Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

HOYT & CO,, Proprietors. ANDERSON, S. C, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1869. VOLUME 5 -NO 26. Debate in the House of Representatives on the Gold Bill. Columbia, Dec. Ik The most exciting measure of the pres? ent session so far has again been under discussion in the House yesterday and to? day. The opposition, including a few of the Republican and all the Democratic members of the House, made a most vig? orous and determined effort to defeat it, but have been unsuccessful. On both days the gallories have been crowded with visitors. The Bill was brought up again yester? day by a motion of Dnffle (colored), of Colleton, to reconsider the vote whereby the enacting clause was stricken out. A motion by Jervey (colored), of Charles? ton, to lay the motion to reconsider on the table, was Jost by a vote of yeas 32, nays 69. The Bill was then taken up, and the following substitute for Section 1, offered by Tomlison, agreed, to: "That the inter? est on Lilie bonds and stocks of this Stale, oxcept those issued during the period from December 1st, A. D. I860, to Apt il 19, A. D. 1865, shall be paid in gold or silver coin." DeLarge moved an amondmont to Sec? tion 1. which was afterwards withdrawn, and was as follows : Provided, that inter? est on the bonds issued for the building of the new. State House shall not be exclu? ded from being paid in coin by any pro? vision of this Act. ? W. J. McKinlay offered an amendment to insert between the words "coin" and "provided" the words "immediately after the resumption of specie payment by the General Government, or as soon there* after as practicable." DeLarge moved to indefinitely post? pone the amendment. On this Shrewsbury called the yeas and nays. Before the call proceeded, DeLarge announced his desire to withdraw his mo? tion. The Speaker ruled that the motion could not be withdrawn after the yens and nays bad been ordered. Elliott appealed from the decision of the Chair. On the question : "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained ?" Wright called the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. Yeas 37, nays 44; absent and not voting 42. So the decision ot the Chair was not sustained. McKinlay said, he hoped l.bo members would support, and bear ;o mind that they should guard well the best interests of the people ot the whole State, and not legislate for the benefit of a fow to the injury of tho many. He said the people of the State would sustain the Stato credit, as evinced by their prompt payment of taxes. He was opposed to further taxa? tion, and decidedly opposed to benefitting only a few bondholders, who had bought securities at a low figure. He ridiculed the idea of South Carolina leading the van in the proposed resumption of specie payments. Feriter advocated the proposed amend? ment, and explained that the General Government issued gold bearing bonds during the war, but it was for the reason only that it was found necessary to sell some of them in Europe, which could not be done unless the interest was payable in coin. He said the Courts have deci- 1 ded that where contracts were made, payable in coin, they shall be paid in coin. He asserted that certain parties, in ex? pectancy of the passage of this Bill, had telegraphed to New York to havo bonds bought for them. He would not object to-making gold bearing the bonds issued to purchase lands as they had real estato as collateral?land bonds was a good in? vestment. He characterized the Bill as infamous in its character. He said he did hdt understand how sixty-six members rendered themselves, the other day, as in opposition to the Bill, and now they havo changed their minds. He advised the members to demand their per diem in gold. The motion, by DeLarge, to indefinite? ly postpono the amendment offered by W. J. McKinlay, was withdrawn and re hewed, and DeLarge called tho previous question on tho motion. On the question "Shall tho main ques? tion now be put ?" Sasportas called the yeas and nays, Which were taken : Yeas, 66; Nays, 29. Absent and not voting 28. The call for the yeas and nays on tho motion to indefinitely postpono tho amend? ment offered by W. J. McKinlay, were then taken, and are as follows: Yeas 59. Kays 37. Absent and not voting 27. Agreed to. DeLarge called for the previous ques? tion, on the passago of the entire Bill, and the call was sustained. On tho question, "Shall the main ques? tion now be put ?'' tho yeas and nays were called for by Brodie. The yeas and nays were taken, and aro as follows: Yeas, 61. Nays, 37. Absent and not vo? ting 25. Agreed to. Moore (Democrat) said ho regretted tho Bill had come before the House, as it pro? poses not to benefit tho people of this Commonwealth, whom tho members on the floor represented?it would benefit