The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, January 20, 1876, Image 2

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

JAS, A. HOYT, E. B. HURRAY, >Ed"<>? THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 20th, 1876. DEMOCRATIC CLUBS. We are requested to state that the citi? zens in the vicinity of Centreville Mills propose to organize a Democratic Club _on Saturday^ 20th inak The meeting will take place at eleven o'clock, and every citizen in that neighborhood who desires good government in the State is earnestly requested to attend the meeting and promote the organization. The citizens of Centreville Township are requested to meet at Hunter's Spring school-house on Saturday, 22nd inst., at two o'clock in the afternoon, for the pur? pose.of forming a Democratic Club. Hall Township will meet at Milford's Store on Saturday, 29th inst;, at 11 o'clock,, for the purpose of organizing a Democratic Club, and ali citizens in favor of correct and honest government are cordially invited to lend their assistance in this movement. A call signed by a number of citizens in Honea Path Township respectfully re? quest/; that a meeting be held at Honea Path on Saturday, 20th inst., at 10 o'clock a. m., for the purpose of forming a Democratic Club. The citizens of Brushy Creek Township are respectfully requested to, meet at John P.. Sitten'? on Saturday, 29th inst, at 10 o'clock a. m., to organize a Demo? cratic Club. ?? THE GREENVILLE NEWS. . Our contemporary seems unnecessarily disgruntled at the harmless -ccnurr drum we put to the Columbia Register not long ago. Its dynamitic propensities leads to profanity even, and its claim that the po? litical course of this paper has been in? fluenced in the slightest degree by the Greenville Newt is certainly unique and unapproachable. The self-styled "whip per in" can have free and unlimited ac? cess to the files of the Intelligencer when? ever it suits him to come over, and he Kill be convinced by a perusal that fealty to the Democratic party has been one of our cardinal virtues, even to the abandon? ment of party lines for the sake of har? mony. This was the case in the last campaign, when a conservative mass meeting decided almost unanimously to | ignore party nominations in Anderson County. Hence, its allusions to the el ec tiou of Cochran are entirely gratuitous and unfounded. We were bound by the action of the conservative convention, and neither the Greenville News nor Mr. Cochran can allege that he received any assistance from this quarter in his elec? tion. We advocated the election of hon? est and competent men, and left to the people to decide who filled these require? ment*, in accordance with the sentiment which governed, the convention in de? termining this question for the conserva? tives of Anderson County, From first to last, we have consistently advocated party nominations, and we are not ashamed of the record. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. As the law now stands there is no pen-: alty for illegal voting at municipal elec? tions, and unless there is ft special pro? vision in the charter requiring electors to take an oath as to their qualification for suffrage and designating a person to ad minister sich oath, parties voting illegal? ly cannot even be indicted for perjury. Hence any number of persons who might choose to vote at any municipal election can easily do so, though every one might know they were not entitled to do so, and there wou'd be no chance to punish them. A pliable conscience is the only requisite to fraudulent voting, and there is no chance to meet the ev?'., in consequence of an omission in the election law. Re? cognizing the necessity for a remedy to this omisaion, James L. Orr, Esq., has secured the passage of a bill in the House of Representatives to place municipal elections on the same footing as general or Congressional elections, so that any person voting illegally is liable to indict* ment for ao doing. This bill has gone to the Senate and now awaits the action of that body. We hope it will become a law as it is necessary for the security and order as well as the justice of municipal elections throughout the State. There is no claai of citizens that are not inter? ested in good order and fair dealing at the ballot box, and an except ion at munici? pal elections is dangerous to the interests of all classes. It should be remedied, and Mr. Ore's bill will accomplish the desired* end. The Senate should act promptly upon it THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. The important question raised as to representation of the Third Congressional District, by which Solomon L. H?ge was gerrymandered into a seat in Congress, has attracted fresh attention during the past wee!:. The House committee on privileges, and elections decided to take up the memorial referred, to them on Sat? urday last, and requested the Hon. W. H. Trescot, who represents the memorial? ists, to direct his argument to the point whether the present constitution of the Third Congressional District does not in? volve a re-districting of the entire State, and consequently the unseating of the whole delegation. All the members from South Carolina were notified to be present at the seasibn of the committee, which notice gave much uneasiness to the bal? ance of the members, although it has since transpired that the committee will not undertake to decide the question of unseating the entire delegation, as this part of the question involve-1 was not specially committed to them. On Saturday, at the session of the com? mittee, Mr. Trescot made his argument that the Third Congressional District of South Carolina was not entitled to repre? sentation in Congress, because it was not wholly contiguous in territory, as the county of Richland was not touching any of the remaining counties composing the so-called district. No argument was sub? mitted in behalf of H?ge, who doubtless feels that the facts aro too damaging against his claim to a seat to admit of much argument. Judge Paschal sugges? ted to the committee that the question rabmitUd by Mr. Trescot bean directly Upon the validity of the election in re? gard to all the South Carolina Represen? tatives. If one district is not entitled to representation for want of contiguity, the State has not been legally districted, and the present Legislature must /e-dUtrict and order a new election. The Election Committee decided to take the map as evidence in this contest, which shows that one county is separated twenty-fire miles from the balance of the District, and plainly in violation of the [ act-of.Congress.. The.committee, .how? ever, before taking any decided action, propose to inquire''into j the manner of passing the act.by the Legislature, and if it is clearly established that it was done for preventing representation