1,461.87; Spartanburg, $490. Total, $57,675,61. In i the following counties none have been'ten- i dered: Abbeville, Chester, Chesterfield, Ciar- < endon, Darlington, Fairfield, Horry, Marion, and Williamsburg. No reports received from the following counties: Edgefield, George- i town, Greenville, Lexington, Newberry, Sum- I ter, Union and York. i The bill to authorize the hire of convict i labor, in or outside of the State penitentiary, < was killed. i Tuesday, febrys^^^1 1 In thejtehvre<pppcpr^nt resolution wa^ . adoptgd-tnat the General Assembly , take a 1 IrtBjsfrom to-day to the 6th of March. The I House reftised to* concur, "bttt alitittided by ! substituting to adjourn from to-morrow (1st < March) to the 6th March, at 7 p. m. The ! Senate concurred in the amendment. 1 The House was occupied all day in discuss- < ing the bill for the relief of Mr. E." B. Wesley. < Messrs. Barnwell, Hirsch, Crittenden and i Sloan argued against the bill, and Whipper ; and Lalie for its-passage. The bill wa? finally defeated by a vote of forty-three to thirtyeight, and, to prevent its resurrection this session^a motion to reconsider and to lay that motion on the table was offered and carried. The report of the committee of conference on the apptrj)priation?bill,; yas;jdppfe$l bf t^e House and Senate, and the bill was then enrolled and ratified. The total amount of the appropriation is $545J250, together wUtysuch an amount as may -be-neceseery of' the proceeds of the lav oLfaio aailla fhr fir payment of the January and, June interest upon; the consolidation bonds wd dedicates of stock of the State, issued under the provisions of the act to reduce the volume of the public debt. ' , CV C > - '? i ,b >?*fv o'A* Wednesday, March 1. > In the Senate, the proceediofes-Wottifcufcfined to routine work.. In the House, W. J.t Wbipper tendered his resignation as a member, which was accepted with great unanimity ;$nd equanimity. An election of a meojber of the..,Legiilature to any State office disqualifies hip, and he must vacate his seat as a member. 1' Both Houses adjourned until Monday,*6tb instant. mw - mere-iejItiou.:ru A tornado, two miles in breadth, passed i ^ ' * through Henderson and .Christian counties, Kentucky, on the 29th ultimo, killing several persons and destroying a great deal, of property."" " The Director of the United^ Statee Mint says the production of gold and silver after the 1st of May will"be' ,$T.000,000 per month, which he thinks will have an unportant bearing on the,gold premium."*"""No less than 1,446 petitions, containing 75,000 signatures, from all the States and Territories, have been presented to Con|jre^ prating for the repeal of the two-cefaltchfelck uU-li .!? z: ?; . 1 stamp. . ' ' t ? V " Correspondence of the Yorkvftllr InhlfA. LETTER FROM CHESTERi ' Chester, Marcb; 6^:1876iu The preliminary examination' in a 'case involving considerable interest tti- the public, was held before Trial JtMtfcfrSaodim'Oirtast Tuesday.! > The defendant, Pleasant Ngwtand, colored, was charged with mi unlawfu],|i>straction, of school claims froqn, the- office of County Treasurer on the night of l9th Msjf, 1875. C. 8. Briee; E^.'i Conducted the^rosecution on behalf of the State, and Maijbr?. P. Hamilton appeared for the 'defendant. James Kinard,colored, the principal vitade for the Stete, testified as follows: On.tho night of May 19th of last year, he waa at. John jftlley's house, and at a lste hour of the night was awakened by Lilley, and requested by him to'assort* lot of teachers' pa# eehtifibatee that were in his (Lilley's)' possession. ""He was directed by Lilley to select frame tbividt the uncancelled certificates/or the yean* ,1871 and 1872, a^jhe coul^l draw tbemoftsy npon them. By way of! explanation. I may* ear thai these certificates had' been'paid, by Urn County Treasurer, but this official hwlttilttl to cancel tbem. ThewttdeSs atootettiSed to bis assorting the uncancelled certificate^ to hit giving them to Lilley, and to the d/awiog of thejnoney upon them afterward- by Lilley. The witness testified to his. asking Liljey the way in which he had obtained tho certiomtm, but received the auswer that' rtthii?'wA* 'none of his business."