a few unprincipled bondholders. Ho said such legislation was nothing but special Ie|<n8lation. Ho brought to tho notico of members the late Messago of President Grant, in which he warns Congress against too much haste regarding tho re? sumption of specie payments. He said no other Stato but Massachusetts pays in? terest in gold, and why, ho would ask, should South Carolina; a State that has suffered more, and whoso resources has been crippled more than any other State in the Union; a Stato without a great commercial centre?seek to incroas'o tho taxation of nor already ovcrburdoned and impoverished people. If, said ho, it is meant as a fororunner to tho resumption of specie payments in tho United States, it would fail to effect?this action ofSouth Carolina would be but as a drop in the bucket. Pass this Bill, said he, and you increase the Stato debt one-half. He said if this Bill be passed, and gold should go up to 50 per cent, tho State debt is in? creased 83,091,674.53. If 25 per cent is paid for gold, tho increase is 81,545,873 (this is on the principal of the bonds.) Ho said if gold is purchased at 50 per cent, to pay interest falling duo in Janu? ary (8388,000) it increases it to 8194,000. He desired to know if members were pro pared to do this, and would they dare do it and then face their constituents; if so, they will drive them.from their position ?that they had deceived them and proved recreant to the trust confided in them. He said we are not officially informed of the financial condition of the State, and he believed the Comptroller-General's re? port had been kept back. He said who are these bondholders ? they arc men who care nothing for the people of South Caro? lina; they are strangers from abroad, and came here to lobby this infamous measure through ; they bought bank bills at TO to 15 cents, and now want gold bearing bonds. He said that two-thirds of the State bonds were issued wit h the under? standing that they wero payable in cur? rency, and for this assertion ho defied contradictiou. He trusted if any benefit was to bo derived from legislation, for God's sake give it to tbe people of our Stato who need it, and not to strangers. Turner (Democrat) opposed the Bill and reminded members of tho importance of the measuro, and to pass which would be a hazardous step. lie said if this is passed, those who favored it will be damned by their constituents when they returned home. Bosemon opposed the Bill and said al? though not a native of tho State, he felt a deep interest in the welfare and people of the State, as woll as for his constitu? ents. He did not understand this talk about increasing tho Stato credit. De velopo our resources, said he, and the Stato credit will bo good. lie deemed this only a scheme of certain bondholders to realize at tho expense of the taxpayers of South Carolina. Why, said he, is so much interest manifested in this thing? The motive is readiry seen. If this Bill passes and should become a law, these fel? lows, these grasping bondholders, will sell out, pocket the proceeds, and good bye South Carolina. Pass this Bill, said he, and you "kill tho gooso to get the golden egg.'.' These bondholders,Tike vampires, will suck until there is no blood left. To pa}T these bonds said he, in anything but currency in the present impoverished con? dition of our people, is perfectly mon? strous. He thought it singular that mem? bers who recorded their votes against this measure, now favored it. He would not charge corruption,. Dut lie was not blind to the fact that certain parties were about lobbying extensively. He bad not been "illuminated," but probably sorao persons had. Hyde opposed the Bill and hoped the enacting clause would bo 6truck out. Ho said ho was in favor of an}" measure to increaso tho State credit, but he doubted tbe possibility of the proposed Bill doing it. Ho thought the Legislature was treading on dangerous ground. Ho did ?hot believe in the notion that some friends of the measure had advanced, that b}' making tho bonds gold bearing, holders of bonds falling duo in October next would exchange, because there would be no necessity for an exchange. Tho State debt, said he, would be increased, and on? ly bondholders benefittcd. He believed it bad financial policy, and would injure tho whole people. Tho Democrats will rejoice if this measure's passed, and Re? publicans would have to meet the ques? tion on the stump next fall, and bo cau? tioned members that those who danced wouid have to pay tho fiddler. He said he would vote against tho Bill because he did not deem it a public necessity. Purvis spoke against the Bill, charac? terizing it as a damnablo measure, and one calculated to do no good to the peo plo of the State. Ho was very severe upon tho bondholders, and .expressed his viows regarding the purchase of the