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THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 25, 1877. The Union-Herald says that a usurper has no chance without a Supreme Court of his own, and so it has for one time told the truth. Poor pretending Gover? nor Chamberlain does not own a Supreme Court himself, and therefore his organ begins to see that he stands no chance. The Supreme Court of South Carolina does not belong to any one, and therefore acts according to law. That is the reason the pretender cannot establish his gov? ernment. The Union-Herald tells U3 that the value of land in Florida has increased. This is another instance of the benefit of Democratic rule. Even the beginning of it has been of financial advantage to tbe people of Florida. As soon as Ex Gov. Chamberlain fails to have the sup? port of federal bayonets in his preten? sions in South Carolina, similar blessings will shower down upon our people. May that glorious day soon dawn upon this much oppressed and over-burdened land. The Bill for counting the Electoral vote, which we publish elsewhere i3 a compromise measure, and involves in it a sacrifice of principle to a certain extent, as is generally the case in all political compromises. It abrogates the clear in? tention of tbe Constitution, but is proba? bly the best measure that can be secured at this excited state of the two contend? ing parties. We trust it will secure, if passed, an honest count and declaration of the true vote, and that Samuel J. Til den, the people's choice, will be our next President. The Union-Herald says that Governor Hampton does not have to offer a man a chromo to induce him to accept office under his government. Of course not. Every sensible man knows that the Hampton government will succeed, and then his officers are sure to continue in their positions during his administration. Poor Chamberlain is not so well off, for tbe public recognize the fact that his prospects are continually weakening, and therefore even a chromo could not induce prudent men to incur the responsibility of exercising an illegal office. UNITED STATES SENATORS. Hon. Eli Saulsbury has been unani? mously re-elected ?United States Senator from Deleware. The Republicans have re-elected James G. Blaine, of Maine; Thomas W. Ferry, of Michigan, and Wm. Windom, of Min? nesota, to the United States Senate. Ex-Governor A. H. Garland has been chosen United States Senator from Ar? kansas, to succeed Powell Clayton, (Re? publican,) whose term expires on the 4th of March. Eleven Republicans voted for Garland, the Democratic candidate, and only eight for his opponent. Ex-Governor Isham G. Harris has been elected United States Senator from Ten? nessee for the term of six years from the 4th of March. Harris is a man of fine abilities, and his friends claim that he will make one of the most useful and con? servative members of the Senate. James E. Bailey was elected for the short term on the seventy-third ballot. GRANT'S LOUISIANA POLICY. The sudden and unexpected interfer? ence in Louisiana by President Grant was a great surprise to the whole coun? try, and it seems that his action was not understood even by his party friends in that State. Packard made haste to issue a proclamation against tbe Nicholls gov? ernment, which was mere brutem fulmen unless sustained by the power of the bayonet. Subsequent events convinced Packard that his action was hasty and inconsiderate, for -the troops were not placed at his disposal when he made the demand for assistance. Grant's order was issued after the most urgent entrea? ties from his political friends, who insis? ted that the Packard government would instantly disappear, unless moral strength was gained by the interference of the general government to prevent.it. The conduct of the Democrats in pledging fairness, kindness and equitable treat? ment toward the colored people, and tbe unanimity with which the tax-paying element rallied to the support of the Nicholl's government was demoralizing in its effect upon the average legislator in the Packard House and Senate, and only a few days was lacking to complete the abandonment of the usurping Gov? ernor by his party associates, which would be a strong endorsement that the Democrats fairly carried the electiou in November. An abandonment of this claim on the part of Republicans was a virtual concession that Tilden is entitled to the electoral vote of Louisiana, for the difference between the State and Electoral tickets was exceedingly small. In order to preserve any semblance of the claim that Hayes carried the State, it was necessary to bolster Packard for a short time, until the electoral count had been decided by Congress, when Packard will be left to take care of himself. This idea of federal interference with State governments is fast becoming obnoxious to leading and influential Republicans, who believe that the woes of their recent political experience are attributable in a great measure to such unauthorized in? tervention. In truth, President Grant was long ago satisfied that executive in? terposition was entirely wrong and im? politic, as the following extract from his message to Congress in December, 1874, will snow: The whole subject of executive inter? ference with the affairs of a State is re? pugnant to public opinion, to the feeling of those who, from their official capacity, must be used in such interposition, and to him or those who must direct. Unless most clearly on the side of law, such in? terposition is a crime; with the law to support it, it is condemned without a hearing. I desire, therefore, that all necessity for executive direction in local affaire shall become unnecessary and ob? solete. I invite the attention, not only of Congress, but of the people of the United States, to the causes and effects of these unhappy questions.?President Grant?8 Message, December 1874. _Governor Hampton declined to fur? nish money for the sustenance ol the State Colored Orphan's Asylum, on the ground that its trustees and other officers refused to recognize his government. JAS. A. HOYT, E. B. MURRAY, Editors. THE STRAIGHTOUT MOVEMENT. The Charleston Journal of Commerce speaks thus complacently of its work last summer: "In the political campaign of last summer, the Journal of Commerce was the leading organ of the "straightout" Democracy of South Carolina. Without its efforts, we do not hesitate to express the belief, the canvass would not have have ended in disastrous failure. In the columns of this paper the "straightout" policy took shape and direction, and its editor bore the heat and burden of the struggle to establish this as the policy of our people, with the harmony and the courage of hope." The Columbia Register, by reason of its superior antiquity to the Charleston publication feels that its pretensions are not properly recognized in the above paragraph and seeks to give its own view of the situation as follows: "With the best of