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BATES OF SUBSCRIPTION.?Two Dollars per annum, and One Dollar for six months. Subscriptions are not taken for a less period than six months. Liberal deductions made to oiabs of ten or more subscribers. BATES OF. ADVERTISING.?One Dollar per square oi one inch for the first Insertion, and Fifty Cents per square for subsequent insertions less tban three months. No advertisement counted less than a square. Liberal contracts will be made with those wishing to advertise for three, six or twelve months. Ad? vertising by contract must be con?ncd to the im? mediatebusiness of the firm or individual contrac ' tine. Obituary Notices exceeding five lines, Tributes of Respect, and all personal communications or matters of individual interest, will be charged for ? at advertising rates. Announcements of marriageii | and deaths, and notices of a religious character, are i respectfullT solicited, and will be Inserted gratis. BYHOYT&CO. ANDERSON, S. 0., THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1876. VOL. XI--ITO. 41. LEGAL ADVERTISING.?We are compelled to require cash payments for advertising ordered by Executors, Administrators and other fiduciaries, and herewith append tho rates for the ordina?y notices, which will only bo inserted- when the money comes with the order: Citations, two insertions, -? " - - - S3.00 Estate Notices, three insertions, - ? 2.00 Final Settlements, five insertions ? - 3.00 TO CORRESPONDENTS.?In order to receive attention, communications must be accompanied by the true name and address of the writer. Re? jected manuscripts will not be returned, unless the necessary stamps are furnished to repay the postage thereon. J)3~ We are not responsible for the views and opinions of our correspondents. - All communications should be addressed to "Ed? itors Intelligencer," and all checks, drafts, money orders. 4c, should be made payable to the order of HOYT & CO., Anderson, S. C. BLACKS AILTXG AND FRAUD. A Democratic Report upon Land Com? missioner Leslie. The report of the special committee of Democratic members of the Housed of Representatives, appointed to investigate the charges against C. P. Leslie, is as follows: The committee in mating the investi? gation required, sought in the first place to ascertain the facts connected with the administration of Mr. Leslie, as Land Commissioner, by an examination of the books and papers kept by him as such, and the accounts kept by Parker, the State Treasurer, at that time. They sup? posed that these would show all the trans? actions of the office, and that the books of the one officer would serve to explain and to correct any irregularities that might exist in those of the other. Much to their surprise, however, they were un? able to find any books, records or papers which were kept by Mr. Leslie while he acted as the Land Commissioner of the State, although he was furnished with a competent clerk for that purpose, and whose salary was $125 per month. Upon examining the books of the State Treasurer it appeared that large sums of money had been expended for the pur? poses of the land commission, but beyond this they showed no accurate or detailed account: of what had been done by the Land Commissioner, the parties who had sold lands, the prices paid for them, where and by whom money had been aid, and for what particular effect it ad been paid, except the Treasurer's statement that it had been expended on account of the land commission.. The committee next endeavored to find the records cjf the .advisory board, which we..w^ftf iiajibnw^lr^.ji>sen kept;and contained, the proceedings of that body, ? 'Bat'"after diligent searchj in wnich' we were aided'by the clerks "of the Secretary of State, we were unable to find them or any portion of'them. We made an effort also to get possession of the applications which bad been made while Mr. Leslie was the Land Commissioner, and which had been favorably acted upon by him and the advisory board, but we failed to find a single application-of this kind. Our next effort was to examine the deeds which were made to Mr. Leslie while he was Land Commissioner, and to get all the information we could from them. We found in the office of the Secretary of State deeds that were made to him, the considerations expressed in which amounted in the aggregate to $395, 148.75. We believe that there was a deed made by Louis Jones, of Edgefield, for seven hundred and ninety acres of land; also, that L. A. Bigger, ot Claren? don, sold to Mr. Leslie six tracts of land instead of one, and that the consideration paid for them amounted to $10,083. There is but one deed, however, in the office, and that is for six hundred and eighteen acres, and was purchased for $1,185.. The committee derive this information from the testimony of L. A. Bigger, taken before the joint special investigating committee appointed by concurrent reso? lution November 28th. 1S70, to investi? gate the affairs of the land commission. The committee also learn from the evi? dence of W. J. Whipper, taken by them, that he sold to Mr. Leslie a tract of land inCharleston Connty for $2,700, and re? ceived payment for the same; that he has never made any titles to this land, but was at all times ready and willing to - do so until a judgment was recovered against him in 1872, and the land was sold under that judgment. If the committee are correct in suppos? ing that the five other purchases from L. A. Bigger and the purchase from W. J. Whipper should be added to the amount expended, by Mr. Leslie, (leav? ing out the Jordan purchase entirely) be actually expended, as appears by the ?deeds and the evidence above referred to, die sum of $406,796.75; while only $200,000 in bonds had been authorized to be issued for the purpose of the land commission before he ceased to be Land Commissioner. . From the evidence of Governor Scott, it appears that he insisted upon Mr. Les? lie's making, before retiring from the office, as Land Commissioner, a report to the advisory board of the amount of money which had been expended by him during his term of office, and from this report which was made it appeared that not less than $475,000 bad actually been spent, and there was then left only a small balance to be expended by his successor, R. C. DeLarge. From all of this it appears that there remains at this date the sum of $68,203.35, wholly un? accounted for by Mr. Leslie. For this deficiency he is in default, and must be held responsible. If the money was merely wasted by the Treasurer, the financial agent or any other party, he is to blame. If his books and papers had been proper- . ly kept, he might now show that it was not fraudulently spent or wasted bv him? self. He was provided with a goo?f clerk, and it seems to the committee that he is without excuse. Mr. Leslie first insisted that "not a dollar" of the money arising from the sale of the lands issued for the purposes of the Land Commissioner, except his salary, ever came into his hands, but upon an examination of the papers in the Treasurer's office the committee discov? ered that he had given receipts showing that he had received from Parker, the State Treasurer, and