University of South Carolina Libraries
An Independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence. HOYT & CO., Proprietors. ANDERSON C. H., S. 0., THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 10, 1870. VOLUME 5?NO. 61, The Return of Whittemore. The annexed significant comments upon the ahove political event are copied from the Phil? adelphia Evening Telegraph, a Republican pa? per r Sufficient returns have been received from the special election in the First Congressional District of South Carolina to render the return of the notorious Whittemore certain by a deci? ded majority. We need not recapitulate in de? tail the story of shame. Worse than a defaul? ter in Massachusetts, before he donned the sa? cred robes; more than distrusted for dishonesty as chaplain of a regiment; charged circumstan? tially with defrauding the freed men in various ways; elected to Congress from a district where colored men of the most ignorant class largely predominate; bartering his cadetships openly and shamelessly in the market; and finally fleeing the House to escape an almost unani? mous expulsion, he now returns to the same House that drove him out as a moral leper, with the broad seal of the State of South Carolina attesting his right to represent the First Dis? trict of that Commonwealth in the popular branch of our National Legislature. In a few days he will again appear at the bar of the House and ask to be sworn as a member. Will he be admitted ? The nation, profoundly sensitive respecting the half developed corrup? tion which seems to pervade our supreme law making power, will watch the action of the House with much solicitude. The case is with? out precedent in our history. Members have heretofore resigned under resolutions of censure and been returned and sworn unchallenged, but in no instance, we believe, has a member of Congress been expelled or compelled to resign, to escape expulsion for venality, and subse? quently returned to claim a seat. Mr. Matte son, of New York, was censured by a strong vote, some years ago, for alleged corruption and* then compelled to resign; but a resolution of expulsion had failed to command the constitu? tional majority in his case, and his legal right to his seat was unquestioned. At the time of his resignation he had already been re-elected to the succeeding Congress, and when the new term commenced he resumed his place. The propriety of allowing him to serve without some notice of the disgrace he had brought up? on the previous Congress was freely diseussed in the public journals, and was the subject of repeated consultations between some of the leading members of the House. But it is due to Mr. Matteson to say that he stoutly disputed all the allegations of corruption, and claimed that his explanations cleared him of all moral tur? pitude in the matter. It is clear that the House has the legal right to protect itself from the presence of any im? proper person. It is the sole judge of thequali ncation of its own members, and it is morally bound to refuse admission to a man who has notoriously and corruptly abused his official privileges and brought infamy upon himself and the country. We submit, therefore, that when Mr. Whittcmore's credentials are presen? ted for readmission, it is the duty of the House to reject him and declare the seat vacant be? cause the proposed incumbent is utterly un? worthy, and his admission would be a blister? ing stain upon our national character. Mr. Whittcmore's re-election is but a part of the grand scheme of a pack of the most un? scrupulous adventurers to maintain power in South Carolina. Of the four districts in that State, two elected Repuolieans?Whittemore and Bowen; and the other two districts elected Simpson and Reed, Democrats, by about 4,000 each. Of the two Republicans, Mr. Whitte? more is sadly notorious, and the antecedents of his Republican colleague arc anything else than creditable. An adventurer and camp-follower in the rebel army, and more than once arraign? ed for crime before the rebel military authori? ties, he naturally cast his lot with the swarm of vampires who have fastened upon that State, in desecration of the name of Republicanism, and are eating out its vitals and making reconstruc? tion a term of reproach among all upright men. In the two districts which gave very large Dem? ocratic majorities the members elected were not eligible, and the minority candidates have both been sworn in in defiance of the popular will expressed against them in unmistakable tones. We need not say that the men, Messrs. H?ge and Wallace, who consent to sit in Congress in contempt of the decision of the election re? turns cannot merit any high measure of popu? lar respect. But for the combinations of the corrupt State au horities, Whittemore would not have had a shadow of a chance for re-election. But he is neither better nor worse than the average of his fellow official plunderers, and they did not dare to overthrow him. They would have done so, but Whittemore would have risen like the ghost of "Banquo" to confuse them. GovernorScott is a candidate for re-election next fall, and he dare not break a link in the circle of Swiss mercenaries, who now control the State by ap? peals to the passions and prejudices of the ig? norant, and by the official