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. MTJEEAY & CO. ANDERSON, S. C THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 2, 1880. VOLUME XVI.?NO. 21. THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.: A Review of the Situation In South Caro? lina. Executive Department, Columbia, S. C, Nov. 28, 1880. Gentlemen of the Generul Assembly: At the last regular session of the General Assembly of this State W. D. Simpson was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, and on the 1st of September last he resigned the office of Governor of the State of South Caro? lina. The Chief Magistracy of the State having thus, under tho provisions of the Constitution, devolved upon me as President pro tempore of the* Senate, I immediately assumed the duties by taking the'oath of office. It now becomes my duty, under tbe Constitution, to give you information Cf the condition of the State, and recom? mend for your consideration such meas? ures as seem to me necessary or expe dieut, I have not had time or opportunity to become sufficiently acquainted with the departments of the State or the wants and necessities of the people to be able to give such full and satisfactory recom? mendations as I am sure my distinguished predecessor would have made had he continued in office. I congratulate;you, as the representa? tives of the people, upon the greui im? provement which has been effected in the affairs of South Carolina by the admin? istrations which have had charge of tbe State Government for the last four years. The cloud of despondency and gloom which came of profligate, reckless and corrupt legislation is being gradually cleared away, and the Lope of a pros? perous future invites us to renewed efforts. Every interest, material and educational, is being surely and constantly improved. Agriculture, the principal occupation of our people and tbe chief source of all wealth, is remunerative, whilst land is being gradually enhanced not only in price, but in real value. Commerce is extending and adding her stores to the wealth of the country. Cotton manu? factories have been increased in power and number, and whilst in mauy por? tions of the world such enterprises have been run on abort time or closed ternpo iarily. in South Carolina they have been profitably run on full time. Tbe sessions of the Legislature have been reduced from a duration of several months to about one month. The credit of the State is fast rising to the high position it had before the war. The rail? roads have been improved in condition, and Jjare doing an increased business, which indicates, as surely as anything, tbe growing prosperity of the country. The success of the Jetties in deepening the bab of charleston harbor, which is now regarded certain, will develop a prosperous future for the city, and vet verify the wisdom of those who in former days selected Charleston as the Southern terminus of tbe road from the Northwest to the ocean. Al? ready the increased number of vessels seeking that port, and the much larger receipts of cotton than at tbe same time last year, indicate tbe approaching wave of prosperity. Before many years the great trade of the West will require a port on the Atlantic most accessible to the trade of the West Indies and South America, and none will be found com? bining the advantages of Charleston. We have just passed through one of our exciting quadrennial elections, in which so much is done to derange the business of the country, disorganize labor and excite the worst passions of tbe peo {>le, especially the most ignorant. I be ieve it would be better for all the inter? ests of the State if we bad State elections but once in four years, and then at a time different from that on which United States elections are held. If persons held office for four years they would be? come-better qualified for their duties, and tbe State is more interested in having an office well filled than in finding berths for untried aspirants. To show what progress has been made in the way of reform and economy under the Democratic admiuistratiou of the State Government, which went into power four years ago, I ask your atten? tion to the expenses of the State for last year as compared with similar expendi? tures for the State while the Legislature was in the entire control of the Radical party. Taking the average annual ex? penditures of the State Government for the six successive years beginning De? cember 1st, 1868: For these six years there were paid and appropriated for contingent iunds $376,832.74, or an an? nual amount of $62,805.48. Contingent fund for last year $6,820.17. Difference $55,985.31. The cost of tbe session and expenses of the General Assembly for the same period were ?2,147,430.97, and besides this amount there were outstanding bills payable issued on account of legislative expenses for tbe same period $192,275.15, the average cost of each regular session being about $320,405.16. Legislative ex? penses last year $40,504.32. Difference ?279,900.84. The average expenditures for each regular session for six years for attaches and contingent expenses have been about $258,424.65. Let it be borne in mind that this sum represents only tbe actual payments made. There was a large amount of unpaid claims in the form of legislative pay certificates, esti? mated at not less than $500,000. The corresponding amoun t of last year, in? cluding expenses of pay officers of the General Assembly, was *12,776.35. Dif? ference $245,648.30. During three years ending November 1, 18J4, the cost to the State of perma? nent and current printing, and of print? ing the laws in the newspapers, was $918,629.86. Deducting from this amount all such items a* may be called extraordinary, amounting to $375,000, there remains as the cost of printing for three years the suro'of $543.629.86, or an average annual cost of $181,209.95. Pub? lic printing last year $12,211.40; differ? ence $168,998.55. There was collected from the people in the years 1873,1874 and 1875 the sum of $4,349,461. Of this amouut treasurers were paid commissions for collection $151,070; couuty treasu? rers defaulted for $109,988; total $261, 058; leaving paid in to the treasury $4,088,403. Amount collected from the people in 1876, 1877 and 1878, $1,908, 572. Of this amouut treasurers were paid commissions for collection $35.000. Amount unpaid butsecured by judgment or thoroughly solvent sureties $505 ; total $35,505, leaving paid into the treasury $1,878,067. The saving in money taken from the people $2,440,889. In money paid treasurers for collection $116,070. In money fraudulently or negligently lost $109,985. Total $2,666,944. Poll taxes for the common school collected in 1873, ]874.1875, $177,316; collected in 1876, 1877, 1878, $311,942. the financial interests of the ? state will of course, claim your special atten? tion, and in the consideration of this siairer I would call your attention to a careful perusal of the able and lucid re? port of Comptroller-General Hag?<d. Iu connection with this matter I think the State adopted the wisest course in submitting to the courts, instead of the uncertain arena of politics, the decision of the vexed question of what was her debt. It was very important that the matter should be settled deGnitely and certainly, and as one Legislature might undo the acts of a previous one, the ques, tion has been submitted to the same tribunal that settles and decides matters of dispute and debt between citizens. The following is A STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT. Total consols, $5,210,793.82; total de? ficiencies, $564.835.98; State scrip (Agri? cultural College) $191,800; total funded debt, $5,967,449.80. To be funded for ante-bellum principal and interest, say $196,570.91; to be funded for post-bellum principal and iuterest, say $306,316; to be funded for fundable interests, say $146,689.07; to be funded for bills of the Bank of the State, say $22,145; total bonded debt, $6,689,170.78. After all the expenses and appropriations of the last fiscal year are paid off there will remain as a surplus to be carried to the fiscal year 1880-81 the amount of $110,000. It appears from the Comptroller's esti? mate that a levy of 4?- mills will raise a sum sufficient to pay the current ex? penses of the government and the in? terest. If the Legislature continues the mode of collecting taxes at two periods of the year there will be of course a great un? certainty as to the amount in the treasury on the 1st of July. It is important that the interest of the debt be met punctual? ly, and iu order to sustain the credit of the State, I therefor? recommend, if the present mode of collecting taxes is to continue, that you authorize the Govern? or, Comptroller-General and Treasurer to borrow od temporary loan, if there be not sufficient funds in the treasury, so much as may be necessary to pay tbe in? terest falling due. I ask your attention to the remarks of the Comptroller on the subject of THE POLL TAX, and suggest the importance of devising some law by which the tax may be more generally collected. I will have occasion to speak of for? feited lands and phosphate mining, in bringing to your attention tbe report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. The questions, however, of the taxation of phosphate mines, which were brought to tbe attention of the Legislature at its last session by the Comptroller-General, have not all been settled, but remain for your decision. The report of the Superintendent of Education gives much valuable informa? tion as to the condition of THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The school fund, the school attendance, number of schools and the number of ?teachers employed were greater during the last year than at any previous time in the history of this State. In propor? tion to her wealth South Carolina is making as liberal provision for education as any other Southern State. During the political canvass of 1876 it was repeatedly charged that if tbe Dem? ocratic party obtained control of the governmeut educational facilities in gen? eral, aud especially those of the colored race, would be diminished. The follow? ing tabular statement of tbe work of the last four years furnishes the best answer to those charges: Number of schools 1876-77, 2,483 ; 1877-78, 2,922; 1678-79, 2,901; 1879-80, 2,973. Increase in num? ber" of schools since 1876-77, 490; teach? ers employed 1876-^77, white 1,725, colored 949?total 2,674; 1877-78, white 2,091, colored 1,026?total 3,117; 1878 79, white 2,090, colored 1,076?total 3,166; 1879-80, whites 2,048, colored 1,123?total 3,171. Increase in number of teachers Bince 1876-77 497. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. 1876-77, white 46,444, colored 55,952? total 102,396; 1877-78, white 54,118, colored 62,121?total 116,239, increase 13,843; 1878-79, white 58,368, colored 64,095?total 122,463, increase 6,224; 1879-80, white 61,218, colored 72,853? total 134,072, increase 11,609. Total increase since 1876-77, 31,678. SCHOOL FUND. 1S76-77, $189,352.80 ; 1877-78, $316, 197.10; 1878-79, $331,049.90; 1879-80 (estimated), $351,415.50. The year 1877-78 was the year in which the constitutional amendment relative to the school tax went into operation. Full reports have not yet been-received from all the counties,in regard to the school fund for the last year, but the estimate given above is derived from figures carefully compiled in the office of the Comptroller-General, and is believed to be very nearly accu ?rate. The report of the President of Claflin University, which is contained in the report of the Superintendent of