Kimpton, the finan? cial agent in New York, during the time be was Land Commissioner, the sum of $89,004.50. In addition to this, it ap? pears from the repart of the financial! agent, which was approved by the finan- j cial board, that he received during the same time $33,825, making an aggregate of $122,329.50. J The reports and Mr. Leslie's receipts J show how a portion only of this large sum of money has been applied. In some cases the receipts are given without I explanation, but in others with the ex? planations, which the facts, as we find them to exist, do not sustain. For instance, Mr. Leslie gave Kimpton a receipt for nineteen thousand three hundred and forty-nine dollars ($19,349) dated October 26, 1868, for the purchase of the Edgefield lands reported by Mr. Wooley et al, and the consideration ex? pressed in the Wooley deeds and all the others made to him in that connty, as appears by reference to them, amounts to only $10,819. Again, on the 27th of September, 1869, he gave ar receipt to Kimpton for $17,875, to be applied to the payment of lands purchased from F. J. Moses and L. A. Bigger, and on the 11th October, 1869, he?gave another receipt to Kimpton for $16,025 on account of the purchase of Kershaw and Clarendon lands, making in the aggregate $33,900 for the same purchases. The Moses (Kershaw) purchase amoun? ted to $14,000, and the Clarendon pur? chase, if we take the testimony of L. A. Bigger as evidence, to $10,083. If we take the deeds as evidence, a large amount of money passed into the hands of Mr. Leslie which was not properly accounted for by himself. The committee would add in this con? nection that neither the report of the financial agent, Kimpton, or the books of the State Treasurer, Parker, come to Mr. Leslie's assistance or relief by way of accounts or explanation. The committee find further that Mr. Leslie received on account of the lands sold in Barnwell and Orangeburg coun? ties the sum of $686, which they can no where find accounted for in any manner whatsoever. Id the entire transactions of the land commission there were about $80,000 wholly unaccounted for, so far as this committee are able to judge from all the evidence that was accessable to them. Li the Secretary of State's report, made in 1872, is included an item of $88,336, which should not have been included, as it is in Kimpton's statement of the ex? penditures of the land commission. We find also that the deeds for land pur? chased absorbed a larger amount than was at that time supposed. The real amount, which is wholly un? accounted for, is as above stated, and about $68,000 of this deficiency occurred during the administration of Mr. Leslie. Hoping to get at the facts of Mr. Les? lie's administration just as they occurred, the committee examined all of the mem? bers of the advisory board except Parker. From them we learned that very impor? tant purchases of land had been made by Mr. Leslie and his sub-agents, and that they were not to any great extent respon? sible for these purchases, as they, by the rules of the board, were governed by the approvals or disapprovals of the land commissioner, which was necessary be? fore any purchases could be ordered, and also by the recommendations of persons whom they supposed to be reliable. The committee also examined various Eersons who had transactions with the and Commissioner, but they most gen? erally bad their contracts with third par? ties, and proved but little against the administration of Mr. Leslie. We, how? ever, found one witness {J. G. Gibbes) who negotiated directly with Mr. Leslie, and who testified that he sold him a tract i of land in Fairfield County for $20,544, ' which lands were conveyed by Whilden ? & Sons and C. C. Singleton; that, by the terms of sale, he was to be paid in cash, but, after many delays and disappoint? ments, he was told by Mr. Leslie that he would have to give something to get his monetf, and that he had ultimately to pay Mr. Leslie $1,500 in cash and give him a due b ill for $1,500 more to have the trans? action, closed. Mr. Gibbes stated that Mr. Leslie said at the time that he did not require the money for himself but for other parties. Again, in reference to the conduct of Mr. Leslie, as Land Commissioner, Mr. Cardozo testified that Mr. Leslie tried to get him to buy and sell lands to the land commission, and to make money in that way, but he indignantly refused to do so, and that he would not co-operate with the board on account of the extravagant prices which were being paid for lands, I and the fraudulent manner in which the purchases were made. In this connec? tion the committee would add, that ac? cording to the testimony of R. J. Donald? son he sold two, and only two, tracts of land to the land commission, and that these sales were made during the admin? istration of Mr. Leslie, viz: the Fox and Wadsworth lands in Chesterfield County, and the consideration expressed in the deeds for these lands were paid co him partly in cash and partly in drafts. By reference to the deeds in the office of the Secretary of State, we find that the con? sideration of these two deeds amounts in the aggregate to $44,480. We find in the Treasurer's office four drafts in favor of R. J. Donaldson amounting in the aggregate to $33,635.75, and charged to account of the land commission. We find also in the Treasurer's office four drafts in favor of H. J. Fox, amounting in the aggregate to $36,488, and charged also to the account of the land commis? sion. Mr. Fox testifies that the drafts for his land were all paid to R. J. Don? aldson. It appears, therefore, to the committee that the sum of $25,643.75 (and we cannot say how much more than this) over and above the considerations i expressed in the deeds for the Fox and Wadsworth lands were paid to R. J. Donaldson, and is not accounted for in any manner whatever. From the evidence of C. C. Bowen, it appears that Mr. Leslie proposed* to re? sign the office of Land Commissioner on certain conditions, to wit: that he should receive $20,000 for his Greenville and Columbia Railroad stock, and $28,000 in money, and the payment of $3,000 to Kimpton, which he had borrowed from him. This proposition was accepted, and it was arranged that drafts were to be drawn by Parker on Kimpton for the payment; of the money to Mr. Leslie. We can only remark that this was a very large sum of money to be paid for an office which had been so active and reckless in expending the money of the State, after the funds provided for its Eurposes had been more than twice ex austed. In conclusion, the committee would say that this investigation has been as thorough and complete as the limited time allowed them would permit, and without any expense to the State since it began, and within the past few days a deed for one tract of land purchased during the administration of Mr. Leslie as Land Commissioner has been returned to the Secretary of State. If the inves? tigation should finally result in securing for the State titles to all the lands which it is alleged have been purchased, but for which no deeds have yet been made, the committee will feel fully compensa? ted for the arduous duties which they have