Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, May 03, 1877, Image 2
She fJorfcviUe ^nquiw.
YORKVILLiE, S. C.:
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 3, 1877.
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THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
The first message of Governor Hampton
to the General Assembly, is published in another
column. Like everything that he has
spoken or written since he became the chosen
standard bearer of the people of South Carolina,
it is concise, temperate and marked with
the sound practical sense so characteristic of
its author. The various recommendations
contained in the message will meet the approval
of the people, of all classes and colors
; and to secure the relief, so urgently demanded,
it is only necessary for the Legislature
to act promptly and decisively upon
those recommendations. Without capitulating
the points made in the message, we ask
for it an attentive perusal by all our readers.
GEN. MICAH JENKINS.
In another column of this issue, we copy,
with pleasure, a letter to the Charleston Newt
and Courier, signed "Co. K, P. S. S.the
perusal of which, we know, will arouse the
sympathies and interest of many of the readers
of the Enquirer. On the long list of
South Carolina's precious sacrifices in the late
war, no name is more conspicuous for skillful
soldiery, lofty courage and patriotic devotion,
than that of Brig. Geo. M. Jenkins. In him,
we of York, have a special interest. He was
our own.
It is now twelve years since he was borne a
bleeding corpse from the battle's front and
laid in an honored, but undistinguished, grave
in Suramerville, S. C. These years have been
too full of despondency, uncertainty and humiliation,
for our people to give worthy expression
to their appreciation of his merits.
The dawn of a better time, however, is now
upon us, and we should no longer delay. Illustrious
deeds and heroism of every kind are
important factors in a people's civilization,
and we cannot, without injustice to ourselves
and our posterity, permit any of those so
fruitfully yielded by our desperate struggle to
oinlr inf A aKI i niAn
Oiua luvv vi/uvivu.
We suggest, therefore, that the survivors
of the famous brigade which bore bis name,
at ooce inaugurate, in every township, such
measures as will secure the means of erecting
a monument worthy alike of him and of the
people he so gallantly served. We feel sure
that any well organized plan to effect this
end, will be sustained by the generous cooperation
of the best citizens of the whole State.
Let the work, then, be begun, so that a fitting
recognition of sacrifice may grace this first
year of the new era which is to restore to U8
a land to love and die for.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
? It is estimated that not less than eight
hundred persons will attend the inauguration
ball at Columbia this eveniug.
? "Honest" John Patterson arrived in Columbia
last week. He promises that he will
vote for the admission of Gen. M. C. Butler as
United States Senator.
? The train on the Spartanburg and Asheville
Railroad now runs over about thirteen
miles of the road, and the work goes bravely
on.
? Mr. Chamberlain's family have left Columbia,
their destination being Washington.
His household furniture has been shipped to
* * it. _mi 11
trie same point, ana ne win iuhuw iu peisuu i
as soon as be can settle his business matters '
in Columbia.
? The Republican State House officers
have, after mature deliberation, determined
to withdraw their claims to the respective positions
lately occupied by them. This conclusion
has been reached by them after 'several
conferences among themselves. Each side
will pay their own costs of proceedings in the
Supreme Court.
? At a caucus of the Democratic members
of both Houses of the Legislature, held one i
night last week, it was determined that on
unity, concentration and the strictest drawing
of party lines, the safety of the party and the
welfare of honest government depend. It
was also agreed that caucuses, on all important
matters, as a matter of necessity, will be
held, and the members will sink personal feeling
to the will of the majority.
? In the House of Representatives on the
26th ultimo, Mr. Aldrich offered a resolution,
relative to the political prosecutions now
pending in Aiken and Edgefield, which was
adopted, that "his Excellency the Governor
of South Carolina do communicate with his
Excellency the President of the United States,
and invoke his clemency to so direct the pow- >
er and authority by law vested in the depart- j
ment of justice, to have those political prose-1
cutions stopped, and that those held under j
bond be allowed henceforth to go and be at I
liberty." And also, that "should his Excel- J
lency the President of the United States see !
fit to grant to all our citizens confined in Na-.
tional prisons, under convictions upon similar
charges, a full and free pardon, it will be regarded
by the State as an evidence of good
will, and, by all our people, as a harbinger of:
peace, the fruits of which must inevitably be
a closer union and a more perfect tranquility." ;
?
MERE-MENTION.
From the signs of the times, politics in :
Georgia will become pretty lively before long.
The question before the people is the calling
a convention to amend the constitution of the
State. The United States Government
will take no official notice of the war between
Russia and Turkey unless some question of |
complaint arises. It is proposed in Wash- j
ington to organize a regiment of Indians,
with Spotted Tail as Colonel, to be paid and
uniformed like regular soldiers. The
President will hereafter hear no vocal appli-'
cations for office. They must be made in
writing. The Legislature of Louisiana, in
joint session, on the 24th ultimo, elected Judge
Spofford United States Senator. Two
companies of soldiers have been ordered from
JJorth Carolina, leaving only one company in i
the State, at Fort Johnson. In Oregon
it is against the law to sell a drink to a man
who cannot show a license from the State to
buy the same. We suppose next they will
be advertising the names of the parties who
get license. That beats the Virginia whisky
bell punch. Rev. E. T. Baird, formerly
secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Publication
at Richmond, is a defaulter to the
amount of $22,000, and has absconded.
Diaz's Government in Mexico seems to
secure peace and confidence throughout that
country. There is nothing to change the
opinion that the extra session will be called
for June 4. The population of Maine
has decreased sixteen thousand since the census
in 1870. The falling off is largely due
to emigration to the West. W. J. Black,
a merchant of Charlotte, N. C., has gone into
bankruptcy with liabilities amounting to
$50,000. England and France will issue
proclamations of neutrality in the war between
Russia and Turkey. Judge King
has been appointed Collector of Customs at
New Orleans. He was an old line Whig, and
a Union man during the war. A. H.
