Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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listed Inttlltymm. THURSDAY HOMING, FEB. 20, 1879. :'uv " ' t = The House of Eepresentativoa and Senate have passed: a bill allowing womtsi to practice law before the United .-States Courts upon the same conditions o3 men. The bill has been sent to the 'President for his action, and it is thought Mr. and Mrs. Hajes will approve the bill and that it will become a law. The Republican House of Representa? tives of Wisconsin' has ? passed a bill establishing the whipping post as a pun . iahment for txunps. If it is a good remedy for tramps it would also be bene- ] ficial for thieves. Is it not, however, little strange to see the Radicals voting I for a measure providing for the re-estab-1 ? lishment of this mode of punishment which the party of great moral ideas has j been pleased to verm a;relic of barbarism. The health ot Governor Hampton now said to be improving, and he left | Columbia last week for Green Pond, where he will recreate until the 22nd inst., at which time he will visit Charles-1 ton to be present at the Washington Light Infantry celebration. The friends I of the Governor will be greatly gratified I at this intelligence, as the recent reports from his condition have caused great anxiety and uneasiness throughout the J :State. The Augusta Chronicle and Constiiu it says that the cost of constructing ; at that city will be fourteen , thousand dollars, and adds, as | re with a shrug of the shoulders: it the work will be a great benefit to j le city some day, we hope." This is j rather discouraging to cities contem? plating engaging in the canal business,, and makes the a:tion of the last session of the Legislature, in appropriating eleven thousand dollars towards the Co? lumbia Canal, rather ridiculous. We hope it will do enough work for us to see where it has made a beginning on the - canal, but must confess that we doubt it. ? ?_ A discussion in a contested election case before the New Jersey Legislature last week, the < startling development come out that tnfcy used in one of the principal counties in the State during the last election ballot boxes with a movable itdon in them, to assist ballot box ing. This was not done to cheat the precious nigger, nor to assist the white leagues to keep the South solid, but was done in one of the loyal Northern States to assist the Republicans in carrying the State for the party of great moral ideas. Under these circumstances deliberate and systematic ballot box stuffing was a mere informality unworthy of the atten? tion of the digniaed Teller Committee. General Roeser, late of the Confederate States-Army, announces that he is heart? ily in favor of Senator Windom's plan of j colonizing the negro, and is in favor of selecting Dakota Territory as the place ' for them to live in. The General is - Chief Engineer of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and is at present located in | Dakota, from which Territory the die-' patches a few days ago stated that the \ thermometer was twenty degrees below ! zero, and that the ice over the Mississippi Riv6r there was three feet thick, so that heavy trains of cars could pass over it. M?st o:T the colored brethren would prefer remaining among the dangerous (?) rifle clubs. General Roeser's proposition is a satire on Windom's resolutions. . As was generally expected, the Presi? dent came out victorious in his contest with Conkling over the New York ap? pointments. The fight was made over the confirmation of Merritt as Collector of tho Port of New York, upon which question Conkling made two speeches urging his rejection. When the matter reached a vote, the Senate stood 33 for confirmation and 24 for rejection, or nine? teen Democrats and fourteen Republi? cans for confirmation, to four Democrats and twenty Republicans for rejection. The vote for Burt for Naval Officer was composed the same way. Thus again Mr. Hayes has been saved by the Demo? cratic Senators from defeat by his own party. The result of this fight will, for a time at least, weaken Conkling's influ? ence very materially. The Laurensville Herald comprehends the true"animU8 of the News and Courier't recent discourses on the phosphate ques? tion, in which its stereotyped flings on the bond question were indiscriminately interwoven. The Herald makes tho fol? lowing timely center shot at this recent? ly developed idiosyncracy of the metro? politan organ of all forms of monopoly: "Wo cannot say how many 'professional i politicians," or whether there were any, in the meetings at Anderson and Green? ville, but the meeting held at this place, jj regarding the Fertilizer question, was composed entirely of fanners, and was sot aided by any 'professional politician' or other aspirant to office. The Newt and Courier?like the fellow with the huge broad-ax and flap-jacks?seems to have the Bond question on the brain, and tbb disease has well-nigh assumed a chronic form." Sam Lee, the notorious colored politi? cian of Sumter County, was a constant spectator in the Circuit Court during the first part of last week in Sumter, and complimented Judge Mackey in very high terms for the justice and equity with which he presided, but about the middle of the week the Grand Jury found a true j - bill against him for neglecting his office I as Probate Judge, and Lee immediately fled tho County. He was, however, tried, being represented in his absence by a young colored lawyer named Stewart, and, after a fair trial, was convicted. Elliott reached Sumter at the end of the trial, and gave notice of a motion for new trial, which however did not pre? vail. Thus the people of Sumter are j likely to be rid of a very bad man, and j wo presume President Hayes will imme? diately withdraw his nomination for Post ;Master, or otherwise the pooplo of Sum? ter may be compelled to get their mails through tho Penitentiary. One by one Hepublicans are coming to WHO ARE THE REPUDIATORS 1 The Charleston News and Courier re? alizes the gravity of the charge made by tho Intelligencer two weeks ago, in which we asserted that the newspapers which are continually harping on the action of the last Legislature in not re? cognizing the fraudulent portion of tho State debt, and are charging repudiation when they know there