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An Independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence. VOL. 4; ? ANDERSON, S. 0.. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1869. NO. 29. Shi; Jtt^SSii W^ty Intelltjgcntcr, BY H01M & WAL TEES. TERMS: TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF PEE ANNUM, IX UNITED STATES CUUUENCT. RATES OF ADVERTISING. Advertiseme nts inserted at the rates of One Dol? lar 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. fs?g" For announcing a candidate, Five Dollars' in advance. ,, , :? , S. Hives Pollard?A History of the Arti -cle that Caused iris Death. ?Tiio inttini number of the Southern Opin? ion, under its now management, lias made Hs-ap^sXH'tinee. J. M. Hunna, Mr. Pol Lwd^ associate and intimate friend,'coh tributes a long :lnd circumstantial.account of; tho killing of the late editor of the pa? per, with the many facts hitherto unpub? lished, fromwhieh'we extract the follow? ing history of the- "fatal article.'' Says Mr. Haima : I wasatr;djincr at the Ballard Rouse on a;d^^the week previous, when a geti tfc'maiv!,Av)Voi.at aC.'the same table with me rcin^?*&oy,-.v you -hear Of the elope? ment?"- I had not, and asked of him to whom ho referred. The gentleman then named tho parties, and related all the facts within his knowledge. Dinner over, l .relurned to the office. Air Pollard was not there; he had gone to his residence, on tho Grove road, but a note from him lay on my desk. Its eon tents was'an urgent request to visit him at his house that'evening, a* he had some important items for communication to me. I visited him. I met .him alone, in my own room, as.ho.seeraed.anxiou 3 that the servants should not overhear anything that might pass between us.. lie had some notes in his hand, and when I spoko ?>f the case I ha-d t-bwjf^at tho Ballard House, he remarkedifsfiwcly: uYes, I have heard ail about it, too; and I want you to take the address of this gentleman; go to him, get all the facts, and prepare an ar? tiele upon it?in the old style, remember." This was a phase ot his, used when he wished anything written in a peculiarly witty or sarcastic vein. lie then gave me the notes he held in Ids hand. I suggested that, possibly it would be best to .suppress names, as the parties stood high, aud trouble might ensue. He angered at once, and replied: '"The papers don't keep niy name out when I get into a difficulty; why should I suppress the names of these persons? My family is as good as theirs. No, put the name in full; I'm responsible for what goes in my pa? per." Here tho conversation dropped, or pass? ed to other subjects. We came into the city together tho next morning; in a few hours thereafter the article was written and in the hands of the printers. That night I was again at his residence and heard tho proof read. Again I suggested, that as the name occurred in but one place, it might be omitted without injury to the.interest or point of tiie article. Ho declined; nor do I think he altered or erased a single word, but, on the contra? ry, expressed'entire satisfaction.with it. As the week drew to its close the al? leged elwieiocut was the town topic in certain .'circles, and grew iu exaggeration. If was" hinted abroad that the Southern Opinion was preparing to ventilate the matter. On Wednesday late, or early Thursday moi'uirg. a friend of the Grant iamily visited the Opinion office. Mr. Pollard was at his country house; I was .alone. This gentleman inquired whether such an artiele. based on the rumor afloat, was lo appear in the next issue. I told him 1 believed there would be a publica* lion. He inquired, further, whether such publication could not be suppressed, say ing: ?\Reali\*, this is> very dreadful! 3*011 are doing a family a very great wrong; besides, there is not, one particle of truth in the report." tu He then recounted the circumstances of tnc young lady's going away. I told him I was powerless to stop the publication of the smallest paragraph after it was once in typt; that Mr. Pollard, was editor, pro? prietor, and chief censor. ?'Then.'' said lie, 'Ms there no way in which it can bo stopped? Is there any pecuniary consideration-which would in? duce you to forego the publication?'' With that tire gentleman, on his oWn responsibility*, as I have understood, o.Ter -c4 to fill the space occupied by the article with an advertisement for whtah he would ipay ono hundred dollars down. I told lim I had no aiftBorfty to negotiate; that he must see 31 r. Pollard. ??Then, where ?can Mr. Pollard be found? I must see 'him at once,'" was his reply; and receiv? ing his address, he took a carriage and' went out to the Grove-road residence. Tr'hat consultation took place at that in? terview I never heard, except through a. third-party; but as I am the relater of facts within my own knowledge only, I ?omit even tin" substance. There were' several subsequent interviews, however, ibetweon this