Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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enw. wfth a Will of "r&r OtTb^.: Long ago (in the days of my bacbelor life), When t,so flexed fair sorrows-pr cares, . I tj^i'jwgWe^U ieanh of a wfo With a turn for domestic affairs. Peoplo told me that women were thoughtless and weak, "toetTtnlrrto br trartecTaloco f~ 8* I made up my mind that tbe treasure Fd seek Was a wife with a will of her own. ? For decision and firmness I hunted about, ; lAmeng spinsters of every degree, ^JTJflJLttagled a strong-minded ladyjoTO ont, . !i? ci^^*^ t*?*eure fOT m^ ? llppeparcd'for refusal, bat got the letevae, And felipnood at a king oahla thcooo,, .f.. ...Wbe* I found myself married, for better or worscv ^fa>^5* Vlll of laer own. ? ' [ 8$ ^^th^ioMymoonscarcelywas over and.past, pWhoia' I slowly begin to oospoct ? '-^??^rdmademy d^cialoiiaUtUetoo faat, *^ Wijhaui takrftg my ??> t? 1 ?' /IW bullied and SEabbed; tin I said" with t tig'* <fa^T tdah'iiwttldontjrlur^ikaafwa' ^^-'w^Vlstobtboniid.tm^ariaprxjntodlo, T*7** Waw^w?6?^df l?owa.? . :im^g 10 .civ . ' ->??-? Ci Km.dftU saaaoH*nd as-wee* as a mouse, h^r. Whttomf wlib haa hor will and her way | Jl ntVvjm-evening I! cannot stir out of the house, b.:; Thoagh I'mAirfully l'ondof the play. i-?ai(e?aa moral, no doubt, in our cat-and-dog lifo, *^V.-/And thai moral Pve carefully shown: You should never look out, If la want Of a wife, For a wife ?Iii a will or her own. D ,x ?003Ol? AND SAyED. i ?-? A Harrow Escape from the Gallows?the dan ? ger of Cure anas tan tial Evidence. ... ? v7 . . - . >? ? V On.a handsome lawn fronting an old viiy grown mansion in the State of Vir? ginia, one pleasant afternoon not many ^este since, ? group ot young people of *BoW sexes were jgathered. Standing in ^efr mid?t was an'old woman bent down ji&ifiage/looking as if she stood on the. -brink of the grave, but her dark restless -?5*5*0 showed that there was .vigorous life .hi her mind, if not in her body. -?-Sbehad been "telling fortunes" for the ^ung people gathered around her", and ' to'all' but one she had foretold a bright' >?n4 happy fortune. The exception of this V-ude waa a handsome boy of nineteen, with , a dark .passionate face, and an expreB si on which indicated. perfect f earlessn ess. j ? Five y jars before tbe opening of this story an old gentleman and his nephew JjSjpyed to Virginia from somo Northern - $tate, and buying a farm, had made it their home. Mr. Mercor and his nephew -Frank w&re treated with kindness by the ?gentlemen of the neighborhood, and they ?revived invitations to visit the planta '^|g^?*r^r-thbro." F*rank soon became ac ?^tib'ted Mfeh all in the country, but bis uricle novor left tb.3 farm, and seemed to ^biin!. society. For this many.reasons ;werj3 givon; bat the true one was. that he had lost all his family,and Frank's pa -sents haying'f. left him to Mr, Mercor's "charge, lie determined to devote- himself "to;'tho boy, and'found sufficient;'enjoy? ment in bj&company and Sb .cultivating bis farm. Though reported vory weal? thy, and that he always kept a large sum -of gold in tho house, Mr. Mercer and Frank lived in a quiet way, and made do "display. ^TTids passed Frank's youth from his fourteenth until his seventeenth year, 'W<H} our story opens. A man of snpo? tior education, Mr. Mercer had been his ?tepbew.'? teacher, and had imparted unto *" K.iatffjch knowledge of the world, of lot S,and pfeoploj Sa that Frank at nine - as' weif informed.as If he had a cultivated education. There those in the neighborhood who re -parted that tho boy was wild and dissipa? ted, and this found ready believers in T?rbers; so that Frank had some enemies aawe'ras friends. ? * -; T^eu| wevfmd him j and the evening of icommonecoaeiit of our story he had m invited to an pntei^Vnmont given a wealthy planter to his children, klr. Dowos, the' planter, bad three chil? dren, tho youngest And loveliest of whom was Mary a girt of twelve. Mary and ik. were the best of friends, arid loved other dearly; so when the fortune r predicted' a dark and stormy future for Fra nk,the tears arose to the child's eyes and ehe said, "Don't listen to her, pFraok.