Stephens appeared in the United States Supreme
Court last Monday and argued a
cause. Hon. Wm. G. Brownlow, died at
his residence in Knoxville, Tennessee, last
Sunday. A citizen of Kansas, named
Dubois, claims to be one of a party who followed
the Bender family when they left Kansas
and killed them all.
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.
Louisiana Affairs.
At 12 o'clock on the 24th, the troops
were withdrawn from New Orleans, and embarked
on a steamboat for the barracks. On
the following day, the members of the Legislature,
in a body headed by Gov. Nicholls,
took uninterrupted possession of the StateHouse.
Packard issued an address to the Republicans
of Louisiana, closing as follows :
"I therefore announce to you that I am
compelled to abstain for the present from all
active assertion of ray government. I waive
none of my legal rights, but yield only to superior
force. I am not wholly discouraged
by the fact that, one by one, the Republican
State governments of the South have been
forced to succumb to force, fraud or policy.
Louisiana, the first State rehabilitated after
the war, is the last State whose government
thus falls, and I believe it will be among the
first to raise itself again to the plane of equal
and honest representation. I advise that you
maintain your party organization aud continue
to battle for the rights of citizenship and
free government. We strive for these and
not for a man or men. It grieves me beyond
expression that the heroic efforts you have
made and the cruel suffering you nave undergone
to maintain Republican principles in
Louisiana, have had this bitter ending. To
those who have so gallantly stood by me in
the long contest we have passed through, I
tender my heart-felt thanks. To all I counsel
peace, patience, fortitude and a firm trust
that eventually right and justice will prevail."
S. B. Packard, Governor.
The President's Policy.
Secretary Evart3, in speaking recently
of the President's policy, said that, under all
reasonable contingencies, there were no
grounds whatever for apprehension in the
minds of the people of any section. He admitted
that the Presideut might have with- 1
drawn the troops within twenty-four hours after
his accession to office, but had he done so
this would have accomplished the same result.
The result of the apparent delay has
been the bringing of order out of chaos and
giving those States a lasting government. In
the settlement of the controversy nothing was
done except within the strict province of existing
constitutional and statutory provisions.
The Government found no necessity for recognizing
either government under the Constitution.
This right belonged to the Legislature
in canvassing the votes for Governor. Complimenting
the work of the President, the
Secretary said that President Hayes had no
desire for re-election, and, so far as he knew,
none of the Cabinet had aspirations in that
direction. Referring to the fears expressed
that the President had left the colored man
to the hands of a class inimical to his interests,
Mr. Evarts said that Mr. Hayes believed
the Southerners to be an honorable people,
who would take especial pains to carry out
their pledges in regard to the colored people,
and that no apprehension existed in the mind
of the President touching the future condition
of affairs of the South.
The President is reported as Baying that he
does not see how Messrs. Wade. Blaine & Co.,
can give force to their opposition. He says
they could not do it by thwarting any personal
plans or prospects of his own, because
he had none for them to thwart; they could
not do it by defeating his nominations in the
Senate, because he never would send any
name to the Senate in whose conhrmation he
had an interest beyond that inspired by his
"lAtno oq f a fko rvAA/1 nf f Ko nnKlin
gCUCiai Vicno (to uu tuv gvuu v* viiv
service. He did not see that they could do
anything beyond denounce his policy in
speeches. Even if they could find a majority
in the Senate opposed to his Southern policy,
the Senate could not undo what had been
done. It could not restore the troops to the
State Houses, nor could it rehabilitate the
governments which have vanished as soon as
federal troops were withdrawn from their support.
? ?
GEN. MICAH JENKINS.
SHALL HIS LAST RESTING-PLACE REMAIN
UNMARKED ?
To the Editor of The Netcs and Courier : I
was pleased to see your editoral on the revival
of that old landmark of South Carolina,
the "Citadel Academy." I sincerely hope the
Alumni may be successful in their efforts.
With this wish for the revivification of the
Academy, allow me, through your valuable
paper, to make a proposition concerning one i
of its dead heroes?Gen. Micah Jenkins.
Gen. Jenkins lived for the advancement of
our interests, and died in defence of our principles.
No mark of public appreciation of his
services stands over his resting-place. Let
those who were with him at "King's Mountain
Military School" unite with those who fought
with him on the fields of Virginia and elsewhere,
and build up, on the green sward in i
front of the Academy at Yorkville, a fitting !
monument to the memory of this Christian
gentleman and brave soldier.
I know that the citizens of Yorkville will go
into this undertaking with a will. I also 1
know that the enterprise will have the cordial
support of that gallant soldier and gentleman, j
Col. Asbury Coward, to whom the grounds
of the Academy now belong. Col. Coward
was the life long friend and colaborer (at home
and in the field) of Gen. Jenkins, and it is his
dearest wish to see some public testimonial
offered him. The friends and followers of
Gen. Jenkins are scattered over the State, from
the mountains to the sea. I humbly briug
this matter before our people in order that the
subject may be thoroughly digested and some
plan set on foot to accomplish the desired
object. With a central committee at Columbia
and sub-committees in each couuty, the , i
plans can be completed by the time the State 1
Fair meets next November. The press of the ;
State are respectfully invited to give the
above suggestions their consideration.
Company K, P. S. S. 11
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
new advertisements.
H. F. Ad ickes?Cheaper Still?Calicoes?Summer
Shawls?Cassimeres?White PantsStraw
Hats?Ladies' Neck-Wear.
Kennedy Bros. <fe Barron?Groceries and Dry
Goods?Crockery?Glass Ware?Wooden
Ware?Canned Goods?Tin Ware?Shuck
Collars?Rice Flour.
