The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, April 27, 1876, Image 1
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ANDERSON, S. 0., THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1876.
VOL. XI--ITO. 41.
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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."