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^cfaps and facts. ? Gen. Forrest, at his own request, made just before death, was buried in his Confederate uniform. ? In the next legislature of Mississippi, there will be seven colored meu, three of whom will be "straight out" democrats. ? An Omaha man has sued his wife for a divorce, because while the color of his own and his wife's hair is jet black, her baby's hair is bright red. ? Two Texas widowers recently married each other's daughters. Each man is the other fellow's father-in-law and son-in-law, and each bride is the other's daughter-in-law aud mother-in-law. ? A girl in Shelby, Ky., was provoked by the bad play of her partner at croquet. She struck him on the head with a mallet, and caused a brain fever, of which he nearly died. She was kept in custody until he recovered, aud then married him. ? The last Ohio Legislature, which was republican io both braDches, passed a law excluding colored men from the State militia. White male citizens only are eligible. The colored people think this a strange proceeding and are looking around for the cause. ? W. H. Vanderbilt is the largest receiver of interest aud dividends on stocks and bond securities in the United States, if not in the world. The total is estimated at $7,000,000 per annum, of which about $4,000,000 are from dividends and interest from the New York Ceutral Railroad. ? M. Du Chaillu recently concluded one of his lectures with a description of how the cannibals cooked human flesh. He said they preferred to eat women of about 16 to 24 ? ? ^ ? - -J ? ?? !*!*? wAaofa/1 f kof rlol. years ui age, auu iu?anouiji iua??u bu*.? ?v. icacy ; but people over fifty were generally boiled. ? A recent letter from San Antonio says the war cloud along the Rio Grande grows more portentious daily, and the sentiment is universal that a lasting peace can be obtained only by administering a whipping to Mexico as thorough as that of San Jacinto forty years ago. ? Mr. John J. Patterson is said to feel extremely happy since his speech against the President. He asserts that he has received over three hundred letters asking for copies of the speech, together with an offer of $2,000 for twenty lectures, to be delivered in New York and Connecticut. ? The Post, a new Democratic paper, made its appearance in Washington last Thursday. One of the articles of its first issue aroused great indignation among the Southern Democratic Senators, who regard it as an attempt to coerce them into the support of Mr. Conkling and his branch of the Republican party. They say that they utterly repudiate the paper and deny its right to speak for the party, or for Southern Democratic Senators. ? Mrs. Rebecca Guishard, who died in Baltimore a few days ago, at the age of ninetyeight, was one of the actors at the Richmond T1!' ??? nirrVit of its hnrnincr in ? ucanc viu mo iu.*-*"fe" ? ? e ? 1811. WbeD the fire broke out, ebe managed to reach the upper gallery, where her father, sister and child were seated, only to see them sink amid the ruins. She then jumped from the window and reached the ground unhurt, by falling on the dense mass of people ?utside. ? Some curiosity is excited to know how the United States Senate stands. At present that body consists of 75 members, with one vacancy. Of these 35 are Democrats, 1 an Independent (Judge Davis), 39 Republicans, including Patterson and Conover. Sharon is Absent. By the admission of Eustis, the Senate will stand Democrats, 36 ; Independent 1; Republicans, 39. The balance of power is with the carpet-baggers until 1879, unless there be some Providential or, as the theatrical people would say, lightning changes. ? The Indianapolis News of the 7th instant contains a report of an interview with exGovernor Hendricks in reference to rumors that Mr. Tilden took the oath of office last year and would soon begin a contest for the Presidency. Mr. Hendricks said: "I know nothing whatever about the statements. Of course I cannot know Mr. Tilden's actions; what be has been doing or what he intends ? ^ - _ J doing. So lar as l am concerned, iur. Wheeler has been 9worn into the office of Vice-President and he will stay there for four years. When he was sworn in that ended it." ? A Washington dispatch of the 5th, to the New York Evening Pott, says: "Senator Patterson is very confident that his course in the Senate in favoring the admission of Gen* M. C. Butler to a seat in that body, will result in relieving him from any further prosecution for his alleged offences in South Carolina. He received a dispatch from Columbia, S. C., saying that the Democratic members of the Legislature all favor a suspension of the proceedings against him for alleged bribery, and that their influence will be used in this direction. Patterson says that the feeling acrninnL him in South Carolina has ereatlv "*o ?;? ? # - tw modified since his stand in the Senate in favor of Butler. ?The telegraph announces that Pinchback has resigned his seat in the United States Senate, and as our readers may not remember just how he came to have a seat there, we print the following : In 1873 he was declared elected Senator from Louisiana for the term ending March 4, 1879. In 1874 the same Legislature endorsed him by joint resolution. A new Legislature, chosen November, 1874, adopted a joint resolution under which he was elected, as if a vacancy existed. His certificate bore the seal of the State, and was sigued by the Governor and Secretary of State, and Pinchback accordingly holds that ho was entitled to a seat because of that action of the Legislature. In order, however, not to embarrass Mr. Kustis betore tbe senate, Pinchback withdraws all claims to his seat. ? Some investigator of our political institutions has been looking into tbe Constitutions of the States, and finds that Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Michigan are now the only States that elect Governors every year. Those that choose for two years are Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin ; for three years, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; for four years, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia. Four States?New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Michigan?pay