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. B. MUKEAY & CO. ANDERSON, S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 8, 1880._VOLUME XV.?NO. 26. A BIG TALK WITH HAMPTON. Light Thrown Upon Divers Dark Subject* ?The Proposition of Judges Settle and Denny to Sell Oat Chamberlain In 1876 ?Two Policies for 1880, Conciliation or Fraud?South Carolina Bears the Whole Cost of Her Deliverance?A Final Word to Gen. Gary. Correspondence New and Courier. Washington, Dec. 21, 1879. The evident and widespread interest which has been manifested in regard to the matter of an alleged bargain for the withdrawal of the Tilden electors from the Democratic ticket in South Carolina during the campaign of 1876, induced me to apply to Senator Hampton, a few days ago, for a statement of the actual facts in the case as known to him. In the course of several conversations since had with him upon this subject, other facts were brought out incidentally, which I requested to be allowed to make known also as throwing new light upon a subject in which the people of the State will always feel the deepest interest. The followiog narrative is the result of my application, and most be understood as presenting only the substance of his replies to my numerous inquiries. THE CAMPAIGN of 1880. Senator Hampton said that, in the ab? sence of all his papers, and after so long a lapse of time, a great many details must have escaped his memory, and be could, therefore, only give the general facts as fat as he could recollect them. I regret exceedingly, he continued, that these questions concerning the Tilden matter have been re-opened. ? I can see no good that can arise from the discus? sion at a' time when tha Democratic party in South Carolina requires to be united in order to be successful. My po? sition with reference to its. duty and in? terest has been that all the gentlemen who had been nominated, either for Gov? ernor or for any other office, for the next canvass should have tbeir names fairly brought before the public and presented to the Convention. The duty of select? ing the standard bearers would devolve upon?that Convention, and its action should be binding. I have not expressed iu public any preference for any man in the State to fill any particular office, and have only indicated, in general terms, my views, that we should hold to the policy which was so successful in 1876. It is no longer an experimental one; it is the only one that has ever carried the State?the only one that could have car? ried it, and is the only one that can carry it in future. TWO WAYS TO CAREY THE STATE. Wo bave a majority of fifteen thou? sand colored voters, and it must be pal? pable to every sensible man that there are but two ways to carry the election. The first is. to secure enough of these col? ored vote*?as we did in 1876?to give success to the Democratic party. The second is to suppress that majority by fraud. Between these alternatives I think there can be no question, not only as" to the doty, but the wisdom of choos? ing the first. It is the only one that has been successful; it is the only one that is right cr that can be made right. " My belief in the canvass or 1876 was that by appealing to th9 colored people, and snowing them that their interests were identical with those of the white people, we could secure the allegiance of a laree number of them, and the result justified that belief. Many colored men in every county exerted their best efforts to promote the Democratic cause, and hundreds voted the Democratic ticket at. the election. My hope was that when I should be Governor the administration of the laws would be so impartial and the improvement in the affairs'of the State be so marked, that the colored men would recognize the fact that their interests were ours, and a large number of them be thus won to give the Democratic par? ty their cordial and steady support. That this hope, too, was justified is proved by the fact that the Republicans placed no State ticket in the' field in 1878, and gave me the assurance?which was the strongest inducement to me to become a candidate again?that if I would allow my name to be used there should be no opposition to me, and it was further proved by the fact that near? ly 45,000 negroes voted for me in the election. of that year. There are only about 75,000 white voters in the State, and as there was but one ticket, and it received over 120,000 votes, it is manifest that nearly 45,000 colored men voted with ns of their own good will. I believe that by pursuing in '78 the same policy as in 76, we would be successful, and we were so. FRAUD AND ITS consequences. As to the other alternative. In the first place, it would be clearly wrong; and in the next place, would ultimately react on our own people to such an ex? tent that everything like purity of elec? tions would become a farce and mockery; and, in the third place, it would inevi? tably subject all who perpetrated any fraud to persecution and punishment by the United States Government. For these reasons, while not expressing a preference for any particular men as can? didates, I have thought it of the last con? sequence that we should nominate a ticket fully representing the conservative ideas that gave us success in the canvass of 1876. These being my general view3 as to its policy, and recognizing the ab? solute necessity for our party to remain united and harmonious, I have earnest? ly deprecated and do deprecate all agita? tion that could tend to disintegrate the party, and all issues which would seem to be mere personal ones. * THE ATTACK on HAMPTON. Acting upon these considerations, I have studiously refrained from replying to any of the attacks that have been made upon myself, and I should have remained silent so long as they were confined to South Carolina or were given currency only in that State. But when the charge was made directly by Gen. Gary in the New York Herald, that I had proposed to him to "sell out Tilden ;" that "the shameful proposition" had been made by roe with a view to securing my own elec? tion, and that I had been unfaithful to the Democratic party or Mr. Tilden, I thought it incumbent upon me, in justice to Mr. Tilden, the Democratic party, and myself personally, to pronounce it un? true, as I have done. The same charges had been made by "A Tilden Democrat," in an Augusta paper, in January, 1877, and were promptly refuted by Colonel A. C. Haskell, chairman of the State Demo? cratic Committee, and General Mc Gowan, who related what really had oc? curred and exonerated me from any pos? sible imputation of infidelity to the Na? tional Democratic party. Colonel Haskell was correct in his statement, then published, that I had written to Mr. Tilden concerning this very matter, asking what were his wishes on the subject, and expressing our will? ingness to withdraw our electors if there was any possibility of our canvass in-1 