to the mi? nority, H?ge will be unseated. Tbe. ob? ject of the present arrangement of the Congressional Districts was generally commented upon when the Legislatnre took this means of preventing the elec? tion of a Democrat from South Carolina, and it will not be difficult to Batisfy tbe committee from the records that such was the purpose of the Legislature. The in? troduction of various bills and the delay in districting the State were intended to j meet the desires of the aspirants for Con-1 gressional honors, and it is too plain a case to admit of any doubt that the pur? poses of Mr. H?ge were subserved by attaching Richland to the Third District, for he gave up a lucrative office to. enter j the race for Congress. ? It would not be difficult to establish the object of the General Assembly, moreover, if the re- j cord was searched, and the few Eepnbli- j cans voting against the present airange ment were interrogated as to their rea? sons. Either their own purposes were set aside, or they recogni;ed that this fla? grant disregard of law was too much even for their sanction to be given to such an unwarranted course. The House of Rep? resentatives can easily procure the evi? dence to sustain the allegation that: this effort was mainly to stifle minority repre? sentation, and for that matter every bill introduced since reconstruction has been shaped with this view. The very first action of the Republicans, in taking pos? session of the State, was to Btrike down the arrangement which had existed with? out interruption for many years, by which the upper, tier of counties in South Caro? lina were organized into a Congressional District. Anderson was first disjointed from the rest, and then Pic kens and Oconee were made to follow. Such has been the uniform practice of the Repub? licans, and it is well understood among them that this process of gerrymandering nras intended to secure the entire repre? sentation of the State for their party. Not meeting with any restraint in this course, they were emboldened to a more glaring and palpable violation of the law than ever before, and it is time that the remedy was quickly applied. Congress will do justice to itself and the people in denying representation to South Carolina it this time, and unseating the entire delegation, and at the same time teach, the sap'unt law-makers in Columbia that they are not exactly rulers on this conti? nent yet awhile. THE AMHESTY DEBATE. The proceedings of Congress were en? livened last week by on animated and acrimonious debate upon extending uni? versal amnesty to the citizens of the late insurrectionary States. This was the proposition as it was originally made, bnt the opportunity for making political cap? ital was too easily discerned for such men as Ex-Speaker Blaine to allow it to pass unchallenged. We give the final proceedings in another column, regret- j ting that we have not space for fuller re? ports of the proceedings. The amnesty bill was defeated lost winter by the United States Senate, and the Democratic House of Representa? tives proposed to give another chance for that body to put itself upon record against extending full and free pardon to all ex-Confederates in this centennial period,. when all parties are prating of reconciliation between the sections. We suspect that the Democrats failed to study tbe question in all its aspects, for j when Mr. Blaine proposed to make an exception in the case of Mr. Jefforson Davis, and to exclude that gentleman from the benefits of the amnesty privi? lege, it showed at once that this was not calculated upon by their opponents. Blaine is shrewd, cunning and adroit in debate, and is the recognized leader of the Republicans in the House. His knowledge of parliamentary tactics gives him an immense advantage, and while I he is apparently fair in his dealings with questions, there is a subtle trickery in his actions which make him a danger? ous foe to the Democratic majority. This recent debate proves the truthful? ness of this assertion, for it was his adroitness that brought into play mach of the bitterness which characterized the discussion on both sides. Such was ex? actly suited to his aims and purposes, and the Democratic members were giv? ing him an advantage when they were betrayed into such a wide range of dis? cussion. This is especially true in re? gard to Southern members, and applies with singular force to a prominent rep? resentative of an adjoining State. We allude here to Hon. B. H. Hill, of Georgia, whose speech was brilliant, pow? erful, eloquent and logical, and ye; we are constrained to say it was an egregious blunder. The time and the circumstan ces were not opportune for Mr. Hill to make a speech, and as it was his maiden effort in the halls of the United States Congress, we regret for his own sake, not to speak of the interests of his section, that he did not refrain from giving utter? ance to such a lengthy argument, iater larded as it was with expressions easily misconstrued and misapplied by unscru? pulous opponents. His facts and figures in relation to the mortality of war pris? oners in Northern and Southern prisons, showing the greater per centage of deaths in the Northern prisons, are simply in? controvertible, for the reason that his remarks were based updn the report of Surgeon General Barnes, of the United States Army. But these facts and fig? ures have been spread before the coun? try in the newspaper press long ago, and are not likely to be forgotten by the fu? ture historian. So, too, we may regard the statements of Mr. Hill in relation to the responsibility of the United States authorities for refusing to exchange pris? oners?these are well known to the coun? try, and needed not the endorsement of a Congressional speech to give them life and vigor. Mr. Hill's rhetorical flour | ishes were so much additional and un? necessary timber in this respect, and his allusions to these topics will become the key-note of the coming contest among the Republican politicians, His protes? tations of Ioyo for the Union 4nd patri? otic cteTotJoh to the Federal government will be counted as naught, and his refer? ences to Andereonville an! Elrnira will aerve the purposes of many a scurvy pol? itician in the next campaign. . Another reason for Mr. Hill preserv? ing silence on this occasion may be giv? en. The attack of Blaine was mainly directed against the officers and soldiers of the Confederacy, who were charged by him with cruelty and inhumanity to prisoners under their charge, and when ! Confederate Generals were content to let ! such unjust accusations pass unnoticed, Mr. Hill was not specially called upon to answer for that portion of the Southern Confederacy, for he was not connected with the army during the entire war, we believe. There wero men of ability and good judgment apon the floor of the