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Ihe ftftfeviHc YORKVILLE. S. C. s THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 31,1878. How to Order the Enqairer.?Write the Dame of the subscriber very plainly, Rive post-office, county and State in full, and send the amount of the subscription by draft or post-office money order, or enclose the money In a registered letter. Postage.?The Enquirer is delivered free of postage to all subscribers residing in York countv, who receive the paper at post-offices within the county; and to all other subscribers the postage is paid by the publisher. Our subscribers, no matter where they receive the paper, are not liable for postage, it being prepaid at the post-office here, without additional charge to the subscriber. Watch the Figures.?'The date on tne "aaaresslabel" shows the time to which the subscription is paid. If subscribers do not wish their papers discontinued, the date must be kept in advance. Cash.?It must be distinctly understood that our terms for subscription, advertising and jobwork, are cash in advance. THE CIRCUIT JUDGES~ On Tuesday of last week, the Supreme Court rendered a decision declaring the election of circuit judges, held on the 16th of December, 1875, as unconstitutional. The point at issue was whether the election of circuit judges by the General Assembly should be by joint ballot or viva voce. The decision of the court is that by joint ballot is the mode required by the constitution. The opinion of the court was rendered by Associate-Justice Haskell, Associate-Justice Mc' Iver concurring and delivering a separate opinion. Chief Justice Willard filed a dissenting opinion. The effect of the decision is to create vacancies in six of the eight circuits of the State, vi*.: First oircuit?Judge Reed; second circuit?Judge Wiggin; third circuit? Judge Shaw; fourth circuit?Judge Townsend; sixth circuit?Judge Mackey; eighth circuit?Judge Cooke. Judge Kershaw, of the fifth circuit, and Judge Wallace, of the aventh circuit, were elected by joint ballot, and are not affected by the decision. The term of office of Judge Keed would have expired by limitation in December next The terras of Judges Wiggin, Shaw, Townsend, Mackey and Cooke, would have expired in August, 1880. The Charleston Nexus and Courier gives the following as a statement of the facts which led to the decision of the Supreme Court: There are two provisions in the Constitution relating to such elections. The general provision, in that part of the Constitution relative to the Legislative Department, is that iu all elections by the General Assembly the members shall vote viva voce; the special provision, in that part of the Constitution relative to Judicial Department, is that for each Circuit a Judge shall be elected by joint ballot. Up to the time that Judge Kershaw was elected, in the winter of 1876-77, the practice, from the time of the adoption of the present Constitution, was to elect Circuit Judges by joint vote, viva voce. Previous to Judge Kershaw's election, it was urged that the election of the whole of the Circuit Judges then on the Bench was void, for the reason that the vote had been taken trtva voce, and in defereuce to the opinion of competent authority, Judge Kershaw was elected by joint ballot. This course was also taken when Judge Wallace was elected. At the special session of the Legislature, a resolution was adopted declaring that "great uncertainty exists as to the validity of the elections held on the sixteenth day of December, 1875, for Circuit Judges," and instructing the Attorney-General "to institute such legal proceedings as may be proper to test the validity of said elections." In order that there should be no room for a misunderstanding of the character of the action, Gen. Conner, then AttorneyGeneral, commenced proceedings to test the validity of the election of the only Democrat on the Bench when the resolution passed, Judge A. J.Shaw. Argument was had at the present term of the Supreme Court, AttorneyGeneral Youmans and Mr. Robert Aldrich appearing for the State. The decision of the Supreme Court is that Circuit Judges must be elected by joint ballot, and that elections viva voce were illegal. proceedingVof congress. In the Senate on the 21st, after preliraina ries, Mr. Matthews' resolution, declaring the right of the government to pay the interest and principal of its bonds in silver, was resumed. Mr. Jones, of Florida, spoke at some length in support of the resolution. In the House, Mr. Stephens presented a memorial from citizens of Augusta, Ga., asking the erection of a government building in that city. Also, a bill appropriating 8100,000 for such a building. Beck, of Kentucky, submitted a concurrent resolution declaring that it is unnecessary and inexpedient to impose taxes at this time, asked for by the Secretary of the Treasury, to provide 837,000,000 for a sinking fund, and directing the Secretary not to purchase any more bonds for liquidation of the public debt until directed to do so j by Congress. Laid over for the present and ordered to be printed. In the Senate on the 22nd, Mr. Morrill reported a bill exempting savings banks from taxation. Mr. Hamlin, of Maine, submitted a resolution acsepting the statue of Wm. King, who was the first Governor of Maine after that State was wrested from Massachusetts. Blaine advocated the adoption of the resolution, Hoar and .Dawes, 01 iviassacnu-1 setts, spoke in opposition, and a lively debate J was tbe result of irritating the old sore. The < House spent about two hours in considering ! the bill to amend the steamboat law, without { disposing of it. After passing the Senate I joint resolution accepting from the State of Maine the statue of William King, the House 1 adjourned. In the Senate on the 23d, a large number j of petitions were presented from working- I men in various parts of the country, remon- j strating against the reduction of duties on certain goods and the restoration of duty on 1 tea and coffee. The Senate resumed the con- i sideration of unffnished business, being the resolution of Mr. Matthews to pay the inter- ' est and principal of the bonds in silver, and Mr. Cockrell, of Missouri, continued his re- j marks in favor of the resolution. Mr. Blaine,; of Maine, introduced a bill to authorize the : coinage of tbe silver dollars, and to make the j same a legal tender. Ordered printed and lie on the table for the present. Blaine's bill i makes