Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

BY E. E. MURRAY & CO. VOL. XTf-HO. 40. ?-t77?v OP SUBSCRIPTION.?Ose Dollar and Fifty Cents per annum, In advance. Two Dollars at end of year. Seventy-Fivk Cents for six months. Subscriptions aro not taken for a less period than Ax months. RATES OP ADVSRTISINO.-Ooe Do|larper Squat o ot one Inch for the first insertion,and Fifty Cents per square forsubscquentlnsertionslessthan three months. No advertisements counts less than a square. Liberal contracts will be made with those wishing to advertise for three, six or twelve months. Ad vorlUng by contract must bo confined to tie im? mediate business of the firm or individual contrac? ting. Obituary Notice? exceeding five lines, Tribntes of Respect, and all personal communications or matters of individual interest, will be charged for at advertising rates. Announcements of marriages and deaths, and notices of a religious character, are ??incetfullv solicited, and will be inserted grntis "THE FIGHTING ALSTONS." A Carolina Family Whose Members Must All Die With Their Boots On?Strange and Violent Deaths of the Alstons Through Many Generations. Atlant i letter in New York Herald. The killing of Robert A. Alston in this city on last Tuesday revives the memory of the most famous family probably of the old-time chivalry days ? the fighting Alstons of Carolina. The history of this audacious strain of blood is interwoven with the history of these turbulent days when gentlemen fought at the drop of a bat, and a slight: movement of the pistol finger was the answer to all insult or in? sinuation?the close of all argument. Tl e Alstons were gallant men of gentle blood and usually large fortunes. They were free livers and reckless fighters, and frequently became involved in difficul? ties and drained their estate with costs and forfeitures. Probably the best known of them, Col. Ben Alston, bad several affairs of honor, and wounded bis antag? onist every time be went to the field. He was an inperious, passionate man, and as cool under fire as he would be in his drawing-room. His most notable duel was with Hayne, whom be wounded in the knee. On one occasion be was visiting in Augusta, when a gentleman, mistaking bim for au acquaintance, tapped him across the shoulders with a riding whip. Alston wheeled as quick as lightening. The gentleman apologiz? ed iu the most ample terms. Alston took the whip from bis bands, lashed him across the back, and then said: "Now, eir, your apology isaceepted." Of course a meeting followed, it is said that Alston once fought a gentleman who disputed the age of some wine of which Alston had been boasting, throwing some of the wine in his face that be might get its full flavor. Col. Bob Alston came of the family known as the Halifax Alstons. Their estate lay about Halifax, X. C, and tbey dominated that whole section for years. They were enormously wealthy, and traveled from one of their estates to an? other in almost regal state. They had hundreds of slaves, and always traveled with a coach and a small army of retain? ers. The men were princely in their habits of expense, and put the "code" above the Bible. The women were high strung and spirited. Mrs. Bub Alston, the grandmother of the subject of this sketch, always carried her own sheets and pillows with her wben she traveled, and a case of loaf-sugar.? "I have known her," says Colonel Tom Howard, a connection, "to put $100 on a cock fight, with her own birds, and then stand and watch the struggle to the death." Colonel Willis Alston, known as "Honest Willis Alston," the grand uncle of Bob Alston, fought a dozen duels in one winter, numberless quarrels haviug sprung from hisassualts on a de? faulting State Treasurer. He killed two men and was himself frequently woun? ded. His favorite weapon was an old fashioned "yager," which is a sort of blunderbuss, carrying a double handful of buck-shot, and of fearful execution. A volume might be filled with the bloody exploits of these two brothers, but I shall deal only with the sons of Colonel Bob Alston, who were the later Alstons' immediate ancestors. AN ALSTON MUST DIE WITH HIS BOOTS ON. Old Colonel Alston, who was himself killed in a duel, bad three sons?Willis, Gideon and Augustus. Willis Alston, was the father of Colonel R. A. Alston Euch of these brothers came to his death by violence, or died, as the family tradi? tion runs, "in his boots." Gideon Al? ston, the first of the three to die, was killed in a peculiar manner. His brother Wills was in Nashville, on a lordly frolic when he became very much enamored of the lady who afterward married Sam Houston?a Miss Trimble, I believe. He paid her assiduous suit for several months, and, while engaged in this dalli? ance, formed au attachment for a young Spanish boy, named Pelat. This boy was friendless and poor and Alston adopted bim, taking him with him when he left Nashville. It appears that there was some feeling between Pelat und Gideon Alston; at any rate tbey left the bouse at night and went into the yard for the purpose of "practicing with their pistols." Gideon was then a col? lege boy having just turned sophomore iu the State University. In a few mo? ments after he left the house with Pelat lie was found in the yard, with a pistol bullet through his brain. Pelat said that he had shot himself accidentally, and this is all that was ever known of the matter. A FLORIDA TRAGEDY. And now comes one of the mast re? markable tragedies iu the history of this section so full of tragedies. There was living in Florida, then a primitive region, young Leigh Beed, a man of great abil? ity, gentleness and courage. He was | almost idolized by the people of that State for bis gallant services in the fierce ' Indian wars, having by his skill and fearlessness several times saved the little colony from destruction by the Seminoles and their allies. A story is told of him that will illustrate bis character and at the same time show how delicate was the sense of personal honor at that time. General Beed was a political opponent of Govenor Call's son and at the same time his personal friend. Political feeling ran very high, and on election day a Mr. White made some reflections upon the integrity of Govenor Call. Reed at once chal? lenged him for a duel. The men went, were both desperately wounded, and be? haved with great gallantry, fighting I believe, with bowie knives, their left, hands being strapped together. Some time afterward Beed became involved in a difficulty with the Alstons. I give the story as it was given me by Colonel R. A. Alston himself. He said that an article appeared iu a newspaper reflec? ting on Govenor Call. Colonel Augus? tus Alston, who was the leader of the Call faction, demanded the name of the author. He was furnished with the name of General Reed, who was the lead? er of the opposite faction. He at once challenged General Reed, and a meeting was arranged. The weapons selected wre "yagers," this deadly weapon being, it* I have said, a lavorite with the Alstons. Colonel Alston was attended by Mr. Kc iiuit his brother-in-law. At "the word ??One" Colonel Alston's gun exploded, it being hair-triggered. The