gentleman and Mr. Pollard. The paper was usually put to press on Thursdays at 4 P. M.; but on tho after? noon ot"this day. when the forms were on the press, I received orders from Mr. Pollard to hold them back until Fri? day morning. Late on Thursday evening there was -another interview between tho gentleman representing the Grant family and Mr. Pollard, in the presence of ihe writer. Tho conversation again, as before, hinged on the possibility ot suppressing the pub? lication. The in term cd hi Lor at last, rising with impatience, said, with emphasis: "Mr. Pollard, is there no way by which this can be prevented! I am a friend of the family, am acting as such, and do as? sure ybrt, upon the honor of a gentleman,: i,hat the reports concerning its members 4iro false?utterly false." Mr. Pollard, rising, walked the floor of his sanctum, then resumed his scat, and replied: "As for any pecuniary considerations that ?nay be offered me, I hat is purely a matter of business. 1 publish my paper to sell. If Mr. Grant, or you, as his representa? tive, wish to purchase this edition ot my paper, I will soil it to you; or I will sell a half interest in my paper, or I will sell it entire; for 1. have wished for some time to form another newspaper association in New York city. But' as for selling myi principle, that I never will do; there is not money, enough to buy me." The gen? tleman remained silent, anil Mr. Pollard resumed: uOr, if 1 publish tin's article, this 1 . uja^wiUingto du?I will open my column's to Mr. Grant, and I will' print, line lor line, and word for word, whatever he may write in contradiction of the ar? ticle." The gcnllcma'h asked: "Mr. Pollard can I see the article you have prepared for publication?" Mr. Pollard turned to me and said: "Have you any objection to Mr. ?:-reading it?" I replied: "None in the least," and passed the proof-sheet to him. He read it over carefully, and con? cluding remarked: "AVell, that is not so bad as-I ejected it would be; neverthe? less, there is not one word of truth in the ?whole of it." Mr. Pollard demurred. 'How is it. Mr. -, then, that all these stories are going about? I myself have made inquiries, and feel justified in making them public through my paper.'' Mr.-, for the third or fourth time, related the circumstances of the case, adding: "Now, that is all there is in it." Still another and last interview was had early on Friday morning, between this same gentleman and Mr. Pollard. The former did not seat himself, but.appearing at the door of the editorial room, deliv? ered Ins message: "Mr. Pollard, your propositious are declined; I can do noth? ing further." Mr. Pollard responded: "Well, sir," and there the matter ended. The paper was at once put to press, and in it was the fatal article. The paper appeared on Saturday morn? ing, and the sensation it produced was very apparent; but the daj passed with? out any intimation from any member or friend of the. Grant family that thej' would seek reparation in any manner, or avail themselves of the columus of the Opinion as a medium of correction. Saturday Mr. Pollard remained- in his ollice all day, purposely, as he said, to re? ceive any gentleman that might call as the spokesman of the Grant party. Un? expectedly to him, he was waited upon in the afternoon of that day by several gentlemen?parties to an entire different affair?who felt themselves aggrieved by another article in the sumo number of the Opinion. This interview" was a formal one. but it was finullj' adjourned to the next Monday, when it was amicably set tied with all save one of the parties. lie. (Mr. Pollard) had determined to challenge the next morning; but before even the note was penned, II. Rives Pollard had lallen by the hand of an unseen foe. General Grant and President Johnson. The newspapers are engaged in dis? cussing the failure of Gen. Grant to make the customary call upon the President on New Year's day, and many ot t!iem open? ly accuse 'Gr?nt ot leaving Washington purposely to avoid the meeting. It seems that Gen. Butler called, and was received by the President with gracious favor. The New York Herald, approving But? ler's call upon the President, asks: "Where was Grant the meantime? He spent his New Year's day in Philadelphia, and, it is said, purp'osely to avoid a Nt-w Year's call upon the President!" The World says: "General Grant was elected on his famous declaration, 'Let us have peace.'' Why, then, did'nt he sot the example on New -Year's day by go ii g,up like a man to the White House, arjd there paying hi.6~a,es.peeis to the Pre? sident. Grant yeti a subordinate oliuer to Mr. Jol?n$on> Tjnough President elect, he hangs on- 4,0 the Generalship of ti e army. If he oP^jbis own will puts himself forward mbrb. prominently as General than- President elect, why not keep the n>r1itary office?cum onerc? The DiplomaticyCofps, Supreme Codrt,\ Cabi? net members, officers of*the army, and miry, marme corps, and citizens