performed. Accompanying this report is the evi? dence and a statement from Mr. Leslie, all of which is very respectfully submit? ted. J. W. Livingston, Chairman Investigating Committee. Matrimony and Pockets.?A young man from one of the suburban districts was into one of our tailor shops get? ting measured for a vest, the other after? noon. "Married or unmarried ?" queried the merchant, after taking down the num? ber. "Unmarried," said the young man with a blush. "Inside pocket on the left hand side, then," observed the tailor, as if to him? self, making a memorandum to that ef? fect. After a moment's pause, the young man from the suburbs was prompted to ask: "What difference does my being mar? ried or uumarried make with the inside pocket of the vest." "Ah, my dear sir," observed the tailor with a bland smile, "all the difference possible as you must see. Being unmar? ried you want the pocket on the left side, so as to bring the young lady's picture next to yowr heart." "But, don't the married man also want his wife's picture next to his heart?" queried the anxious youth. "Possibly there is an instance of that kind," said the tailor, arching his eye? brows, "but I never heard of it." ? An exchange has an article headed, "The latest agony at dinner parties."? The editor must have been luxuriating in fresh cucumbers. THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD. Its Condition and Prospects?Report of the Charleston Delegation. The Charleston delegates to the recent Blue Ridge Railroad Convention at An? derson submit the following report: Charleston, April 7,1876. 7b the President and Members of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce: Gentlemen: We, the undersigned delegates appointed to represent the Chamber at the Convention of the repre? sentatives of the States, comities and towns interested in the completion of the Blue Ridge Railroad and its connections, held on the 30th and 31st of March last, at Anderson, the present Eastern terminus of said road, beg leave respectfully to present this our report: Having received no special instructions for our guidance, Vve concluded that our main duty was to ascertain from the del? egates from Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina the possibility and prob? ability of satisfactory results being achieved in their respective States, the status of the various charters, the work already done, and the resources to be re? lied on in the completion of an unbroken road from Enoxville to Anderson. The.information we obtained was of an unexpectedly satisfactory character. Beginning in Tennessee, we find a road in good running order, ("the Knoxville and Charleston Railroad,") from Enox? ville towards the North Carolina border, for a distance of sixteen miles. The owners of the same are prepared to continue their road to the border as soon aa a connection is guaranteed, aud ask neither aid nor favor to do so. In North Carolina the route will be along the banks of the Tennessee River, through its fertile valley?from Georgia to the Tennessee connection, a distance of seventy miles; but the Blue Ridge having been crossed in the State of Geor? gia, there is no great natural obstacle to Be overcome. We were led to believe that convict labor could be obtained from the State of North Carolina, and that the laborers would be fed by the farmers of the sec? tion through which the road will pass,? at mountain prices, payment in stock be? ing received; for this section aid could also be obtained from Southeastern Ten? nessee, for the mass of the inhabitants will have nothing to do in that section, the owners of the Knosville and Charles? ton Railroad having undertaken, as we have said, to complete the Tennessee link. County subscriptions and large donations of real estate would also aid the enterprise. Friends of the same hold a charter of a most favorable character, and are ready and willing to co-operate earnestly and cordially with South Caro? lina, if she will but act promptly. In Georgia, the prospects are yet brighter. Through this State the road has been already graded, and that in a manner of which our people have no con? ception. All masonry has long since been completed, we believe, without ex? ception. By the personal inspection of one of our delegation, who extended his journey to Rabun Gap, near to the North Caroli? na border, we learn that the statements we had heard as to the amonnt of work done were not exaggerated. The culverts over even little mountain runs are built of well-dressed, massive grey granite, and the abutments-for bridges over the few larger streams are all of the same perma? nent character. "Fills" still remain to be completed ; but they, as a rule, are nearly closed, only so much as was required to give the masons room for their work being left undone. The inhabitants of this section are probably the most enthusiastic in regard to this undertaking, and will do as much or more than the North Carolinians to promote its success. Georgia, we are as? sured, will also furnish convict labor, and her farmers in like manner, as in North Carolina, will provide for their mainte? nance. In South Carolina the Blue Ridge Rail? road is in running order from Anderson to Walhalla, and is graded to the Geor? gia line ; the masonry is also finished. There are two considerable tunnels to be mentioned?one in Georgia and the other in South Carolina?both far ad? vanced to completion, we are informed ; but both can be avoided by modern en? gineering. On the construction of the road through South Carolina and Georgia millions were spent. We are led to believe for a comparatively trifling sum what cost so much, now could easily be purchased, and it is probable that those interested in the property of the road would enter into an arrangement by which no cash would be required immediately. While too much cannot be said of the immense natural resources to be devel? oped by this road, the length of this re? port forbids such comment as the subject requires. We will but remind you that scientific men who have visited the local? ity of the road all agree that the mineral wealth there buried is beyond man's cal? culation. We regret to bring to your notice the fact that rapid progress is now being made on a road which iu future may be operated in opposition to our interests, a calamity much to be ^dreaded; for with most if not all the main arteries of trade now turned from Charleston, she surely cannot suffer the life blood flowing from this direct connection with the "great. Northwest' to be diverted into other chan? nels. Our people recognize the immense trade and prosperity in store for our old city, let this iron link be once riveted. Calhoun first, we are told, pointed to Rabun Gap as the great avenue of com? merce for the Western and Southern New World. 