M. Strauss?New Arrivals.
Smith <6 Roach?Bar-Room and Restaurant.
Jefferys & Metts, Agents?Just Arrived 100 Sacks
Navassa Guano.
Bennett <k Moffatt, Chester, S. C.?Agricultural
Depot.
I. L. Gunhouse <fe Co., Chester?Another Groat
Excitement.
SENATOR WITHERSPOON.
We are indebted to Senator Witherspoon
for a pamphlet copy of the Governor's message,
copies of the Journal of the Senate, and
other favors received at his hands.
INAUGURAL BALL.
We return thanks to the managers for an
invitation to the inaugural ball, in honor of
his Excellency Governor Wade Hampton, on
Thursday evening, 3rd instant.
THE PICNIC LAST SATURDAY.
The picnic season was duly inaugurated
last Saturday, by quite a large number of ladies
and gentlemen, who made an excursion
Uir nail In Ron rrov Tlnm nn flip fl ifr Tj. Rfl.il
vjj inn bv i^wnvvi A/I?U?| V? ?mw W. ?? ?- ?
road.
r
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIMSELF. a
Last Monday, John Lathem, living a few c
miles south-west of town, while handling a
pistol, accidentally discharged the weapon, 8
and the contents, which were small shot, en- c
tered the leg, inflicting a painful, but not t
dangerous wound. Dr. Harry Clawson was <;
summoned, who extracted the shot and ren- c
dered other necessary surgical attention to c
relieve the sufferer. I
. 8
LIST OF JURORS. i
The following is a list of the petit jurors, r
drawn to serve at the special terra of the Cir- ?
cuit Court, to be held on the 15th instant: *
White.?W. D. Gaston, J. W. Dobson, S. l
E. Carroll, A. M. Black, J. V. McFadden, t
M. R. Smith, S. J. Kimbrell, L. N. Culp, P. r
W. Lindsay, Sen., J. W. Ardrey, R. H. Har- T
ris, R. B. Kennedy, J. N. McGill, J. N. J
O'Farrell, E.G. Feemster, W. Beatty Smith, ^
J. W. Y. Dickson, J. L. Adams, R. E. D. |
Currence, D. T. Lessley, VV. T.Jackson, Jas. r
M. M. Cain. ' t
Colored,.?Joseph Erwin, Simon Swann, c
Matt. Campbell, Alexander Jackson, Tony e
Whitesides, Ben Galloway, Wilson McGill, x
Wra. Adams, Allison Crawford, Robert King, ?
Jefferson Ellis, Authony Lawrence, Martin ^
Armstrong, Wilson Wilson. c
BRUTAL ACT.
a
On Friday afternoon last, Jim Houston, a u
stalwart negro, some 25 or 30 years of age, t
living on the plantation of Mr. Samuel Barron,
in the vicinity of Tirzah church in this J
county, whipped a child of his own color so 1
unmercifully that his life is despaired of. The
victim of the fiend's brutality is the son of q
Ed. Witherspoon, a neighbor, and over whom fi
Houston has no legal right of control. The v
little boy was at Houston's house, however, v
by invitation, and on the evening in question t
Houston sent him on some errand to Mr. ?
Barron's house. Not making the haste that t,
Houston desired, when the little boy, only 7 h
or 8 years old, returned to the field where g
Houston was at work, the latter tied the *
child's arms around a tree and proceeded to u
whip him, first, as the brute himself admits, .v
using cedar limbs, and afterwards hickory j'
withes, continuing the flagellation until the
child was literally flayed from the crown of
his head to the soles of his feet. Tk~ child c
was then made walk to the house, where he re- ii
mained uncared for until the next evening, r
when word reached his father of the cruel J
treatment he had received, and he was taken
D
home, and his body, a mass of sores, was p
dressed. On Monday the child was brought 0
to town for medical treatment, and placed un- c
der care of Dr. Alexander, who expresses c
doubtastoits recovery. On application of
the father, Trial Justice Lewis issued a war- c
rant for the arrest of the fiend, and he was g
promptly brought before that official on Mon- g
day afternoon, and by him committed to jail b
to await the result of the injuries inflicted li
upon the child. *
Houston appears to have no regrets for his ?
barbarous act, speaking of it as though he had y
performed a meritorious deed. While on his 0
way from the Court yard to the jail, he re- g
ceived the execrations of men and women of b
his own color, some of whom thought "Gov- I
ernor Hampton wouldn't make much fuss Jl
about it if they were to take the wretch out
and give him a similar flogging to that which ^
he inflicted upon the child while a colored 0
woman remarked?"Yes, and if a white man g
had whipped a negro that way, a regiment of I
soldiers would have been sent here right off'!" P
if UamU/ihUi* Ann ko rvnniaknrl ku ^
J3UL 11 9UUU uai uai 11* jr tail uu ^/uuiouvu
civil process, we doubt not Houston will receive
his desserts at the next term of the Cir- ?
cuit Court.
?* c
Correspondence of the Yorltville Enquirer, h
LETTER FROM CHESTER. j
Chester, April 30, 1877. i
When my correspondence was closed last y
Tuesday, the trial of the case of the State vs n
Robert Stewart, colored, charged with grand v
larceny, was progressing. The State was un- *
able to make out its case against the defendant.
It was proven that he was found in the
stable of Mr. John Smith, with a bridle in h
his haud, and iu the act of taking the horse ; u
but the testimony failed to establish the fact h
that he had taken the horse from the stable. r
The offence was nothing more than trespass, '
but as the indictment was for grand larceny, j
the jury was compelled to render a verdict of c
not guilty. d
In the afternoon the case of the State vs s;
Carter Ross, colored, charged with grand lar- P
ceny, was tried. The crime attributed to him Jj
was complicity in the Btealing of Gen. W. A.