House, whose right to speak in behalf of the Confederate army cannot be ques? tioned, and yet we do not hear from them ; in answer to the reckless assertions of I Mr. Blaine. They knew it was useless : an 1 worse than useless to engage in such a .debate, .and they had the good sense to keop aloof from the discussion, relega? ting the entire matter into the hands of Northern Democrats. It might have been better for Mr. Hill's reputation as a statesman had he pursued a similar cottrse, and awaited another opportunity for the display of bis splendid oratory. We are aware, ir making this expres? sion, that the view we take of Mr. Hill's speech will not receive the sanction of many persons at this time. His talents and attainments are regarded with great adiairation across the Savannah, and his speech on amnesty is a really fine pro? duction. But cut bpnof Where's the gocd to be accomplished by such decla? mation ? It will suit admirably to bene? fit Mr. Blaine's aspirations for the Pres? idency, and that astute gentleman will likely make every use of it that is possi? ble. But not a single point has been proven by Mr. Hill's speech which was not already in existence, as tangible evi? dence in behalf of the Southern people. Their calmness, patience, forbearance, enc utance under the vilest wrongs, were vindicating the truth of history far more effectually than can be done by patriotic oratory and flaming eloquence, and it will be well that the example of Mr. Hill is not emulated by other Southern mem ben of Congress during the present ses? sion. RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENT. The: act of the last Congress requires that the legal tender act, whereby debts not contracted to be paid in another me? dium can be paid in United States treas? ury notes, shall be repealed on and after the first day of January, 1879, and that coin shall be the only recognized medium of exchange after that day. The Attempt "thus sarly to enforce a return to specie payment has already begun to show itself in paralyzing business and producing a stringency in money matters that is to? day causing numbers of failures, and is destined unless stopped to spread finan? cial, iruin throughout the entire Union. Th a is one of the Republican party's act), and like e7ery other deed of this party, tends to protect the strong and in? jure the weak?to enrich the wealthy cap? italist; and Impoverish the poor laborer. It wiis enacted to assist in the general scheme of centralizing the controlling influences of the government and placing the political power, which is incident upon the financial power of the land, in the hands of a few individuals, which ultimately ensures the conversion of our republic into a monarchy, should the policy contemplated be pursued with success. Numbers of petitions have been sent to Congress from public meet? ings throughout the Union, requesting the repeal of this injurious and danger? ous act, whose enforcement forebodes such untold ruin tc the laborer aid small capitalist What action will be taken upon these petitions remains yet to be developed. It is. not improbablo, how? ever, that the Democratic House will pass a bill repealing the act, and the Senate, which is Republican, will be likely to defeat it, or if not the President will no doubt veto.it, and thereby pre? vent a repeal of the present law. We do not favor a wholesale inflatioc: of the currency, nor, indeed, do we caie to see any further inflation of the currency now in circulation. On the contrary, we be? lieve that some slower, yet sure and prac? tical plan for resumption could and should, be devised, whereby the evils of paper money would be made gradually to disappear fron business without pro? ducing such great ntringency or causing such widespread disaster. The Centennial.?The prospect for a national appropriation to the Centen? nial Exhibition is dow good, as there has been a change in sentiment on the part of several Northern Congressmen!, and the friends of the enterprise arc sanguine of a united Southern vote in its favor. Senator Gordon, of Georgia, is open in his advocacy of the bill, and claims it is both constitutional and in accordance with numerous precedents. The follow? ing are the reasons he gives for desiring the passage of the bill: First, that no section is so deeply in terestea in the proper celebration and re establishment of the principles of 1776, and the restoration of good will i n the country, as the South. Second, that the proposed appropriation would cost only about three and a half cents per capita in the United States. Third, that Pe nnsyl? vania has paid $4,500,000 of the $5,000, 000 already expended; and that it would be unjust to make that State pay more ; whereas the appropriation by Congress would perfect the national character of the celebration. Fourth, that foreign nations having accepted the invitation to come, the reputation of the government is involved in perfecting the arrange? ments. On this account he would regret to see the South vote against it. Stick to Your Text.?The Augusta Constitutionalist has the following para? graph: The Sumter (S. C.) Watchman bears at the head of its first page this motto: "Timco Danaos et Dona Fererites." Its advocacy of Gov. Chamberlain, as the next Gubernatorial reform candidate, Bhows that its "fear for the Greeks," whether bearing gifts or not, has changed into confidence and love. The admission of the wooden horse into Troy decided the fate of that unfortunate city. The same result, so fur as South Carolina is concerned, is likely to follow the admis? sion of Chamberlain into the councils of the South Carolina Democracy. REPUBLICAN CONTENTION. Pursuant to a call from Got. Morgan, the Chairman, a meeting of the National Executive Com mit tee of the Republican party was held in Washington ph the 14th imst., at. which eighteen members of the Committee were present and thirteen represented by proxy. Cincinnati, Ohio, was selected as^thc next place for the meeting of the.Nominating Convention, and the 14th of June fixed as the time of meeting. Messrs. Howe, Morton, Chan? dler, Gorman and Fulton were appointed to issue the usual call for tbe Conven? tion, which says, "that in calling State Conventions for the election of delegates, the committees of the several States are recommend;d to invite all Republican electors, and all other voters, without re? gard to past; political differences or pre? vious party affiliations, who are opposed to reviving sectional issues, desire to pro . mote friendly feeling and permanent har? mony throughout the country by main? taining and enforcing all the constitu? tional rights of every ci tizen, including the full and free exercise of tbe right of suffrage without intimidation and with? out fraud, who are in favor of the contin? ued prosecution of all official