'Tis true, in following his teach? ing, our fathers spent large sums, but a personal inspection of the results will convince the most sceptical scoffer that the money was not misspent; for the granite monuments along the road-bed through Carolina and Georgia ate proofs indubitable of the honesty and thorough? ness in detail of the past generation, and that they labored not for themselves alone, or for their children only, but in? tended to build a structure which should remain so long as this earth shall last a blessing to their native land. Your delegation have to acknowledge the receipt of free passes over the rail? roads between Charleston and Anderson, and the hospitality of the Town of An? derson in entertaining them, free of ex? pense, during their stay in that thriving town. We beg leave, respectfully, to close this our report with the announcement that the Convention adjourned to meet in Charleston on the 25th of next month. All of which is respectfully submitted. Geo. R. Walker, Louis Zimmer, J. T. Welsh an, E. H. Frost, Ellison A. Smyth, W. A. Wardlaw. ? Spanish moss, which grows so abun? dantly in the Southern States, is regard? ed as the salvation of residents of swampy regions, as it feeds on malarious elements in the atmosphere. From the Abbeville Medium. PEN PICTURES OF THE PRESS. -o EDWARD A. BRONSON. Edward Alphonzo Bronson, editor and proprietor of the Barnwell Sentinel, and fifth Vice President of the South Caro? lina State Press Association, is one of the oldest newspaper men in r,bis State, and has a more extensive knowledge of the ups and downs of journalistic life than any of his professional brethren. He is of New England descent, and the son of Edward Morton Bronson, who was born and reared at Hartford, Connecticut, and at the age eighteen removed to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he settled down, was married to Susan Ann Orr, and where the subject of this sketch was born on November 23, 1823. Some seven years after his marriage, the elder Bron? son with his household goods removed to Camden, South Carolina, and there located for life. His possessions were small, he was just beginning in the world, and with a growing family upon his hands it required the closest economy and the most persistent efforts to get the start of fortune. The economy and thrift so deeply imbedded in his nature by the "wooden nutmeg" atmosphere of his native State stood by him well in hand in his efforts to secure a competence of this world's goods in his adopted State. Young Bronson was sent to the common schools in Camden, and there completed his education, the limited means at his father's command preventing him from taking a college course of 6tudy. After finishing his career at school, young Bronson entered the office of the Camden Journal, then owned by Thomas W. Pegues, as an apprentice, and there learned the art of printing. He was a faithful "devil," and soon became a correct and rapid compositor. After completing his apprenticeship, at the age of twenty-one, he was marriea to Joanna Ingram, of Camden, who still lives.? Eight children have been born to this marriage, six of whom, one son and five daughters, now survive. Mr. Bronson has been a member of several military companies, but was never in battle. When the Mexican war began he was a member of the DeKalb Bine Guards, commanded by Captain James Polk Dickenson, but having just been married could not bear the idea of relinquishing the sweets of the honey? moon for the hardships and horrors of the camp and field. He remained at home, and thinking that there was a for? tune to be made in the mercantile busi? ness opened a store at Camden, and there began his career as a merchant. He had little idea of the business; credited every? body ; thought to make money fast; had a host of friends, and consequently was unable to meet his obligations when pay day came and so collapsed. After his failure in merchandizing, Mr. Bronson returned to the types, repaired to Colum? bia during the session of the Legislature in 1818, and there secured a situation with John G. Bowman, on the Tempe? rance Advocate, which he retained for some time, and then went in with J. C. Morgan, at that time, the most extensive printing establishment in the State. In this office, with the help of another com? positor, he did the whole work on a daily paper until his health failed, when he took service with A. S. Johnson in his book and job office. There he was offered the foremanship of the Daily Telegraph, which position he accepted and filled until the paper was merged into the Daily Carolinian. After the great Co-opera'tion Move? ment in 1851, Mr. Bronson went to Cam? den, purchased the material and good will of the Southern Republic, which he published for about two months; but the venture did not pay. His capital was small, and he had an old and flourishing competitor in the Journal, and was forced to give up the business or hunt a more promising field. Closing up his Oaraden office and removing to Barnwell county he located at Blackvillc, from which 61ace he issued the first number of the larnwell Sentinel on March 17, 1852, St. Patrick's Day, nearly a quarter of a cen? tury ago. He did not have the name of a single subscriber on his books when he issued the first number of his paper, but soon gained the confidence and support of the people, and has ever since his first venture had a large and respectable weekly audience. Shortly after estab? lishing himself at Blackville the demand for the removal of his paper to Barnwell village, the county seat, oecame urgent, and was pressed upon him by every pos? sible inducement. Yielding to the will of the people he moved out to Barnwell, and has ever since his location there pur? sued the even tenor of his way, publish? ing a good paper, and striking straight out from the shoulder in his efforts to elevate and prosper his people. The Sentinel has been published without inter? ruption from the time of its establish? ment until the present day, with the ex? ception of a nine month's suspension brought on by the war and Sherman's memorable "March to the Sea." On February 5,1865, the Federal troops set fire to the Sentinel office, which, together with all of its appurtenances except the type, which had been buried by Bronson in his buggy house four days before the advance ot the Yankee army, was totally destroyed. Mr. Bronson did not take an active part in the late war, although his sympa? thies were strongly upon the right side, and through his paper he gave a vig? orous support to all the measures of the Confederate Government. He had a large family dependent upon the Sentinel alone for their support, and, besides all this, it was thought that he could do his country better service with his types than with the musket. The greater part of the Government printing for his section was done by him with the help of his little son, and many times he "stuck" his type and adjusted his "forms" by the light of pine splinters, and all for liberty. Mr. Bronson has been tolerably suc? cessful in life. He has managed to give all his children a fair education, and has always met his obligations at maturity. He is contemporary with such men of the State Press as Stokes, Grenekcr, Darr, Murray and Elford, and has at all times maintained a reputation for clear thinking and honorable action. He is stoutly opposed to the travesty on govern? ment now prevailing in this State, and denounces corrupt men and measures in good, wholesome English. There are no great achievements in Mr. Bronson's