is no such inten? tion on the part of any appreciable por? tion of the Democratic party, aud in order to shift the responsibility from its guilty shoulders, the News and Courier devotes two columns to a mingled at? tempt to reason the question and to ex? tenuate its position by bringing in the Phosphate question again, to show that the repudiation idea is not confined alone to the State debt. We shall examine the principal positions assumed by the News and Courier, and then offer a few considerations which may, perhaps, be worthy of the attention of the bond? holders' organ. To begin with, the News and Courier does not like the sug? gestion that it would not injure ns any more to repudiate the fraudulent portion of our State debt than it did Georgia to repudiate the fraudulent $8,000,000 which the Radicals attempted to fasten on her in the shape of railroad guarantees, and says: There is no analogy between the posi? tion of Georgia and that of South Caro? lina, The debt which was repudiated by Georgia had not been recognized, in any way, oy the property-holders of the State or the Democratic party, and, the most important difference, it was not the re? sult of a compromise (subsequent to a repudiation of clearly fraudulent debt) whereby the amount of the debt ac? knowledged by the State was reduced one-half, with the single purpose of forming a new debt which should be un? questionably valid aud binding upon the state. To make her conduct similar to that of South Carolina, the State of Georgia must reduce the capital of her present debt one-half, issue new bonds with the coupons receivable for taxes, and then refuse to recognize these new bonds, and subject them to investigation on account of irregularities, real or im? aginary, in their issue, which irregulari? ties were known to exist at the time of the-reduction of tbe volume of the debt. Even this would not make the eases XI. Georgia must go further still, and creating a special tribunal to deter? mine the issues between tbe State and the creditors, give notice through the press, and by the mouth of members of tho Legislature, that she will not recog? nize the decision of her own chosen tri? bunal if the decision be adverse. This is sufficient, we trust, to make it clear that South Carolina cannot bolster her? self up by citing Georgia as an example of bad faith unattended by evil conse? quences. It is not necessary'to notice specially tbe high price at which Georgia bonds now sell. There is no talk of re? pudiating those bonds, and it is quite possible that the price of a security shall be high, when general credit is low. j The debt which is fraudulent in this ! State has not been recognized by the [ property-holders of South Carolina. The I Consolidation Act is accepted by all as a finality, but the party who seek to pro? mote the people's interest insist that the ; fraud shall be eliminated from that set? tlement The facts of the case are, briefly, that the Radical party flooded the country with bonds, which were in the main purchased by speculators who were intimate with the ring, for merely nominal prices. After they had issued these bonds, they realized that the State could never pay the burden imposed upon her, and in order to increase the value of their fraudulent chums, they (the Radi? cals) repudiated one-half of the honest and of the fraudulent debt, by which means they expected to increase the value of their fraudulent claims. The act which accomplished this is known as the "Consolidation Act" The fraudulent portion of the debt was created by the Radicals, and the Radicals under Moses' administration passed this Consolidation Act in 1878. Its provisions were execu? ted by Cardezo as Treasurer, and H?ge as Comptroller General. The Legisla? ture which passed the act was repeatedly bribed, and tbe officers who executed it have been convicted of official crimes, or now have indictments pending against them. It is, therefore, reasonable that honest people should not choose to be bound by the action of such parties without investigating it. The Consolida? tion Act is no mors binding upon the people of the State, either in law or in I equity, than the original acts creating I the fraudulent debts are, for they are both made by the same parties. Tbe fact that the Consolidation Act repudia? ted one-half of the honest debt is no reason that we should pay one-half of that which is fraudulent There has been, to a certain extent, a notice that a portion of the opponents of the fraudu? lent bonds do not intend to pay them, let the Courts decide the question as they may, for the Courts aro bound to give as much credit to an act passed by the Rad? icals as one passed by tbe Democrats, and hence cannot go as fully into the equities of all the parties as the Legisla? ture could. Those who assume this posi? tion do so not to avoid a just debt, but to prevent paying a debt which is known to be fraudulent, and which the forms of law might enable a Court which desired to do so to decide in favor of. No such action as this haa,- however, been taken, and it is not necessary to discuss it, or the propriety of it, until the occasion arises. We have never attempted to "bolster up South Carolina by citing Georgia as an example of bad faith." We have cited Georgia as an example of a State which had the independence and manhood to throw off a fraudulent debt Tho bonds which Georgia disowned were just as valid an obligation as our bonds which are disputed, and at the time they were disowned were selling in market at eighty-five cents on the dollar, which is more than our best bonds sell at; and when she had disowned these bonds her valid debt was appreciated in value so that one class sells for $1.05 on the dol? lar, and another $1.12 on the dollar. It never hurts an individual to refuse the payment of a forged note, nor of a State to refuso payment of a fraudulent boud. We cited Georgia as an evidence of this, aud nothing more. To this extent she is an example for South Carolina, aad there is very little doubt that our people will have sense enough to follow that ex? ample. The Newt and Courier then says:? "There was consistency at least, in re jecting the compromise of December 22, 11878, repudiating the bonds originating I and issued under Radical rule, and pay- j \ ty?e Old debt in full. The