geriernl l>'^did; rtflt disdain, irrespective of party, to'call'uputt the President at the opening of the newyenr, and by so culling paV a proper respect; to us, the people of/the Union who on these oeeasious arc incur-, nated by the Chief Magistrate, and where? fore is it that General Grant alone must withhold the customary tribute ot courte? sy/and respect? " Especially Til seeming is. this conduct, when on New Year's, a day sac-red for many centuries to peace, be? nevolence, reconciliation, and unity, the very disciple and prophet ot peace?the herald, as wo are told, of a day when feuds shall be staunched and brotherhood be renewed?contemptuously turns upon Iiis heels, leaves off duty, and retires, for' private pique, to a distant city. If theVc is to bo peace, there was no better time to let it begin than on the da}'just past, and why upon it was the proffered hand refused? On the occasion of the festival at the Executive Mansion for little ones, did not Mr. Johnson, by inviting tho fam? ily of tho General of tho army, extend the olive branch, and extend it, too, in a man? ner most well-bred and touching, since it was the pure hand of childhood that held it. And. as it was reached forth without ostentation, it might have been grasped without embarrassment. Butler had grace enough to respect the popular desire for peace?peaco not in name only, but in deed?and did himself credit by a call which argues deference to that desire. And if this fierce partisan, this obstinate impcacher, this gulled heart, under no implication of amity?as isGeoeral Grant ?could forego private onmities, und re? member only that tho people stood on New Year's day in tho Executive, Man? sion, ready to know who was for recon? ciliation and settlement, surely on the day of peace the peace man might have done the same." ? A young man generally gives a lock of his hair to his swee'heart before he marries her. After marriage she some? times helps berself and doesn't use scis Influence of the South upon the Financial Affairu of the North. The' able and interesting N?W York correspondent of the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel makes the following com? ments upon a subject in which all ure deeply interested: u The Sooth is at present playing the wild in Wall street. In the first place, the heavy drain of gold and greenbacks called for by the crops has, in conjunction with the stock-gambling operations that have been so rife of late.-made money very tight ?so much so, indeed, that what is called "drug" paper,or you ma}', perhaps, better understand it as "gold-edge,'' has, on sev eral occasions, gone begging. The banks, being heavily drawn on, have been under a pressure to meet their statements in good form, and so, with the banks tight and the best paper very heavy, you can judge at least one branch of the monetary excite? ment the South has, of late, created?the South being said to have caused this strin? gency, inasmuch as the stock-gambling operations, which have heretofore made money tight, havc,.on this occasion, been of very secondary importance indeed. The next element of interest presented by the South is in the nature of investment, the admirable opportunities there presented becoming now pretty generally known, and receiving wide attention. Something very like a furore prevails upon the sub? ject, and one account puts the amount daily going Southward for investment; [chiefly io land, at S300.?00. A more moderate estimate puts the sum at 81, 000,000 per week, but the probabilities are that the one is as mach too low as the other is too high, and that the weekly out? go in this direction is about a million and a quarter. Heal estate is the object chief? ly sought but railroads aro also receiving attention, and some are even disposed to take the risk of putting their money in reconstructed bonds. It is stated, and 1 think with considerable justice, that those going or sending South to invest are very mach more anxious to buy than they are willing to have appear, and that it is quite likely they will try to purchase at 1866 prices, when, on the average, those rates ure not above one-fourth of what thty are willing, rather than forego in? vestment, to pay. This Statemen t coming to the writer on very good authority is respectfully communicated to whom it may concern, with the accompanying moral, "don't sell too low." Sprague'e reported tribute to the superior manage? ment of the Augusta Factory, which \\q is saiil to have stated to he the best of its kind in this country, is going the rounds of the .Northern press and eliciting such a strain ot comment as makes one smile to see how exceedingly ignorant those folks ure of the real South. To the average Northern mind, the most favored region of this continent is an alternation of cot? ton field, swamp and wild wood laud, ten? anted alone by the poor, down trodden nigger and a tierce and treacherous race of white men, who swear by knife and