State Bank bills. DeLarge favored the Bill and contend? ed it was not, as the opponents of tho measure asserted, an act of oppression and one tending to increaso taxation. Ho said the liabilities of tho Stato was brought about by tho party formerly in power in this Stato. This debt must bo met, and by paying interest in coin it will advanco the bonds. He said : Do this and bond? holders will cxehango bonds falling duo in 1870 and '71 for gold bearing bonds.? He denied the assertion made by tho gen? tleman from Anderson (Moore) that these bonds were issued to be paid in currenc}'. He said there was considerable talk about bonds bought at ton and twelvo cents.? Ho said ho never knew them to be lower than twenty-six cents sinco tho war, and he desired to know whether every man did not have a right to buy what proper? ty ho ploased and realize as much on it as he could? Who would dispute that?? Further, said he, he honored thoso men who, feeling confidence in tho proposed reconstruction of South Carolina, came forward and bought bonds at a time when 8100,000 was more beneficial to tho Stato Government than millions would bo in tho future. He said it is our intention to ad? vance tho stato credit, and be would ro mind tho gentleman from Anderson (Moore) that it was owing to attempts by tho Democrats that tho Stato credit had been kept down, tho Democratic press of tho Stato, paraded in bold capi? tals and asserted editorialy their intention that tho Democrats would ropudiato tho bonds when they got in power. Ho said now, ho would ask, who is rosponsiblo. Try the experiment of borrowing money in any market with such representations as repudiation and resistance to payment of taxes staring capitalists in the faco, and it wiU be found they demand high rates of. interest. This has been found to be the case with us. Make, said he, our bonds gold bearing, and instead of being worth, as they are to-day, 60, they will soon reach 80. At the last session $200, 000 was appropriated to buy lands, and the bonds pledged as collateral for 8100,000. Ho wanted all tho poor men, white and colored, to have homes; it makes them independent. This is just what the oppo? sition don't want, and they, of course, op? pose anything tending to advance State credit, whereby we may pledge as collat? eral or sell our bonds to buy lands. He said the Democrats cried out against tho Act passed for the redemption of bills re? ceivable. They also opposed tho Act to raise a loan to pay off interest on bonds. They will oppose any measure passed by this General Asscmbi}' tending to advance the credit of tho State. Ho said, pass this Bill and money can be borrowed at a lower rate ot interest, which certainly would be a benefit to the State. He would like to know of the passage of a financial measure by any Legislative body that did not benefit the capitalists as well as the people in general. Ho paid he would vote for the Bill and was not afraid to face his constituents. Toailinson reviewed the arguments ad? vanced by the opponents of tho Bill. He announced himself in favor of the meas? ure, lie asserted that two-thirds of the State bonds wero issued on a gold basis, and bondholders certainly had a claim on tho State. Ho thought the increased tax? ation, resulting from purchase of gold to pay interest, would bo more than counter? balanced by the State being ablo to obtain money at a lower rato of interest. He deemed it a benefit to the State to advance its credit, thereby preventing the necessi? ty ot selling bonds iu markot at a low figure, and then taxing the people to sup? ply the deficiency. He would correct the assertion of the gentleman from Anderson, (Moore,) that Massachusetts was the only State that had paid interest in coin. He said that in 1862 or '63 the Legislature of Now York passed an Act to pay the in? terest in currency, and tho Democratic Governor, Horatio Seymour, (Democratic candidate for President,) bought gold at 200 per cent., paid the interest, and the next Republican Legislature sanctioned his action. He said, that at tho present time, Massachusetts securities sell higher iu London than United States securities, because Democrats in Congress and out of it talk of repudiation, while no man in Massachusetts has said repudiation once. As being upon this subject, ho read from the Columbia Phoenix an extract from the "London Tintes" dated December the 8th. lie said he did not care whether bondhold? ers made ?5 or 8500, ho was willing they should do so, as it would not injure him nor tho Stato. Ho said that President Grant had advised tho Government not to take hasty action to forco specie pay? ments, through individuals in the country, and ho would correct tho gentleman from Anderson, (Moore,) who had stated that President Grant had cautioned Congress against the action for resumption