** ' But the boy laughed, and turning on is heel walked away. j Two days afterwards he left home for j a week's hunting in tho mountains; but the second night after his departure tbe neighborhood was aroused by the 'start-1 ling news that* old Mr. Mercer had been murdered by his nephew. One of the servants passing tho house at night, beard a cry, and seeing Frank's window open, j be sprang in and walked across tho ball to Mr. Mercer's chamber, from whence the cry came. LyiDg upon tbe floor was the old1 man,- dead, while near him stood his nephew, with a bloody knife in bis band, in fright tho negro rushed from tho house ami gave the alarm. Persons from the neighborhood wero sent for, and Frank was seised against every protesta? tion that he did not kill his unole, and thrown into jail. The feeling against the youth was in? tense, for the negro told the story of bow he had found Fiank, and a wayfaring peddler, who had just ascended tbe front steps to ask to stay all night, corrobora? ted the negro's stateraont. The. trial came off and the charges were made known. Frank was accused of* starting upon a hunting expedition for ?blind, and then returning froffr the moun? tain, by nigh tt had entered tho room, and attempting to remove nJarge bag of gold' kept by his unole, had aroused him, and j upon being discovered had driven bis hun? ting knife into the heart of Mr. Mercer, the gold was on the floor, its weight hav? ing burst the bag when it was raised. The knife with which Mr. Mercer was killed was ono he had given to Frank somo days before, and was a large dirk knife encased itt a silver scabbard. Pale as death, bnt showing no sign of fear or guilt *pbn his handsome face, the prisoner Bat -JBj&raoved by his sentence, which was to. cl:'e on the gallows. When asked if he bad aught to say, Frank arose, and looking around tho court room, in a elear voiced answered : i I have! Circumstantial evidence has condemned me! I admit that it loolcs as if I did the deed, but I am guiltless" of murder! Droppinginy percussion cap box in a-mauntain stream, I returned homo for'more; for without capo my gun was useless. \ - fiv was a lovely night, and'! deterinin edHo.entettbeltouse'by my room win? dow, get tKox caps, and roturn without awaking my uncle. I tied my horse-to tho fence, sprang into the window, and then hoard a loud crash, a call out, and a shriek in the direction of my uncle's room. I rushed thither?5a dark form rushed by me in the uncertain light of tho room? and I fell over something on the floor. With fear in my heart I arose, lighted a candle, and saw my Wole's body, covered with blood, gold scattered on the floor, and my ewVlftrife, which had done the deed, lying near. I picked up tbo . knife, and'thus was I found by tho negro and seen by the -peddler..... Ab God is my . wit? ness I did not murder the good bid man who, has pqptectod me throughout life, and. whom I loved as though he. was mV own father. 1 am guiltless of the fiundish deed, but submit to my fate 1 A Bile nee fell apon all; there were, however, but few who would .believe tho youth's statement; among the latter was Mr. Dewes and his family, who, through all, remained staunch friends. Prank Mercer was to be hung, to die an ignominious death on thegaftows, and hunareds floeked to the little town whore the execution was to take place, to see him die. How they.were disappointed to find.that tho night before he bad escaped 1 How, no one knew, but he bad left a note addressed to the jailor, thanking him for the kindness shown him while he was in his charge, and his regrets that his es? cape might cause him trouble, but saying he had bad an opportunity of escaping, and took advantage of it, for he had no idea of ''dying an ignominious death for an not he waa not* guilty of, merely to fratify .the curiosity of a gaping crowd, reedom was offered him, and he accep? ted it, and hoped he would yet be able to provo bis innocence. This was about the subject of the let? ter, and when it was published in the lo? cal paper, there were some who were glad,that tho boy had oscaped the gal low*. Mr. Mercor's property was, in his will, all left to Frank, and it was found to be considerable. Trustees assumed charge of it, and before long the quiet 'commu? nity had settled down to its usual routine, and tbe murder and escape were, in a shwtltimo', almost forgottorf ' Ten years passed away, and no word of: the ?fugitive had been heard, and peo? ple believed him dead. One exception was Mary Dewes, now grown to woman? hood. Sho had never believed him dead, and through her life bad treasured Frank's image in her inmost heart, the myetery that bung around him but adding strength to her regard. Her sisters hud married,, her mother was dead, and together with their father, they had lived at the old homestead. .. Business calling Mr. Dewos to Havana, ho took Mary with him, and they sot sail from^Charleston in a fino ship-:running south. Thoy had been some days at sea, when in tbe.dead of night the f earful cry of "?>re" was heard, which arousod alj from slumber. In vain Were efforts made to quenoh. the flames. Tbe seamen in fright rushed into the only available boat, and it sank with thorn, and left tbera, struggling in the ocean, borne away by tho winds and waves, while Mr. Dewes and Mary, tho captain of the ship and a few others were huddled away upon the stern, awaiting the fearful doom that must to all appearance overtake them, "Sail, ho!" Tbe joyous cry came.from tho captain, who had been straining'his eyes over the ocean, in hopes of seeing some vessel' coming to save them. Swiftly flying to? wards them came a low, rakish, three masked schooner, which ever and anon sent up a light, to those on board the burning ship that Buccor was near. liars;! the deep boom of a gun in hoard, and as the captain listens he exclaimed, "Miss Dewe8,(.