Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Ali Independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, literature and General Intelligence. V0l7& ANDERSON, S. a, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 18671 NO. 44. BY 'E OTT & "W AI TEE S. . TERMS: TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF PEB ANMTJ&, ' ? .IS UXITED STATES 'CO??EXCT. RATES OP ADVERTISIN&. Advertisements inserted at the rates 'of One Dol per square of twelve lines for the first insertion and Fifty Cents for each subsequent insertion. Liberal deductions made to those who advertise by the year. figjg- For announcing a candidate, Five Dollars .' jjarsdvance. ... !fne Reconstruction Bill ?TLE GTIJ^LED iN ^EHAE*1 OF TBE . ; ST?TK ?J? mississippi. - ' Washington*, April 4. ?^Tie bill to "be filed by Judge Sbarkey and. Robert J. Walker, in the Supreme - Court-of-the United States to-morrow, is - 'the complaint ot the State of Mississippi . in behalf of herself and such other States as may be "intetested in the premises, who shall, by consent of the Courts properly y make themselves parties hereto, against ?Andrew Johnson, ft citizen of the State of ? Tennessee, and President of the United .. St&'tes; and also against Gen. E. O. C. Ord. Tlie petition sets forth at length the his - ifcor'v of the formation of the State of Alis ?fcis^pV-claiming beside the protection of the Constitutional rights of a State, that ^thereare.compacts fundamental, irrevoca? ble, ar<d .unalterable, securing forever to Vtlie State of Mississippi her rights as a State of the Union. Such compacts and the rights acquired under them thcoetr . 'tioners believVthfr Court will regard it as its duty" to maiutain in the same manner "? at least as it would enforce between jihdi ^ vidcals by. injunction or otherwise, the ?specific performance of contracts. The ??averment is made that the Congress ot the" . United States cannot constitutionally expel -Mississippi from tfcie Union j and that any ? attempt which p'ractically does so, is a i ?nullity; and -that there is no provision .in '''the constitution of the United States,. . which subjects her as a State to any pains, - penalties, or forfeitures, as a consequence . 'of such void attempt of a portion of her people to withdraw from the Union. All powers to punish fl/State by expulsion, or '.: otherwise,frooi any ^cause, having been - expressly .refused in the Convention which j -framed the JFederal Constitution, she avers TEhat her citizens lost none of their polit?c?l ? rights, nor-incurred any penalties except " wfiat might be inflicted upon theni as in v dividuals-by due process of law, after a v trial by jury in courts haviug jurisdiction ? I <pf their offences; and that disabilities at ' =Xempted to .be" imposed upon her or upon _vher citizens* otherwise than as aforesaid, l)y any bod^ ctj)ersohs,.are void and vio . lations of the Constitution of the United ? States, as well as of the compact with Georgia in 1802, and with Virginiap'in 1867. She avers she has exhibited her good iaith and adhesion to the Constitu? tion by electing Senators and Representa? tives to Congress, and complains that they ?" -have been, wrongfully excluded, and that her. people have been compelled'to pay the -taxes and hear the burdens of government . without representation. The Act to pro? vide for the more efficient government of the rebel States, and the Act suppleirren ; tary, thereto utterly annihilate the State :;.nd its government, by-assuming for Con ^^ress~ the power to control, modify and* ? 'je^fen abolish its government; in short to ?xert sovereign power over it, ar.d the - utter destruction ot the State must be the consequeuee of their executiou. The i scope of power vested in the military com? manders,; so broad, so comprehensive^ was never, before vested in the military com ' jnander in any Government which guards the rights of its citizens of -subjects by laws. The bill of complaint concludes as - follows: ? ,[Xo\v the complainant expressly charges ^tnat from information and belief, the said "^??nidrew Johnson, President,.in violation of the Constitution, and in violation of the - sacred rights of the. States, will proceed, notwithstanding his vetoes, and as a "mere-ministerial duty to the execution of said acts as though.they were the la w of J S~?Ke land, which the vetoes prove he would I not do if he had any discretion, or that iu doing so-he performed anything more than I a ministerial duty,.with a vie w to the exe? cution of said acts; the said Andrew Johu - son has- assigned military commanders to the several districts to carry them into ; complete and full execution, and for this purpose has assigned Gen. E. 0.