their Governors only $1,000 a year ; Massachusetts pays $5,000, and New York and Pennsylvania pay each $10,000. The payroll of the Governors of all the States is $284200. ? A Washington dispatch of the 5th, says that the Commissioners of Claims nave sudmitted the seventh of their reports, made at the beginning of every regular session of Congress. They report on 1,659 Southern claims. The amount claimed is $5,761,106; the amount allowed is $434,638. They made allowances in 714 cases; and 945 are disallowed. They report the general causes of total disallowances to be either disloyalty on the part of the claimant during the war, or failure to prove active or constant loyalty, or to prove that the property was taken for the actual use of the Federal Army, or that it comes within the term "stores or supplies," to which their jurisdiction is confined. The great deductions on allowed cases are due to differences between values charged by claimants for their property, and the value to the government, or to the exclusion of items not within the jurisdiction of the Commissioners, or to failure to prove the accounts as charged. Under an act of the last Congress, claimants who have not yet proved up their claims are required to do so before the 10th day of March next; and the Commission itself to continue no longer than March 10, 1879. The Commissioners have still about 2,000 claims await i ing final action, and no proofs at all have been filed in about 8,600 cases, being fi'lly onethird of those presented under the ii"t of March 3,1871. ibe farhvtUe #aquiw. ~ YORKVILLE, S, C.: j THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 13, 1877. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. All the material portions of the President's first annual message to Congress are printed on the first page of this issue of the Enquirer. To turn from the clumsy emanations of exPresident Grant's fuddled brain, which were inflicted upon a long-suffering people at stated times for eight weary years, the message of his Excellency .President Hayes, thougn a lengthy document, is, nevertheless, "pleasant reading," whether viewed as a composition alone, or whether we look only to the measures it advocates. With the exception of the terseness of Governor Hampton's last message, and the fact that he treats only of matters pertaining to our own State, there is sufficient similarity between the two documents to warrant the belief that the political idealities of the two executive officers run in the same groove. While both are moderate in the tone of their expressions, they are yet firm in the utterance of their convictions; and as any criticism which we might now make of President Hayes cannot extend prior to the day he tnnk the oath of office, candor compels us to say that we believe he is no less actuated by a desire to serve his country well, than is our own idolized Governor. As will be seen by perusal of the message, the President manfully stands up to his action in withdrawing military rule from Louisiana and South Carolina, defending bis course in the premises, and assuring the country that time will fully vindicate the wisdom of that policy. True, there has already appeared some captious criticism of this portion of the message. The New York Herald querulously asks if the President is now so bold in defence of his policy in this respect, why did he so long delay putting it into execution, and intimates that if he had withdrawn the troops within three or four days after his inauguration, the action would have been more in accord with the theory of the message. Looking through the Herald's glasses this may seem true. But we of South Carolina, who are probably more deeply interested, are only glad to know that the President did withdraw the troops, and we are willing to admit that to his action we are in a great measure indebted for the quiet, stable government we now enjoy. Why the delay, we think it not now pertinent to enquire?only feeling thankful that the day of deliverance did come, and having no inclination to reject it because deferred. With all the pressure bearing upon the President, and considering that it was a bold step outside the policy of the acknowleged leaders of his party, we are willing to make some allowance for the delay; and more willingly when we reflect that President Hayes is only a man and not imbued with the wonderful sagacity and statesmanship which so emiuently characterize the writer in the Herald. Were the reins of gov| ernment in the hands of the paragraphist of the Herald, we doubt not but this earth would be an elysium, and we would all feel that the millennium was not far off. But while Mr. Hayes was slow in adopting his policy, he new congratulates the country upon the fact that all apprehension of danger from remitting two of the Southern States to local self government is dispelled, and that there has been a general reestablishment of order. Ou the subject of currency, whether the views of the President are fully in accord with the views of the Southern people, or whether his views, if adopted, would prove embarrassing to the people of this section, his arguments do not seem to be prompted by sectionalism or controlled by any particular money aIodc Tn hin Hpsirp thaf. the reflumntion of specie payment shall not be retarded, he makes himself plainly understood. His recommendation of a tax on tea and coffee will doubtless meet more universal opposition than any recommendation be makes, inasmuch as the proposition is not with the view of increasing the volume of revenue from internal sources, bat simply to tatce tne burthen from other subjects and place it upon these two articles of daily consumption and prime necessity. Yet the experience of other countries is that tea and coffee can bear a tax the same as other luxuries?the duty falling lightly on each consumer. While the message could not be expected to give all sections of the Republic equal satisfaction, and apply equally to the wants and requirements of so many diversified interests, it is nevertheless conceived in a liberal spirit and will go far towards restoring confidence throughout the country. THE MOFFET LIQUOR REGISTER. The practicability