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Scraps and .facts. | ? All the business part of the town of "Williamston, in Martin county, N. C., was destroyed by an incendiary fire last Friday. Fifteen stores and the post office and telegraph office were burned. ? The resolution passed by Congress to retain in their places the disabled Union veterans who held positions as door-keepers, <fcc., in the previous Congress, has not yet been denounced by the Republican press as a Southern outrage. ? Sydney Morton, a clerk in a grocery store at Monroe, N. C., was shot and killed Wednesday of last week by John McLarty, colored. McLarty claims that the. shooting was accidental, but the Coroner's jury committed him to jail without bail. ? The United States Court opens in Charlotte this week. It is expected that Judge Bond will join Judge Dick during the term. There is a large civil docket and many appeals to be heard. The election cases from Anson will be continued until next May tarm Kir nf tho AttnrnPV frpllprfll. ? Burt Ellis, colored, confined in the Cleveland, N. C., jail under sentence of death for the murder of Mrs. Logan, near Whitaker's Station, has made a full confession of the crime. He advises the colored people to let whisky alone and keep away from festivals. ?Sunday, the 23rd instant, will be the centennial aniversary of the surrender of Washington's commission as commander in chief of the Continental army, which tookjplace at Annapolis, Maryland, where the Continental Congress was then in session. ? Gov. Patterson vetoed the bill of the Pennsylvania Legislature appropriating # 300,000 to pay the members #10 a day apiece for the time they were in extra session, in dead lock, vainly trying to reapportion the Congressional districts. The bill was passed over the veto. ? The army of pensioners amounting to 303,658 are classified as follows: Army invalids, 199,648; army widows, minor children, and dependent relatives, 73,374; navy invalids, 2,648; navy widows, minor children and dependent relatives, 1,907; survivors of the war of 1812, 4,831; widows of those who served in the war of 1812, 21 ,.'136. ? Says the Charlotte Observer: It is not the election of Carlisle as Speaker which is going to affect one way or the other the fu. ture prospects of the Democratic party. That depends altogether on the course to be f)ursued by Congress over which 3ir. carisle presides. It must make the record upon which the Democratic party is to stand or fall. ? In consequence of the general dissatisfaction at the appearance and quality of the recently issued postal notes, the Postmaster General has order a change to be made. Hereafter they will be printed on blue tinted paper, instead of the yellow now used. One of the principal objections to the present notes is that the paper on which they are printed becomes easily mutilated. ? The business failures for the week ending last Friday, throughout the United States and Canada, reported to R. G. Dan & Co.'s mercantile agency, number 307 as against 242, for the previous week. This is the most formidable list recorded in any one week for some years past. This increase is principally in the Western and Southern States and in Canada. ? In the Uuited States Supreme Court, last Monday, a decision was rendered in the contested will case of Stephen Percy Ellis et al., collateral heirs of Sarah Ann Dorsey against Jefferson Davis, to recover possession of certain real and personal property left to the latter by Mrs. Dorsey at her death. The judgment of the court in favor of Davis is affirmed. ?Ex-Clerk McPherson, of the United States House of Representatives, has prepared an exact tabular statement of the House, showing that it is composed of 11)0 Democrats, 118 Republicans, 5 Keadjusters, 3 Independents (Lyman of Massachusetts, York of North Carolina and Ochiltree of Texas,) and 1 Greenback-Labor man. There are two vacancies?in the 2nd Mississippi and 7th Virginia districts. ?The Mexican war veterans, in session at Washington city, visited Mt. Vernon in a body last Friday. Addresses were delivered on Friday night by Senator Logan and ex-Judge Mackey, of South Carolina. Senator Logan said he would vote to pension oil \rovw?on tTofayn\fr ATuoL'Or rlDVflfml ail XU^AlVaU > OlVlUHOi A'Al atauv*\vj uvt v%vv? himself to giving a detailed account of the Mexican war and paying a tribute to those engaged in it. His address was highly enjoyed. ? At Kansas City, Mo., last Thursday afternoon, the trial of Frank James was set for January 14, and his bail was fixed at $3,000. It is stated that James will offer bond in a few days. The old indictment for the Blue Cut train robbery was quashed and a new one was returned of like tenor, setting forth an additional dascription of certain jewelry stolen. The trial of Charles Ford upon a charge of complicity in the same robbery was also set for January 14. ? In England, from the year 1879 to 1882, one hundred and seven prisoners were sentenced to death, and only fifty-one, not quite half of the condemned number, were executed. The figures are significant, in that they show a growing humanity in the administration of the penal laws in England. The death penalty is evidently not popular in that country, and it would not be surprising if the English Parliament in the near future MIUU1U ttUUHSU 1L. ? General Hancock has won a suit of several years' standing against'a hotel in which he had some $3,000 worth of property stolen. The defence was that he boarded by the month at a reduced rate, and that guests were required to deposit valuables in the safe. The case has gone all through the courts up to the New York Court of Appeals, which gives him indemnity on the ground that the terms of his accommodations did not affect the in-holder's liability, and that the landlord did not have notices posted requiring the deposit of valuables in the safe. ? An old Louisville lady was in her ninety-first year. Her heirs needing money, sold their chances to a man who supposed that the old lady could not live long. Three years later the old lady was still alive, and so well and hearty that she got married. At this time there is not the slightest indication that she is to pass over the river sooner than anybody else, and the man who bought out the heirs is quite as likely to make the voyage as she. Nothing is more uncertain than old ladies with property to bequeath. ? The tenth anniversary of the founding of the Reformed Episcopal Church was celebrated in New York on Sunday. Rev. Dr. William T. Sabine said that the Reformed Episcopal Church in America had nothing ten years ago but a righteous cause and the ministry could be counted on one's fingers. To-day there were 73 church buildings and 11,000 scholars, 1,000 teachers, 8.000 communicants and an income for the past year of $184,000. But this was by no means all that had been effected. The new church had done good to the old church in checking extremists. ? The