juring the National Democracy. But at nomine did it ever enter into considera-! tion to form any alliance, direct or indi- j wet, with the Republican party. All that was said or done was in the interest \ of Mr. Tilden and the Democratic party,1 and with his knowledge. Not hearing from Mr. Tilden in reply, I wrote to Mr. Marble, who answered promptly, saying that we had conducted the canvass well, and be hoped we would continue it on the same line. HAMPTON'S DISINTERESTEDNESS. In farther evidence of my disposition regarding this matter, it should be re? membered that before I was nominated in 1876 I declared in the Convention that I considered it of more importance to se? cure the success of the National ticket than that of the State, and that if any of our friends thought my nomination would be prejudicial to the National Demo? cratic party, I would not accept it. I urged the Convention not to nominate me under such circumstances, and with? drawing from the body in order to leave them entirely untrammelled in their ac? tion, did not"return until the nomination was unanimously tendered to me. THE ABBEVILLE CONFERENCE. As to this specific charge of time and place, Col. Haskell gives the explana? tion that at the mass meeting we held in Abbeville the Executive Committee sent word to us that a proposition had been made to them concerning the withdrawal of the Electors, and one of the Commit-' tee, Col. J. A. Hoyt, came up to consult with us in reference to it. Neither Judge Cooke nor Judge Mackey had ever said a word to me on the subject. Judge Mack? ey had hot yet so much as announced his adherence to our party, and, if I remem? ber aright, was not at Abbeville. Judge Cooke, as is well known, had only joined us that afternoon. Coming out to our meeting at a late hour he announced from the stand, for the first time, that he proposed to sustain our ticket. No one knew of his position towards ns until that moment, ana he certainly took no part in any consultation. I do not know by whom the proposition was made to the Executive Committee, and I had even forgotten who brought it to ns, until re? minded recently that it was Col. Hoyt. He can give the facts. There was no "meeting" held that night, and, of course, I did not preside over any meeting. Gen. Toombs, Gen. McGowan and myself were together in Gen. Toombs' room, but instead of offering us $10,000 if we would consent to withdraw the Electors, Gen. Toombs readily offered unconditionally to give in $10,000, out of his own pocket, to aid us in our canvass for the whole ticket. The proposition concerning the electors was discussed among other mat? ters, and we came to the conclusion, as Gen. McGowan has announced, that we would not entertain it. Nothing more was ever said abont it, and the character of the canvass was not changed in the slightest degree. The Presidential Elec? tors accompanied me to every meeting that was held in the State, and the two tickets were carried as far as possible to? gether. THE DIcSCREPANCY IN THE VOTES cast for Mr. Tilden and myself can be accounted for in two ways. In the first place, the returns for the election of Gov? ernor and Lieutenant-Governor in South Carolina are required to be sealed by the managers of election, to be opened only by the Legislature, and did not, there? fore, go before the Returning Board. There was no chance of tampering with them, while the vote for Presidential Electors was canvassed by that board, which was composed entirely of Repub? licans. Another very good reason for my vote being larger than Mr. Tilden's is that many white Republicans, as well as some of the colored ones voted for Mr. Hayes and the Democratic State ticket. Republicans of character in Co? lumbia, Charleston and Beaufort voted for me, and the difference (about 600) was even less than we expected. GEN. GARY'S LAST INTERVIEW. In his last interview Gen. Gary changes the issue and attempts to prove that there was a consultation at Abbe? ville, which has never been denied. I have said simply that the charges that I made the proposition referred to or that I bad proposed in any way to sell out Tilden, or that I was unfaithful to the National Democratic party, were utterly and absolutely false, and I reiterate it. Geu. Gary also says in his last inter? view that his statements in the first, in regard to the meeting at Mrs. Norwood's, have been "corroborated by Gen. Mc? Gowan since the appearance of my reply to bim." I have just received the fol? lowing telegram from Gen. McGowan: (COPY.) I have not seen but have heard of Gen. Gary's card in the Herald. When di? rectly interrogated I stated what I have before stated in my letter, that a propo? sition was made through the Executive Committee, which was brought to us at Abbeville and promptly declined. That the canvass went on precisely as it had done before?not one vote being affected by the rejected proposition. That I knew Governor Hampton to be as true to the State and the Democratic party as any man in South Carolina. I am out of politics, and cannot be induced to ap Eear in print, but I thought you should now the whole truth. Samuel McGowan." GEN. gary says again that he "submitted to be gagged in 1876, and be dictated to by Hampton where and when I should and shouldn't speak." The Executive Com? mittee, however, made the appointments, and I believe selected the speakers. I bad not indicated to them anything in reference to it, and if they did not invite Gen. Gary to speak, they must have had some very good reason for not doing so. If he did not canvass the State, it was not from any advice I gave, and if he wants information upon this point, the Committee could doubtless give him very satisfactory reasons why he was not in? vited to do so. As to my taking the "ini? tial step" in opposition to him, it is well known that during the whole of my term as Governor, Gen. Gary made constant and unwarranted attacks on me in the Senate, and where he knew I could not answer them, and I have never answered him except on two occasions. One of those was in Greenville. In reply to his remark in substance, that "the next thing we should hear of the Hampton Democracy would be that they were win? ing and dining with the colored brothers and sisters," I replied as nearly as I can remember, "that if he had said that I was doing anything to lower the standard of the Democracy, he had said what was impertinent and untrue." If he had not intended to make those reflections, he could have declaimed them, which he never did. The people of Greenville had realized that Gen. Gary had done much harm to our party, and through the chair? man of the Executive Committee wrote me to go there and endeavor to correct the injury, which I did. the republican proposition TO sell OUT chamberlain. In further evidence of the fidelity with which we sustained the Democratic party, I mav relate what has never been before publfshed, that