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HOYT & CO., Proprietors. ANDERSON 0. H., S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 13, 1873. VOLUME VHT.?NO. 36. Treasurer Cardoza on the Financial Situation. The Charleston Courier publishes an interest? ing account of a recent interview with the State Treasurer, from which we make the fol? lowing lengthy extract, embracing the most important points developed at the said inter? view: Reporter. Do you think the present Legisla? ture as extravagant as that of last year ? The Treasurer. No, I do not The appropri? ations for the present session for legislative ex- j penses amount to $260,000; last year they amounted to $580,000, of which $350,000 was I for that session, and $230,000 for the deficien-1 cies of 1 he previous session. The greatest saving, however, is in the appropriations for printing, but $125,000 having been allowed for that this year, while at least three times that amount was appropriated for the year before. Reporter. What do you think of the "bills * payable?" The Treasurer. In the late Treasurer's report the amount of bills payable that remain unpaid is placed at $230,000. By the report of the . Committee appointed by the General Assembly the amount is stated to be $260,000. There is a clear dhTerenec of $30,000; by no means an insignificant item, and moreover there are re ports out of bills payable having been issued op to the time of the report of the Committee. Reporter. By what authority were these bills issued? The Treasurer. By authority of the Act of March 4th, 1872, to make appropriations to pay the per diem and mileage of the members of the General Assembly. The Act appropri? ates $230,000 for that purpose, $100,000 for that session, and $130,000 for deficiencies for the previous session. But this Act which author? ized the Treasurer to borrow money, contained a proviso that no more than the amount stated should be borrowed. The Treasurer found that he couldn't borrow the money, so he took up the certificates and issued bills payable to the amount of $400,000. ^For by his report it ap? pears that $170,000 of these bills have been paid, and $230,000 remain still unpaid. Reporter. It appears then that there is a clear over-issue ? The Treasurer. Clearly so. The late Treas? urer certainly had no authority for issuing that amount. It may he claimed that the Joint Resolution passed at the session of .71- 72 au? thorized him to borrow a sufficient sum of money to cancel those pay certificates, but we contend, and I believe the Court will so decide, that that resolution should be taken in connec? tion with the Act appropriating $230,000 to pay the members. Reporter. Do you not think that there will be the same extravagance during the present session? The Treasurer. No, sir; I do not I intend to keep my payments as Treasurer strictly with? in the appropriations, and to make no payments except such as are provided for by appropria? tion. THE FINANCIAL AGENT. Reporter. I have seen the report of the Fi? nancial Board, embodying the settlement with j Kimpton. Can you explain that mysterious} document to me? I own that I am somewhat at a loss to comprehend it, and I think the pub? lic are in a similar predicament with regard to it The Treasurer. Well, as you may perceive, the report is only a declaration of the adjust? ment of the balance between Kimpton and the State. It is by no means a clear document Reporter. By that "settlement," is it deter? mined that Kimpton owes the State something, or that the State owes Kimpton a balance. The Treasurer. Kimpton claims that the State owes him a balance of $140,000 for com missions. This he claims to be owing to him personally. It also owes through him, as he claims, $650,000, for which he holds as collat? erals State bonds to the amount of $2,500,000. Of that amount $200,000 in bonds belong to THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. They were deposited with him by a board, consisting of the Governor, Attorney General 'and Secretary of State. They were simply de? posited with him as a trust, and he had no right to use or pledge them. But under the law au? thorizing him to hypothecate any bonds of the State in Iiis possession he pledged them, and claims that the money for which they were pledged must be paid before they are released. Reporter. Well, and the College is to submit to this robbery ? The Treasurer. By no means. I propose to j make every effort to recover these Bonds, and will take legal steps to do so, if necessary. He has also $200,000 of Bonds belonging to the Sinking Funds, and I have no doubt, we will j recover them, also $600,000 of the Blue Ridge Railroad Bonds are in his possession. They were pledged by the Company to the State to secure the loan of $200,000 that the State made to the Company, and which the State gave the Company last winter when it gave $1,800,000 of Scrip. These Bonds were required to be cancelled by that law, and returned to the Treasury. They are now, however, pledged for loans. I presume the Financial Board will, of course, demand these Bonds from Mr. Kimp? ton. You are, no doubt, aware that there are about $3,400,000 of Blue Ridge Railroad Bonds in the Treasury. They were returned to the Treasury when the Scrip was issued. A portion of them are cancelled. A Joint Committee was appointed- at the close of the session to cancel the