Educa? tion, shows that that institution is in a flourishing condition, and is affording each year increased facilities for the higher education of the colored race. The average of the school sessions for the last year was three and one-half months, a slight increase over the sessions of tbe three preceding years. In Ander? son County the sessions lasted six months, and in nine other counties the average length of the sessions was from four to five months. The shortness of the ses? sions in the remaining counties was due in large measure to the fact that a con? siderable portion of the current school fund had been diverted by authority of the Legislature to pay claims incurred before the Democratic party came into power. The whole amount of these claims, which have been reported to the Superintended of Education, is $209, 940.66. The report of the Superintendent of education gives interesting information, showing the many improvements in the public school system which have been made in the last four years. I would commend to your favorable consideration the recommendation in the report for the further improvement and development of the public schools. The success of the Normal Institute, held at Spartan burg during the month of August, was very gratifying. The Claflin University has a well organized normal department for the colored teachers, but the Normal Institute gave to the white teachers tbe first opportunity afforded them for special [ training. Tbe meeting of this Institute forms an era in the history of educational progress in this State. One hundred and ninety-seven teachers attended, and they showed a commendable desire to avail themselves of the great benefits of the Institute. They voluntarily, and at their own expense, gave a month of their vacation season to study and to the work of self-improvement. The praiscwoit'iy spirit thus manifested should be encour? aged by the Legislature. The full and able report of the distinguished gentle? man who was the principal of the Insti? tute gives much interesting information as to the work accomplished, and shows the importance of continuing it. Expo rience in Europe and in this country has deiiionstra'eJ the necessity for special training sch mis for teachers. Until this State can found a Normal Sch' ol, much good can be accomplished by tl ehod ng of institutes during the summer months. The Superintendent of Education asks tbe authority of the General Assembly to use*duriug the next year, for defraying the expenses of the Normal Institute, $1,500 of a fund of $3,776.22, belonging to the free school fund, and now in the hands of ^e State Treasurer. This fund, as will be seen from the report, is the proceeds of an investment of moueys paid in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 378, approved March 8, 1871, to sstablish the Charleston Charitable Asso- j ciation of the State of South Caroliua for the benefit of the free school fund. The amount of the fund is too small to be of | service if divided among the counties of j the State, and, even if much larger, no better use could be made of it. I recom mend that the authority asked for be j granted, under such regulations as the j General Assembly may prescribe. The following table, which is contained in the report of the Superintendent of Education, gives the number of educa? tional inst'tuttons now in operation in this Stale: Colleges, m^le and female. 12 Professional schools. 2 Industrial training schools. 3 Private academies or high schools. 81 Public academies or high schools. 49 Elementary evening schools. 3 Private elementary schools. 208 Public schools.2,793 LUNATIC ASYLUM. The unfortunate and helpless condi? tion of the inmates of this institution ap? peals to the best sympathies of our na? ture, and I am sure you will give the reports oftheboard of regents and superiu tendentof the institution that careful examination and attention which the im? portance of the matter demands. The board consists of gentlemen of much ability and experience in such matters, who are performing this work of love without compensation, and whose recommendations I commend to your favorable consideration. The general management under their direction, assisted by the skillful super? intendent, Dr. Griffin, and the efficient steward and treasurer, Mr. H. P. Green, has been successful and economical. Whole number of patients treated 541. There now reuain 420, of whom 203 are males and 217 females; 208 are white and 152.colored; 391 are State patients and 29 pay patients. The increase for the year has Leen 45. Of those present 26 may be cc .Jdered curable, 87 doubt .ful, and 307 incurable. You will per? ceive from the reports of the superinten? dent that much needed improvements have been made, not only in new build? ings but in general repairs; and that provision has been made against acci? dents from fire, by which a jet of water can be thrown at any point of the interi? or of both departments in less than two minutes from tbe alarm. The board of regents have been fortu? nate in purchasing the Parker Farm of of about fifty acres lying close by, with funds saved from tbe annual appropria? tion to the institution. The farm may be made not only a means of wholesome exercise and relaxation to those patients able to do some work, but a fruitful source of supplies to the inmates. The Asylum has been so crowded that many applicants have been turned away for want of room, and the counties are not prepared to care for them. The question of building additional room is for your consideration, and I invite your at? tention to what the superintendent says on the subject. Tbe estimate for maintainance last year was based on tbe lowest rate adopt? ed in similar institutions; but by pru? dent economy and good management a considerable sun; has been saved for the