\ve-aro all right now ; cheer upVfbrthere^cbmes a vessel of-war to our aid." : "Ship ahoy!" came in ringing tones from the schooner, as she came near tho burning ship, which was being rapidly driven along by the wind.'-1 "Ahoy I" answered the captain. "Throw a long line from your ship, and I will send you a boat,"' oamo in tho same clear tone. y\ .- ? The line was thrown, tho boat attach? ed, and, after a little difficulty, the people from the ship were transferred to tho schooner, and Mary was soon in the com? fortable cabin, rejoicing over their escape from a horrible doath. At -breakfast the next morning the young captain of the war schooner de? scended to join his guests at tho table, and as she entered, Mary sprang toward him. "Frank Moroer! Oh I it is you, is it not?* }j . One glance at the beautiful girl, and, though years had passed, Frank Mercer ?for it was no other?recognized tho playmate whom he had loved so woll,and whom ho never ceased to think of. Mr. Dewes came forward, and what a joyful moeting thero was; but seoing a cloud, as. of bitter memories, came over tho young Captain's face, Mr. Dewes said: "First let mo roliovo you of ono thing. Your innocence in Virginia has been fair? ly established; for a negro running away, was bnng tbo other day for killing a wo? man, confessed just before his death that he had murdorod your uncle, and your ar? riving whon you did had prevented him from*getting tho gold, but made him es? cape from tbe house. Ho know your undo.kept a largo amount of money, and you being away, as ho thought, ho pro cured your knifo, and with it, committed tho fatal deed 1" Frank listened to Mr. Dewoa, almost breathless, and then, when be had con? cluded, ho bowed his face in his hands and wept like a child. "But come in," said Mr. Dewos, at length, "wo are hungry and nood break? fast; and are dying to know how you be eamo a captain in the Mexican navy." "My story is easily told, my dear friends; for, after escapitig from prison through your kindnoss, I went to Mexico, entered the navy, and, having rendered some sorvico, roso to my present com mand, which has been the means of sav? ing your lives/' Little rabro can bo added. ' Frank resigned his commission and re tuyned'home, when he was lionized by the whole commanity. Ho came in pos? session of his e?tates, which weregroatly ^increased in value j and, six months after? wards, in-the. town where he was to have the hangman's halter placed around his neck for death he had .tho noose of matri? mony thrown around his life, and the bride was Mary; DeWcsJ * Tluur his life bad been both dark and bright in a re raai kable degree." * From the Cincinnati Times. THE MONKEYS PR01EST AGATSST THE l)iBTOtt4yfl THEORY. Darwin's th'eory'cpricelrning the descent of man is!'creating si tremendous sensa? tion among the: monkeys. They have just board of it and arc terribly exercised. They repudiate the. whole theory. That man descendod from them tho'y consider a slur on the entire monkey race, j, A cage of John Eobinsop's monkeys hold an indignation meetrng over the mat? ter the other day after' the performance'. A venerable chimpanzee; ? whose gray hairs entitle him to tbe distinction, was made chairman, and sitting in a swing presided'with the utmost; dignity. He got a little excited in his speech as he took th e' chair,r but this Was pardon able under tho circumstances,^ "What/* ex? claimed the venerable batrO?h,, "Man de? scended .from u*7 I repudiate the idea with scorn., True we have our faults. We are accused of cutting up monkey shines sometimes, and not without cause, but this attempt, to make us father of the human race' in ajtogether tot) mucb. Is it not enough .that poverty requires us to travel around the country in "this manner to mako a livelihood; to exhibit ourselves to gaping men, women and bhildren, at so much a head, (whoh two-thirds of them haven't any head at all to speak of,) without having it flung in our faces that we originated* the pack of fools styled men?" .? - His remarks .were received with every expression of delight possible" to the mon? key. Somo stood on their pyramidial heads, others hung on by their tails, while others threw flipflaps from one end of the cage to tho other. A monkey who had traveled much and seen a great!deal, and who had probably used tbe cat's paw to pull more chesnuts out of the "fire than any other monkey of his. ago, next addressed his fellow mon fceys. , . . Said