*C. Crd, a citizen of the state of Maryland, to the command of the States of Mississippi and ? Arkansas whom, complaiuant prays may be made a defendant to this bill, and served with all proper processes, ?fcc ; and ..complainant further avers that the said ? Gen. E. O. C. Crd will speedily enter on the discharge of said duties unless re? strained by this honorable Court; and complainant would further show that many legal questions must arise under these bills, if the government contemplated by them be" carried out, which sooner or later must come before this Court for tinal adju dication; and it is believed that these bills will ultimately be decided unconstitutional in their whole length and breadth, and as a consequence all acts that may have been done under-them must be declared void, even to the constitution which may be fomied under them. The mischiefs that must result from such a statt of things are . incalculable and without number, not only in regard to the rights of property, but for punishments inflicted without authority ; a total disorganization of the present Gov? ernment, inasmuch as no elections can be held to fill the State offices; a state of ^anarchy must intervene until the Govern - ment can be again reorganized by the peo? ple. Therefore, public policy, the good order of society, the safety of a people, call loudly for speedy redress. And the .-complainant also charges that this bill is filed as a bill of peace and to prevent end ? Jess suits and controversies, inasmuch as the execution of the acts must produce snch an endless variety of legislation as to * disturb the good order of society by driv? ing aggrieved parties to seek redress againsf officers and others who may com? mit trespasses and crimes against the inno cont, To prevent such ovils is one of the comra,or4. grounds of equity jurisdiction j and the complainant avers that this appeal is.n^ado to the honorable court, in good ifaithv and not from factious motives, or " Jrom 9> spirit: of- insubordination to law j but under a fixed belief that these acts are in violation of the Constitution, and of the compacts aforesaid, and impose no obliga? tion on her people to observe theni^ unless decided to be valid by this honorabte court; and, therefore, claims, as she has & right to do, the deliberate "determination ot this court, as the tiibunal organized un? der the Constitution to preserve it invro* late, and to keep all the departments ot the Government within their appropriate sphere^ by trying their acts by the test ef the Constitution $ and she claims the exer? cise of this undoubted rigmt in advance, for the purpose ef preventing irreparable mischiefs so gigantic and. intolerable as those which ar? threatened. If she should do mischief in, this, and the acts should be decided to be Constitutional, she will most cheerfully yieid implicit obedience to all their behests, whatever the consequences may be. All she desires is to guard her rights and the rights of her citizens, and this boon she hopes may be accorded her before it is too late, and- without being subjected to the imputation of improper motives. If either the State or the people have constitutional rights, it is a paramount duty to preserve them by all legitimate .means. Tins Court the State believes to be the great tribunal for the peaceful set? tlement, of all constitutional questions, and especially in all cases in which a State is a party, as expressly provided in the funda? mental -law% In consideration of the promises, aud inasmuch as complainant manifestly has no remedy whatever at lav^ as must be apparent to the Court, and aim have redress as a State only through thisj Court, as provided by the Constitution,! complainant appeals to the preventive power of this honorable Court, exercising the Jurisdiction of a Court of Equity, and humbly prays that the said Andrew John-1 son, and his officers and agents appointed for that purposevand especially Gen. E. O. C. Ord, above named, be perpetually enjoined and restrained from executing, or in any manner carrying out said acts; and ; that process of injunction and subpoena I issue directed to the parties aforesaid; and all other requisite process deemed ne? cessary may he issued, and for such other and further relief as may be deemed proper by this Court, and that defendants be required to answer this bill of coin plaint. And as in duty bound complain? ants will ever pray, dec. -o T&e Wirz Tragedy. The astounding revelation made by Butler concerning the suppressed diary of Booth and tho consequent official murder of an innocent woman is followed by another little less astounding or disgrace? ful to the parties embraced in it, concern? ing the lawless trial and execution of the unfortunato Wirz. The disclosure is made in a letter from Washington to the New York World, bearing date March 27th.? It is as follows? It is, perhaps not generally known that during tho incarceration of Wirz and Major Winde r in the Capitol Prison they occupied adjoining cells, und enjoyed fa? cilities of communication, one to the other, by word or writing, through an aperture uot observed, doubtless, by the jailor. No one was permitted to see cither, unless by special privilege from the Secrotury of War. On tho night previous to the exe? cution of Wirz three tuen entered his cell, of course by permission of Stanton, aud proposed to him, that if ho would agree, to implicate Jeff. Davis in the alledged