of the Moffet liquor reg_i?j i -f t lsier, piaueu uy nui ui tuc uc^iaiaiuic v>? t i?ginia in the bar-rooms of that State, has been satisfactorily demonstrated after an experience of about three months, and the attention of other States is being turned to the expedient as a means of increasing their public revenue. At the last session of the Legislature of this State, the following resolution was adopted : "That the special committee to investigate alleged frauds be instructed to ascertain if the law of Virginia, relating to the sale of spirituous and malt liquors, can be made available i in this State, and they are hereby authorized to report by bill or otherwise to the next General Assembly." We learn from the Columbia Register that i the duty thus devolved upon the committee j has been discharged, and they will, at an early day, make their report offering a bill I for the introduction of the register system in I this State in connection with the granting of j liquor licenses as now provided by law, issued j under the authority of corporate towns and j cities, and the grand juries. The general features of the Virginia law are understood by the reading public, and we presume those features will be retained in the bill proposed to be introduced in our Legislature. The I Moffet law simply levies a tax upon every drink of spirituous and malt liquors, and provides a system of registration whereby the number of drinks sold in a barroom are unerringly recorded, aud by the figures on the dial-plate of the register the liquor-seller is required to make his payment of tax at stated times. While the measure will have its advocates in this State, it will also have its opponents. It was noticeable, pending the discussion of the law in Virginia, that it was opposed by leading temperance advocates in thatState. One thing certain, while its adoption in this State would not diminish the consumption of liquor, it would certainly increase the revenue. proceedingsTof congress. In the House on the 4th, bills were introduced and passed, repealing the law disqualifying jurors on account of participation in the rebellion, and eliminating from the Btatute all provisions of the test oatb. Bills were introduced and referred as follows: By Money, of Mississippi, amending the act relating to the payment of the net proceeds of cotton seized after June, 1865. By Ellsworth, of Michigan, for general amnesty. By Boker, of Indiana, for a constitutional amendment prohibiting payment for the loss or damage growing out of the seizure or destruction of property during the war. A resolution for recess from the 19th of December to the 10th of January was offered and referred. On the 5th, the House consumed the day discussing whether bills for the improvement upon rivers and harbors should go to the committee on commerce, or the committee on rail ways and canals. The question was referred to the committee on rules. In the Senate on the 6th, the House silver bill was made the special order for the 11th instant, by a vote of 41 to 18, which is understood to threaten a defeat of the veto, should the President adhere to the doctrines enunciated on this subject in his message. Mr. Matthews introduced a preamble and resolution setting forth that by the act to strengthen the public credit, passed in 1870, all debts of the United States were made payable, and bonds were made redeemable in coin of the then standard value, and whereas that coin included silver dollars of 4121 grains, therefore be it resolved, that all debts of the United States are payable at the option of the United States in silver dollars of 4121 grains each. Laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Several changes were announced in " * * *1 - O H/T the standing committees or toe oeuate. mr. Butler, of South Carolioa, is on the military committee, and on the select committee on transportation routes to the seaboard. A number of petitions were presented, among them several from the National banks of Boston, Mass., and Providence, R. I., against the passage of a silver bill. In the House, efforts were made by Mr. Joyce and Mr. Blair to introduce very strong Cuban resolutions, but objection was made to them. Three reports were submitted from the committee on elections in the Colorado case, the majority report recommending that Patterson, (Dem.) be seated. Mr. Waddell reported the annual post-route bill, which was passed, aud at 2 P. M., the House adjourned. In the Senate on the 7th, Mr. Sargent, from the committee on naval affairs, reported, with amendment, the House bill for the relief of the sufferers by wreck of the Huron. The amendment provides for the payment to the heirs of those lost on the Huron a sum equal to twelve months' sea pay; to the heirs of Capt. Guthrie, of the life-saving service, a sum equal to his compensation for one year, and to those belonging to the wrecking steamer, ?. and J. Baker?the last in attempting to save those on board the Huron?one hundred dollars each. The amendment was agreed to and the bill passed. Mr. Mitchell, of Oregon, called up the resolution to extend the time for the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad, the discussion of which occupied the greater portion of the day. Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, asked the aid of Congress in the improvement of the navigation of Mobile bay. Referred to the committee on commerce. Mr. Edmunds, of Vermont, called up the resolution submitted by him directing the AttorneyGeneral to communicate to the Senate, as soon aa may be, a list of all criminal prosecutions commenced in tbe Courts of the United States in the district of South Carolina since tbe 1st day of January, 1876, for offences against lives, property, civil rights or right of suffrage of any person, with names of the alleged offender and a statement of the disposition of such prosecutious and the dates thereof. Agreed to. The Senate concurred in the House joint resolution to adjourn from the 15th of December to the 10th of January. Adjourned to Monday. In the House, it was agreed to adjourn on the 15th for the holidays, and convene on the 10th of January. Mr. Stephens introduced a bill amendatory to the act incorporating the Texas Pacific