dishonesty, and of an economical administration of the government by honest, faithful and capable officers, who are in favor of mak? ing such reforms in the government as experience may from time to time sug? gest ; who arc opposed to impairing the credit of the nation by deprecating any of its obligationii, and in favor of sustain? ing in every way the national faith and financial honor; who hold that the com- j raon sshool sytitera is the nursery of American liberty, and should be main? tained absolutely free from sectarian con? trol : who believe that for the promotior of these ends the direction of the govern? ment should be continued to be confided to those who adhere to the principles of 1776, and support them as incorporated in the constitution and the laws; who are in favor of recognizing and strength? ening the fundamental principles of Na? tional unity in this Centennial anniver? sary of the birth of the Republic." DIR1SCT TAXES. Among the amendments to tbe Consti? tution of the United States, which have been proposed ;at the present session of Congress, there :is one by Mr. Reagan, of Texas, relating to direct taxes, in which the people of the South are peculiarly interested. It provides that direct taxes shall be levied upon the States and Dis? trict off Columbia in proportion to the amount; of property owned by their citi? zens, instead of in the ratio of their pop? ulation to that of the whole Union. Judge Irteagan's amendment proposes to allow the States, and the District of Co? lumbia to make use of their own local officers and machinery for collecting such taxes, should they so determine, provided that tbe government of the United States retain the right to collect the tax itself in any Stale that refuses or neglects to pay its proportion to the general govern? ment within a reasonable time after the tax is levied. The Washington correspondent of the New York Tribune explains the opera? tions of the proposed amendment to the Constitution, and the methods of collect? ing taxes heretofore, together with the situation of the Southern States in this respect, before and since emancipation. If the conclusions of this correspondent are correct, we entertain no hope that Congress will lift the burden of taxation from the South by passing the proposed amendment, or in case that a sufficient number of votes were obtained in Con? gress, that the requisite number of States will agree to change the system. It will take a purer and less selfish age than the presen t to adjust the niceties of taxation so as to give justice to an oppressed sec? tion, und the cries of political dema? gogues do not indicate thai: such an era is before i s at I his time: This amendment is intended to correct what ii considered by the Southern pco (>le to be the grossly unjust system of evying direct taxes. The ability of any State to pay taxes depends, not on its popul&tion, but upon the amount of its productive poperty. The present method of apportioning direct taxes is the result of a compromise between the Represen? tatives of the North and of the South in the Constitutional Convention. The Representatives of the South insisted that their slave population should be counted in determining the number of Representatives in Congress a State should have, while the delegates from those States where tbe institution of slavery was weak and declining objected. Finally, it was thought fair that three fifths of the slaves should be counted in determining the representation of a State in Congress, provided the same propor? tion of them was also included in the population of the State, when the basis for levying direct taxes was to be found. If the revenues of the Government had been, deri.ved from direct taxes, this ar? rangement might have some. of the ele? ments of fairness in it, but the direct taxes were almost unknown before the late war. Surplus revenues having given the statesmen of that period more trou? ble than the problem how to raise them, the South always had undue influence in the National Legislature, without giv- j ing anything for it in return. Now the tables have been turned. Emancipation, while it has added nearly a million to the representative population of tbe South, has also increased by the same number its taxable population with? out augmenting its ability to pay taxes. Thin is very strikingly illustrated in the case of 'South Carolina. The value of property in that State in 1860 was $548, 138,754, and in 1870 $208,146,989?a de? crease of more than fifty per cent. The free population of the State in 1860 was 301,214. and the number of slaves 402, 406 ; adding three-fifths of the latter to the former gives 552,657, the population on which representation in Congress or direct taxation would then bo computed, and South Carolina's share of any direct i tax that might have been levied would have been about one-fifty-eighth. In j 1870 the population of the State (all free) i was 705,606, and its share of any direct tax levied would be about one-fifty fourth. In other words, while the ability of South Carolina to pay taxes has been reduced more than one-half since 1860, her liability to the general government has been actually increased. Comparing the case of South Carolina with thi.: of Massachusetts, we find that while the latter has but one twenty-first of the population of the Union, she has more than one-ninth of the wealth. The percentage of taxation on the property, fihould a direct tax be levied, would therefore be more than twice as great in 'South Caiolina as in Massachusetts. The difference is not as great, when the whole 0t the South is compared with the whole of the Nor h, and yet the inequality of the tE " is e ;cn then considerable. The Southc a " l,'es had, in 1870, less than one-fiftu the wealth of the whole Union, while they had more than one third of the population, so that, should a Indirect tax now be levied, the South with one-fifth of the property would hare to pay one-third of the tax?the same amount of tax, on an average, would have to be paid on sixty cents in the South as on one dollar in the North. From these facts it will be seen that the Southern Representatives will make a pretty strong 'case in favor of Judge Reagan's amend? ment. EDITORIAL NOTES. The Governor has appointed A. L. Cobb as Treasurer of Greenville County, I in placo of J. M. Runion, resigned. The resignation of Mr. Runion was occasioned by reason of his failure to give a new bond. The Union Times may rest assured that there will be no attempt on the part of the Anderson Intelligencer to undervalue the services of any newspaper working for the good of the State. We will not j even venture upon conundrums hereafter, for fear that some of our sensitive brethren may take offence. We learn that Judge T. H. Cooke has purchased property in the city of Green? ville, and