Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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E. B. MURRAY, Editor. THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 14, 1877. Messrs. Blue, Sheppard, Orr, Gray and Hemphill have been appointed a com? mittee to conduct the impeachment of Judge Wright. This will afford these gentlemen a fine opportunity of display? ing their oratorical abilities and legal acumen, which will no doubt be done with credit to themselves and satisfac? tion to their constituents. We wish them every success imaginable in the prosecu? tion of the case. The members of the Legislature com? promised on the pay question by fixing their salary at six hundred dollars, with twenty cents mileage. As we have al? ready said, we think the mileage ought to have been omitted, as the members of the General Assembly were presented with free passes over the different rail? roads; and hence when they take mileage it is simply a quiet way of adding about twenty-five dollars clear to their com? pensation. The sum taken amounts to near ten dollars per day for both sessions, and seems rather large, especially as so much noise and debate has been made over it as to attract the critical attention of our people. As they have agreed to reduce the salaries of future Legislatures to three hundred dollars per session, the tax-payers may be willing to accept the figures fixed upon without much com? plaint, as it was probably as economical a figure as could be agreed on by both Houses, and by settling the question an earlier adjournment was effected than could otherwise have been secured, and of course the State was saved considera? ble expense by the adjournment. The House of Representatives, by more than a two-thirds vote, impeached Judge Wright for drunkenness and other offen? ces in office, and the Senate postponed the trial of the case until its next regular session. The result of this action is that Wright is suspended from exercising the duties of Associate Justice until the trial is over, and South Carolina has a Supreme Court composed at present only of Chief Justice Willard and Associate Justice Mclver. This is better than to have a full bench, if it has to be dis? graced by the presence of such a man as Wright. The Senate acted prudently in postponing the trial until next session, for to have gone into it at this time was equivalent to granting the offending sable Justice an acquittal. It requires a vote of two-thirds of the Senate to convict on an impeachment trial, and in the present inflamed condition of political parties in the Senate, the Republicans would never have consented to convict Wright. By the postponement, time will be given for reflection, and by next session a convic? tion may be had. At least, we are rid of the presence of this infamous charac? ter from our highest Court for the pres? ent, and hope we may remain so. The General Assembly acted wisely and properly in declaring Carpenter's seat on the bench as Judge of the Fifth Circuit vacant, and leaving Judge Cooke undisturbed as Judge of this Circuit. This action was based upon the grounds given by us last week. The fight in the Senate to* prevent the deposing of Judge Carpenter was persistent and determined, but the Democrats, who were lead by Senators Gary and Critteuden, were too much for them, and the election was or* dered for last Thursday. Gen. J. B. Kershaw received the Democratic caucus nomination, over Senator Meetze and Judge John E. Bacon, and in the joint ballot before the General Assembly one hundred and twenty-nine votes were cast for him and two for Hon. S. W. Melton, and hence Gen. Kershaw is the Judge of the Fifth Circuit. If Judge Carpenter attempts to assert his claim to the office over the rightful Judge, it will Be neces? sary to resort to a writ of quo warranto, in which the ultimate decision is certain to be favorable to Judge Kershaw. Our people may congratulate themselves upon having one of the purest and best men in the State added to our judiciary, and also upon getting rid of the arbitrary and extraordinary actions^of ex-Judge Carpenter. The Circuit Judges will henceforth be required to interchange Circuits, as was the practice with the old Judges. This is a good law, and will do much to pre? vent favoritism on the part 'of Jndges to particular lawyers or litigants. It will also prevent, to a very great extent, law? yers in some Circuits from talking over their cases with the Judges before Court, thereby making unjust and erroneous impressions in advance of the judicial hearing. The tendency of the new law will be to elevate and dignify the Judge, and at the same time to render the law? yer independent of any petty spite or prejudice which may be entertained against him by any Judge. There are many other reasons which sustain the wisdom of the new law, as, for instance, if a Circuit has a lazy or incompetent Judge, the people of that Circuit will not be obliged to suffer perpetually from his short comings. Where the Judges interchange Circuits they will be held more rigidly to a discharge of their du? ties, and will no doubt perform them with more diligence. They will be com? pelled to show themselves ail over the State, and the people will thereby be better able to decide as to the propriety of continuing them in office when a new election recnre. It will doubtless prove beneficial to the public service. The Supreme Court has rendered its decision in the case of Whipper vs. Reed, which involved the question of the ten? ure of office of the Circuit Judges. The decision of the Court which was rendered by Chief Justice Willard, and concurred in by Associate Justice Mclver, was fa? vorable to Judge Reed, and decides that Judges are elected for the full terra of four years, whether the election is for a regular term or for an unexpired term. The result will be to continue Judges Reed and Shaw in office for about two 1 years longer, and exclude the pretensions of Whipper and ex-Gov. Moses. This decision will be of great service to the people of our State in enabling them to secure free and untrammelled action and choice in the election of Judges. It is easier for an indifferent or weak man to be elected to office by a combination with stronger men than it would be by run? ning alone. If all the elections of Judges come off at once, one out of the eight Judges to be elected might be an indif? ferent lawyer or improper person to se? lect, but if they are elected separately it is not so likely to occur. The decision in this case destroys the election of ail the Judges at one time, and thereby is calculated to effect much good for our State by preventing the formation of cliques or rings in the election of these important officials. One of the most important measures adopted at the recent session of the Leg? islature