benefit of the institution. I recommend tbat the amount asked for maintenance for next year be allowed. The Rev. Edwin A. Bolles has been faithfully ministering to the spiritual wants of the inmates. INSTITUTE OF THE DEAF. DUMB AND BLIND. It appears that the appropriations to this Institution have been wisely and economically disbursed. Admitted dunag the year, 5G pupils; one graduated and two discharged, being incapable of receiving education. Nine? teen counties of the State have pupils in the school. I think that any one who could visit this institution and see the progress which these poor unfortunates are mak? ing in education, would be satisfied, if a taxpayer, that tha small amount of his contribution, abc at the 1,350th of his tax, could not be better employed. The method of imparting articulation and lip reading to deaf mutes, by the system of "Bell's Visible speech," has been introduced, and some children in the Institution, who were born deaf, have in a little more than three weeks learned to utter distinctly most of the consonants, and a portion of the vowel sounds. THE PENITENTIARY. The reports of the board of directors and the superintendent of the Peniten? tiary will give yon all tbe necessary information as to this institution. There were on the roll of the prison, at the end of the fiscal year, 500 convicts in all, a decrease of thirty-five from last report. The health of the iurnatcs of the prison has been very good, the death rate being less that 2 per cent. Important improvements have been made in%uildings as well as walls, aud tbe general management of the Peniten? tiary, under the very efficient superinten? dent, Col. T. J. Lipscomb, Rtems to be well conducted. Some additional appro? priation should be made to make the buildings secure from fire. The management of the Penitentiary farms has been attended with success, the estimated clear profit beiug between $9,000 and $10,000. I think some provision should be made for the recapture of escaped convicts by providing a reward for the capfors. Where criminals are to be punished for short terms, say for four or six months, it would be better if tb*y could be worked on the : lads, or for some other public interest in their own county. The expense of transportation, in many cases, costs about as much us the labor of tbe convict is north. As one of the prime objects of pun? ishment is reform, I recommend that some provision be made for the service of a chaplain to minister to the wants of the convicts. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The able report of this department, made by the commissioner, Col. A. P. Butler, deserves at your hands a careful consideration. It is the first report of its operations since the act creating the department, and includes, besides, a statement of its receipts and expendi? tures, an expositiou of tbe objects of the act, also the system adopted by the commissioner, under the direction of the board of agriculture, to protect the far? mers from the use of inferior fertilizers. It is claimed that the protection is now absolute, while, it is generally conceded, that before it was a failure. The modus operandi is given at length in the re? port. About 100,000 tons of fertilizers, val? ued at $3,000,000, were sold in the Slate last year; a small discount in value per ton of this auouut would make a considerable sum. The offices of phosphate inspector and phosphate agent have been abolished, and the duties thereof are now per? formed by a special assistant of the agricultural bureau. I Tbe amount of phosphate rock mined' and shipped for the nine months end? ing 30th of September last, is 53.054 tons, upon which the State has received a royalty of $53,054. As to the concurrent jurisdiction of the commissioner and the comptroller geueral pver the phosphate rainn3, &c, I ask your consideratiou of the matter as explained by these officers, and that you make such amendments a3 you may in your wisdom think best. The report of the commissioner also includes the report of the chemist to the department, Dr. Charles U. Shepard, Jr., and the report of Mr. E. L. Rocho, special assistant. A report of the fish commissioner, made by C. J. Huske, a practical pisci? culturist, who has charge of that de? partment, is included with the reports. I ask a favorable consideration of this subject, as I am satisfied the State will be amply repaid for the small oullay'made. With facilities for hatching fish eggs and the ready co-operation which is given us by the United States fish commissioners, it will not be long before a large increase of fish will be seen in our waters. It is not an untried experiment. The fish commissioners of New Hampshire report, "as the results of artificial breed? ing the price of shad in the New York market had fallen from $18 to $3 per hundred, and fishermen complained that fish were so plenty they were unable to get fair pay for the labor of taking them, and that a poor man could now buy as good fi3h for a shilling, or twenty-five cents, as he could a few years ago for a dollar." Tbe following is the number offish dis? tributed in our waters: California sal? mon 30,000, Land lock salmon 15,000, shad 2,230,000, California trout 3,500. I also call your attention to the very important subject of immigration em? braced in the commissioner's report. A subject of so much importance will, lam sure, receive the consideration it de? serves. You might well consider wheth? er a portion of the forfeited iands could not be profitably disposed of in settling immigrants. STOCK LAW. While this law would not be accepta? ble, and perhaps would not be to the interest of a majority of the, citizens of some of the counties of the State, yet I am satisfied that it will prove a great blessing in those counties where it is now of force. Besides the time which