the silver dollar a legal tender in com* I mon with gold coin for all sums up to and in-! eluding 35, and for all sums exceeding $5 the : debtor shall have the right to tender and the ! creditor to demand one-half of the amount in ! gold coin and one half in silver coin. In the House, the bill to amend the steamboat law i was discussed and some progress made on it, when it was laid aside in order to hear eulo-! gies on the late Senator Bogj, of Missouri. I In the Senate on the 24th, several petitions were presented from all parts of the country,, favoring the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic, after which Mr. Lamar, of Mississippi, spoke at considerable length in opposition to Matthews' resolution for the payment of government bonds in silver. The entire session of the House was confined to the consideration of the steamboat bill. In the Senate on the 25th, the consideration of Mr. Matthews' resolution declaring the right of the government to pay the bonds, at the option of the government of the United States containing 412} grains each of standard silver, and that to restore to its ooinage such silver coins as a legal tender in payment of said bonds, principal and interest, is not in violation of the public faith, nor in derogation of the rights of the public credit, was passed, yeas 43, nays 22. This is a concurrent resolution and is ouly an expression of the opinion of Congress. The motion of Mr. Conkling that it should be a joint resolution, which would have committed the President to the measure, was defeated?yeas 23, nays 39. In the course of the debate on the resolution, Mr. Gordon, of Georgia, said that he might have something to say when the silver hill should come before the Senate. He would vote for the preamble and resolution of the senator from Ohio, because he believed the recital of facts contained therein was true, and the resolution suggested a policy which he believed to be honest, wise and just. There was one thing, however, he desired to say, and that was be feared the country was being led to expect too much from the remonetization of silver. He cautioned the people of the country against such expectations, because they would be disappointed. It was right to remonetize silver, but it could not give the relief expected. The evils under which the country now suffered, in his judgment, resulted from a long series of enactments and a false financial system. Incidentally the remonetization of silver would give some relief by checking that pernicious system of contraction which has ever and will always destroy the prosperity of any country. There was another good reason for the remonetization of silver. It would give the * ? -1 1 i? . A l_ distressed people 01 tne country some uupe, and that was no small matter to him. It would encourage the people to believe that at last their representatives here had determined to call a halt in the system of legislation which provided for a class, and not for the masses. Mr.- Hill said he could not vote for the resolution, because it affirmed that the debts of the United States to day were payable in silver dollars, when there were no silver dollars. They had been destroyed by the government, and how could silver dollars be paid when the debtors had stricken them from the coinage of the country ? He believed that the proper remonetization of silver would be a great advantage to the people of the country at this time, but an improper restoration of the silver dollar to the coinage of the country would result in evil. It would absolutely impoverish the already poor and hunger the already starving. If the silver dollar could be remonetized in any way to make it equal to the gold dollar, a good thing would be done for the country. He believed that the silver could be made equal in value to the gold dollar in three ways: First, by increasing its weight; second, by limiting its coinage ; and third, by limiting its legal-tender power. He believed it would be one of the greatest mistakes ever made by the Amer- ? r> * j:?.. ?:i? k:n 11*Li vuu^icu t\j paw tuo pcuuiug ouvui uiu. He would not vote to coin a silver dollar, and again throw upon the country a depreciated dollar that cheated everything that touched it. The Senate was not in session on the 26th. In the House, Mr. Bright spoke on the remonetization of the silver dollar, of which he was earnestly in favor. He contended that the demonetization of the silver dollar was a violation of the consitution and a fraud upon the people and legislation of the United States, and a fraud upon posterity. In the Senate ou the 28th, the greater part of the morning hour was occupied in the presentation of petitions, many of them remonstrating against the reduction of certain tariff duties and the restoration of the tax on tea and coffee. In tbe House, a bill waB introduced and referred by Mr. McCook, of New York, for the relief of the tobacco trade. On motion of Ewing, of Ohio, the Matthews silver concurrent resolution was taken from the Speaker's table and passed by over twothirds. Baker, of Indiana, moved to suspend the rules and adopt the resolution declaring that in the judgment of the House no subsidies in money, bonds, public land endowments or by pledge of public credit should be granted or renewed by Congress to associations or corporations engaged in, or proposing to engage in, public or private enterprises; but that all appropriations ought to be limited to such amount and purposes only as shall be imperatively demanded by the public service. Adopted by a two-thirds vote. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Governor Hampton has appointed John B. Erwin, Esq., of Lancaster, brigadier-general of the ffrst brigade of cavalry. ? The Columbia Register expresses the opinion that the legislature cannot possibly adiourn before the 1st of April. ? Governor Hampton has been selected to deliver the annual address at the next commencement of the University of Missisaippi. ? A whit? boy was recently taken before the Intendant of Port Royal, for blowing a toy tin horn on the streets, and was fined $2.50 and $3 costs, for disturbing the peace. The boy is only six years old. ? At the recent delinquent land sales in Colleton county, only eight pieces of real estate were purchased by private parties, while one hundred and seventy parcels were forfeited to the State. ? The Nem and Courier says the Charleston delegation in the legislature has agreed upon a bill to divide Charleston and Colleton into four counties, to be called respectively, Old Charleston, Berkley, Edisto and Colleton. ? A statement is going the rounds of the papers to the effect that Peter Cooper, the ? 