contents were discharged into the air. General Reed, aiming with deliberation, fired, and Colonel Alston dropped dead in his tracks. His sNter, a most spirited woman, was nearly crazed at the news of his death. She secured the lead that had killed him, and with her own hands she molded it into bullets and sent them to her brother. Willis ANton (the father of R. A. Alston), and implored him to come and avenge the death of his broth? er She wrote that be had been murder? ed* and the Alstons adhered to this be? lief, although the general statement is that the meeting was a fair one, General Reed using on I v his just right in firing after the explosion of Alston's "yager." At any rate it was very well understood tint Willis Alston would seek revenge for his brother's death as the family for generations had made one of all their quarrels. The first meeting between Alston and Reed was dramatic. The Legislature had just met and Reed bad been elected Speaker. He was a young man, of exceptional power and popularity and his life promised to be brilliant and illustrious. He had invited his friends to the usual legislative supper, and the banquet was in progress, everything J going merrily and well. Suddenly a tall figure, muffled in a swinging cloak and j with a slouch hat drawn down over the face, stalked through the open door. ! Without a word it made for the bead of the table, where General Reed was sit? ting. Instantly cries of "Alston! Al? ston !" arose and ran down the table. At these cries the cloak was thrown back and Alston was recognized. Reed rose from his seat, and, whipping a pistol out of his pocket, leveled it at his assailant and fired. The bull struck Alston in his i uplifted hand, carrying away two fingers. Tbiadidnot stop him, but brandishing a bowie-knife, he closed on Reed. Be-1 fore the men could be parted Reed was cut pretty severely, and Alston, I believe,! wounded again. Alston was taken from the room, and for some months nothing j more was heard of the matter. One clay General Reed was walking down the streets of Tallahassee when he was fired ; upon by Colonel Alston. The contents : of one barrel of a shotgun was poured into his shoulder, and as he turned to ! confront his assailant, the other load went into his heart. He fell and died. Colonel Alston's friends say that he had given Reed notice that he intended to kill him on sight. killed by a mob. Willis Alston went to Texas, where he lived for some time. He settled near Brazoria. There was a Dr. Steward, who for some reason or other pursued the matter of the Reed killing, and used remarks derogatory to Alston. Alston hearing of it wrote the remarks down, and meeting Steward on the prairie one day, asked him to say whether or not he was responsible for those remarks. Dr. Steward took the paper, and while pre? tending to read it, put his hand into his holsters and drew his pistol. He jumped off his horse on the side opposite Alston and fired into him. A desperate fight ensued, in which Alston was shot twice, and his stomach so cut that his bowels protruded. He killed Steward, however, pouring a load of buckshot into him after he was prone upon the earth. He was taken to jail almost dead. He was a famous fiddler, and procuring a^fiddle, sat there "with his entrails protruding," as be wrote to a friend, playing the old tunes of his boyhood. His body servant gained admission to his sell and had a coil of rope wrapped about his body. With this be was going to try and escape. Suddenly a mob assaulted the jail, over? powered the Sheriff, broke in the doors and seized Colonel Alston. He was game to the last, and fiddled up to the very instant he was seized, his dauntless face looking full upon his assailants. He was tumbled into a blanket, the ends twisted, and he was then hustled out of the jail. Once out ia the street he was thrown to the ground, still enveloped in the blanket, and a hundred bullets were poured into his body. Thus died the last of the "Halifax Alstons." Tbey were a remarkably athletic and hand? some race of men. Gideon, who was killed by Pelat, is always cited as the hadspmest youngster of his day. It may be said here that the young Castilion who killed him was put into the navy as a midshipman, and was drowned in the Mediterranean. Willis Alston was a man of wonderful strength. He once shoul? dered a load of 800 pounds dead weight, and carried it through the streets of Sparta on a bet. His life was a stormy one.. His feud with the Ingrams, a brave and powerful family, was the sensation of Georgia for the time it las? ted. He always carried his "yager" with him, and escaped the whole difficul? ty witb only one finger shot away. This feud was dramatized under the title of "The Watch," and sold largely. Its authors were never discovered, or they would have been killed, as the heroes of that day did not tolerate the publication of their troubles. The manuscript was dis? covered one morning in the yard of a fearless widow, who published it herself and sold it, making a great deal of money by it. colokel robert a. alston'. Col. R. A Alston was a remarkable man. Filled with all the chivalry, fear? lessness and hot-headednessof his race, he dreaded, above all other things, meeting an end like bis ancestors. It was not fear, for an Alston does not know what fear is. He was as brave a man as ever lived. Iu the army, as one of Morgan's lieutenants, he was the most reckless and daring of them all. He once actually bad a biscuit shot from between his teeth, but with a laugh be continued his breakfast. He said to your correspon? dent once: "I have a boy who is a not headed fellow himself, and I have taken my wife's hand in mine many a time and knelt with her by bis bed side and !)rayed to God that I might bequeath lim a legacy of peace and a quiet death." It was his highest ambition, as he has ofton said, to break the old tradition that "an Alston must die in his boots." Once again, I was with him when he was going to the field to meet Col. E. Y. I Clarke, of a rival newspaper. The chal? lenge had been issued, and he was just going to take the midnight train. Sud? denly, he turned to a dark wall, and leaning his head on his hand, prayed aloud that God might spare him the death his people had died, and allow him to live in peace till a quiet death could claim him. He never believed, however, that this would be granted him. It made him gloomy to talk of it but to his friends he would say that he knew his destiny was to "die the Alston death." He even had superstition that a certain man was going to kill him. There had never been any trouble between them, but Alston always said, "That man is my fate." The man whs his friend, and never became anything else. Despite these gloomy thoughts, Alston was a devout believer iu the code. After be had joinpd the church he still adhered to bin belief. "It is a peacemaker," be ?nid. In South Carolina, where the code stood above the State law, there never was so quiet and decorous a commu? nity. In Charleston county there was not a murder in eighteen years, and the files ot the Charleston Courier for nearly twenty-five years do not show the use of the word "liar" or "scoundrel" or