pistol, and hate '"the great heart of the nation'' and its gizzard, and its lungs,and its liver, and lights, and all other intes? tines whatsoever with' a hate that is alto? gether liisloil and ??rebel" boyond hope. That in this laud there arc noble and beautiful cities, a sweet and lender cli? mate, deep harbors, und tine rivers, and sublime mountains, and healthful air; that heue is a civilization quite as old as their own and greatly "more pure; that' here history runs hack in some of -the bright? est pages of that' volume-' she marks "America;" that, in one word, God has blessed this .heritage and that there's life in the old land yet, are things that sel? dom enter the ordinary brainpan of the trooly loil, whose pride is that thoy are not as other men, sinners, but a peculiar' people and the very apple in the world's eye. Once in a while, though, a dim presentment that all is not quite as Peter Parley and Sneak Simmer and their blood-guilty parsons tell them seems to penetrate them, and some such shaft of truth appears to be operating now. All of a sudden they have waked up to the facts, first, that the South is not altogeth? er given over to fever and ague,and yellow jack ; and,second, that the Southerner is apt to be after all a very pleasant kind of man, and. acting in this sudden influx of light, are now, greatly exercised on the subject of investment in this new found land. To encourage this conversion it would bo well for the Southern press to taper off somowhn'in politics for a while, and give plenty of information, tho more specific the bettor, as to the wonderful resources of their section. Negro suffrage and? reconstruction are things that may be called factitious imposthumes in a healthy skin. Neither of them can last; one good puff of wind would blow the whole fabric of reconstruction, with eve? ry chinch that crawls within it-, to the devil, whence the whole tiling sprang; while as to negro suffrage, it is but the sport of an idle hoar, and will be laughed out of court before heads that are now gray can turn from silver into snow. In? dustrial writing is the thing needed now; full of facts, figures, thoughts, suggestion and pregnant hint. Politics, of course, as a matter of news, must have attention, but for tho immediate present it would help things wonderfully, by way of in? forming and attracting capitalists, to give industrial themes the larger scope. ? A sensible fellow, who, on being challenged to fight a duel, and informed that ho had tho privilege of selecting weapons, tiimi place, etc., sail h<-g ibtild preler pistols as the weapon, and a mile as tho distance. -o ? The entire assets of a recont bank? rupt were nine children. The creditors acted magnanimously, aDd let him keop thera. Eesolutions of the Democratic Club of A to be ville District, Vindicating the Good Name and .Reputation of that District. We are pleased to publish tho subjoin? ed resolutions, adopted at a mooting of tho various Democratic Clubs of Abbe? ville District, held on Saleday last for the purpose of concerting measures which would best secure the peaeo and good order of the community, and express the public disapprobation of all acts of law? less violence. Tho Preamble and Resolu? tions were introduced by Gen. McGowan, and after being advocated by himself and other gentlemen, were unanimously "adop? ted : At this meeting of delegates from the Democratic Ch.bs of Abbeville, the- first which bus taken place since ,the Presiden? tial election, we announce the feelings and opinions of the party ol this county in the following preamble and resolutions.: Whereas, It is believed that many false or exaggerated reports concerning the condition and sentiments ot the white people of Abbeville were made to the authorities during the political canvass which has just closed, which reports help? ed to create, in certain quarters, an opin? ion, as unjust to the character of this people, as injurious to their peace and security. And whereas, The people of Abbeville entertain the same opinions by which they have ever been actua'.ed, and firmly believe that there can be no peace, pro gross or prosperity, without strict and impartial enforcement of laws designed to promote order aud the security ol life and property. And whereas, Also, the removal ot the garrison from Abbeville, and the with? drawal of the Bureau officer from this post, afford a good opportunity to show conclusively that wo are a peaceable and law-abiding community, capable of sell government, and not only willing but able to enforce law and secure order, if the authoritiea will permit us by tho ap? pointment of peace officers that have the confidence of the 'community. Therefore', be it resolved unanimously, Firs?. That we acquiesce without re? pining in the result of the Presidential election, and hope that under a new ad? ministration there may be adopted a wise and generous policy, - which will secure peace, and re-establish union