trial of James Nutt for killing! Nicholas Lyman Lukes, at Unkmtown, j Pa., last June, was set for last Thursday, i but on account of the difficulty in obtaining a jury, the case was adjourned to next January term. A day was consumed in obtaining one juror out of a panel of sixtytwo. It will be remembered that Lukes slandered Miss Nutt, to whom he had been paying attention. On being remonstrated with by her father, Lukes, without other j provocation, shot him. Afterwards his' tantalizing of young Nutt drove the youth ; to desperation, and he shot the slayer of his father?who had been acquitted of the ' crime?on the street. Public sympathy is with young Nutt. ?A Washington dispatch says that a i large delegation of Congressmen, including j Messrs. Cox, Springer, Finnertv, Morrison ; and Lefevre, called upon President Arthur i last Saturday, and presented to him a peti- \ tion begging him to exert his influence j towards obtaining a respite for O'Lonnell,! under sentence of death in England for the ! murder of Carey, the Irish informer. Cox j addressed the President. He referred to the sentence of O'Lonnell and said he did oaot come to criticise the procedure by which he was convicted nor did they ask that the sentence be set aside ; they only asked that .ho direct the Secretary of State to open no-' gotiations with a view of securing a respite in order that representations might be , made which would either secure commutation of sentence or his release under proper conditions. The President said the Department of State would at once telegraph to Minister Lowell to obtain all possible in- < formation regarding O'Donnell'scitizenship and he (the President) would take whatever , action he could with propriety. She ffflrlmttc (Jhn)nirer.; YORKVILLE. S. C. : THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 13, 1883. ; THE POLITICAL TRIALS. T...1 + ..til] r? + enliimKio ic <J uu^t' uunu n uiuuigi- iniii cik vuiuiiiuiit 10 now in complete working order, and the 1 political trials are progressing as rapid- 1 ly as the glorious uncertainties of the law, as dispensed in the United States Circuit Court, will permit. "When the Exouik- 1 eh was printed last week, the first case? 1 that of John Mitchell, a colored Democrat ' of Charleston, had not been concluded. The j jury was composed entirely of Greenbackers and Republicans, through the "standing aside" tactics of the District Attorney 1 and his eoadjator, Mr. Speer, of Georgia. 1 The testimony in the case was heard on 1 Monday, and the arguments on Tuesday of . last week, when the jury retired. At 11 o'clock that night they announced that they ] were unable to agree, but Judge Bond said 1 he must have a verdict, and had them locked up until Wednesday morning. On Wednesday they again reported that they were , unable to agree, when they were discharg- ( ed and a mistrial was ordered to be entered. ^ It is said that three of thejury were in favor , of acquittal. ( The next case taken up was that of Air. < Horsey, Supervisor of Registration for Charleston county, the charges against him : being a failure to register the names of Republican voters, thereby depriving them of , the privileges of the ballot. Five hours j were consumed in examining three witnesses, when District Attorney Melton, address- , ing the Court, said that he had no hesitation ( in saying that, in his opinion, the offence | had been technically made out. There were five other witnesses yet held in reserve by ( Ill U J^lUSUVUll liV I* Vi V vi?v j^/v a w??>^ against whom these acts of the accused were alleged to have been chiefly operative; but, in the progress of the case, matters had appeared which he did not fully comprehend, and now if these five witnesses testified on the stand as they had told their story to him, and he doubted not that they would, he was bound to confess that, were he on the jury, the evidence would not be sufficient to justify him in finding a verdict against the defendant. He said the jury was now in possesion of all the case, the testimony of these five witnesses could not make it any stronger, and as he had said at the outset he did not design to have a conviction which did not address itself to his judgment as one obtained beyond a reasonable doubt, and as the Government did not ask a conviction in such cases, he would be satisfied; if the the jury were so disposed, that they would enter a verdict of acquittal in this case. Judge Bond accordingly directed the clerk to enter on the record a verdict of not guilty, which was done and the case was ended. On Friday, the case of Bethea and others, from Marion county, was taken up. These defendants are charged with conspiring together to break up a political meeting held in Marion C. H. by McLane and Bowen, candidates for Governor and Congress respectively, in the summer of 1882. The defendants are among the most prominent, respectable and intelligent Democrats of Marion county, and as the case has therefore elicited great interest all over the State and called forth the most determined efforts of the defeated Radical horde, backed by the enginery of the prosecuting department of the United States Government to make good the charge. A large array of witnesses have been bought up?all of them, with the exception of McLane, Bowen and a few of the Government officials, negroes of the lowest order 01 intelligence ana cnaracier. ^ The accused are defended by Judge A. G. | Magrath and Mr. J. P. K. Brian and their | local counsel, Messrs. J. M. Johnson and J. ( G.Blue. j The names of the defendants are E. A. Bethea, T. C. Moody J. It. Wilkinson, J. S. Scott, J. A. Williams, C. E. McPherson, W. F. Claussen and W. S. McCleninghan, i all of whom were in court. t When the case was called, Mr. Brian l filed notice of motions and demurrers as in i the former cases, of which due notice was r token by the Court. Mr. Miles, for the defense, submitted the following motion: And now conies the defendant and moves the Court to rescind the order whereby the information in the above entitled cause was permitted to be tiled and entered upon the docket, and to strike the said information from the tiles and dockets of this court, and for the discharge of the defendants from the several recognizances for the following causes, to wit: First. The offense charged in said information, to wit: "conspiracy," is, in its nature, infamous, involving moral turpitude, and is one of the class and character known and defined in the Constitution and laws of the United States as "infamousand defendants cannot under said Constitution and laws be held to answer to same, unless upon presentment of an indictment of a grand jury. Second.' The said information was filed by the United States District Attorney as of course, without notice to the defendants of applications for leave to tile the same, was not based upon probable cause shown to the Court by oath or affirmation of the facts charged, and