he: "This Darwin hasinflioted a disgrace upon us that no monkey of any self respect will, hesitate to reseht I fling- bis base insinuations back into his teeth 1 [A wild chatter of applause.] If man .was indeed descended from us, what a fall was there, my countrymen I [Pro? longed bowls of derision.J If I had this base slanderer of '.our r?bo?ibjs Darwin, who dar'win fame by ' traducin'g us?I would4r-r-r-r-rend him in pieces with these pentadactylous hands, and whip him to doath with this prehensile tail!" [Im? mense cheering.] The chairman interrupted the speaker tc remind him that no puns would be al? lowed. Nobody but men perpetrated puns, and a pun was altogether beneath the dignity of any monkey who had tho least respect for himsolfl Tho speaker promised to be more guarded in tho fu? ture, and proceeded with his remarks: ?'Look at the lollies men perpetrato every day. Did you over know a monkey to make -such ? a -fool of himsolf as they do? Did yon over know a monkey to buy a ticket to a menngerio and go star? ing around and making remarks about better people than himself? Did-a mon? key ever get drunk, or talk about his neighbors, or wear a plug bat (unless it was fastened on his head by a detestable ring-master^, or sue for divorce, or lace, or color his whiskers, or go'into bank? ruptcy, or cheat the printer, or get elect? ed councilman, or ran a bar account, or oat hash, or?or run for Congress ? Nev? er I [Screams and sereeehos of assent.] ?'Man descended from the monkey, in? deed 1 If we wore descendod from man it would be sufficiently disgraoeiul. I get ashamed when I thjnk there is a pos? sibility of a connecting link. Look at them in their political conventions. In our most idiotic momentB did we ever yell and howl as they do 1 "Look at thorn in Congress. A whole menagerie on a drunk couldn't behave worse. And whore did they get it ? They didn't get it from us, that is a sure thing. The key to tbeir cussed nonsonso is not the mon-koy. [An admonishing shake of tbe head from the President.]! Mr. Dar? win must seek for his ancestry elsewhere, and let the monkey alone. He might perhaps trace it to the beasts of the field or tbe birds of the air, or (what is more likely) the jackass I" Tremendous applause followed his speech. ? After some further remarks on the part of distinguished monkeys of like tenor, the meeting passed a series of res? olutions utterly repudiating the Darwin? ian theory, and adjourned. ? The woman who makoth a good pndding in silence, is better than she who makcth a tart reply. ? Every man rhorishes in his heart somo object?some shrine at which his adoration is paid, unknown to his fellow mortals?unknown to all save his God. ? Somo desiro to be considered pre? eminently good, others rationally so; and others, again, arc satisfied if their con? duct places them beyond tho reach of cen? sure. ^ An exchange mentions a case beyond tho ordinary oculist. It is that of a young lady who, instoad of a common pupil, has a college student in her eye. ? ? To remove a film from a horse's eye, blow, in moderate weather, a little calomel in his oye through-a gooso quill. Care should bo taken to keop the horse from getting wet for three or fo?r'days after. ' ? The round figures of the railroad in? terest arc easily learnod and remombercd. Tho whole length of all the railways in the world is 120,000 miles. The cost of the same was in round numbers ton billions of dollars. Those of Great Brit? ain are of tho most costly, and thoso of tho United States are tho least so. Tho railway sj'stem of the world is supposed to give employment to over ono million persons. CORRESPONDENCE OF THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE. Columbia, May 11th, 1871. .. There can be no donbt that the property-own? ers of South Carolina have many^jeal grievan? ces of which to complain, on account of'the manner in which the finances of the State have been administered, and a careful inquiry satis? fies me that the "charges. of corrupt practices which they make"against the State Legislature and many of the State offices are, to some ex? tent, true, although greatly exaggerated. All people, from the Governor down to private cit? izens of both parties, white men and negroes, agree that, with few exceptions, the members of the Legislature were shamefully venal, and sold their votes with little pretence of secrecy. This,we may pass over as an admitted fact; but the amount of really bad legislation of which they were guilty is not very great. The State of South Carolina is too poor to afford much plunder. . There are no powerful railway com? panies' or other rich and grasping corporations that can afford to pay roundly for legislation to promote their interests; and the actual amount of corruption money used at the last session would appear ridiculously