persons with j ^wbom our Anderson contemporaries act) took the benefit of tho repudiation by the Radicals of one-half of the Old debt, and seek to repudiate the disputed Con? solidated debt representing indebtedness created by the Radicals. Could there be a stronger evidence than this of a deter? mination, not to do justice., but to reduce I tho volumo of tho debt at any costOf course, an acceptance of the Consolida? tion Act after eliminating the frauds from it involves the reduction of the good debt to fifty cents on the dollar. Thi3 has already been done, and the State's honest creditors have not, by petition or otherwise, asked the Legislature to take up the new bonds and return their old ones. It is true that some blatant advo? cates of the fraudulent debt have dis? eased upon this as justice with a view of getting the sympathy of the people of the State for the fraudulent debt; but to prove that, with rare exceptions, they have not been consistent, it will only be necessary to turn to the Act of March, 1878, where they will be found to have voted to repudiate one-half of the honest floating indebtedness of the State. The present Legislature, therefore, fines that the honest debt of the State has been scaled down to fifty cents on the dollar both by Radicals and by Democrats; and then the question pr esented is, Shall a fraudulent part be piid because the I honest creditor has been compelled to I take half of his debt? To our mind the ! debtor who is unable to pay more than ! half of his honest debts has no moral right to pay a laige gratuity on preten? ded debts which he never owed. - It would be an act of moral degradation on the part of the State, in our opinion, to pay the fraudulent bonds. Then the News and Courier says: The Bond Commission made thoir re? port, and it was agreed, as a compromise; to refer to a special tribunal, the Court of Claims, the whole of the Consolida? tion debt reported against by the Com? mission. We can conceive that, even up to this point, there was room for a faint belief in the honest purposes of the sup? porters of the conclusions of the Commis? sion. Test cases were made up, and pending the delivery of the decision of tho Court of Claims the Legislature met. An effort was at once made to legislate the Court of Claims out of existence, for the reason that it was feared that the Court would adjudge the disputed bonds to be valid obligations of the State. Having declared their willingness to be foverned by the decision, of the Courts, aving formed a Court where the whole matter in issue should be tried, and hav? ing elected the Judges of that Court, the larger number of the Anti-debt party sought to extinguish the Court in order to prevent it from rendering a decision contrary to their notions. Our Anderson contemporaries, we believe, (the Intel? ligencer certainly did,) gave effective support to the attempt to abolish the Court. They repudiated their own chosen tribunal in advance of its decision. As it happened, the Court of Claims de? cided adversely to the disputed bonds. This does not satisfy our Anderson friends and their allies. The bond cases now go up to the Supreme Court of the State, and the declaration is broadly made that, as with the Court of Claims, the decision of tho Supreme Court will not be regarded, if it be in favor of the bonds. In other words, the determina? tion is to repudiate the disputed or un? recognized bonds, whatever the law or the equity of the case may prove to be. We did favor the abolition of the Bond Court. We did not favor its creation, and had nothing to do with it. After its establishment the evidence of the State was incomplete, on account of the failure of the State to procure Kimpton, as the State of Massachusetts refused to give him up; there was only a part of the bonds disputed before the Court, and the State therefore litigated before this Court at a disadvantage, because the disputed bonds not represented would not be con? cluded by the suit; and, also, because the opinions of Judges Willard and Has kell of the Supreme Court were known to be favorable to the bond holders. It is no disrespect to these Judges to say this, for Judge Willard has expressed himself in the Morton, Bliss & Co. case, and Judge Haskell's views were made known before he went upon the Bench. Therefore it seemed folly to bo litigating a question upon which the views of a majority of the Supreme Court were known in advauce. It would, consequent? ly, have been better, in our judgment, to take the whole questiou into the hands of the Legislature, and meet out equal justice to the State and all of her credi? tors. If this was repudiation, then we favored repudiation, and are still in favor of it. The Neivs and Courier also attempts to illustrate the repudiation tendency of the editor of the Intelligencer by citing again the phosphate question, and says: In fine, such nowspapers as the Ander? son Intelligenter and Journal, and the Abbeville Medium, encourago the people to set themselves above the law. Their doctrine in finance is, that the State submits to tho decision of the Courts when they relieve her of a liabil? ity, and spurns their decision when they confirm a disputed liability. Nor is this confined to matters of finance. At An? derson last week a committee, of which the editor of the Intelligencer was a member, reported to a mass meeting a series of resolutions in which the posi? tion was taken that the companies en? gaged in the manufacture of commercial fertilizers should "be deprived immediate? ly of any and all privileges to dig, mine or manufacture commercial fertilizers," because these companies were asking for their fertilizers a higher price than the farmers felt able to pay. The resolu? tions wero adopted unanimously. No objection, so far as we have seen, was raised by the Anderson papers. Where shall be found any sane man who will invest his money in any manufacturing company in South Carolina, when ho is j liable to be threatened with the forfeit? ure of tho Charter of his company in case that the prices for the articles he manufactures do not suit the consumers I We do not need to go further, we think, | to show where "the talk of repudiation" comc3 from, where the acts of repudia? tion are, and upou whom rests the re? sponsibility for the prostrated