was the appointment of a gen? eral investigating committee under Sena? tor Bowen'a resolutions. This committee is composed of good material, and we have no doubt they will bring light out of some of the dark transactions of the past eight years. We hope they will perform the duty imposed upon them wjth rigidity, and that they will carry every man of whom complicity in the Sinking Fund, Land Commission, Re? publican Printing Company, Funding, or other swindles can be proved, to the criminal courts to answer for their crimes. The subject of bribery will also afford them an ample theme for investi? gation. If they do not find enough to consign Patterson, Chamberlain, Kimp ton, Woodruff, Leslie, Whittemore, Mo? ses and a score of other ex-exalted Re? publican officials to the penitentiary, it will indeed be surprising to us. It is possible, also, that some Democrats may be connected with the corruptions of the past, and if so, we hope no favors will be shown them. What we want now is that the public service be cleared of dishonest men, and that those who have disgraced and plundered our State be severely pun? ished as a warning to any who may feel tempted to follow their vile foot-prints hereafter. Among all the important measures for our people, adopted by the recent General Assembly, none will be more beneficial than the act requiring the Blue Ridge Railroad, which is now owned and controlled by the South Carolina Road, to establish and keep open for the trans? fer of freight a depot at Seneca City. The course of this Road in refusing to receive freight from or carry it to Seneca City, has been very oppressive to this section of our country, and the act above referred to will do much to correct this evil. We regret that the bill to prevent discrimination in freights did not also pass, as it was the more important of the two, and would have afforded relief to a greater portion of upper South Carolina than almost any measure that could have been adopted. The bill has not been killed, but will come up at the next ses? sion of the Legislature for action. We hope every town interested will memori? alize the Legislature to enact a law to prevent unjust discriminations in freights, and by doing so they will strengthen the efforts of the Anderson and Union mer? chants. A few more acts like the one requiring the opening of a depot at Sen? eca City will soon convince the haughty South Carolina Railroad Company that the people have some few rights which even powerful railroad corporations are bound to respfct, however intractable they may be in their disposition. * THE PUBLIC DEBT. The Senate and House finally agreed upon the following as a compromise of their differences about the payment of interest on the public debt, and made it the first section of the appropriation bill: Section 1. That a tax of 7 mills upon every dollar of the value of all taxable property in this State be, and the same is hereby, levied for the following pur? poses, to wit: To meet appropriations? First, defray the current expenses of the fovernment for the fiscal year ending 1st October, 1877; second, to pay the interest due the first of January, 1877, and the first of July, 1877, upon the con? solidated bonds and certificates of stock which have been issued under the "Act to reduce the volume of the public debt, and provide for the payment of the same," approved December 22, 1873, which shall be found to be valid and bona fide by the commission to investigate the same, and be approved by the General Assembly at the next regular session thereof; and, third, to pay such other indebtedness of the State as may be reported to be valid by the said commission, and to which it may be applied by .the General Assembly af its next regular session. Should the proceeds of said tax be insufficient to meet all the payments provided for in this act, the Governor is hereby author? ized to borrow, on the credit of the State, such sum, not exceeding $100,000 as may be necessary to meet such deficiency. It was also amended by substituting the first of July and August instead of the 15th of June and Jnly, as the time for the payment of taxes; also, so as to charge 1 per cent, per month instead of 7 per cent, per annum on unpaid taxes. Under this provision the tax will be collected for the payment of the interest which may be found due, but the money will not be paid out until after the Legisla? ture passes upon the legality of the bon? ded debt of the State. This renders the payment of the fraudulent debt an im? possibility, unless it is approved by the General Assembly. We think it the wiser and safer course not to have paid the interest until after the investigation and its adoption by the Legislature, and hence approve the substitute, which re? quires the full investigation of the debt. To have paid the interest 'on it was to admit its legality, and hence it is better to formally admit the legality of all that we intend to pay, and then go to work and pay the interest on it. It was prob? ably better to collect the tax this year than to wait until next year, when it would have been necessary to levy a double tax for interest in one year, which would have been injurious to the pros? pects of the Democratic party. Hence, if the investigation of the debt is rigidly carried out, the settlement is probably the best one which could have been made of this question, which has vexed the Legislature so much and caused so much discussion throughout the State. ? The Ohio Democrats have decided to hold their State convention on the twenty-fifth of July next, a date suffi? ciently early to admit of preparation for a vigorous campaign. In spite of all the boastful talk which the President's friends have been lately indulging in, it is plain that there is disaffection as well as apathy in the Republican party in the Buckeye State, and that unless a change speedily sets in the election will revert to the Democrats by default. In any event the chances for a Radical victory are painfully small. THE FENCE LAW. The law providing for the holding of j elections in the various counties of the State upon the subject of changing our fence laws, so as to 'require persons to keep their stock inclosed, was amended in the House ao as to require the signa? ture of seventy-five tax-payers in every township to sign the petition in order to secure the election to be held in the County, and the length of notice to be given was changed from sixty to thirty days, so that the time in which to get up petitions js considerably extended. It is not necessary that the signing tax? payer shall be a gentleman, for ladies who pay taxes have as much right to petition as men. We make this state? ment that persons who have gotten up fifty petitioners may go on and secure seventy-five at once, and forward them to this place by