without any order signed by the Judge of this court granting leave to file the same. This motion was argued until the adjournment of Court, when Judge Bond said he would announce his decision next morning. On the con veningof Court, Saturday morning, Judge Bond at once proceeded to announce the decision at which lie had arrived 1 on the motion to quash the information on j the grounds submitted by Mr. Miles and ar- j gued on Thursday. He said he saw a great . difference in the section of the statute under \ which the information for conspiracy in the case of Butler had been drawn, and that un- 1 der which the present case was presented to 1 the Court. In the Butler case the section j prescribed a punishment for the conspiracy ] against which it was directed, the loss of ( certain civil and political rights, which fixed ? it, in the judgment of the Court, as an infamous offence. But the sections involved { in the case before the Court now say noth- 1 ing of the kind, but punishes the offence J only with fine and imprisonment. > The sections of the statute which have < been relied upon by counsel for the defense < to support their views of the matter, in his 1 view, only indicated that at the time of the , trial of any cause, the Court might interpose \ its authority to prevent any person convict- J ed of the offence herein declared, from sit- . ting upon a jury, if offered for that purpose. < He, therefore, held that the proceeding by information was proper in this case and that the case should proceed. ' From these views Judge Bryan dissented, j expressing with much fervor and clearness , the grounds of his conviction that the pro- ] ceeding by information in cases of this ??-'.< ture was a monstrous invasion of the clearest right secured to the citizens by the Constitution and laws of the United States. He noted the fact that it had been left to a period long after the great and good framers of the constitution had passed away, and when their illustrious personal influence could no longer be brought to bear before the attempt is made to introduce this innovation upon the methods of procedure in criminal cases. Another fact which had impressed itself upon him was that in none of the States which were members of the anginal compact had the attempt ever been made before the war to introduce this proceeding. In his opinion, it was highly unfortunate and impolitic that any system should be encouraged by judicial sanction which tended to divorce the United States Courts from the tribunals of the States, and that the citizens of the State should have no part in those steps which ultimate in arraigning his fellows before the Courts of the United States when charged with high crimes and misdemeanors. It was the prerogrtive of Judge Bond, under the law constituting this Court, to decide on these questions, and he had taken the responsibility. It was only hi* province to dissent from that ruling, and he now felt it his imperative duty to do so; and his conscience, his mind and his heart ill concurred in forcing this duty upon him, ind his chief regret was that he could not L^ive more emphatic and earnest expression to his views. After argument of some other motions on technical points the case proceeded, and the remainder of Saturday was occupied in taking testimony. The testimony was not concluded on Monday, and at our latest advices, it was probable that Tuesday would be consumed in taking testimony for the defence. nnV/l D tU^uivrAii3* Since the assembling of Congress, little or no work lias been perfected by that body except the work of organization and the introduction of new bills. Of new bills a large number have been introduced, no less than eight hundred and twenty-four having been offered in the House of Representatives last Monday by call of the States, the call being made alphabetically and reaching only to Massachusetts. Among the most important bills introduced in the Senate are the following: By Senator Edmunds, a bill to abolish the ironclad oath and to fix one oath for all officers alike. By the same Senator, a bill, being a redraft of a bill reported by the committee on the judiciary some years ago, ilealing in general with the rights of colored citizens, especially with a view of securing them a free vote and a fair count of all votes, rhe text of this bill is given in another place. 1}.. Unrxifr,.. I-Tnov o Kill rvrnvwlintr fnr n uv.iiaivi axvui ^ iv um ^/a v i ?w? %? uniform system of bankruptcy. This is a copy of a bill introduced last session, known as the Lowell bill. By Senator Butler, a bill to abolish the internal revenue system providing that "all laws and parts of laws and all rules and regulations of the department now in force for the collection of the internal revenue tax be and the same are hereby repealed, but this act shall not take effect until twelve months after its passage." Also, by Senator Butler, a joint resolution to provide an amendment to the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, inserting the word "nativity," so as to make the article read "the right of citizens of the United States or by any State on account of the nativity, race, color, or previous condition of servitude." By the same Senator, a resolution, which be asked to have printed and to lie on the table, providing that each Senator except rhnirmen nf the standing or select com mittees shall be entitled to a clerk or secretary at a salary of one thousand dollars innually. Of the bills introduced in the House., most of them are of a local nature, affecting; :he sections represented by the members iffering them, excepting1 the following in:roduced on Monday: By Mr. Lamb, of Indiana, a bill to pendon prisoners of war confined in Confederite prisons during the late war ; also a resolution calling on the Attorney General for m itemized account of expenditures in the prosecution of the star route cases. By Mr. Calkins, of Indiana, a bill proposnga constitutional amendment providing hat no State or public or private corpora:ion or person shall deprive any citizens of :he United States of the equal protection of :he law, nor abridge his rights, privileges or immunities on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude. CIVIL RIGHTS, AGAIN. Senator Edmunds has already introduced n Congress a bill "to provide for the fur;her protection of colored citizens of the United States against violations of certain ights secured to them by the Constitution." Che bill provides to punish by fine and imprisonment any person or persons who seek iy intimidation, unlawful menace or any ither unlawful means to prevent the peace'ul assembling of citizens for the purpose of petitioning Congress for the redress of grievinces, or considering the subject of noinina;ion or choice of any person to he a member )r delegate to the I louse of Representatives, >r who shall break up or disturb any such issemblage, or prevent any citizen from exercising the right of suffrage. Every person who shall cast an unlawful vote or jallot is to be punished by a fine of $">,00n, >r by imprisonment not more than five rears, or both. Assault and bribery are to )e punished with a fine of not more than >1,000 or imprisonment for one year. Every person convicted of murder in connection ,vith the misdemeanors mentioned in the ict shall suffer death. Persons convicted of hese crimes shall be disqualified forever rom holding any office ol honor, trust or profit under the United States. ROCK HILL ITEMS. From the Rock Hill Herald, Oth. ? We understand that Rev. A. P. Pugh, formerly of this State, but now pastor of the Baptist Church at Carrolton, Mississippi. J... i.i.