intends making his home in the "Mountain City." The rumors that he was after the Richland Circuit are therefore incorrect, and the Legislature will not have an opportunity to inflict a Judge of Whipper's stripe upon this Circuit. The depositors in the freedmcn's bank will be glad to know that the Democratic House of Representatives has appointed ? strong committeee to investigate the corruption and waste in the management of the bank. The belief prevails in Washington that they will recover a con? siderable part of the lost money and will punish the men who stole it j Numerous petitions have been presen ted to Congress asking for a repeal of the bankrupt law. These have generally emanated from business associations in the large cities, but have not as yet in? duced any action from Congress. It would be- unfortunate for this law to be repealed at this crisis in our monetary affairs, for it would doubtless continue the prostration in business with which we are now afflicted. There will be a meeting of the Demo? cratic National Executive Committee oa the'22nd day of Feburary next, at Wil lard's Hotel in Washington, to arrange for the time and place of meeting of the next Democratic Nominating Conven? tion. The Committee will doubtless fit the time for meeting a little later than the time fixed /or the Republican Con? vention, which will no doubt throw it about the 1st of July. The place of meet? ing ought to be in one of the Westen cities by all means, and all the indica? tions at present are that St. Louis, Mo., will be designated. Hon. John Lee Carroll was inaugu? rated Governor of Maryland on Wednes? day last, with imposing ceremonies. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Bartoll, and the band of the naval academy furnished the music.? Mr. Carroll is a great-grandson of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and who was the thirteenth Governor of Maryland ?twelve proprietary and colonial Gover? nors having preceded him. A life-like and full length portrait of Charles Car? roll looked down upon the scene, and no more brilliant assemblage has been gath? ered in the old Chamber since the day j when Washington resigned his commis? sion as commander-in-chief of the Amer? ican army on the 23rd of December, 1783. Many distinguished persons were presen t, and the event is worthy of the centennial year. The members in Congress from South Carolina, with the exception of Col. E. W. M. Mackey of the Second and J. H. Rainey (colored) of the First District, voted against the Amnesty Bill. Rainey did not vote at all, and Col. Mackey is the only member from this State who voted for the passage of the bill. H?ge, Wallace and Smalls all voted against it. Nothing else eould have been expected from such men. H?ge has no idea of al? lowing sectional or race prejudices to die out if ho can prevent it. He has been made a prominent man by the use of his infiamatory, virulent slang abuse of our people, whereby he has kept the colored people under the control of himself and hi? compeers in political, infamy. He is a vile imposition upon the people he professes to represent, and it can be truthfully asserted that he represents none of the better or more substantial elements of our Congressional District, which was constituted to suit his indi? vidual interests in violation of thelaw of Congress. Cheering Words.?The Boston Post encourages the action of the State Demo? cratic Committee in the following para? graph : The Democracy of South Carolina have at last taken a bold and decided stand, and their position must command admi? ration and respect, whether it is eventu? ally successful or not. On the 6th of the present month the State Central Commit? tee met at Columbia to revive their polit? ical organization and put it in definite working order. The South Carolina Democrats have tried the policy of fol? lowing in the ranks of the oppossition for a considerable time. They have asked for no partisan consideration, but have cheerfully lent a helping hand wherever there was promise of sincere opposition to the gigantic political evils from which the State has suffered. They have wait? ed patiently for their sacrifices to bring their reward in a government that honest men could live under, but they have waited in vain, and they are right in see? ing what their leadership will amount to. In this organization, the whole purpose of the Democracy is stated to be "to ob? tain an honest and economical govern? ment in South Carolina, which shall maintain, without abridgment or change, the public rights and liberties of the whole people, and guarantee to all classes of citizens the blessings of freedom, jus? tice and peace." Though in the minori? ty, strictly as a- party, they are firm of purpose, and by an aggressive campaign they can perhaps unite enough honest men of wavering political faith to hasten their day of victory. The Athens (Ga.) Watchman, a staunch and reliable journal, says: The people of the Southern States are now watching, with breathless anxiety, the course ot events in South Carolina. Thoy expect the Democrats of that gal? lant but down-trodden State to make an effort to throw off the incubus of Radical carpet-bag and free negro rule. This thoy believe can be done as it was done in Mississippi, but they feel well assured itnovcr will be done by compromising with the enemy. That experiment has been repeated too ofton already. Let the Democratic party "tote its own skillet," and form no "entangling alliances." BAXKd ox Amnesty.?The following are extracts from the speech of Banks: "Therefore, sir, I do not hold either that the President of the United States is responsible lor all or foir any acta of his subordinates, no matter how near he may have been in connection with them, nor how closely they may bo allied to him by friendship or political relationship; nor do I hold Mr. Davis responsible for any? thing that occurred under the gov? ernment of which he assumed to be the head. In regard te the attrocities at An derson ville, and elsewhere. I dismiss from all consideration the declarations, argu? ments, aspersions, criminations and re? criminations, which for a week past I have heard so constantly in this chamber. I do not doubt that the soldiers of the Confederacy may have suffered in the North, nor do I doubt that the soldiers of the North may have suffered terribly in the South. It was incident to the con? dition of things. For the guilty, whoever they may be, I pray forgiveness; for the suffering, whoever they may have been, I invoke the blessing of God; for the crimes themselves, I say let the earth hide them, let us shut them out of sight 1" [Applause on the Democratic side.] I'There is one thing, Mr. Speaker, which is especially desired by all the people, and that is peace, general peace. Peace in all sections, with all parties, claBses