1x1 XT V ahUAM Uitn Av*\HAaan/l n /I nf fl P WSaitDJ iltJW I Ul | uao CApicoocu a uowi~ mination to purchase Limestone Springs, in Spartanburg county, for the purpose of establishing an institute Bimilar to the Cooper Institute of New York. ? Last week Collector Brayton and Marshal Wallace called on Governor Hampton to compare views as to the proper mode of suppressing illicit distilling and tobacco peddling in the up-country. The Union county rescue and the general difficulty of enforcing the revenue laws was discussed, with little progress toward agreement as to methods. After the interview, Brayton sent a long communication to Governor Hampton, presenting his views again and replying to Governor Hampton's objections as to the character of the men now employed as revenue agents. He closed with a proposition that the Governor should nominate five men for appointment upon the special force, and promised to allow a full and fair test of the efficiency of such home officers. Governor Hampton has not yet replied. LOCAL AFFAIRS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Hunter A Oates?Bargains. H. W. Hope A Co.?Attention! Farmers?Tobacco. M. Strauss?Received this Day. J. M. Adams?5 Cents Reward?Pot Ware?Repairing?Granite Iron Ware. John C. Kuykendal?Landreth's Uardeu Seed*? 87.00. Clark Brothers?Fresh Groceries?Good News to Dyspeptics?Headquarters for Good Coffee. S. M. Scott?Executor's Sale. H. F. Adiokes A Sons?To Boy Groceries Cheap. R. Brandt, Proprietor?Read This! W. B. Metts, Agent?Eureka Guano. THE YORK BOND QUESTION. We print on the first page of this issue so much of the report of the York county investigating commission as relates to the county subscription in aid of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad ; and in our columns on this side will be found an article from the pen of a correspondent, reviewing the said report. PARDON GRANTED. Governor Hampton has pardoned John Deas, colored, convicted of burglary and larceny at the last term of the court of sessions for York county, and sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of years. Deas was convicted on what seemed to be conclusive evidence ; but soon after his trial circumstances .1 . T? nr.Mi* led to ttie suspicion mat dim wiiiiams, ?i?u colored, was the perpetrator of the deed, and on beiDg arrested he confessed to the crime, asserting thatDeas was in no manner connected with it. Upon these facts being presented to the Governor with an application for pardon, be very properly granted it. OUR CHARLESTON NEIGHBORS. By a recent change of schedules, the close connection between the up-country and Charleston is again cutoff. The trains of the South Carolina Railroad now arrive at Columbia at 11 o'clock, A. M., and the trains on the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta road leave Columbia at 9.40. Of course this deprives the whole section of the State above Columbia, along the line of the C. C. and A. Road of the advantages of rapid transit with the commercial metropolis of the State, not the least of which will be the deprivation of the New and Courier, which, under the present arrangement, cannot be delivered along the C. C. and A. Road and its insigni6caut connections, until the next day after its publication. This is doubtless owing to an oversight on the part of the management of the C. C. and A. Road, which, on being brought to the notice of those urbane gentlemen, will be corrected with that promptness so characteristic of their efforts to accommodate the people along the line of their road. RECENT DEATHS. . A correspondent, who writes from Del Norte, Rio Grande county, Colorado, gives us intelligence of the death, at that place, on the 16th of January, instant, of Mr. Jtilias M. Kirkpatrick, a native of this county, and formerly a resident of Yorkville. The correspondent says that Mr. K. died after an illness of two weeks, from paralysis in the right side of his body. The relatives and friends of the deceased, can obtain additional information by applying at the Enquirer Office. Mrs. Amanda Moore McKinney, wife of Felix C. McKinney, died near Holly Springs, Marshall county, Miss., on the 18th instant. Mrs. McKinney was a sister of Mr. Samuel E. Moore, whose death is elsewhere recorded. But little more than twelve months ago she left the home of her childhood a happy bride, and the unexpected intelligence of her sudden death was a shock to her many friends. M. L. Owens, formerly a member of the House of Representatives from this county, died in Rock Hill on Saturday last. Mr. David Turner, who lived about two miles east of town, on going out early Monday morning to feed his stock, was seized with an apoplectic fit, from which he died at 3 o'clock that afternoon. public'scales. The town council have erected, at the crossing of the streets near the court-house, scales of four tons capacity for the accommodation of all who buy or sell heavy articles by weight. Hay, fodder, beef cattle, etc., etc., can now be sold in this market, aud the purchaser and seller each know the exact weight of what they are buying and selling. Mr. Withers Adickes, at the store of H. F. Adickes & Sons, near whose house the scales are erected, has been appointed town weigher. These scales were manufactured by the Chicago Scale Company and are a model of simplicity and accuracy. As an item of information for others who may wish to purchase a similar convenience, we give the entire cost of the scales, freight on same from Chicago, cost of erecting, including materials and labor, which, including every item, amounts to $135.62. They were put in operation by Mr. A. F. Woods, of this place, and are so simple in their construction that by the aid of the printed instructions furnished by the manufacturers, auy mechauic can easily erect and put them in operation. The advertisement of the Chicago Scale Company nnlnmnQ t,\ wKiph TO<? Hi TP n t UpjJCtllO 1U UUI V/UIUUIUQ| vw *T aitwM iiv the attention of those in want of scales of any required capacity. DEATH OF MR. SAMUEL E. MOORE. Mr. Samuel E. Moore died in this place on Thursday last, 24th instant, after a brief illness, in the 55th year of his age. He was a eon of the late Samuel Moore, of this county, and was born near