patronage they com? mand. They profess to purchase homes for the homeless freedmen, issue the bonds of the State to pay the lands, and then what they fail to plunder directly from the State they "plunder from the negro. The re-election of Whitte? more is but the act of desperation of these men, to perpetuate their power, and our National Legislature is presented with a hypocrite and renegade to save a junta of petty thieves in their uneasy and uncertain positions at home. The Republican party must wash its hands of these political abortions called State officials in the reconstructed States, or it must cease to rule in a single commonwealth of the South. When reconstruction began it was impossible to place competent and honest men in power in the Southern States ; but reconstruction is set? tled, and the Republican party must demand ability and integrity in its representative men, or it must die. It Whittemore shall be admit? ted, and thus the high sanction of the Republi? can national administration be given to the po? litical adventurers who have blotted the history of the constitution and now hang as mill-stones about the necks of the struggling States of the South, thev will all follow Virginia and Ten? nessee, and Republican power in the South will have no future. Its history will be but a con? tinued chapter of shame and misfortune, and it will pass away speedily amidst the rejoicings of all holest men. Already the Citizens' party is .making headway in South Carolina, and em? braces in its ranks some of the ablest leaders, lK)th white and black, in the State ; and it needs but the admission of Whittemore, and the high approval of a Republican Congress to bo given the imbecile and corrupt rulers who have re? turned him, to insure the utter and hopeless discomfiture of Republicanism in the strongest State of the South. ? Hot milk has been successfully tried as a remedy for diarrhoea. It is said that a pint every two or three hours will check the most violent stomach-ache, incipient cholera or dys? entery. Half a pint every meal generally re? duces gradually and pleasantly an ordinary diarrhoea. It is very simple, and will not harm you to try it. ? The King of Sweden meditates a tour around the world, in order "to bee with his own ryes whether it is round." Removal of the Capital. The subjoined call for a national convention at Cincinnati has h*een issued by a number of gentlemen, composing the Executive Committee appointed last year for the purpose of further? ing the removal of the national capital: The undersigned, composing the Executive Committee appointed by the National Conven? tion which assembled at St. Louis on the 20th day of October, 1869, and acting under the au? thority conferred upon them for this purpose, hereby call a Convention, to be composed of delegates from all the States and Territories, and from the District of Columbia, to assemble at Cincinnati, on the 25th day of October next, to consider the question of the removal of the Capital, and to take such action thereupon as shall be deemed wise and proper. This Convention is to be composed of three delegates from each Congressional District, six from each State at large, three from each Terri? tory, and three from the District of Columbia, to be appointed by the Governors of the States and Territories respectively, and by the Mayor of the city of Washington. If for any reason the Governor of any State or Territory shall fail or refuse to appoint del? egates, the appointment shall be made by a convention called for that purpose. Congress, in the press, in the forum and among the people, directed and stimulated by the de? liberations and action of the Convention which met at St. Louis, demonstrated the value of or? ganized action in its behalf, have developed its strength, and exposed the weakness of the op? position, and leave no room to doubt that speedy success will follow vigorous and faithful effort. To the argument based on the fact that the political power of the nation?its masses of population, the seat of iL?? greatest agricultural, mineral, commercial, mechanical and manufac? turing capacity and wealth, its great railroad centers?are all found in or rapidly tending to? ward the center; that in that region are to be found and developed the truest type of Ameri? can character ana energy ; that there, far from the exposed border, but reaching with equal vigor to every quarter of its wide domain^ the home of its legislative, executive and adminis? trative power will be safest in war and strong eat in all its influences for good in peace?to all the facts and arguments, political, geograph? ical, territorial, financial, representative, direct and indirect, theoretical and practical, arrayed in favor of removal, only these answers have been attempted, viz: veneration for the mem? ory of Washington, and the estimated ex? pense of the erection of new and suitable public buildings. The augnst memory of Washington is not honored by a location no longer worthy the na? tion he helped to create. That nation is poor, indeed, which, when a new capital becomes a necessity, cannot provide suitable accommodations for the public servants charged with the duty of making, expounding and enforcing the laws. The weakness of the response demonstrates the justice of the demand. It