life to be recorded. He has given rise to no great political move? ments ; but he is devoted to the duties of his profession, and is an able co-worker with all who love their country and de? sire to see it prosper. He is a thorough newspaper man, a fair writer, and thoroughly identified with the journalism of this State?its elevation and success. ? It is related' of Sydney Smith that once, on entering a drawing-room in a West-end mansion, he found it lined with mirrors on all sides. Finding him? self reflected in every direction, he said that he "supposed he was at a meeting of the clergy, and there seemed to be a very respectable attendance." The Conservatives in ike General As? sembly. From the Columbia Register. Some very intemperate articles have appeared in several of our Conservative newspapers touching an imputed derelic? tion of duty on the part of the Conserva? tive members of the General Assembly. The censures have been directed more particularly against those who declined to vote for the impeachment or investi? gation of Judge Mackey, and against those whose absence defeated John Cochran's bill for redistricting the State. In some journals their names have Been published in a "black list," and in ethers they have been paraded as the "sentinels who sleep." In the last Abbeville Medium, under the heading "Conserva? tive traitors," it is charged that "the larger part of the Conservative members of the present Legislature have been shamefully false to duty and patriotism, and should not again be clothed with official power." "The entire record is filled with their shameful and lamentable neglect of duty. Instead of sticking to their posts like men, they sneaked off home with every opportunity," &c. Our friends must excuse us for saying that these strictures are entirely too severe and sweeping, and, in most re? spects, undeserved. We have been on the spot the whole time, and we are free to say that we have never seen a more attentive and earnest band of men than the Conservative members. They have stuck to their posts at great inconve? nience to their business, frequently to the injury of their health, and at the cost of the loss of the endearments of home for nearly half the year of each two years they have served. In his speech in the convention, in reply to Judge Carpenter, Governor Chamberlain, in referring to the good that was done by the Legisla? ture, (or rather, we should say, the evil that was prevented,) did not claim it as his own. "It is not my glory or my fame, but it is the fame of the Republi? can party of the State of South Carolina." We would not deny to any Republican the credit to which he is justly entitled; but the power which prevented evil, as well as the power which enacted any? thing wholesome in the last Legislature, was mostly exercised by the Conservative members. They were the power behind the throne stronger than the throne itself. Governor Chamberlain would have been crushed long ago but for their protecting support. Not a veto of any value could have been sustained without them. This the Governor knows, and has frankly ad? mitted on many occasions. It is true that several Conservatives set their faces against the bogus inquiry into the judicial conduct of Judge Mackey. They had the sense to see that noth \ ing really was meant; that the parties who were in pursuit of Mackey (except? ing the Lancaster delegation and Major Hamilton, of Chester,] were influenced only by shallow, partisan, factious and personal motives; that it was only a part of the scheme, more fully developed^ in the convention afterwards, to assault and cripple Chamberlain. We hold them entirely excused for not lending their aid to Pine Torch Davis, Miller, Leslie, .Hamilton, Elliott and the rest, and for not playing into the hands of base fac tionists. Besides, the recent election of Mackey, at the instance of the Conserva? tives of his judicial district, and the late? ness of the session, and the thinness of the House, and the situation of affairs in Chester County, constituted real obstacles to any genuine, honest action in the matter. In regard to Cochran's bill, we should have been pleased if there had been suffi? cient Conservative member* present to have carried it through. But we are not aeady, because they were not there, to pronounce against them that they have committed the unpardonable sin. Some, perhaps, were necessarily absent at home, and we know of others who were too ill to go out. It may be that there were some who could have attended who did not. If so, they are to blame, of course. AVe know of none such, however. We must remember, too, that this was a political bill, designed for the benefit of its author, and not for the Conservative interests. On its face it looks fair, but it is not so certain that its passage would have brought any substantial advantages to us. A Touching Incident.?The book recently published by Gen. Doubleday, entitled, "Forts Sumter and Moultrie," contains an incident well illustrating the character of one of Fairfield's most hon? ored sons. It appears that when Ander? son's command abandoned Fort Moultrie, and occupied Sumter two ladies, the 1 wives of officers, were left behind. One of these, Mrs. Seymour, requested per? mission to join her husband in Fort Sum? ter, but this was refused by the South j Carolina officer. That night she entered an open boat and was rowed over to Sum? ter in the darkness by two boys. The U. S. chaplain remained at Fort Moul? trie. Gen. Doubleday says: "In the meantime an amusing scene had occurred there (Fort Moultrie.) A very chival? rous gentleman, Ex-Governor Means, of South Carolina, had learned in some way that Mrs. Seymour had been rudely re? fused permission to visH. her husband in Fort Sumter. He thought the action of the commandant of Fort Moultrie harsh and unnecessary, and was kind enough to take the trouble to call at the Chaplain's house to assure Mrs. Seymour that he would procure her a pass from higher au? thority. The Chaplain hardly knew how to act. He did not like to tell the Ex Governor that Mrs. Seymour had already tone, for fear it might get the Sinclair oys in trouble. He therefore pretended that Mrs. Seymour was comlned to her room with a sick headache. The Ex Governor sent in repeated messages to beg that she would see him if it was only for a moment, but the answers made by Mrs. Harris were invariably in the nega? tive. The Chaplain afterwards laughed heartily at the equivocal position he had been forced to assume." This incident touchingly portrays the softer fibres of a heart of oak. ^ The same nature that could not brook the sight of a woman in distress, quailed not before the storm of buttle; and yielded itself, a willing and noble sacrifice, to the South? ern cause on the bloody battle-field of Manassas. Additional interest is lent to this anecdote, from the fact that it is first brought to light by a bitter enemy of the cause to which this noble Carolinian had devoted himself.? Winnsboio News. ? A Pennsylvanian has taught a ca? nary bird to sing "Home, Sweet Home," in this way: He placed the cauary in a room where it could not hear the singing of other birds, suspended its