financial condition of the State, shorn of credit, without capital of her own. and her fair and honorable name tarnished before the nations! We arc glad the News and Courier which, as we havo heretofore said, is tho organ of all the monopolies and combi? nations of Charleston, has seen fit to combine the phosphate question with the State debt muddle, for there are through? out the State thousands of farmers who do not understand the debt question, but who do know the difference between 450 pounds of cotton and 550 pounds for a ton of phosphate, and when these farm? ers see that the action of the greedy phosphate companies is sustained by the News and Courier upon the same high moral (?) principles that it defends the disputed Stato bond^they will readily perceive that iu each of these cases its lofty sentiments of honor and morality are in reality nothing more than tho prompting of local or selfish interests. Tho News and Courier also has shown a ready disposition to resort to any tactics necessary to carry its point, whether it be by argument or by misrepresentation. Its statement that we were upon the com? mittee which drafted the resolutions of the farmers' meeting in this county is, to use as mild a phrase as the facts will warrant, not true; and if our contempo? rary had read the proceedings hero it would havo seen that we were not on the committee, and that the speech we made was by special invitation, while the com? mittee on resolutions was out. We re? peat, that we never saw nor heard the resolutions until they were read in the meeting; and while we approve the main objects of them, we aro in no wise entitled to the distinction of having framed them, cither directly or indirect? ly. We only mention this little circum? stance to show that the News and Courier is not above a wilful misrepresentation of any person it chooses to take 'issue with, and leave it for our readers to say whether a paper which misrepresents small things is to be relied on implicitly ns; to more important matters. There has been no threat to 'revoke any charter because a manufacturer's I prices do not suit the consumers. The I whole complaint has been against the combination which attempted to extort from the necessities of the farmer more for a particular article than it would sell at without such combination. The News J and Courier well knows that there is no J power to repeal any charter whore vested rights have attached, unless the terms of Jthe charter have been violated, and that I no manufacturer would fear any such re? sult. The farmers of this county, feeling outraged at tho imposition put upon them by a combination of monopolists, without going into the legal obstacles, simply demanded what they thought right and proper in this instance. If it is to keep manufacturers away at all, it will only be those who wish, to come down hero for the purpose of enriching themselves by undue combinations and exorbitant?exactions from our citizens. We can welli'afford to do without those who would come for this purpose. The News and Courier'? attempt to put a part of the responsibility for the finan? cial trouble of the State upon us is also entirely in keeping wf.th its steady pur? pose of charging its own faults upon its neighbors. To begin with, tho credit of South Carolina is no worse to-day than it has been at any time since the panic. If the course of the Anderson papers was injuring the credit of the State, of course it would also to a larger proportionate extent injure the credit of the citizens of Anderson. Such, however, is not the case, for our merchants have a finer for? eign credit than the same number of firms in any part of South Carolina with whiclv we are acquainted, and their credit to-day is as good as it has been in the past. This shows that the croaking3 of the bondholders' organ are not practical, and that its discourses are fine-spun theo? ries, the object of which is to frighten persons who do not think for themselves into its way of thinking on the bond question. Not only this, but if we mistake not, the Newt and Courier advocated (it did bo indirectly, we know,) the passage of the bill%rcing the creditors of Charles? ton county to take bonds for their debts, bearing interest at the rate of four per cent, instead of the legal rate of seven per cent. Tho object of this act is to force a compromise of the debt; or any way its result is practically to repudiate three-sevenths of the Charleston debt, because if they do not get it reduced they admit that they cannot pay it, and hence the interest is all they expect to pay. Therefore, by putting the interest down to four per cent., they have repudi? ated nearly one-half. Who are the re pudiaters (?) Where do the repudiation actt cxiil [?) In Goorgia the daily pa? pers have sustained the honor of the State instead of stabbing it, aud in tbe justice and propriety of her action in setting aside tho $S,000,000 of fraudu? lent debt has been fully vindicated both at home aud abroad. In this State the Newt and Courier has misrepresented and abused the Legislature of the State, charging repudiation and bad faith, yes, even Butler and Kearr.cyism upon our own people. Suppose that tho daily press of South Carolina had championed the right of the people to investigate and reject all fraudulent obligations of the State and shown up the truo inwardness of the fraudulent bonds of this State, would any reasonable or fair-minded man have thought of calling it repudiation? Now, we ask, in all seriousness, upon whom the responsibility for pointing the finger of scorn upon Souih Carolina as a repudiation Stato exists? We havo never advocated repudiation. The Newt and Courier has charged it where it does not exist, and if capitalists outside of the State believe it, the greatest part of all the misapprehension which exists is at? tributable to the coureo of our Charles? ton contemporary. The News and Courier then concludes: It is with the hope that our Anderson contemporaries will enlist themselves in the good work that we have sought to point out the nature and effects of the "talk of repudiation." Meantime the great body of the people can help them? selves, and restore the proud reputation of South Carolina for honor and integri? ty, by advocating the one form of repu? diation which is just and decent?tho