is believed that the Convention thus called will have power, by wise action, so to express the wishes and shape the effort of the majority of the people as to destroy all hope of success? ful opposition, and to provide without needless delay for the removal to its new and permanent home. And we invoke the interest and the co-opera? tion of all friends of removal, to the end that this Convention, in numbers and in character, may be not unworthy of the occasion and the interest committed to it. Wonderful Memories.?Some examples of the marvels of memory would seem entirely incredible had they not been given to us upon the highest authority. Cyrus knew the name of each soldier in his army. It is also related of Themistocles that he "could call by name every citizen of Athens, although the number amounted to twenty thousand. Mithridates, King of Pontus, knew all his eighty thousand soldiers by their right names. Scipio knew all the inhabitants of Rome. Seneca complained of old age because he could not, as formerly, repeat two thousand names in the order in which they were read to him ; and he stated on one occasion when at his studies, two hun? dred unconnected verses having been recited by the different pupils of his preceptor, he re? peated them in a reversed order, proceeding from the last to the first. Lord Granville could repeat from beginning to end, the New Testament in the original Greek. Cookc, tragedian, ia said to have com? mitted to memory all the contents of a daily newspaper. Racine could recite all the trage? dies of Euripedes. It is said that George III. never forgot a face he had once seen, nor a name he had heard. Mirandola would commit to memory the con? tents of a book by reading it three times, and could frequently repeat the words backward as well as forward. Thomas Cranmcr committed to memory, in three months, an entire transla? tion of the Bible. Euler, the mathematician, could repeat the ^Eneid, and Leibnitz, when an old man, could recite the whole of Virgil, word for word. It is said that Bossuct could repeat, not only the whole Bible, but all Homer, Virgil aud Horace, besides many other works.. Mozart had a wonderful memory of musical sounds. When only fourteen years of age, he went to Rome to assist in the solemnities of Holy Week. Immediately after his arrival, he went to the Sistine Chapel to hear the fa? mous "Miserere" of Alleri. Being aware that it was forbidden to take or give a copy of this renowned piece of music, Mozart placed him? self in a corner and gave the strictest attention to the music, and on leaving the Church noted down the entire piece. A few days afterwards he heard it a second time, and, "following the music with his own copy in his hand, satisfied himself of the fidelity of his memory. The next day he sang the "Miserere" at a concert, accompanying himself on the harpsichord, and the performance produced such a sensation in Rome that Pope Clement XIV. requested that this musical progidy should be presented to him at once.?Oliver Optic's Magazine. The Wife.?How sweet to the soul of man, says 1 Merode, is the society of a beloved wife, when wearied and broken down with the labors of the day, her endearments soothe and her tender cure restores him ! The solicitude and the anxieties, and the heaviest misfortunes of life, are hardly to be borne by him who has the weight of business and domestic cares at the same time to contend with. But how much lighter do they seem when, his necessary avoca? tions beingover, he returns to his home, and finds there a partner of his grief and troubles, who takes for his sake her share of domestic labors upon her, and soothes the anguish of his antici? pation. A wife is not, as she is falsely represen? ted and esteemed by some, a burden or a sorrow to man. No 1 she shares his burdens and alle? viates his sorrows ; for there is no difficulty bo heavy or insupportable in life but it may be surmounted by the mutual labor and the affec? tionate concord of the holy partner?hip. The discussions of the d removal in Affairs in South Carolina. A correspondent of the New York Sun, (Radical paper,) writing from the White Sul? phur Springs, Virginia, says: Among other gentlemen who have arrived from South Carolina is one who is telling ex? citing things about Dr. Scott, of Ohio, who is the Governor of the Palmetto State. The gen? tleman says that Dr. Scott was probably an honest man while he was peddling patent medi? cines in Nevada, but that when he became a politician he fell. Dr. Scott, as Governor of South Carolina, is the chairman of an advisory board, which approves the acts of a colored commissioner, authorized by the Legislature to buy decayed estates, with an appropriation of several hundred thousand dollars, for the pur? pose of subdividing them to be sold to poor people who will cultivate the soil, and, produc? ing crops, from time to time to pay for tne land what it may be valued at. The former incum? bent of the office was a white politician named Leslie, who, having had to resign and take a Eosition as State senator, when attacked in the egislature with the inquiry as to what he had done with the unaccounted for money in his possession, deliberately replied "that no inves? tigation of his conduct would be prudent, be? cause it would certainly put the