cage irom the ceiling, so that it would see its reflec? tion in a mirror, and beneath the glass placed the musical box that was regula? ted to play no other tune but "Home. Sweet Home." Hearing no other souna but this, and believing the music pro? ceeded from the bird it saw in the mirror, the young canary soon began to catch the notes, and finally got so that it sings the song perfectly. ? The woman of work sweeps every thing before her; the woman of fashion sweeps everything behind her. The Democratic State Convention. There is a very general disposition throughout the State to concur in the opinion, already expressed and explained in these columns, that the Democratic State Convention, which meets in May, shall confine its action to the election of delegates to the National Convention, and to the choosing of a State Executive Committee. Whatever difference of feeling there may be about the policy to be finally adopted by the Democracy, it is evident that, as early in the day as this and in ignorance of the plans of the Republican party, the Democracy cannot afford to commit themselves for, or against, any particular course. This is one of the dis? advantages of being in the minority. -Majorities are independent, while minor? ities, to succeed, must adapt themselves to circumstances and shape their conduct so as to turn to account the errors or blunders of their antagonists. This is the position of political affairs in South Carolina to-day, and the difficulties of the Democrats are increased by the fact that, while as to State officers the decision of a Convention must bind the Democ? racy in every County, no one policy |can be devised, as to members of the Legisla? ture and County officers, that will work equally well in different Counties. The circumstances of the Piedmont Counties, for example, are in no manner like those of the middle and sea-coast Counties. What will give the upper Counties full representation will deprive the majority of the lower Counties of all representa? tion. It seems to us, therefore, that com? plete local freedom must bo allowed, and that every County shall make the fight in such way as promises the best results to that County, with the understanding always that the policy as to State officers, finally determined on, shall be accepted, and sustained everywhere. There is no reason to suppose that this plan, which is evidently just and clearly beneficial, will be objected to. The Anderson Intelligencer, whose earnestness and patriotism we never doubt, is very emphatic in advising that the business of the May Convention be restricted within the narrowest limits. It says: "It is too early to venture upon shaping a policy for the party, although we have the most positive views in regard to the proper policy, when the time arrives to take a position from which we are not to recede as a party, under any circumstances." Nor are we disposed to challenge its declaration that free and untrammelled political discussion 's necessary and profitable. The harn done when newspapers declare that, under no circumstances, will they see farther than their noses, or accept any other conclusion than that which they have reached. This is not the case with the Intelligencer, which has always cheer? fully and manfully supported the. action of the State Conventions, whether, before that action was taken, it favored it or not. So l'ong as discussion is conducted in this way, and with the certainty that the ranks will be unbroken when the struggle with the adversary begins; the efforts of the Press to cause particular views to prevail will do the State no injury. The May Convention cannot be too careful in selecting the Executive Com? mittee. Decorative politicians, stay-at home statesmen will not suit these times. The Committee will have much difficult work to do, and every gentleman who may be nominated owes it to the party to decline to serve if he is unwilling to sacrifice personal preferences, profit and convenience in organizing and disciplin? ing the party and in leading it to the end of the canvass. The Radicals set us an example, in this respect, that we must follow if we intend to win. They make politics a business, from the first day to the last day of the campaign, and so must the Democratic leaders if the fixed pur? pose is to cure the public ills and give South Carolina, at any cost, good govern? ment dating from November.?News and Courier. A Long Speech. The longest speech on record is be? lieved to nave oeen that made by Mr. De Cosmos, in the Legislature of British Columbia, when a measuie was pending whose passage would take from a great many settlers their lands. De Cosmos was iu a hopeless minority. The job had been held back till the eve of the close of the session; unless legislation was taken before noon of a given day the act of confiscation would fail. The day be? fore the expiration of the limitation De Cosmos got the floor about ten a. m., and began a speech against the bill. Its friends cared little, for they supposed that by one or two o'clock he would be through, and the bill could be put on its passage. One o'clock came and De Cos? mos was speaking still?hadn't more than entered upon his subject. Two o'clock?he was saying "in the second place." Three o'clock?he produced a fearful bundle of evidence, and insisted on reading it. The majority began to have a suspicion of the truth?he was foing to speak till next noon and kill the ill. For a while they-made merry over it; but, as it came on to dusk, they began to get alarmed. They tried interruptions, but soon abandoned them, because each one afforded him a chance to digress and gain time. They tried to shout him down, but that gave him a breathing space, and finally they settled down to watcn the combat between strength of will and weakness of body. They gave him no mercy. No adjournment for dinner; no chance to do more than wet his lips with water; no wandering from his subject; no sitting down. Twilight darkened; the gas was lit; members slipped out to dinner in re? lays, and returned to sleep in squads, but De Cosmos went on. The speaker, to whom he was addressing himself, was alternately dozing, snoring and trying to look wide-a-wakc. Day dawned, and the majority slipped out in squads to wash and breakfast, and the speaker held on. It can't be said it was a very logical, elo? quent or sustained speech. There were digressions in it, repetitions also. But still the speaker went on; and at last noon came to a baffled majority, livid1 with rage and impotence, and a single man, who was triumphant, though his voice had sunk to a husky whisper, his eyes were almost Bhut, and were bleared and bloodshot, his legs tottered under him, and his baked lips were cracked and smeared with blood. De Cosiuob had spoken twenty-six hours, and saved the settlers their lauds! ? "Economy, my dear, economy," said he. "It's all right for you to have plants aud all that, but there is reason in all things, and there isn't a particle of sense in paying fifty cents for a flower pot when there are a dozen empty cigar boxes about the house," and, taking the last "Havana" from another box, he handed her tlie box to put an oleander