Brattonsville, December 29th, 1823. In 1841 he came to Yorkville to live and engaged as a clerk in the store of H. F. Adickes, where he remained for a number of years. He afterwards engaged in the mercantile business on his own account, in copartnership with the late Eli Meek. On the 21st of January, 1858, he was commissioned as clerk of the court of common pleas for York district, and in 1862 was reelected to the same posi ion and served in that capacity until the expiration of his term, February 15, 1866. From that period until the close of last year he was engaged as a salesman, for which business he was specially qualified. He married a daughter of Mr. Stanhope Sadler, of this place. His wife died several years ago. It can be truly said that Mr. Moore was strictly honest and conscientious in the discharge of his duties. Fair and upright in all his transactions; an exemplary member --J :? u:_ Of the church ; moaesi ana uuuosuiuiug m m? j deportment, and of remarkably even temper, he died without an enemy and at peace with | all mankind. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. An Armistice at Last. Turkey, unable longer to contend with Russia, has accepted the terms of peace pro-! posed by that arrogant power, and peace pre-1 liminaries have already been signed. The j conditions of peace between the contending | powers include the following : Servia to be independent, without compensation ; Montenegro to receive Antivari, Nicsics and Spuz and a portion of the territory ; bordering on Lake Seutaria; Russia to hold i Batoum, Kars and Rrzeroura until a war in- I demnity of twenty million pounds is paid ; j the Dardanelles to be opened to Russian men- i of*war; Bulgarian autonomy to be conceded rather on the principle of the Lebanon than on the plan of the Constantinople conference, and Turkey to nominate a Christian Government for a long term of years, subject to rat- 1 ideation by the Powers ; Bulgaria not to be understood to include Thrace, but only to extend to the line of the Balkans ; part of the Russian army to embark at Constantinople for their return home, and the final treaty of peace to be signed at Constantinople by the Grand Duke Nicholas. This arrangement will satisfy Russian military honor without involving the occupation of Constantinople. The Bond Commission Report. ??The report of the bond coramisson, which is anxiously looked*, for, not only by the holders of the various bonds issued at different times under Republican rule, but will be of no less interest to the citizens of the State, will probably be made during the coining week. "J. K. B./' the intelligent correspondent of the News and Courier, alluding to the delay of the report, speaks as follows: "It is thought that this delay strengthens those who seek to sustain the credit of the State, and to perpetuate the Democratic party in power. My own inquiries lead me to the belief that there is a rapidly increasing sentiment in favor of standing by the consolidation act as it is. This opinion is strengthened by the manifest effect which the action of certain bondholders, in tendering their coupons for tixes, has bad upon the members. Great indignation is expressed against these "unpatriotic" individuals; but at the same time self-preservation is the 6rst law of uature, and the very members who show the most indignation feel that they are powerless to prevent the inevitable blocking of the wheels of the government if something is not done to provide for the coupons. The fact that in the next campaign the Democracy will have a hard struggle to retain their power is being realized more fully every day, and increases the indisposition on the part of the members to do anything that may weaken the credit of the State administration, or antagonize any section of the party." The Republicans Marshaling. The pending election of circuit judges by the legislature, seems to have put the Republican members upon their mettle sufficiently to indicate that the Radical corpse is not so lifeless sb not to be able to Bhake its bones occasionally, even in the presence of the Democratic anatoraizers. According to the following Columbia dispatch to the News ? j n?.1? :?.:ii ? lift, Ikliu UUUfJCT, LIICIC IS Still ouiuc IIIC iu i?iiv x?vpublican party, which fact it would be well enough for the Democrats to bear in mind : "A preliminary caucus of leading Republicans is reported to have been held Saturday night to consider what should be the party action in regard to the approaching judicial electiou. Enough has leaked out to show that there was some difference of opiuion at first, but that when a full caucus is held the forty-eight Republican ballots will be cast for straight Republican candidates. The fact was developed that one, at least, of the retiring judges bad been asking Republican support. One member recommended that the Republicans should vote blank, to indicate their opinion that the ousting of the judges was a political move. Finally the following names were presented to be submitted to a full caucus: Earle for Judge of the First Circuit; Wiggin for the Second ; E. C. Baker for the Third; R. B. Carpenter for the Fourth, and Winsraith for the Sixth. It is conceded by the Republicans that a Democratic caucus will be held which will bind Democrats, and that, therefore, there is no possible chance for the Republican vote either to help or hinder any of the very numerous Democratic candidates." Colered M. E. Chnrck. The South Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (colored) met in Columbia on the 16th instant, Bishop Levi Scott presiding, and Rev. Benjamin L. Rob erta, secretary. This Conference is composed of about ninety ministers, nearly all of whom are colored and natives of this State. The entire number of church members in this State is about 26,800, nearly all colored. The entire collections for all benevolent objects, excepting ministerial support, last year, were $2,400. During the sessions of the recent Conference, in Columbia, the body was visited by Revs. Kelly, Brown, John T. Wightman and J. Walter Dickson, of the M. E. Church South, who extended fraternal greetings by appropriate addresses. On Sunday the Bishop dedicated the new church, which has been recently erected on the street fronting the State House. He was assisted by Rev. J. Walter Dickson. This building is very neat and commodious, and cost $4,200. The entire session of the Conference was very pleasant and harmonious. Bishop