chairman of the advisory board in serious trouble;" and when Leslie was further threatened with an in? vestigation, he stood up in the Senate of South Carolina, and with a sneer on his countenance inquired, addressing the senators "Which of J you will commence?" And there was no in? vestigation. The present commissioner offered one of the most prominent lawyers in South Carolina a part of the plunder of the office, if he would be his security for the faithful dis? charge of his duty. The plundering is done by first getting an appropriation to buy the decay? ed estates; then the owners of those lands say they are worth, for example, ten dollars an acre; the commissioner reports favorably for the purchase of a tract of land at that rate; the ad? visory board approves of the purchase; but the owner of the land receives perhaps not more than $5 per acre. The politicians pocket the difference. This is one ,of many apparently semi-charitable schemes which are held up by those fraudulent politicians in South Carolina and other Southern States, to make the people of the North believe that they are doing won? ders for the benefit of the negroes and poor whites. But in reality they are burdening the people with taxes, and stealing as much of those taxes as they possibly can. They are not developing industry among the negroes gener? ally, but leading them astray by awakening in their miuds false idea of social life, by iniqui tiously making them believe that if the whites are sufficiently burdened with taxes, being un? able to pay these, their fine estates will come under the auctioneers hammer, and, being bought for a trifle by the State, will be subdi? vided and turned over to the negroes. The-or? ganization of picked men into exclusively col? ored companies of militia in South Carolina is a measure which is evidently fraught with a premeditated desire to produce a serious con? flict between the whites and blacks, because Dr. Scott, of Ohio, the Governor of South Caro? lina, has said that a Northern white man is not as safe unprotected by military, force in the State, when the contrary is the fact, provided the white traveller is not an incendiary who tells the negroes that they must not respect their late meters, and if these should interfere with them toburn their houses. The Gover? nor has two companies of United States regu? lars in Columbia, on the ground that the State is not yet fully reconstructed. The truth is that the Governor is a very unworthy official, and is misgoverning South Carolina. How an Untrincipled Journalist was Silenced.?The New York correspondent of the Chicago Republican relates the following: All men of the world know that it is bad pol? icy to quarrel with newspapers which are ten thousand-handed and teu-thousand-tongued. For an individual to attempt to make war upon or even defend himself against the press is like the effort of the ancient lady to sweep out the Atlantic ocean with a broom. Journalist as I am, I have never had any doubt that newspa? pers in this country are a despotism, and that they very frequently exercise their overwhel? ming power in the most unjust and cruel man? ner. If all writers for the press were, as they ought to be, careful, conscientious and honor? able gentlemen, the power they possess might be intrusted with some safety to their hands. But many of them, I am mortified to say, are almost the opposite of Huch, and when a private citizen is attacked, as often happens here, with? out cause or provocation, it is difficult to decide how he should act. A certain gentleman?I will not mention his name?recently settled this question for himself. The responsible edi? tor ot a journal notorious for its unscrupulous ness and indiscriminate abuse of everybody, saw fit to select as a target one who had never injured him, and whose reputation was above reproach. Paragraph after paragraph of tho falsest and most contemptible kind was leveled at the gentleman, accompanied with every va? riety of vulgar and dastardly inuendo, until at last he determined to stand it no longer. He had written no cards ; had said nothing to any? body. He simply went to tho private office of the editor ; told him calmly but distinctly how unjustifiable, contemptible and cowardly his conduct had been ; that he had no wish to ap? pear as a bully or bravo, or to seek to intimidate by threats, "but," he added, "I want you, Mr. -, distinctly to understand, that if you ever attack me again through the columns of your paper when I have done nothing whatever to give offence or excite comment, I shall make it very serious for one or both of us. There is no protection through law for outrages of this sort, and I am resolved, therefore, to protect myself. I am willing to overlook the past; but it' you give me any new caubc for offence, prepare yourself for a deperate issue. Unlcsfr you kill me first, I will kill you wherever found. Good morning, sir." I don't suppose the editor was intimidated ; but from that day to this the gentleman's name has never been mentioned in that journal. Decoration of Confederate Graves.? Solemnly, silently and quietly, without blast of trumpet or flaunt of flags, the Southern people of Covington collected yestcjday, to the number of two hundred, at Linden Grove Cemetery, and paid their annual tribute to