^ ...11 DnnK 11:11 rt,w1 las accepteu wie can ui wits jiiii iiin.4 Harmony Baptist Churches and will arrive md commence work about the first of Janwry. ? The cotton receipts at this place for the month c November were 2,420 bales. The eceipts since September 1st aggregate 7,247 sales, against 10,002 up to the same time las'; yrear, and 0,800 the year before. Our esti mate of the local receipts for the present ;otton year is 11,500 bales, and we think we see them. ? The new automatic Westinghouse engine recently purchased for the factory was fired up last Tuesday morning and a part )f the machinery is again in motion. The new engine, it is said, works beautifully. The parts of the old engine that were sent )ff for repairs are expected to arrive at an ?arly day, and operations at the factory will then progress without any further delay. ? At Camden, on Monday last, the Master in Equity of Kershaw county sold the l)e4aussure place, containing about 20,000 acres nf valuable land and sixty-odd tenant houses md many other buildings. The purchasers were Messrs. J. 31. Ivy and A. It. Smith, of ltock Hill, the price paid being $16,510. The DeSaussure plantation is about eight miles below Camden, and on approaching it the traveler imagines he is entering a considerable village. It is among the best land in that section and its prieo would seem to bo marvelously low. It is an evidence of the stringency of the times. | LEGISLATURE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. Monday, December .'5. In the Senate, reports from variou I standing committees were received. Th' | committee to whom was referred the hi i asking for an appropriation of $10,000, if s | much be necessary, for the purpose of dt i fending election officers who are bein tried in the United States Court, reporte that thev recommend the passage of sni bill. A communication was received from th House of Representatives asking that th Senate coneur with the House in the follow ing resolutions: "That the Comptrolle General be required to furnish the Genera Assembly with a list of the county com missioners of the various counties who fai to make out their annual reports accordin to law." The Senate concurred. The bill to permit persons indicted f<i an assault or an assault and battery, to giv in evidence to the jury in justification "an; opprobrious words or abusive languag used by the prosecutor or person assaulte ' or beaten" elicited much discussion and th enacting clause was stricken out. A number of bills were deferred as speciti orders. | Mr. 1). S. Henderson introduced a bll to amend the railroad law so as to give th Railroad Commissioners of this State pou er and authority to compel railroad corpora /tl.tnn *?%/-! C'A/lAtl/1 /line 11UIID III iUlIU^ll U1U33 (IIIVI SCWUU IKK cars for the accommodation of passengers an to tlx rates for the same. Ix tin-: House, the bill to require butch ers to keep a record of the flesh and ea marks of cattle, the date of purchaseand th name and place of residence of the person from whom purchased, elicited considerabl debate, but the bill Anally passed a thir reading and went to the Senate. A number of bills were read the tirst tim and appropriately referred. Tuesday, December 4. Ix the Senate a number of bills wer continued as special orders for a future daj A bill to prohibit, the sale of liquor 1 Seneca City and Westminster, in Oeone county, passed its third reading. A bill to make seduction a misdemeanc was freely discussed, when the enactin words were stricken out. fx the House, the concurrent resolutio of the House requiring the Comptroller Ger eral to report to the General Assembly thos Hoards of County Commissioners who hav not made their reports according to law was received with concurrence from the Ser ate; also, a resolution to appoint a join committee on the completion of the Stat House. A bill to declare it a misdemeanor fo any person to take and use any horse, mar or mule, without the consent of the owne and without intent to steal the same, rt ceived its second reading. Mr. Allison introduced a joint resolutio calling for a constitutional convention. Al so, a bill authorizing Trial Justices to issu commissions to examine witnesses in civi actions who live beyond the limits of th county; to provide for the testimony t witnesses residing beyond county limits, t be used on trials in courts of Trial Justices Mr. Haskell introduced a bill to amen the general railroad law. Mr. Mayes introduced a bill to amend th law in relation to repairs and work upo the public bridges and highways. Wednesday, December In the senate, Mr. T. J. Moore preseni ed a petition from 1,WM) of the citizens c Spartanburg, Union and Barnwell, prayin for the prohibition of the distillation t intoxicating liquors in South Carolina. The bill to regulate the granting of di vorces was called and discussed with nmc earnestness by Senators Henderson an Howell. A motion to strike out the ena< ting clause of the bill was made. JNIr. Henderson opposed the motion, hole ing the view that such a law was neeessar to meet the demands of the present daj and that South Carolina should have sue a law to protect her citizens, both male an female. This State is, he said, the onl one in the Union without such a law, an because she has had none should not be matter of so much pride that it would prt vent the passage of such a law at this time when it has become a necessity. Divorce should not be granted, he held, excel in extreme cases, and then only upo: the establishment of the fact of adultery hav ing been committed by one of the partie to the marriage vow. He said: "Scriptur sanctions divorce upon such a condition and as the bill plainly stipulates that adul try shall be the only cause for separation 1 urge that the enacting words be not strick en out and that the bill pass. Mr. Howell said that such a bill woul strike at the very foundation of society, am would serve to make the marriage contrac a matter of much less weight than it dc served. "That other .States have such law only illustrates the danger thereof, am warns us not to frame such a measure a this, which has neve'r been upon our statut books except during the I&publican reghnt and which was stricken therefrom upon th restoration of the State to Democratic rule, said Mr. Howell, with much warmth. Sue! a law, he maintained, would till the court with litigation ; and that exceptional case existing were not sufficient to warrant th Legislature in passing the bill. He close< by saying that the State was not sufferini for such a law, and hence it was entirely in expedient to pass it. The motion to strike out the enactin; clause, on the second reading, was defeated In tiik House, a memorial of the pre.