and races. This declaration of amnesty is the first step that has to be taken to that end. The very first step. Nothing else will answer in the place of it. Credit has been claimed for what has been done already in the way of amnesty, b * every step in that direction has been compelled by the people of the country. I speak in part for New England ; I speak in part for Massachusetts, and I hope that Mas? sachusetts will give a vete approaching unanimity upon this question. There is no act of any government since the crea? tion of the world that will compare in sublimity with this act if it shall be pass? ed, and to take this sacred document, this majestic declaration of the people, and plaster it over with the crimes that maybe charged against an individual is to blur the grace and glow of clemency?to take the nose from the fair forehead of a f;od-like act and stick a blister there." Applause.] "Mr. Speaker, when the peo? ple of other States shall come here du? ring the present year to witness the achievements of our Republican govern? ment after the expiration of a century, remembering as they do, even better than ourselves, the events of our great war, our highest triumph will be to let them hear the shouts of the whole people in joyous congratulation upon this grave act of peace l id oblivion to all classes and. f>ersons for all crimes connected with the" ate war." [Applause on the Democrat? ic side] Political Assessment.?The follow? ing resolution, which passed the House of Representatives in Washington, is an excellent one, and if adopted would do very much to check the corruption which is so widespread in political affairs. If a law embodying this principle were enac? ted, Grant's power would be immensely weakened in the nation, and republican? ism would either be compelled to make itself more respectable or the ruling party would be driven from power. If such a bill could be made a law in South Caro lin'a it would be a great blessing to our State. But the Republicans cannot af? ford it either in the nation or the State. If the proposed bill passes the Demo? cratic House, the Republican Senate will most certainly reject it. The resolution is as follows: ? Resolved, That in the opinion of this House, the practice of making assess mentis against clerks, employees and offi? cers of the Government for political pur? poses, or for the purpose of obtaining means to assist any person or political party in conducting a political campaign is wrong in principle, demoralizing in tendency, disastrous in effect, is opposed to purity and honesty in the public ser? vice and economy in the administration of the Government, is fruitful of higher salaries, in order to provide money with which to pay such demands, and is in every way antagonistic to the best inter? ests of the country. Therefore, in view of these facts, it is further the opinion of this House that the committee on the judiciary should at an early dav report to the House a bill to prohibit all such de? mands or assessments, as well as to pro? hibit the payment thereof if made.. Senator Cochran.?The Abbeville Medium extends its compliments to the Senator from Anderson in vigorous style: Under date of November 14,1875, Sen? ator Cochran, of Anderson, wrote us a private letter asking that we publish his reform letter in our "valuable paper," and saying "Help me to keep the ball in motion. The movement is gaining strength. A brighter day is dawniug for South Carolina." Just one month after this letter was written we find this man Cochran, this great reformer who was going to restore the State to her ancient (dory and blaze out an honorable road tor succeeding statesmen, (?) voting with the blackest knave in the South Carolina Senate for W. J. Whipper as Judge of the most important circuit in the State. What miserable inconsistency! What loud professions and what empty deeds 1 DEFEAT OF THE GENERAL AMNES? TY BILL. Washington, Jan. 14. In the House to-day the committee re? ported back the amnesty bill. It reads : "That all the disabilities imposed and re? maining on any person by virtue of the third section of the fourteenth article of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States be and are hereby re- j moved, and each and every person is and shall be forever relieved therefrom on his appearing before a Judge of any Court of the United States, or any court of record in the State of which ho is a resident, and taking and subscribing the following oath, to be duly attested and recorded: I, A B, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and obey all laws made in pursuance thereof, and that I take this obligation freely and without any men? tal reservation or purpose of evasion whatever." Knott moved the previous question on the passage of the bill. McCrary, of Iowa, a member of the judiciary committee, asked Knott to yield him the floor for a moment. Knott replied that it would afford him pleasure to yield to his colleague and to other gentlemen on each side of the House, but tkat he felt that neither the peace of the country nor the harmony of the House required any further discus? sion of the proposition. Frye, of Maine, also a member of the judiciary committee, asked Knott to per? mit him to ask a single question. Seve? ral Democratic members objected, and Cox, of New York, said: "We have had enough of talk." Blaine, of Maine. ''Will the gentle? man (Knott) allow me without one word of debate to have a letter read." Cox, Randall and several other Demo? cratic members objected. Knott. "I cannot consent to open the debate at all. I iusist on the previous question." Frye. "I simply desire to ask wheth? er the Republican minority on the judi? ciary committee concurred in the ro port." Cox, (vociferously.) "I call tho gon tloman to order. Maine is always out of order." [Laughter.] Blaine. "I understand that the gentle? man from Kentucky declines either to admit an amendment or to allow debate." Loud calls of "order" on tho Democrat c sidc.j * Randall, (in a tono of remonstrance.) "You know bettor than to do this." Cox, (somewhat more angrily.)