Tuesday, 10th of July next, directed to 0. H. P. Fant, Esq., Chairman of the Board of County Com? missioners. This is the last day that it will do to have the petitions reach here, in order to give the Commissioners time to make up the order for the election. We would again urge our people to dili? gence in every township in Anderson County in procuring the necessary signa? tures to a petition, and having it here by the 10th day of July next. We have heard from Savannah, Garvin, Martin, Honea Path md Centreville, and are au? thorized to say that the necessary peti? tions will be perfected in each of them. The other townships will no doubt act promptly, and be up with the ones named above. It is very important to have the vote taken this year, for if it is deferred to next year, it will be used by designing men to injure the Democratic party by effecting a dissatisfaction in it, which cannot be cured in time for the fall State and County election. Let us, then, attend to it now, and, in order to do so, some man in each township must go to work upon it immediately. We will be glad to hear from each township as soon as seventy-five petitioners have been secured. THE FINANCIAL INVESTIGATION. Messrs. Walker, Witherspoon and Meetze, from the Senate, and Messrs. Bamberg, Coit, Shaw and Hood, from the House, were appointed as a committee to investigate the validity of the various kinds of public debt hanging over South Carolina, and to report their action to the next session of the General Assembly. This committee has a very important and responsible duty to perform to the people?the tax-payers of South Caro? lina?and we believe it will be dis? charged faithfully and fully, despite the general intimation that the consolidated debt is to be accepted as a finality by them, and that their only duty is to as? certain the character of the remainder of the outstanding debt. No one is author? ized to say this of the committee, and we think it derogatory to the honor and in? tegrity of the gentlemen who compose it, to suppose that they will follow the ex? ample of the infamous presidential com? mission b> shirking a plain and open duty. The committee was raised to investi? gate the State debt, and it is their sworn duty to do so fully and without reference to what any political party has done upon the question. They do not represent anybody except the Legislature, and they cannot consistently refuse to investigate every particle of the public debt, and if they fail to make a full and complete in? vestigation of the whole debt the Legisla? ture will be obliged to reject their report. The people will not be trifled with upon this matter. They have heard so much about the fraud connected with the State debt that they will not rest satisfied with anything short of a minute examination of every bond and its antecedents.- No commission dodge will satisfy them, and the advocates of any evasion of the in? tended investigation had as well cease their efforts to distort the meaning of the resolutions appointing the committee, for the gentlemen composing it will not, we believe, pursue any such extraordinary course as that desired. The Legislature has at last adjourned, and although there are some things upon which we aire not fully in accord with its action upon, yet, as a session, it must undoubtedly be considered a success. It has done much in the great work of re? form, and no doubt at its next session will carry ^his important matter much further than it has done up to this time. The reduction of taxes for State purpo? ses to seven instead of twelve or even fifteen mills on the dollar, as has been the Republican practice, affords our peo? ple demonstrative evidence of the bene? fits to be derived from Democratic gov? ernment. This immense reduction of expenses is en ngh to induce our people to have pis* jce with any apparent minor shortcomings, and we believe that at the next session the reforms necessary will be perfected. We publish elsewhere the list of acts passed at the late session, and by reference to their titles our peo? ple will perceive that although the ses ! sion has seemed long its results have been very advantageous. The removal of the oppressive tax on certain counties for widows and orphans of persons al ledged to have been killed for political reasons, the fence law, the law requiring Judges to rotate, the new law relative to drawing juries, the prohibition of the sale of seed cotton after sunset, the abo? lition of the lien law, and the election law for Charleston, and some other sim? ilar laws, are very important features of the permanent work of the session, and every one of these measures will afford great relief to the State from abuses, the oppression of which has long been felt. The acts reducing the expenses of the government are another admirable fea? ture of the session, and are probably as extensive in their application as the nature of the case would allow at this time. The session has been sufficient to prove that reform can be effected, even with our present cumbrous form of gov? ernment, and we congratulate the mem? bers upon the result of their labors. Alabama Conservatives are rejoiced over the statement emanating from the friends of the carpet-bag Senator Spencer of that State, that he does not intend to return to Alabama, and will probably resign a? Senator. They think, however, that the latter part is most too good to be true. Spencer is now in the Black Hills country endeavoring to turn an honest penny. DEBATE AS TO THEIR PAY. We gave last week the debate which took place in the Senate over the Houso resolution to -fix the pay of members of the Legislature at $500.00, and that debate resulted in the Senate fixing the amount at $800.00. We now give the debate which occurred in the House upon the question of agreeing to the Senate's amendment: Mr. Callison, of Edgefield, and Mr. Hamilton, of Beaufort, occupied the at? tention of the House with a debate upon the value of a modern legislator for naif an hour, the former estimating the real value of a first-class South Carolina statesman at fifty cents per day, while Mr. Hamilton disagreed with him, put? ting the value at $6 per diem, to the gen? eral satisfaction of the House, and par? ticularly that portion who favor payment for extra session. Mr. Connor?The less we discuss the subject of pay to members the better for us. The people all over the State are beginning to come to the conclusion that the chief aim of our legislation is to pro? vide for the pay of members of the Gen? eral Assembly. This question must be settled by a conference committee, be? cause the two branches of the General Assembly differ as to what is proper. It needs no appeal to this House to con? vince its members that we should not agree to the Senate amendment. What has already been agreed upon