of spe? cie payments. He said tho United Statos Government pays specie the same as this Bill proposes. He referred to tho argu? ment about high taxation. He said we are not responsible for it, for 8600,000 of interest had to bo paid, contracted under another regime. The press had always been against his party, and said the debt of the State would never be paid by what they called tho "intelligence and wealth of tho State." The threat of repudiation has been hold over our heads by the "in? telligence" of the State. That is why taxes are high. Did they buy bonds, ho would ask, and did they attempt to en courage others to do Bo. Ho said when the present Stato Government came into power in addition to unpaid interest, there was a large debt of about 8700,000. This General Assembly authorized the is? suing of $500,000 in bonds, to redeem Bills Receivable. If these bonds could have been sold for par, wo would havo had them off our hands long ago, and so with the bonds issuod to pay tho interest On tho State debt; and because mon of intelligence, woalth and influence in this Stato said they would repudiate, we could not then borrow the money in New York, except at an enormous rate of interest. Ho bolieved now that taxes would be lower next year. Another thing that prevented the financial agont from roadily obtaining loans was tho course of tho Charleston Daily News, Marion, Dar? lington and other papers virtually arguing against the collection of taxes, and a meeting was held in Columbia to this end, and the great rcpudiator, B. F. Rice, tried the same thing in Unionville on a small scale. Ho pictured Ferritcr, of Sumter, who advised the members "to demand their per diem in gold." IIo knew exact? ly where that came from; that was "pla? giarized" from the Charleston Daily News of yesterday. In reply to Mooro, of An? derson, be said that regarding tho asser? tion that during tho sitting of tho Consti? tutional Convention strangers had bought bonds for twonty-three cenls, and those strangers Wero Now York speculators.? IIo would toll him that two-thirds of tho bonds of South Carolina are hold by peo? ple in the Stato. Now then, said he, where aro your "bloatod bondholders." Ho alluded to the fact that he had op posed tho funding of the State Bank Bills, but two-thirds of tho Logislaturo had thought differently and pasflcd tho Act. Speeches wero also made by Elliott, Whippor and Noagle in advocacy of tho Bill. Elliott moved to amend tho title of tho Bill by striking out tho words "principal and." Agreed to. On the question of passing tho Bill, and ordering it to be sent to tho Senate. Pur? vis called tbe yeas and nays. The following is tho final voto on tho passago of tho Gold Bill: Hon. F. J. Moses, Jr., Speaker, and Ad amson, Bowley, Brown, Burton, John Boston, Joseph Boston, Boswcll, E. J. Cain, Cooke, Chesnut, Crews, DeLarge, Dennis,' Driffle, Elliott, Ezekiel Farr. Gray, Gardnor, Grant, Goodson, Hayes, C. D. Hayno, J. N. Hayne, Holliman, Hut son, Henderson. H. Johnson, S. Johnson, G. Johnson, Jackson, H. James, Jervey, J. H. Jones, S. J. Lee, Lang, Mayer, Mor? rison, Micke}7, McDaniels, Mobley, Mil ford, Mays, Mead, Miller, jNelson, buck? les, Neagle, O'Connell, Perrin, Pender gra88, Ramsay, Richardson, Rush, Rivers, Smalls, A. Smith, Saunders, Smythe, Si? mons, Scott, S. B. Thompson, Tomlinson, Whipper and White?66. Those who voted in tho negative are : Bosemon, Beaty, Bishop, Lawrence Cain, Doyle, DeMars, Hagood, Harris, Hyde, D. J. J. Job nson, Jacobs, William MoKin lay, W. J McKinlay, Mooro, Mixson, Pur? vis, Stolbrand, Robort M. Smith, Shrews? bury, Sasportas, Smiling, Tinslcy, Wil? son, Waller and Wells?26. Those absent and not voting are : Bcr ry. Brodie, Bryant^ Collins, Clyburn, Du val, Fcrriter, Guffin, Humphreys, Jcnks, B. James, Wm. H. Jones, Kuh, Keith, Lomax. G. Leo, Lewie, Littlejohn, Mcln tyre, Pettengill, Ransior, Root, Sloan, Stoeber, Sullivan, B. A. Thompson, Thomas, Turner, Wilder, WooIIey and Wright?81. The following paper was presented to bo entered on the Jourual: We, the undersigned, members of tho House of Representatives, voto "no" on the Bill to pay interest on the bonds and stocks of the State in coin, for the follow? ing reasons: 1st. We consider the "Bill got up and lobbied through by a combination of in terested speculators. 