when Judges Denny and Settle (Republicans) were in Columbia, and the question of the recognition of our government was in agitation, they .said to me at one time that if I would, on any public occasion, say that I thought the State had been carried for Hayes, the troops would be removed and I would be recognized. My reply at once was that "I would not do so to be made President of the United States," but that if those two gentlemen, who had ac? cess to the returns, which we had not, would take Gen. Gordon and Bradley Johnson and go over the returns with an expert, I would then say just what the returns showed. Judge Settle laughed and said: "We have nad one deal with that pack of cards and have thrown it away." (Meaning, evidently, that they had already gone over the returns and were not satisfied with the result.) Gens. Gordon and Johnson will doubtless re? member this incident. ANOTHER EVIDENCE was this. There was no question of my election, because we bad received exact returns from our own canvassers, and we knew that when the votes were counted before the Legislature, fehey would show a majority for our State ticket. But when some of Mr. Tilden's friends came to Columbia and desired to bring the question as to the Presidential Electors before the Supreme Court, we employed counsel for that purpose, and several gen? tlemen borrowed $5,000 from the bank on their individual notes to pay them for their services. We were urged to do this, and were assured that we would be reim? bursed by the National Democratic Com? mittee. That money has never been re? paid. It is of interest to state in this connection that this sum, and for this legitimate purpose, was what Gen. Gor? don alluded to in one of the now famous CYPHER DISPATCHES. The lawyers were employed in Mr. Til? den's interests alone, and we rather weak? ened than strengthened our own cause by taking any part in the case. It is a fact which should be distinctly stated, that during the whole of that im? portant and trying canvass, which was so earnestly prosecuted in the interest of the Democratic party, we secured not one single dollar of aid outside of the State. The whole expenses of the canvass was borne by our own people. AN ERROR CORRECTED. In conclusion. Governor Hampton de? sires me to say (as I should have done of my own knowledge) that the telegraph operator erred in his reading of the dis? patch which was sent to the New York Herald in reply to Gen. Gary's first in? terview. Governor Hampton wrote: "It was believed then, as it is now, that this article, if not written by Gen. Gary, was at least inspired by him," &c. The ope? rator made the sentence read: "He was behind them as he is now," &c. Why Grant Is Wauted. The list of third term boomers would not be complete if the name of Senator Sharon was omitted. Mr. Sharon rep? resents in the United States Senate tha Radical rotten borough of Nevada, and has principally distinguished himself as a chronic absentee. Like most of the Pacific slope Senators, be is interested in silver mining, and is fabulously rich. He bought a seat in the Senate pretty much as he would have bought a yatch or a span of horses, because be thought it something a wealthy man should pos? sess, and is now preparing to purchase his re-election. Recently he decided to pay a visit to Washington, and while on his way to the Capital unburthened his mind to the reporter of a Western news? paper. Mr. Sharon has very decided opinions, which ho does not hesitate to speak, about the propriety of making Gen. Grant President for a third time. He says we need a strong central Gov? ernment?the wealth of the country de? mands it; without capital and capitalists our Government would not be worth a fig; the capital of the country demands protection, its rights are as sacred as the rights of the paupers who are continually prating about the encroachments of cap Lai and against centralization. "We have tried Gen. Graut, and know him to be the man for tha place above all others. He has nerve. As President, .he would be commander of the army and'navjrp and when the communistic tramps of the country raised mobs to tear up railroad tracks and to sack cities on the sham cry of "bread or blood," he would not hesi? tate to turn loose upon them canister and grape. The wealth of the country has to bear the burdens of government and it should control it. The people are becoming educated up to this theory rap? idly, and the sooner it is recognized in the Constitution and laws the better it will be for the people. This is plain talk. Messers. Sharon and his associates want Grant made President in order that the capital of the country, concentrated in the bands of a few thousand men, may control the Government aud rule fifty millions of freemen. Grant is the man fur the place, because bis sympathies are with capital and against labor, and he can be relied upon to feed hungry stom? achs with "grape and canister." Senator Sharon's platform is simple and compre? hensive : Labor must starve that capi? tal may thrive, and a strong man must be put at the head of the Government, who will not hesitate to drown the cries of starving humanity in the roar of can? non. Mr. Sharon does not think it pos? sible for the candidate of the Republican party?who is to be Grant?to encounter defeat. He frankly says that ''without bloodshed?and rivers of it?there will be no political change of Administra? tion." The moneyed interests of the country, for self-preservation, must sus? tain the Republican party. The rail? roads, the banks, the manufacturers, the heavy importers, and all classes of busi? ness in which millions are iuvested, will maintain the supremacy of the Republi? can party. Like all of his class, Mr. Sharon regards, or professes to regard, Democrats as repudiators and robbers. He says that Democratic success in the next Presidential election would be bankruptcy to all the material interests of the country, and that, "to avert fear? ful bloodshed," a strong centralized gov? ernment should be established as soon as possible. The Nevada Senator is frank, at all events. He boldly utters what his confederate "boomers" only hint. He has no concealments. He thinks the time has come when the Imperialists can say what they think and openly work for the success of schemes that would have been considered treasonable in the days of Washington and Jefferson. The men who have millions of money, who con? trol great corporations and deal in Seua torships as they would trade in stocks, are anxious to make a change iu the form of the government. They are fear? ful that the Republic is not strong enough to protect their plunder and want a cen? tralized government?a kind of bastard Imperialism?administered by a man like Grant, who, indifferent to human suffer? ing and to human life, will defend capi? tal with cannon and jruard monopoly with bayonets. Mr. Sfiaron is not a loose talking blusterer. What be says he means, and, that he expresses him? self so freely shows that he and his con? federates feel confident they have the game in their own hands and that con? cealment is no longer necessary. His words give force to the prediction that if General Grant is elected next year he will be the last President of the Repub? lic.?Chronicle and ConstitnlionalUt. SICKENING REVELATIONS. Treatment of tlio Convicts on the Green? wood and Augusta Railroad?Inhuman Cruelty and Neglect. News and Courier. The following are the reports of the superintendent and surgeon of the State Penitentiary as to the treatment of the convicts leased to the Greenwood and Augusta Railroad Company, which were called for by the Senate at its recent ses? sion, and by that body ordered to be printed: the report of superintendent lii'3 comb. Columbia, S. 0., Sept, 2,1870. 