Scott is 76 vears of age. being the senior bishop of this branch of Methodism. His address to the Conference was very mild and affectionate, and tended to arouse in all the ministers a burning zeal for the cause of Christ. The Conference adjourned on the 21st. The following appointments were made for the upp>er portion of this State: Greeuville district?Rev. A. C. Dutton, P. E. Greenville station?J. E. Lowry; Greenville circuit?S. A. King ; Anderson station?John R. Beckham ; Spartanburg station?F. E. McDonald; Gaffney's circuit?James A. Brown; Yorkville?to be supplied; Yorkville circuit?J. R. Roseraond and George Beckham. Rev. F. D.Smith, pastor of Yorkville station last year, was appointed to Blaokville circuit, Barnwell county. Resignation of Judge Mackey. , Immediately on the promulgation of i the decision of the supreme court, asserting that: a number of the circuit judges of this Stale had been informally elected, Judge ^ Mackey, of this circuit, tendered hia resignation in the following characteristic style: Columbia, January 23, 1878. Hit Excellency, Wade Hampton, Governor: j Dear Sir?The Supreme Court having de- i cided in the case of the State vs. A. J. Shaw, i Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, that bis ] election in 1875 by a viva voce vote waa unconstitutional, and, therefore, void; and as I i was elected in the same mode, I hereby re- i apectfully tender my resignation of the office < of Circuit Judge. While I am aware that I am not iucluded by the judgment rendered ! in the case stated, not haviDg been a party to i the record, yet I deem it proper that I should i thus relieve the General Assembly of any emViof -ooamont in the nremises. There are eir cumstances which, transpiring immediately I before the decision of the Court was rendered,! i may furnish a pretext abroad to give this ! impartial judgment of the highest tribunal ! of the State a political significance, and I, j therefore, express my earnest conviction that 1 this decision reflects the conscientious judg- < ment of the Court, rendered without respect j to persons or political parties, in accordance 1 with its highest convictions of duty. I have i the honor to be, very respectfully, your obe-! dient servant, T. J. Macket. Judge of the Sixth Circuit. the governor's reply. State of South Carolina, ") i Executive Chamber, v | Columbia January '23, 1878. ) j My Dear Sir?Your letter tendering your resignation as Judge of the Sixth Circuit j has just reached me, and in accepting this j < resignation I beg to express the great iegret < with which I do so. I appreciate the motives j i which prompt this action on your part, and 1 < with the assurance of my good wishes for you, personally and officially, I am, very respeotfully, Ac., Wade Hampton, Governor. To Hon. T. J. Mackey. Under date of the 26th instant, Judge Reed alBo tendered his resignation, stating in his letter of resignation, that he has hesitated to do so on the ground that his title has once been tried and decided by the supreme court, whose judgment concludes with the emphatic words that he was clearly entitled to bold for a term of four years from his election to Bucceed Judge Graham. Judgment Bled June 7th, 1877. Under these circumstances he has been advised that he might with great propriety submit it to a further decision of the legislature or of the courts to determine whether he is included by the opinion in the case of Judge Shaw; but on due reflection, he has determined that he will not, even in appearance, staud in opposition to the judgment of the court or the policy of the legisture. Judges Townsend and Cook have also tendered their resignations, which have been accepted by the Governor in the same terms as expressed in his note above. The Election of Judges. After the promulgation of the decision of the Supreme Court, ousting a number of circuit judges, the Senate, on Thursday last, made the House resolution to go into an election for judges, the special order for today, in order to allow action on the bill now before the legislature to redistrict the State and increase the number of circuits to ten. A bill has also been introduced in the House to reduce the pay of circuit judges to $2,000 per annum. The names of the following persons are mentioned in connection with the vacancies: First Circuit: Col. B. C. Pressley, Glen. Jas. Simons, Thos. M. Hanckel, Col. Sam'l Dibble of Orangeburg, and Judge J. P. Reed. Second Circuit: Col. W. Elliott of Beaufort, and Judge Aldrich of Barnwell. Judge Maher declines to be a candidate. Third Circuit: Judge A. J. Shaw appears to be the only candidate as yet. Fourth Circuit: Col. Blue of Marion, Col. J. H. Hudson of Marlboro'. Gen. Harlee of Marion. Col. Jos. Walsh of Horry, and Judge C. P. Townsend. Sixth Circuit: Wm. A. Moore of Lancaster, James Hemphill of Chester, I. D. Witherspoon of Yorkville, aud Judge T. J. Mackey. Eighth Circuit: Col. Thos. Thompson of Abbeville, and Judge T. H. Cooke. Uuder date of last Saturday, the Columbia correspondent of the News and Courier telegraphed the following in relation to the election: "Messrs. Pressley and Hanckel seem to be the favorites of the First Circuit, but, as before intimated, it is impossible to form a definite conclusion as yet. Judge Mackey is exhibiting dispatches received by him from Chester, assuring him that a memorial, signed by fifteen hundred citizens of his circuit, asking for his re election as Judge of the Sixth Circuit, has been prepared and is on its way to Columbia. I can vouch for the receipt of the telegram." The following dispatch of Saturday seems to be the latest phase of the judicial elections: The chances in the judicial race remain about thesame, and it is still very hard to pick out the successful candidates. The election of .Judges Cooke and Mackey for the Eighth and Sixth circuits respectively is advocated by many, and it would not be a matter of surprise if they were reelected. Gen. Samuel McGowan, of Abbeville, is said to be in the field as a candidate for the Eighth circuit, and Col. Hemphill, of Chester, (the father of the Hon. J. J. Hemphill,) is announced as a candidate for the Sixth circuit. Both of these gentlemen are deservedly strong, and their candidacy will materially afifect the result. Judge Townsend's chances for a reutopfinn fallincr off Gen. Harllee and Representative Blue seem to be the most prominent candidates opposing hira. In the Second circuit the contest lies between