any similar epithets a single time. There were no streets fights or rows, and no assassinations. A high code or* honor was established, and it made even cowards brave men. He used to tell ol a Carolina Judge (Mr. Petligrew), who, having two men before him for trying to fight a duel, said : "Gentlemen, it will take me an hour to write out these War? rant?. In the meantime there is a steamer at my wharf that can take you out of my jurisdiction, so that you can conndete your work before I could hold you." Col. Alston fought a duel himself though he issued and accepted several challenges. The conservative spirit of these latter days almost always settles these matters without the exchange of shots. While Alston would have died before he would have submitted to a dis? honorable compromise, I know what I stubborn heroism it required to carry I him into an affair of honor. He shrank with horror from such test. His whole life was overshadowed by the memory of his ancestors and their bloody ends. He was a recognized authority on mat | ters of the code, and was usually called into all prominent affairs. While he was tenacious of the honor of his princi i pals, he never stickled for technicalities, and usually succeeded in adjusting the differences. Only once was he second in a fatal meeting. He attend young McGraw, of Charleston, and loaded the pistol that killed Tabor. There had ap? peared in the Charleston Mercury a com? munication assailing Judge McGraw signed with a non de plume. Contrary to the usual practice of demanding the name of the author of the offensive arti? cle Alston demanded for McGraw satis? faction of Tabor and his two editorial associates, holding that gravamen of the offence was in the publication. The name of the author was offered and de? clined. Tabor then announced himself responsible. McGraw, through Alston, challenged the three editors, naming Ta? bor first. The parties went to the field. At the second shot Tabor jumped straight into the air, fell upon his back, shivered and died. McGraw was unhurt, and the affair stopped there. his last meeting. Alston had been engaged in many presonal enconters, but never bad beeu seriously hurt. It was harder for him to take an insinuatiou of insnlt than for almost any one else; but he always re repressed his anger, if possible, avoided truble. He was a fine talker, a genial gentleman, of winning address, and those saved him from many difficulties that his impetuosity would have led bim into. His favorite maxim, however, was saying of Sir Boyle Roach, "The best way to avoid danger is to meet it plump]y I" and his boldness often sufficed where tempo? rizing would have failed. In the trou? ble that led to his death, after he had been sent off by Cox to arm himself, his first impulse was to .get a double-barreled shot-gun and go and look Cox up and kill him. He was thoroughly acquain? ted with the violent habits of his enemy, and knew best how to meet them. He was dissuaded from this course, however by Govenor Colquitt and others. He was very much depressed at the idea that Cox was hunting him down, and seemed to have a premonition of what was coming. He said throwing himself into a chair in the Treasurer's office, "It is awful hard to know that a man is dogging you and that you have got to kill him or be killed." Instead of going off to arm himself, he went to a restaurant to get some dinuer. He ate heartily, but was very much worried. At length he was persuaded to take a pistol,getting one that he had never seen before, a s. lf-cooking-six shooter. When he en tei -*! the Treasurer's office he seemed relieved to think he had found a retreat from the trouble. No sort of personal fear moved him, but the idea of blood? shed seemed to sicken him. When ho saw Cox enter and half draw his pistol at a man evidently mistaken for him he seemed to know that his time had come. He grew a shade pale and his face har? dened and grew stem. His first word was an appeal: "I am not going to have any difficulty with you," he said; "you must let me alone." Cox still persisted, however, growing angrier all tho time. At lengh, when he stepped back and closed the door and said, "I will force you, sir," he seemed to give up all hope. Capt. John Nevins, his friend, who witnessed it all, describes the scenes that followed: "Colonel Bob rose quiet and calm, just like he was going to make a speech There was not a tremor about him. 'All right, he says, we'll have it out right here. Are you armed?" With that he drew his pistol. Cox's was already out. I threw myself between them and said, 'No you don't, gentlemen !' Colonel Bon thrust bis hand over my shoulder and fired, striking Cox in the mouth. At the same time Cox fired and tho ball went through my whiskers. Their hands nearly crossed as they fired. I still held them apart. They fired again by me and I then turned them loose. Cox was jumping and dodging around, but Colo? nel Bob never moved. He stood straight as a statue. After he had shot his fourth shot he turned his face to me and smiled I that peculiar smile he has. As he turned [ he pulled trigger again and his pistol snapped. Then Cox fired again, and I saw a red spot ooze out in Col. Bob's temple. Cox was trying to cock his pis? tol again when I jumped in and threw him back, catching Col. Bob. He sank in my arms. When I turned, Cox wan sit? ting in a chair spitting blood, with his pistol on a table. He said, 'I am a dead man.' I cut Col. Bob's shirt open." State Treasurer Raynor says that Alston put both his hands on Cox's breast and said. "Ed., for God's sake let us have no difficulty. I don't want to kill you; you shouldn't want to kill me." the alston destiny. Alston had a peculiarly winning and handsome face, and a semi-military man? ner. He Btood like a statue while shoot? ing, his handsome face set and stern with the old Alston fire blazing from his eyes, turning his erect figure by military half wheels to present his side always to his shifting enemy. After he had been shot down Mr. Ed. Mercer, who knew of his foreboding about dying with his boots on, said, "He shall not die in his boots, by, God!" and tenderly took them off. "The scene at the death bedside was affecting in the extreme. Only the most intimate friends and the lamily were admitted, a force of police beating back the host that surged against the doors. As it was evident that he must die in a few moments, Mrs. Alston asked Govenor Colquitt, who was kneeling by the bedside and who was devotedly at? tached to the dying man, to pray. With a Aoice broken with emotion, holding Aslton's hand, the Govenor prayed.ilouu while every head in the room was bowed and every eye streamed with tears. And thus without a shudder, with hardly a moan, bb face peaceful and half smiling he died. In his bed, his wife and friends about him, prayers going to God with his fleeting sou", and only the ghastly blue-red hole in his temple to tell thai the old Alston destiny had overtaken him and that he had left the old Alston heritage to his son. Stant. Alone.?Dr. Price's Cream Baking Powder is free from all substances detrimental to health. In these respects it stand* ahme. Who can tell how many