and pros? perity throughout the whole country. Second. That whilst we adhere with unabated earnestness to political opinion* heretofore expressed, and sincerely entui taincd, we deplore all excesses and breach? es of the peace, whether exhibited in incendiary harangues, midnight burnings, or .open violence. We repudiate the charges of violence and disorder by which our community, as a whole, has been.in? dustriously calumniated. Now, as al? ways, we desire to see law supremo and order undisturbed, and feel that our in? terests, not less than our duly, require the repression ol all acts which lead to lawlessness and strife. Third. That whilst we do not disguise our regret'at what seemed to us the un? necessary overthrow of our constitution of 18(55, and the exclusion of our trusted citizens tVotn the offices of their own State, yet, strong iii our assurance of be? ing right, and in the ultimate triumph of truth, we aro content to await the results of time, to he accomplished through the peaceful agencies of experience and an enlightened public opinion. .Fourth. That having had occasion to feel iutousely the evils which come from failures to delect and punish crime, we desire security to those who behave well, and punishment to those who violate the daw, without regard to the distinctions of race, color or condition, or the political divisions 'of Democrat or Radical. The welfare of both the white und black races is indissolubly involved in their relations to each other. It is tho interest of tho whites to be just and kind to. the blacks, and it is oven more the interest of the blacks to cultivate kindly relations with those who, more than all others, have it in their power to be of service to them. Fifth. That the recent heated political excitement being now over, and the Bu? reau and the gurrison having been with? drawn from Abbeville, gradually produ? cing quiet, and restoring the composure of the community; we invoke all good citizens to use even more than ordinary efforts to maintain peace and secure or? der, and thus repel in .lie most effectual manner, by their conduct, the false char? ges brought against, the community, of violence and lawlessness* . - Value of the Southern Cotton Crop. ?The crop this year at present prices is estimated at two hundred and fifty mil? lions ?ldollars. The Charleston Evening Nats very propetly says that this will not be squandered by planters and others traveling North as formerly, nor laid out for mere luxuries ; but after purchasing necessary supplies, it is presumed, on the supposition that people have some com? mon sense, that the money will bo used to build up the country at home. Letthose who have some cash lo spare improve their lands and tenements', nor forget to con? tribute liberally to the cause of public ed? ucation. It seems to us the most gratify? ing use that can be made ot money now, is to help our'scbools, and especially the higher order, such as the universities and colleges. If we educate well a large num? ber of young men there will be no lack of efficient teachers in the more private schools, and of citizens of increased use? fulness and intelligence, to operato in every branch of business. "Knowledge is power."?Greenville Enterprise. - ? Whether winking is natural depends on circu mstanoe8?4. whether you have* a cinder or a pretty girl in your eye. Editorial Correspondence of the Houston * Telegraph. New Orleans, Dec. 30, 1868. Yesterday evening while sadiy reflect? ing npcn tho unhappy condition of the South, which has been turned over by our victorious Northern brothers to the rule and domination o? negroes, renegades, and carpet-baggers, I wandered from the suburbs of the Cresent City down the banks of the Father of Waters to the memorable plains of Chalmettc, where united Americans triumphed in battle over tho boasted ruler of the sea. A tree was pointed ou'< to me as the identical one Hnder which tho brave Packcriham yielded-up his spirit to the God who gaive it; there, under its ample shade, I reclined, and indulged, not in pleasing reminiscences of past and by? gone days, wheu the sun in its course shone upon no country more free, more fortunate and more happy than my own dear native sunny South, but in sad and gloomy anticipations of tho. mad and reckless legislation of the present delec? table Congress of the United States, and the present!sweet scented constitutional convention of Texas. Not the shadow of a hope tor wise and proper legislation by either body coiild I reasonably imag? ine, and wearied by the long walk and unpleasant thoughts, I soon fell into a sound sleep, when there appeared to me the following vision, suggested no doubt by real convictions of my mind and judg? ment : I saw sitting before me the President elect, Gen. U. S. Grant, engaged in ear? nest conversation with our great South? ern general, iiobert E. Lee, and heard tho following dialogue between them.: Gen. Grant.?"I desire you to give me 3'our opinion as to tho wisdom and pro? priety of the present reconstruction of the Southern States." Gen. Lee.?'