feeling for the Jour? nal, its editors, proprietors and stock? holders, we are compelled to dissent from its expressed views. Long before the Journal bad an existence, or was ever dreamed of, the Columbia Register was fighting the whole press of the State, with two or three exceptions in strong Democratic counties, for a straightout platform, a straightout ticket and a straighout fight, that victory might come to the Democracy of South Carolina, or that they might go down in a gallant at? tempt to achieve it. * * * * There is virtue in modesty, whether our Charleston contemporary is aware of the fact or not." We are somewhat amused at this con? troversy, and especially at the Register's fling at the Journal of Commerce about its age. It strikes us that there were papers in the State who were battling for the "straightout" policy before the Regis? ter or Journal of Commerce were ever published. For instance, where was the Register on the 20th of May, 1875 ? Our Columbia contemporary informs the pub? lic that it is aware that there is virtue in modesty, and we would respectfully sug? gest that an application of this knowl? edge would be in order. The Situation in Columbia. The patient work of the Democratic leaders has nowhere been more fruitful than in the proceedings before Referee Wilkes, in Columbia. Every precinct return in the entire State has been criti? cally examined and compared with the statements of the County Canvassers, the .lerical errors have been noted, and the statement of the entire vote put in such a shape as to enable the Supreme Court to make an intelligent decision upon the questions submitted to it. These proceed? ings by mandamus, as to the State officers, began immediately after the election, but lay in abeyance until the questions con? nected with the Electoral vote and the vote for members of the Legislature could be settled. The prayer of the mandamus was, that the Board of State Canvassers be required to compare the returns of the precinct managers with the statements of the County Canvassers, which they had failed to do. This, by order of the Court, has been done before Referee Wilkes, whose report will be ready shortly. The general result of the reference, when the first scrutiny ended, was the election of the Democratic* candidates for Attorney-General and Treasurer, and the defeat of the Democratic candidates for Secretary of State, Adjutant-General and Superintendent of Education. This was obtained by correcting an error of 187 votes at McMillan's, in Marion, and of 223 votes at Graham, in Barnwell, where these votes for the Democratic candidate for Attorney-General were counted for the Democratic candidate for Comptroll? er, and the same number of votes counted for Attorney-General that should* have been counted for Comptroller. The Rol? lins box is not taken into account; nor is the disputed Abbeville box. The ex? clusion of this last named box, which gave the Republicans about 400 majority, is confidently expected, and will elect all the Democratic candidates. Without this exclusion only the Democratic can? didates for Attorney-General and Treas? urer were shown to be elected. A second examination'of the returns was made which brought to light the fact that there was a difference of fifty votes between the total vote cast for Comptroller-General, as reported by the County Canvasser of Horry and the total vote shown by the returns of the Precinct Managers. It was ascertained that these fifty votes were accounted for by an apparent alteration of the figures in the returns from Simp? son's Creek and Dogwood Neck. The Precinct Managers were sent for, and these have made affidavit that the figures had been altered; the vote for Dunn, the Republican candidate for Comptroller, having been changed in the Simpson's Mill return from 2 to 32, and at Dogwood Neck from 10 to 30. The original re? turns were at once called for, but they were missing; and it is a noteworthy coincidence that these same returns were not to be found when the Congressional Committee called for them. They were lost and were found, and are lost again. Fortunately, their places can besupplied. Mr. Dunn will not gain anything should they never be recovered. The Secretary of State is their custodian, and if he do not find them suspicions will fall upon him. Meantime the change of fifty votes give'- Gen. Hagood, the Democratic can? didate for Comptroller, forty-nine major? ity. The fraud in the Horry returns was artistic. Dunn ran, for instance, at Simpson's Mill, just 30 votes behind the other Republican candidates; and the change from 2 to 32 had a very natural appearance, as it put Dunn on the same footing as his associates. Only the fact that the apparent alterations accounted for the exact difference between the Pre? cinct returns and the County statement put the Democratic counsel on the trail. Not a word was said until the evidence was forthcoming to establish the fact that the returns had been doctored. Then the stunning revelation came. Chief Justice Moses will probably be able to resume his seat on the bench in about ten days, and before the full bench the report of the Referee in the manda? mus case will be heard. We have every reasun to believe, so strong is the Demo? cratic case, that the demand of the Court will give the Democrats the offices they claim. There have been no noisy demon? strations, but the good work goes bravely on.?News and Conrier, 19tk xnst. ? J. Milton Turner, a full-blooded ne? gro, who has been American Minister to Liberia, since 1871, came to New York city in October last. On his arrival at Sandy Hook he telegraphed to a friend to secure him rooms at the Astor House, which he did in the evening. The Li be rian Minister went to the Astor House and inquired whether J. Milton Turner, Liberian Minister, had rooms there, to which the clerk replied in the affirma? tive, at the same time he noticed his name on the register, when he declared himself to be Mr. Turner. The clerk de? clared the hotel was full and he could not be accommodated. He brought suit under the civil rights act against the pro? prietors of the hotel, and as he intended to leave for Liberia his testimony was taken last week. The answer is, first, that the hotel was really full; and, sec ond. that the civil rights bill was uncon? stitutional as far as it related to hotel keepers. ? Mr. Henry Creighton, of Lancaster, Ohio, was murdered by his wife on Wed? nesday afternoon. The woman is crazy, and after killing her husband with a re? volver, she made the work sure by chop? ping oft'his head with an axe. been i ;urated, or, if it had, would WAS THERE AN ELECTION ? Messrs. Editors : The question as to the validity of the election of county officers, held on the 7th day ofNovember last, has occasioned a great deal of in? terest in the different counties, on the part of the candidates receiving a major? ity of the votes cast as well as by the people. It is known that the Bar