balance, in accordance' with the law. THE BLUE RIDGE SCRIP. Reporter. Have you an idea as to the ulti? mate value of the Blue Ridge Scrip issued un? der the Act passed at the last session. The Treasurer. I cannot of course undertake to say anything on that subject, as the Question is still before the Courts. Neagle, by his suit asking the Supreme Court to issue a Mandamus requiring the Comptroller General to levy the tax, sought to make himself a preferred cred? itor, and it was only this that we resisted. We are not disposed, and indeed do not intend to levy the tax before the case is decided in the Courts. The question of the constitutionality of the Scrip comes up before the Supreme Court in April, by appeal from the Circuit Court Reporter. But it is claimed that the bona fide holders of the Scrip should not be made to Buffer? The Treasurer. To a certain extent all hold? ers of the scrip are bona fidt holders. The man who bought it on the street at 15 cents on the dollar is a bona fide holder, but he bought it subject to the question of its validity, and must abide the issue. There is a certain class of holders who ought not, in equity, be made to suffer. Mr. Wesley, for instance, of New York. He advanced $350,000 to secure the release of the bonds, and holds one million of the scrip as collateral. I think he ought at least to be paid the money ho advanced, with interest at the rate of 7 per cent., and I under? stand that this is all that he claims. At any rate, I am not prepared to hazard an opinion on the subject until the matter has been finally determined by the Supreme Court. PUTTING A STOP TO SPECULATION. Reporter. What was the point involved in the Mandamus case argued before Judge Car? penter the other day. The Treasurer. It was a very important poin t, and one that, if established, will do much towards helping ns financially in the future. The point made by the Attorney General was that, whenever an officer receives funds from the State, for a particular purpose, he is a trus? tee, holding trust funds, and has no right to take the certificates or warrants to sell them. The history of the case may be briefly stated thus: Governor Scott, while Governor of the State, offered to lend Mr. Stollbrand, Superin? tendent of the Penitentiary, $15,000. It was at a time when all the State Institutions were in a distressing condition for want of funds. Mr. Stollbrand Dorrowed the money, pledging as collaterals six warrants on the Treasury for $5,000 each. As soon as 1 came into office, Mr. Stollbrand came to me und I gave him the money, with which he paid Scott the $15,000 borrowed, together with interest, and claimed the warrants that had been advanced to him as collaterals. Gov. Scott, surrendered three of the warrants, bnt held the other three, claiming that they were forfeited, as the amount had not been paid. Mr. Stollbrand informed me, and requested me not to pay them, and instituted suit for their recovery. In the meantime these same three warrants were presented to me sev? eral times by various parties for payment; L ! still refused. ? Mr. Shiver then had one presented, and upon my refusal to pay it, brought suit to com? pel me to pay. The result of the Attorney General's posi? tion, if sustained, will be the most beneficial in the use of the "School Funds." The County Treasurers, who will get their respective portions of the $300,000 raised for School purposes, will have to show that they have applied this fund to the proper purpose. They will be held to the same accountability, as Trustees in charge of su.ch funds, and if they misapply the money, will be guilty of a breach of trust and embezzlemen t, and will be prose? cuted for it. In this connection the opinion of the Attorney General will do more to restore the county finances to a healthy condition than any act of our Administration. . I should, also, mention that the Attorney General "has already given an opinion to one of the County Treasurers', to the effect that the fnnds of each fiscal year must be applied to the payment of the expenses of that year, and to I no other. . THE SCHOOL TliACHERS. Last year school teacheis' claims were hawk? ed about for twenty-five cents on the dollar. Many.of the County Treasurers loaded them? selves with them at this price, and proposed to take the proceeds of the school funds this year and pay themselves out of them?thus again victimizing the school teachers. They can't do it. Attorney General Melton will prosecute I every one of them that attempts it, for embez? zlement THE taxes. Reporter. Can you tell me what success you have had in the coUecticn of the taxes this year? The Treasurer. There were 15 mills assessed; 12 for State and 3 for County purposes. This levy ought to produce (valuing the real proper? ty of the State at $150,000,000) in round num? bers, $1,800,000. The people have paid prompt? ly nine-tenths of their taxes, but only two thirds have been returned by the County Treas? urers?only $1,200,000 have been turned in to the S uate Treasury. It is more than probable that some of the County Treasurers are hold? ing back the remaining five or six hundred thousand dollars with the idea of speculating in State and County paper and turning it in as I cash, as they were perhaps accustomed to do under the late State Administration. I desire, however, to state right here that I will not al? low this. I