their soldier dead. Many of the graves were those belong? ing to families now resident of the city, and hence were much scattered ; yet each was beau? tifully decorated with wreaths and scattered flowers. The Confederate Square, where lie the bodies j of tho stranger dead, was most conspicuously decorated. A large cross, emblematical of the Sovereign Cross, covered with evergreen, and hung with floral wreaths, marked the center grave, while each head-Rtone had its wreath, and ench grave its floral carpet. Peace to their ashes I If their cause was wrong, they have atoned for it with their lives; if right, the blood of the martyrs is the Beed of the church.?Cincinnati Enquirer. General Pillow wants to be a Tennessee judge. Another Romance in Real Life. The Albany Journal tella how a young man lost his wife, by a foolish act, and of their subse? quent happy re-union: About three years ago a good-looking, stal? wart young mechanic went from this city to ac? cept an advantageous offer in the town of Sa? lem, Washington County. Being unmarried and rather fond of society, it was not long before James West, as we shall call him, acquired a circle of acquaintance that embraced at least all the prettiest girls in the place. After be? stowing attentions indiscriminately, thereby causing many hearts to beat with jealous rage and envy, he suddenly became more reserved in his demeanor, and from thenceforth devoted himself to but one, a young lady whose per? sonal attractions were only surpassed by her amiable character and varied accomplishments, named Kate-, daughter of a well-to-do farmer of Washington county. West had evi? dently heard the admonition that "faint heart never won fair lady," for he pressed his suit with an ardor that soon received its reward, and their engagement was announced. Six months afterward, on a bright, sunny day in May, the nuptials were celebrated. After marriage they settled down to house-keeping, in a neat little cottage, surrounded with all that a happy young couple could desire, and every? thing seemed to augur well for a long and tran? quil life of domestic bliss. But in an evil hour their bright hopes were shadowed. A former acquaintance happening in the village was met by the young husband, and while recalling old times a social drink was proposed. A faint show of resistance on the part of West, and the drink was taken, follow? ed soon by another. As the liquor mounted to his brain all thought of the sweet young wife at home faded from his mind, and the rest of the night was spent in hilarious debauchery. Poor Kate, having passed a lonely evening, re? tired to rest, framing a thousand excuses for her husband's absence. In the morning she awoke in an agony of terror at rinding herself still alone, ana hastily flinging on some clothes, opened the door to go in search of him. Im? agine her horror at beholding the one she loved so well lying across the step, besmeared with filth, in the worst stage of intoxication. The sight was so horrible that for a time she was unable to move or act. Then, as ifhaving a sudden resolution, she hastily dragged him in, dressed herself, and left the house. The husband awoke from his drunken stupor shortly after, and, calling for Kate, was aston? ished at receiving no answer. The thought oc? curred to him that his conduct of the night be? fore had driven her away. A week passed by, and although the conscience-stricken husband made every search and inquiry, no trace of the lost one could be found. A year elapsed, and having given up all hope of ever regaining his lost happiness, the husband threw up his situa? tion, sold his furniture, and came to this city, where he secured employment as a machinist. A few days ago, happening to be in Troy on bnsiness, while passing up Second street he came face to face with his wife. The recogni? tion was mutual, and with the old love welling up in their hearts thev were once more united. Half-crazed at the sight which met her eyes on that fatal morning, she had fled from the house and taken the cars for Troy, fortunately secu? ring a situation in a dress-making establish? ment, where she preferred remaining rather than be the companion of one who would so imbrute himself. And now, after being separated for more than a year, they have resumed house-keeping in this city?the husband, on his part, with a firm determination never to do aught would cause his wife a moment's unhappiness, and she with a desire to brighten their new home with a love that will make it lasting, and full of confidence that he will be true to his word. Mason and Dixon's Line.?We do not hear as much of "Mason and Dixon's Line" now as we did before the war, and it may there? fore be worth while to rescue its history from the oblivion into which it appears to be falling. This boundary was so termea from the names of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, the gentlemen appointed to run unfinished lines in 1761, between Pennsylvania and Maryland, on the territories subject to the heirs of Penn and Lord Baltimore. A temporary line had been run in 1739 between themselves. A decree had been made in 1613, by King James, delineating the boundaries between the lands given by charter to the first Lord Baltimore, and those adjudged to his Majesty (afterward to William Penn,) which