small to the lobby? ists who manipulate the. Legislatures of New York and Pennsylvania. -. The measures for the passage of which money was most freely used were the Phosphate Bill (which gave to a few persons atnonopoly. of the right to take phos? phate deposits, for fertilizing purposes, from the rivers of the State;) ana the Greenville Railroad Subsidy Bill, which passed the House after an expenditure of $60,000, but which finally failed to pass the Senate over the Gov? ernors veto. The chief sin of the Legislature was the extravagance with which money was spent for clerk hire, furniture, and incidental j expenses. The cost of the last session was nearly ten times as much as the average cost of the sessions before the war. As an Ulustration of where the money went to, it is related that one membe ?? bought a pair of hones and paid the owner by giving him an order on the Trea? sury for pay as a committee clerk, and that others furnished themselves with gold watches and chains in a like manner inexpensive to themtelves. i But it is against three or four of the Stateoffi cers that the auger of the tax-dayers is especi? ally: directed. When the State Government went into operation in 1868, the onlv capital of j its members was their influence with i'.he negro voters, and they carried all their tan fable for? tunes upon their backs. Now they live in fine mansions, drive fast horses, buy raiboads, es? tablish banks, and give every sign of possessing wealth. In commercial communities, where riches are often rapidly acquired, such a sudden , rise to fortune would not attract so.much atten? tion ^.suspicion; but to understand the effect it makes upon the public temper here, it must be remembered that the people of South Caro? lina are very-poor, that nearly all the fortunes once pos3esseu by them were wrecked by the war, that many who once lived in luxury are now.reduced to actual povertv, and that the old proud planters have nothing left but t'aeir bar ren acres, which scarcely produce enough to feed them. In these pinching days of adversi? ty, a thong of unknown men come out of the country of their recent enemies to seize upon all the places in the Government by the aid of negro votes. No doubt a large share of the wealth of these men was acquired by what would be looked upon in New York as legiti? mate speculation, but here few make such dis? tinctions* The South Carolina planters know little about speculating: their fortunes used to be in lands and slaves. Wealth was slowly ac? quired, and was always an evidence of respecta? bility and good/family; men who made money rapidly were suspected, and the speculative in? stinct was one of the Yankee traits which they most despised. These planters now find them? selves poor, their taxes enormously increased, their State debt much augmented, and the State officers suddenly risen from poverty to afflu? ence. Their wrath is naturally great at all this. The tax-payers do not rest their case, how? ever, on general assertions of corruption, but obey make specific charges against some of the officers, aud these charges are repeated and en? dorsed by many respectable Republicans out of office. Perhaps the most serious of the charges refer to tho public land. Bonds to the amount of $700,000 were sold, and the proceeds applied to purchasing land for the State with the pur? pose of reselling it on long credit and in small tracts to colored men, as a charitable underta? king. A Land Commissioner was appointed, with numerous deputies. It turns out that the utmost value of tho land purchased is not $200,000, and that all the rest of the money went into the pockct3 of the Commissioners and sonic of tho members of a Supervisory Board, consisting of certain State officers. One man made $90,000 on a single purchase. He bought a tract of land for $30,000, agreeing with the owner that the deed should be made for $120,000, drew the money from the treasury, paid the owner and pocketed the difference. In some cases land was bought in which there were unsatisfied mortgages, to its full value, and the money drawn-to pay the mortgages has disappeared. It is alleged that a systematic process has been carried en by certain State officers of "sweating" claims against the State ?that is, refusing and delaying payment until claimants, wearied by tho delay, would sell their claims at a heavy discount to brokers, who divided the profits with the officials.? 