do not intend to receive any paper whatever, unless it is a legitimate paper au? thorized by appropriation for the specific pur pose, and if any of the County officers attempt to do this, they will do it at the risk of their official bonds. Reporter. Is it true, as I have heard it sta? ted, that heretofore there have never been col? lected m*ore*than three-fourths of the taxes as? sessed each year? The Treasurer. If yon will take the report of the late Comptroller General for the fiscal year ending October 81, 1872, which states the amount of the taxes assessed and collected, you will notice that there was assessed $1,020,000, while of that amount about $1,002,000 were collected, leaving only about one-sixtieth of the taxes unpaid. I don't think there is any State in the Union, or, indeed, any country in the world that can beat that. Reporter. The statement then is not true. The Treasurer. I don't think it is borne out by the facts and figures in the case. Reporter. Why was the tax levy not passed this year for the next as has been'the custom heretofore. The Treasurer. I am glad you mentioned the subject. We did all in our power to pre? vent it, and for this reason. It is evident that the tax,levied during the present session for the year will not be sufficient. The tax levy amounts only to five mills and the appropria? tions so far made show that there will be a de? ficiency of Irom $300,000 to $400,000. The tax levy qf five mills to. pay the deficiencies of last year,,%fll notcover the entire amount. It was therefore, thought best, to wait until the next November, so that the General Assembly could be accurately informed of the exact amount of deficiencies for the present year, and why the deficiency exists?that is, whether they exist from a.misapplication of the public funds or from the insufficiency of the tax levy. Having satisfied themselves they can go to work and make their levy. The appropriations for this year amount to fully a million dollars, while the tax levy of five mills for the expenses of the current year will not raise over $700,000. I propose to have my report laid upon the desks of the members on the first day of the next ses? sion, whether, the Comptroller's report is ready or not, and the General Assembly will be in? formed of the exact condition of the finances. The Human Eye.?Many tender and beau? tiful things have been said of the eyes; yet how inferior to the sweet things uttered by them? selves ! A full eye seems to.bave been esteemed the most expressive. Such was the eye that enchained the soul of Pericles. The American writer, Haliburton, declares that he would not give a piece of tobacco for the nose, except to tell when a dinner is good; nor a farthing for the mouth, except as a kennel for the tongue ; but the eye?study that, and you will read any man's heart as plain as a book. If there is any feature in which genius always shows itself, it is the eye, which nas been aptly called the "in? dex of the soul." ? A negro boy of eight years has a picture primer to teach him his lessons. One of the pictures is that of a bull chasing a boy, which the little fellow watches from day to day, glee? fully exclaiming, "He hasn't cotched hiin yet?" ? "Did any body ever see such wet weather afore in all the born days of his life?" asked one countryman of another. "Noah," was the reply. 1 From the Rural Carolinian for March. Immigration and Labor. No two subjects are discussed with greater contrariety of opinion throughout the South than those of Immigration and Labor. Imnii Sration! Why, many agriculturists dream reams of coffers full as the result of turning the tide Southward from the Old World, every immigrant being with them a skillful laborer, who has only to be imported to make our waste places blossom as the rose. And what of Labor? Why, nothing but change the color of the laborers skin, and de? pression bids adieu to the land, and the Sonny South robes herself in the verdure of a modern Eden. But others believe the flow of immigration a stream of doubtful fertility, carrying along in its current a muddy solution, that leaves a poi? sonous sediment; and advocate the existing labor of the South as incomparably the best for her present employers. Many "ife" and "ands" can be attached to either of the two positions. The South wants population, but if that population be people with more brawn than Drain, we are better off without them. Labor is not scarce enough in the South to demand an influx of immigrants to supply the defi? ciency. The South needs capital more than laborers, and hence men of money, be their funds pence or pounds, should be invited to and settle amongst us; and all such who invest in real estate should be met with a welcome, and offered an inducement, come whence they may. The simpta hireling, with naught but muscle to commend him, would be wiser to stay away than to come. No day laborer can compete with the negro in the employment of the former slave-owner, or in the cultivation of Southern staples. The wants of the negro laborer are a wa rm back and a full belly.? These supplied, and he is capable of wonderful endurance. The wants of the white laborer are manifold, and sometimes cannot be sup Elied at the South. Fresh meat as a daily diet e requires, and tais cannot be had at all times in summer. Sugar, coffee, flour, and a feather bed, are as necessary to his