? "You have been in tho chair youtself, and ought to know better." [Laugh? ter.] Blaino. "I want adistinct understand? ing." (More shouts of "order" from the Democrats.] The previous question ordered: Yeas 183, najs92. Seely of Massachusetts, called atten? tion to the faulty grammar in the con? struction of the bill, the phrase "each and every person" being treated as in the plural instead of the singular case. The error was ordered to h? corrected. The House then proceeded ? vote on tbe pas? sage of the bill. The v te resulted, yeas 182, nays 97. So the requisite two-thirds not vot ng in favor of it, tho bill was re? jected. There was intense interest man? ifested as the call of the yeas and nays proceeded. Some of the prominent Re? publicans brought their influence to bear on some of tho members of their party who had voted aye on the preceding vote, either to vote in the negative or to refrain from voting. Rainoy, of South Carolina, was con? spicuously the object of such attentions. He did not answer when his name was called. Haralson of Alabama, who was in the same position also, withheld bis vote at 5rst, but finally rose and answered aye, amid the plaudits of tbe Democrats. George A. Bagely, of New York, who bad vo^ed in the affirmative, changed his vote to the negative, at which the Repub? licans rejoiced. Wells, of Mississippi, tried to explain why, although he was in favor of general amnesty, including Jef? ferson Davis, he voted no, but the Demo? crats shouted him down. Lynch of Mis? sissippi, however, managed to get the chance of saying that though he was in favor cf tbe bill, he voted no with a view of letting Blaine offer his amendment, although he (Lynch) would vote against the amendment. Purman of Florida, who had also withheld his vote when Iiis name was first called, afterwards rose and vc ted no. On t ie result being announced, Blaine, of Maine, took the floor, and, by a mo? tion to reconsider, obtained the right to speak. A long personal debate followed when Blaine offered his bill. Banks said he was out of order, and Randall and Hill objected. He then said, if the gentle men declined his proposition and wanted no further debate, he would give the gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Ran? dall) the opportunity to bring- up the Centennial bill, which had been post? poned an entire week by this Amnenty bill. Randall. "The timeof the House con? sumed and the consequent postponement of the Centennial bill are wholly charge able to your side of the House." Blaine. "I will now end this matter, and I have it in my power to do so. I withdraw the motion to reconsider." [Triuraphant laughter on the Repablh-an side, and apparent astonishment on :he Democratic side.] At t lib time, all. the members on the Demoeratic side were on their feet, while the Ropubli. an members were in tbeir seats, and the latter set up general cries of "order 1" "order!" "order!" Rim dall auked Blaine to give him an oppor? tunity of saying a word; the request was met ly still louder cries of "order!" from tne Republican side of the House, in which calls Blaine himself joined. Randt.ll again renewed his request, and Blaino refused it, and there the amnesty matte;* ended for the day. GENERAL NEWS SUMMARY. ? A bill has been introduced in the Ohio Legislature imposing a fine of fifty dollars for taking the name of God in vain. ? A Montreal dispatch says there is good reason to believe that Tweed is liv? ing w i t h his friends in the upper part ol that city. ? Farmers in Georgia are reducing the acreage of their crops, and wages are re? duced, ranging from 860 to 9100, includ? ing rations. ? The Peaks of Otter, near 'Lynch bnrg, Va., long supposed to be an ex? tinct volcano, have recently given un? mistakable evidences of action. ? Gov. Conner, of Maine, recommends that juries be authorized to pass sentence upon criminals in. capital cases, which, he says, has been successful in Califor? nia. ? The Hon. William Welch of Madi? son, Wis., proposes to give every man twenty-one years old one vote, each man of ton y-two years two votes, and each man sixty-three years old three votes. ?Tie Baptists of Tennessee propose to celebrate the Centennial year by raising 3300,0 90 for the Baptist University re? cently located at Jackson. The city has already subscribed $150,000. ? At the municipal election held in Timmonsville on the 10 th ins t., the entire white Democratic ticket was elected by a large majority. Many negroes voted the Democratic ticket, ? 1?he debt of the city'of New Orleans is over twenty-one millions of dollars. An el fort is soon to be made to compro? mise with the bondholders at sixty cents on ths dollar. ? lion. John B. Eustis has been elected Units d States Senator from Louisiana by tbe Democrats and a few Republicans. It is sitatod that the Governor will refuse a certificate on the ground that there is no vacancy. ? '.Che statue of Henry Clay in Rich? mond has been these many years without several fingers, which were knocked off by sc me wretch. A bill has been intro? duced in the Virginia Legislature for the ropair of the damage. ? No country takes a livelier interest in our Centennial than does Sweden. All her departments will be much fuller than at Vienna, and a 87,000 school bouse will exhibit the status of education on the northern peninsula. ? R. R. Hemphill, Esq., of the Abbe? ville; Medium, has been elected to preside over the Calhoun Literary Society at the annual debate on the 26th of June proxi? mo. He has accepted the distinction conferred upon him. ? Kentucky's bonded debt is only $';84,394, and against this she has in cash $1,195,362. The State has, therefore, money on hand euough to pay every dol? lar it owes and leave a balance on hand of over 31,000,000. ? Judge Willard, of tbe State Supreme Court, in a recent interview said: "I regard the election of F. J. Moses, Jr., und W. J. Whipper as a blow struck, in ;he interest of corruption, at the most sa ored rights and institutions of the State." ? Mrs. Myra Clark Guinea has arrived in Washington, after an absence of two years, to attend a suit pending in the Su? preme Court affecting the probate of a will in New Orleans. She says she has been engaged in litigation concerning her interests tor forty-four years, and has spent three fortunes. ? The citizens of Florence have organ? ized a company, divided into squads, and patrol their town every night. Each member is sworn in and authorized to observe and enforce the ordinances in the day as well as in the night time. And all this without expense to the town. ? The residence of Mr. Joel R. Adams, located about fifteen miles below Colum? bia, was burned on Wednesday after? noon, the 12th instant. The dwelling, which had just been remodelled and fur? nished throughout, was totally de? stroyed, together with its entire contents. Tho fire is supposed to have been the re? sult of accident. No insurance. ? A bill has been introduced into the Ohio Legislature which authorizes the Trustees of the Cincinnati Southern Rail? road to borrow $3,000,000, in addition to the amount authorized by the original act. It is claimed that this sum is needed to complete the work of building tho road. The estimated cost of constructing tbe entire line will be about 316,000,000. ? The proposition to place the Presi? dential salary on tbe old basis of $25,000 a year has been made in the Senate. This is evidently the proper point at which to begin retrenchment, although it cannot take effect until Grant, who lobbied through and signed the bill doubling his own pay, has served his term out. It remains to be seen how the Republican Senate will treat the plan. ?