invalids and tender children have fallen victims to the dangerous adulterations practiced upon food? Obtain pure ar? ticles only. The Truth.?In the whole United States there is not a flavoring extract that is so valuable, so positive, so effect? ual in producing the most delicious, de? sirable, and delicate flavored cakes, pastry, ice cream, etc., as Dr. Price's justly celebrated SpcJal Flavoring Ex? tracts. Radical False "Pretenses. In order to show "the true inward? ness" of the Republican revolutionists, who now so diligently disturb the public peace by crying "revolution" at the heels of a Democratic majority of both houses of Congress, we extract from the New York World a recitation of the proceed? ings of the session of 1872, when the Re? publicans had a majority in both houses. Here are the extraordinary scenes which occurred on June the 11th, 1872. This was the last day of one of the cast-iron sessions of Grant and Blaine, immediate? ly preceding the .second Grant Presiden? tial campaign, the new term beginning on the 4th of March, 1873: "A sundry civil appropriation bill had been passed by the House of Representa fives several weeks previously which had j duly reached the Senate, where the fiat | of Conkling, Chandler, and others, had added the ameudatory provisions author- i i izing bayonets at the polls in the South 1 J and supervisors and deputy marshals upon election day in the North. When this amended bill was returned to the House, which alone can originate appro? priations, the Democrats resisted the amendments. The bill reached the House on Saturday morning, June 8, and ! I Mr. Garfield immediately moved that it i be referred to the Committee on Appro? priations. Mr. Brooks, of New York, | opposed the motion, on the ground that it would facilitate the passage of the civil appropriation bill with the objectionable amendment known as the enforcement act. In reply to a question by Mr. Eld ridge, Speaker Blaine stated that the bill could not he reached without a two-thirds majority, while it would require only a majority vote to pass it if Mr. Garfield's tactics prevailed. In order to respect the necessity for the appropriations, Mr. Kerr moved that all the Senate amend? ments upon appropriations be passed upon by the majority vote, except as to the objectionable amendments, and that these should take their chance of a two thirds vote. Mr. Hoar made the point of order that the House had no right to adopt such a resolution, which Speaker Blaine sustained. "Mr. Beck then offered a resolution which asserted that the objectionable Senate amendment was unconstitutional because inserted in an appropriation bill, and that therefore it be returned to the Senate. Every Republican voted that the course was constitutional. The reso? lution of course was lost, and the prece? dent stands upon the parliamentary re? cord. "Mr. Garfield then pressed his resolu? tion to a vote, but although the latter stood 97 Republican yeas to 79 Demo? cratic nays, the motion was lost because two-thirds did not favor it. Other busi? ness intervened, but when the morning hour expired Mr. Garfield renewed the conflict. Mr. Garfield moved to proceed to the business upon the Speaker's table. This was a motion that required only a majority vote, and its object was to lay aside measure after measure until the civil appropriation bill was reached and referred to a conference committee. Im? mediately the Democrats commenced dilatory motions, and alter six hours had been wasted with them, Mr. Garfield made an appeal to the House from what he called the dead-lock, and moved to non-concur in all the Senate amendments and refer them to a committee of con? ference with a recess until Monday morn? ing, which was agreed to without a division. Speaker blaine then appointed Messrs. Garfield and Palmer, Republi? cans, and Niblack, of Indiana, Democrat, as the members of conference. During the 'filibustering' it was repeatedly stated that 'President Grant is going openly into Congress to-day to press this bill for? ward to its passage, and he is prepared to force it through into a law by an extra session if he fails to secure its enactment to-day.' "What occurred over Sunday was stated the next morning by Mr. Kelly, of Philadelphia, who with Farnsworth, of Illinois, were the only Republicans who opposed the arbitrary legislation in ques? tion. The conference committees had met and, of course with a Republican majority upon them, had agreed to re? commend the Seuate bill intact. But in? asmuch as the rule had always been that reports from conference committees were subject to dilatory motions, no danger was apprehended by the Democrats, but to their surprise it was soon intimated by the Speaker that he could hold the report to be a privileged question. And accord? ingly, when the House met on Monday morning, the Speaker so decided and the report was received. This brought Mr. Kelly to an attitude of indignant elo? quence, and he said: "I move to recommit the conference report. I make this motion under a deep sense of responsibility. I am constrained to make this by a proper sense of self respect. The bill has attained in its present state what, so far as my con? sciousness is concerned, appears to be a false pretense, characterized by all the features of that offense which the law of Pcunsylvania punishes. On Saturday last the minority of the House, in virtue of parliamentary law and the usages of the House, not by the weakness of the Republican party or of the members of that party, held this bill in their power. 'Take from it one amendmeut aud you may have all the rest without objection on our part,' was said. Take from it one provision and you may have your ad? journment and appropriation. There came on this floor a Senator, a member of the conference committee, (Cole, of California,) and he gave assurance to gentlemen around me that if the bill could go to a conference committee the Senate would recede from that amend? ment. It was known that he would be chairman of the conference committee of this House, and that he disapproved of that amendment and had given open and public assurance that he disapproved of it as heartily as any gentleman on the other side of "the House. There had to be, according to parliamentary usage, two Democrats on the conference com? mittee?one from the House and one from the Senate?and there would, there? fore, it seemed to me and others, be no possibility of the objectionable amend? ment being adhered to; and land others as radical as I am went not merely with me, but in advance of me, to gentlemen on the other side and said: 'The circum? stances are such as to guarantee the with? drawal of this amendment. You cannot be deceived.' Nor yet did they yield. They hesitated and inquired and did not yield until from the Speaker's chair they received the assurance that the report of a conference committee was subject to all the dilatory motions that any other mat? ter was subject to. I had gono to them meanwhile and iiad given them assurance that if they lost position or power I would co-operate with them in regaining their lost power and their lost rights; aud I make this motion in