contentment, as they are superfluities in the rations of the ne fro laborer. Every Southern born plauter nows these are fects, and for this reason he should depend upon the labor to which he has always been accustomed. Much complain; is urged against the negro, because he is treacherous and ungrateful, ana idle, and worthless, generally. Be it so. His is more than this. He is ignorant, and he is an inferior being to those amongst whom Prov? idence has cast hiii lot Were this not so, we of the South would owe him a debt of grati? tude more valuable than freedom itself for his docility, fathfulness and quiet, from 1861 to 1866. Imagine the position of the two races reversed in those years of strife. and trial, and who could have foretold the consequences ? But does any Southern planter know that the hirelings of our own race are any less treacherous, any more worthy, or any more in? dustrious than the negro? The native born whites who have 1 ved to maturity without ac? cumulating property in the past, will never do so in the future, and as a class, are the most objectiouable employees. The better class of immigrants who come to America in search of happiness or wealth, seldom delay in the East? ern cities, but move directly westward where Government lands can be bought for a song, or purchased for the "squatting;" and such people generally make valuable citizens, and add wealth to the country in which they settle. But in their wake lows the tide of those hum? bler in life, who come here either because they can or must come, and who are too ignorant to have any definite purpose in view. They have heard America wan a free country, and with them freedom and license mean the same thing. The most worthies) of this class generally eke out an existence where they land, unless pinch? ing poverty drives them Southward or to North? ern almshouses. Many of them, however, move by fair means or foul westward, stopping here for a job, and there for a week, ultimately aiming to secure that "forty acres" without the mule, which Uncle Sam has promised them on his Western frontier. So constant and regular is this westward current, that in many por? tions of the North and Northwest, farm la? borers are exceedingly scarce, and ten-fold more irre liable than our colored laborers. They frequently engage for a month, payable weekly, and at Saturday night, on receipt of the first week's wages, they bundle up and are off before Sunday morning. This greatly discourages planters, who, though abundantly supplied at the pitching, have but little idea whence is to come the labor to cultivate the crops. "To set up for myself" is the idea, and of course this can ouly be done without money where lands have no marketable value. From one-fifth to more than one-half the population of several of the Northwestern States are actual immigrants, and wherever these people have congregated in greatest numbers wealth hes accumulated most rapidly; for this reason many superficial thinkers assert, if we only had such an influx southward for a few years we would, grow immensely wealthy, and almost instantaneously prosperous. Such is not the case, however. A sudden increase of population in a community peculiarly agri? cultural, where the staple product is food for neither man nor b-iast, would create an army of consumers that would impoverish the land and revolutionize the entire system of agricul? ture. Grain-growing and stock-raising coun? tries can, therefore, be enriched by the same process that would impoverish a cotton coun? try. Food being cheap, labor must be cheap, hence the better means of building railroads, establishing factories, exhuming minerals, and otherwise developing the material resources of the country. But had the Pou .h this incessant stream of immigration we would be ruined. Cotton is essentially the product of the South, and in these latter days experience has taught the world, that the successful cultivation of this crop is a science ouly appreciated by Southern born planteis and their former slaves. The cultivation of cotton by immigrants, either for themselves or as "helps" would result in fail? ure. I may be asked, do we not need immigrants? Most surely we do: but not such a stream, nor generally such a c'.ass as pours annually into the Northwest. We need those foreigners who not only know hov/ to work, but who will bring with them the profits of their past labors or something to invest in real estate on their ar? rival in this country. There are no govern? ment lands here to be squatted upon, and our people in their poverty cannot see ultimate wealth in giving away half the little they own. From such a policy no good would result. But there are many obstacles in the way of introducing that class of foreigners, who would, by their purchase aud actual settlement, be? come identified with the South, and become employers of the labor already here in abun? dance, could it be utilized. Wo have too many canting farmers as well as thieving poli? ticians in our mid^t. While many are deluded by a long deferred hope of better times, they I cry out at every turn poverty, poverty, and 1 never once throtlle this intruder and try to ! drive him from their doors by going energeti? cally to work. Too many, again, have ex? changed the profession of agriculture for the bar, (?) the counter and the idler's stool. "We are poor," is a sort of siren song