Walker's horse. Pres Carter, colored, in ^
whose possession the horse was found at Lincolnton,
testified that the defendant had a y
conversation with him on Saturday evening ; o
before the Sunday night the horse was stolen,! si
and told him that if he (witness) would ride j
~ L T-Tnoff'a Rrirl r*a (anma nlono noQ r I t.i
Ci UU1SO iu JLij an o jji lugu ^yvujv |/?mvv *jwm? ; ?.
Dallas) he (defendant) would give him $10. ii
The witness further testified that on Sunday , tl
night the horse was provided by the defen- q
dant, and that he, having missed the way, j w
rode it to Lincolnton, instead of to Hyatt's a
Bridge. The defendant, when placed upon ! o
the stand, testified to his being at Shelby on j a
the night the horse was stolen. His testimo-!
ny was sustained by another witness, who tl
swore to his being with the defendant at Shel-1
by at the time. Still there were other wit-, tl
nesses who swore to seeing the defendant in tl
Chester on the morning of the night the horse b
wa3 stolen. With this conflicting evidence,1 ii
the case was given to the jury. They were h
some time in reaching a verdict, which was w
that of guilty.
The case of the State vs. Alfred Taylor, o
colored, charged with the murder of James q
Gill, colored, was then tried. The Solicitor 1 w
appeared for the State; J. A. Bradley, Jr.,
Esq., and W. A. Sanders, Esq., for the de- b
fendaut. The main facts of this unfortunate It
affair were given in my correspondence at the h
ime of its occurrence; so it is unnecessary
o repeal them at the present time. The tesimony
of the witnesses, both for the State
ind the defendant, led to the belief that the
tilliug was done in self-defence. The fact
vas well established, that the deceased left
lis work, went to the defendant, began a
juarrel with him, and when the defendant
emonstrated, drew and made several thrusts
it him with a knife, compelling him, in selflefence,
to draw his pistol and fire rhe fatal
ihot The jury rendered a verdict of not
juilty.
The court convened at the usual hour on
tVednesday morning. The grand jury prelented
a true bill against Pres. Carter, colorid,
charged with grand larceny. The case of
he State rw. Peter Crawford, colored, charged
vith burglary and larceny, was called for
rial. The crime laid at the door of the defendant
was stealing cotton from Mr. James
iVilson. The principal witness for the State
vaa a small negro boy, who was pusnea oy
he defendant through the hole through
vhich the band passes leading to the cotton
oom of the gin house. After obtaining ac:es8
to this room, he unfastened the door,
brough which the defendant entered, and
hen tilled a bag with cotton which he carried
iwaj and sold. This was the testimony which
ed to the conviction of the accused. The
lefendant was represented by J. A. Bradley,
Fr., who managed the case well, notwithstandng
its exceeding weakness.
Pres. Carter, who was charged with com>licity
in stealing Gen. Walker's horse, made
i confession of his guilt, and asked the mercy
if the court.
The court reassembled in the afternoon,
ind, as the Solicitor was unprepared to pro:eed
with the sessions business, gave its atention
for a short time to civil business, and
hen adjourned. Before adjournment, W. A.
Zanders, Esq., asked for a new trial in the
:ase of Carter Ross, convicted of grand lar:eny,
on the ground that important evidence
iad been discovered in favor of his client,
ince the trial of the case. The presiding
Fudge refused to grant the motion, for the
eason that the testimony establishing the
' * " 1 1 1.1 4.
;uill or JKOS8 was conclusive, anu couiu uui
>e materially affected by other testimony.
On Thursday morning the Court reassem>led
at the usual hour. The case of the State
?. Charles Williams, colored, charged with
urdering his child, was taken up for trial.
The defendant was represented by John A.
Bradley, Jr., Esq., and W. A. Sanders, Esq.
The Solicitor appeared for the State. The
>rominent points in connection with this afair
have been given by me iu previous corespondence.
The* line of defence was that
he deceased child came to his death from
Iropsy, and not from a severe whipping givn
him by the defendant, as alleged by the
fitnesses for the State. Dr. W. F. Strait
md Mr. James Robertson, on whose place
he defendant was living, both testified to the
leceased being afflicted with dropsy. The
lounsel for the defendant, Messrs. Bradley
nd Sanders, conducted the case skillfully
,nd successfully. Their arguments in behalf
f their client were convincing, and were atended
by a verdict of acquittal by the jury.
The trial of the case of the State vs. Drayon
Peeler, engaged the attention of the court
n the afternoon. The defendant was charged
vith forging an order of G. H. Smith, in his
wn favor, on G. W. McNeel, for some goods.
?he prosecuting witness, G. H. Smith, testiied
positively to the forgery. His testimony
ras corroborated by that of William Carter,
?ho had testified to an admission to him, by
he defendant, that he (defendant) had perorated
the forgery of the note. The counel
for the defendant, S. J. Couch, Esq., staed,in
his opening address to the jury, that
ie would prove the falsity of the charge on the
;round that the defendant was unable to
prlte. Yet when the defendant was placed
ipon the stand, he admitted his ability to
mte, and, in the presence of the court and
ury, did write. The jury, after remaining
a consultation for a considerable time, renlered
a verdict of guilty.
The grand jury made their report to the
ourt. They recommended the naemorializng
of the Legislature with reference to the
epeal of the fence law. They also recommended
the revoking of the charter, by the
jegislature, incorporating the town of Chestiut
Grove. Judge of Probate Dickey was
resented for incompetency. The condition
f the public offices aud institutions of the
ounty was reported to be in a satisfactory
ondition.