* 1 HowevAr, tie w*raft&*whrd told by Lilley that he (Lilley) bad. gtftf itfaorib from Pleasant Nowland, i and that* hen had given ten dollars for theife Lilley JtUp fcdd witness that Nowland had gotten the cegtificates from the office of the County Treasurer, which he had entered ht night byitaeansi of:A * key in bis possession.' Majof* Hamilton,1 in his arguinent, held thatwiilarceny bad.'bega if iff?1 Itf V Tl the oertihcatea w?re; without valpe, jnwptwfe as they had been paid. The preliminary, a*amination was held in the Court Hoiisa for the accommodation of the' large number of nAMAAd iakn rlaoirod ft\ hi nananitf p^iovuo nuu uvoiivu ww ?w |/i wvu* *MV ?< ? will come up fur trial before' Judge* H <J; Mackejiat the next terra of. the Conrt.of General Sessions, to be,hulden here.on-theiW Monday in March, when some interesUqg developments uav be expected. The defendant gave bond for his appearance for trial'ut the Sessions Court, and was discharged. ' ,(I; i'n The Treasurer's office was well filled 'With tax-payers last week, who were anxioustb settle their claims with the State be^rt the close of, Friday, which was expected to, have been the last day, without the attachment ofc the penalty. Our merchants and business men generally postponed the agooyof pxjinjf taxes as long as possible. As each/mand?i? playing tb&rblelof collector with the-vie*-of gathering u$ ,tt}e required amount f?Mb# Treasurer, and making no disbursements money was probably as scarce an wrticle in this town last week as it could Weir be, Sowever, as the pressing demand for money hid been met and the claims of' thetax-gsthefcfr have been satisfied, the financial condition will become easier, and people will breathe njore ireeiy. un jMiaay mqrning wro7??r nounceraeot was made .that, the time for^ the payment of taxes had been extended to the 15th instant : ' On last Thursday morning the stori'of Mkjor John Sanders, which Is1 located at<8itikteF Hill in this county, was broken open11 add robbed of a considesable amount tofi mtmejr and goods. Mr. Sanders. h*4 lootad 4n4<)#& the store for a short time for the porpfj^jHf taking bis breakfast* and while abfeet the burglary was committed.! Money to the amount of seventy dollars, and different1 articles of merchandise were stolen. Thb perpe1 trators of this bold and outrageous act at*4m* kuown, but tbey will hardly succeed in escaping the detection and #rwst ponseqognt upon, the strenuous and unremitting efforts that will be made to effect their discovery. As they are walking in the footsteps olthw illpfctrioba leader and ex-lawmaker, John Lilley^'tbejrwill doubtlea arrive at the same destination^, tKo State npnifpntiftrv. } lilK luia Wade Rosbio rough, William Geld well, Perry Roe borough, Robert McCrory, ^ .cpjpre^ and D. H. Corder, white, were brought to town 00 Thursday and con>raitt$d' to jaiL charged with stealing 6otton' from1' Mr. WJhliara Caldwell. AH parties are from Roaeville township, and the ofFeaae> is alleged have been committed in' December, 1874. The supposed perpetrators of the,thefi appeared before Trial Justice Sanders for a hearing on Thursday, but as tlie warrant roe their arrest was still ib the posieMidfa'of Trial Justice 'Ragsdhle whb had isstied it, they were recommitted to jail, with tbfe'exception of D. H. Corder, who gave bond for his appearance at the preliminary examination to teke place, at an,early, d^y. tisd&jgjfe Dr. Richard Furman .delivered a 5$y ??r teresting lecture at the Court House, bn * Thursday evening, upon the life and' servibei of General Robert E. Lee. The audfoboe was not such as met the just requirements; of the lecture. , The CI araWild man, performed here several evenings in succession, and each performance was greeted with A.1I Uamu Tki. oliAd). ftia annwiAlah'rtfl Af A 1UU UVUTOi AUUJ ouuno VUO ?jlJM WIMMVH w? aur people of theatHCai enteftaintoehtsi Their want of appreciation of a literary-test If was strikingly, displayed on Thursday <ev?* iog. Tho#e present, wpret a mply repaid for their attendance. The splendid achievements snd noble, oharacter of that great and good man whose name is embalmed in the heart of 3very true Southern man, were-portrayed in t forcible and masterly manner. Beginning (fflfftis birth on the 19th of January, 1907, he track! bis history through the successive Itagea?ws career at West Point from whence hegradua^daVthfl heatjj/^^Mi tifiU his Lieutenancy Qf Engineers, and JluieFor Engineers una6t Ge'rieral Wopl in the Mefciuati (war bis tenantiOolohelcr ifc the 2nd Cavalry Regiment commanded' b^Ab" hert 8ydney Johnson, down fcfctbu beginning 5f the late wv.in which, as the command if the Army of Northern Virginia, he . won i name that, will increase in lustre as!the fears roll by. General Lee's brilliant career