of the State, as well as the Circuit Judges, are divided in opinion on the.subject. There is no doubt that the ambiguity in the Statutes arises from the incompetency of the Legislature for the last eight years to collate the Statutes bearing on the same subject and to express their intention in a clear and intellible manner. To solve this question, then, it is necessary to lay down some of the well-established rules in the construction of Statutes, and to apply them to the Statutory law of the State elections. So far as the validity of the late elections are concerned, four rules of construction are all that are necessary: First, That Statutes on the same subject, even though there be no reference by the latter Statute to the former, are to be taken together, and construed in pari matcria. See State vs. Fields, 2 Bail. Rep., 480. Second, That the intention of the makers of a Statute ought to be regarded in its construction. Whenever this can be discovered, it is to be followed with reason and discretion in the construction of the Statute, although such construction seems contrary to the letter of the Statue. 11 Mod., 161; 1 Johns. 105. A thing which is within the intention of the makers of a Statute, is as much within the Statute as if it were within the letter. Plow. 366, 10 Rep., 101. Third, That the title of an act, as well as the preamble, may be resorted to, to ascertain the intention. State vs. Stephenson, 2 Bail., 334. State vs. Fields, Ibid. 554. Fourth, That the construc? tion given to an act of the Legislature soon after its passage, cannot be altered at a very distant period. 1 Dall., 136. There is but one restraint to the will of the Legislature, and that is the Constitu? tion. If then we can ascertain the will of the Legislature as expressed in the Statutes, and that will is not in contra? vention of any constitutional restraint, it it the law. The Constitution of 1868, Art. 2nd Sec. 11, requires the election of Senators and Representatives to be held on the third Wednesday in October, eighteen hundred and seventy j and forever thereafter on the same day in every second year. Art. 3d Sees. 2 and 5 provides for the election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and declares that they shall be elected at the first general election held under this Constitution- for members of the General Assembly, and at each general election thereafter. The Constitution, therefore, clearly determines the general election to be tbe one at which Senators and members of the Legislature are chosen. Art. 14, Sec. 10, requires all State officers to be elected at tbe time of the election of members of the General Assembly. Art. 4, Sees. 18, 20, 27, 29, 30, require ! the election of Probate Judges, Clerks of Courts, Solicitors, Sheriffs and Coroners, j but specifies no time of their election, leaving tbe time to be determined by the Legislature. The Constitution clearly fixes the time for the general election and that of State officers, and leaves the time for the election of members to Con? gress and county officers subject to legis? lative enactment. The Convention by an ordinance passed 7th day of March, 1868, provided for the election of members of tbe Legislature, State officers, and mem? bers to Congress for the unexpired term, to be held on the 14th, 15th and 16th days of April, 1868, and for the election of county and municipal officers, within thirty days after the ratification of the Constitution. This latter election took place in the summer of 1868. The first Legislature, under the new Constitution, met in the month of July, 1868, and on the 26th day of September following pa&sed the first Act relative to election, entitled "An Act providing for the next general elections and the manner of con? ducting the same." Acts of 1868, No. 69. This Act provided that "The next gen? eral election in the State should be held on the first Tuesday after the first Mon? day of November next"?Sec. 1st. Sec. 13th provided that there should be one general ticket, on which should be tbe names of the persons voted for as Repre? sentatives in Congress, and State, Circuit and County officers; and on another general ticket the names of the persons voted for as Electors of President and Vice-President, and Sec. 14th required the Commissioners of elections to provide two boxes for each election precinct, and that such boxes should be labeled as fol? lows: 1. Electors. 2. Congress, Circuit and County officers. The Constitution? ality of this Act as it relates to State offi? cers, and the strict propriety of denomi? nating an election from which was ex? cluded tbe election of members of the Geueral Assembly, will not effect the clear intention of the Legislature, that the election of County officers should be at the same time that Representatives in Congress, State and Circuit officers were elected, and that these should be elected on one general ticket. This Act was special, and was designed for the election of 1868, but is important as showing that the Legislature intended that the election should be by general ticket, and that county officers should be voted for on that ticket. The acts of the 14th Feb? ruary and the 1st March, 1870, are to be construed together, and when so con? strued the intention of the Legislature is clear and all their provisions consistent. It was that there should be one general election, on the third Wednesday of Oc? tober in every second year; that at that election the electors should vote by one general ticket, on which should be the names of the persons voted for as Repre? sentatives in Congress, and State, Circuit and County officers, and that the Com? missioners of election should provide one box for each election precinct, and labelled Congress, State, Circu't and County officers. These Statutes were substantially incorporated in the Revised Statutes. See R. S., Part 1st Title 2, Chaps. 8 and 10. Under them the elec? tion of 1872 was held on the third Wed? nesday of October. That being the year of the Presidential election, another election was held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for Presiden? tial Electors, according to the Federal Constitution. These two elections fol? lowing so closely upon each other were regarded as a great burthen upon the people of the State, and the Legislature foreseeing this, and having no power to change the Federal law, fixiug the time for the election of Presidential Electors, but having the right to propose to the electors of the State an amendment to the State Constitution, did by Joint Reso? lution, approved March 9, 1872, propose an amendment to the Constitution, mak? ing the general election take place at the same time as that of Eelectors for Presi? dent and Vice President, to wit: on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. So that in every fourth year there should be only one election instead of two. The reason and the only reason as? signed in the Preamble and to