7b the Chairman and Board of Directors, S. C. P. Gentlemen?Having received a let? ter from Gen. P. H. Bradley, president of the Greenwood and Augusta Railroad, stating that a great deal of mortality and sickness existed among the convicts leas? ed to that company, I conferred with the chairman of the board, showing him the letter. He instructed me to go over there and make an inspection of their condi? tion, and at my suggestion be instructed mo to take Dr. Trezevant, the surgeon of the institution, with me, to see what could be done to ameliorate their condi? tion. Dr. Trezevant and myself appointed the morning of the 21st of August to go on the inspection. On the night of the 20th I received the attached note from Dr. Trezevant, saying he could not go, and I proceeded by myself on the morn? ing of the 21st. I met the Hon. A. P. Butler, one of the board of directors, in Augusta, about 11 o'clock the same morning. We left im? mediately for the camp on the South Carolina side, in Edgefield County, about nineteen or twenty miles distant, which we reached about 5 P. M. I found in one end of the stockade nine sick men chained on what was intended to be a straw bed, but the straw was loo thin to do much good. I could not stand the awful stench, and had to direct the guard to unchain them and bring them out in front of the stockade. I found them in a deplorable condition, all of them complaiuing of venereal diseases, swollen limbs, &c. I then went to the so-called hospital, where I found three sick?two white men and one black man. They bad some straw to lie upon and were all chained. They were all cover? ed with vermin and fleas?so much so that I was forced to leave the room. I don't see how it was possible for a well man to exist in these places well treated, much less a sick man with no treatment, or eo little that I regarded it as none. They had no change of clothing, no shoes, no covering of any description that I could see. They reported that they had had no medicine and no medical treatment except one dose of paregoric in the three days preceding, nnd their nour? ishment was fat bacon and bread. I left the camp and proceeded to where they were at work on the road, about a mile and a half distant. I found about sev? enty-five men at work on the road, clothed in the Penitentiary stripe that I bad sent to Gen. Bradley about live weeks before. It was so late that I could only look at their condition generally and postpone the inspection until next morn? ing. I went next morning to where they were at work, called the roll and inspec? ted them. I found a great many of them complaining of venereal diseases and swollen limbs, and almost all with scur? vy. They were very dirty in person and clothing?having no change; some of them said they had not washed for weeks. I saw no blankets or bed clothing for them to lie upon or cover with. I heard great and loud complaint about the cruel treatment of convicts by Capt. J. J. Cabill and his guard. One of them, \V. H. McGarvey, No. 2,125, showed Col. Butler and myself scars upon his head which be said were caused by blows from a stick in the hands of Cant. Cahill, and_ persons outside gave the samrinf?rmationr ~C"?pt7CaUIL himself, in reporting those that were deaH, ia^ formed me thai the guard had shot one while in shackles and fastened to the gang chain, claiming that he was in re? volt. We heard that Cahill had ordered the guard to shoot him. The convicts were generally iu such a bad condition that I deemed it my im? perative duty to send the surgeon of this institution to see them. The sickness and mortality being so great I heard that some of the directors of the road had resigned, and Dr. T. J. McKie, their surgeon, had ceased to visit the convicts professionally. I was in? formed that he had refused to continue to treat the convicts because his pre? scriptions were not filled nor his orders as to treatment and nourishmcut carried out. I returned to Columbia on Saturday, the 23d, and sent Dr. Trezevant to make a similar inspection on the morning of the 25lh, as will be seen by the following order, approved by the chairmau of the board, a copy of which 1 ap? pend. His detailed report will accompa? ny this paper. On 25th September, 1877, they receiv? ed 100 convicts ; on 18th October, 1877, they received 3 convicts; on 31stOctober, 1877, they received 2 convicts; on 2d May, 1878, they received 65 convicts; on 6th December, 1878, they received 40 con? victs; on 7th April, 1879, they received 75 convicts; making, in all, 285 convicts. Of this number 18 were returned to the Penitentiary before I took charge, 38 es? caped, 17 were discharged, 7 pardoned, and up to August 1st, according to re? ports submitted by Capt. Cahill, there were 93 deaths. I found when I went there that 21 had died who were not re? ported, the most of them in August, making a total of 114 deaths. All of which is respectfully submitted. T. J. Lipscomb, Superintendent. the reply of dr. trezevant. Columbia, S. C, August 30, 1879. Col. T. J. Lipscomb, Superintendent South Carolina I'cniteatiary : Dear Sir?Iu obedience to your and Director Shield's instructions, I pro? ceeded to Edgefield County to inspect the condition of the convicts at work on the Greenwood and Augusta Railroad. I reached the stockade on Monday af? ternoon, the 25th, and immediately pro? ceeded to the said inspection. I found in the log pen, which is called the hos? pital, three convicts lying on a shelf made of poles and clap-board and cover? ed about two inches with straw. Two of said convicts were colored and one white. One of the convicts, John Lord, was in the last stages of exhaustion, and had on nothing but his shackles and a pair of pants?the rest, of his body being cover? ed with flies. The other colored con? vict had general dropsy. * * McGar? vey, the white convict, was so weak and emaciated that he was unable to leave the shelf, and the straw was so full of vermin that I could not make a satisfac? tory examination of him. The English language does not possess words suffi? ciently strong to