2d. We consider it an outrage on a now over-burdened and distressed people. J. B. Hyde, J. D. Johnson, Samuel Tinslcy, O. M. Doyle, R. M. Smith, John Wilson, C. C. Turner, J. B. Moore, John II. Fcrriter, H. L. Shrowsbury, Lawrenco Cain, B. James, James Smiley, J. E. Ha? good, W. C. Stewart, F. DeMars. -+ The Phosphate Beds of Navigable Streams. Tho following bill has been introduced into the Legislature of this Stato, and there is ovory probability that it will pass with slight amendments. It is one of tho hugest monopolies ever attempted in this Stato, and will be worth an everlasting fortuno to tho corporators. Tbe amend? ments likely to bo inserted are requir? ing forty cents per ton to bo paid to tho Stato and adding tho names of promi? nent Radicals, so as to lessen the expense j of getting the bill through at this sossion. Wo invito attention to tho bill: A bill to grant to certain persons there? in named tho exclusive right to dig and mine in the bods of the navigable streams and waters of the Slate, for phosphate rocks and phosphate deposits. I Be it enacted, &c, That the Stato of | South Carolina does hereby give and ) grant unto the following named persons, to wit: George W. Williams, James H. Taylor, Joseph R. Robertson, Edwin Platt, James Bridge, Jr., William Birnie, Edward Willis, Alexandor R. Chisolm, W. L. Bradloy, and Charles C. Coc, and such other persons as they may associate with" them, tho exclusive right to dig, mine, and remove from the beds of the navigable streams and waters within tbe jurisdiction of the State of South Caroli? na, tho phosphate rock and phosphato de? posit: Provided, That the persons named, and their associates, shall not in any way interfere with tho frco navigation of tho navigable streams and waters of the State, or tho private rights of any citizen or citizens residing upon tho banks of tho said navigablo rivers and waters of the State. Sec. 2. That this gift and grant is made upon tho express condition that said gran-" tees shall pay to the Stale of South Caro? lina tho sum of twenty cents per ton for overy ton of phosphato rock or phosphato deposit dug, mined, or removed from tho said navigable rivers and wators of the State. A correspondent of the Columbia Phcc nix unearths the sclicmo in tho following concise and satisfactory manner. His facts and figures ought to make the Leg? islature reflect, if this body was disposed to engago in any such serious occupation : Tho phosphato bed of South Carolina is known to extend from the Wando River to the Savannah. Its value depends up? on its proximity to the surfneu, and tho facility with which it can he conveyed to navigable waters, and thence to tho mar? kets of tho world. Throughout tho sec? tion of tiio State between the Wandoand tbo Savannah, tho channels of the inter? vening rivors cut through tbo phosphate bed, and tho phosphato, washed of its earthly incumbranco, lies at tho bottom of tboir channels, and can bo lifted by dredges and scows in a condition ready for tho market, and worth, at least, 10U per cent, more than in localities where it is overlaid by from two to four foot of oarth, and whoro it has to go through the manipulation of washing machines and transportation to tho banks of a river. It is worth, tbcrcforo, on board of tho scow, at least, from six to eight dollars per ton, for which this bill proposos to pay tho Stato twonty cents per ton. The frant abovo proposes that tho favored in ividuals namod shall havo tho oxclusivo right to tako tho phosphates from the bods of all tho navigablo streams and wa? ters, embracing the bays and inlets along the coast, comprising, at least, 2,000,000 of acres of surfaco, and each acre may be calculated on for from 500 to 1000 tons of phosphate, making an aggregate of 1,125, 060 of tons. Compare the difference be? tween this immense quantity of phosphate at twenty cents per ton, the price propos? ed to be paid to the State, and the four to six dollars per ton, what it is worth to the individuals, named in the grant. For bo it recollected, that this immense treasnro is now the property of the State, and, it may be asked, is she in a condition to di? vest herself of it for the benefit of a few lavorcd individuals? If this franchise was disposed of at public sale, it would relieve South Carolina of her entire State debt in a singlo j*ear. A correspondent of the Charleston He publican, over the signature of '*A Work? ing Man," writes as follows on this sub? ject : I regret to notice that a party, com? posed of two entire mercantile firms of this city, and two members of a manufac? turing firm in Massachusetts, have peti? tioned our Legislature for tho sole right to dig phosphates within the public wa? ters of the State, offering the very mod? est sum of twenty cents per ton royalty. Now, Messrs. Editors, I trust you will oppose the nefarious job. As Providence has placed in the hands of the present Legislature such a valuable interest, I trust it will not be thrown into the hands of a few individuals, but left open to all who chooso to enter into the enterprise, and requiring from each one who engages in the busiuesa a license and royalty of fift}- cents per ton, to go into the coffers of the State, and bo made a sinking fund for all future time to pay tho interest on the State debt. Let our Governor look into this matter, and