the Joint Resolution is that "The people of this State are, by the two elections following so closely upon each other, greatly an? noyed and inconvenienced, and the in? dustrial interests of the State greatly dis? turbed and imperilled." This proposed amendment was adopted by an over? whelming majority of the people at the next election, and the Legislature by the Act of March 19th, 1874, enacted that "The next general election in this State shall be held pursuant to the provisions of amendment to Article 2, Section 11, of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 1874; and forever thereafter at the same time in every second year." The question now is, what is included in the term "general election?" This must be decided by the Constitution and Statutes. The Constitution requires members of the Legislature and State officers to be elected at this election ; it does not prohibit the election of other elective officers at the same time, but leaves it to the Legislature in its wisdom to do so or not. Has the Legislature di? rected the election of county officers to be had at the general election? The acts of 1868, 1870 and 1872 require the election of county officers at this election. The requirement is in the spirit and the letter of all the acts in reference to the general election. The elections of 1870? 72-74-76 were had upon this interpre? tation, and not a dissenting opinion was expressed until after the election of 1876. So much of the act of 1870 as conflicted with the election of county officers at the general election, is repealed by the act of March 12, 1872, which provided for the election of county officers at the general election, and repealed all acts inconsis? tent with it. This construction of the acts relating to the election of county officers must have been in accordance with the intention of the Legislature as expressed in the Statutes, or it would not have been received and acted upon for six years by all the departments of gov? ernment and the whole people. The intention of the Legislature that there should be but one election in any one year for Federal, State, Circuit and county officers is clear from the pream? ble to the joint resolution to amend the Constitution, quoted above, and if that intention is clear, such reasonable con? struction must be given the various acts construed together as will carry it into effect. A construction of the acts which makes two elections coming close upon each other every two years, instead of every fourth year, increases the very burthens which the Legislature without question intended to remove, cannot be in accord? ance with the intention of the Legisla? ture, clearly and unmistakably expressed in plain language, and therefore cannot be law. Again, if the clearly expressed will of t it Legislature is that there shall be oniy one general election in every two years, any construction of the acts which makes two is a perversion of that will and cannot have the force of law. From these premises for the construction of Statutes, applied to the Statutory provis? ions for the election of county officers, it seems that they should be elected at the general election, held on the first Tues? day after the first Monday in November every two years, and that the election for county officers, held on the 7th day of November last, was in accordance with the requirement of the Statutes of the State. J. S. M. Ptesidext Grant will Sign the Bill.?The New York Tribune's Wash? ington despatch says: The President in conversation with a friend on the pro? posed electoral compromise, said he had not yet had time to examine the bill care? fully and critically, but on general prin? ciples he approved of a measure of the character alluded to, and if not objection? able in detail, or if it did not contain provisions at variance with the spirit and letter of the constitution, he would accord to it his prompt approval. He said that from the beginning he had felt no appre? hensions as to the final result, as he has always had great faith in the intelligence and patriotism of the American people. There have been threatenings and in? cipient evidences of revolutionary pur? poses in some quarters, to meet which he had taken proper measures of prevention, and for which he will keep prepared un? til his responsibility is at an end. He said he is much encouraged by the pros? pect of a peaceful solution of the difficul? ties, for the two parties in Congress, through a committee, having once agreed upon a common basis of adjustment of their differences, it will not be difficult to bring about a final settlement. He re? marked that initial steps are always most difficult; what follows is easy. The coun? try, he said, is now in a condition to be gin a period of unexampled prosperity, iounded on correct principles of business and proper standards of value, and that is all that is wanting to an amicable and satisfactory settlement of the Presidential question. ? Charles Collins, chief engineer of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, was found dead m his bed at Cleveland, Ohio, on last Saturday morn? ing. It was apparent that he had been dead twenty-four hours, and in one hand was grasped a revolver, while another pistol ana a razor were lying beside him on the bed. He committed suicide by shooting undoubtedly, and it is believed on account of despondency, caused by his theoretical responsibility for the Ashta bula disaster. The family of Mr. Collins was absent at the time of his suicide. ? Hon. Henry B. Anthony, United States Senator from Rhode Island, was attacked by paralysis at the railroad sta? tion in Washington City on last Friday night, as he was returning from Balti? more, where he had spent the evening and dined with a party of friends. He was conveyed home by the police, and received medical attention at once. Some of his friends attribute this sudden illnes^ to his eating partridge, which bird feeds on laurel leaves when the ground is cov? ered with snow, and thus become-! pois onous. Mr. Anthony was improving rapidly at last accounts. THE ELECTORAL QUESTION. A Plan Proposed by the Joint Commit? tee for a Settlement. The report of the joiut committee ap? pointed by the Senate and House of Representatives to devise a plan for counting the electoral votes was submit? ted to Congress on Thursday last. The report is accompanied by a bill to regu? late the count and secure the decision of questions arising thereon. These docu? ments were presented in the Senate by Mr. Edmunds, and in the House of Rep? resentatives by Mr. Payne. The report is signed by thirteen members of the committee?Senator Morton alone dis? senting. In presenting the report to the Senate, Senator Edmunds, of Vermont, said: "I am directed, Mr. President, by the select committee raised under the resolu? tion of the Senate, on the subject of counting of the Electoral vote, to submit a report in writing, with an accompany? ing bill. The report