conspiracy to starve the Northern pris? oners confined at Andersonvillo his life would be saved. Wirz replied that he would not save his own life by sacrificing that of another inuoccnt man. The par? ties thereupon left the cell, and Wirz im? mediately communicated till that trans? pired to Major Winder. Tho Major some time after nc.et Mrs. Davis in New York, and revealed to her what is here stated, backing it up by an affidavit, which he i^ave her, ar d which she.now holds. The trial of Davis would involve revelations which would shock humanity, and test to its fullest whatever sense of justice or feeling of national pride is still left ?t the North. It is not unreasonable to presume that popular indignation would be aroused to a pitch that would render it unsafe for the concoctors of the vile plans devised to secure the sacrifice of Davis' life, to pro? long their residence among a people whose fame and character they bo grossly out? raged. Should not the names of the trio who made this infamous proposition to Wirz bo traced out by some means ? If tho World would initiate some movement to that end, it is probable that some light might be obtained which would fix the identity of these villains. The time is eminently auspicious for such an enqiihy, now that the rogues are divulging each other's inquities. It may be that Major Windor has somo information which would give a clue to the names of tho parties. If he has, ho should bo induced to furnish it, and then tho wretches should be held up to tho universal scorn and contompt they wo richly merit. ? "You need a little sun and air," said a physcian to a maiden patient. "If I clo," was the reply, "I'll watt till I get a hus? band." ? "Here's Webster on a bridge," said Mrs. Partington, as she handed Ike a dic? tionary. "Study it contentively, and you will gain a great deal of inflanvition." ? 'My dear,' said a husband to his af? fectionate better half, after a little squab? ble, 'you'll certainly never be permitted to to go heaven.' ?Why not?' 'Because you will be wanted as a tor? mentor below.' ? An old bachelor says the most diffi? cult part of surgery is to take the jaw out of a woman. t Tue Crowning Insult of the Hour, In view ot the fact iLliat the feeble and often defeated Democracy of the North have recently given symptoms of re? stored life and vigor, the recent speech (at Petersburg) of Wilson, of Massachu? setts, is full of meaning. In that SDcech the Southern people arc solemnly warned against placing any confidence in either the strength or good intention of the Northern Democracy. After the fashion of a certain sulphurous personage, who figures largely in sacred and profana history, the Natick shoema? ker takes the Southern people up "into a lofty mountain," and, white denouncing the Northern Democracy, tempts them, with splendid promises of future rewards if they will only sell their souls to the political miscreants who have deliberate? ly annihilated our civil rights, disfran? chised our ablest and purest men, and en? franchised every male negro in the State. Coming among a people thus outraged, humiliated and trampled upon by himself and his party, he lifts his brazen voice and proclaims that ho has not sought to humiliate the South; neither does he de? sire that tiiie ban of prolonged disfran chiseruent s'iiall rest upon a class of South? ern statesmen, the latchets of whose shoes this vulgar and insolent demagogue is un? worthy to loosen. Reeking from the most active and envenomed participation in the flagitious legislation which has de? prived us of all our rights, he has dared to ad vise the victims of his coarse and brutal fury as to their future political course. And the truculent impudence of this ignorant demagogue almost touches the limits cf the sublime when ho recom? mends for our especial admiration, re? spect and love the party which has de? stroyed every vestige of our political rights and left us at the mercy of the soldier. The advice of Wilson smacks so strongly of the "Pirate's Own Book," that we doubt not he is thoroughly satu? rated with the morality of that species of unwholesome literature. A. merchant? man is overtaken and captured by a pi? rate. The prize is robbed of every arti? cle of value, the unfortunate sailors ci? ther have their throats cut or are made to walk the plank, the captain of the cap? tured vessel is murdered in the pr2sencc of his shrieking wife by the commander of tho pirate ship who, while coolly wiping the blood of the murdered hus? band from his cutlass, proposes an alliance with his heart-broken widow, and urges his suit by the tender assurance that if his offers are rejected she will be handed over to his brutal crew? Wilson's propo? sal to the Southern people to hug Ralical isiri to their breasts is strictly in keeping with the above. lie has added insult to the most terrible injuries ever inflicted by a conqueror pretending to civilization upon a defeated nation, by asking us to support a party which has been more merciiess in legislation than the 6oldier was in the heat of