wo venture to say that on the pas? sage of such an act it will do more to on hance the value of our securities than all the coin bills the Legislature may pass. As a poor man, 1 protest against oil such-monopolies to rich men who have not put one dollar into any of the phos? phate manufacturing interests of theState, and who would use their monopoly to prevent our farmers from getting cheap fertilizers, and myself, and evory man who owns a canoe, from digging phos? phates, and soiling them to the highest bidder. Let the State act in this matter, as Virginia docs with ber oyster beds, and derive a revenue from it: Per contra, we givo the report of tho Senato Judiciary Committee, recommen? ding that the bill do pass: The Committee rccommend tbe passage of this Bill, mainly for the reason that it is designed to secure to tho State the bene? fit of these Phosphates, which now are being clandestinely removed; but which still, in greater or less quantities, lie buri? ed in the beds of the rivers and waters of the State. They cannot bo digged and mined except at large oxpenso, and of right only by consent of the Stato. If there is value in them tho State should encourage its development, and offer proper inducement to parties to engage in tho enterprise, at the same preserving the streams as public highwaj'S, and tho rights of riparian owners. i It is believed by your Committee that forty cents per ton is a fair value to be pafd tho State, instead of twonty-five cents, as in tho original Bill. It is true that Phosphato Rock, lying i on the surface of a very shallow stream, could probably afford to pay more than this, but this is not generally, as we are informed, the condition of the Phosphate Bods. They are in deep water, as well as shallow, and tho labor required to mine them is difficult, and tho expense great. It will also be borne in mind, that, even J if the phosphates come to the surfaco at low tido, they will bo covered with water one-hall of tho time, nearly three, four or fivo feet, and that as soon as min? ing commences, and any rock isromovdd, at overy step tho work becomes more difficult. These considerations, in brief, lead your Committee to tho conclusion that the terms are fair and just, and that it will bo greatly to tho advantago of the State, to make the grant. - Report of State Inspector of Guano and Fertilizers. To His Excellency Governor Scott : Sir: In conformity to your wishes I beg leavo to present to yourconsidoration the following Report : Sinco the receipt, at tho closo of March, of the appointment as Inspector of Fer? tilizers and Guano, until the present time, thcro has been out littlo activity in the trade in theso articles j however, tho prospects are very flattering lor the win? ter and spring- Judging from tho analy? sis of tho various articles offered for sale, I should think that tho planter is obtain in" excellent commercial manures, better even than thoso from whoso uso he ob? tained such fine results tho past 6eason ; and, unless unexpected circumstances in? tervene, thero is every promise of large crops in tho future, duo to extensive ap? plication of fertilizers. Tho experience which is leading tho intelligent planter' hero to invest each 3-oar more and more in commercial fertilizers, is the samo which has become so Well established in England and on tho continent of Europo; In the latter countrioB tho demand for fertilizers has assumed immense propor? tions, and affords abundant employment to capital and labor. Until very recent times tho manipulated fertilizers used in the South havo boon imported from other parts of tho country j but the increasing domand has been partially met by tho construction, in tho last ymr or two, of several really excellent factories for tho preparation of fertilizers in this city and neighborhood. Other factories will cer? tainly follow, and give a new field for la? bor as well as capital, the existing fac? tories are manufacturing under the guid? ance of proper men articles which reflect great credit on tho State, and whibh show, by practical application at the hands of tho farmer, that they contain concentrated food for vegetable life. Jt is very gratifying to learn that the gcrt tlemen in charge of the works have great difficulty in supplying the ever increasing demand for the products of these local factories. Again, there are many articles offered" for sale in this State which have been manufactured in other States, hnti; as a rule, tbey have proved very satisfactory on examination, and accounts from the planters who have used them speak in the highest terms of their efficiency. It is, therefore, in view df this lahge and steadily increasing industry, tbe duty of the Stato to encourage tbe manufac? tures as much as possible, and, with a view to protect the market from the Stile of