-l am no politician, Mr. President, but a defeated soldier of a lost cause, and I am called a rebel and traitor to 'the best government the world ever saw.' Why do you consult me as to your actions?" Gm. Grant.?"Sir, we have had a great revolution and most terrible civil war in our country, in which brothers fought against brothcis, and fathers against sons. You went with Virginia and the South?I went with^the Union and the old flag! But, sir, I do-not look on you as a traitor, nor upon the brave soldiers whom you commanded so long and so well, as bad men. There were good and bad men on both sides, and our country lost good men who were Confederates as well as Federals. "It was "my singular fortune to lead the Union army to victory, but I .wish a union of mutual interests, mutual rights , and mutual love ! "The policy of m}T administration shall be tho peace, prosperity and happiness of the wholeicountry, but you must all aid and assist me. Now you know the con? dition of the South, and what.legislation will be best to bring about individual se? curity, agricultural development, and loyally to the government, all of which I desire from the bottom ot my heart. Ho you understand me?'' Gen. Lee.?"Yes, sir, and am happy to hear you express such a glorious policy. It you carry it out your name will go down to posterity side by side with that' of Washington?he as the Father and you as the Saviour of the Unirh. "As to reconstruction in the South, my candid opinion is that tho Congressional' |jla.n is a perfect failure. Tho Southern people should Uor?ermjUed to select their law-makers and representatives, and not have carpet-baggers and their former slaves to legislate for and represent them. "The Union men in the South were few during our civil war; of carpet-bag gers we had none, while our negroes were tho happiest people in tho world. Now to enfranchise the negro, disfranchise white men, and thus givo control of pub? lic affairs in the Southern States to a mi? nority, will make tho minority in those States hate tho government and people who thus tyrannize over them. The slave? ry question, which was the cause of our civil war, is now out of tho way, and the Southern States would not, to-day, if they had the power, re-establish it, and I doubt not by returning to the Southern people the right of self-government, that they will givo you and your administra? tion their most cordial support, otherwise I need not refer your excellency* to the coat of arms of dear Old Virginia, my beloved, unfortunate, bleeding Mother." As the hero uttered these words his eyes filled with tears, and Minerva, in pity, enveloped the warrior in a thick cloud, to which General Grant respect? fully waved his hand, as he did to me when he spoko the well remembered word, "Nothing.-' And 1 awoke to find it nothing but a dream. J. M. M. -? ? In Cambridge, Massachusetts, the police officers arrest all children found in the street during school hours, unless they can jjive a good excuse for their absence. An Irish boy recently told an, officer that he had been*excused to attend a luneral. He was found, very soon after, at a base hall match. The officer inquired why ho was not at the funeral. The reply was i hat h had been down to tl ? house, naming its resident, "but the man wasn't dead yet." ? A housemaid boasting of her indus? trious habits, said, "that, on a particular occasion she arose at four, made a fire, put on the tea kettle, prepared breakfast, ami made ?.II t he beds fceforo a single soul war. up in the house*' ? A life insurance agent applied to a Texan "to take out a policy;" but the Texan replied: "A fellow's life is so con? foundedly uncertain?in' this country, it ain't worth insuring." ' The Intelligencer Job Office. Having recently made considerable additions to this department, we aro prepared to exccuU $m WDBE ?IF MA In the neatest style and on the most roascutblt terms. Legal Blanks, Bill Heads, Posters, Card?, Handbills. Pamphlets, Labels, and jo fact every style of work usually done in a country Printing Office. ?ssj*" In all cases, tbo money will be required upon delivery of the work. Orders, accompanied with the cash, will receive prompt attention. A Confederate Will Contested.?A remarkable case is now pending in the Cl lancery Court at Selma, Ala., in which it is songht io-invalidate a will, made un dar peculiar circumstances during the ex istence of tho late Confederate govern-' ment. ? ?'" r - During the late war if seems that a wealth}- planter-residing-in Dallas county, Ala., was desirous of leaving his principal estate, valued-trt ovc-r$3O(MM)0,to-his heirs, Consisting-of a* brbthcr' tmd sisters^nd their children, residing "at the North. Fearing that it he made them his legatees under a will, he being a bachelor, that the properly would become confiscated by the Confederate