whistled and sung by old and young throughout the laud, and yet every one asserts there is more mouey in cotton than any plant that grows; and all plant cotton. Singular condition of things! as much money can be made from an acre of I cotton in the South, as from any other plant rown any where in the world. I knew three ales made on an acre in 1872. But cotton planters are all poor; why so ? The fact of the matter is, we are so ignorant, that we can? not appreciate anything but our poverty. One half the world doesn't know how the other half lives. We scarcely know how we live ourselves. Nature has done so much for us, we care to do but little for ourselves. We are concerned about nothing but the next cotton crop, and fur extravagance induces us to spend the half of that before it is made. We seldom practice economy, and so infatuated are we with the cotton prospect, that every man is a cotton planter, and each thinks himself the best in the land. With one breath we decry our country, with the next we extol it to heaven. Many, too many of us, hanker after the flesh-pots of ante bellum times, without properly buffeting the hardships of the present. We blame others, when we ourselves are to blame. We placard in every newspaper the corruption of our rulers, and grumble in thun? der tones that echo across tne Atlantic?our country is ruined. What inducement is all this to capitalists, or worthy immigrants, to come and settle amongst us ? Says one, I will give the half of my land to actual settlers. Another is willing to sell at a very low figure; while a third is willing to lease for any number of years. All such assertions are simply the evidences of spasmodic generosity, and will never benefit the utterer nor the country a dime. If we desire immigration, we must act, and not only speak. We mu3t beautify and ornament our homes; make them attractive to ourselves and our children, and they will be? come attractive to others. We must study con? tentment, and create the impression abroad, that this is not only a fertile aud productive country, but a happy one. This much effected, we will no longer need the aid of Immigration Societies, who at best are of doubtful benefit, for they introduce isolated families of helpless and often worthless creatures, that come as if to a place of punishmeut when they land amongst us. But our attractions will speak for themselves, and buyers will, at no distant day, be on hand for every acre of land thrown upon the market. D. WYATT ALKEN. State Agricultural and Mechanical Society. In pursuance of a resolution passed at the meeting of the State Agricultural and Mechan? ical Society, in December last, the spring meet? ing of the Society will be held in Charleston, on the first Tuesday in May next, begiuning at 11 o'clock, a. m. The place of meeting and programme of proceedings will be published iu the Charleston papers of that date. The following subjects have been selected for discussion at that meeting, and the names at? tached are the appointees, who will be expected to opeu the debate on the respective subjects: The culture of upland rice as a staple pro? duction in South Carolina?Gco. T. Wicks, Bichland. The comparative advantages of labor-saving machinery and their adaptability to Southern labor and products?M. L. Donaldson, Green? ville. Ploughing?its effects upon different soils at different seasons?John A. Furnian, Sumter. The cheapest fertilizer, whether domestic or commercial, and the most economical or com? mercial, and the most economical time and method of its application?Paul S. Felder, Orangeburg. Is an exclusive .cotton crap good policy for any single farmer or planter in South Caroli? na ??W. M. Shannon, Kershaw. The most economical method of wintering stock?Thomas Y. Moore, Spartanburg. Is South Carolina in greater need of labor or of capital??James McCutchen, Williarasburg. With cheap lands and inefficient labor, is the farmer better remunerated by superficial or high farming ??R. M. Sims, York. The above named gentlemen are earnestly requested to attend the May meeting of the So? ciety, and be prepared to open the discussion with essays upon the subjects respectively as? signed them. By order. T. W. WOODWARD, President. D. Wyatt Aiken, Secretary. A Few Moee Words ok Fences.?In Geor? gia and South Carolina there are 86,647,008 rods of fencing of the style known as the worm fence, Virginia fence aud zigzag fence. In planters language, they are generally given from five to six foot crook. The jagged corners keep everything except briars and weeds at a respectful distance. In by-gone days some very nice planters worked up into the fence jams, but lattcrlv I have not seen a fence with the work carried" immediately up to it. It will be within bounds to say that our worm fences, covered 8\ feet of ground, this would make every rod cover 136J square feet, or the 320th part of an acre?136Jx320=43,560 square feet, the number of square feet in an acre. Divide the number of rods by the number to one acre and we have the astounding quotient of 270, 771 2-5 acres of land in Georgia and South Carolina covered by fences. The statistics of fencing published in the report of the Depart? ment of Agriculture of 1871 put down the num? ber of acres fenced in Georgia at 11,035,877, at a cost of $45,191,916, over lour dollars per acre for the cost of timber, hauling and putting up; "all the