Railroad. Mr. Shelly, of Alabama, introduced a bill relative to Chinese immigration. It imposes a fine of $250 per head on each Chinaman coming into the United States after January 1st, 1879. This amount is virtually proscriptive. Gen. Shelly does this to protect the colored laboreis of the South from the perils that threaten the white laborers of California, who are reported to be approaching starvation from the demoralizing competition the Chinese offer. Bills were passed removing the political disabilities of Win. A. Cornwall, of Georgia, and W. A. Evans, of Louisiana, for the relief of the city " ? r*\ 1 _ i.1 or iviacon, Ura., auu lor me renei ui tue ju<agie and Phoenix Manufacturing Company of Georgia. Adjourned till Monday. In the Senate on the 10th, Eustis, of Louisiana, was seated by a vote of 49 to 8. Sargent introduced a bill to restrict Chinese immigration. Maxcy presented a petition of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians against the passage of a bill to enable the Indians to become citizens. The Texas Pacific Railroad bill was introduced by Johnson, of Virginia. Matthews called up his resolution declaring that the Government could pay its bonded debt in silver. He spoke at great leugth. Morrill spoke in opposition, and moved a reference to the committee on the judiciary. Pending the discussion, the Senate adjourned. In the House the relations between Mexico and the United States Government were discussed, the general sentiment prevailing | among members that this Government should I preserve peaceful relations with Mexico. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Four miles of the Greenwood aud Augusta Railroad have beeu graded and are ready for the cross-ties. t ? It is reported that McEvoy, under sentence of death in Aiken county, has again made his escape. ? H. W. Justi, a native of Germany, cora' raitted suicide in Columbia, last Saturday evening, by shootiDg himself with a Winchester rifle. The deed was committed in a fit of mental aberration. ? Quite a number of petitions, memorials, 11 &c., have been introduced in the legislature from different sections of the State, askiug relief against discriminating charges for freight nn railroads. ? The Speaker of the House of Representai tives has issued a writordering an election for ! a representative from Union county, to supply i the place of Judge Wallace. The election will take place within ten or fifteen days. I j ? A special dispatch to the Journal of Commerce says it has been decided in Cabinet meeting to appoint Cyrus H. Baldwin, of Columbia, to be Collector of the Port of Charleston, in place of Worthington. ? The ninety-second annual session of the South Carolina Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, convened at the Washington Street Church in Columbia, on yesterday?Bishop Doggett presiding. ? R. R. Hemphill, Esq., one of the editors of the Abbeville Medium, has been appointed Brigadier-General of the 7th Brigade of South Carolina Volunteer Troops, embracing the counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Greenville and Laurens. ? Judge Mackey and General Butler returned to Columbia on Tuesday of last week. Judge Mackey says that Corbin resembled a three weeks' old corpse while General Butler was being sworn in as Senator from South Carolina. ? The Edge6eld Advertiser favors the adoption of the constitutional amendment in regard to public schools. At the last election, more votes were cast against the amendment in Edgefield county, than in all the other counties of the State. The Advertiser says that it was voted against in Edgefield county, "simply because?in the all-absorbing tnougnc or rescuing our county?uu one knew or cared what it meant." ? Col. William Elliott has been nominated as the democratic candidate for Senator for Beaufort county, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Sammy Green. The notorious W. J. Whipper, who atone time grew rich in the days of Radical rascality, and then gambled it away in a short time, is flooding Beaufort county with handbills calling the broken ranks of the Republicans together, and urging them to support him for this honorable position. + ? NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Federal Court is in session at Raleigh? Judges Brooks and Bond presiding. ? The office of internal revenue collector of the fifth district, has been removed from Greensboro to Winston. ? Near Tarboro, recently, a gray eagle was recently killed, measuring eight feet from tip to tip of wing. He had destroyed 15 young pigs, and was in possession of two geese when j. J captureu. ? A petition is in circulation in and around Winston, to get the death sentence of Thaddeus Davis, lately convicted in the court at that place of burglary and sentenced to be hanged, remitted to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary. ? The Charlotte Observer says that the route ageut who showed the best examination of any of those who were examined in that city last month, was a colored man named Taylor, who lives in Wilmington and runs as agent on the Carolina Central. ? The Charlotte Observer says: "It now seems quite sure that nearly all the persons who were injured by the recent accident on the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, or sustained any loss or damage to baggage or anything else, will institute suit against the company." ? Edward Conigland, of Halifax, an able lawyer, and prominent in public affairs, was killed on the 4th instant, by being struck by a train on the Wilmington and Weldon railroad track. He was rather deaf, and was walking on the railroad track when the accident happened. ? About one o'clock on Thursday last, a white operative in the factory of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company at Rockingham, Richmond county, was leaning out of a third storv window of the factorv building. looking at some object below, wheu he lost his balance, fell over the window sill and descended to the earth with all the force of dead weight. Many of his bones were broken, bis body was horribly crushed and mangled, and life was extinct a few moments after the fall. MERE-MENTION. The Chicago Inter-Ocean (Republican,) admits that the