re? pudiation of the persons, few or many, who seek to bring the Courts into disre? spect, and who preach, if they do not practice, moral and financial dishonesty. In turn now we havo shown the Newt and Courier where we think the trouble from "repudiation talk" comes from, aud hope our contemporary will enlist in tbe commendable task of setting right the erroneous impressions that its previous courso has produced. If it does this, and is able to carry its present followers with it, thero will bo no repudiation, other? wise we are inclined to believe the people of the Stato will rqnidinlc the class who advocate tho causo of fraudulent bond? holders and monopolists generally. Yorkville Enquirer: Mrs. Gus L. Mc Neel died at her home, in Bullock's Creok township, on Saturday morning I last.Dr. Johu A. Williams, a former resident of Yorkville, died at his resi? dence in Hope, Arkansas, on tbe 28th ultimo, in tho tiixty-third year of his age^ THE TEST OATH FOR JURORS. There seems to be some wavering among the Democrats in Congress upon the question of adding a provision to tho Appropriation f?ll abolishing tho test oath for United States Jurors and pre? venting Federal interference with elec? tions. The Democratic party of the United States has shown a decided lack of pluck ever since the war, and tho rc Bult is that the Republicans have hold the goverument by a huge game of bluff. There are Democrats who would run from their shadow if they could see it, and if their councils arc to prevail tho party will surely meet another defeat. The people of the United States are not willing to trust this government in the hands of a party which has not tho moral courage to do what is right, and unless the Democracy takes more positive posi? tion, it will always be crushed as it has been in the past by the superior pluck and pugnacity of the Radicals, who will make a harder and bolder fight for what they know to be wrong than their Demo? cratic opponents will for what they know to be right. The repeal of the test oath is demanded alike by the interests of so? ciety and the honor of the nation. Tho Radicals themselves repealed it a few years ago, because it was considered as an infamous blot upon our statute books, but it was fraudulently ro-enacted in tho Revised Statutes. This gives tho Demo? crats the greatest advantages in fightiug over this point, and they should not de? cline to go into the battle. If our party is too weak to maintain its rights, it is not improbablo that our victories in the late elections will be snatched from us and the chains of Radicalism forged tightly around us for years to como. In? deed, the Washington Post warns the party of the danger of letting this oppor? tunity slip, and makes the following startling announcement to sustain its po? sition: - < The Radical programme, fully resolved upou and completely calculated", is this: To carry all four of the California dis? tricts by tho aid of the corruption fund and the election law; to buy or bribe with chairmanships or executive patron? age all the Independents, Nationals and Greenbackers elected to the next House ; and, finally, indict, convict and imprison, under the election law, seven Democratic membci 8 elect. Tho men selected for this treatment are King, of Louisiana, and Hull, of Florida, who are already under indictment; Elam, of Louisiana; Shelly, of Alabama; Conner, of South Carolina; Chalmers, of Mississippi, and one other, to be chosen out of three or four names now under consideration by the chief prefect of National police, under our present imperial form of government, Dcvens! There should bo no further dallying with Radicalism. It has already stolen the Presidency, and if it is allowed to go on unrebuked it will repeat the larceny. The proposed section should be added to the Appropriation Bill, and if tho Radi? cals chose to necessitate an extra session, they should be allowed to have it, and held responsible for it before tho coun? try. Then tho Democratic party would, in the extra session, have both the House and the Senate, and could pass the bills as desired to meet the demands of society and of justice. A firm and decided fight by the Democrats from this until the next election will carry the country. A cringing fear of the Radicals and sub? mission to their plans will continue them in the control of the government. COL. JAMES A. HOIT. This gentleman, who has so many friends in our midst, has severed his con? nection with the Columbia Register, and will in the future devote his attention to the Baptist Courier, which paper he pur? chased recently. We regret to lose him from the field of daily journalism, and are sure that the Register will find it dif? ficult to replace him. The people of Anderson will always wish for Col. Hoyt the fullest measure of success in every undertaking he may engage in. On Tuesday morning he announced his sev? erance of the position of editor of the Register in the following card: With this issue of the Register my con? nection with its editorial management ceases. For nearly two years, as its prin? cipal editor, I have striven to maintain the standard of an honest, upright jour? nal, whose chief aim has been the good of the State, and whoso every throb has been responsive to patriotic impulses. It is not for mc to 6ay how these purpo? ses have been carried out. I am not so tenacious of opinion as to assert that, in every instance, its advocacy of public measures has always been faultless and perfect; but I can justly claim that the views and opinions which have controlled the Register were honestly entertained and earnestly advocated. The paper has grown steadily iuto public favor and con? fidence, and I leave it in tho hands of those who deserve increased trust and patronage from the peoplo of tho State, and I am 6urj this will be generously ac? corded. A thrifty, industrious aud remu? nerative journal at the capital is a necessity to the State. It must be strong, well-balanced and true?stroug in the confidence of the public, evenly balanced in its judgment of men and measures, and true to tho highest interests of all the people. Such is the aim and object of those who will control the Register here? after, and they have my most earnest wishes for unbounded success. To my brethren of tho press generally, I am under obligations