actual elements of costs is used in cal? culating the total cost of farm-fencing," says the report. This does not take into considera? tion the value of the land occupied by the fences. In South Carolina the number of acres fenced is 5,284,224 at a cost of $21,136,896, again a fraction over four dollars per acre. Add to this the value of the land covered by the fencing and the farmer can see how extremely be is taxed by fencing. At four dollars per acre average for land (some of it being in swampy places,) it will increase the cost of fencing $1,083,084 in the two States. So far as these figures go but one conclusion can be j reached. The time it takes to do this work I regard as the most important feature, land aud rails being in many localities still very cheap, although fast being destroyed. The time and money a renter willspond in fencing would build him a good log house, and if there was a sub? stantial and general cattle law and no fences all planters could sleep soundly, so far as dam? age from "unlawful cattle" was concerned. ? Are blacksmiths who make a living by forging, or carpenters who do a little counter fitting, any worse thau men who sell irou and steel for a living? ? The man who returned his neighbor's borrowed umbrella was seen a day or two ago, walking in company with a young lady who ?asscd a looking glass without taking a peep, t is believed thoy arc engaged. [ Inaugural Address of President Grant. Fellow-Citizens: Under Providence, I have been called a second time to act as Execu? tive over this great nation. It has been my en? deavor in the past to maintain all the laws, and, so far as lay in my power, to act for the best interests of the whole people. My best efforts will be ?iven in the same direction in the future; aided, I trust, by my four years' experience in the office. When my first term of office of Chief Executive began, the country had not recovered from tae effects of a great internal revolution, and three of the former States of the Union had not been restored to their Federal relations. It seemed to me that no new questions should be raised, so long as that condition of affairs existed. Therefore, the past four years, so far as I could control events, have been consumed in the effort to re? store harmony, public credit, commerce, and all the arts of peace and progress. It is my firm conviction that the civilized world is tending toward republicanism, or gov? ernment by the people, through their chosen representatives; and that our own great repub? lic is destined to be the guiding star to all oth? ers. Under our republic, we support an army less than that of any European power of any standing, and a navy less than that of either of at least five of them. There could be no exten? sion of territory on this continent which could call for an increase of this force; but rather might such extension enable us to diminish it. The theory of government chatfges with gen? eral progress. jSow that the telegraph is made available for communicating thought, together with rapid transit by steam, all parts of a con? tinent are more contiguous for all purposes of government, and communication between the extreme limits of the country made easier than it was throughout the old thirteen States, at the beginning of our national existence. The effects of the late civil strife have been to free the slave and make him a citizen ; yet he is not possessed of the civil rights which cit? izenship should carry with it. This is wrong, and should be corrected. To this correction I stand committed, so far as executive influence can avail. Social equality is not a subject to be legislated upou ; nor shall I ask that any? thing be done to advance the social status of the colored man, except to give him a fair chance to develop what there is good in him. Give him access to schools; and when he trav? els, let him feel assured that it is his conduct that will regulate the treatment that he will re? ceive. The States lately at war with the Gen? eral Government are now happily rehabilitated, and no Executive control is exercised in any one of them that would not be exercised in any other State under like circumstance?. In the first year of the present administra? tion, the proposition came up for the admission of Santo Domingo as a Territory of the Union. It was not a questiou of my seeking, but was a proposition from the people of Santo Domingo; and which I entertained. I believe now as I did then?that it was the interest of this coun? try, the people of Santo Domingo, and all con? cerned, that the proposition should be received favorably. It was, however, rejected, constitu? tionally ; and, therefore, the subject was never brought up again by me. In the future, while I hold my present office, the subject of the ac? quisition of territory must have the support of the people before I will recommend any propo? sition looking to such acquisition. I say here, however, that I do not share in the apprehen? sion held by many as to the danger of the Gov? ernment becoming weakened and destroyed by reason of its extension of territory. Commerce, education, and rapid transit of thought and mat.vT by telegraph and steam, have changed ali this. Rather do I believe that our Great Master is preparing the world, in his own good time, to become one nation, speaking one lan? guage, and when armies and navies will be no longer