government,, he devised the wholp of his property to a nephew and neiee, then residing in Alabama. A teeret memorandum ?was afterwards drawn-Hp, by which ho directed how he desired that his estate shouid be divided and disposed of among his Northern heirs.' This memorandum, however, was no part of the will, not being written or signed by the testator, but which the nephew sacredly promised to see executed and carried out. The testator died in October, 1864, and the nephew and niece, before they could exeute the trust reposed in them, died soon after. The husband of the niece prom? ised i be nephew, on hisdenth-bed, that he would solemly carry out his uncle's desires as expressed in the secret memorandum, but the husband afterwards administered on the estate and claimed it in right of his child by his deceased wife,rthe niece. One of the principal heirs to the estate is Mrs. Joanna Housman, of New York, the half sister of tho testator,: who hasse? cured the valuable services of our talented friend, Sam. C. Beid, Esq., together with Messrs. Pottus & Dawgon, of Selma, as associate counsel, The defense is repre? sented by Gen. John T. Morgan, of the Selma bar. . . < . The grounds upon which tho heirs seek to annul the will uro, that it was made in fear of and to avoid the.laws of the Con? federate Stales, beifg in the nature of a fiidei conunissa, or secret trust, by which the legatees were substituted in, place of the real and intended heirs, and is there? fore void. That the secret memorandum being made after tho will, shows the real intention and wish of the testator by af? terwards making a totally different 4is position of his property, but which being without the requirements of tho law, is a(^o null and void. It consequently fol? lows that there was no valid or legal testament, and the testator, must be con? sidered as having died intesiate, in which case his properly goes to his heirs at law. The case wil' be argued in February next, and as it involves a question of great moment, the decision will no doubt prove interesting to the legal profession. ? Col. Francis Lance, who was recent? ly appointed one of the Asscsojcs for Char? leston County, has we understand return? ed his Commission to the Governor and resigned his office. It is said, that this resignation has been made, because of tbo learned ambiguity of the Tax Act, and the incomprehensible character of its ma? ny provisions and requirements. The Act is, indeed, a beautiful specimen of radical legislation, covering upwards Of forty pages octavo, and consisting of about 15U sections, and we commend it to the special notice of the curious in such mat? ters. ..: To compare great things with small, it resembles in many particulars, that very ingenious invention,.the Chinese Puzzle, and its endless perplexities, convolutions ami contradictions are well calculated to obfuscate the brain, and put at defiance the skill of even that class of very astute gentlemen,commonly known in thiscoun-. try, as Philadelphia lawyers. Upon glancing over it, we are not surprised that Col. Lance, after the manner of Auditor Tomlison, should shrink back aghast and appalled at its contemplation, and the more especially, since the penitentiary is made to loom up dismally in the back ground of the picture, as a possible rest? ing place, for any delinquency however unintentional. To speak concisely, and in unpretensive vernacular, it is as clear as mud, and is one of those singular master-pieces of didactic compost, of which it may be truly said, the more you read the less you know. _ ?Charleston Courier. A Compliment from tite N. Y. Tri? bune.?The Tribune says: There is much to admire in the domestic habits of the middle and even of the upper classes of the Southern people, and this is most ad? mired by those who, b}' a residence, have learned what those habits are. We refer to their simplicity, hospitality and natur? al kindness of heart. Perhaps there is no port ion of the Caucasian race so little elevated above'what daily concerns the common masses of mankind, either by ' fortune or station, or whose native good? ness is less obscured by the fashions and mar.ners of the day. It is pleasant to find that the Tribune has at length arrived at this juster com? prehension of its fellow countrymen of the South. Heretofore it has held them up as a p do, bloody-minded and dangerous people, with a pertinacity thfrt one might not be altogether unjustified "in terming ferocious, and the better comprehension it now exhibits is a hopeful sign ot that spirit in which it seems willing to accept the results of a more accurate informa? tion. -?-. ? A man who was arrested for steal? ing gootls at a fire the other day. pleaded in excuse for an extenuation of his con? duct, that ho had been in the place but a few days, and hadn't learnt the ndes. -*-! ~ An exchange says :?"The only crops that have not failed in Missi&sppi this sea? son are pumpkins and boy babies.v ?