for courtesy and kindness during many years, and I sever a daily intercourse with them with sin? cere and unaffected regret. Journalism has its peculiar fascinations and charms, no less than its trials and hardships, and I do not expect to leave the profession altogether. For those with whom I have been as? sociated so long a time in the conduct of the Register, and for all connected with tho office, I entertain the kindliest feel? ings, and will cherish my connection with them as an agreeablo and pleasing recol? lection through life. James A. Hoyt. The bill preventing any American ves? sel from bringing more than fifteen Chi? namen to this country at any one voyage has passed the House of Representatives, both political parties voting for it as a bid for the voto of California. This is another instance of tho evil effects of having two closely matched parties, each of which is having more regard for a per? petuation of itself than for the merits or demerits of any special legislation. The effect of this bill, if it becomes a law, will be to givo foroign vessels the carrying trade between America and China, in? stead of allowing our own vessels an equal chance with any other. Therearo also grave doubts as to tho constitution? ality of tho proposed law. It is more than likely that the bill will fail for lack of time in the Senate.^ j e**i?m?jir_.'. J ..... -.It THE SUPREME COURT. The Laurensville Herald has the fol? lowing apposite remarks upon tlie duties of the Judges of tho Supreme Court of this State, which is well worthy of their consideration: The attention of the Supreme Court of this State is respectfully called to section 8, article 4, ot the Constitution of the State, which is as follows: "When a Judgment or Decreo is re? versed or affirmed every point made and distinctly stated in the cause and fairly arising on the record of the case shall be considered and decided, and the reason therefor shall be concisely and briefly stated in writing, and presented with the record of the case." Complaints are made by the bar all over the State that the present Court does not carry out this Section of the Consti? tution, but in a groat many cases of im? portance content themselves with affirm? ing or reversing the Decree or Judgment below, without assigning any "reasons therefor," other than those given by the Judgo below, though the case fairly bristles with important legal points and nice questions. $11,000.00 is most too much, in our opinion, to pay three Judges to simply affirm or reverse the judgment of a Circuit Judge, without as? signing a reason for so doing, and estab? lishing precedents and deciding points appealed from. , The Senate after March 4,1879, will stand forty-six Democrats, twenty-nine Radicals and one Independent, unless General Butler is unseated, but if he should be the Democrats would, after the 4th of March, restore him and oust Kel? logg, which is not improbable any way. In 1S81 fourteen Democrats will go out and have successors elected. They are Eaton, of Connecticut; Bayard, of Dela? ware ; Jones, of Florida; McDonald, of Indiana; Whyte, of Maryland; Cock rill, of Missouri; Randolph, of Now Jer? sey; Kernan, of New York; Thurman, of Ohio; Wallace, of Pennsylvania; Bailey, of Tennessee; Maxey, of Texas; Withers, of Virginia ; Hereford, of West Virginia. At tho sams time the follow? ing eleven Republicans will have suc? cessors elected: Booth, of California; Hanilin, of Maine; Dawes, of Massa? chusetts; Christiancy, of Michigan; McMillan, of Minnesota; Bruce, of Mis? sissippi ; Paddock, of Nebraska; Sharon, of Nevada; Burnsido, of Rhodo Island; Edmunds, of Vermont; Cameron, of Wisconsin. Of these the Democrats are sure of all theirs again except New York, Connecticut, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with a fair chanco of carrying each of them, while they are also su re of Missis? sippi, so that taking the moat unfavora? ble view possible to tho Democrats, the Senate will stand, after the 4th of March, 1881, forty Democrats, thirty-five Repub? lican and one Independent, with the d ances in favor of a better result. This will give them a good working majority for four years, and in tho meantime proper effort will elect a Democratic President, thereby giving to the party complete control of the legislation of the country and the execution of its laws. With this will come an era of peace and good feeling, which will restore all parts of our country to the harmony and pros? perity of which discord and perpetuated strifo have robbed it. There are some pec pie who are a great deal smarter than they arc wise, and as a natural consequence when they are edit? ing newspapers they frequently inform their readers ot facts which only exist in their own imagination. The Sumter Watchman of last week, after quoting the News and Courier's article upon the resolutions adopted by the Anderson and Greenville farmers, adds of its own ac? cord : "Wo wonder if Mnj. E. B. Murray, member of the Legislature from Ander? son, and editor of the Intelligencer, had a finger in the got up of the resolu? tions above referred to? They have a very decided Murray flavor." This is, we presume, from the pen of Col. J. J. Dargan, as wo have not the pleasure of an acquaintance with Gon. Richardson, tho other editor of the Watchman. We are not surprised that Mr. Dargan stands ready to endorse the News and Courier, for through every stage of the bond question in the last Legislature he voted in favor of the bondholders. His reference to us in tho manner cited is not only unprovoked, but is unsustaincd in fact; and if Mr. Dargan had exhibited sufficient enter? prise and industry as an editor to read his State exchanges, instead of being satisfied with drawing inferences from the insinuations of the Ncicsand Courier, he would have discovered the facts about the Anderson meeting, and would not have gone out of his way to make dis? courteous and uufounded remarks about the editor of the Intelligencer. Tho Legislature of Maine has passed resolutions requesting the Senators and Representatives in Congress from that State to exert themselves to secure a re? duction of the President's salary from $50,000 to $25,000 per annum, and also to reduce all other official salaries and government expenditures in proportion to the increased