battle. We regard this man's speech at Peters? burg as tho crowning outrage of two years of oppression, and insult of an un? armed people, and there is not a Vir? ginian with one spark of manliness in his bosom who will not spurn the thought ol affiliation with the party which Wilson represents, and which bus crushed our liberties and stripped Lee, Hunter, Wise and thousands of good and nblo men of political rights which they have given to the most ignorant and demoralized blacks. This coarse and illiterate tempter of the people of a proud and noble old State re? commends for our approval a party which has proclaimed tho absolutism of majorities The maxim of bis party is that all the guarantees of the Constitution must yield to the mandates of the mob. His own votes proclaim that there can be no per? sonal rights, no private rights of property, no inalienable rights, which a furious, blind majority cannot trample upon, pol? lute and disregard through their agents in Congress. It has been justly and elo? quently remarked by a distinguished journalist, that from "one-third of our people the protection of law has just been withdrawn by solemn and deliberate act of Congress. In the ten unreconstructed States there exists to*day no organic or statutory lav), no law to protect personal liberty or life. Ten millions of peoplo (by Wilson und his party) have been delibe? rately placed in this condition. Redress for wrongs, protection against violence to person or property, we have none but the will of a military dictator. Verdicts of juries, decisions of judges, avail us nothing if they do not meet the approval of the soldier. White and black, helpless women and children, are all condemned to live for an indefinite period with no protection against spoliation or injury by unscrupu? lous neighbors, except in such possible justice as the armed despot may permit. Widows and orphans, even, cannot succeed to an inheritance without his permission. Did the disfranchised, outlawed and insult cd people of Petersburg, who listened to Wilson when he plead tho cause of Radi? calism, think of these things, and ro mcuiber that all of their wrongs are tho first fruits of that party, whoso virtues, humanity and charity the speaker blatant? ly advocated. Oh ! for an hour of the in? dignant eloquence of some gifted South? ern man to have torn the flimsy, impudent harangue of tho missionary from Massa-* chusetts into shreds and tatters. How bitterly Would the shallow and insolent charlatan have repented his rashness, had somo honored Southern Statosrm^Ji then and there taught him that we were not Phillistlnes, to be conquered by that pri? mitive weapon which was so effectivo in the hands of Samson. The people of the South, while theyaro without rights, and hold their livos and fortunes at the mercy of the soldier, should carefully abstain from all interference with the political parties of the North. With their intrigues, quarrels, tactics and con^ ventfons we have absolutely nothing to do. We are powerless and voiceless in flvo balls of so-called national legislation^ and to us the politics of the 3S nrth are those ef a foreign nation. It becomes us simply to make our condition as endurable as possible, and the instincts of self preserva tinn requires us to perform certain duties, lest we suffer from supinenesa and de-; fault. It is -scarcely necessary to say that while we are outlawed and held by the stern duress of the bayonet, no gentleman, no decent man?no demagogue, indeed, but one of the lowest type, would insult our wrongs, our griefs wnd humiliation as Wilson has done. The most callous exe? cutioner spares, upon the scaffold, the feel? ings of his victim, and no Radical, who is not a vulgar charlatan, would attempt while we are pinned to the earth by the bayonet, to harangue us in praise of the humanity and charity of tho destroyers of our liberties. If Thaddeus Stevens was to appear among us proclaiming confiscation and exile as our fate, he would merit our re? spect far more than a Puritan demagogue who, with the blood of our liberties fresh upon his hands, comes among us smelling of the shambles, to tempt us with promi? ses of relief if we will endorse and sustain the authors of our unparalleled wrongs and insults.?Richmond Times. -o Washington News a?d Gr?8s?|t Washington, April 11. The President's illness will probably pro? long tho Senatorial session. Tho Georgia petition is signed by Messrs. Black, Brent, Cowan and O'Con or, with a certificate of the Georgia Gov? ernor attached. It prays an injunction against Stanton, Grant and Pope. The proceedings in tho Court to-morrow, is looked for with intense anxiety. Some New York papers havo made arrange? ments for verbatim reports of the argu? ment. The proot of Georgia's petition was read last night by Charles O'Conor, who probably wrote it. The amount paid for Russian America was ?7,200,000, and not ?10,000,000, as reported. The following papers have been named by the Clerk of the House as official or? gans : "Republican Tribune" and "Iliad," Now Orleans; Meridan "Chronicle" and Vicksburg "Republican," Mississippi; Lit? tle Rock, "Republican," Arkansas. Two in Florida, two in South Carolina and one in Texas have riot yet been named. Rousseau has been finally confi/med a Brigadier-General. Charles O'Connor in the Supreme Court, to-day, asked loavo to hand to tho Clerk of tho Court the petition of the State of Georgia-, which, to-morrow, he intends to ask leave to fild The Court said he could do so-. Attorney-General Stanborry said this petition differed from that of Mississippi; in fact, that the Presi? dent Was not mado a party in the injunc? tion ; and further stated that Stan torn, in behalf of the military authority, had re? quested him to take entire control of the defence. The Court was requested, but declined to take the order as to tho ar? rangement for arguing this question ; it is probable, however, that tho motion to file* two petitions will be jointly argncd. In the Senate, a resolution was intro? duced calling on the President for any legal opinions officially given him regard? ing the tenuro of office bill; passed.? Resolutions fixing the day ]or adjourn? ment occasioned a characteristic debate, and developed tho fact that the Senate is willing to divide the offices?half radicals and half Democrats; but tho President is firm In his determination to adhere to his friends. In reply to tho argument that unless the President yielded, during the recess, of placing persons in office objec? tionable to the Senate, ho should be put out of tho way in July, Fcssendcn replied that the President, equally with the Sen? ate, was part of tho Government, and might, with equal propriety, threaten to put the Senate'out of the way unless it accept tho measures. The whole ques? tion was indefinitely postponed. Applications from 153 former United States officers, 54 members of Congress and 104 prominent Confederate officers arc on file in the Attornc3*-Generars office for pardon. It is said the President has legal advice of his right-^tho Senate failing to confirm his nominations?to fill offices vacated previously to the passage of the tenure of office hill. Washington, April 12. The Tost Office building is lighted by gas generated on tho premises. James A. Kennedy, Treasurer and Superinten? dent, A. H. Doublcday and L. B. Moses, clerks, went to tho basement, to remedy some gas difficulty, and carried a candle, when a terrific explosion occurred; Mo? ses will die, and tho others are seriously, though not fatally, hurt. After a very long debate, the Senate adopted a resolution to adjourn on Tues? day. Tho President's health has grcatlj' im? proved. He attended a Cabinet meeting to-day. Maryland returns 7,000 majority for tho Convention. In tho Sdprcmc Court, on tho motion to filo the Mississippi bill, tho Chief Jus? tice said tho motion to filo a bill was usu? ally granted as a matter of course, but suggested that if tho bili contains matter scandalous or unfit to como before the Court, tho Court examines it or rofors it to a master. In this caso, tho Attorncy Gonoral objects to the bill as containing matter unfit to bring before the Court. That is tho only point which can now bo considered. Upon that point, the Court will first hoar the Attorney-Genoral. ? Mr. O'Connor announced himsolf and associates in attendance, should it be de? cided to argue both bills. The Attorney-General said the "Georgia bill lacked the point on which he proposed to oppose filing the Mississippi bill. The Mississippi bill was, in a legal sense, Scan? dalous, as it proposed making the Presi? dent the Defendant before the Court. Gov. Shafkey said he had amended the bill to.proceed against the President as a citizen of Tennessee. Attorney-General Stanberry read por? tions of the bill, claiming ft Was maniiest ly against the President as President. He alluded to a process some what similar issued against Mr. Jefferson, iti the Burr trial. Mr. Jefferson did not obey, nor even notice, the process. He should ad? vise the President to disregard the sub? poena, and traced the result, should the Court persist and the President remain firm. The Court, to maintain its dignity, would have to imprison the President for contempt. He maintained, equally With the Kings of England, that the President was exempt from proceedings of this kind. He could only be brought before the bar of the Senate after impeachment. The Courts could punish for acts committed while President, but he was beyond their jurisdiction while occupying the chair, lie also maintained that the action was against the United States Government as much as though the Government were named. Ho announced that he appeared at the request of the President, who, when the bills passed over his veto, said there was but one duty, in bis estimation, resting upon him, and that was faithfully to carry out and execute those laws. R. J. Walker followed, and the Court took the matter under advisement. Visit to John H. Surratt. A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun visited John H. Surratt at the Washing? ton jail recently, and writes