leading statesmen of the South are "the shrewdest and longest-beaded of political, or diplomatic, or sectional managers." Col. Robert Tyler, a son of exPresident Tyler, was attacked with paralysis of the brain and died on the 4th instant, in Montgomery, Ala. The congressional judiciary committee have agreed to recom J .T. c k;n? . I menu lilt] U1 luo luuumujj uiuo > j.?oI peal of the iron-clad oath ; repeal of the test oath for jurors; and a bill allowing persona charged with crime to testify in their own behalf. In his evidence before the military committee, last week, Gen. Ord stated that the Mexican people and the authorities of the lower Rio Grande were in sympathy with the raiders into Mexico. The Fourth Cavalry, from the Indian Territory, and the Twentieth Infantry, from Dakota, have been ordered to Texas. These bodies of troops will be recruited to their full regimental strength. At a local election in Louisville, Ky., on the 5th, the workiugmen's ticket was very thoroughly defeated, only a few nominees receiving majorities over the citizens' candidates. In the Georgia election, last week, the new constitution was adopted by a large majority. Atlanta was endorsed as the permanent capital, and a Democratic Legislature was elected. Lerdo Tejada withdraws his pretensions to the Mexican Presidency, and intends retiring to France. He recommends General Escobedo to the suffrage of his friends. "Men should be careful lest they cause women to weep, for God counts their tears," says the Talmud. It is rumored in Washington that both Senators Butler and Patterson are opposed to the appointment of Judge Northrop as United States Attorney for South Carolina, and will oppose his confirmation if his name is again sent to the Seuate. The judiciary committee of the House of Representatives were expected to report last Tuesday on the Smalls case. It j was thought they would report against any | interference with the course of the law in ; South Carolina. A Louisville dispatch says serious trouble is expected at any moment in Lincoln county, Ky., in consequence of the capture of several outlaws there last j week. In Louisville, Ky., last Saturday night, a fire broke out in a wholesale liquor ! house, destroying the building and 3,000 bar! rels of whiskey. Giving the Old Man Another Chance. i The motion for a new trial in the case of ex- Assistant Secretary Sawyer, ex-Coramissioner of Customs Haines and Brooks, was granted last Thursday, by Judge McArthur, ol | the Crimiual Court of the District of Columbia. In the course of his remarks on granting the order, the Judge said : i "It was apparent at the trial, and it is made more so by what has taken place since, that ! the defeat of trial to which the defendants were subjected is, perhaps, more palpable than an? case that has ever been presented for my consideration. From some cause or . other, perhaps not exclusively owing to their own neglect, these defendants have not had the advantage of a full defence. The want | of preparation was evident from the first moment that the trial began. The parties appeared*tobe wandering and feeling their way through. I am inclined to think, upon the whole, it would be exercising sound discrej tion on the part of the Court, under these ciri cumstances, to give these parties one more ) chance. The order then may be made grant1 ing a new trial." LOCAL A77AZHS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. G. L. Riddle, W. J. Stephenson, Robert Hays, County Commissioners?The Fence Law Election in Ebenezer Township. R. H. Glenn, S. Y. C.?Sheriff's Sales. W. I. Clawson, Plaintiff's Attorney?To the Defendant, William Adkins. W. S. Creighton, Administrator?-Applications for Discharge. J. M. Adams?Wanted 10,000 Pounds of Rags. A. R. Anders, Pin Hook, Gaston, N. C.?Horse Stolen. W. H. A J. P. Herndon?What to Do. W. A. Moore, Auditor, York county?Delinquent Land Sales. Latimer A Hemphill?Harness Leather?Hides. Hunter <fe Oates?Dress Goods, Ac. H. H. Thomson A Co.?Chattel Mortgage Sale. W. R. Jones, A. M., Principal?Yorkville Female Institute. J. R. Schorb, Clerk?Town Ordinance. W. H. McCorkle?At Private Sale?Houses and Lots for Rent. W. E. Erwin, George J. 8teele?Sale of Land. W. B. Metts?For Sale. IMPORTANT^ORDINANCE. Mr. J. R. Schorb, Clerk of the Town Coun! cil. nuhlishes an ordinance in our advertising columns which will prove of peculiar interest to "the boys." TOWNSHIP ELECTION. The election iu Ebenezer township, last Monday, on the question of changing the fence law, resulted in favor of making the proposed chauge, by the following vote: In favor of changing the law, 189 Opposed to changing the law, 1 Majority in favor of the change, 188 It would be well for all interested to remember that an election on the same question will be held in Yorkville, for York township, on Tuesday next, the 18th inBtant. ILLNESS OF W. I. CLAWSON, ESQ. The many friends of VV. I. Clawson, Esq., of this place, were pained to learn on Tuesday morning last that he was ill, to the point of death, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Marshall, near Fort Mill?having been suddenly attacked after his arrival there, Monday evening, on a visit. By a special dispatch received at the Enquirer office Tuesday night, the gratifying intelligence was conveyed that Mr. Clawson was then much improved, and thought to be out of danger. INTERESTING SKETCHES. In the beginning of the next volume of the Enquirer, we will commence the publication of a series of historical sketches of the old and famous churches (irrespective of denominations) in South Carolina, in connection with which will also be biographical sketches of the noted characters who figured in the early church history of the State. Besides these sketches, we will also, during the year, publish biographical sketches of a number of Revolutionary officers and soldiers, who were conspicuous in the Revolutionary history of South Carolina and adjoining States. These sketches will be written expressly for the Enquirer by Rev. Robert Latban, and will prove of much interest to our readers. A BEAUTIFUL PHENOMENON. Star-gazers and others interested in the subject of astronomy, were gratified last Saturday evening by the beautiful celestial