required. My efforts in the future will be directed to the restoration of good feeling between the dif? ferent sections of our common country; to the restoration of our currency to a fixed value, as compared with the world's standard of values ?gold?and, if possible, to a par with it; to the construction of cheap routes of transit through the land, to the end that the products of all sections may find a market, and leave a living remuneration to the producer; to the maintenance of friendly relations with all our neighbors and with distant nations; to the re establishment of our commerce and our share in the carrying trade upon the ocean; to the encouragement of such manufacturing indus? tries as can be economically pursued in this country, to the end that the exports of home products and industries may pay for our im? ports?the only sure method of returning to and permanently maintaining a specie basis; to the elevation of labor; and by a humane course, to bring the aborigines of the country under the benign influences of education and civilization. It is either this or a war of exter? mination. Wars of extermination engaged in by people pursuing commerce and all industrial pursuits, are expensive, even against the weak? est people, and are demoralizing the wicked. civilization should make us leuient towards the Indian. The wrong already inflicted upon him should be taken iuto account, and the balance placed to his credit. The moral view of the question should be considered, and the ques? tion asked, cannot the Indian be made a useful and productive member of society, by proper teaching and treatment? If the effort is made in good faith, we will stand better before the civilized nations of the earth and iu our own consciences for having made it. All these things are not to he accomplished by one indi ual; but they will receive my support, and such recommendations to Congress as will, in my judgment, best serve to carry them into ef? fect. I beg your support and encouragement. It has been and is my earnest desire to cor? rect the abuses that have grown up in the civil service of the country. To secure this reforma? tion, rules regulating the methods of appoint? ment and promotion were established, and have been tried. My effort* for such reformation shall be continued, to t'.. 3st of my judgment. The spirit of the rules adopted will be main? tained. I acknowledge, beforo this assemblage, repre? senting as it does every section of our country, the obligation I am under to my countrymeu for the great honor they have couferred on me, ? by returning me to the highest office within | their gift; aud the further obligation resting on mc to render to them the best services within my power. This I promise, looking forward with the greatest anxiety to the day when I shall be released from the responsibilities that, at times, are almost overwhelming, and from which I have scarcely had a respite since the eventful firing upon Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, to the present day. My services were then tendered and accepted, under the first call for troops, growing out of that event. I did not ask for place or position,'and was entirely without influence, or the acquaintance of per? sons of influence, but was resolved to perform my part in a struggle threatening the very ex? istence of the nation. 1 performed a conscien? tious duty, without asking promotion or com? mand, and without a revengeful feeling to? wards any section or any individual. Notwith? standing this, throughout the war, and from Our superiority of strength my candidacy for my present office, in 1868, to the close of the last Presidential campaign, I have been the subject of abuse and slander scarcely ever equalled in political history; which, to-day, I feel that I can afford to disre? gard, in view of your verdict, which I grate? fully accept as my vindication. Washington News and Gossip. Washington, March 5. The dense crowd that has thronged the city for the last two days is gradually disappearing. The hotels are still thronged, and the interest now centers in the action of the Senate, which convenes again to-morrow. The seating of Senator Patterson seems to be satisfactory to every one from South Carolina, and he is cor? dially received by his brother Senators. The subject of the change in the Federal appoint? ments South occasion a great deal of discussion, and it seems to be the general impression that a change will be made. I There is much speculation relative to the Cabinet, founded on the mere report that re? cently the members of it have formally ten? dered their resignation ; this necessitating new nominations to the Senate. The question about the Cabinet, however, was settled last fall, soon after the re-election of President Grant. At a Cabinet meeting, all the members being present, theyinformed him that, wishing to do nothing whatever to embarrass him in his administration, they would tender their resignations, to take effect on the 4th of March ensuing. The President expressed his thanks for their friendly feelings, and informed them that he bad no desire for auy one of them to withdraw from their present positions, but preferred they should all remain. Nothing has since occurred to change the position of affairs as it existed at that time. The only immediate change will be in the Secretaryship of the Treasury, should