in, light? ed his cigar and went out. ? A New York lawyer employed a new boy the other day, and when the lad asked "for instructions,. the attorney replied, "Your instructions are to be taken in general. Keep the office clean, borrow coal whenever you can, and un? der no circumstances must you ever lend my umbrella to a lawyer." Newspapers. We copy the following pleasant news? paper gossip from the New York corres? pondence of the Rochester Democrat: At present every city in the Union issues daily papers. Even little Dela ware has three, while the still more petite Rhode Island has six. Arkansas and Oregon each has four, while California .has thirty-six. This indicates the fact that the emigrants to that country em? brace some of the most intelligent of the national population. Massachusetts has twenty-six, being only six more than Texas, a fact which speaks well for the latter. Pennsylvania nas seventy-four, while our own State can show the proud number of ninety-eight. There are in all 687 dailies issued m the United States and territories. Also 5,554 weeklies. Well may one exclaim what a profession has journalism become! There are 310 German newspapers issued in this country, fifty-eight of | which are published in Pennsylvania and fifty in this State. The French tongue is maintained in twenty-eight papers, of j which five are in this city and more than twice as many in Louisiana. Scandi? navian is a big word and the language it signifies is a very strange one to us na? tives, but it has- its place in journalism to the extent of nineteen papers, two of | which are in this city, while eight are in Illinois. There are seventeen Spanish newspapers in this country, seven of | which are in this city. Tne importance of the Dutch population of Michigan is shown by the fact that five newspapers are there published in that tongue, while New York has only one.. While this city was a Dutch settlement it had no Dutch paper; how curious it is to observe that at this late day it should make up the deficiency. Other languages are represented in the journalism of J America, and even the "heathen Chinee" has an organ published in San Francisco. The Cherokee tribe of Indians also has a small paper issued in its peculiar tongue. There is a paper in this city devoted to the Jewish interests; but this is issued in English instead of the original lan? guage of the Hebrew. It is a curious and instructive fact that the press from its very earliest day has been feared by public rulers. This is the very best proof of its power. The first American newspaper was issued in Bos? ton on the 25th of September, 1690. The title! was "Public occurrences, both foreign and domestic." Only one num? ber was issued, for the colonial authori? ties at once suppressed it. The sole copy of this sheet in existence is said to be in London. In 1722. Franklin's paper, the Courant, came under the government in? terdict. From that time to the present the press has been the master of those who ruled the destinies of nations. One of the most staking illustrations of this was given in Junius, whose letter to the king is the most tremendous -invective ever leveled by the press at a crowned head. Even Napoleon was afraid of British newspapers, and during the brief peace which followed the treaty of Amiens, he caused a prosecution' to be brought against a London journal for libel. This case made a great excitement at the time, and the editor beat the greatest soldier of the age. During the rimean war Queen Victoria was making a visit to Balmoral of a more than usual length, and the London Times rebuked her majesty for this unsuitable absence at a time of national calamity. The Queen accepted the reproof and returned as soon as possible to Windsor. The thrilling pamphlets which Tom Paine issued during the revolution ? were the best journalism of that day, when the leading presses were in the hands of the enemy. After the revolution the power of the press was shown by the fact that Hamilton employed it to induce the peo 81e to accept our present constitution, [is best writings were published as news? paper articles. Another illustration of | the power of journalism was furnished by the war which J. Fennimore Cooper made on the press by his libel suits. He won a few cases, but he lost his reputa? tion as an author, the sale of his novels was stopped, and was compelled to feel the penalty of his folly in contending with so vast a power. Speaking of libels, the first that ever occurred in this coun? try was in this city in 1735. It was re? garded by the people as an attack on the freedom of the press, and the jury acquit? ted Zenger, the editor of the Weekly Journal, who had thus been prosecuted, Zenger deserves a statue for his nerve. In all conflicts with other powers the press has thus far came out victorious. It is also to be observed that all great writers have to a greater or less degree contributed to the press, and in most in? stances without pay, considering the use of public columns a suitable compensa? tion for their articles. The Roman Vatican.?The term "Vatican" is often used, but there are many who do not understand its import The term refers to a collection of build? ings on one of the seven hills of Rome, which covers a space of 1,200 feet in length, and 1,000 feet in breadth. It is 1 built on the spot once occupied by the garden of cruel Nero. It owes its origin to the Bishop of Rome, who in the early Eart of the sixth century erected an umble residence on its site. About the year 1160 Pope Eugenius' rebuilt it on a magnificent scale. Innocent II., a few years afterwards, gave it up as a lodging to Peter II., King of Arragon. In 1305 Clement V., at the instigation of the Bang of France, removed .the Papal See from Rome to Avignon, when the Vati? can remained in a condition of obscurity and neglect for more than seventy ? years. But soon after the return of the ponti? fical court to Rome, an event which had been so earnestly prayed for poor Petrarch, and which finally took place in 1376, the Vatican was put into a state of | repair, again enlarged, and it was thence? forward considered as the regular palace and residence of the Popes, who, one after the other, added fresh buildings to it, and gradually encircled it with an? tiquities, statues, pictures and books, until it became the richest depository in the world. The library of the Vatican was com? menced 1,400 years ago. It contains 40, 000 manuscripts, among which are some by Pliny, St. Thomas, Charles Borromeo. and many Hebrew, Syrian, Arabian, ana Armenian Bibles. The whole of the immense buildings composing the Vatican are filled with statues found beneath the ruins of ancient Rome, with paintings by the masters, and with curious medals and antiquities of almost every description. When it is known that there have been exhumed more than 70,000 statues from the ruined temples and palaces of Rome, the reader can form some idea of the richness of the Vatican. "Time softens all things," except the young man who parts his hair in the middle and whistles on the street cars. Nothing can make him any softer than he is. ? Some people have peculiar constitu? tions. Mark Twain once