1 Doubtful claims have been brought up and safe ' sequently made redeemable at par by legisla? tive enactments. The same persons also made a large sum by purchasing the bills of the old State Bank for almost nothing, and then get? ting an Act passed funding them at par. In other places the transaction would be thought a legitimate speculation,-but tho South Caroli? na planter is not of this opinion, and invaria? bly characterizes it as "apiece of d?d ras? cality." I do not wish to give the impression that all the State officers are bad men. There are somo eminent exceptions?men whoso motives are pure and whose hands are clean of bribes; but, as a rule, tho officers are not of a class that would be trusted with official responsibility in any Northern community outside of New York City. They came to the surface-at a time when it was etoly necessary for a white man in South Carolina to say he was a Republican and wanted an office, to get one. Such men were so scarce then that many were obliged to hold two or three Offices at once. In the tax-payers' movement, which has brought about the con? vention now sitting in this city. I do not be? lieve the white people are actuated in great part by hostility to tho Republican party. ? The nation which produces the most marriages must bo fascination. ? A cockney tourist mot with a Scotch lassie going barofootod toward Glasgow. "Lassie," said ho, "I should like to know if all the peoplo in this part go barefoot? ed ?" "Part of 'em do, and tho rest of 'em mind their own business,*' was tho rather settling roply. ?rr} Fontenello boing asked one day by a lord jn waiting at Versailles what differ? ence there was bctwodh a clock and a woman instantly repliod : "A clock serves to point out tho hours, and a woman to make U6 forget them." ?For ono woman who gots a husband by means of showy dross and costly jew? els, nine fail to got husbands because of the costliness of thoir nttiro and the dis? position and tasto it indicates. ? The duty of railroad companies, not only to carry passengers safely, but also to protect them from annoyance aud insult, has just'been judicially declared in a suit against the Grand Trunk Railway Company in Maine. ? A bill is now before the Pennsylvania Legislature to protect the purity of the primary elections. MINORITY REPRESENTATION. It is sometimes objected to, the system of cu? mulative voting which is now urged by the more thoughtful men of both parties, that it is a surrender of the just powers of the majority, a concession of what is now lawfully and prop? erly held as the prerogative of the party m power. The first answer to such an objection is this: That the situation of our State is such as tode mand concessions which might not be demand? ed under other circumstances. That is a'very narrow and suicidal policy which insists on yielding nothing in such a crisis as this except what can be demanded as a legal, constitution? al right. That is mere partisanship, not patriot? ism. It is literally "giving up to party what was meant for mankind." We must make any concessions which will tend to produce peace in our State and which can be made without a surrender of principle. The principles of the National Republican party must never be surrendered; but in the present anomalous condition of our people the call is loud for some wise plan which shall give to the property and educatiern 1 or" our State a large voice in. public affairs. What is our form of government?. It is a Representative Democracy. What is the es tential idea of Representation ? It is the col? lection of the aggregate will of the people, the whole community of those who have the right to vote. Does the rule which permits one hundred and one men out of two hunc red to hold all the political power of a community carry out that essential idea ? Plainly not. ft is in truth un republican, a denial of all voice in public af? fairs to ninety-nine out of two hundred. Cu? mulative voting removes this evil and injustice, and gives to the ninety-nine, not the power of one hundred and one; but a power proportion? ed to their number. If cumulative voting be, therefore, a concession, it is a concession to jus? tice, to political equality,.to true Republican representation. But have our critics or objectors ever thought that this is one of those wholesome rules which "work both ways?" Have.they reflected that if it reduces our party power in some counties of our State, it correspondingly increases our" power in other Counties? If Charleston and Beaufort will no longer under the new rule, be represented solely by Re? publicans, neither will Greenville and Spartan burg be represented solely by Democrats. Those counties where now every Republican vote is thrown away, will there oe represented in part by Republicans, and thus all local interests and peculiar wants will be fairly represented and cared for. But take a broader view, and look a little farther into the future. The vicissitudes of po? litical parties are .proverbial. The ups and downs of individual. politicians are scarcely more remarkable than those of great parties. Complete political Revolutions are accomplish- j ed in a very few years. Our own party is not I exempt from this