On Friday morning, immediately after the
onvening of the Court, the convicted crimiials,
who had been brought into Court, were
entenced by the presiding Judge. Dublin
Shannon, and Abraru Barnes, convicted of
nirglary and larceny?three years at hard
abor in the State Penitentiary ; Peter Craword,
convicted of burglary aud larceny?sevn
years at hard labor in the Penitentiary;
)rayton Peeler, convicted of forgery, who
?as recommended to the mercy of the Court?
ne year in the Penitentiary ; Ira White, Joeph
Ford, and Charles Smith, convicted of
mrglary and larceny?three years in the
^nitentiary ; Carter Ross, convicted of grand
arceny?seven years in the Penitentiary, and
>res Carter, convicted of grand larceny?two
ears in the Penitentiary; Sam White, conicted
of burglary and larceny, on the motion
f his attorney, W. A. Sanders, Esq., wa8
rauted a new trial by the presiding Judge
n consideration of bis weakness of mind, the
irobabilities are that his trial will be indefilitely
postponed. The number of criminals
onvicted is an evidence of the fitness of Soicitor
Gaston for the position to which he
70s elected last November.
After the sentencing of the prisoners the
ase of the State vs Jerre T. Walker and Rouen
Jeter, charged with trespass, was tried,
r. J. Patterson, Esq., and J. A. Bradley, Jr.
Csq., were the counsel for the defendants,
'he prosecuting witness was Dr. A. P. Wylie,
?ho charged the defendants with taking a
lill band from his mil!. The jury found a
erdict of not guilty. The Court adjourned
ine die on Friday.
The prisoners were taken to the Penitentiay
on Saturday.
D. I. Walker, who was arrested and placed
a jail last week charged with issuing a fraudlent
school certificate, has given bond, and
een released from jail. He has tendered his
esignation as Senator'irora tms county,
rhich has been accepted. An election to 6)1
he vacancy will take place on the 15th of
lay. Gen. W. A.'Walker is the peoples'
hoice for this high position, and he will
oubtless be nominated and elected. Not to
peak of his popularity and ability, he took a
rominent part in the Jate campaign, and fulp
deserves to be rewarded with Senatorial
onors.
J. J. Hemphill, Esq., has been admitted to
he House of Representatives as a member
rora this county in the place of John Lee,
?ho held an United States office at the time
f his election, and was thus ineligible to a
eat in the Legislature.
It was my delightful privilege and pleasure
0 spend the last two or three days with friends
1 the vicinity of Chestnut Grove. I visited
his newly incorporated town, and found it
uiet and orderly. It is a great happiness to
withdraw from the excitement of town life,
nd spend even a short time in the enjoyment
f that sweet rest which the soul greatly needs
nd earnestly desires.
Dr. D. G. Anderson, a worthy citizen of
his county, died last Monday.
The work of laying cross ties and iron on
he Chester and Lancaster railroad will begin
tiia week at this point. A considerable Dinner
of laborers are now employed in preparig
the track. W. H. Hardin, Esq., with
is accustomed energy, is pushing the work
nth all possible rapidity.
Mr. Geo. McNeel, who was recently elected
neof our county commissioners, but had not
ualified, departed this life at his residence,
ithin a few miles of Chester, on yesterday.
Mr. David Crosby, of the vicinity of Crosyville,
also died on Sunday. He leaves a
irge circle of friends and relatives to mourn
is untimely death. Qui.
GOVERNOR HAMPTON'S MESSAGE.
Columbia, S. C., April 26, 1877.
Oentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives
:
It is proper that I should, before entering
into a discussion of the grave questions which
will come before you, give the reasons that
impelled me to call the General Assembly together
at a time so unusual and inconvenient
to its members. I recognize and appreciate
fully the great personal sacrifices demanded
of the members by the call which briugs them
here, but the critical couditiou of public affairs
and the welfare of the State made it imperative
that I should invoke the aid of the
legislative branch of the government to assist
in the great work of reform before us, and I
felt confident that the patriotism or tnose comprising
this branch of the State government,
would inspire them to meet, cheerfully, all
sacrifices required for the interests of the State.
Your presence proves that I have not been
disappointed in this hope, and I cherish the
additional hope that you will forget the animosities
engendered by political strife, rise
superior to the petty considerations of partisanship,
and, devoting yourselves with patriotic
zeal to the service of your State, that you
will strive earnestly to restore its lost prosperity,
to revive its wasted industries, to reform
all abuses in its government, and to promote
peace, harmony, good-will and justice
among all classes and parties. To the accomplishment
of these noble aims I pledge
my constant, unwearied and earnest efforts,
and in this patriotic work I invoke your aid,
gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives,
not alone as members of the
General Assembly, but as patriots and Carolinians.
THE ANOMALOUS CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
during the past few months, while it has entailed
the necessity of convening the General
Assembly, has precluded rae from laying before
this body such full and accurate information
as is desirable, or making precise and
definite recommendations on particular measures
which will demand your attention. Circumstances
with which you are all familiar
have prevented my access to the books and
records of the various departments oftheState
government; aod hence I can neither speak
authoritatively of the exact financial condition
of the State, nor make such particular
suggestions as, under the ordinary condition
of public matters, it would have been ray
pleasure, no less than my duty, to have done.
At present I can, therefore, only call your attention
in general terms to a few subjects
which require immediate action on your part;
and I must ask for your indulgence if I am
unable to do more than to indicate the broad
and comprehensive principles which, in my
judgment, can give peace, stability and good
government to our State. To the wisdom and
patriotism of the General Assembly is committed
the grave duty of bringing back to our
people these inestimable blessings. The merit
of success will belon? to vou. gentlemen, if
" O ' o
you succeed ; and to you will the responsibility
attach if the hopes of your constituents are
disappointed.
OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The first as it is the most important subject
to which your attention is invited, is that of
the financial condition of the State. It is
needless for me to say that this condition is
deplorable; for it is shown by an empty treasury
and a ruined credit, by stagnation in
commercial circles and depression in agricultural
enterprises, by public and personal
poverty as widespread as lamentable. All
efforts to bring about a better state of affairs
will prove unavailing until the finances of
the State are put in a healthy condition and
the credit of the State established on the
sound and honorable footing they once occupied
; but, in the meantime, there is an imperative
necessity that the immediate needs of
the State should be provided for, and in doing
this the burden of taxation should be
J made,as light as possible, for the resources of
our people are well-nigh exhausted, ana ine
season of the year at which the taxes will be
called for is most unfortunate.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
While it is the province of the House of
Representatives to fix the amount of taxes
requisite to meet the demands of the State,
and the time and mode of their collection, I
venture to offer some suggestions on these
points for the consideration of the Legislature.
It is due alike to the honor ana the
credit of the State, as well as to its future
prosperity, that there should be no question
nor doubt as to our determination to meet
every honest obligation of the State fairly and
faithfully, but it is equally our duty to ascertain
what are its honest liabilities. The suspicions
which attach to a portion of the outstanding
obligations of the State, and which,
to a greater or less extent, affect the value of
all, render it imperative that these obligations,
whether funded or not, should be strictly
scrutinized with a view of ascertaining which
are valid and which are not. This should be
a condition precedent to the payment of interest
on any of the outstanding obligations of
the State, whether in the shape of bonds or
otherwise, and also to the further funding of
any of the State indebtedness into the consolidation
bonds authorised to be issued under
the act of 1874 to reduce the volume of the
public debt.
A FINANCIAL COMMISSION.
In order to effect this object in a mode sat
" ? . LI iL- fii.4 J
istactory ana equnaoie anae 10 toe ouue nuu
to the public credit, I respectfully suggest tbe
appointment of a commission, to consist of
one member from each house of the Legisla'
tare, the comptroller-general and the treasurer
of the State, and three citizens of recognized
financial ability, to whom the whole question
of the financial condition of the State shall be
referred, and under whose direction a thorough
and complete investigation of the funded
and floating indebtedness of the State shall
be made, and who shall be empowered to require
a registration before them, or before
such officers as may be designated, of the consolidation
bonds of the State. Obligations,
the validity of which shall be thus ascertained,
shall be certified in such form as tbe commission
or the Legislature may prescribe;
and the coupons on such bonds alone shall be
receivable for taxes. The commission should
also be charged with the duty of reporting to
the General Assembly, at the next regular
session, the precise character of all obligations
of doubtful validity, or clearly fraudulent,
with the specific facts or testimony upon
which their conclusions are based.
THE FUNDED DEBT.
As all the records and books showing the
amount of consolidation bonds now outstanding,
with the nature of the securities on which
j they were issued, have been withheld by the
, late officials, I am unable to state, with any
degree of accuracy, what portion of the pub1
lie debt has been converted into consolidation
i bonds, and what portion remains to be funded.
But from the best sources of information
before me, I estimate tbe amount yet to be
fuuded as about $3,000,000, which, at the rate
established for funding, will require the issue
of one million five hundred thousand dollars
of consolidation bonds. Under the act of
! 1873, these bonds bear date of January 1st,
1865, and theannual tax provided by the act
I for the payment of interest on the entire consolidated
debt has been regularly levied every
I year, and the amount unexpended for interest
should be in the treasury to meet the past
| due coupons of these bonds, as soon as issued.!
FUNDING ARREARS OF INTEREST.
I have no reason, however, to believe that
there is any such unexpended balance available
for this purpose, and if the conversion of |
the debt into consolidation bonds continues as
provided by the existing act. it will be necessary
to provide by legislation for these arrears
of interest. I suggest for your consideration
the propriety of funding these arrears up to
the time of conversion in new bonds, payable
i at such time and under such conditions as in
your judgment shall be equitable to the State
and its creditors.
THE REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.
I cannot too earnestly urge upon you the
necessity of reducing the expenses of every J
department of the government to the most ,
economical state consistent with the dignity ,
and security of the State. You will find
many offices which are not only expensive bat j
useless; and others, which, while necessary,
can be well filled for compensation much less ,
than is now paid. It is, I am sure, only necessary
to invite your attention to this subject |
to secure your wise and cordial cooperation (
in lightening the burdens which have so great- (
ly oppressed the energy and industry of our (
people. But after the most rigid reduction,
the expenses of government, funds for the
common schools, and to meet the interest on
the public debt, must be provided; and this
can only be done by a tax on the real and
persoual property of the citizens. It is one 1
of our gravest difficulties that we have come 1
into control of the government after the pe- '
riod at which taxes can most easily be paid.
Ours is essentially an agricultural community.
Our products are harvested in the latter part
of the year and sold in the earlier, and the 1
rule which has always obtained of calling for
taxes in January and February had its orisrin. 1
ot in the arbitrary will of the Legislature,
but was the natural outgrowth of an agricultural
system.
THE COLLECTION OF TAXES.
The late political struggle has been protracted
until the proceeds of the past year's
crop have been exhausted, and the present
crop is not sufficiently advanced to enable the
farmer to realize anything upon it. Every
available dollar of cash, or of credit, in the
control of the farmer, is already applied to
the growing crop, and the levy of a tax payable
at an early day, would seriously embarrass
not only the agricultural, but every other
interest of the State. The money is not in
the country. It could only be raised from
loans to the farmer by bankers or merchants,
and it is questionable if it could be raised
even in this way. It is, therefore, iucumbent
upon you, while reducing the tax to its minimum,
to arrange for collection at such times
and in such manner, as will lighten the burdens
of the people as much as possible. A
portion of the tax, absolutely necessary, could
be called for in June, and the residue, which
should be the larger portion, in October, when
the proceeds of a part, at least, of the crop
will be available for the payment of taxes.