purchasing power of tho dollar and the straightened condition of our national finances. These resolutions are wise and proper, and it is to be hoped they will receive not only the favorable consideration of Congress, bnt the favor? able action also. Maine's Legislature is controlled by tho Democrats, and henco the extravagant idoa3 which have con? trolled tho Radical regimes are giving place to efforts for retrenchment. The News end Courier offera $100 in gold for tho best serial story of twenty chapters written by a South Carolinian, descriptive of life in this State before, dnring or since the war. We will pub? lish the prospectus next week, and iu the meantime if any Anderson ladies or gen? tlemen wish to compete they can begin to arrange their subjects. The Ncxcs and Courier displays much commendable en? terprise in its disposition to interest and please its readers, and we have no doubt that this now venture: will be rewarded by an increased subscription list and a greater popularity. Walhalla Courier: Two mercantile firms in Seneca City have recently made assignments?Messrs. Cherry and Lewis & Walker. Cause?hard times.Mrs. Caroline Jayncs, residing near Westmin? ister, will be 111 yean, old at her next birthday. She.was born in 1768. She is the oldest citizen of our county, and per? haps of the Stato. Wim. Burdett, fifteen miles below Walhalla, is perhaps the. next oldest person in our county, being j in his 103d year, He is active yet and '? [will trade horses with you with all the. f. Rjal of early youth. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. Gleanings Crom oiir State lixcliunges. Cheraw Hewt: Since the Cheraw and Wadesboro stage and wagon line was es? tablished, 700 bales of cotton have been shipped from tho latter place over the line to Charleston.Mr. Johnson, a young man who has been clerking for Mr. 0. R. Soweit, disappeared on Christ? mas night and has been missing ever since. On last Monday some unusual marks about the grave of an old colored man, who was buried some time-?in De? cember, drew tho attention of some men. who decided on exhuming the colored! corpse to ascertain the causo of these signs, when they found the body of the unfortunate young man referred to buried on the top of the coffin. It is thought the young man was murdered, and Bu? ried in this manner to oonccal the bloody deed.Court was in session last week, Judge Wallace presiding, and a considcr I able amount ot criminal business was [ disposed of. On Monday, just after the court had convened, a fire broke out in the ceiling of the court house, and but for the quick work of those present, the building would have been totally de? stroyed. The flames were subdued be? fore much damage had been dono. Sumter Southron: The Democratic clubs of the ?ounty will meet in conven? tion on the first Monday in March to de? termine the best method to be adopted in the nomination of a Democratic can? didate to fill the vacancy in the Senate occasions b.' the elevation of Senator Eraser to the bench; also, to elect a county chairman, to servo out tho unex Sired term of ex-Chairman Eraser. y request of a committee of citizens, Judge Mackey will deliver a lecture in Music Hall to-night the subject of which will be "The Anglo Saxon?his Origin and Civilization." The proceeds will be given to the fund of the Democratic Ex? ecutive Committee of Sumter County. The Court of General Sessions has ad? journed, and Judg3 Mackey has executed the business with promptness and dis? patch, saving a large sum of money in the matter of court expenses. On two nights court was hold until a very late hour, in order to complete the cases on trial. Camden Journal: On Sunday last, while J. R. Shaw was chasing a mule in his yard, he tripped his foot and was thrown violently to the ground, thus fracturing his arm. His injury is quite severe, and will disable him for some time. Newberry Herald: The Rev. Mr. Ker pastoral charge of the ISpiscopaT Church of this place. It will be a sad loss to that congregation.The colored school at Helena has an average attendance of 100 pupils, and a roll list of 116. It is in a flourishing condition.The amount in dollars of tangle-leg and pop-skull sold on salcday last runs into hundreds. Abbeville Pres*and Banner: Six thou? sand nine hundred and ninety-three bales of cotton have been shipped from this depot this season.Mr. William Hill has become heir to a large estate from a recently deceased relative in England. His son', Mr. R. E. Hill, will go to tho springs to look after his interests there. Chester Reporter: Chester and Lan? caster County bonds, issued in aid of the Cheraw and Chester Railroad, are selling at 65, with upward tendency.Mules woro sold here on last salcsday at prices ranging from six dollars and a half to seventy dollars.In the month of Jan? uary, 2,228 bales of cotton were shipped from this place; shipments for corres? ponding month last year, 1,484 bales. .The gin house of Mr. James Ncely Caldwell, near Hazelwood, was burned on the night of January 31st, with entire contents, consisting of ten bales of cotton and a quantity of cotton seed. The origin of tho fire is unknown. Johnston Monitor: A colored girl, five years of age, living one and a half miles from Johnston, was so severely burned on Monday last by her clothes taking fire, that Bne died in about three hours after the accident occurred. Kingstreo Star: Kelly DuBosc, col? ored, who had stolen a horse and escaped, returned homo the other day, when a j constable and posse proceeded to his house and demanded bis surrender. He refused, and opened fire upon the parties, which they returned. When the firing ceased lie was taken prisoner with a broken thigh and three wounds in the fleshy portion of tho limb, and brought in town and turned over to the Sheriff, who pnt him in jail. This is the third time ne has been guilty of stealing a horse, and will most probably be the last, as he is very desperately wounded, and shot too high up for amputation. Abbeville Mediun: Mr. James Straw hon, of this county, died Last week?90 years of age.Almost every ono in this section has had the epizootic for a week sbaw, it is said, intends his or two?the weather has been so unsea? sonably warm and the atmosphere so moist. We hear of several cases of pheu- ? mnnia and much complaint from