* idents and general managers of railroads wa received. 11 sets forth the grievances of th railroad companies under the existing rail road laws, but makes no recommendation a to their own relief. It asks for such relie as the General Assembly may deem propel Mr. Mclver reported, on behalf of th Committee 011 Agriculture, a majority re port in favor of the repeal of the Lien Law and a minority report against the same. A bill to prohibit the sale of intoxicatinj liquors in the towns of Seneca City am Westminster, Oconee county, was receive* from the Senate and read the first time. The Senate and House met in joint assem bly at half-past 1 for the purpose of electin; I a Commissioner of Agriculture, two mem l?ers of the Hoard of Agriculture and twi members of the Hoard of Directors of tin Penitentiary. Mr. Mclver nominated Colonel A. P. Hut sioner of Agriculture. He said that tin verdict of the people of South Carolina \va that Colonel Butler was the right man inthi right place, and strongly urged his re-elec tion. Mr. Talbert seconded the nomination. I Ii stated that Colonel Butler had made the Ag ricultural Department a success, and hat ever been earnest and untiring in his effort in the State's interest. The whole vote was 142, all being cast fo the nominee. Mr. Pearce nominated Mr. W. 1). John son, and Mr. Buist Mr. A. S. Perry, fo members of the Board of Agriculture. Mr. Wilson seconded Mr. Perry's nominn tion. Whole vote cast 138 ; necessary to i choice 70. Mr. Johnson received 137. Hast ing Gantt, Republican, of Beaufort, votec for W. F. Colcock. Mr. Massey nominated Mr. I). F. Bradley and Mr. Simonton, Mr. John W. Willi&m son, l'or members of the Hoard or I'eniten tiary J)irectors. Both gentlemen reeeivec 1:12 votes. Necessary to a choice US. A number of bills and resolutions receiv ed their first reading by title and were re ferred to the proper committees. Amonf the bills of general importance were tin following: By Mr. Hoyle, bills to amend Sectioi 101!) of the General Statutes, in regard to tin beneficiary cadets attending the South C'aro lina Military Academy; to provide fo: State aid in the higher education of th< girls of the State of South Carolina; to en courage the cultivation of sorghum cane anc the manufacture of sugar from the same. By Mr. Croft, bills to amend Section 144: of the General Statutes of South Carolina relating to the General Railroad Law; t( prescribe the time in which the return ant assessment of property for taxation shall b( made. The following bills were read the thirt time and sent to the Senate: A bill to require butchers and all person: who may hereafter be engaged in the busi ness of buying and selling live stock t( keep a record of the flesh and oar marks o the same, the date of purchase and tin name and place of residence of the person: from whom purchased. J A bill to declare it a misdemeanor for an | person to take and use any horse, mare c 1S | mule without the consent of the owner an (i; without iptent to steal the same. " 1 0 ! Tin:ksda v, December 0. : l.v tiik Skxatk, Mr. Munro presented o- i petition from citizens of Union to prohibi (j ; the sale of intoxicating liquors in that towr (j ! Among the bills introduced were the fo j lowing: e j By Mr. Beaty?A bill to prohibit Trk e Justices who are practicing attorneys, froi .. appearing in cases sent by them to th r Circuit Courts. q It was expected that the joint resolutio relating to a call for a Constitutional Cor II vention would meet with some opjiositio ~ and be productive of discussion. It i known that a considerable number of th ir members oppose the calling ofa Conventio to amend the Constitution, and it was e> y pected that they would raise their voice p against the passage of the resolution. A refrained from debate, however, and th e resolution was rejected by a vote of 20 to 11 Those who voted for the resolution are q Messrs. Beaty, Benbow, Brown, Byrd, (V ker, Gail lard, Ilarllee, Henderson, Howel II Izlar, Lartigue, Leitner, Moore, of Jlanq e ton. Moore of Spartanburg, Muller, Battel r_ son, Redfearn and Simmons. L_ Those who voted in the negative are jjj Messrs. Buist, Earle, Field, McCalL, Moor q of Anderson, Munro, Berry, Shanklir Smythe and Williams. It will be seen from the above vote tin: r the advocates of the measure lacked the ne< e essary two-thirds vote which is required ft ? the passage of such a resolution. The prt ? ;- -x V. i.i r l.:11 i ? ak:., ^^.'An q jeci is lueruiuru kjjlun iui mm scnmuu. tj The bill to limit the ages of pupils attenc ing the free public schools caused some (lis c cussion. The bill, as it is before the Senat* prescribes that 110 pupil under the age < six years nor over the ago of sixteen year shall be admitted to the said schools. e Mr. Smythe favored the limit for tli ^ younger pupils, so as to prevent the publ: schools from becoming public nurseries; bi e objected to the other limitation, as sue limitation would debar many persons froi ir receiving any education at all, so many < ~ of our poor youth being unable to even con mence their schooling before they had pas: n ed the prohibitory age of sixteen years. I conclusion, Mr. Smythe moved that the r? e striction, as to the sixteen year old pupi e be stricken out. j Mr. Henderson objected to striking 01 jl the said limitation, and said that if it wei ^ stricken out, the length of the school terir c> would be materially shortened on account < the number of pupils in attendance upo r the schools. 