a long account of what he saw and heard; A considera? ble portion of the letter is devoted to showing how insecurely the prisoner is kept and guarded. Indeed, so warmly is this point pressed, that it would almost appear to be the correspondent's object to have the prisoner deprived of some of the privileges how allowed him-. Surratt, ac? companied by a jailor, was foitnd in the /*uard house iii the prison yard; We quote from the letteri The prisoner was innocent of any en? tanglement For his security, whatever. He sat in a chair by one of the upper win? dows, reading a small volume, the charac? ter of Which I did not inquire. On my entrance he rose and advanced towards me with extended hand. Not expecting to meet so distinguished a character in such a place, I was somewhat taken by surprise when the name was pronounced, and after shaking hands, ventured to in? quire once again the name. "Surratt-,".re? plied my new acquaintance, with a smile. "I think I have heard of y?ti. before-,*' I remarked ; to which he quietly responded, "Very likely." He was dressed in a suit of dark mixed goods, cut in the prevailing fashion of a walking suit) evidently new. Upon his head he wore a black soft felt hat, also new. In statue 1 should judge him to be five feet, nine or ten inches high, rather slender in form?almost delicate, perhaps?and apparently twenty-ejght years of age. His hair is very light au? burn, nicely cut and trimmed, parted be? hind and combed forward. He wears a moustache and goatee, rather more posi? tive in color than the hair on his head.? The rest of his face was carefully shaved. Altogether, his appearance was that of a well-dressed and very presentable young man?and certainly the last one that would be selected from a crowd as a desperate character or a villain. He has a very pleasant voice, in conversation uses good language, understands himself perfectly; and usually wears a smile upon his face. My conversation with this somewhat remarkable man was not so full and free as I could have wished. Ho evidently was in no mood to talk on the topics that were most prominent in my owtl blind, and the witnesses to the interview pre? cluded me from making any eflbrts to get his confidence. After a few commonplace remarks on the state of the weather and such generalities as usually open up a conversation, I ventured to ask him a leading question in regard to his escape to and concealment in Canada, to which, with a smile only, he replied, "I have nothing to say about that; but," he added, "there was no sccresy about leaving Canada. I went on board a steamer at midday, whol? ly without disguse, and with hundreds of people on and about the wharf The steamer had rally two hundred passengers, with whom I associated freely during the voyage. Nobody recognized me, though there were those among the passengers that I recognized." He cou d not say what steamer this was, nor from what port it sailed, more than it was one of a regular lino leaving a large city. He spoke of meeting St. Marie in France. He claims that he recognized Sti Marie first, and that they traveled t o Italy to? gether. He manifests no vindictiveness towards this witness for having discovered him to the authorities, but considers hnn a "treacherous" fellow and thinks he was mistaken in his character. Surratt says that he had information of St. Marie's treachery before it was fully ac complished; and was kept advised, from time to time, of the steps taken to secure his arrest. Had the actual arrest been delayed one day longer, as Surratt had reason to expect it would be, he would have been beyond the reach of his pursuers, his arrangements for de? sertion and flight being nearly perfected j at the time of his arrest. He is careful to j abstain from saying what those arrange- j mcnts were, who were his accomplices and informers, or where he was to find a place of refuge. He has read with great apparent interest the published account of his capture and 1 The Intelligencer Job Office. Having recently made considerable additions to this department, we are prepared to execute 'Mm tobk ?.? Ail Kmm In the neatest style and on the most reasonable terms. Legal blank's, "Bill 'Heads, Posters, Cards, Handbills, Pamphlets, Labels, and in fact every style of work usually done in a country Printing Office. In all cases, the 'money will he required upon delivery cf the work. Orders, accompanied with the cash, will receive prompt attention. 