spectacle afforded by the close proximity of the new moon and the planet Veuus. At halfpast 5 the planet was opposite the centre oi the crescent, equi-distant betweeu the horns and close to the visible edge of the moon, representing precisely the symbols on tbe Turkish flag. The positions gradually changed, and by 7 o'clock Venus rested on tbe lower horu of the crescent, and was partially eclipsed. By 8 o'clock the two were some distance apart. The transit of Venus across the moon's disc is a phenomenon of unusual occurrence?happening, we believe, once in about every twenty years?and on this occasion was viewed here by quite a number of interested persons. FRUIT CULTURE. an/1 mirla.a molro tna?nfl. V/Ui VUICI pi lOlUg auu muv Mn?Bv wumm man, Col. W. B. Metts, has branched out in a new business, and one which will no doubt prove profitable to himself, while it will prove beneficial to the people generally, demonstrating, as we think it will, that fruit culture can be made a lucrative and profitable business in York county. During the present fall, Col. Metts has planted near Yorkville, an orchard of one thousand peach trees, using only the choicest and most select varieties, with the > view of cultivating fruit for market. When > the trees become of bearing age, Col. Mettt will ship fruit to the Northern markets, and such as is not disposed of in this manner and gold from the trees for home consumption, he i will utilize by desicating?the demand foi ' dried fruit always exceeding the supply. We hail this new enterprise of Col. Metts with * pleasure, as another step in the right direction for the development of the resources of out i generous soil and genial climate. TRANSFERS OF REAL ESTATE. The following transfers of real estate have , been recorded in the office of the County Au. ditor since our last report: John Garrison to Woi. S. Garrison. Lol of 2 acres in Ebenezer township. Consideration $100. J. F. Steele to James A. Gill. Tract oi 178 acres in Catawba township. Consideration $411. R. H. Neely to W. A. Steele. Tract oi , 23 acres in Bethesda township. Considera. tion $112. L. P. Bighara to M. S. Bigham. Tract of 40 acres in York township. Consideration $170. Robert Smith to James A. Smith. Tract ' of 200 acres in Catawba township. Consideration $835.30. A. F. Smith, Executor, to J. MeKeown. 1 Tract of 444 acres in Broad River township. Consideration $5,125.77. R. H. Glenn, Sheriff, to A. S. Corry. Life interest in 700 acres in Cherokee township. Consideration $65. A. S. Corry to J. P. Hambright. Onehalf interest in the above life-interest. Con1 sideration $32.50. J. P. Aycock to David Gordon. Tract of 161 aeres in Catawba township. Consideration $48.75. J. A. McLean, Assignee, to L. M. Grist Tract of 97 acres in York township. Consideration $451. ' j Robert Barber to John 0. Crawford. Tracl ! of 100 acres in King's Mountain township , Consideration $300. R. H. Gleuu, Sheriff, to J. J. Stanton Tract of 80 acres io Bethel township. Con sideration $340. ( Isaac T. Faris to Zimri Carroll. Tract oi ; i 18 acres in Bethel township. Consideratior 1 $200. i State of South Carolina to A. Williford 1 ! Tract of 64 acres in Catawba township. Con i sideration $352. Ann White and others to S. G. Keistler Lot in Rock Hill. Consideration $150. R. H. Glenn to A. S. Wallace. Tract ol | 30 acres in Bullock's Creek township. Con : sideration $75. 'I R. H. Glenn, Sheriff, to VV. B. Metta ! Tract of 75 acres in York township. Conj sideration $1,207.50. I %r r\ ? Tat | \j. i?l. iuouie IU V^JUkllia ivauuau. UVI HI I Black's Station. Consideration $10. BY TELEGRAPH. "THE USURY BILL. . i Columbia, December 12. The House passed, yesterday, to a third reading, by a vote of 73 to 17, a bill to re- 1 strict the rate of interest on all contracts to seven per cent., and not allowing parties to recover, in any Court, any portion of interest unlawfully charged. This bill passed the Senate at the last session, and will probably pass the third reading in the House without amendment. i. d. w. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. LETTER FROM ROCK HILL. Rock Hill, S. C., December 10. Nothing new nor startling has disturbed the quiet of our little town since my last letter. The investigating committee have held a two days' session here. They took the testimony of Major 8. P. Hamilton, M. L. Owens and ex Judge Wright. What was developed has not been disclosed, as the members of the commission persist in secret sessions and remain reticent on the subject of investigation. Ebenezer,our sister town, still keeps up her timehonored reputation of having good schools. We had the pleasure of quite alively debate at the school of Mr. Strait, on Friday night last. Four of bis male pupils constituted the debating club for that night. The subject chosen was?Which is the more useful to mankind, the cow or the horse? It was ably argued, pro and eon. The committee chosen from the audience to decide the question from the force of arguments made on either side, in defence of the indispensable cow aud noble horse, decided that the affirmative side had argued somewhat moreclearlv and forcibly, and were entitled to a decision ia their favor. The young men gave evidence of natural ability and good teaching. It is certainly gratifying to see such progress in the youths of our country, who will be called upon in after years to fill the seats now occupied by President Hayes and Gov. Hampton, and have the legislative halls echo the sound of their voices, whose telling eloquence will reflect a lasting credit upon their State and honor to themselves. The Rock Hill Silver Cornet Band, wliich now bears a very good. comparison with the post band of Columbia, discoursed very sweet and lively music between each argument of the debate, which added greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion ; there being many fair faces and hearts warm with enthusiasm for the noble contestants. The evening was pleasantly and most profitably spent. rp|1 - -I _ L- A!