law. The Republican party will endure, we trust, until its principles are imbedded in the law, the conscience and the habits'of all our people. If new issues shall arise we hope it will move on in the same grand work, and so live forever. But is it not to be doubted that its ascendancy may sooner or la? ter be broken. Now, we say to all our friends that the just and true rule of representation which we grant to our political opponents in our day of power will be our protection and shield and hope when the day of our party de? feat shall come. Then, instead of having no voice, simply because we have lost the majori? ty, we shall have all the power and influence to which our number will entitle us. We deny, of course, that cumulative voting will tend to destroy .onr party ascendancy. On the contrary it will only tend to secure it,?for it will check the recklessness of party legisla tion and introduce the wholesome influence of an able and significant opposition. But in addition to this, it will protect us-in the day of political adversity, which will soon? er or later come to us-as it has come to all oth? er parties.?Charleston Daily Republican. OBSTRUCTING TUE FISHERIES. This subject having been referred by the Legislature of the State, at its last session, to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, the Act iug Commissioner applied to the Attorney General of the State, as to his powers and du? ties in the premises. The following reply of that otlicer, which is as explicit as emphatic, is pub? lished for the information of our readers: Office of the Attorney General, Columbia, S. C, May 15,1871. John Heart, Eng., Acting Commissioner Bureau Agricultural Statistics. Dear Sir : Your note of the 6th inst. has been before me for several 'days, awaiting an opportunity for reply. An examination of tho statutes of the State since 1870 will show that the State has sought to protect, in the amplest manner, the great interest of all her citizens in the free postage of migratory fish in all her inland creeks, bays and rivers. A series of general and special enactments for the past ninety years attests thin desire and purpose on the part of the State. By one of these Acts, all obstructions to the free passage of fish are declared public nuisances, and any citizen or citizens are authorized to summarily abate them. The greater part of the older Acts upon this subject are still of force, but two more recent enactments prescribe anew the laws which govern thes,e cases. By a joint resolution of the General Assem? bly, passed January 16,1870, a bo&rd of Fish Commissioners are authorized, and their duties ] defined. These are: 1. To inspect all inland streams and report what obstructions ought to be removed, or what impurities are allowed to flow into streams where fish are found. 2. To report all violations of the fish laws to the Solicitors of the several circuits of the State. The Solicitors are, by the same resolution, directed to prosecute all, persons reported by the Fish Commissioners. "This gives the ful? lest power to enforce all existing laws, and, as I have said, the laws then existing were very full and complete for that purpose. I can hard? ly conceive of a case which is not covered by the various Acts passed prior to 1868. But. at the last session of the Legislature an Act was passed which fully re-enacts the leading feat? ures of former laws, and again offers the fullest means for the complete protection of our mi? gratory fish. The first section of this Act for? bids any. permanent obstruction of any kind whatever in any of the inland waters of the State, to the free migration of fish; and further provides for a "close time" in each week, from Saturday night to Monday morning, and any person violating the provisions of this section is made liable to a fine of twenty dollars for every offence. The second section of this Act. requires all manufacturing companies, or per? sons erectiug dams, to provide suitable fishways, and renders them liable to a fine of $5,000 for failure or refusal to comply with this require? ment. The third section of this Act makes it an indictable offence to cause to flow, or to be cast into the inland waters of the State, any substance poisonous or destructive to fish, and attaches to the ofience as penalty a fine of not less than $500, or imprisonment for not less than six months. This law is now of force and is supplemented by many of the provisions of formor laws, which are also of force, and, lam sure, that as Commissioner of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, you _ could hardly ask for more complete legal facilities for carrying out tho duties of your office. You have only to ascertain auy violations of the foregoing laws, and report them to tho Solicitor:, of the several circuits wherein they