Capt. Wm. Elliott and Judge A. P. Aldricb. In the First circuit there is very little change in the relative positions of the candidates. The friends of Messrs. Pressley, Hanckel and Dibble appear to be equally confident, while the friends of Judge Reed claim that he is entitled to reelection. SOUTH CAROLrNT LEGISLATURE. Monday January 21, 1878. In the Senate, the Committee on Railroads reported favorably on a bill to incorporate the Union, Gaffoey city and Rutherf'ordton Railroad Company. Mr. Lipscomb introduced a resolution that a joint committee of three from the Senate and from the House, be appointed to investigate all charges of bribery, corruption and malfeasance in office against Chief Justice Willard. Ordered for consideration tomorrow. Mr. Jeter submitted a concurrent resolution that oar Senators and members of the House of Representatives, are requested to take such action as they may think proper to induce Congress to restore to this State the Citadel Academy and lot, make a just corapenoati.tn fnr ita lino nnd nalr rnmn#>riRAtir>n for damages to the property. Ordered for consideration to-morrow. The joint resolution to authorize and direct the Secretary of State to extend the time for payment of amounts due upon lands purchased from the late Land Commission, was referred to the Committee on Finance. The resolution to allow the citizens of Fort Mill township, in York county, the benefit of the present fence law, was referred to the committee on agriculture. In the House, a resolution was adopted providing that no new bills shall be introduced after the first day of February. The bill to prevent public officers from issuing checks, except upon funds actually in their bauds, received its second reading. Mr. Cain, of Charleston, introduced a bill to establish the new judicial and election counties of Berkley and Edisto, from portions cf Charleston and Colleton counties. Tuesday, January 22. In the Senate, Mr. Fraser submitted the petition of A. Springs Withers and others, of York county, for payment for services rentared in making assessments in 1876. Referred to the Committee on Finance. The Committee on Finance reported favorably on a bill to apportion taxes on property in which the title has been transferred subsequent to assessment. The Speaker of the House attended in the Senate, when the joiut resolution proposing an amendment to the State constitution relative to the school tax and a tax on polls, was duly ratified. The joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution relative to the powers, duties and term of office of probate judges, passed by a two-thirds vote, as required by the constitution. The concurrent resolution in regard to the Citadel Academy and grounds, was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The joint resolution to appoint a committee to investigate charges against Chief Justice Willard, was referred to the Judiciary Committee. In the House, Mr. Petty introduced a bill to regulate the payment of past due school claims, and a bill to repeal an act to provide for the payment of past due school claims in the several counties of the State. The judiciary committee, to whom was referred the message of the Governor relating to the restoration of the Citadel Academy to the State authorities, reported that they had conferred with the State superintendent of education upon the matter and submitted a memorial to Congress setting forth the history of the institutiou, and praying its restoration by the United States to the State of Sooth Carolina, together with a just compensation for its use and occupation by the United States authorities. The report of the com-. mittee was adopted, and the proper officers were instructed to forward the memorial to Congress. The following bills passed their third reading and were sent to the Senate: A bill to prohibit the holding of two or more public offices by the same person; a bill to provide for the redemption of forfeited..lands under certain conditions. The bill proposing an amendment to the criminal code, making the crimes of arson, burglary ana grena larceny, capital onenses, received its third reading by a vote of yeaa, 68; nays, 28. , , Wednesday, January 23. In the Senate, the bill to amend the criminal law was read the first time. Mr. McCall introduced a bill to provide for marriage licenses and a marriage registry. A bill for the protection of landlords leasing lands for agricultural purposes, was. read a second time. The above bill makes rent a first lien on crops. The enacting clause was strisken out of the bill to grant aid to the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society and the bill killed. The bill to impose an additional tax and prescribe a mode for collecting the same on all persons licensed to sell wines, ardent spirits, malt liquors, and mixtures thereof, within the limits of this State, was rejected. The bill to provide for the election of County Treasurers and County Auditors, was rejected. In the House. Andrews, >of Sumter* introduced a set of resolutions tendering the thanks of the General Assembly to Gen. E. W. Moise, for Lhe prompt manner in which he had fulfilled his promise to devote bis salary as adjutant and inspector general, to the educational use of the State, and expressing as the sentiment of the General Assembly that this action on his part was an evidence of the good faith of the administration in which he holds so prominent a position. The resolutions were adopted unanimously and were sent to the Senate. Thursday, January 24. In the Senate, the Chair submitted the following communication from Judge Willard, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee: Columbia, S. C., January 22, 1878. Hon. Win. D. Simpson : Dear Sir: Having read the charges made in the Senate affecting my official conduct, I desire that a thorough investigation of them should be made. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. A. J. Willard. A message was received from the Governor transmitting the resignations of Judges Maekey and Towuseud. . . Mr. Gary said that Mr. Cochran and Mr. Meetze desired to he heard on the liquor tax bill, and he moved to reconsider the vote striking out the enacting clause yesterday, so that they might be heard?they being absent yesterday?which motion was adopted. 