complained, after a long interval of idleness: "This working between meals is killing me!" Preservation of the Eye-Sight. The eye, of all organs of the body, is the most delicate and beautiful, the most* fearfully and wonderfully made; and if we remember that it is subject to over forty different diseases, any one of which may derange or even destroy it, it is sore? ly only a plain duty to do everything we can to retain the blessing of good sight. A large number of these diseases are of an inflammatory character, and these can generally be kept at bay by avoiding exposure to cold or wet or damp, atten? tion to the general health and temperate living. Others are dependent upon mal construction of the organ itself, and for these the skillful optician must be one's physician. A disease of the eye not by any means uncommon, and which when taken early can usually be cured, is amaurosis, or gutta serena. There is great weakness and some obscurity of vision in the ear? lier stages; the patient has an uncertain gait, and a strange look out of the eyes, from the sluggishness with which the eye contracts in the light. There is also at the same time deterioration of the gener? al health. If this disease comes on from overwork, anxiety of mind, or debility? from whatever cause?perfect rest, tonics, sea air and cold bathing become impera? tive, if total blindness is to be averted. Overwork and poring too long over books and papers, especially in the. dusk or by gas-light, will, in process of time, weaken the strongest eyes in the world. 'This is more especially to be avoided if you are at all near-sighted. A healthy, well-formed eye ought to be able to 'dis? cern an object or line the 600th of an inch in diameter at a distance of six inches, and we should call a person near? sighted who could not read the ordinary small type at a distance of twelve inches. Long or far sightedness is one of the earliest symptoms of advancing old age when it is not the result of poverty of blood, in which case it may be corrected by iron tonics and quinine; everything that tends to strengthen the body and nerves generally keeps it at bay. Many people complain of fatigue in the eyes, or weakness of sight; they can? not read or write for any length of time without the page becoming indistinct and the letters running into each, other.? These are symptoms which can be re? moved by attention to the general health, rest, tonics, and frequently (three or four times a day) bathing the forehead and eyes in cola water. Bat never neglect them. Cold bathing to the whole body every day?making a habit of it, in fact ?is a grand conservation of sight. For this purpose, if the person can bear it, the shower-bath is the best. But -in taking a plunge-bath, always dash a little water in the face first, then spring boldly in; don't take the water a toe' at a time. When your eyes are at all weak, never work or read in the twilight, and never go out in very bright sunshine, especially if the ground is covered with snow.' Oat in Greenland, after shooting for five or six hours on the ice, we used always to come on board as hungry as hawks, but blind as moles. We were all right while on the snow, but the steward had to lead us to the table and assist us in eating.? In about two hours we came round again. This snow-blindness is caused in a great measure by extreme contraction of the pupil. Cold water to the eyes and a few whiffs of chloroform tend to dispel it. Color-blindness is rather a strange af? fect ;on, aud any one eo afflicted should never attempt to learn to be an artist, a signal-man, or a sailor. However, I am convinced that this affection is often more apparent than real. I mean that it is not so much that the man does not know the difference in the colors as that he forgets to name them aright. Surely it is unnecessary for me here to raise my voice against that silly and most pernicious habit that some young. ladies have of dilating the pupil with belladon? na or solution of atropine before going to a party or ball. That it is done, and pretty frequently too, I have had ample means of ascertaining. A more certain way of spoiling the eye-sight could hardly be devised; let those who doubt me try it for one season, and see, as the blind man said. Regular living, temperance, a sufficient amount of both bodily, and mental exer? tion, early hours and the bath are the chief preservatives to the eye-sight? Harper's Bazar. The Lobd's Pbayeb.?When the elder Booth was residing in Baltimore, a pious, unbane old gentleman of that city, bearing of his wonderful power of elocution, one day invited him to dinner, although always deprecating the stage and all theatrical performances. A large company sat down at the table, and, on returning to the drawing room, one of them asked Booth, as a special favor to them all, to repeat the Lord's Prayer.? He signified his willingness to gratify them, and all eyes were fixed upon him. He slowly and reverently arose from his chair, trembling with the burden of the two great conceptions. He bad to real? ize the character, attributes and presence of the Almighty Being he was to address. He was to transform himself into a poor, sinning, stumbling, benighted, needy supplicant, offering homage, asking bread, pardon, light and guidance. Says one of the company who was present, "It was wonderful to watch the play of emo? tion which convulsed his countenance. He became deathly pale, and his eyes turned tremblingly upward, wet with tears. As yet he had not spoken. The silence could be felt; it had become ab? solutely painful, until at last the spell was broken as it by an electric shock, as bis rich toned Voice syllabled forth, "Our Fathetjj; which art in Heaven," etc, with a pathos and fervid solemnity which thrilled all hearts. He finished; the si? lence continued, not a voice was heard, not a muscle moved in his rapt audience, until from a remote corner of the room, a subdued sob was heard, and the old gen? tleman (the host) stepping forward with streaming eyes and tottering frame, seized Booth by the hand. 'Sir,' said be, in broken accents, 'you have afforded me a pleasure for which my whole future life will be grateful. I am an old man, and every day from my boyhood to the pres? ent time, I have repeated tbe Lord's' Prayer; but I never heard it before, never!' 'You are right,' replied Booth, 'to read that Prayer as it ought to be read caused me the severest study and labor for thirty years, and I am far from being sat? isfied with my rendering of that wonder? ful production. Hardly one person in ten thousand comprehends how much beauty, tenderness and grandeur can be condensed in a space so simple. That prayer itself sufficiently illustrates the truth of the Bible, and stamps upon it tbe seal of divinity.'" ? In a shop window is displayed this suggestive notice: "Boy wanted?One that has fully rested himself, and is not too intellectual" ? A correspondent of a Western paper having described the Ohio as a "sickl stream," the editor appended the remark, "That's so?it is conned to its bed." ? A very clever woman has said: _ "I do not wish anybody to do anything naughty, but if they do, I want to know all about it."