the present incumbent be elected to the Senate of the United States. The opinion that the President need not re nominate the present members of the Cabinet for confirmation by the Senate, is strengthened by the fact that all of them were at the respec? tive departments to-day, attending to their official duties; and it is said by gentlemen in executive positions that no such nominations will be made. Washington, March 6. The conference report on the post office ap? propriation bill retained the clause inserted by the Senate, excluding absolutely from the mails all free matter, after the 30th of June, 1873. This, of course, cuts off all free newspaper exchanges and all free mail delivery of country newspapers. In the Senate, Mr. Spencer, of Alabama, signified his intention of taking the oath. Mr. Bayard objected to Spencer being sworn in. He said that it was known that there were doubts as to the legality of the election under which the credentials of Mr. Spencer came to the Senate. The credentials of another gentle? man claiming to be elected Senator from Ala? bama, Mr. Sykes, were on the table, and he objected to Mr. Spencer being sworn iu until his credentials were passed upon by a commit? tee of this body. Mr. Hand in said the custom was to swear in a Senator whose credentials were in regular form, and then, if there were any questions as to the legality of bis election, tbey could be decided upon without prejudice to any one. This had been the precedent. Mr. Bayard moved that the credentials of Mr. Sykes and of Mr. Spencer be laid on the table, and the question of Mr. Spencer's admission be fiostponed until some future day. Mr. Conk? ing said Mr. Sykes was here solely as a memo? rialist; whereas the credentials of Mr. Spencer were in proper form. He (Mr. C.) held that Mr. Speuccr should uow be sworn in, in accord? ance with the custom and the precedent, and his credentials could then be referred to the Committee on Elections, without any prejudice whatever to his constituents. Mr. Bayard said Mr. Conkling was mistaken in bis assertion that Mr. Sykes was here in the character of a memorialist The credentials of Mr. Sykes are in regular and proper form. As to the pre? cedent in such cases, Mr. B. instanced that Mr. Stark, of Oregon, whose credentials were iu proper form, and for whose seat there was no contest, had not been admitted, but his creden? tials were sent to the Committee on the Judici? ary ; and two years ago, Mr. Goldtbwaite, of Alabama, was objected to ; his credentials were in proper form; there was no contestant what? ever for his seat; yet we all know how long it was before he was admitted to his seat Mr. Bayard then maintained that the record showed that Mr. Spencer's credentials were not in proper form, and it would be an injustice to the people of Alabama if he was admitted without scrutiny. The discussion on the subject was continued by Mr. Thurman and others. Spen? cer's case occupied the Senate the entire day. Resolution of Inquiry.?Senator Bayard, of Delaware, has introduced a resolution for an inquiry as to whether any officer of the army, stationed in South Carolina, has received, or attempted to procure, payment from the State Legislature for services performed iu the Hue of his duty or otherwise, or has been admitted to practice, and has practiced at the bar of the State for bis personal emolument, while receiv? ing pay as an officer of the army; and whether such officer is now ou duty in said State, and detached from his regimeut for any service, and, if so, for what service. This inquiry points to Major Lewis Merrill, who has been in command of the post at York ville, iu this State, for the last two years, and has been conspicuous for his activity in hunt? ing up and arresting Ku Klux, and fur his zeal, in concert with District Attorney Corbin, in having them convicted. He has now, we per? ceive, been relieved of his command of the troops, aud ordered to report to Attorney Gen? eral Williams for service, in connection with pending Ku Klux trials. In this field, Major Merrill will be entirely at home, and, no doubt, a ready and eager auxiliary to the prosecution. The Legislature of South Carolina has ap Sropriated $35,000 as compensation for Major _ lerrill and others, for their services against the Ku Klux. We do not know whether be has received his quota or not; but as be has not only done such service in the field as the Legislature thought should be thus rewarded, but been active in season and out of seasou in getting the appropriation passed, we thiuk it more than likely that he has. It is beyond doubt that he has attempted to procure this payment. It is. equally clear that it was for services perlorraed in the line of his duty, and for which he drew his pay regularly. He has sought to get double pay for his services. It is j also well known that he has been admitted to j practice law in this State? And he has cou i tinued on duty here all the time he was play? ing lobbyist and lawyer, until relieved a few days ago, as stated above. These facts are all known here, and at the service of any commit? tee of investigation.?Columbia Phatnix. ? The compositors of the Louisville Daily Commercial have formed a mutual small-pox insurance company. When one of the num? ber is taken sick with small-pox, the rest each pay him a dollar a week to stay away from the office until he recovers.