7 On motion of Mr. Gary, the bill was then made the special order for Saturday week, at 1 o'clock. Mr. Livingston moved to reconsider the vote striking out the enacting clause of the bill to graut aid to the State Agricultural Society, which was agreed to, and the bill was made the special order for 1 o'clock, on Saturday. A concurrent resolution to enter into an election for Judges of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth and Eighth Judicial Circuits, was made the special order for Thursday next, at 1 p. m. * The bill to authorize able-bodied male prisoners conhned in jail, under sentence, to labor upon the public roads and upon streets of the cities and towns leading thereto of this State, was read a second time. The joint-resolution to authorize and direct the Secretary of State to extend the time for payment of amounts due upon lands pur? chased of the late Land Commission, was voo/1 o aaonnr) h'mo 1MM ? CJViV/VSUVa Vii u w t In the House, the bill to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the town of Black'a Station, in York county," was passed and sent to the Senate. The judiciary reported unfavorably on a bill to repeal an act to establish the granting of divorces and the bill was rejected. The bill to provide for the organization of the State University being the special order for 12.30 P. M., was taken up and discussed until the hour of adjournment. Friday, January 25. In the Senate, a bill to incorporate the town of Black's 8tation was received from the House, with amendments. The amendments were concurred in and the bill was ordered to be enrolled for ratification. The bill to amend the charter of the village ofFort Mill was read a third time and returned to the House with amendments. The bill to amend an act to establish by law the voting precincts of the various counties of the State, was recommitted to the committee on privileges and elections, with instructions to prepare a general bill. In the House, Mr. Caldwell introduced a joint resolution to relieve the people from the payment of taxes for the fiscal year 1877 78. This resolution is drawn uoder the supposition that the conscience money recovered from the Radical Riug, will he sufficient to run the government without the necessity for a recourse to a tax levy. The committee on Education reported favorably on a bill to repeal the act requiring the proceeds of the poll tax to be applied to the payment of the past due school claims. Mr. Haskell introduced a bill to provide for the settlement of the floating debt of the i State. This bill provides for the audit by the comptroller general of all claims of a floating character presented to him ; to pay onethird of these claims at once, and to report < 4'? nf -loima oiwtlfarl Kv hIm fn I bUC QUJUUUb VI Vimuio auuiwvt wj W VMV next General Assembly. The unfinished business of yesterday?bill to reorganize the State University?was taken up and discussed until the hour of adjournment Arrived, without a vote being reached. Saturday, January 26. In the Senate, a message was received 1 from the Governor transmitting, for the information of the Senate, a communication from the Attorney General showing that legal proceedings have been instituted against the Treasurer of Charleston county to compel him to receive coupons of consolidation bonds and bills of the Bank of the State in payment of taxes. The communication was ( referred to the judiciary committee. In the House, after disposing of a number of unimportant bills arid resolutions, the consideration of the bill in relation to the / reorganization of the State University was resumed and continued until the hour for adjournment. ' The Committee on Agriculture reported ( favorably on a bill to secure advances for ag ricultural purposes. Monday, January 28. ( j In the Senate, the report of the com mission composed of the Board of Trustees of the South Carolina University and of the Committee on Education and the bill to provide for the organisation of the State Univer- i sity, came up. Mr. Jeter moved to make it < the special order for Wednesday next. i Mr. Gary hoped that discussion would be ' allowed as far as possible, and then make the i matter a special order. Mr. Jeter's motion | < was withdrawn, and Mr. Gary then moved to ! i strike out the enacting clause of the bill. ;j Having secured the floor, he opposed the i j adoption of the bill in a speech of considera- j < | ble length, at the conclusion of which Mr. i Jeter renewed his motion and the considera- i tion of the whole matter was made the spe- / cial order for Wednesday. Mr. Lipscomb presented the petition of i sundry citizens of Newberry against imposing a tax on commercial travelers. In the House, Mr. Simpson introduced a resolution, which -was adopted, that on and after Tuesday, 29th of January, the House meets at 11 o'clock, a. m., and adjourns at pleasure, apd meets again at 7.3P, in- the evening. Mr. Aldrich.of the Judiciary Committee, submitted au unfavorable report on.bijl to amend an act to reduce aud fix the pay of certain officers. This bill seeks, to fix, the salaries of Circuit Judges at $2,000 a year. The Uoiversity bill came up as the unfinished business of Saturday, and was finally ordered for a third reading by a vote of 47 yeas to 33 nays. The report of the Committee on Agriculal%? mami/m"a 1 tka .Qrata A orinn If n. Ill I C, Ull ?UO uicuiwiiai wr ?uv x/w?ww ral and Mechanical Society, asking that all existing fence laws be repealed, was taken up and the bill ordered for a third reading* i For ihe Yorkviile Enquirer. THE INDEBTEDNESS OF YORK COUNTY. The Hampton Herald of January 17th, contains the report of the commission appointed to investigate the indebtedness'of York county. ;i' " -aid a " There are some matters that do; net- appear in this report, as also some matters that do appear, relative to the bonded.debt of > the county, that warrant a more extended notice than the subject appears to have received. I will notice, first, certain facts not appearing in this report, forming part of the history of the transaction. - o i: .1 vi;k*-yt?r.