spurious articles, al*o to protect the plan? ter in his purchase of fertilizers; it is Welt to encourage the examination ot ihe *nmd by some ono v/bo is judged competent Iii such matters! As the position of the State Inspector now stands, there is no compulsion used toward the manufacturers or agent of fer? tilizers. He can, if he thinks desirable) have his article examined, but there is r.? law requiring this step. This course seoms the wisest, and best adapted to promote the interests of both planter and manu? facturer or dealer. If the inspection were1 made absolutely.neccssary before offetiHg ah article for sale in the State, it is to. be" feared that it would on the one band im? pede commercial dealings, and on the cith? er fail'to afford absolute protection to tbe planter. It would be utterly impossible* under our American institutions^. i^tifi without the aid of an European;'poltt$ system, to subject all fertilizers wEicb might be introduced into or manufactured in this State, to an official scrutiny:;1 Any law which fails of doing justice to ail par? ties in tbe industry, and which could un-> dor possible circumstances, be rendered more or less a dead letter, had bettor be omitted. I should, therefore, take tbe liberty of advifing that tbe matter be al? lowed to remain as it now stands. With the increasing interest in the use of fer? tilizers arises a demand on tbe part of the intelligent planter for information to guide him in his purchases. He is no longer satisfied with the analysis ,of ivnsi sponsible chemists, or of those directly interested in the sale of the article. ?.?, requires the opinion of^some impartiaT and qualified expert. The law affords him this protection, and the 'manufacturer of a genuine artielo is very glad td fur? nish tho planter with this infbnnatioil r? Tbe phosphate deposits of the Suite ftftvefj during tbe past year, attracted ?0\isid"err. ble attention at home and abroad. The various companies engaged in digging and offering for sale the nodular phos? phate have fouod a ready market; and, in view of certain circumstances, this ranr kot must necessarily increase* Pronii ncnt among these fortunate circumstances is tho decrease in tbe supply, or expet se? in obtaining those other phosphatic ir a terials which have, in previous tlttieS; been our chief commercial fertilizers.? Peruvian guano is becoming scarce each j-car, and already one source of it (Chin* cha Islands) is nearly exhausted.' The other Pacific islands which yield phos? phate are situated a great distance from iho market; and this, together with the. fact of the extreme danger to which ships employed in this trade are cxpoijbd, ren? der tho articles very expensive. The beds of coprolitos of England are becomingsd far oXhaustod that the Working of them has nearly ceased to be remunerative.-? Tho phosphato deposits in the West In? dies aro located at a considerable distance and some of tho material is not of the best character, either for direct applica? tion to the soil, or for manufacture intu* superphosphates. Thus gradually the previous sources of tbo world for phosphatic manures are be? coming exhausted, or are losing in impor I tance, in consequence of the comparative Jy recont discoveries of the phosphatic bods of South Carolina, and the Lufiu in northern Germany. At the latter locali? ty, not far from tho Rhine, comparatively large quantities of a phosphatic rock have* been discovered ? but there are certain disadvantages connected with the excava? tion of the material iri any large quanti? ty, which will prevent its successful com? petition with the South Carolina phos? phate in tho English markets: From these reasons our beds of nodular* phosphatos ure attracting universal atten? tion as a cheap and apparently inexhaust tiblo source of phosphoric acid"; .They*., will bo used not only to furnish the basis of super-phosphates, but, ground toarino powder, and mixed with decomposable animal or vegetable mutter, will prove?, advantageous as a permanent enrichment of the soil iri many parts of the, country Colector Clark, of this port, kindly .in? forms me that there have been exported from this port to' Europe from- January 1st to date, 3,765 tons of phosphate. The amount shipped coastwise must exceed 20,000 tons. ?. In conclusion. I might oall the attention, of the State authorities to the investiga? tion of the dopositesof iron pyrites whach aro known to exist in this Stato, and which must ultimately prove a source of the sul? phur used in the manufacture of the iw? por-phosphates. By opening a cheap source of sulphuric acid, the interests of" the planters and manufacturers will b<* : materially advanced. Submitting this report to your esteemed? consideration, I remain very rospiM-UUdly. Charles U. Shepard, Jr M. D., State Inspector ot Guano und FeruJiaej-fc,