divided the tract between the Delaware bay and the Eastern sea on one side and the Cheaspcake on the other, by a line equally intersecting it, drawn from Cape Hen lopen to the 4th degree of north latitude. A decree in chancery rendered the King's decree imperative. But the situation of Henlopen became long a subject of serious, protracted and expensive litigation, particularly after the death of Penn, in 1713, and of Lord Baltimore in 1714, till John and Richard and Thos. Penn, (who had become the sole proprietors of the American possessions of their father William,) and Cecilus, Lord Baltimore, grandson of Charles, and great-grandson of Cecilus, the original patentee, entered into an agreement on the 10th of May, 1732. To this agreement a chart was appended which ascertained the site of Cape Henlopen, and delineated a division by an oast and west line running westward, from that cape to the exact middle of the peninsula. Lord Baltimore became dissatisfied with this agreement, and he endeavored to invalidate it. Chancery suits, kingly decrees, and proprietary arguments followed, which eventually produced the appointment of commissioners to run the temporarj' line. This was effected in 1739 ; but the cause in chancery being decided in 1759, new commissioners were appointed, who could not however, agree, and the question remaiued open till 1761, when the line was run by Messrs. Mason and Dixon. -*> Spanish Proverbs.?He is a rich man who has God for his friend. He is the best scholar who has learned to live well. A handful of mother wit is worth a bushel of learning. You had better leave your enemy something when you die, than live to beg of your friends. En? joy what little you have while the fool is look? ing for more. Saying and doing do not dine together. There is no Detter looking-glass than an old true friend. A wall between two pre? serves friendship. A creditor always has a bet? ter memory than the debtor. -o ? A county in Florida boasts of one genuine citizen as county judge, and of another as coun? ty commissioner, the other offices being thus admirably distributed: Clerk of court from Ohio; sheriff from Mrssachusetts; collector of ? taxes from Massachusetts ; State Senator, "an old Virginnv nigger;" members of Assembly, two Philadelphia negroes; county surveyor from Iowa; two negro county commissioners, one from Ohio and one from Iowa. "The county," says the local paper, "is almost hopelessly in debt, and its scrip is hawked about the streets at mere nominal prices." ? Where is money first mentioned in the Bible? Where the dove brought the green back to Noah. Edgar A. Poe?s ??Song of the Beils.? The following incident was related by a mem? ber of the Baltimore bar, who at the time of its occurrence was but recently admitted to prac? tice. The truth of the statement may be de* ended on; and even the conversation intro uced I give, I think, nearly word for word as reported to me. At the period referred to there were several singled-storied houses on the east side of St Paul street, between Lexington and Saratoga streets, each of which contained but two rooms. They were rather massive?according to present ideas?constructed of brick, but have been for a long time displaced by tall and stately build? ings. One of these single-storied houses was occupied by my informant The front apart? ment was used'as a law office, the rear as a sleeping-room. One calm and clear moonlight winter night, when the snow lay deep upon the city streets and roofs, Mr.-was making preparations to retire to bed, when his front-door bell was rung. He aroused his negro servant-boy, who was nodding on his stool by the chimney cor? ner, and sent him to open the door to his late visitor. The boy almost immediately returned alone. He said that nobody waj at the door, but that a gentleman was standing; in the snow in the middle of the street, taking to himself and tos? sing his arms about. Mr.-now went to the front door him? self. When he opened it he found one who was evidently a gentleman?he could see that by the moonlight?standing on the pavement facing him. "Was it you who rang my bell?" he asked. 'Yes, sir," was the reply. "I owe you an apology for disturbing you at an hour so un? reasonable. But the fact is, some thoughts have come into my mind which I wish to com? mit to paper, and seeing a light in your back window (the house stood on the corner of an alley), and considering it a matter of course that a lawyer's office is supplied with stationery, I took the liberty of ringing your bell." 'You are very .welcome," said the lawyer. "Walk in, sir." The stranger followed him into the inner apartment, where a bright coal fire was burn? ing in the grate. The manner of his guest was so impressive of intellect that Mr.-of? fered a bed ; but the visitor only asked the vise of a chair, table and writing materials. So the negro boy lay down upon his pallet on the floor, and the young lawyer retired to his bed, leav? ing the stranger bending over the table. When Mr.