0 Mr. Smythe's motion prevailed, and tli r bill was passed to a third reading. Mr. T. J. Moore presented a bill to pr< hibit all distillation of spirituous or intox tl eating liquors in the county of .Spartanburg l_ Mr. Smythe introduced a resolution asl e ing for the concurrence of the House, se 11 ting Friday, December 21, 1883, as the tim 0 for the Legislature to adjourn sine die. Ix Till-: Housk, a large number of bil 0 and resolutions were read the first time b . title and referred to proper committee Among tne nins were xne iouowmg: By Mr. Morrison?A resolution that it L e referred to the Judiciary Committee to a n certain what legislation, if any, is necessar for the revision of the Trial Justice systen and whether the same should not be abo ished and the office of Magistrate restore< with an increase in the number of tJircu jf Judges, with leave to report by bill or othe tr wise. jJ- By Mr. Sligh?Bills to amend Sectic 2428 of the General Statutes, in reference 1 [_ cost of plaintiff's and defendant's attorney h in equity causes; to provide for the distr bution of one copy of Acts and Joint Itesi lutions of the General Assembly and of tl annual reports of the Senate officers to eac l_ of the chartered colleges of this State. ? By Mr. Talbert?A joint resolution sul . mitting to the qualified voters of this Stat at the next general election, an amendmer to Section J of Article II of the Constitutioi ? relating to the formation of new eountie A joint resolution appropriating funds f< {l the construction and erection of a sarcophi gus for the remains of John C. Calhou elicited some discussion, but finally passe ,'jJ to its third reading. ^ A bill to authorize illegitimate childre n to inherit from their mothers was passec r_ pending amendments. s Mr. Johnstone, on behalf of the Ways an e Cleans Committee, made an unfavorable r< ! port on the bill to establish an asylum ft: l' colored orphans, and after a lengthy discu: ~ sion the report was adopted. Fuiday, December 7. . In tiik Senate, Mr. Lartigue offered c{ bill to amend Section 037 of the Oenen [j SUitutes of South Carolina, relating to th compensation of County Commissioners. Air. Smythe introduced a bill to requii s| foreign co-operation assessment companic u to comply with the Insurance Laws of th 8 State, and to clearly define who shall b e considered agents of insurance companie: '' The bill to declare unlawful, contracts fc the sale of articles for future delivery, mad under certain circumstances, and to provid 11 the remedy in such cases, produced a livel 8 debate. 8 Mr. Berry advocated what he terme ? "free trade," and thought that it would b :l injurious to the business prospects of th ^ country if restrictive laws were made coi cerning the same. Mr. Hart wanted an amendment tlui S would make "selling on futures" a crimini offense, and to provide for the punishmen thereof. 8 Mr. Smythe classed all contracts for sell e ing on futures as gambling contracts, an - thought they should be dealt with as sucl 8 Mr. Beaty opposed the scheme of sell in 'f on futures, and said that a law bearin ' thereon was necessary for the protection i d +Ka MfltAU r?AA?\lA o??rl fli/i fonrc ncnnoift 11v ^ tile \> nuii; puupic auu uiiy laiuiv i?j vi^w.hhj The bill was passed to a third reading. > The remainder of the session was take: up in the discussion of the bill to regulat ? the granting of divorces. The bill elicited 1 lengthy Uiscusssion, and the final disposi 1 tion of it is considered equivalent to its de feat. In tiik House, a large number of bills? , none of general importance?were intro - duced and referred. 0 A number of bills were read the thir< - time and sent to the Senate?among them i bill to amend the Code of Civil Procedur - by the addition of a section to be known a - Section 27o, relating to the opening of tin ? Court of Common Picas. A bill to facilitate s the holding of the Courts of Common Pleas ? A bill to authorize druggists to seH wine fo - sacramental purposes. 5 Satuudav, Decembers. In tile Senate, Mr. T. J. Moore, o ( Spartanburg, made a motion to rcconside s the vote upon the bill to regulate the grant ing of divorces, and the motion was adopted r the reconsideration of the bill to be a specia order. The calendar was taken up, sixty-si: ?' items being thereon, and the first bill callet was one to provide for an expeditious modi - of ejecting trespassers, upon which was pen 1 ding a motion from Mr. Karle to allow at - appeal to be made from the decision of tin 1 Trial Justice who tries the case. The bil was amended and passed its third reading 'IMw. nnoiifiiin' tirnrrL nf Hin li!ll? to mrmiri J I Hit VVWAiau Wi v..v v?*.w w ? v.xA v. - butchers to keep records of the cattle bought -! from whom, date, etc.; and of the bill t< I regulate the pay of jurors were stricken out Some new bills were introduced, and oth - ers on the Calendar were continued. In the House, Mr. McMaster, of Fair ?! field, introduced a bill to require a licensed ' i keep a dog and to appropriate the fund: j arising therefrom to educational purposes. II The bill to provide for the better organi 31 zation of the public schools of the State, ant - i to authorize the levy and collection of a ta> r j for the support of the same, came up for f i second reading and was lost?yeas, 08 -1 nays, 28. 1 j The bill to remove all doubt as to the tim< i of holding general elections in this Stab I j was passed to a third reading, with sligh , i amendments. > j A bill to make the possession and display II of a United States, revenue license to retai j i spirituous liquors by any person or person? j outside of incorporated cities and towns ii 1 this State prima facie evidence of a viola i tion of the license laws of this State, anc i1 to throw the burden of proof upon the part} -: or parties holding and displaying sucl ) license, was ordered to a third reading, f A bill to amend Sections 24")0, 2480 ant ) 2481. The object of amendments to thesi 4 sections is to modify the punishment ii 1 eertftin cases for the crimes of rape, arsoi y ! and burglary, and elicited some discussion, ir ; but was finally continued. < d ; A number of bills of local nature were ! read the third time and sent to the Senate. , THE C., C. &TTtAlLROAD. t The stockholders of the Charlotte, C'olum it bia and Augusta Railroad held their annual > meeting in Columbia on Wednesday of last 1 1- week. The old officers were re-elected as follows: President, A. C. Haskell; Vice d President and General Manager, A. L. n Rives; Superintendent, < r. R. Talcott; Trease; urer, J. C. B. Smith ; Secretary, C. Bouk- ? 1 night: Auditor,John Craig; AssistantGenn ; oral Freight and Passenger Agent, D. Card-!' well. n | The President and Directors submitted , ls their reports showing the work done during 0 the year ending September 30, 188.'}, the 11 earnings, the expenditures and the condi- j > tion of the property. The financial results! ' s are as follows : " KAKNIXOS. e i C. C. & A. Railroad $702,841 07 1 ' A. T. & O. Railroad 51,833 08 1 : I C. & L. X. G. Railroad 45,898 25 C. & C. X. G. Railroad 88,693 20 ' t )_ Total Earnings $839,265 60 r" Expenditures 835,09!) 97 ' Balance $ 3,565 63 , (; The President's report says: The above b statement shows that the money earned by the road and its branches has been expended ^ on the property; and although the fiscal year was one of almost unprecedented prosperity, ,r the earnings have not nearly given a suffl)_ ciency to put upon the property the irn. provements indispensable to first class serI" vice. In reference to the Cheraw and Chester ; and the Chester and Lenoir Railroads, which , are operated under lease by the C., C. A s? A. Road, the report says : "The operation of the leased lines, al!e though not altogether satisfactory, is not !