THE TEN PER CENT. CONTRIBUTION.
By the resolutions of the House of Representatives,
adopted at the last session, I was
authorized to call for a contribution not exceeding
twenty-five per cent, of the amount
of taxes levied last year. Under this authority
a call for a voluntary contribution of onetenth
of the amount of the last tax was issued,
and was responded to with an alacrity and a
patriotic zeal most honorable to our people.
As an evidence of their confidence in my administration,
the response was as gratifying
as it was unprecedented. With a view to the
proper care and disbursement of this fand, I
directed that all amounts collected should be
placed in the hands of General Johnson Hagood,
requesting him to serve asacting-comptroller-general
and treasurer, and no appropriation
has been made except upon his check
countersigned by myself. His devotion to this
work, his activity and his great financial ability
have proved of incalculable assistance to
me. The net receipts from contribution and
from office fees amounted to $135,859.48, and
the disbursements, as will appear by the books
of Gen. Hagood's office, on account of the educational,
penal and charitable institutions of
the State, and for the legislative, executive
and judicial departments of the government,
amount to $76,771.09, leaving a cash balance
on hand of $59,178.39. By the report of the
late treasurer, dated October 31, 1876, there
were in the treasury at that time $258,020.37,
but what portion of this amount is now ou
hand I am not aware. The use of these funds
has been enjoined by the courts, and the officials
in whose charge they are will, doubtless,
account to the Legislature for them. In addition
to the funds uamed, the phosphate royalty
should yield from thirty to forty thousand
dollars, and there will then be quite a large
amount at the command of the Legislature,
sufficient, 1 hope, to meet the demands of the
State until a portion of the taxes is collected. :
While on the subject of the finances, I beg to
call your notice to
THE BILLS OF THE BANK OF THE STATE,
for this question presents a difficult problem. |
There is a widespread belief that a considerable
amount of these bills will be found missing
from the treasury, having been reissued
in place of being cancelled or destroyed. It
is well, therefore, at this juncture, to cousider
whether, or not, these bills should be receivable
in payment of taxes. Before receiving (
them for the taxes, the most rigid investiga-1 ,
tion should be had, with the view of ascer- !
taining the amount for which the State is
/iIaaJr linKln ork/) nkat nnrhnn ia tainfflll frith
VilDOIIJ H?UI5 ou.l " f"' ,
fraud, in order that suitable provision may be ]
made, at the next session of the Legislature,
for the redemption of the former, and for the
protection of the State against the latter.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. i I
The penal, charitable and educational in- '
stitutions of the State demand, and doubtless 1
will receive, your careful consideration and 1
your fostering care. Every dictate of enlightened
humanity, every precept of sound poli- 1
cy, require that these institutions should be
well regulated, properly supported and ably 1
managed. But this should be done with a 1
strict regard to economy. They should be 1
made self-supporting, as far as possible, and !
I trust that some system may be devised by '
the Legislature by which, while placing the 1
public institutions of the State on a secure '
basis, will relieve the people of a large por- 1
tion of the heavy expenses their maintenance 1
now demands. With proper legislation, the
labor of the convicts in the Penitentiary could I
be made profitable, and I ask your attention 1
to this subject. The management of this in- <
stitution, under the present superintendent,
seems to me to be judicious, and be can, without
doubt, give such valuable information as
would tend to work out much needed reforma
The charitable institutions will. likewise, I
hope, receive at your hands the attention to
which they are entitled. Reforms looking to
a reduction of the expenses of supporting
these charities can be made without impairing
their usefulness, and without forgetting
the claims that the unfortunate inmates of
these institutions have upon the charity of
the State.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
In reference to the ?>unatic Asylum, I recommend
the election or appointment of a
board of regents, composed of citizeus of this
county, the members of which are not to receive
any compensation for their services.
Motives of humanity will prompt worthy and
competent men to undertako this praiseworthy
duty, and they will fiud an ample reward
iu its discharge. The expenses of this institution,
as of the Penitentiary, have been materially
redueed within the last few months,
and, in accomplishing this end, the superintendent
has given me his ready and efficient
assistance. The two or three charitable insti- s
tutions which have been supported since De- t
nomKoi. ho fho fnndn rilnrpd in mv hands.
are the institute for the deaf and dumb, and
the orphan home for colored children. As
the latter is a State charity, I felt it to be my *
duty to supply its want until suitable provis- a
ion could be made for it by the Legislature ; ?
but I regard the outlay for its maintenance }
as unnecessarily large. It should be reorganized,
so as to make it conform to the straitened
condition of our finances, as far as this
can be done without defeating the objects of
its creation, which in themselves are praiseworthy.
1
THE UNIVERSITY. t
Of the condition of the University I am 1
unable to speak advisedly, as no communica- i <
tion from the authorities of that institution, 11
and no call for assistance, baa been received
by myself until within the lost few days, when
the chairman of the faculty banded me his
report, which I herewith transmit. While I
fully recognize the importance of keeping up
this institution, I am forced to the conclusion
that the benefits it bestows, under the present
system, are not commensurate with the expense
it entails. To bring it up to a proper
standard, it must undergo a complete reorganization,
and I earnestly ask your attention
to this subject, as of vital consequence.
Such action can be taken at present as may
be necessary to meet the immediate wants of
the University, and subsequent legislation
can, after mature deliberation, place the institution
on the high ground it once occupied.
FREE SCHOOLS.
Akin to this subject is that of free schools.
I earnestly ask that you will use every effort
to establish such a system as will place the
means of education within the reach of all
classes in the State. The present system, as
it has been administered, is a mere mockery,
nn/4a? mkinK tka /thilrlran havA ItMn lffllMr*
fectly taught, the teachers have been swindled
out of their pay, and the money of the people
has been squandered. There have been honorable
exceptions to this rule, but they are
rare. I have now before me a "teachers' pay
certificate" to which the board of school trustees,
consisting of three members, have each
affixed his "cross mark" as his signature. As
this paper is a striking illustration of the new
system of public education inaugurated in the
State, and is besides, a literary curiosity well
worth preserving, it is transmitted for inspection.