is signed, I am happy to say, by all the members of both committees, (it being a report in form, joint and several, to the two houses,) with one exception ; and all that I wish to say on this occasion, after stating that we shall desire to take it up at the earliest possible day, as time is running very fast, possibly, and, I hope, indeed, on Satur? day, the day after to-morrow, but certain? ly on Monday, to press it to a determina? tion in some lorm steadily from that time forth. I only wish to say, in addition, that the committee are of opinion that the measure we recommend is not, as it is called, a compromise, in any sense of the term, but is a measure of justice in aid of the exercise of constitutional gov? ernment, and that in no sense of the term will anybody have a just right to say that anybody's opinion or view has been surrendered in any substantial re? spect. It is not a measure of policy or a contrivance, but a measure of constitu? tional justice for the preservation of the peace and order of government." REMARKS OF THE COMMITTEE. We have applied the utmost practica? ble study and deliberation to the subject, and believe that the bill now repurted is the best attainable disposition of the different problems and disputed theories arising out of the late election. It must be obvious to every person conversant with the history of the country and with the formation and interpretation of the constitution, that the wide diversity of views and opinions touching the subject, not wholly coincident with the biassed wishes of the membere of political par? ties, would naturally exist. We have, in this state of affairs, chosen, therefore, not to deal with abstract questions save so far as they are necessarily involved in the legislation proposed. It is, of course, plain that the report of the bill implies that in our opinion legislation may be had on the subject in accordance with the constitution; but we think the law proposed is inconsistent with a few of the principal theories upon the subject. The constitution requires that the electoral votes shall be counted upon a particular occasion. All will agree that the vot^s named in the constitution are the consti? tutional votes of the State and no other, and when they have been found and identified there is nothing left to he dis? puted or decided. All the rest is the mere clerical work of summing up the numbers, which being done, the constitu? tion itself declares the consequences. This bill, then, is only directed to ascer? taining for the purpose, and in aid of the counting, what are the constitutional votes of the respective States; and what? ever jurisdiction exists forsuch purposes the bill only regulates the method of ex? ercising it. The constitution, our great instrument and security for liberty and order, speaks in the amplest language for all such cases in whatever aspect they may be presen? ted. It declares that the Congress shall have power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carry? ing into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by the con? stitution in the government of the United States, or any department or officer thereof.'' The committee, therefore, think that the law proposed cannot be justly assailed as unconstitutional by any one. For this reason we think it unnecessary, whatever may be our own individual views, to discuss any of the theories re? ferred to. Our fidelity to the constitution is observed when we find that the law we recommend is consistent with that instru? ment. The matter then being a proper subject for legislation, the fitness of the means proposed becomes the next sub? ject of consideration. Upon this we beg leave to submit a few brief observations. In all just governments, both public and private, rights must be defined and de? termined by the law. This is essential to the very idea of such a government, and is the characteristic distinction be? tween free and despotic systems. How? ever important it may be whether one citizen or another shall be the Chief Magistrate for a period prescribed, upon just theories of civil institutions it is of far greater moment that the will of the people lawfully expressed in the choice of that officer shall be ascertained and carried into effect in a lawful way. It is true that in every operation of a govern? ment of laws, from the most trivial to the most important, there will always be the possibility that the result reached will not be a true one. The executive officer may not wisely perform his dnty, the courts may not truly declare the law, and the legislative body may not enact the best laws. But in either ense to re? sist the act of the Executive, the Courts or the Legislature, acting constitutionally and lawfully within their sphere, would be to set up anarchy in the place of gov? ernment. We think, then, that to pro? vide a clear and lawful m ans of perform? ing a great and necessary function of government in a time of stich public dis? pute is of far greater importance than the particular advantage that any man or party may in the course of events possi? bly obtain. But we have still endeavored to provide such lawful agencies of decis? ion in the present ease as shall be the most fair and impartial possible under the circumstances. Each of the branches of the Legislature and the Judiciary are represented in the tribunal in equal pro? portions. The composition of the judi? cial part of the commission looks to a selection from different parts of the Re? public, while it is thought to be free from any preponderance of supposable bias, and the addition of the necessary constit? uent part of the whole commission in order to obtain an uneven number is left to an agency the fartherest removed from prejudice of any existing attainable one4 It would be difficult, if not impossible, we think, to establish a tribunal that could be less the subject of party criticism than such a one. The principle of its constitution is so absolutely fair that we are unable to perceive how the most ex? treme partisan can assail it, unless he wishes to embark his wishes upon the stormy sea of unregulated procedure, hot disputes and dangerous results that can neither be measured nor defined, rather than upon the fixed and regular course of law that insures peace and the order of society, whatever party may be disap? pointed in its hopes. The unfortunate circums!ance that no provision had been made on the subject before the election has greatly added in dealing with it, inasmuch as many of the people of the country, members of the respective political parties, will, perhaps, look with jealousy upon any measure that seems to involve even the probability of the defeat of their wishes, but it has led the committees to feel that their mem? bers are bound by the highest duty in such a case to let no bias or party feeling stand in the way of a just, equal and peaceful measure for extricating the [ question from the embarrassments