occur. In addition to this, I shall be glad, at any time, to give you any farther aid in my power in rendering your administration of this branch of' your ofbcial duty effective and useful. Yours, very respectfully, D. H. CHAMBERLAIN, Attorney General. GREAT INDUCEMENTS FOB CASH! Buy Your Goods From m IHAVE jusj received a full and complete as? sort mcnt of GOODS, suited to the" 8BA80K and TIMES, consisting of Staple Dry Goods, Fancy Dress Goods, White Goods sad Notions, Boote, Shoes, Hate, i-c, kc I also keep a choice stock of FAMILY GROCERIES, Such as Sugar, Coffee; Flour; Bacon, Lard, Syrup, Rice, Salt, and everything usually kept in a fiat class Grocery Store, which I am prepared to sail as CHEAP as anybody in' this part ?f the cob a try. My stock of IRON, HARDWARE .. . -AND ..' " ? BUGGY MATEHI?LS, Is also as good as will be found in the up-coun? try, and they will b? sold at moderate prices, for Cash. . 7 We are always glad to see our friends, and* will take pleasure in showing our Goods, whether they bey or not. ! C.A. REED, Anderson; S. C. April 6, 1871 40 : ; 3m POLICY HOLD ESST LIFE AND TONTINE 29 B20AD ST., CHARLESTON, S. C. wit. McBurney, ? geo. e. boggs, President. Secretary. E. P. ALEXANDER, JOHN T. DARBY, Vice Pres. and Actuary. Medical Ad vise*. IT is under the management of men of well known integrity and ability. It is a PURELY MUTUAL COMPANY,, man? aged entirety in the interests of its Policy Holders. It is a strictly 'CASH Company, avoiding the CREDIT system which is at best expensive, com? plicated, and often deceptive, and is being aban? doned .by the best Companies in the North. : In the three-most important points of manage? ment, to wit:''Per cent age of "realized" asset*, prudence in selection of risks, and economy, the Policy Holders' has no equal among the Compa? nies doing business in South Carolina, not excep? ting two of the leading New York Companies. . Insure in the only Company in the State, and keep your money at "Home." B. F. CRAYTON & SONS, Local Agents, Anderson, S. C, April 6, 1871 40. lm. LADIES' STORE, BRICK RANGE, One Door above Post Office. ANDERSON C. H., S. C. Miss CO. Daniels HAS lately returned from New York with a fine selection of LADIES* DR'ESS GOODS, including HATS, BONNETS, TRIMMINGS, &o.r of the best and latest styles. CUTTING and DRESS MAKING attended to as nsnal. Hoping that she may continue to merit the patronage of her old customers, she respectfully solicits them to call and examine her goods and prices. Chickens, Eggs, Butter,, &c, taken inexchaage for goods. April'6, 1871 40 8 Advance the Manufacturing Interests OF THE SOUTH!' MHELDMAN & CO. having just received ? from Baltimore a large and well-selected stock of Solo Leather, French Calf Skins, &c, and having employed competent workmen; are pre? pared to manufacture all kinds of BOOTS AND SHOES Suitable to the tastes and purposes of every one. They would call the attention of the fashionable to their GAITER STOCK. Orders will be prompt? ly filled, and all work warranted. Tho public are> requested to call and judge for themselves. ??y Shop, up-srairs, over the' Harness and Saddle Manufactory of M. Heldmann. M. HELDMANN & CO. April 20, 1871 42 WAVERLY HOUSE, Anderson, Si C. JOHN A. MATES, Proprietor. THE WAVERLY HOUSE has been repaired and fitted up, and has now a magnificent ap? pear ance. Mr. Mayes is lately of Abbeville, anc? is well known as a good Hotel keeper. ThefTouso has been newly furnished, and has all the modem improvements and comforts, and will give the best the country affords in way of fare, which will be served up in the best of style. I Stop and see us, and you will be well treated. March 23, 1871 88 Greenville & Columbia Railroad. Coluxdu, a C, March 1,1S7L. ON and after this dato, the following Schedule will be run daily, Sundays excepted, connecting with Night Trains on South Carolina Road, up and down, also wHht Trains going North and South ou Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad: UP TRAIN. Leave Columbia.-.7.00 a.m. " Alston... 9.10 a. m. " Kcwl>e> ry.?.11.15 a. m. " Cokesbnry.?'..3.00 p.m. " Belton-.-.?._.5.00 p.m. Arrive Anderson?-.6.00 p. m. " st ?recnvllle.t......... 6.30 p. m. DOWN TRAIN. Loavo Greonville.,.0.15 a. m.' " Anderson._.6.45 a. m. " Belton._8.04 a. m. M Cokcsbury.M.10.07 a. m. " Abbeville.-. S.15 a. m. M Newberry.- 1.50 p.m. " Alston_.- 4.05 p. m. Arrive Columbia..a.6.55 p. m. M. T. BARTLETr, General Ticket Agent. March ?, 1811 36 WATCHES, CLOCKS AND JEWELBY FOR SALE AT LOW FIGURES. ALL kinds of Watches, Clocks and Jewelrw neatly and carefully repaired at the old staud of W. K. HARRIS. Having bad a practi? cal experience of six years in the trade, is confi? dent of giving entire satisfaction. All repairing warranted for twelve months. West end Masonic Building. J.i A. DANIELS. April 13, 1871 41