redemption of my word. If it brings upon me condem? nation 1 shall not heed that. "Mr. Garfield said that he would not speak as to the merits of the proposition before the House, except to say that no one regretted more than he did the fact that the House had been brought to a j dead lock on this question. The qucs ' tion which had arisen was far above the I bill. It was whether the majority had the right, and could insist upon their right, to consider a great appropriation bill the moment that any minority, how? ever large, said no to that proposition. If not, then they were in the midst of a parliamentary revolution, out of which there was no legislation of any sort pos? sible forevermore until that proposition was abandoned. He regarded it as most unwise and unfortunate that the gentle? men on the other side of the House had seen fit to say that unless this amend? ment were struck out this great public measure, without which the government could not go on, could not become a law. He would never give way in any form of compromise until that assumption was utterly abandoned. He recognized the ! right of dilatory motions where a mi*' nority was being oppressed by any an parliamentary proceedings, but where j the proposition was to proceed according to parliamentary law, and where the mi? nority said that should not be done, then if the minority was to prevail there was the end of parliamentary government. It was a simple, plain denial of the right of the American people to make laws, speaking through the majority of their representatives. "Mr. Brooks made the suggestion that the enforcement bill was unconstitu? tional, and was proceeding to establish that point by reference to the fourth article of the Constitution, but was in? terrupted by Mr. Bingham, who had ob? tained the floor, and who insisted upon proceeding with his remarks. "An exciting scene ensued, during which Mr. Bingham had to withdraw offensive words and Speaker Blaine to apologize, when the matter was recom? mitted to the conference committee. Several hours later Mr. Garfield, from the reconvened conference committee, reported an inability to agree and moved a new conference. This was merely a technical proceeding, but gave the Re? publicans a way out of the dilemmas into which the speeches of Messrs. Kelly, Garfield and Biugham had placed them ; and a new conference committee was ostensibly appointed, but it consisted of the former members of the first commit? tee. Meanwhile the sessions of both Senate and House had been prolonged a few hours by joint resolution, and the Republicans had agreed to take out the enforcement clauses which the Senate had inserted in the appropriation bill, and the Democrats agreed to withdraw 'filibustering.' This left merely the Da? venport amendments, with a withdrawal from supervisors of the right to arrest without warrants. Upon the new report being presented, Mr. Garfield explained it. He said: "The efTcct of the proviso that super? visors shall not have the power to make arrests was that those officers should stand by and witness any proceedings of the election and should have the ollicial right to do so, 80 that if frauds were per? petrated the United States government might have witnesses. In answer to a question by Mr. Brooks, Mr. Garfield stated that the supervisors of election would have nothing to do officially with challenging illegal voters or deciding such challenges or with giving or with? holding certificates of election or returns. Mr. Kerr asked Mr. Garfield whether there was anything in the enforcement of the amendment which touched the matter of the qualifications of electors. Mr. Garfield replied in the negative and said that there was nothing in it that could touch or change the qualifications of electors as now provided by law. Mr. Niblack, the Democratic member of the conference committee, made a statement as to the enforcement amendment. He had declined signing the report solely on the ground of his objection to that amendment as interfering with the Staes. But the compromise reported was In; con? fessed a mere sketch of the original Sen? ate amendments. The supervisors pro? vided for were to be mere official witness to elections with no other power thau to make complaint if the election laws were violated. Although he was opposed to the amendment in any shape he did not feel justified in carryiuy on factious op? position to it, but was disposed to let the vote be taken on the proposition. He believed that was the best policy, and he said so frankly to his frieuds. "Mr. Kerr said that he looked with complete abhorrence on any attempt on the part of the Federal government to extend its jurisdiction over the conduct of elections in the States, as he thought it a most dangerous innovation in the rightful power and jurisdiction of the State. Still the amendment was so far clipped of its dangerous influeuce and power as that these additional super? visors, in the language adopted, should have no power or authority to do any? thing except it be in the immediate presence of the election officers, and to witness all their proceedings, including the counting of the votes and the making a return thereof. "Mr. Potter regarded the amendment as unconstitutional, dangerous and un? called for, but still he did not feel justi? fied in resorting further to dilatory mo? tions, but would submit to have the vote taken and would record himself, as he was most heartily against it. "Mr. Holman undertook to initiate dilatory motions, declaring that this was the most fatal project ever brought be? fore Congress and that it was infamous in its character. He had not, however, enough supporters to order the yeas ami nays, only fourteen members voting to order them. "Mr. Garfield moved to suspend the rules and vote immediately on the con? ference report. Agreed to by 132 to 23. "The conference report itself was then agreed to?yeas, 102; nays, 79?a party vote. It only remains to add to these references to history that the same Gen? eral Garfield who in 1872 so strenuously insisted upon retaining amendments to an appropriation bill is the same General Garfield who is now leading the same party on a platform that to repeal those amendments in an appropriation bill is revolutionary." AnoL'T Gold.?It is now just thirty one years since the grand discovery of gold was made in California. During that period there has been produced in the States and Territories west of the Miss? issippi River bullion to the value of ?1, 980,527,930. Of this amount aboat $1,581,443,003 has consisted of gold and $405,094,540 of silver. Besides this there has been produced to date in the several Alantic States, something like $80,000,000, the most of it in North Car? olina, Virginia and Georgia. If to this be added the entire yield of British Col? umbia to date $33,000,000, San Francis? co receipts from the Northwest coast of Mexico, $9,000,000, and the product of the Atlantic States $30,000,000, we have a total of $2,857,527,939 produced from the above sources, all but 42,000,000 be? ing from mines within the limits, of the United States. Delightful Bouquets.?Dn. PaiCE's Concealed Delight, Pet Rose, Hyacinth, Alista Bouquet, Ladies' Favorite, and his other handkerchief perfumes, arc truly delightful bouquets. They are cer? tainly the most exquisite scents that can be imagined?the odors of dainty buds and rich blossoms. "What Northern Men Say of the South. This is a pamphlet of some sixty-three pages, containing the proceedings of the convention of Northern residents of the South which assembled at Charlotte on the loth of January. 