'escapes, and the official correspondence bearing on those points, and takes great pleasure in criticising them. The won? derful leap of the precipice in Italy, of 'which so much has been said and written, is a source of great amusement to him.? The height from which he jumped he des? cribes'as ;about -equal to an ordinary se cond-stor.y win'dow, or say twelve leet.? But he tells :? story of descending more daugerons declivities than in is in his flight. In one instance his only available mode of descent Was to lie iipon his back aud to slide down a steep and rocky declivity, full -a hundred feet in height. Ot 'scarcity of food, ignorance ot the country and con sequei t danger of recapture in exposing himself by asking information by the way, of the constant alarm and similar subjects-, he is free and seemingly anxious to talk, and always in something of ? boastful vein, but his lips are sealed in respect to ?all matters bearing iu the remotest degree upon the great crime with wh ch his name is associated and of which he stands charged. Signs of the Times.?The New York Journal of Commerce has a precautionary article on the signs ot the times with reference to the liiiuticiul and business lu ture. The laugh, it says, which ouco greeted every allusion to possible trouble is now heard less frequently in the ave? nues of trade. The financial novices who ridiculed the lessons of experience, and taught that the heavier national debt the greater blessing, are less glib in their jibes to the veterans of the exchange, and advocate their crude themes with Jess as? surance than when the inflation was in progress on the other side of the summit. The manufacturing districts have felt a sudden jar in their machinery, and are surprised that there should be any check to their prosperity while under the pro? tection ot the most favoring legislation.? The smaller industries till over the land have already beguu to suffer; Enter? prise has lost its eagerness, and ad venturo folds its wings:* Th'eh; is unusual rest? lessness everywhere. The consumers all over the laud buy sparingly, and seem to have but little money. What has become cF the enormous receipts which filled everybody's purse who had anything to .-ell, until the high prices seemed a bless? ing instead of a curse? Is the money spent or hoarded? It does not circulate as it did, and the rolls of greenbacks are not as numerous Or as plethoric as they were last year. Has anybody found out that high prices bring an offset in great expenses, and that, in spite of high wages; there is less in the workiugman's purse than when he seemed to be toiling for a pittance ? The Journal asks, and adds: "What is the impending danger? Sim: ply the reaction alter the debauch.? When it cotue3 a reckoning will be first in order. Those who have betrayed their trust, using funds which were not their own, in the wild chase of sudden wealth, will be caught, ?s in a trap, and found wanting. There will be a legion of defaulters. Those who have carried a multitude of schemes: in their hands will come to the reckoning with great disad? vantage, and will wonder, amid the gen? eral shrinkage', what has become of the riches on which the}7 counted. Debts will be tangible, fixed facts'; and their uncomfortable array riill presenta ghastly spectacle against the vanishing assets which Wili il?t wipe them out. A day of reckoning and settlement will be a solemn lime lor all, and the mocking lip will for? get to Curl when this searching test re? veals the ashes of what seemed the ri? pened fruits of toil and providence. The adjddl-iiilletit of Congress, and a cessation of angry sectional discussions, may post? pone t' e day of reckoning tor a Mule while; but it musl come at last, and the hosts of ?hariiS atid delusions now so Ibnd ly cherished, will shrivel and fade in its revealing light/' * -?-:? A Suggestion for the Ladies.?If any of Our pretty ladies should ever be called before the Courts as witnesses, we sug? gest tu them the following happy escape from telling their age : A certain French actress never would tell her age. and of course the more the refused to tell it the more curious people weie to know it. By good luck?as the multitude thought?she was summoned as u witness on a trial. The gossips lubbod their hands and chuckled. "Aha ' we shall know it now. She must tell, or go to prisou tor contempt of court." The court was crowded with open-eared lis? teners. In French courts of justice the witness docs not stand in a box to give evidence, but sits on a stool, in the mid? dle of the floor ot.tho court, in front of the president's desk, and with no barrier or separation between it and himself. Tho lady was ushered in, raised her hand to Heaven, took the oath lo speak the truth ; and then seated herself on the witness' stool. "Your name?" asked the presi? dent. "Angelique Totijourfleuric." "Your profession ?" "Artiste dratnatique." "Your age?" You might have heard a pin drop in the court, and every eye was hunt on the lady. She was driven into a corner at hist? Foolish Paris public to think so! Angelique simply rose from her seat, walked straight to the president's' desk, and whispered the secret iu his ear. He nodded, made the entry in his private notes, and smiling, continued the rest of his interrogatories as soon as she had re? sumed her* place on the stool. The public retired with mingled leeliugs of disgust and admiration. The trial hud lost all further interest; and tho president was known to be a man of honor and gallant? ry, who would never let a pretty woimiuJt? cat escape from his presidential bag. ? What kind of essence docs a young man liL"o when he pops the question ? xVo quiessence.