-awakened in the morning his strange visitor was sitting in a chair, with his head upon the table asleep. The motion made by the young lawyer on awakening s.rous ed the stranger. The latter seemed at once to be wide awake. He arose from his seat, thank? ed his host for his hospitality, and gracefully appologized forjbis intrusion on the previous night He was then about to leave the room. "You are forgetting your manuscript," says the young lawyer, pointing to some pieces of paper on the table. "I have a copy of what I have composed," said the stranger, "and leave the original with you as some acknowledgement of your kind? ness under circumstances so trying." The stranger left. The lawyer did not know until a long time afterwaid, when the "Song of the Bells"?of which he still has the original ?had been published and become famous, that his singular visitor was Edgar A. Poe. The Bible.?When thinking how little time and attention are given tc the study of the sa? cred writings, I have wondered if the Hebrews heeded the commandment given to them. It was this: "Hear, 0 Israel! Those words which I command thee this shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy chil? dren, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes, and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house, and on thy gates." Did we spend as much time on a carpet of the Bible as wo do on a ruffle, our knowledge of the Scriptures would be largelv increased. Christian mothers diligently teacli their daughters the fashions of the world, but how often do they speak to them a word con? cerning the things "which belong to their eter? nal peace ?" Why is it that we are so ready to speak and learn of everything but that which is of the most importance ? And now, while Satan is so busy with his devices to draw away the imagination of the voting and thoughtless, it is surely a time when Christian parents should be awake and active. Be beforehand with him ; so store their minds with principles of right and truth, that there will be no chance of the lodgment of his suotle wiles. Do not excuse yourselves by saying you have no time; you have all the time there is; and what is time given us for but to learn and do your duty ? The Air Line Railboad let to Con? tract.?It is with pleasure that we are able to [ announce the fact that Mr. P. P. Dickinson, of Poughkeepsie, New York, has taken the entire contract for the construction of the Air Line Railroad from this place to Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Dickinson has a large experience in this line of business, and has ample capital and is responsi? ble. We are glad that some one man was found who had the enterprise, pluck and capital to undertake the construction of the entire road, which we think will insure expedition in the work. Mr. Dickson proposes to l et sub-contracts and has opened an office in this city, where he or his agent will receive propssals for contracts between this place and Spartanburg. These contracts will be for any distance that contrac? tors may desire. It will be gratifyingto our citizens to know how auspiciously our Railroad affairs are pro? gressing. Long before the tax payers are re? quired to advance one cent of the tax which they voted upon themselves, work will be com? menced on the roads and the money realized from the sale of our bonds will be in circula? tion among us. Business and trade of every 6ort will be enlivened thereby, and remunera? tive employment will be afforded the laboring man. Then when we take into consideration how these roads are going to enhance the value of our property, increase our trade and manu? factures, and add to our population, there will certainly be no man in the county who will re fret that the Railroad subscriptions were made y the county.?Charlotte Observer. Cure for Warts.?An exchange says per? sons afflicted with these disfigurements on their hands, will find the following a perfect cure: "Take a small piece of raw beef, steep it all night in vinegar, cut as much from it as will cover the wart, and tie it on, or, if the excres? cence is on the forehead, fasten on with strips of sticking plaster. It may be removed in the day and put on everv night. In one fort-night, the wart will die and peal off. The same pre? scription will cure corns." -? A new way to pay old debt??settle them in full. Political Notes. Alexander H. Stephens has finished Ha fii/J* tory of the war. Butler wants to be the next Governor of Massachusetts. S e ward is sick because Auburn gave a Demo? cratic majority. The Vermont Republican State Convention Is to be held June 22. Ex-President Johnson declares he will ran for Congress auyhow. Seven men are after the Senatorial seat of Aaron H. Cragin, of New Hampshire. Archibald Hisle, a colored man, is a candi? date for sheriff of Madison County, Kj. Alexander H. Stephens depends upon bolsters and crutches for continued existence. There are now nineteen candidates in tho field for next Governor of Pennsylvania. The Rochester Chronicle charges a break in the Erie Canal to the Democratic party I The true Secretary of the Navy is now said to be Allen Pinkerton, the celebrated detective. General Sherman prohibits the use of colored inks in army correspondence, and Stunner is mad. Judge Brinkerhoff, of Ohio, declines a re? election to the bench of the Supreme Court. Cause, poor pay. Temperance seems to be weak, as only about forty persons were present at the anti-benzine Convention of Ohio. General Eilpatrick, United States Minister to Chile, wants to give up his situation. So says a Washington dispatch. Fred. Douglass