While such a disgraceful condition of
things is allowed to exist, we shall hope in
vain to see the work of education prosper.
The time may be too limited at- this session
to enable you to perfect a system which will
meet the requirements of our whole people;
but strch legislation can ~be had as will secure
to the teach ere fair compensation for services
already rendered, and will caity on public
instruction until the the next regular session.
We are bound alike by every consideration
of true statesmanship and of good faith to keep
up.ia the State such a system .of free schools
as will place within the reach of every child,
the poorest as well as the richest, black as
well as white, the means of acqta'riiig an honest
and honorable education, and to this end
I shall most cordially second any efforts on
the part of the Legislature.
conclusion.
I shall look with confident hope to joor aid,
in carrying out the reforms and fulfilling
the pledges to which we are solemnly committed.
A great work, the greatest to which
a patriotic people can be called, is before us,
and a heavy responsibility rests upon us. We
have to create anew a State, which ean of
right demand and take the proud and honorable
position she once held in the great sisterhood
of this great Republic. We have to
restore her credit, to bring back her good
name, to develop her boundless resources; to
heal her wounds, to secure equal and exact
jastice to all her children, to establish >and
maintain the supremacy of law* to diffine the
blessings of education, and to strive to bind
all classes of both races in the bonds of
peace, fraternity and piety. I trust that
we shall all devote ourselves to the attainment
of those high aims, and I pray that Ood
may, in His wisdom and His mercy, speedily
crown onr efforts with success. .1 ..
Wade Hampton, Governor. 1
THE BUSSO-TGBKISH WAB.
. Russia has formally declared war against
Turkey, and already has the clash of arms
occurred. On the 12th of April, the Czar issued
the following manifesto, which, however,
was not promulgated until several days subseouent
It explains the pretext for hostili
1 ?
ties od the part of Russia :
"Our faithful and beloved subjects: Knowing
the stroDg interest we have constantly,
felt in the destinies of the oppressed Christian
population of Turkey, oar desire to ameliorate
and assauge their lot has been shared by
the whole Russian nation, which now shows
itself ready to bear fresh sacrifices to alleviate
the position of the Christians in the Balkan
peninsula. The blood and property of oar
faithful subjects have always been dear to as
and our whole reign attests our constant solicitude
to preserve to Russia the benefit of
peace. This solicitude never failed to actuate
us during the deplorable events which occurred
in Herzegovina, Bosnia and Bulgaria.
One subject, before all, was to effect amelioration
in the position of the Christians in the
East by means of pacific negotiations and in
concert with the great European Powers, -oar
allies and friends. For two years we have
made incessant efforts to induce the Porte to
effect such reforms as would protect the'
Christians in Bosnia, Herzegovina and Bulgaria
from the arbitrary measures of local
authorities. The accomplishment of these re- .
forms was absolutely stipulated by anterior
engagements contracted by the Porte toward
the whole of Europe, pur efforts, supported
by diplomatic representation, made in common
by the other Governments, have 'h'dt,
however, attained their object The Porte
has remained unshaken in its formal'refusal
of any effective guarantee for the protection
of its Christian subjects, and bas rejected the
conclusion of .the; Constantinople conference.
Wishing to essay every possible means of
conciliation, in order to persuade the Porte,
we proposed to the other Cabinets to drSlMi^- -?
i special protocol, comprising the most essential
conditions of the Constantinople conference,
and.to invite the Turkish. Government
to adhere to this international act which
states the extreme limits of our peaceful demands.
But our expectation was not fulfilled.
The Porte did not defer to this unanimous
demand of Christian Europe, and did
Dot adhere to the conclusions of the protocol.
Having exhausted pacific efforts, we are com*
pelled by the haughty obstinancy of the Porte '.o
proceed to more decisive aets, feeling that
mr equity and our own dignity enjoin.jt.
By her refusal, Turkey places us .under/ the
necessity of having recourse to arms. Profoundly
convinced of the justice of our cause, \
ind humbly committing ourselves to the
;race and help of the Most High, we make
known to our faithful subjects that the moment,
foreseen when we pronounced words to
wnicn an Russia responded witb complete
inanimity, has now arrived. We expressed
ihe intention to act independently when we
leemed it necessary, and when Russia's hon>r
should demand it. : In now invoking the
ilessing of God upon our valiant armies, we.
jive the order to cross the Turkish frontier.
(Signed) Alexander.
; After the promulgation of the Czar's _
nanifesto, the Sultan of Turkey issued the ^
'ollowing proclamation to his army :
' "Russia has declared war. We\ are forced - |
o take up arms. We have always wished
>eace, listening to the advice of the Powers in I
his respect, but Russia wants to destrpy our 1
ndependence, and so if Russia attacks us,
>bd, who protects right and justice, will
jrant ns victory. Our soldiers will defend
with their blood, the country gained by their
ancestors, and, with the help of God, mainxL
- 2-J 1^ '
am me muepenaence or tne Usmanli. The
ration will protect the wives and children of
he soldiers, should it be necessary ; the Sulan
will go to the army and raise the standird
of the Kalifat and the Sultanat The
sultan is ready to sacrifice his life for the
lonor and independence of the country."
On the 24th, the Russian forces commenced
o nove, invading the frontier by land, the
Oanube river beiDg the objective point
On the 26th, the Russians were met by the
rurks at Tchorukston, near the port of Baoura,
on the eastern shore of the Black Sea,
n which the Russians were defeated and
lriven across the frontier with a loss of 2.000
nen.
s