by this House is too much, but I don't know that it can be amended. Wc have been ad? vocating reform?retrenchment?and have practiced it severely as far as county officers all over the State are concerned, and we have just refused to pay the solicitors, while in attendance on the General Assembly, more than $5 per day, and now we claim for ourselves about $9 per day. It is inconsistent with our ac? tion with reference to other officers, and inconsistent with all our professions during the late political canvass, and I hope it will be reduced below $600 by the committee of conference to be ap? pointed. Mr. Orr spoke in defense of the Senate amendment to give the House $600 and mileage of 20 cents for both of the ses? sions, except the Mackeyites, who were to receive $200 and mileage. Mr. Bradley, of Abbeville, thought that $400 and mileage was a plenty for both sessions, and made a strong speech in defense of his position. He was glad that the newspaper reporters, who were a power in the land, were present, and he hoped they would send abroad the words and actions of this House, and let the constituents of the members know how they stood upon this salary ques? tion. Mr. Verner, of Oconee, favored $600 for both sessions. Mr. Hemphill, of Chester, thought $6 per day fair compensation. Mr. Andrews?I ain't in favor of no salary grab. There is men here that can identify to the fact that me and the gentleman from Lexington has always Been doing all the fighting against high salaries. I don't ask you to give me one cent for last session. I am not to blame for it. I was recognized by the legal Senate. When the Senate come I bowed submission to this House. But I ask, gentlemen, if their services for last ses? sion of twenty-nine days is worth any more than oura this session of forty days ? I am a poor man, but I have a pride in me for conscience, fidelity and justice. I ask the majority to do justice to the minority, so that we may go home and join hand in hand and be one peo? ple. But if any injustice is done me I will be compelled to preach it on the val? ley and the hill top. Now, let us come down * a fine point. Take the number of days you served. But don't you take $400 for twenty-four days last session and only give us $200 for forty day. The Senate is responsible for me standing here. If it had not been for the Senate, I would have been with you before Christmas. Mr. Curtis opposed the amendment. He would rather get nothing than vote for the amendment of the gentleman from Anderson. Mr. Orr offered a modification of his amendment, which gave the Mackeyites $300 and 10 cents mileage, instead of $200 and 20 cents mileage. Mr. R. R. Homphill said that the news paper reporters had taken a great deal of interest in the pay of the members, and yet they each did not pay more than thirty-five cents taxes. This amount, di I vided amongst 125 members and attach I ees, would leave a fraction of a cent to be paid by each reporter. And then he made a pathetic appeal to the generosity of those who paid thirty-five cents taxes J to give the members a fraction of a cent each. Mr. Gantt, of Beaufort, made an appeal for $600. Mr. Miller, of Beaufort, wanted full pay with the other members. Mr. Hamilton, of Beaufort, favored taking $600 for the last session and $200 for the extra session; but if a majority of the House opposed the extra session pay, of course he would have to submit, and would do so cheerfully. After a lengthy debate, the vote being taken upon the Senate amendment, the House refused to concur in the same, and the bill, together with the amendments, was returned to the Senate. On the following day Mr. Orr offered a resolution that it is the sense of this House on the above bill, as far as said bill relates to the pay of members, that those members who served at the regular session are entitled to $200, less what they have already received, and to those who have served at the extra session $400 and one mileage, and that the report of the committee of conference is adopted with this understanding. Mr. Minort opposed the resolution, and Messrs. Andrews and Humbert, col? ored, favored it. The resolution was adopted by a vote of78tol3. The vote (adverse) on the adoption of the report of the committee was recon? sidered, and the report agreed to by a vote of 81 to 12. The concurrence of the Senate com? mittee in the House provision denying pay for last session to members of the Mackey House was an evident surprise to the" Republican side of the House, several members on that side protesting. Mr. Orr stated that the members of the Wallace House would receive $600, in? cluding the $100 received last winter, and that the Mackevites would receive $500, including the $200 paid by D. T. Corbin to the members to elect him United States Senator. Mr. Ferriter asked Mr. Orr if he thought the money ought to be returned. Mr. Orr?No; Corbin got what he wanted, and you got what you wanted, and I think you are entitled to your money. The report was then adopted by yeas 71, nays 19. ? Senator Ransom, of North Carolina whilst appreciating President Hayes' lib? erality and fair dealing towards the South, scouts the idea that it will produce sufficient disaffection in the Democratic ranks in North Carolina or Tennessee to give the Republicans control of those States. ? Jarrett's bridge, which for many years has spanned the Tugalo River six miles from this plaee was on last Thurs? day night lifted from its pillows by a severe wind and set flat down in the river. The Bridge was covered, and over three hundred feet in length.? Toccoa Herald. \ ? J. G. Payne, son of Bishop Payne, of the Southern Methodist Church, is an? nounced as a candidate for Sergeant-at Arms of the House. He is a brother-in law of Senator Gordon, and a classmate of Senator Lamar and Representative Chalmers, of Mississippi. THE FENCE LAW. Mr. Editor : Are we to allow the re? cent act of our Legislature, in regard to the fence law, to be as pearls before swine ? or shall we ratify its wise and noble action in behalf of our State? This question, fence or no fence, in the eyes of justice, is confined to the land? owner and tenant ; but in the eyes of our present law it gives all the right to par? ticipate. Where a man owns a cow, and owns but a small piece of land, or no land at all, (and is not a tenant,) and contends against the feuce law, simply contends that his neighbors shall feed that cow eight months of the year, and in many instances the whole yean Therefore, it behooves all such gentle? men, in order to keep their good self respect and dignity, to speak very cau? tiously on this subject of fence or no fence. Now, Mr. Editor, I am among that class of men who can speak freely on this subject without being biased by self interest. I am both a small land-owner and a large renter, and