that at present surround it. In conclusion we respectfully beg leave I '? to impress upon Congress the necessity of a speedy determination upon this subject. It is impossible to estimate the uiaterial loss the country daily sustains from the existing state of uncertainty. It directly and powerfully tends to unsettle and paralyze business, to weaken public and private credit and to" create apprehen? sion? in the minds of the people that dis? turb the peaceful tenor of their ways and happiness. It does far more?it tends to bring Republican institutions into dis? credit and to create doubts of the success of our form of government and of the perpetuity of the Republic. ?.U consid? erations of interest, or patriotism an:i of justice unite in demanding of the law making power a measure that will bring peace and prosperity to the country and show that our republican institutions are equal to any emergency. And in this connection we cannot refrain from ex? pression of our satisfaction that your committee, composed of equal numbers of opposing parties, have fortunately been able to do what has been attempted in vain heretofore, almost unanimously agree upon a plan considered by them all to be just, wise and efficient. We accordingly recommend the pro? posed act to the patriotic and just judg judgment of Congress. The report is signed by George D. Ed? munds, Frederick T. Frclinghuysen, Roscoe Conkling, A. G. Tfaurman, T. F. Bayard and M. W. Ransom on the part of the Senate, Mr. Morton being the only one who declined to sign it. On the part of the House of Representatives it was signed by the seven members, name? ly : H. B. Payne, Eppa Hunton, A. S. Hewitt, W. M. Springer, George W. McCrary, George T. Hoar and George Willard. plan of agreement. The following is the complete text of the bill agreed upon by the Joint Com? mittee on Counting the Electoral Vote: A Bill to provide for and regu? late the counting of votes for president and vice president and the decision of questions arising thereon for the term commenc? ing march 4, a. d. 1877. Be it enacted, dec, That the Senate and House of Representatives shall meet in the Hall of the House of Representa t'ves, at the hour of 1 p. m., on the first Thursday in February, A. D. 1377, and the President of the Senate shall be their presiding officer. Two tellers shall be previously appointed on the part of the Senate and two ou the part of the House of Representatives, to whom shall be handed, as they are opened by the Presi? dent of the Senate, the certificates and papers purporting to be certificates of the electoral votes, which certificates and papers shall be opened in the presence of the two houses, and be acted upon in the alphabetical order of the States, begin? ning with the.letter A; and said tellers, having then read the same in the pres? ence and hearing of the two houses, shall make a list of the votes as they shall appear from the said certificates; and the votes having been ascertained and counted, as in this act provided, the re? sult of the same shall be delivered to the President of the Senate, who shall there? upon announce the state of the vote and the names of the persons, if any, elected, which announcement shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elec? ted President and Vice President of the United States, which, together with a list of the votes, shall be entered on the jour? nals of the two houses. Upon such read? ing of any such certificates or paper, when there shall be only one return from a State, the President of the Senate shall call for objections, if any. Every objec? tion shall be made in writing, and shall state clearly and concisely, and without argument, the ground thereof, and shall be signed by at least one Senator and one member of the House of Representatives before the same shall be received. When all objections so made to any vote or paper from a State shall have been re? ceived and read, the Senate shall there? upon withdraw, and such objections shall be submitted to the Senate for iU decis? ion, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall in like manner sub? mit such objections to the House of Rep? resentatives for its decision, and no elec? toral vote or votes from auy State from which one return has been received shall be rejected, except by the affirmative vote of the two houses. When the two houses have voted, they shall immediate? ly again meet, and the presiding officer shall then announce the decision of the question submitted. Sec. 2. That if more than one return or paper purporting to be a return from a State shall have been received by the President of the Senate, purporting to be the certificates of electoral votes given at the last preceding election for President and Vice President in such State, unless they shall be duplicates of the same re? turn, all such returns and papers shall be opened by him in the presence of the two houses, when taet as aforesaid, and read by the tellers; ind all such returns and papers shall thereupon be submitted to the judgment and decision, as to which is the true and lawful electoral vote of such State, of a commission constituted as follows, namely: During the session of each house on the Tutsday next pre? ceding the first Thursdaj in February, 1877, each house shall, by viva voce vote, appoint five of its members who, with the five Associate Justices of ;he Supreme Court of the United States, to be ascer? tained as hereinafter provided, shall con? stitute a commission for the decision of all questions upon or in respetf of such double returns named in this, section. : On the Tuesday next preceding the first Thursday in February, Anno Domini 1877, or as soon thereafter as nay be, the Associate Justices of the Stpreme I Court of the Unite3 States now aaigned to the 1st, 3d, 4th and 9th circuits shall I select, in such manner as a majority of I them shall deem fit, another of the Asso ! ciate Justices of said court, which 'ive persons shall be members of said com j mission ; and the person longest in con mission of said five Justices shall be tb? I president of said commission. The mem I bers of said commission shall respectively take and subscribe the following oath: [ "I,-, do solemnly swear (or affirm as the case may be,) that I will impartially examine and consider all questions submitted to the commission of which I am a member, and a true judg? ment give thereon, agreeable to the con? stitution and the laws: So help me God." Which oath shall be filed with the Sec? retary of the Senate. When the com? mission shall have beeu thus organized, it shall not be in the power of either house to dissolve the same, or to with? draw any of its members; but if any such Senator or member >hall die or become physically unable to perform the duties required by this act, the fact of such death or physical inability shall be, by said commission, before it shall proceed further, communicated to the Senate or House of