< " i Mil. _ 4 ?n C- I \ "r witnout encouragement, me a. ?. a, v/. , It. It. has paid its rental, while the C. & 11 C. It. It., and the ('. & L. N. G. It. It., have . *1 fallen short. The latter roads have been >r made still less productive by the ruling of x~ the Railroad Commissioners, which has s" placed them in the category of the trunk J1 lines, and allows these sparsely supplied local carriers to charge no more for their labor 155 per ton per mile than is charged by the , South Carolina Railway, although the latter ^ carries about forty times or four thousand e -per cent, the freight carried by the former. If, however, these roads can be relieved from this arbitrary pressure and we are left 11 free to develop the trade in their territory, the probability is that in time they will beie come self-sustaining and of value to the main line. The Cneraw and Chester has ?" been made a continuous and convenient line by the construction of a bridge across the ' Catawba, thus giving to Lancaster a good J" outlet to the markets. This bridge has been l~ in use for several months, while a portion ie of it is still temporary structure,permanent . work is being pushed forward, and unless arrested by high water, will be completed y during the present month. The Chester & H' Lenoir X. G. It. It. has been extended to Hickory, on the Western X. C. It. It. The >e bridge across the Catawba, beyond Hickory, s" is being built, and the rail is being laid as y fast as the cross ties are delivered by the ?> contractors, thus extending the line from " Chester to Lenoir, which, when completed, .? will be a hundred and ten miles in length, through a rich, but comparatively undevelr" oped country." A delegation from North Carolina were present, and urged an extension of the Char ;w lotte, Columbia and Augusta Jtanroaa line '!s into that State for the distance of some twen1_ ty miles of upward. The matter was referred to the President, with power to act. le ^ ^ 1 h SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Rev. R. L. Harper, pastor of the MethL, odist Church in Abbeville, is dangerously ill, and it is feared he cannot recover. i, ? Farmers in Newberry county have more s. meat of their own raising now than at any w time for many years past, i- ? Work on the Newberry factory is pro11 gressing rapidly. A large quantity of the d machinery has already arrived. ? The Lodge of Good Templars at Greenn ville received 4."> applications for member'? ship at their meeting Tuesday night. , ? The Greenville Enterprise and Mountainerr went into deep mourning over the de " feat of the "dry" ticket in that city. s. ? The Convocation of the Episcopal church ^ in upper South Carolina met in Greenville last Thursday. Eight ministers were present and two laymen. a ?Three families of negroes, numbering < J fifteen persons, left Seneca last week for Lite tie Rock, Arkansas. Emigrant agents are < busy in different sections of the State, offere ing'inducements to the colored people to go ;s West. ie ? The town of Blackville, Barnwell coun- 5 ie ty, went "wet" on Wednesday by a majori- ' i. ty of 48 in a total vote of 134; Bamberg ] ir went "dry" by 58 in a total vote of 126. * e Graham's, Williamsburg county, has gone e "dry" by a small majority, and another j y town in the same county has gone "wet." ? The local option election appointed for j d Barnwell was not held, as Judge Aldrich. < e has irranted an injunction restraining the i e Council l'roni holding it. His Honor deci- ( i- ded that the citizens who withdrew their ' names from the petition praying the C'oun- . it cil to order it,had a perfect right to do so be- j d fore it was acted upon, and their withdraw- i it al reduced the number of petitioners below one-third of the voters at the last municipal , I- election. d ?Lancaster Review: The barn of Mr. , ' Jessie B. Mobley, of Pleasant Hill township, o in Lancaster county, was destroyed by fire ; K on last Friday afternoon at about one j " o'clock. Mr. Mobley's gin, which is run by ' steam, was located about sixty yards from ) the barn and it is supposed that sparks from i 11 the engine set the barn on fire. The stock { e which were in the stable underneath the 11 barn were rescued, but all the corn and fod" dor was consumed. Mr. Mobley's loss amounts to at least five hundred dollars. ^ Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. " 1- ? NOTES FROM BLACK'S STATION. { | Black's Station, December !).?Our L> Town Council have just completed a street t . from tin1 town to the top of Whitaker's [ p Mountain, where parties will erect an observatory that will place several surround- 1 ing towns in view. ' The Iioodtown Silver Cornet Band paid t our town a visit this week. They have 4 splendid new instruments and perform well, j The band is under charge of Captain S. S. " , Plcxico, and consists often members. Their performance here was highly appreciated by our citizens, and it is hoped that the band * may have occasion to return to our town t j again soon and enliven our people with lllt'ir !>1?R-11U1U IIIU.71U. Messrs. \V. B. Sherrer, Samuel T. Bran- ^ j don and Columbus Roberts have bought res1 ideuces in our town, and will move in at a I once. 1 There is more small grain sown in this ^ section, the present season, than ever before. c Whether the lien law is repealed or not, we ? will have no use forit if we are favored with ' good crops next year. Ecu). | MERE-MENTION. J I The heaviest snow and wind storm known 1 ! in the history of Colorado occurred at Den- cl I ver last week. A resolution has been t offered in the Virginia legislature calling upon Senator Mahone to resign his seat in f j the United States Senate Mrs. Carey, '1 the widow of James Carey, who was killed ti I by O'Donnell, expresses anxiety to return v ! to Dublin. The Government will probably a I provide for her. In Baltimore, last 11 ; Friday, Mrs. Laura Itiall, who killed her 1 , two children on Friday previous and then v i cut her own throat, died from the effects of b i the wound. A. S. Wigley, a grand ju- si | ror at Baton Bouge, La., was waylaid and p t! killed while returning to his home last p i Thursday night. His assailants escap- ti r i ed. JamesM. Underwood was hanged v 1! at Dardanelle, Arkansas, last Friday, for 1 ,! the murder of Kobert J. Cindergrass. Three p i thousand persons witnessed the execu- n -1 tion. An effort is being made to have u 1; both the Democratic and the Republican b r National Conventions at Indianapolis, In-.b i diana. Freeman, the Pocassett, Mass., b second Adventist who slew his little daugh- s I ter two years ago in obedience, he stated, to si )! Divine command, has been finally declared \ i insane and sent to the lunatic asylum for n II life. e LOCAL A7FAIES. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. T. M. Dobson ?The Old Chap Interviewed Again. \V. C. Latimer?A Big Rush This Week. ( May A' May%-( Jood Gracious, Mr. Jones. John May, Jr.?Whv He Starved to Death. Latta Brothers?A Full and Complete Stork. 