express the stench that arose from that place. The quarters iu which the laboring convicts are consist of two log pens, twenty by thirty feet. Iu this space I found eighteen other convicts lying on the naked earth, their diseases being principally exhaustion and dropsies. The same style of sleeping accommo? dations prevails in these pens as do in the hospital, with the exception that on some of the shelves there is no straw at all, and from the polished appearance of the clapboards, there have been none since they have been occupied. I saw neither trace or sign of covering of any kind?blanket or aught else. The stench arising from these quarters was sickening to the uttermost extent. The cooking is done in six or eight round iron ovens in the open air, the bread which I examined being burnt on top and raw throughout the balance. I saw no arrangement for boiling, &c. From the stockade I went to where the convicts were at work, and inspected each convict separately. With the ex? ception of nine, I found them all, more or less, infected with scurvy, and with an eruption which was evidently caused by the vermiu on their persons. There were two who were so swollen with drop? sy of the extremities that I remarked that they should have been in the hospital, and was told that they were there on light work, just to do what they pleased. None of them possessed a change of clothing, and their persons, though evi? dently having been washed the preceding Sunday, were offensive on account of the stench from the filthy clothing. In a conversation with Dr. T. J. Mc Kie, an excellent gentleman as well as physician, I found that he had refused to attend further on these convicts, as he could be of no possible service under such a condition of things as prevailed; and Mr. Twiggs the associate engineer of the railroad, with the Georgia branch, in? forms me that he has remonstrated time and again, but to no effect, and that out of one hundred and ninty-one convicts, on the Georgia side, since the 22d day of May be has had no sickness whatever. The mortality above is sufficient to prove what their treatment has been. As the cool weather comes on, with the system of the convicts so enfeebled by their scurvied conditions, I am afraid there will be a still greater mortality. I have the honor to be, with much re? spect, your obedient servant. G. S. Tbezevant, M. D., Surgeon Penitentiary. P. S.?I would respectfully report since your inspection that Spencer Brad? ford had died. Of all the cases inspec? ted I did not see but one case of well marked syphillis. There were three oth? ers that I did not see. Conference Appointments. Charleston District, W. P. Mouzon, P. E. Charleston. Trinity, R. N. Wells; Bethel, E. J. Meynardie; Spring Street, H. F. Chrietzberg; Berkley, J. T. Pate, Cainhoy, A. G. Gantt; Cypress, G. H. Pooser; St. Paul's Mission, S. D. Vau ghan ; St. George's, P. F. Kistler; Bam? berg, T. E. Wannamaker; Colletion, B. G. Jones; Walterboro', C. C. Fishburne; Allendale, W. H. Lawton; Black Swamp, L. C. Loyal, B. G. Guess; Yemassee, W. S. Wightman; Hardeeville, supplied by E. B. Loyless; Summerville, S. H. Browne; South Brancbville, D. Tiller. Editor Southern Christian Advocate, S: A. Webber. Orangeburg, 0. A. Darby; Orangeburg circuit, J. C. Bissell; Brancbville, T. Raysor; Providence, J. B. Platt; St. Matthews, F. Auld; Lewisville, J. L. Shuford;.Orange, J. B. Maasebeau; Edis to, N. K. Melton; Edisto Mission, M. M. Ferguson; Grahams, J. A. Glifton; Will iston and Blackville, D. Z. Dantzler; Langley, R. H. Jones, Granitville circuit and mission, S. A. Mood; Barnwell circuit and mission to be supplied by T. B. Boyd. Columbia District, A. M. Chrietzberg. P. E.?Columbia; Washington Street, W. T. Capers; W. Martin, financial agent Washington Street Church; Marion Street, J. L. Stokes, W. A. Clark, sup. ; City Mission, L. M. Little; Columbia circuit, to be supplied by J. \v. Dickson; Ridgeway, M. iL Booser; Winnsboro', G. W. Whitman; Fairfield, A. J. Cauthen; Chested A. H. Lester; Chester circuit, L. A. Johnson r-East Chester, T. J. Clyde; Rock Hill, J. M. Boyd, J> J5I .Friday; Fort Mills, W. W. Williams; Yorkviife, T. E. Gilbert; York circuit, A Ervine; Lexington Fork, W. W. Jones; Lexing? ton, W. A Rogers; Ward's, A. C. Walner; Gilbert Hollow, J. J. Workman. Columbia Female College?J. W. Dickson, professor. Sumter District, T. G. Herbert. P. E. Sumter, A. J. Stokes, Sumter circuit, J. S. Beasly; Spring Hill, J. W. Ariail; Bishopville, D. J. Simmons; Manning, H. M. Mood; Manning circuit, W. W. Mood, Santee, W. H. Kirton; Richland Fork, E. G. Price; Camden, J. 0. Wilson; Kershaw, J. W. Brown; Hanging Rock, D. J. McMillan; Lancaster, J. W. W?ll? ing, Chesterfield circuit, D. Rowell; Zoar, R. L. Dutlie; Lynchburg, W. H. Ariail; Wedgefield circuit and mission, supplied by A. A. Gilbert. Florence district, J. C. Stoll, P. E.? Florence, J. W. McRoy; Darlington, W. R. Richardson; Society Hill, H. J. Mor? gan; Cheraw; W. Thomas; Darlington circuit, D. D. Dantzler; S. Jones, sup. Jeffries' Creek, E. T. Hodges; Timmons ville, G. H. Wells; Clarendon, W. L, Pe gues; Williamsburg, T. W. Munnerlyn; Kingstree, J. W. Koger; Black River ,J. C. Davis; Georgetown, J. A. Porter; Georgetown circuit, to be supplied; Johnsonville, W. Carson, T. E. Morris; Scranton mission, to be supplied by T. E. James; West Marion, T. P. Phillips; Mars Bluff, W. D. Kirkland. Marion District, H. A. G. Walker, P. E.?Marion, R. L. Harper,; Marion cir? cuit, G. W. Gatlin ; North Marlboro', W. H. Wrotton; Bennettsville, J. W. Murray, J. G. Graham ; Little Rock, J. II. Zimmerman; South Marlboro', G. T. Harmon; Mullinsville, S. J. Hill; Con wayboro', L. Wood; Conwayboro' cir? cuit, H. W. Whitaker; Bucksville, A. B. Lee; Waccamaw circuit and mission, P. A. Murray. Cokesbury District, C. H. Pritchard, P. E.?Cokesbury station, J. W. Hum? bert; Cokesbury circuit, J. L. Sifley; Abbeville, A. J. Stafford; Abbeville cir? cuit, C. D. Mann; South Abbeville, J. E. Watson ; Lowndcsville, R. P. Franks; Tumbling Shoals, M. L. Banks; Green? wood, Wm. C. Power; North Edgefield, W. P. Meadows; Newberry, J. B. Camp? bell ; Newberry circuit, J. W. Kelly, J. S. Porter; North Newberry, A. G. Le Gette; Saluda, J. B. Traywick. Spartanburg District, J. M. Carlisle, P. E.?Spartanburg, J. T. Wightman, F. M. Kennedy, sup.; City Mission, R. C. Oliver, sup.; Union, R. D. Smart; Cherokee Springs, J. W. Tarbourx; Cane Creek. J. J. Newberry; Johnsonville, J. C. Counts; Limestone Springs, J. T. Kilgo; North Limestone Springs, to be supplied; Goshen Hill, W. S. Martin ; Laurens, J. K. McCain; North Laurens, A. P. Avnut; Clinton, A. W. Walker; Belmont, J. B. Wilson ; Gowansville, J. F. Smith ; Rich Hill, R. R. Dagnall; Black's station, B. M. Boozer. Vanderbilt University?A. M. Shipp, Professor. Wofford College?W. Smith and W. W. Duncan, Professors. Greenville District, S. B. Jones, P. E. ?Greenville, A. Coke Smith; Greenville