Representatives, as the case may be, which body shall immediately and without debate proceed by viva voce vote to fill the place so vacated; and the person so appointed shall take and sub? scribe the oath hereinbefore prescribed, and become a member of said commis? sion ; and in like manner if any of said Justices of the Supreme Court shall die or become physically incapable of per? forming the duties required by this act, the other of said Justices members of the commission shall immediately appoint another Justice of said court a member of paid commission; and in such appoint? ments regurd shall be had t > the impar? tiality and freedom from bias sought by the original appointments of said com? mission, who shall thereupon immediate? ly take and subscribe the oath herein be? t?re prescribed and become a member of said commission, to till the vacancy occa? sioned. All the certificates and papers purporting to be certificates of the elec? toral votes of each State shall be opened in the alphabetical order of the States, as provided in section one of this act; and whore there shall be more than one such certificate or paper, as the certificates and papers from such State shall be opened, excepting duplicates of the samo return, they shall be read by the tellers; and thereupon the President of the Sen? ate shall call for objections, if any. Every objection shall be made in writing, and shall state clearly and concisely and without argument the ground thereof, and shall be signed by at least one Sena? tor aud one member of the House of Representatives before the same shall be received. When all such objections so made to any certificate, vote or paper from a State shall have been received and read, all such certificates, votes and papers so objected to and papers accom? panying the same, together with such objections, shall be forthwith submitted to said commission, which shall proceed to consider the same, with the same powers, if any, now possessed for that purpose by the two houses acting sepa? rately or together, and by,a majority of votes decide whether any and what votes from such State are the votes provided for by the constitution of the United States, and how many and what persons were duly appointed electors in such State; and may therein take into view such petitions, depositions and other papers, if any, as shall by the constitu? tion and now existing laws be competent and pertinent in such consideration; which decision shall be made in writing, stating briefly the ground thereof, and be signed by the members of said com? mission agreeing therein; whereupon the two houses shall again meet, and such decision shall be read and entered in the journal of each house, and the counting of the votes shall proceed in conformity therewith, unless, upon ob? jection made thereto in writing, by at least five Senators and five members of the House of Representatives, the two houses shall separately concur in order? ing otherwise; in which case such con? current order, which shall govern no votes or papers from any other State, shall be acted upon until the objection previously made to the votes or papers from any State shall have been finally disposed of. Sec. 3. That while the two bouses shall be in meeting, as provided in this act, no debate shall be allowed, and no questions shall be mit by the presiding officer, except to either house on a mo? tion to withdraw, and he shall have no power to preserve order. Sec. 4. That when the two houses sep? arate to decide upon "an objection that may have been made to the counting of any electoral vote or votes from any State, or upon objection to a report of said commission, or other question aris? ing under this act, each Senator and Representative may speak to such objec? tion or question ten minutes, and that not oftener than once, but when such debate shall have lasted two hours, it shall be the duty of each house to put the main question without further debate. Sec. 5. That at such joint meeting of the two houses seats shall be provided as follows: For the President of the Senate, the Speaker's chair. For the Speaker, immediately upon his left. For the Sen? ators, in the body of the Hall, upon the right of the presiding officer. For the representatives, in the body of the Hall not provided for the Senators. For the tellers, secretary of the Senate and clerk of the House of Representatives, at the clerk's desk. For the other officers of the two houses, in front of the clerk's desk and upon each side of the Speaker's Elatform. Such joint meeting shall not e dissolved until the count of Electoral votes shall be completed and the result declared, and no recess shall be taken, unless a question shall have arisen in re? gard to counting any such votes or other? wise under this act, in which case it shall be competent for either house acting separately in the manner hereinbefore provided, to direct a recess of such house, not beyond the next day, (Sundays ex? cepted,) at the hour of 10 o'clock in the forenoon; and while any question is be? ing considered by said commission either house may proceed with its legislative or other business. Sec. 6. That nothing in this act shall be held to impair or aflect any right now existing under the constitution and laws to question, by proceeding in the judicial courts of the United States, the right or title of the persons who shall be declared elected, or who shall claim to be Presi? dent and Vice President of the United States, if any such right exists. Sec. 7. That said commission shall make its own rules, keep a record of its own proceedings, and shall have power to employ such persons as may be neces? sary for the transaction of its business and the execution of its powers. GENERAL NEWS SUMMARY. ? Dr. J. Wistar Vance, of Greenville, has removed to Memphis, Tenu. ? The grave of General Lee is kept constantly adorned with flowers. ? Stobo D. Garlington, Esq., has been appointed Jury Commissioner for Lau rens County. ? Greenville claims to have received over 15,000 bales of cotton since the first of September, 1876. ? An elector from Minnessota is to be investigated. It is claimed that he is not a citizen of the United States. ? Mr. Peter Cauble, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Greenville, departed this life on the 17th inst., aged eighty-seven years. ? Corn in Walhalla is bringing seven? ty-five cents per bushel. Very little has been brought in for several weeks, be? cause of the snow and bad weather. ? Mayor Cunningham and Couuty Treasurer Hurley, of Charleston, have been indicted by the Grand Jury, on charges of official misconduct, fraud and corruption. ? General Robert E. Lee's, monument seems to be now a thing assured. The Treasurer of the Monument Association reports that he has in hand in cash and estimated assets the sum of $14,993.37. ? Mr. W. B. Scott, editor of the Ma rysville (Tenn.) Republican, the only Democratic newspaper edited by a col ?red man in