1S79, at the invita? tion of Mr. Dumont, of Charlotte, who, in a most admirable and patriotic circu? lar, inaugurated the assembling of these Northern settlers to "speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," as to the South, her people, her laws and her resources. The pamphlet also con? tains the proceedings of a second con? vention held at Raleigh, on March 1, 1879. The South, or rather the old residents of the South, can but feel grateful for the manifestation of the high sense of esteem in which they are held by their fellow-citizens from the North, who have come to dwell amongst them. The pamphlet contains also many varied and valuable communications of Northern settlers who were unable to attend the convention at Charlotte. Truly these communications touching the relations, political, social and industrial, from every part of t'ie South, should be of au? thority among.'t good, well-meaning citi? zens everywl.re in the broad Union. Without knowing positively the social relations of these Northern residents, we were not prepared to see a relation of the facts so creditabh to our people from all directions. For we knew that owing to the terrible misrule under which many portions of the South have groaned, there was in certain quarters more or less an? tipathy existing to the live Yankee. That our people should have mastered this desire to inflict the wrongs they were forced to endure, or. Northern settlers, is highly creditable no less to the Southern born portion of our communities, than to the good sense and manliness of North? ern residents. Wc find much valuable information in the pamphlet as to the varied industries now existing in the South as well as the vast resources awaiting the full advent of progressive free labor. We presume wc have to thank our contemporary, the Charlotte Observer, at whose steam job print establishment the pamphlet is pub? lished, for the copy kindly furnished us. We have only space this morning to give the report of th 2 committee on reso? lutions, consisting of: 1 Rev. Dr. Mattnon, President of Bitldle University, Charlotte, N. C, formerly of New York. A. J. Curtis, of San Mateo, Fla., form? erly of New York. II. Coykendall, of Black's Station, S. C, formerly of Des Moines, Iowa. W. B. Middaugh, of Danville, Va., formerly of Pennsylvania. H. D. Ingersoll, of Loudsville, Ga., formerly of New York. To the People of the Several Common? wealths comparing the United States of America: We, the representatives of Northern settlers in the Southern States, and being ourselves immigrants from localities in the Northern States to the respective States following our individual signa? tures, in convention assembled, do call your attention to the following, feeling assured that cool judgment upon the facts shown will set in flow the currents of reason, and action w;U follow reason? ing without prejudice. We prefer to make findings specifically and at length, and we find: That in the States of our former homes there exists an active prejudice against the South and its people; that by it and through it the conditions of the country are largely disquieted; that it is foment? ed and kept alive for ends ulterior to the common weal; that the real interests of the nation arc kept out of sight in keep? ing alive this prejudice. That much of this prejudice, if not all of it, is due mainly to wrong information concerning (and partial and total ignorance of) the facts existing in a large portion of the South. That in the portion; of the South in which we reside, the right of any man, from no matter where, to express pub? licly as well as privately his opinion upon any subject and of every nature, is nowhere and in no manner restrained. That all laws are well administered and as truly enforced against the wrongdoer as in any part of any State of the Union. That any man who has so conducted himself at his former home as to win the regard of honest men and decent people, by pursuing the same course of life in the South, does gain and keep the regard and respect of all people, regardless of any question of politics or religious faith ; and we further find that being a North? ern man is certainly no disadvantage. That every citizen recognizes that he is amenable to the lav,-, and that local self-government is as much required and encroachments upon these as much de? plored as in any State North, East or West. We find, too, that persons foisted them? selves upon the polity of the South, and by their conduct cast discredit upon the Northern name. Those of us who were in the army of the Union never for a moment pretended to think of denying our uniform-or the old cause. The Confederate soldier has always evinced the true soldier instinct in the grasp of those who were his ene? mies in war. That considering reputed outrages, if these weie carefully sifted, it will be found that the complainants for like acts would have suffered at the hands of any people under like provocation. #****? We find that no man is ostracised for his opinions or on account of the laud of his birth ; but, as elsewhere, for his bad acts and dishonest failure to meet his trusts and obligations. We find, too, that it is a mistake to treat suspiciously or to ignore the kindly offices of neigh? borly friendship in all cases extended to a stranger, and that sometimes persons have repelled kindness and then com? plained of being let alone. We find that the Southern native ex? pects Northern people to have notions on politics and other topics different from his, and views with as much contempt as is elsewhere done any man who truckles or toadies for simple gain. We find that to the people of the other sections of the United States the South is an unknown land so far as relates to knowledge of its soil, its climate, its healthfulncss and its people. That it is i libelled for partisan ends, and we present this document in all conscience and honor, to give honest knowledge and cor? rect wrong reports. In a document of this kind we cat .lot give detailed figures of products per acre, nor the yield per ton of ores, nor the assay value of minerals, nor the monthly thermal range for each point, nor many other special facts, but we, each of us, invite correspondence and will furnish facts and figures regarding our several localities on application. To the truth of all this we pledge our? selves and stand upon its truth by our signatures hereto. Here follows the signatures ef mem? bers of the convention, from thirteen original localities, viz.: New Hampshire, 1; Vermont, I; Massachusetts, 6 ; Con? necticut, 1 ; New York, 21; New Jersey, !?; Per ylvania, 15; Maryland, 3; Dis trict of Columbia, 3 ; Ohio, 2 ; Michi? gan, 1; Wisconsin, 1; Iowa, 2.?Colum? bia Register. Bill Arp's