circuit, A. W. Jackson ; Reidville, G. M. Boyd, J. A. Wood, sup.; North Green? ville, J. P. England; Fork Shoals, H. B. Brown; Williamston circuit, L. F. Bca ty: Anderson, J. E. Carlisle; Anderson circuit, J. Attaway; Shallow Ford, L. M. Hamer, Pendlcton circuit, W. Hut to ; Pickens circuit and mission, S. P. H. El well, J. W. Daniels; Seneca City cir? cuit, to be supplied by W. A. Hodges; Walhalla circuit and mission, A. W. Moore, J. J. Neville, supernumerary. Williamston Female College?S. Lan? der, President. G. W. Walker transferred to South? west Missouri Conference, and stationed at Lexington, Missouri. LETTER FROM GOT. B. F. PERRY. The Next Presidential Election?Views of a Vcnerablo Statesman. From the Greenville Mountaineer. It seems, Mr. Editor, that we have, in? deed, fallen on evil times, when dame rumor is trumpeting it abroad, uncontra dicted, that General Grant is finding fa? vor with Southern Democracy for a thin.1 term as President of the American re? public. That he should bo the chosen favorite of Southern carpet-baggers and scallawags will not surprise any one. But that the Southern men professing to be Democrats, should wish him success in 1880 is incomprehensible. Have they forgotten the eight black years that this tyrant had his iron heel on the neck of South Carolina? Do they remember that President Grant withdrew his army from the defense of the frontiers of the United States, and scattered it all over the South? ern States to sustain the rogues and scoun? drels whom he had placed in office to plunder and rob an impoverished and suffering people? Have they forgotten that he filled our State House with armed soldiers and fixed bayonets to keep out the legally elected representatives of the State ? Like Cromwell, he dispersed the Legislature of Louisiaua, and drove them out of their hall at the point of the bay? onet. He sent his minions to Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana to sustain the Returning Boards in falsifying their returns, and giving the electoral vote of those States to Hayes. Knowing that Tilden and Hendricks had been elected and might be so declared, Grant concen? trated a large military force in Washing? ton to have Hayes and Wheeler inaugu? rated President and Vice President. When first elected, President Grant re? ceived gifts of thirty and fifty thousand dollars from wealthy men in New York and other States, and appointed these men members of his Cabinet. During the whole term of his Presidency he was surrounded by such corrupt scoundrels as Belknap, Babcock, Shepherd and others, whom he protected in their rascality and who are still his associates. It is a well known fact that Grant was convicted by every member of Johnson's Cabinet of palpable lying and treachery. Now, if these quasi Democrats are in favor of electing such a man as U. S. Grant a third time to the Presidential chair in violation of the example of Washington and all the other American Presidents, they are either fools or knaves, or unprincipled Swiss, ready to fight under any banner that will pay and dishonor their State. Who shall be the Democratic candi? date for the Presidency next fall ought to depend on who is supposed to be the most available candidate?whether Til den, Hendricks, Bayard, Hancock, or any other true and honorable Democrat. The Southern States should not be prom? inent in his nomination, but leave the selection entirely to Northern Democrats. No candidate should be nominated who is not able to carry New York and Indi? ana. If Tilden and Hendricks could carry these States, their nomination would be a proper and handsome thing, as they were cheated out of their election four years ago. But it would seem, from the last election in New York, that Gov. Tilden cannot unite the Democratic vote of that State. Governor Seymour, it is thought, could carry the State of New York, but he will not consent to be a candidate. William Lowndes, of South Carolina, said that "the Presidency ought not to be sought for or refused." This should be the doctrine of every patriotic statesman in_the land. The conduct ?f Tilden and "Hendrroks, in submitting to the inauguration of Hayes and Wheeler, under the circum? stances, was wise, unselfish, and patriotic. The Democrats in Congress 3greed to leave the whole rr iet to arbitration. The arbitrators refused to hear the testi? mony of the gross and well-known frauds perpetrated iu Louisiana and Florida, and declared Hayes and Wheeler elected, although they were beaten by more than 300,000 vote's! The Democratic party was bound in honor to abide this unjust award. Any attempt to inaugurate the candidates really elected would have been revolution, and would have in? volved the whole Union in a bloody civil war. South Carolina is now once more under self-government, and so are all the other Southern States; and God forbid that Grant and his army and his office thieves should ever again have it in their power to disturb these Democratic govern? ments. It is all nonsense to talk about dissolving old parties and forming new ones. Their principles are inherent in our Federal Uuion, and must always ex? ist, no matter by what name political parties may be called. The Democrats are for a strict construction of the Fed? eral constitution, and the Republicans for a latitudinarian construction of that great charter. The Democrats are in favor of States' rights, free trade and no monopolies, self government, and the equal protection of all the people, and an economical and honest administration of the Federal government. The Re Eublican, party under every name they ave assumed and disgraced, from that of Federalists to that of Republicans, have been opposed to the rights of the States and free trade. They have always favored monopolies and legislated for the benefit of wealthy capitalists. They have always favored a prodigal expendi? ture of public money and high salaries. In times past they have attempted the liberty of the press and the freedom of speech. They have set the military over the civil authorities of the country and disregarded personal rights and personal liberty. All the accessions of territory to the republic have been made by the Democratic party and bitterly opposed by the Republicans. B. F. Perky. Sans Souci, December 23, 1879. ? A daughter of Stonewall Jackson goes to school in Baltimore. A party of Maryland ex-Confederate soldiers have presented her with a silver pitcher. ? Virginia has 075 colored schools taught by 415 colored teachers. The male teacher's salery averages $30 a month, the female's $24. A delicate child is more subject to worms than a healthy one, as in the economy of nature, one animal is made to subsist upon another, and the weaker goes down. At the first indication of worms administer Shriner's Indian Ver? mifuge the iufalible remedy. THE TAY BRIDGE DISASTER. A Horror Without Survivors and with only few Details