the United States, has been aopoiuted reporter of the Tennessee Senate. ? Hon. V/m. Archer Cocke, late At? torney-General of Florida, and Demo? cratic member of the late Board of State Canvassers, has been appointed Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. The nom? ination has been confirmed by the Sen? ate. ? Judge Carpeutei was still in Wash? ington at last account, engaged in the examination of authofties, preparatory to deciding the questioi as to the Gov? ernor of this State. Hi will likely get through by the time t?e Presidential question is settled. ? Mrs. Carrington, the vidow of Gen? eral Edward Carrington, an! sister of the late Colonel Wm. C. Prestonand of Gen? eral John S. Preston, of thisState, died at Charlottesville, Va., last veek. She was also the sister of the fittf wife of Governor Wade Hampton. WILHITE & WILLIfcMS. Anderson, S. C% DEALERS IN DRUGS. MEDICINES, CHEMICALS, d-c, LAMP and LAMP GOOL% PAINTS, OILS, VARNISHES, BRUSHES, DYE STUFFS, &c. A Full Line of PERFUMER Y And TOILET ARTICLES, CIGARS and TOBACCO, And all other Articles usually kept in our line. NEW CROP GARDEN SEEDS, at Wholesale and Retail. Jan 25, 1877 2 ? The Texas Tribune says: "The late 'atmospherical freshness' has brought on many cases of Coughs and Colds, and Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup is in greater de? mand than ever." CABSWELL INSTITUTE, Located 18 Miles South of Ander? son Village. PEBPETT7AL C ALE NT AS. SPRING TERM of Six Months begins First Monday in February. Fall Term of Three Months begins First Monday in September. BATES OF TUITION. For Spring Term Primaries.$10 00 Academics.\q qq Collcgiates..'..'"*' 20 00 Music.. .18 00 For Fall Term Primaries. 5 oq Academics.g qq Collegiatcs.10 00 Music. 9 00 Incidental Fee, per term, upon ' entry.{. 25 INSTBTTCTOBS. College Department will be under the care of E. R. Carswell, Jr., A. M. Primaries and Academics will be under the supervision and instruction of W. E. Walters. A thoroughly competent Teacher will pre? side over the Musical and Art Departments. QTHES ITEMS. 1. Tuition is due at beginning of each ses? sion, and all dues must be paid by the mid? dle of November. 2. We promise to advance such pnpils only as are regular in attendance. 3. No deduction will be made for lost time except as occasioned by protracted sickess. 4. Board can be had in good families near the Institute for $9 to $10 per month. For further particulars address either of the Principals. E. R. CARSWELL, Jr., W. E. WALTERS. Storeville, S. C, January, 1877. Jan 25,1877 28 SPECIAL NOTICE TO TAY PAXERS. FOR the convenience of the tax payers, arrangements have been made with the following gentlemen to receive and for? ward the ten per cent, on last year's taxes for all persons who desire it The names and amounts given to these gentlemen will be returned to. this office, from which re? ceipts will be issued: At Belton?James W. Poore, G. W. McGee and E. B. Rice. At Honea Path?J. T. Cooley and M. I. Brock? At Wilhams ton?G. W. Anderson, R. V. Acker, C. E. Horton and J. J. Cooley. At Equality?John M. Glenn. At Pendleton?W. H. D. Gaillard, A. J. Sitton and T. S. Cray ton. At Brown and Farmer's Store?N. O. Far hi er. At Moffattsville?Dr. J. H. Reid and T. A. She'rard. JAMES A. HOYT. Special Agent. Jan 28,1877_28 _ . SALE OF Mortgaged Property BY JAS. H. McCONNELL, Auctioneer. The State of South Casolina, Anderson County. Dr. J. H. Maxwell, Mortgagee, vs. E. G. Roberts, Mortgagor, i.i BY virtue cf the power and authority conferred upon the said Mortgagee, in and by the said Mortgage, I will expose to sale at Anderson Court House, on the FIRST MONDAY in FEBRUARY next, all that TRACT OF LAND, Containing 461 acres, more or less, situate in Anderson County, S. C, lymg on both sides of Eghteen Mile Creek, waters of Seneca River, and adjoining lands of the Estate of E. M. McCrary, and others. TERMS OF SALE?One-third cash?the remaining two-thirds on a credit until the first of November next, with interest at the rate of ten per centum per annum, to be se? cured by a bond, with a mortgage of the premises. The purchaser to pay extra for papers. J. H. MAXWELL, Mortgagee. Jan 25,1877 28 2 SHERIFF'S SALS. BY virtue of various Executions to me directed, I will expose to sale on the FIRST MONDAY in FEBRUARY next, at Anderson Court House, the following property, to wit: One Yoke of Oxen, one Wagon and one Colt, levied on as the property of Robert Spence, at the suit of Minerva White and Mary Ann Cox, Administratrixs. Also, Sixty Bushels of Corn, more or less, levied on as the property of Moses Can ningham, at the suit of Dr. M. C. Parker. Also, on Tuesday after the first Monday in February next, at the residence of De? fendant, Sixty Bushels Corn, seven hundred bundles Fodder, one pen Shucks, and one hundred and twelve pounds of Lint Cotton, levied on as the property of Sidney Gwinn. Also, one mare Mule, one bay Horse, one Wagon. And on Tuesday, at Defendant's house, one lot of Corn and Fodder, four * head Cattle, one Sow and six Shoats, and one Clock, levied on as the property of J. R. Martin, at the suit of S. E. & J. B. Moore and others. JAS. H. McCONNELL, Sheriff Anderson County. Jan 17,1877 27 SHERIFFS SALE. BY JAS. H. McCONNELL, Auctioneer. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Andebsoh Coukty. In the Probate Court. J. P. Johnson, Adm'r. of Elijah Elrod vs. Cornelia Fleming, et al.?Petition for Par' tition of the Real Estate of Elijah. Elrod, de? ceased. BY virtue of an order from W. W. Hum? phreys, Judge of Probate for Ander? son County, to me directed in the above stated case, I will expose to sale on the FIRST MONDAY in FEBRUARY next, at Anderson Court House, the following de c^bed tracts of lands? TRACT NO. 1, Containing 152 acres, more or less, situate in Anderson County, bounding lands of John Spearman, Micheal Dickson, Tract No. 2, and others. TRACT NO. 2, Containing 67 acres, more or less, bounded by Tract No. 1, Micheal Dickson, Wm. Martin and others. TERMS OF 8ALE?One-third cash?the remaining two-thirds on a credit of twelve months, with interest thereon from the day of sale, to be secured by a bond with ap? proved security, together with a mortgage of the premises. Purchaser to pay extra for papers. WM. :icGUKIN, SheruT Jan 4,1877_25__4 TAX NOTICE. T, HE undersigned has been appointed by Governor Hampton as Special Agent to re? ceive and receipt for the contribution of ten per cent, upon the amount of the State and County tax of 1875-76, authorized by the House of Representatives. The receipts issued by me will be accepted as evidence of payment on the collection of taxes to be hereafter levied by the Legislature for the said fiscal year. Until further notice, I will be found at the Office of the Anderson Ixeelliqekceb, and will be ready to wtit upon all tax-pay &s from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. each day, or lokgcr if necessary. JAMES A. HOYT, Special Agent. Jan 18, 1877 27