_ . i ne transit or me tuoou s uisc uy iue |ubucl Venus, last Saturday evening, was witnessed here by a large number of people, to whom the phenomenon was quite a novelty. Lux. EDITORIAL* INKLINGS. The Vsory Bill. The following are the provisions of the hill "to regulate the rate of interest on all con* tracts arising in this State," which passed the Senate at the special session, and has been a subject of debate in the House on several days of the past week : "Section 1. That from and after the passage of this Act, no greater rate of interest > than seven ner centum ner annum shall be charged, taken, agreed upon or allowed upon > any contract arising in this State for the hiring, lending or use of money or other commodity. 1 "Sec. 2. That no person or corporation 1 lending or advancing money or other commodity upon a greater rate of iutereat than is , provided for in Section 1 of this Act, shall be allowed to recover iu any Court of this State any portion of the interest so unlawfully charged, and that the principal sum, amount or value so lent or advauced, without any interest, shall he deemed and taken hy the Courts of this State to be the true legal debt or measure of damages to all intents and pur' poses whatsoever, to be recovered without CO0t8." North Carolina M. E. Conference. The conference of the Methodist Episi /-ii i :? _. COpai unurCD was in seasiuu at oauouurjr iaot week and week before. Id the list of appoint' raents for the ensuing year, are the following 1 for Shelby and Charlotte districts: Shelby District?J. S. Nelson, Presiding Elder?Shelby, J. W. North; Shelby circuit, i H. T. Hudson; Rutherfordtou and Columbus , Mission, G. F. Round, A. E. Wiley ; Marion, I C. A. Gault; Upper Broad River Mission, ( W. R. Maness ; Morganton, P. L. Groome ; Morganton circuit, P. F. W. 8tamey ; Cald! well, J. C. Crisp ; Double Shoals, J. D. Car1 penter; Lenoir Station, W. M. Robey ; Hap> py Home, J. C. Hartsell; Newton, C. M. AnI derson; Rock Spring, D. W. Ivey; South | Fork, W. S. Chaffin; Dallas, J. B. Carpenter; T.inr?nlntnn. .L B. Harris. Charlotte District?W. H. Bobbit, Presiding Elder.?Charlotte, Tryon street, A. A. 5 Boshamer; Calvary Mission, J. F. Butt; 1 South Charlotte, W. S. Haltom; Pineville, i L. E. Stacey; Pleasant Grove, R. T. Steven son ; Monroe Station, J. H. Guinn ; Monroe Circuit, Z. Rush; Concord, H. P. Cole; Concord Circuit, J. C. Thomas; Mt. Pleasant, J. B. Alford; Albemarle, I. T. Wyche; Stan, ly, Miles Foy; Ansonville, T. H.Edwards; Wadesboro, T. W. Guthrie; VVadesboro Circuit, 0. J. Brent; Lilesville, C. M. Pepper. The next meeting of the Conference will be ' held in Charlotte in November, 1878. Death of Gen. Hnger. P Geo. Benjamin Huger died at his residence, in Charleston, on Friday last Gen. Huger was bora oa the 22ad of November, . 1805. He graduated from the Military Academy at West Point in 1825, and was assigned to duty in the artillery service. In , 1831 he was transferred to the ordnance corps and served for many years as commander of the Arsenal at Fortress Monroe. He was afterwards Chief of Ordnance to Gen. Scott's army in Mexico, where he obtained three brevets as a recognition of his conspicuous conduct and ability. On the breaking out of the war in 1861, he resigned his commission in the United States Army and repaired to Richmond, and offered his services to the Confederate au* thorities. He was at once appointed a Brigadier-General and assigned to the command of the Department of Norfolk, Va., which he conducted with marked ability. He or. ganized a fine division, was soon promoted to Major-General, and evacuated Norfolk in obedience to orders in May, 1862, bringing off his command and all the public property, practically without loss. He participated in the battles around Richmond, continuing ^ in the service of the Confederacy until its close, when he was ordered to the Trans Mississippi Department. He subsequently settle nnnn a farm in Fauuuier county. Virgin- i ' ia, but a kind Providence decreed that he * should die at his old home, surrounded by his family and friends, f Patterson Dismissed from Arrest. i In Washington, on the 5th instant, Judge Humphries delivered his opinion in . the matter of John J. Patterson relator, on a i habeas corpus to be relieved from a warrant | ! of arrest on a requisition of the Governor of i . South Carolina. There were present among 1 others, Senator Patterson and two of his f counsel, namely: Messrs. Cook and Sheila-! barger, and Mr. Lowndes, attorney for South Carolina. The Judge's opinion was elabo. rate. He denied the power of the State of South Carolina to vacate Senator Patterson's | commission, which must continue until consti- ' ;: tutioually revoked, in pursuance of organic j I authority. It could not be said that Senator Patterson was a fugitive from justice, as be was here in the discbarge of official duties like all otber members of Congress, and besides, be had acted in the capacity of Senator years before the present indictment was V brought against him in the South Carolina 9 Court. The writ was granted and the de- 1 fendant discharged. The decision concludes g in the following language: "I think I am bound to take judicial cognizance that party organization is one thing, * and faction to destroy it is another. The ' most cruel tyranny would be the application of civil forms of law to the dominance aud triumph of the passions of a faction. I cannot reconcile it to my sense of duty to give ^ aid in placing manacles and handcuffs around and about the individual ritizen for the purpose of surrendering him. bound, into the hands of those who may not be dispassionate enough to vindicate the true rights of the individual, or to those who might be led by impassioned appeals to a condition of mind they could not resist. Zeal for the correction of wrong haa often led to the conviction of the innocent. It is the duty of the courts to sit still and deliberate, and with civil procedure to throw their protection in such a direction as may curb and control wayward action. Let the man be remanded to the body of which be is a member. That body is legally, constitutionally, morally, intellectually capacitated to dispose of the questions involved, and to condemn or acquit. I discharge him from arrest of the warrant for his extradition, and the same is hereby ordered." The Richmond Diipaich, a strong Democratic journal, commenting upon the decision, )> says: "No doubt Patterson is a scamp, but ^ the decision of Judge Humphries is right." j SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE. ] Columbia, Tuesday Dec. 4,1877. jfl In the Senate, the proceedings wor^frincipaily of a routine character and present nothing of special interest. jj In the House, Mr. Guignard introduced * a bill to prevent improper charges for ad- a vances to planters and others. i Mr. J. J. Hemphill introduced a bill to alter aud amend an act which refers to the charter of the town of Chester. ?? - ? 