1'. A. Dorset?Notice. M. J. Bell?Administratrix' Sale. K. L. Glenn, Chairman?York County Bonds. H. Lathan, School Commissioner?Free School Notices. Hunter & Dates?On West Liberty. J. F. Wallace. C. C. Pis.?Clerk's Sale. K. M. Law, Commander?Legion of Honor. J. N. Roberts?Notice. Parish A McKnight?Allow Me. Kerry's Seed Annual. J. R. Lindsay <fc Co.?Hoods for the Holidays. II. K. Adickes?Xmas. F. Iiapperlield?Dissolution of Copartnership. J. A. Glenn?Dental Notice. THE OLD ACADEMY. The work of tearing down the old brick academy on the lot purchased by Mr. J. D. t'olcock last sales-day, was commenced yesterday morning. RETURNED.FROM FLORIDA. Dr. W. M. Walker has returned from an extended trip to Florida. He promises the readers of the Enquirer, next week, a short sketch of his trip to that State and the impressions made upon him. REV. DR. LATHAM. We are pleased to state that Rev. Dr. Lathan, who has been severely indisposed for several weeks, is convalescing. He was able to fill his appointment atTirzah Church last Sunday, and was on the street Monday and Tuesday. YORK COUNTY BONDS. The County Commissioners advertise, this week, the retirement by drawing, of a number of York county bonds in aid of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad. The numbers of the bonds are given, and holders are notified that those mentioned in the advertisement will cease to draw interest after the first of January, 1884. INFANTICIDE. Mrs. Martha Cunthrop and her daughter, Mattie, arrested at Black's Station last Thursday and taken to Pickens county, on the charge of infanticide committed by the daughter, with ber mother as accessory, have been committed to Pickens jail on the charge of murder. The trunthrop family recently moved from Central to Black's Station. ' CHLRCH NOTICES. Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. R. Lathan, Pastor. Services next Sunday at 1U..'10 A. M. Sunday-school at 9 A. M. Presbyterian?Rev. T. R. English, Pastor. Services at the usual hours, morning and evening, next Sunday. Baptist?Rev. J. E. Covington, Pastor. Services at Union next Sunday at 11 A. M.; in the Church at Yorkville at 7 P. M. Sunday-school at .'1 P. M. FREE COMMON SCHOOLS. School Commissioner Lathan publishes this week,two notices of public importance: , First, in reference to the examination of teachers, which will take place in the Court House in Yorkville on Thursday and Friday the 3rd and 4th of January next. Secondly, he advertises his appointments for meeting school trustees and patrons for the nurnose of makintr arrangements for the public schools for next year. ACCIDENTALLY HURT. * A painful accident occurred to I)r. J. 0. Kuykendal last Thursday afternoon, which though not of a serious nature, was sufficiently severe iti its results as to confine him to his room for several days. He and John A. Barron, Esq., were taking a buggy ride on tlx? day in question, and while descending a hill about six miles from town the coupling of the vehicle broke, precipitating the occupants forward to the ground. Both received severe bruises, though Dr. Kuykendal was most seriously hurt. JUDGE WITHEKSPOON. Judge Witherspoon returned to his home in this place last Monday evening from Charleston, where he has been presiding over the Circuit Court of that county, which, was in continuous session for five weeks.. This was Judge Witherspoon's first term, ....,1 1.:,. ......... ...;n lu viuuicaivju, twiu ins uuuijf iiicuua win uc pleased to learn that he made a most favorable impression in the metropolitan city as a presiding officer. Speaking of his departure from Charleston, the Sunday Neicnsays: No business of importance was transacted in the Court of Common Pleas yesterday. Judge Witherspoon will leave for his home in Yorkville Monday morning. The Court will be called and adjourned each day until the close of the present month, Judge Witherspoon signing orders of course at his home, rhe members of the Bar here express great satisfaction at the patient and able administration of the law by Judge Witherspoon who has worked faithfully and well. The News and Courier, of Tuesday, also lias the following: Jud^e Witherspoon left Charleston for hifj lome in Yorkville yesterday. Judge Witherspoon has given universal satisfaction to ;he members of the Charleston Bar, and lis courtesy and ability have been highly ippreciated. He is an earnest, able Judge, md his charges to the juries in some of the mportant and intricate cases which came lefore him have been highly commended. THE II1GH POINT FIELD TRIALS. The steady rain during most of the time he northern sportsmen were at High Point, S\ C., rendered the sport somewhat tireiome and tedious, though everything pass?d off satisfactorily to the large number pres;nt. The Club is composed mainly of norhern men of means and leisure who have lought the privilege of hunting on a large irea of land adjacent to High Point. We mve heard of but one dog south of Virginia hat attracted much attention, and that was 'Honest Harry," entered by Major J. K. Marshall, of Lincolnton N. C. He failed to vin the prize, but his beauty and style won he admiration of all. Forest and Stream, he official publication of the Club, and he highest sporting authority in the United itates, gives "Honest Harry" the followng pleasant notice in reporting the contest >etween him and San Roy : This was the first appearance of this brace, lonest Harry is a very good looking black log rather above the medium size. He has onsiderable speed, and gets around in a ;amy manner, and appears to have a good lose. He was handled by Whaite. San toy is also a good-looking dog of large size, ie is quite speedy, and has a wonderful lose. His way of going and the manner in rhich he locates his birds reminds us strongy of his sire, Count Noble. He was hanI In/-] l\ir Co n Rnitn nro?A ? ?* ' IIV-V4 uv uaiiuwiu. lllCJ >YtXC VJilOL UU ill he pines where the last heat was finished, ian ltov took a few jumps, and very graceully sat down on point to the bird which 'allman had killed, Harry backing him in nultless style. Sanborn ordered to flush rent on, when San Roy picked up the bird ml brought it in very nicely. Harry then uade a capital point to a single bird, which toy ran into and flushed, both dropping to ring. We then worked out into some stuble, when Harry ran into a large bevy and cored a flush. We then swung into the lines when Roy dropped very prettily on oint, and Harry baclced him handsomely, unborn flushed the bird, but it went torard the judges, and he did not shoot, toy then drew on a few steps and again ointed a single, which Sanborn put up and nissed. Then the rest got up all around s. Harry then made a point, which Roy acked in fine style. Harry soon drew on, lit dropped to order, and Whaite put up a ird which he missed. Roy started off at peed, but stopped to order, and catching cent he pointed a bird which flushed as Vhaite went toward him. Whaite also, lissed this bird. Harry then made anoth.-. r point to a single, which Whaite flushed*