Known?Estimates of tho Number of Persons who Perished?Vnry lng from Ninety to Three Hundred. London, Dec. 27. The manager of the North British Railway, telegraphing from Leuchars at 4 o'clock this morning, says: "Several largo girders, along with the last train from Edinburgh, were precipitated into the river last night. There was nearly three hundred passengers, besides the company's servants, all of whom f.re be? lieved to have perished." Brief as this dispatch is, it tells about all that any liv? ing persons knows concerning the nature of the Tay bridge disaster. At the awful moment of the calamity darkness sur? rounded the bridge and the train, and the most that any living man saw was a shower of sparks blown at an angle down to the water and the trailing of the train's lights through a perpendicular fall of some eighty feet. Then utter darkness followed, and the men who had seen the falling lights, unable to comprehend such a calamity as had actually befallen the train, fell to wondering whether they had really seen anything. The most that any person living heard was the uninter? rupted roar of the firth and of the wind through the braces of the bridge. The stopping of the noise made by the mov? ing train, or the crash that accompanied the calamity, would have been drowned on any ordinary night, when the roar of the firth can be heard for many miles. The brief despatch from the manager of the railway contains sufficient as to the extent of the calamity to give it a place alone in tho annals of railway dis? aster, even if no additional fact could ever be known?"All of whom are be? lieved to have perished 1" There is no other record like this. It Fs probable that the number of persons lost is over? estimated in the first official despatch, and that it will be underestimated in the announcements put forth bvthe company later. A despatch from Dundee to the Press associatiou at 4} o'clock this after? noon says that the number of lives lost does no exceed ninety. A later despatch from the same place states that only fifty six tickets were taken up at the last stopping places before running into Dundee. These figures do not cover the number of young children requiring no tickets, nor the number of passengers for Broughty Ferry, whose tickets were not taken up, nor the number of railway em? ployees. The scene at the bridge to-day was the sadest that has been witnessed in Scot? land for years. The approach to the structure swarmed with sight-seers, and among them were wives, husbands, other kindred, and lovers, all despairing. .Many steamers and small boats were near the scene, though the hope of find? ing anv survivor has been abandoned. Six bodies have been recovered. Divers will shortly be brought to begin the work of removing the debris of the wrecked bridge and train and removing such bod? ies of the victims as may be found in the submerged coaches. The excitement in Edinburgh is hardly less than in Dun? dee. It was through the anxiety of the group of men who stood near the tele? graph signal box on Dundee side of the bridge, and saw the shower of fire while speculating as to whether the train would venture upon the bridge on such a night, that the fact of the disaster was ascertained. Standing where they were the curve at the north end of the bridge was at their right, and there was nothing to obstruct the view for a considerable distance toward the middle spans of the structure. The feeling grew upon them that they had seen the train's lights go down into the water, and they appealed to the signal man to ascertain the truth for them. He told them that he only knew that at 9 minutes past 7 the train bad been signalled to him from the south end of the bridge. The train did not come. The signal man became alarmed and en? deavored to get telegraphic signals from the other side, but there was no response. Communication had ceased. Then the wildest alarm possessed those who bad gathered on the Dundee side. The in? terruption of communication strengthen? ed the impression that something terrible had happened. This fear spread like wildfire through the city, and. great throngs of persons hurried out toward the bridge. The sea wall was black with the multitude that gathered to peer over the roaring firth, and the suspense while waiting tidings of what had occurred was painful. Somebody sought the mas? ter of the Tay bridge station, James Smith, and he and the locomotive super? intendent of the road, James Roberts, said that tbey would venture out on the structure and learn what bad occurred. It was a perilous undertaking. The tracks rest on top of the girders, and there was nothing to break the force of the wind. As the men advanced the gale seemed to increase in fury. They were nearly swept from their footing, and they got down and crawled along the track, clinging to the rails with fingers almost benumbed. Eighty or ninety feet below them the firth flung its angry waves against the bridge supports. Pro? ceeding slowly and with great exeition they made their way out to Where the superincumbent girders began?half a mile or more from the throng at the end of tho bridge. Here, to their inexpressi? ble horror, they found that the structure came to an end. Looking ahead into ther darkness they saw that about one third of the bridge had gone down. There was not a vestige of it in sight, save por? tions of the supports upon which the super? structure had rested. There was nothing for them to do but to turn back with the awful tidings tbey had found. The excitement in Dundee was intense. As soon as the gale had moderated a lit? tle the Provost of the city, accompanied by several other prominent men, went in a small steamer to the scene of the calamity. Their return was eagerly awaited in the hope that some survivor would be found who could tell the story of the calamity. But all that those on board the steamer saw was that had been seen by James Smith and James Roberts when they peered over the >dge of the broken structure?the supports on which the girders had rested, licked by the waves of the firth. Later, vast quanti? ties of wreckage appeared on thesurface, such as doors of coaches, pieces of the bridge, baggage, and hats and other arti? cles of apparel. Numerous small boats floated among the supports of the bridge. No trace of any survivor was found. The water is about 25 feetdeep where the train sank. It is not yet known, and it probably will never be, whether the girders were blown down before the train ran on them, or they and the train went into the firth at the same lime. The train consisted of a locomotive, four third class coaches, one first, one second class, and tho brakemen's van. It drew out of Edin? burgh at 4J o'clock in the afternoon. At this season of tho year, when tho banting in the North is attracting many sportsmen, and holiday travelers are passing to and fro, the passenger traffic on the North British Railway