1 lmi 4. _ t ! _!_ al _ j Mr. Jttiue lniroaucea a out 10 aoousn me ! pay of witnesses in State cases. Mr. Wells introduced a bill to authorize the Secretary of State to extend the time for the payment of purchase money for tracts of lands purchased of the Land Commissioner, for one year. Mr. Sheppard, of the committee on ways and means, made an unfavorable report on bill to provide for the election of County Treasurers and Auditors, and a favorable report on bill to restore to their former owners all lands forfeited to the State for taxes. A message was read from the Governor, in- ^ forming the legislature that Attorney Gener- | al Conner had sent in his resignation. It 1 dealt in words very complimentary to Gener- ^^9 al Conner, highly praising the valuable services he had rendered the State, and deeply fl regretting that he had felt constrained to re- V sign. On motion of Mr. Simpson, it was re- ^ ceived as information. |1 Mr. Blue offered a resolution thanking At- i torney General Conner for the able manner in which he bad discharged the dutiea of his office. The House proceeded to the consideration of the report of the special committee appointed to prepare articles of impeachment against J. J. Wright, Associate Justice of r the Supreme Court. The report set forth the \ fact that before the committee had entered upon the discharge of their duties, Judge Wright had resigned his office. It went on ofola kot Kla roaionafinn ko/1 nnf knan mil. IV OWIlQ Wilt* Is IS IO VCI^UWVIUU UHU IIW? WWU perinduced by any action of theirs. After some short debate, the report of the commit- -4 tee was adopted. A bill to regulate the rate of interest on all contracts arising in this State was next called up. Mr. Ferriter moved to strike out the enacting clause, but bis motion was lost. Mr. Brown advocated the bill. The people of the State, he said, were crushed and - I ground down by having to pay extortionate rates of interest on money. Sigh rates of interest tempted capitalists to loan out money and thereby make people poorer, instead of investing in legitimate enterprises, mauufac- V tures, &c., aud benefitting the State. He 1 thought that it was better that money should not come into the State at all, than that it t should come to be used for the benefit of the few to the detriment of the many. \ Mr. Brown was replied to by Mr. Meraminger, who expressed surprise at hearing such views advanced. He said that he was a member of the House for many years, and that during the time, no gentleman of intelligence would have advocated the views expressed bv the honorable centleman who favors the usury law proposed by the bill now before the House. He asks us to travel back 200 years. We want capital to come into the State, but we cannot force it. We must invite it We have no right to fix the price of any commodity by legislation. Will you say to the cotton seller, you shall not receive J more than ten cents a pound for cotion ? or f to the bacon dealer, you shall not charge more than fifteen cents a pound for bacon ? We cannot fix the price of any of these commodities, and what is the difference between them and money? The men who have money to lend are not the ones to build up our industries; but the borrowers are the ones. None will come here and spend their money for the benefit of the country. I inform my friend on the other side that banks, when ^ they are not connected with the government, ] barely pay expenses. It is very seldom, even J with the most economical aud judicious management, that a bank pays au aunual dividend of 7 per cent. The great reason of the high rate of interest which is charged in South Carolina, is one that you will not fail | to perceive. The State is proceeding on a false basis of taxation. It taxes both debits and credits. The State taxes money, and interest is ohliped to be hiirher in this State than anywhere else. The State, by this vicious system of taxation, makes a high rate of interest absolutely necessary. Mr. Memminger went on to elaborate the various points of hia argument The venerable legislator was listened to with marked attention and interest, and his words seemed to prodace a deep impression. Mr. Connor followed in support of the bill. His argument was maiuly devoted to establishing the fallacy of the proposition that * money was like other commodities. It differ- % ed from them, he contended, inasmuch as its quality was fixed, unlike other articles of com- j merce or manufacture. ' Mr. Aldrich followed in an argument of some length in opposition to the bill, and cou- - tinued until the hour of adjournment. Wednesday, December 5. In the Senate, the bill to authorize the ,, County Commissioners in the several counties of the State to allow the erection of gates upon the highways of the State, wherever, in their judgment, the same may be expedient, was referred to the Committee on Roads, Bridges and Ferries. In the House, Mr. Curtis introduced a bill to exempt from poll tax all persons who have lost one or more limbs. At 1 o'clock the Sergeant-at-Arms announced that the Senate was ready to be admitted. The Senators then marched in, headed by President Simpson, and took the seats assigned them. President Simpson took the chair aud called the joint assembly to order. He stated that they had convened for the nurnose of electing a Circuit Judore to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Northrop, of the 7th Circuit; Associate Justice to supply the vacancy caused by the resignation of J. J. Wright; and an Attorney General, to t&ke the position made vacant by the resignation of General Conner. The Clerk then read the rules governing such elections, and the Chair stated that the elections would take place in the order they