says that if a colored man wants to vote Democratic he must be allowed to do so. Generous Fred I General Pratt, the "Great American Travel? er," says that American politics is hell's grist mill to grind updevils in. The Radical United States Senator Morrill gives General Frank Blair the credit of having preserved Missouri to the Union. Senator Cain, colored, of South Carolina, says that thieves and robbers are destroying the Republican party in that State. The negroes can't get over the Fifteenth amendment. Whenever three of them meet to? gether they kick up their heels for joy. Governor Chamberlain, of Maine, positively* declines a renomination, and His friends are recommending him for United States Senator. A London journal says that Grant pleased England bv hin action during the recent Fenian raid a good deal more than he did the United States. Forney withdraws his name as a candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, because he has been unable to find anybody willing to vote for him. Wendell Phillips ia nominated by some of the papers as a candidate for Congress in the Massachusetts district now represented by Mr. Twitchell. Sumner thinks that upon the death of the present King Of the Sandwich Islands they will seek protection under our flag, and be annexed without difficulty. A Richmond paper, calling attention to some improved spotted pigs bred there, says: "Our maxim should be to encourage our own people in preference to all others." Letters to Senators from Kentucky say that if a general amnesty act is passed this session. John C. Breckinridge will certainly succeed Garret Davis in the Senate in 1873. Representative McKenna, of Virginia, pro? poses as there is no hope of Congressional ac? tion, that every man be allowed to fund his own debts and regulate his own tariff. Schenck, says the Chicago Times, calls Dawes "a d?d Yankee trickster. Dawes has searched the vocabulary in vain for words which will express Schenck's true character. The brother-in-law of the President, recently appointed as Appraiser of the San Francisco Custom-house, didn't vote for Grant, and it is therefore urged that he is not fit for the situa? tion. One of the best speeches made in either House of Congress this session was made the other day by Senator Ramsey, of Minnesota. He said: "Let us quit talking and commence voting." Only this and nothing more. The assessea returns of Virginia, under the internal revenue laws, show an increase of over 25 per cent., as compared with last year. The men who are not allowed to vote give good in? dications of their ability to pay taxes. The Radical Cincinnati Commercial, in com? menting upon the New York election, says: "With heavy taxes, protective tariffs, land grabbing legislation, and Sumner's social equal? ity bill, what other results are Republicans to expect?" Judge Busteed, of Alabama, says the Chica? go Times, has retired to his couutry residence on Long Island, New York, for the summer. His carpet-bag will not be packed with Ala? bama clothing before October. Meantime, litigants can "wait for the verdict." In the Mississippi Senate recently Mr. Gibbs made a remark which was construed by Mr. Morgan to mean that he was bribed He told Gibbs he lied. Gibb3 went for him; but being interrupted by the sergeant-at-arms, a nice little mill on the floor of the Senate was spoiled Shame on Him.?Some chap, hard up for an item, perpetrates the following slander on our and everybody else's numerous friends, the ; Smith family. We hope when they get clear of the Sheriff they'll all go for him. Says the wretch: "A few weeks ago, the Governor of Ohio of? fered $500 for the arrest of a man named John Smith. There are 110 counties in Ohio, and in less than *two days, the Sheriffs of all these counties arrived in Columbus, each with a man named John Smith. During the three succeed? ing days, over two thousand detectives, police? men and private citizens from Kentucky, Penn? sylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Illinois, arrived in Columbus, every fellow bringing with him some unhappy man named John Smith, and more arrive every day. The aggregate of Smiths at present in Columbus is simply awful. And the worst of it is, that every man insists that his Smith is the particular Smith mentioned in the procla? mation, and he is going to have that $500, or hash the Governor right up. The Governor is trying to decide whether to pay the reward to every man in the lot or resign. ? An old Boston merchant once said to a young man of good reputation from New Hamp? shire, whom ne had just sold a lot of goods, partly on credit: "My young friend, I have a word of advice to give you, as you are just com mencing business on your own account; it this: 1 ou should always keep in mind that you. must either cheat your customer or your credit? or." The young man listened, wont home, thought over the matter, and soon packed up nearly all those goods, shipped them to a eis tant point, and ran away, ana the Boston mer? chant never got a dollar for them. ? Misfortunes never come singly. A man over in Indiana, bast week, lost his wife and his family physician on the same day, He is now searching for their remains with a double-barrel shot-gun, with the intention of burying ihoc^ both in the same grave. - )V*>