-vt .: The subscription in bonds was voted..by, tb* county commissioners, unanimously, on the morning of April 8th, 1873?the. day after the public meeting at the court-bouse, allud? ed to; but the bonds were never issued until after the court bad finally decided that the subscription was authorized and valid. The ? -w county commissioners were present, at the public meeting, where the subject of subscript tion was fully discussed. The meeting.was held od a sales-day, and on the opening day of the spring term of court Every section of the county was represented in that targe and intelligent meeting, and every shad* tit political opiuion was represented in the discussion. Not a voice was raised against the county making the subscription. If any one there opposed it, be either failed to vote, or voted, upon the call of the question, against bis conviction; for as the report correctly states, the resolutions were adopted "without objection." t' m w It is not surprising, then, when it had been, stated in that meeting that "the cquoty commissioners had the right to vote the subscription" without referring to a vote of the people; when this statement was not denied; when the excitement and interest in favor of the scheme was at fever heat and found no opponents,-that the commissioners .shouldhave been led into the policy of dpipg at once, and directly, what the county had demanded by a popular vote should be dene. And this is still mote natural, when it isob- * served that no provision existed by la*, tinder which a popular vote could be: bad. N6> one?not even this report?charges tbe.oootH ty commissioners with wilful misconduct h this particular. . . I believe the county commissioners did wrong. It is now beyond question that they bad legal authority to vote the subscription' directly, the courts and the legislature, botlf under Republican and Democratic rale, having so asserted. But the authority exer-? cised was a dangerous oue, and should never have been conferred^ A ftfiv tKo oiikaorintinn k?/l koon tM/tflf (kia Albvi IU? oui/gi iipiuu u??u MVVU ?MV> public were informed through the press. Delay in issuing the bonds was had, to give any one opposed, the opportunity of contest* ing in the courts. A suit-was instituted to enjoin the issue, and the plaintiffs in that ac* tion sought the aid of the very Judge whp, hitd publicly asserted the right of the county commissioners to vote the subscription, know* ing at the time, (as his speech was published) what were his convictions. In justice to Judge Mackey it must be said that he did not seek the case, but it sought him. The plaintiffs might have gone before another tribunal if they had wished. The plaintiffs in that action embrace many of the same persons who petitioned for this ? ^ investigation, and who have evoked this report now denouncing the oracle whose counsels they then voluntarily sought. The circuit and supreme court both decided in favor of the validity of the subscrip tion ; and it was not until after this had been done, and the judgment of the supreme court Bled in the circuit, that the bonds were actually urned and went into circulation. They rinnr kalH K? innnrant na ptioa ^ttinnoh 91q uv/n uviu iuuwovuv |/wi ?iw| ^vuwwgu this report does not state that fact,) in half a dozen different States, who have bought on the faith of these facts and their subsequent ratification by the Republican.legislature of 1875, and of the Democratic legislature of 1877. i u K The county has already received the ben- : efit of this subscription. I beg to copy here from a recent communication in the Columbia Register, evidently written by one who had taken the pains to inform himself whereof he writes: "The benefits which have resulted from the issue of these bonds to the counties of,York and, Chester, are incalculable. It has given another outlet to the North by tapping the Air-Line at Gastonia, and freed us from the grievous exactions of the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad. A friend of mine has furnished me with the statistics of the savings to the people of the two counties in freights during the liast year. "Amounts saved the counties of York and Cheater in freights during the year 1877: Chester. 16,000 bales cotton, at $1.50 per bale, $24,000 00843,300 lbs. bacon, at 45 cents per 100 ibs. 3,794 00 800 tons fertilizers, at $2.00 per ton,........ 1,600 00 Estimated on other goods, 6,000 00 Yorkville. 6,000 bales of cotton, at $2.25 per bale,? 13,500 00 730 tons fertilizers, at $5.00 per ton, 3,750 00 40,000 lbs. bacon, at 45 cents per 100lbs... 1,840 00 FaHinalfwl nn nthflp frn/iHfl 9 Rock Hill. 8,000 hales of cotton, at 50 cents per bale, 4,000 00 800 tons fertilizers, at $2.00 per ton, 1,600 00 50,000 lbs. bacon, at 36 cents per 100 lbs.. 1,800 00 Estimated on other goods, 1,000 00 $63,884 00 "The* figures may be considered as official. Now, wuuu we come to consider these matters of saving, it will appear bow great the benefit has been. It Is a fact beyond dispute, that by the opening of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad, and the consequent reduction of freight, cotton has ranged, in Chester and York, at least }c. higher, and all goods and supplies have been greatly reduced in price." Whether the assertion and exercise of a dangerous power, lawfully conferred upon the county commissioners, was right or not, thefact that it has resulted in liberating our peo-;! pie from a grievous monopoly, and is saving annually, to both producers and consumers, many fold the amount of the tax, cannot be successfully contradicted. 1 Further, Mr. Editor, this report, as it appears in print, is not the report of the com- > mission appointed by the Governor. It it/ signed by only t*o of the three commissioners. It is said that the commission was never together but two days during the whole period of the investigation ; that it acted as a sort'of roviDg commission?one member at a time' interviewing a witness in secret, often outside of the county, and bringing in an ex parte report of so much of the witness' statement . 1 .t * ii r. as aimed me purposes 01 tne commission, is is also said that odo of the commissioners had prejudged the question by affixing his name to the petition to the Governor, in which it was alleged that this bonded debt was invalid. These circumstances would ordinarily be of little significance, but where such means are used in an attempt to destroy the value of property held by innocent purchasers, who were denied the privilege of a hearing at any of these secret and irregular investigations, and who were powerless to have the ?sAole fad* placed on record, they merit just and unqualified censure. "No party," says Chief Justice Marshall, in one of his logical opinions, "shall have his rights adjudiosted in any tribunal without the privilege of being heard." This is cow a universal maxim of justice, appearing in nearly every State con-, stitution, and underlying the very basis of civ