is very heavy. To these may be added tho many merchants, manufacturers' clerks and commercial agents who frequently jour? ney between Edinburgh, the second city of Scotland in point of population, and Dundee, which ranks next and is also the seat of the Scotch linen trade. The London Standard, in an editorial this morning, says: "When the first feeling of horror which hangs over the country shall have subsided, a strict and severe investigation into the causes 01 the accident will be demanded by the peo? ple, and nothing short of a complete answer will be accepted. The gale to which the bridge succumbed was not ex? ceptionally violent, the train of cars hav? ing apparently nothing to do with the accident, which had occurred before the cars reached the broken portion. The national reputation is at stake, and the investigation mnst be searching indeed." London, Dec 30.?The Government bos sent two inspectors to ascertain the Particulars of the Tay Bride disaster, and as directed a formal inquiry into the occurrence. Divers have thus far been unable to discover the wrecked train. They will make another effort to-day. The place where the train sank is full of quicksands, and, if the bodies of the drowned are not recovered within a few days, they will be imbedded with the cars beyond recovery. Who Took Sherman's Battery? Editor Register: Who does not re? member the tremendons excitement over the news of the victory at the first battle of ManassaB ? The reminiscences of this celebrated battle are somewhat sad but pleasant, and I recur to them with pleas? ure. One little incident I wish to call up and thereby do justice to a fallen hero. The Hampton Legion bore a con? spicuous part in this battle, and, it was alleged, captured Sherman's celebrated battery ; but subsequent information de? veloped the fact that there was no such battery on the field. But one Captain Ricketts commanded a battery, which ' was originally part of the Sherman bat? tery, so conspicuous on the battle fields of Mexico. At the session of the Legis? lature which followed, Col. Yeadon, a member from Charleston, made a glow? ing speech, complimenting the legion as the captors of the celebrated battery, _ alleging that the guns were captured in a hand-to-hand contest, the gunners bay? oneted and hewn down, fighting over them to the last man. These statements were never contradicted, as we know of, and, like the cotton bales at the battle of New Orleans, has passed into history and will be believed by many to the end of time. Being anxious to have and hear an interesting account of the capture. I met, not long after, Lieutenant B., of the company said to have made the capture, and asked him to give me an account of the fight; but I was terribly let down at his response, for he said, as well as I can remember, quoting his own words: "We had no fight over the guns. We were going across the field, came up to some guns that had been abandoned some time, and we stopped and rested there some minutes, some of our men getting up and sitting straddle the guns but there were no Yankee soldiers near us then." This statement rather surprised me, and I was loth to believe it, but of course it was a candid, unbiased state? ment, and afterwards confirmed by an? other officer of the same company, giving identically the same statement. So, I' had to console myself with the fact that if the legion did hot take the battery they had borne themselves gallantly in the great battle. But who did capture Sherman's, or more properly Rickett's, battery ? I answer, Col. Fisher, of the Sixth North Carolina Regiment, and I say so for the following reasons: In a conversation with ex-Governor More head, of North Carolina, not long after the battle, as near as I can remember, he said: "While in Richmond, last week, I called to see Captain Ricketts. I found him comfortably cared for and nursed by his wife, who bad been permitted to pass through the lines. He said: 'I see the capture of Sherman's battery is claimed by the Hampton Legion, of South Caro? lina. There was no such battery on the field; but my battery, I suppose, is meant, as I commanded a part of the old Sher? man battery, and it was captured by my old classmate, Fisher, of North Carolina. I was firing away as fast as I could, when^.. I suddenly saw a body of infantrj,. at a double quiclrT" ?ppreachi?g^They had been sheltered by some bushes, and got on me so quick I had not time to turn my guns. Fisher I recognized at once in the advance, gallantly leading his men and flourishing his sword high in the air, and shouting his men on the charge, who fell dead in twenty feet of the guns. I fell myself in a moment or two. The tide of battle swept on over us, and I was left a prisoner with this broken leg, and here I am in Richmond, much to my mortification and surprise; and now, whoever may claim to have captured Sherman's or Ricketts' battery, you can answer, Fisher, of North Carolina.'" And now it has been nearly twenty years ago, but not too late to do justice to the brave hero who fell in our cause. I say, then, "Honor to whom honor is due." Truth. The Propagation of Fishes.?From the report of Hon. A. P. Butler, Fish Commissioner, for the year 1879, we learn that considerable progress has been made towards stocking the waters of this State with edible fishes, and in a few years we may expect every stream within our lim? its to afford a plentiful supply. The fol? lowing are the numbers of California salmon, shad and German carp and the? waters in which they have been placed during the year: California Salmon?January: Catawba River, 2,000; Broad River, 4,000; Paco lette River, 4,500; Saluda River, 4,500; Edisto River, 5,000; Cooper River, 5,000. Total, 25,000. Shad?May: Cooper River, 7,000; Ashley River, 7,000; Pee Dee River, 24,000; Yadkin River, 14,000. Total, 52,000. German Carp ? November 6: 204; November 24: 476. Total, 680. Guilty of Wrong.?Some people have a fashion of confusing excellent remedies with the large mass of "patent medicines," and in this they are guilty of a wrong. There arc some advertised remedies fully worth all that is asked for them, and one at least we know of?Hop Bitters. The writer has had occasion to use the Bitters in just such a climate as we have most of the year in Bay City, and has always found them to be first-class and reliable, doing all that is claimed for them.?Tribune. ? The bell punch system in Texas will realize less than the old-fashioned tax. ? It is common to read in the Nevada newspapers of men falling 2,000 feet down mine shafts. ? The Austin (Texas) Statesman as? serts that at a point near that place rain has not fallen during the year. ? Steamship Nellie Ware of New York reported lost on the way to Vera Cruz. Captain and crow also lost. Do not allow the Baby to languish and suffer, but use Dr. Bull's Baby Syrup and j check its suffering.. For sale by all [ Druggists. Price 25 cents.