*- The Governor sent a circular to the various county treasurers, warning them not to become agents for the sale and dis? tribution of the bills of the Bank of tho State, with a view to their tender for tax? es now due. Ho admits tho legal right of the holder of the bills to tender them, and to do tho best to obtain their dues; but he considers it improper for officers subject to his control to lend them? selves to the work of forcing these bills into tho treasury. ? Tho recent mild weather is proving anything but a blessing'in many parts of the country. Large amounts of meat have been lost in various localities, and it is reported that in Louisiana the un? reasonable weather has been cxtreuielv unfavorable to the prospects of nex't year's sugar crop. The Chicago Tribune nays that it has been very bad for corn in cribs in the country. A good deal of it is iipoilingand will never make merchanta? ble com, while not a little of it is rotting !io badly that it cannot oven bo used for food on tho farm. SHALL WE ORGANIZE! The citizens of Belton Township are re? quested to meet at Belton on Saturday even? ing, 22nd instant, at two o'clock p. m., for the purpose of organizing a Democratic Club and electing delegates to the County Democratic meeting. It is hoped that all who are tired of high taxation, public mis? rule, rascality and plundering generally, will turn out and show their hands and or? ganize at once, and not stay at home with their hands folded, and curse and abuse high taxation and Radical government, and yet do nothing, or attempt to do nothing, to remedy the evil. , BELTON. ? Minnessota is to have a state ine? briate asylum for which the liquor sell? ers will have to pay, as the supreme conrt has sustained the constitutionality of the law Imposing a tax for this par pose. MARKETS. Andkeson, Jan. 19.1876. The cotton market dull and prices declined. Stained andtinged 8i@8J ; ordinary 9@9J ; good ordinary 91 @9J: low middling 9} @ 101; middling 10i@lli ; good middling 11J @1U. Charleston, Jan. 18,1876. Market dull; middling 12}; low middling 121; good ordinary 11. New YoBK.Jan. 18. Cotton dull and nominal. Middling 13; low middling 121; good ordinary 11. _HTMEHKAX._ MARRIED, at Cedar Grove, Jan. 11th, 1876, by Rev. Elias Z. Brown, Mr. JAME8 STONE and Miss SUSAN CRUMPTON, all of Anderson County. At the residence of the bride's father, J. L. Fowler, Esq., on the evening of Thurs? day, January 13th, 1876, by Rev. L. K. Glas? gow, Mr. M. SCURRY MAY8 and Miss LIZZIE FOWLER. At the residence of the bride's brother, J. R. Holcombe, Esq., on Thursday, the 6th instant, by Rev. Fletcher Smith, of Wal? halla, Mb. R. A. CHILD, of Pickens C. H., and Miss ESSIE HOLCOMBE, daughter of the Hon. W. E. Holcombe, of Liberty Sta tion. NOTICE. THE undersigned is requested to give no? tice to the subscribers to Dr. Thorn - well's Life, by Dr. Palmer, that the volumes are deposited at Mr. Towers' Store, and can be had by calling upon Mr. Henry Frierson. D. E. FRIERSON. Jan 20,1876_27_1?__ LOST, BETWEEN Anderson Court House and Hartwell, Ga., a QUARTZ MASON? IC KEY STONE. A reward of Five Dol? lars will be given to any one finding it and returning it to E. T. SCHULTZ, 44 German St, Baltimore. Jan 20,1878_27 1* Executor's Notice. ALL persons having demands against the Estate of Joseph Prevost, deceas? ed, are requested to present their claims to either of the undersigned, properly attested, within the time prescribed by law, and per? sons indebted are hereby notified to make immediate payment J. W. PREVOST,) E. A. BELL, j**" Jan 20, 1876_27 3* TAKE NOTICE. APRESSING necessity compels the un? dersigned to appeal to all i who owe them on open Account or Note, to come forward at once and make settlement All, without exception, must pay, or make satisfactory arrangements within THIRTY DATS, Or at the expiration of that time, our Books and Notes will be placed in an officer's hands for immediate collection. We will continue to sell all Goods in our line for very small profits for cash or on short time McGRATH & BYRUM. Jan 20.1878_27_ Notice to Teachers. TEACHERS of Free Schools in Anderson County are required to endorse on the back of each monthly report the names of parents, the number of children and the number of days each pupil is in attendance, in the following form: Names. No. Pupils. IAttendance. After the 22nd of January instant. I will be in my office every Saturday for the trans? action of business connected with the Free Schools. THOMAS P. BENSON, School Commissioner. Jan 15,1876 ? 27 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ANDBOSOK CoustT. By W. W. Humphrey!, Esq., Probate Judge. WHEREAS, Asa Avery has made su'.t to me to grant him letters of Administra? tion on the Estate and effects of William G. Cox, deceased. These art therefore to cite and admonish all kindred and creditors* of the said Win. G. Cox, deceased, to be and ap? pear before me in Court of Probate, to be held at Anderson Court House, on Friday, February 4, 1876, after publication hereof, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, to shew cause, if any they have, why the said administra? tion should not be granted. Giver, under my band, this 14th day of Januar,', A. D. 1876. W. W. HUMPHREYS, Judge of Probate. Jan 20,1876_27_2?__ Notice of Dissolution. NOTICE is hereby given that the Finn of SIMPSON, HILL <fc CO. is 'this day dis? solved by mutual consent. J. B. SIMPSON. R. S. HILL, JNO. E. SADIER. Jan. 15, 1875. Notice is Further Given To debtors to Simpson, Hill <fe Co. that they must come forward at once and settle t heir accounts. The books, for thirty days, will be found at the old stand, after which time they may be found in the hands of an offi? cer for collection. The Drug Business will be continued by the new firm, which will be formally an? nounced next week. Jan 20,1876 27 THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROL NA, COUNTY OF ANDERSON. SUMMONS FOR MONEY DEMA VD. William S. Ligon and Rufus 8 Hill, part? ners under the name and stylo of Leon <fc Hill, Plaintiff's, against John B. Har? per, Defendant. To John B. Harper: YOU are hereby summoned and required to answer the complaint in Ulis ac? tion, which, is filed in my office, Andeison C. H.. S. C, and to serve a copy of your an? swer on the subscriber at his office, within twenty days after the service of this S im? mons, exclusive of the day of service. If you fail to answer this complaint with? in the time aforesaid, the Puaintiffs will be allowed judgment against you for the sunv of Fifty-four Dollars and Twenty-six cents, with interest at the rate of seven per cent, per annum, from the 13th day of January, A. D. 1876, and costs. Dated Anderson C. H., Jan. 13, 1876. JOHN E. 13REAZEALE, Trial Justice A. C. Jan 20. 1876 27 6