can say that I am about equally interested in having the fence law established. On my own land (which is rented to others) I wish to save my timber, curtail the expenses of my farm generally, and have my lands protected by the laws of the State from being grazed down and kept poor (and in many instances made poorer) by other persons stock. As a tenant it will save me a considerable amount of fencing, as evpry tenant builds or keeps up a certain amount of fencing, and it will make more land subject to cultivation, and thereby cause the tenant to rent land upon better terms than now, and this is more money for my labor. Some ten? ants think under the new fence law they will not be allowed to keep any stock, but this is entirely a mistake; for exam? ple, if I am renting from B, and he will not furnish me pasturage, or allow me to enclose one, out of the rails that now enclose the farm, I will rent from C, who will do it. Cannot any one see that this thing of pasturage regulates or adjusts itself to the surrounding circumstances as does the rules of renting and hiring? Some of our good old land-owners are against the fence law, not because of it being more expensive, for no one has so figured it out rightly, but because it changes his system of farming that he, his father and grand-father have all made a good living under, and says he wants the people to continue to do as they used to do, everybody to build their own fen? ces. I most assuredly agree with him in this last phrase, but will say that his saying is a centennial one, and that a new century of American independence and progress has now begun, and that it is not necessary to blot out all the say? ings and doings of the past to make time and progress march together; but in some cases we are to add to that which has been said and done. Under this rule I beg leave to add to my venerable old brother farmer's centennial saying, that he "wants everybody to build t/ieir own \ fences" I say, and keep their stock within the enclosure. % The new fence law, when put in opera? tion, will be of great benefit to every citizen of the State, viz.: it will tend to lull the sound of the axman's stroke, and thereby protect and increase our beauti? ful forest (which is now every day fright? fully diminishing,) and by increasing the forest we do not only cheapen the fuel and building timber, but science tells us that we will increase our summer show? ers, and consequently increase the pro? ducts of the land, in which every indi? vidual is interested. Last, but not least, it will make a wonderful improvement in our stock. If any one doubts this, let him tell me where we go to get all of our improved stock?the Ayreshire, Devon, Durham, Holstein, Alderney and Jersey cows; the Colsnold, Southdown and Ma? rino sheep; the Berkshire, Essex and Suffolk hogs. All of these noted breeds of domestic animals originated in a country where they have a fence law similar to the one now proposed with us. I may say further, that no one can point out a breeder of live stock who does not only fence up his stock in pastures, but at the same time he will find him fenc? ing in his fields. For what? To keep out other people's stock. Yours truly, P. H. D. S. AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. Under the following resolution offered by Col. Bowen in the Senate, Messrs. Cochran and Meetze from that body, and Messrs. Sheppard, Dibble and Muller from the House, were appointed to per? form the important trusts therein set forth: 1. That it be referred to a joint com? mittee, to consist of ? members of the Senate and ? members of the House of Representatives, to investigate and ascer? tain whether any improper or illegal use has been made of the public funds or credit of the State, and by whom, and to cause legal proceedings to be instituted against all persons implicated in the same. 2. That it also be referred to said com? mittee to inquire into the sale or disposal by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the property or assets of the State, and to whom the same was dis? posed of, and for what consideration, and to ascertain whether the action of the commissioners therein was legal and valid, and if the disposal of the said assets and property was illegal, to cause legal proceedings to be instituted to recover the same, and to convict the parties impli? cated therein. 3. That it be also referred to said com? mittee to investigate the election of Hon. J. J. Patterson to the Senate of the Uni? ted States on December 10, 1872, and to ascertain whether the same was procured by corruption and bribery. 4. That said committee are authorized to sit during the recess of the Senate, with the power of sending for persons and papers, and that the members of said committee be allowed the per diem of members of the General Assembly while engaged in the performance of their duties under this resolution. 5. That the testimony taken by the committee of the Senate be transferred to the committee appointed under his concurrent resolution. The Cabinet to-day instructed Evarts to address a letter to Minister I Foster, at Mexico, to communicate the determination of this Government to stop predatory incursions into Texas. Mexico must restrain her people or General Ord will be instructed to follow and punish marauders on Mexican soil. Among the causes of delay in reaching an under? standing between the two Governments will be the translation of Mr. llvarts' English into Spanish, and meantime General Ord is to be vigilant under the old svstein. Acts ?and Joint Resolutions Approved by the Governor. An act to repeal an act entitled "An act for the relief of the widows and or? phans of persons killed because of their political opinions." An act to repeal an act to protect the interest of the State whereon payment of interest now due remains unpaid on bonds issued by any railroad company and whereon the guaranty of the State is endorsed. Joint resolution to allow Augustine T. Smythe, of Charleston County, to redeem certain forfeited lands. An act to incorporate the Mechanics' Building and Loan Association, of Green ville. An act to extend the time for county officers elected at the last general election to qualify. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the town of Greer's, in Greenville County." Joint resolution to repeal special tax levied in Edgefield County. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to alter and amend an act to incorporate the town of Marion and for other pur? poses.'" An act to enable John E. Allen, Earn? est Gary and William Wragg Johnson to apply for admission to the bar. An act to establish and charter Yaw haney Ferry in Georgetown County, State of South Carolina. An act to provide for the filling of va? cancies in county offices and to regulate the holding of elections therefor. An act to amend an act entitled an act to incorporate the Piedmont Manufac? turing Company, approved February 13, 1874. An act to authorize and direct the Intendant and Wardens of the town of Sumter to fund the past indebtedness of the said town and for other purposes therein related. An act to establish and charter Pringle Ferry in Georgetown County, State of South Carolina. An act to amend an act entitled an act to amend an act to provide for the re? demption of forfeited land upon certain conditions therein named. An act to carry into effect the 14th section of -article 4 of the constitution, relating to the judiciary. An act te amend the charter of the town of Yorkville. An act to regulate the appointment and I salary of Trial Justices in and for the county of Barn well. i An act to incorporate the town of Batesburg, in the county of Lexington. An act to authorize and empower the Governor to appoint a Trial Justice resi? dent in the town of Blackstock. An act to provide stationary and fuel for the General Assembly. An act to change the limits of the town of Anderson, t An act to prevent Clerks of Probate Courts from practicing as attorneys in such courts. An act to amend the charter of Gaffney City in Spartanburg County. I An act to abolish the office of official stenographer. An act to authorize William A. Sims, Dr. P. P. Butler, S. S. Linder and F. E. Linder to erect gates across certain roads in Union County. j Joint resolution to amend joint resolu? tion entitled "Joint resolution to amend a joint resolution entitled 'A joint reso tion to appoint trustees uHder the will of the late Dr. John De La Howe." Joint resolution to authorize the Gov? ernor to effect a loan. An act to require the Blue Ridge Rail? road, in South Carolina, to erect and keep open a depot at Seneca City in said State. I An act to declare and punish fraud in the sales of produce. An act to amend section 1, chapter 69 of the revised statutes, and to authorize the Governor to appoint the Regeuts of the Lunatic Asylum from Richland County. ! Joint resolution directing and requir j ing the State Treasurer to pay over what? ever sums of money may be due to the late Chief Justice Moses on account of I his salary as Chief Justice to his widow. Joint resolution to appoint a commis? sion to investigate the sale of the Colum? bia Canal. An act to prohibit the sale of intoxi I eating liquors within two miles of Lang ley Factory. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the town of Laurens." An act to renew and amend the charter I of the town of Honea Path, Anderson County. An act to repeal an act entitled "An I act to incorporate the town of Chestnut Grove, in tne county of Chester." An act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the Camden Building and Loan Association." An act to prevent the sale of spirituous liquors within three miles of Williamston Female College, Anderson County. An act to amend sections 55 and 56, chapter 120, of the revised statutes, rela? tive to liens on crops. An act to alter the names of Henry Lawrence Ragin, Annie Ragin, Annetta Lillian and Henry Darcie Ragin te the names of Henry Ragin Thomas, Annie Thomas, Annetta Lillian Thomas and Henry Darcie Thomas, respectively. An act to incorporate the town of Elko, in Barnwell County. An act to authorize and empower the County Commissioners of Orangeburg County to permit the Independent Citi-< zens' Fire Engine Company of Orange I burg to erect their engine house upon a portion of the jail lot in said county. An act to amend an act entitled an act supplementary to chapter 15, title 4, part 1, of the general statutes of South Caro? lina relating to the militia and for the better reorganization of the same. An act to incorporate the Spartanburg and Rutherford Railroad. An act to authorize T. W. Willett to build certain wharves, warehouses and elevators on Battery Creek, in Beaufort County. An act to regulate the inspection and measurement of timber and lumber. An act to charter a ferry over Ste? phens' Creek, in Edgefield County, and j to vest the same in the County Commis? sioners of said county. An act to authorize John 0. and Rich? ard P. Stewart and M. S. Lynn to erect and maintain a gate across certain roads in York and Union Counties. An act to authorize Bnjamin L. Bris? bane to erect a wharf or warehouses on any property owned by him in the town or city of Port Royal. An act to regulate the disbursements of undrawn balances in the State Treas? ury. An act to provide for the drawing of juries in certain counties and to amend the law in relation to the drawing of juries. An act to regulate the election of Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Charleston. An act to make appropriations to meet the ordinary expenses of the State gov? ernment for the fiscal year commencing November 1, J876. Joint resolution to rescind a joint reso? lution providing for the payment of certain moneys to the late County Com? missioners of Darlington County. Joint resolution to authorize "and em? power the Town Council of the town of Sumter to open such new streets as in their judgment they deem necessary, upon the same terms as are now con? ferred on County Commissioners of coun? ties. An act to authorize E. A. Schopcr to construct a wharf in the town of Beaufort and to collect wharfage. An act to alter and repeal section 20 of an act entitled "An act to regulate at? tachments approved September 24, A. D., 1868. An act to amend an act to inr oorate the town of Johnson's Turnou. . the county of Edgefield. An act to amend section 15, of chapter 39 of the generar-statutes, relating to the power in school districts to levy and col? lect special taxes for school purposes. An act to incorporate the town of Sum? mit, in the county of Lexington. An act to prohibit the sale of seed cot? ton between the time of the setting and ?rising of the sun and to regulate the sale of seed cotton. An act to prohibit the same person fror holding the office of trustee and teach a public school at the same time. An act to repeal an act entitled "An act to establish State certain scholarships in the University of South Carolina." An act to prohibit the retailing of in? toxicating liquors within three miles of Wellford High School. An act to amend section 17, of chapter 45, of the general statutes, relative to persons liable to work on public high? ways and roads, so far as the same may relate to the counties of Spartanburg, Chesterfield and Abbeville. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to regulate the apppointment and salary of Trial Justices in and for the town of Abbeville." An act to dispense with the recording of certain deeds in the office of the Sec? retary of State. Joint resolutiou requiring certain re? pairs to be made upon the roof of the State House, and to repair the fencing around the same. Joint resolution to raise a commission to investigate the indebtedness of the State. An act to charter the Grangers' Savings Bank of Anderson, S. C. An act to make appropriations for the payment of the salary and mileage of the members of the General Assembly, and the salaries of the subordinate offi? cers and employees, and other expenses incident thereto. Joint resolution to declare valid the recording of certain conveyances recor? ded without the endorsement of the County Auditors. An act to authorize the Governor to satisfy judgments entered in favor of the State. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to charter the town of Allendale, in the county of Barnwell and State of South Carolina." An act to prohibit the sale of intoxi? cating liquors within three miles of Ridge Spring Baptist Church, in Edgefield County. An act to establish uniformity in the sessions of the Circuit Courts. Au act to provide for the custody "of official bonds of county officers and for the examination of the same from time to time. An act to prescribe the mode of prov? ing bills of the Bank of the State ten? dered for taxes and the rules of evidence applicable thereto. An act to prohibit the digging, mining and removing of phosphate rock and phosphatic deposits without license, and the purchase of the same from unauthor? ized persons. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act to regulate the ap? pointment and salary of Trial Justices in the city of Columbia." An act to raise supplies and make ap? propriations for the fiscal year commenc? ing November 1,1876. An act to revive the charter of the Washington Artillery of Charleston, S. C. Joint resolution authorizing and re? quiring the Attorney General to inquire into the matter of the phosphate compa? nies of the State with a view to define and protect the interests of the State therein. An act to incorporate the Carolina Rifle Battalion of Charleston, S. C. 7 An act to amend an act entitled "An act to authorize the Governor to appoint additional Trial Justices for Union, Greenville and Marion Counties. An act to repeal an act entitled "An act to charter the town of Hamburg." ap? proved February 28th, 1871. An act to further reduce the number and regulate the pay of officers, attach ees, clerks and laborers of the General Assembly, and to provide for the manner of electing, appointing and paying the same. An act to utilize the convict labor of this State. An act to provide for and regulate the public printing of South Carolina. Joint resolution to provide for a reor? ganization of the University of South Carolina and of the State Normal School. Au act to reduce and fix the salaries of certain officers. An act to reduce and fix the price of dieting prisoners. An act to abolish the pay of Commis? sioners and Managers of Election and of their clerks. An act to reduce the pay of County Commissioners and their clerks. An act to require all school claims and claims for teachers to be sworn to. An act to render officers of incorpora? tions personably responsible in certain cases. An act to regulate the appointment of county officers. An act to reduce and fix the per diem and mileage of members of the General Assembly. An act to authorize the County Com? missioners to submit to the qualified electors of their several counties, a prop? osition to alter the fence laws and to pro? vide for effectuating the same. An act to revive the charter and to ex? tend the time for the commencement of j work on the Anderson, Aiken, Port Royal " and Charleston Railroad. An act to prohibit the unauthorized absence of certain officers from duty. MacVcagli's Reply to Bntler. Mr. Wayne MacVeagh publishes the following letter in reply to Gen. Butler's scurrilous reply: Philadelphia, June 6. Gen. B. F. Butler, Washington. D. C.: I fear you have overworked your in? vective faculties, for your long and la? bored letter of to-day shows signs of failing powers, and will go far to destroy that reputation for scurrility which you have so sedulously fostered. The issue between you and me was of your own seeking, and is so plaiu that you cannot obscure it by any amount of misrepre-1 sentation, howevor irrelevant or vulgar. You deliberately wrote and published concerning rae four sheer falsehoods, without a particle of foundation for any one of them. Thereupon I promptly put you on the national pillory, with a very legible statement of your offenses upon your forehead. As you have endured your punishment for an entire week, and now virtually confess that every state? ment made by you was untrue, I have no objection to your getting down : but you must not suppose that I placed you there in resentment only. My chief pur? pose was to exhibit you as a warning to younger men, by showing them that in spite of great ability and energy you had become the leper of our politics, by rea? son of the general conviction that you habitually disregard the eighth and ninth commandments. That purpose has been fully answered by the comments of the country upon your character, and I have no further interest in the matter. I shall not even take the trouble to deny any new falsehood you may think it to your advantage to invent about me, for those who know me will not believe anything you say against me, and those who know you, of course, will not believe anything you say against anybody. (Signed) Wayne MacVeagh. ? Ex-Senator Logan has been offered and has declined the mission to Brazil. He had an interview with the President on the subject and positively refused to accept the offer. This piece of news will naturally surprise the general public, as this is the first time the gifted Logan has been known to decline anything in the appointment line; but let nobody mis? take ; the Logan's^voice is for war, and there is a vacancy at St. Petersburg. Appointment of Connty Officers. The following county officers have been appointed by the Governor and con? firmed by the Senate: County Treasurers?Abbeville, J. D. Perrin; Aiken, L. A. Ransom; Ander? son, Samuel E. Moore; Barnwell, Alfred Aldrich; Beaufort, W. J. Gocding; Charleston, P. C. Gaillard; Chester, John B. McFadden ; Chesterfield, Theo. F. Malloy; Clarendon, J. I. Ingram; Colleton, John D. Edwards; Darlington, J. A. Law; Edgefield, B. F. Mayes; Fairfield, James Q. Davis; Georgetowni S. S. Fraser; Greenville, W. W. Gflreath ; Horry, E. R. Beaty; Kershaw, E. B. Cantey; Laurens, Wm. Anderson; Lex? ington, D. I. Hendrix; Marion, S. A. Mclntyre; Marlboro, J. A. Peterkin; Newberry, A. B. Whites; Ocouee, R. S. Porcher; Orangeburg, Robert Copea; Pickens, Wm. R. Perry ; Richland, W. H. Gibbes; Spartanburg, J. H. Blassin fame ; Sumter, W. F. B. Haynesworth; Jhiou, John P. Thomas ; Williamsburg, W. J. Lee; York, T. C. Robertson. County Auditors?Abbeville, J. Townes