Sunday Chat. Its a thrillin time when a country family have invited their city cousins to visit 'em, and are fixin up to receive 'em in a hospitable mauner. My wife, -Mrs. Arn, she were not at home and so the girls took matters in charge, and for sev? eral days the exciting episode went on. It was like clearing the deck of a man of war for a fight. The house has been scoured, and scrubbed, and sand papered. Fverything in it has been taken down and put up again, and moved to a new place, and I can't find anything now when I want it. The old faded carpets have been taken up and beated, and patched all over, and curtailed and put down again. They get smaller and smaller, which they say, is a good wav to wear 'em out without taking cold. The furniture has been freshly varnished with kerosene oil; the window glass washed on both sides, and the knives and forks, water buckets, wash pans, and shovel and tongs brightened up. The hearths have been painted with Spanish brown, the family portraits dusted cas? tors and spoons and napkin rings pol? ished as fine as a jewelry store. I surveyed the operations from day to day with affectionate interest for it does me good to see young poeple work dili? gently in a meritorious cause: neverthe? less my routine of daily life seems to be somewhat demoralized. On the first day our humble dinner was dispensed with and me and the boys invited to lunch on bread and sorghum at a side table. The next day we were nllowed to lunch in the back piazzer for fear we would mess up the dining-room, and the next we were confined to the water-shed to keep us from messing up the piazzer and after that I meekly prepared myself to be showed out doors on a plank, but we wasent. Ive been doing some more work on the front yard to surprise Mrs. Arp when she comes, but theyve locked the front door to keep us from tramping through the hall and we have to go around about a hundred yards for a drink of water. This is allcoreect I reckon for theres no malice in it and they praise up our terraces so gushingly Ive a mind to keep on with em down into the pub? lic road and cascade that to the branch. Delicate hints have been given that it ain't polite to set down to dinner with one's coat off, or to drink coffee out of a saucer, or eat hominy with a knife, or smoke in the parlor. The wash bowl has been turned upside down to keep us from using it. With this side up it holds about a pint and a half, and as I was washing my face with the tips of my fingers they surveyed me with looks of unutterable despare. When I raise my workin' boots on the banister rail for an evening rest they wipe it oil' with a wet rag as soon as I leave. I musent step on the purty red hearth to make up a fire or to put a back log on that weighs 50 pounds. Theyve put pillows on about half as big as a bale of cotton and fringed all round like a petticoat. They are to stay on in day-time and be taken off at night. Whem Im tired and feel the need of a midday nap that bed was a comfort, but the best 1 can do now is to sit up in a chair and nod. The dogs don't understand the new system at all. Old Bows has been coming in the house to the fire or lying in the piazzer for 14 years, and it does seem impossible to break him of it in a sudden though dog? matic manner. Broom-handles and fish? ing poles move em out at one door, but they slip in at another. Theyl enter an appeal when Mrs. Arp comeR home. Im waiting patiently for her advent myself, but am going to conform to the new or? der just as long as I can in reason. Shed take care of me and restore my ancient privileges. She never would allow anybody to regulate me but herself, company or no company. Shes over? stayed her time two days trying to decide what to buy with two dollars and a half. Poor thing I I wish she had a hundred. Id foller her about from store to store all the day long. Then she wouldnt buy nothing for herself but a pair of specks, and she'd buy them on the sly, for she dont want it generally understood she has to use them. I woke up one night about midnight and discovered her sit? ting by the fire with my glasses on, read? ing Molly Brown. Im reveliin now at her delight, when she sees all the im? provements that we have made in her loug absence, for it seems like she has been ofTto Europe, or Jeruselem, or the Suez Canal. We've turfed all the ter? races with blue grass sod. They run round the form of a snake with two crooks in him but which our poetic girls speak of as Mr. Hogarth's line of beauty. We've leveled off another yard for cro kay ground; she loves to play some? times, and it does me good to see her throw the mallet after the ball when it misses the wicket two or three times in succession. She's is a comin'. The flowers are waiting for her, and the chickens and colts, and the dogs and cats, and the children and me. We'erall a waiting. Bill Arp. Evolution. In 1824, Daguerre commenced experi? menting. In 1839, he gave to the world the process of making Daguerreotypes. By patient industry, the art has evolved into the perfect pictures of the present. He who views the fast fading pictures of his ancestors, and compares them with the almost living and lasting photographs of to-day must acknowledge an advance? ment. If au advancement has been made in photography and other sciences, is it asking too much, simply because it cannot be ocularly demonstrated, that the doubts and uncertainties of Sir Ast ley Cooper's time be set aside, and an equal improvement granted in the science of medicine? Must the ability of the studious and experienced physician be doubted, simply because the negligent and inexperienced fail ? But a few years since, the diseases and weaknesses peculiar to women were regarded as incurable. Now Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription is sold under a positive guarantee to cure. Ladies, if afflicted, and you wish to avoid painful examinations and useless local treatment, and employ a medicine that is scientifically prepared; that is chemical? ly pure, that is regularly graduated in strength, and that will never disappoint you in its action, use Dr. Pierce's Favor? ite Prescription. ? On Saturday afternoon a young heifer, owned by Mr. Ryan, gave birth to one red calf and thirty-one monstrosi? ties. Mr. Ryan described the monstrosi? ties as about the size of large mice. Their beads, legs and bodies resembled those of calves, only there was no hair upon them. The probable weight of these unnatural animals was from two to three ounces each. The red calf is liv? ing, while the others were dead when born. Mr. Ryan is one of our substan? tial business men, and has the reputation of being truthful and honest, so there is no cause to doubt the above statements. ?Cor. Indianapolis Journal, 1 LEGAL ADVERTISING.