persons^-' with weak lungs.In tearing down the the old shop building on the O'NeilHot last week, the workmen discovered a whole kit of burglar's tools.Abbeville only has seven bar-rooms and five church? es.Mr. James H. Cobb, one of tho oldest and most widely-known citizens of this community, died on last Wednesday morning from the effects of a paralytic stroke with which he was visited on Monday morning.A child of Mr. B. B. Harveley, of the Millway country, died last Friday from what the physi? cians believed to be a fully developed case of meningitis.Capt. S. S. Kirk land was in town Monday. He has just finished locating the line of the Green? wood aud Augusta Railroad. There is some twenty miles more grading to be done on the line, all of which, with the exception of two miles, is vory light. The working force is pushing right on the river. Charleston News and Courier: Tho Most Excellent Grand Royal Arch Chapter of South Carolina assembled in annual grand convocation at Masonic Templo on Tuesday. The annual elec? tion of officers took place Wednesday, with the following result: Wilmot G. DeSaussure, M.E.G.H.Priest; F.F.Ga? ry, R. E. D. G. H. Priest; J. Adger Smyth, R. E. G. King; R. C. Watts, R, E. G. Scribe; C. E. Chicbester. Rt Rev. G. Chaplain; C. F. Jackson. E. G. Treasurer; J. E. Burke, E. G. Secretary; Thomas R. Robertson, G. Captain of Host; G. I). Bryan, G. Royal Arch Cap? tain ; L. F. Meyer, G. Sentinel.Ex? tensive preparations are being made by the Irish citizens for the celebration of St. Patrick's day. Spartanburg Herald: Gov. Colquitt, of Georgia, at the next commencemeut in June, will deliver the annual address be? fore the Preston and Calhoun Societies* of Wofford College. Conflagration at Newberry. Neweerry, Feb. 17?11 p. m. A terrible conflagration is prevailing hero. One whole block is on fire, and no chance of-living the town without help. The town has applied to Columbia for the assistance of one engine and 1,500 feet of hose. [We are informed that Assistant Super? intendent Dodamead, of the Greenville aud Columbia Railroad, was aroused at 12.30 and proceeded to make arrange? ments to send, with dispatch, the aid asked for. The fire originated near the site of the old hotel, antfis burning over the same ground of tho former disaster.] February 17.?A fire broke out here this evening, in the upper story of the building between Cast's and Keon's stores and in consequence of having no fire department, spread rapidly through one block, and is this hour (11:30 p. m.) making rapid headway toward the dopou February 18?1:40 a. m.?The fire is under complete control, and can be man? aged without additional aid. Personal.?Steele & Price, of Chicago and St. Louis, we arc pleased to say, are among the few who make perfectly pure articles. Their Dr. Price's Cream Bak? ing Powder, and Special Flavoring Ex? tracts have been approved by the United States Government. EXECUTOR'S NOTICE. All persons having demands against the Estate of Rev. Jacob Bnrriss, deceased, are notified to present them, properly at? tested, and all persons indebted are also no? tified to make payment at once to tho un? dersigned. WILLIAM BURRISS, Executor. Feb 20,1879_32_3_ le StoMoiuT, &c. ASHTABULA STOCK FARM AND POULTRY YARD, Wir REN & BTRIBLING, OFFER Eg^s from Bronze and Whito Holland Turkeys, Partridge Cochins and Plymouth Rock "Chickens, Pckin, Po? land and Rouen Docks. 13 egg* of either for $2.75. White-faced Black Spanish, Brown Leghorns, White African Bantams and White Guineas, 13 eggs ot either for $2.00. We also offer a few more Jersey Cattle,/ Cota wold and Merino Sheep, and four va? rieties of domestic Rabbits. No uso In sending off to get better Poultry. Ours i? tho beet obtainable, taking many premiums wherever exhibited. Our Partridge Cochins took tho two first and one second prize at resent Poultry Exhibition at Washington, D. C. Address J. O. STR13LING, Mana? ger, Pendieton, S. C. Feb 13,1879_31_5? Sugar and Molasses. JUST received, a fine article of >"ew Or leuns Sugar and Molasses, for sale low by A. B. TOWER3 ci CO. STOP AND SEE IT ! CHINA, CHINA, CHINA, STONEWARE, STONEWARE, STONEWARE, GLASSWARE, GLASSWARE! A New Store! New Goods! A New Merchant! Iron StODC Granite Tea Sets only 60 cents. Iron Stone Granite Plates only 50c. per set. English Tea Sets only 25c. per 6et. Star Glass Tumbler only 20c. per set. Room Sets only $6.50. Lamps from 25c. to $3.00 each. OTHER GOODS PROPORTIONATE LOW. A Special Business ! Full Stock ot New Goods I Aud the Cheapest Prices. The undersigned having opened a Store in Anderson, in which he proposes to keep all styles of Glass, China, Earthernware, Tableware, and all Goods of a similar nature, respectfully invites the people of Anderson and surrounding country to aill upon him in the BENSON HOLSE, next door to Simpson, Reid & Co.'a Drug Store, and cxamiue and price his goods for themselves. This Store will supply a need long felt in Anderson, and the proprietor will endeavor to satibfy all who patronize him. JT. ?. MASSEY. Fob 20, 1879_32_ly__ CUNNINGHAM * CO. AGENCY FOR Eagle Ammoniated Guano, Eagle Acid Phosphate, Star Brand Complete Guano, N. D. Sullivan's Chewing Tobacco, ?r Avery's Plows and Wagons, BUILDERS, MECHANICS AND FARMERS HARDWARE, and FILES, of all kinds and size*, Horse and Mule Siioos, Woodcnware, STAPLE DRY GOODS. BOOTS and SHOES, HATS and CAPS, GROCERIES. Fcb 20, 1879_ 10_ _W es BRADLEY'S PATENT PHOSPHATE AND COMBAHEE ACID PHOSPHATE. WE arc ftRcnls for the above cclobratod Fertilizers, having sold Bradlcy's Patent for sev? eral years, we know it to be good. As to the ACID there is nono better. ?eo Mr. It. A. Davlti' certificate attached. Could give more, but eac is sufficient. Our terms areas favorable as any Standard Guano. Give us a call before buying. \ A. B. TOWEIRS & CO. ANDERSON, 8. C, Sept. 30, 1878?Messrs. A. B. Towers & Co.?DeariHirs: I beg leave to say to you that I am well pleased with the Bradley's Goano that ? bought of you last Spring. In fact I do not think there is any other guano equal to it; except perhaps on* other, and there is no man who has used "a greater variety of fertilizers than I have. I shall,want it again, and a great many of my neighbors expect to use it next year, Just from seeing my cotton. ' \ . . < B. A. D?YIS Fob 13,1370 -.^3? 31 . .:'<$\ , . - - '