Robertson; Aiken, J. H. Morgan; An? derson, T. J. Pickens; Barnwell, J. J. Weissinger; Beaufort, B. B. Sams; Charleston, W. S. Eason; Chester, J. M. Brawley; Chesterfield, Calom L. Evans; Clarendon, Junius E. Scott; Colleton, J. J. Fox; Darlington, James T. Bristow ; Edgefield, Joseph Merriwether; Fair field, J. N. Withers; Georgetown, W. H. Dorrill; Greenville, L. Williams; Horry, J. E. Beaty; Kershaw, D. McQueen; Lancaster, T. F. Clyburn; Laurens, W. L. Boyd; Lexington, W. M. Drafts; Marion, J. A. Smith; Marlboro, P. P. Meekins; Oconee, Charles E. Watson; Orangeburg, James Van Tassell; Pickens, John 0. Davis; Richland, J. Meighan; Spartanburg, Benj. Wofford; Sumter, C. H. Moise; Union, D. Johnson; Wil? liamsburg, T. M. McCutchen ; York, W. A. Moore. Jury Commissioners?Abbeville, Ed? ward Henderson; Aiken, H. B. Burkhal ter; Anderson, Samuel Johnson; Barn? well, J. M. Hair; Beaufort, John Conant; Charleston, Richard Hollo way; Chester, M. White; Chesterfield, S. W. Spencer; Clarendon, James E. Tindal; Colleton, Charles B. Farmer, Sr.; Darlington, L. W. Cannon ; Edgefield, E. W. Bunson; Fairfield, J. S. Lee; Georgetown, J. A. Jackson; Greenville, George F. Townes; Horry, B. L. Beatty; Kershaw, L. W. R. Blair; Lancaster, James M. Shaver; Laurens, S. D. Garlington; Lexington, John Fox; Marion, D. Murchison; Marlboro, John A. McRac; Newberry, John S. Hair; Oconee, H. S. Vandiver ; Orangeburg, J. W. Moseley; Pickens, W. T. Bowen; Richland, Glenn A. Kaminer; Spartanburg, John H. Mont? gomery ; Sumter, J.N. Frierson; Union, Asa Smith; Williamsburg, McBride Scott; York, D. C. McKinney. ? The New Orleans Democrat learns that Packard has accepted an offer made to him to lecture through the North and West, the subject of his lecture being the Louisiana question, and the compensation secured is to be $25,000. ? One hundred and fifty millions of Roman Catholics celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the elevation of Pope Pius IX. to the episcopate which occurred on Sunday June 3rd. The venerable Pontiff received five thousand pilgrims at Rome, and doubtless indulged in a little pardon? able pride as the ceremonies immediately about him suggested the vast constituen? cy throughout the world which acknowl? edged him as the head of the church, and were simultaneously doing honor to his name. ? A despatch from the Hot Springs of Arkansas states that in a public speech at that place Robert Toombs, of Georgia, spoke in the warmest terms of approval of President Hayes and of his policy. He said that he could not endorse the manner of Hayes' accession to office, but that Hayes was the first man in forty years who had carried out pledges made previous to the election. Mr. Toombs took care to add his usual assertion that he was himself as much of a rebel as ever. ? The Philadelphia Item says it has been positively asserted in Washington that ex-President Grant, while ostensibly visiting Europe for pleasure, is really to take command of the whole Turkish army against Russia. The story is that England was instrumental in making the choice of a new commander for the Sul? tan, in the hope that Grant's success would render her interference unnecef sary. It is added that the offer was brought to this country by the Presi? dent's son-in-law, Mr. Sartoris, who, with Fred Grant, is to be on the General's staff. Finally, the tatter's commission, it is said, dates from May 1, and his pay ?three months of which he is to receive in advance upon taking command?will be largely increased should he succeed. ? We can state to the public a most gratifying fact?that the committee ap? pointed at the last meeting of the Board of Trade to devise some financial plan whereby the necessary funds may be raised to finish the Knoxville and Charleston Railroad have had their final meeting and their report agreed upon without a dissenting voice. We are not at liberty to disclose to the public the exact nature of the report, but will say that it is just the thing. When submitted to the voters of Knoxville, they will adopt it by an overwhelming majority. Re? member this. We tell the people of Knoxville to be of good cheer. Tlie Augusta and Knoxville Railroad will be built at an early day. ? The Republican leaders have about given up the effort to resuscitate the Whig party in the South since they have found out that the principles they were arranging for the revived Whigs were simply the principles of the present Dem? ocratic party; and that the old Whig leaders they were goingto reinstate were t already leaders in the Democratic party. This deprived their project of all its flavor, and it is easy to see that there was nothing in the proposition except a bid to furnish votes for Republican national candidates. There was no life in the scheme at the start, and those who were most sanguine about it have been forced to conclude that the solid South will con? tinue so long as the Republican party continues, despite its efforts to take on a Whig disguise. ? Oliver P. Morton has evidently lost Ms hold upon the Republican party in Indiana. He lectured Saturday night in Indianapolis to fewer than 100 people. The fact that the proceeds of the lecture were to be devotea to charity was hardly sufficient to explain this paucity of hear? ers when it was known that the once great Indiana war-horse was to be the attraction. The time was when men's hostility to charity, even, would not have hept the people of Indiana away from listening to Morton. He lectured upon the proper method of choosing a Presi? dent. Even he doesn't favor the idea of choosing a President by returning boards or by eight-to-seven commissions. If this had been generally known in Indi? anapolis he might have had 150 people as his auditors. Senator Morton's star is a fallen or falling one._. Big Invention.?Lloyd, the famous map man, who made all tlie maps for General Grant and the Union army, certificates of which he published, has just invented a way of getting a relief plate from steel so as to print Lloyd's Map of American Continent showing from ocean to ocean?on one entire sheet of bank note paper, 40x50 inches large, on a lightning press, and colored, sized and varnished for the wall so as to stand wash? ing, and mailing anywhere in the world for 30 cents, or unvarnished for 25 cents. This map shows the whole United States and Territories in a group, from surveys to 1877, with a million places on it, such as towns, cities, villages, mountains, lakes, rivers, streams, gold mines, railway stations, &c. This map should be in every house. Also Lloyd's Great Map of Philadelphia and tlie Centennial Grounds, showing every house, street and number. Same size and price as America. Send 30 cents to the Lloyd Map Company, Philadelphia, and you will get a copy by return mail.?N. Y. Illustrated Christian Weekly. 43?8