-We are compelled fo require cash payments for advertising ordered by Executors, Administrators and other fiduciaries and herewith nppend the rates for the ordinary notices, which will only be inserted when the money comes with the order: Citations, two Insertions, - S3.00 Estate Notices, three insertions, - - 2.08 Final Settlements, five insertions - - 3.00 TO CORRESPONDENTS.?lit order to receive attention, communications must )>c accompanied by tho true name and address of the writer. Re? jected manuscripts -Till not be returned, unless the necessary stamps arc furnished to repay the postage thereon. Wc are not responsible for the views and opinions of our correspondents. All communications should he addressed to"Ed Itors Intelligencer," and all checks, drafts, money orders, Ac, should be made pavalde to the order of E. I). MURRAY A CO., Anderson, S. C. A CRUEL FATE. General Slocum on th<> Murder of .Mrs. Surratt. General II. W. Slocum, one of the most distinguished brigade, disvision, corps and grand division commanders of tho war recently delivered a lecture in Brooklyn on events of the great struggle, during the course of which he expressed the opinion, always held by the Union, that Mrs. Surratt was a murdered woman. He said: I am going to speak to you one word about tho execution of Mrs. Surratt at the close of the war, for I think some good lessons can be learned from the story of her trial and death. I believe any people situated as we were ought to be cautioned against placing implicit confidence in evidence given at a time of high excitement. I could stand here to? night and relate to you fifty incidents that would serve to caution everybody against taking evidence against others when the people were all in a state of intense excitement. There never was a day, there never was an hour, that I did not believe Mrs. Surratt was as inno? cent a woman as there is in this hall. [Applause.] She was the keeper of a boarding house in Washington. She boarded Wilkes Booth and a naif dozen other rebel sympathizers, and she had a son, John H. Surratt. Wilkes Booth was cuilty of shooting Mr. Lincoln, and this poor woman was brought to trial in connection with Wilkes Booth, and through the excitement of the times her neck was brought to the halter. Her daughter, a young girl 18 or 19 years of age, on the morning of the execution went to the President's room and beg? ged permission to say few words to him on behalf of her mother, and a United States Senator from our own State, who acted as door tender, repulsed her saying, "No, no; you cannot go in." Worse than that, meaner than that, the poor girl three or four years afterward married a clerk in the Treasury Department. No charges were made against him, but because this clerk had married the daughter of Mrs. Surratt he was dis? charged. Let us brag of our achieve? ments, but at the same time let us learn to look our faults and errors squarely in the face and acknowledge them whem we have cause to." The murder of Mrs. Surratt was tho most cruel and cowardly act ever com? mitted in any civilized country. It is a curious and suggestive fact that all who were responsible for the execution of that innocent woman have felt the un? seen hand of the Great Avenger. Stanton Secretary of War, who was, perhaps, the worst of the number, committed suicide in a fit of remorse, although the fact was sought to be concealed. Preston King, the Senator from New York, who repul? sed Annie Surratt from the President's door, in like manner ended his own life by deliberately jumping from a ferry boat in the North River, at New York, and drowning himself. Andrew Johnson, who signed the death warrant and des? potically suspended the writ of habras corpus that had been granted by the court, was stricken suddenly with death upon his return to the Senate after he had left the Presidency. Judge Advo? cate Holt, who couducted the prosecution long ago disappeared from public view and whether dead or alive nobody knows and nobody cares. And John A. Bing ham, who assisted Holt, was driven from Congress in disgrace as one of the Credit Mobilier bribe takers, and sought relugc in Japan, where, we believe he now is ?Rochester [N. Y.) Union. Women Voters vs Kansas.?A Hoosier sees in Kansas many new and unfamiliar sights, but none more inter? esting than that of the ladies voting. They have the privilege of voting in all matters pertaining to schools. As far as my observation goes, the ladies here have minds of their own. They neither vote for the "handsomest man" nor the one their husbands tell them to vote for, unless the candidate is, in their own opinion, the proper one. Their votes can not be bought. They are universally on the side of morality and temperance; hence the workers in the cause are warm advocates of equal suffrage. Election days pass quietly. If there is any drink irje; or fighting* done, it is not at the polls. Everything is orderly there not? withstanding contrary reports circulated by anti-suffragists in the Eastern States. Candidates keep carriages running for the accommodation of the ladies, but a great many walk up and deposit their votes. As the result, so far, has been very satisfactory, even to the men (the brutes), it will probably be but a short time until equal suferage is granted. The gentlemen show their gallantry and faith in the ability of the ladies by ap? pointing them to office. The enrolling clerks of the Legislature are ladies; also a large proportion of the county super? intendents, who, in every instance dis? charge their duties in a manner that gives universal satisfaction. We have in this city among the ladies a physician, a printer and numerous clerks, agents and women carrying on business successfully in various ways. One of them is a barber, who supports herself and chil? dren comfortably. Ladies are not so plenty here as in Indiana. Perhaps that is the reason they are so well respected and protected. They are scarce enough to be precious. In proof of which wo often see advertisements for wives, by some of the yountr men who took Gree ley's advice some time ago, and now have handsome farms and homes of their own. I noticed in a paper a few days since the offer of a fine horse to the per? son who would assist the advertiser in se? curing a "good, industrious wife."?Sali na letter to Indianapolis Herald. A Boy's Hard Sunday.?The head of a boy about ten years old might have been seen stickng through a picket fence on Beaubien street Sunday evening as a loud "yanhoo!" singal was given to some one in the house. A lad of "there? abouts" finally opened the door and came out and asked: "Is that you, Jim? What ycr want?" "I didn't see ye down where we was riding on cakes of ice in the ship," re? plied the other. "I know ye didn't. This has bin the hardest Sunday I ever put in on earth." "Dad sick ?" "No, dad's in Saginaw, but ma'm got some gold in her lront teeth yesterday, and she was bound to go to church to? day if it killed her. I had to run all over and borry things for her, and then stay home and take keer of sis." "Is it real gold, Jim?" "I guess so, for she went in the morn? ing, then in the afternoon, then to a lecture, and she's now gittin' ready for tho eveniu' sermon, an' practicin' on showin' her three front teeth. I'm goin' to run away as soon as grass starts."? Free Press. ? Rowel, the English pedestrian, sailed for home on the 1st, accompanied by his attendants. Ae takes back about $19, 000, the champion belt, a valuable dia? mond ring from a lady admirer, a dia? mond scarf pin, a gold watch and chain and other gifts.