is sav? ed from so much fence building and re? pairing, and which may be applied to improvements generally, the soil will naturally improve much faster by the vegetation which grows, dies and shades the land. Thousands of acres which, before the law was passed, were almost valueless, for the want of timber to fence against stock, are being brought into cultivation and use. PUBLIC ROADS. For more thau a half ceutury the at? tention of the members of the General Assembly of this State has been repeat? edly called to the bad condition of our public highways. The difficulty with most of the roads, especially in the hilly Eortion of the State, is that tbey have cen made with no idea as to grades, but seem to have been located in the cow paths or Indian trails, straight up and down the hills.. The consequence is that, as time progresses, such roads are becoming worse and more difficult to keep in order. I think it would be better if many of the old roads were abandoned, and new onesi located by competent engineers. There is a class of convicts which should be worked on the roads. I hope you will mature a plan which will show that there is a prospect of our having good roads at sorm; time, even if in the future. MILITIA. It is the most important function of Government to preserve tbe peace and guarantee under the laws the rights of person and properly. In this State the military is held in subordination to the civil authority, but in all well regulated Governments the civil may become too weak to repress disturbance. Consider the riots in the great State of Pennsylva? nia fl. few years ago, where it became necessary to call on the militia. I would recommend that you give encouragement to the volunteer militia. Such organi? zations take pride in their efficiency, while the militiamen who muster simply because the law requires it, would be an awkward squad when- service was re? quired. But it is too much to expect young men to lose their time and pay all tbe expenses of their organization. The State should give some assistance, and I commend the matter to your favorable consideration. The Centennial celebration of the bat? tle of Kings Mountain was eutirely suc? cessful aud reflects great credit upon those patriotic citizens who originated and conducted it. Many citizens from our sister States, especially North Caro? lina, Virginia and Tennessee, were pres? ent to show their appreciation of the im? portance of the event. The victory won at the battle of King's Mountain reanima? ted the drooping spirits of the patriots of the country, who on the 17th January 1781, achieved under Gen. Morgan another glorious victory at the battle of Cowpens. This battle was, in the language of the distinguished historian Bancroft, the first chain of events that led to the surrender of Cornwallis and the success? ful termination of the war for American independence. It is proposed to com? memorate the centenuial of this battle in an appropriate manner, and the President of the United States, the Governors, and citizens generally, of the old thirteen States have been invited to co-operate. I hope you will give the matter a favorable consideration. COMMISSIONERS AND MANAGERS OP ELECTION. According to law, it is the duty of the Governor to appoint commissioners of election, "at least sixty days prior to any such election." I submit that some provision should be made for the ap? pointment, in the event the Governor should fail, refuse, or neglect to do his duty in the premises. CODIFICATION OF THE LAWS. It is now difficult for a lawyer to ascertain what the statute law of the State is. The mode by which our laws have been amended for many years past has had the effect of almost putting it out of the power of an unprofessional person to find the law in the books. The Constitution requires a revision, digest and promulgation of our laws every ten years, and 1 recommend that it he done as s'iou as possible. CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. There are several changes which should be made in our organic law, but whether by amendments in the constitutional form, or by convention, is a question of some doubt. I am inclined to favor the former method as the wisest. To elect our judges for life, or during good behavior, I consider oue of the best changes that could be made. With a pure, learned, and impartial judiciary, not subject to the whims aud caprices of popular elections, thl rights of person and property, as well as the liberty, of the citizens are safe. But when the high office becomes a re? ward for eager partisanship, or the judge has to maintain his zeal and devotion to party politics, that he may be re-elected, then are the rights of the people in jeo? pardy. I ask your attention to the report of the secretary of State, in which is in? cluded the report of the land commission. Number of acres of land unsold, 56,371 ; total value, $157,07604; balance of pur? chase money $47,493 87. You will also find on your table a very full and explanatory report from Dr. Lebby, who has charge of the quarantine station at Charleston. It is a matter of congratulation that our quarantine laws have been for so many years, under his management, efficacious in protecting our citizens from pestilence. The Executive Mansion, I am inform? ed, requires some repairs and improve? ments, and I recommend that you appropriate for this purpose and for furniture of a permanent character seven hundred dollars. in conclusion, gentlemen, I desire to call your attention to what I presume most of you have considered, the importance of doing something to check the growing evils of whiskey drinking, and the carrying of concealed weapons. I believe it is gen? erally conceded that strict prohibitory laws have been unsuccesful, yet prudent and wise legislation can do much good. Public opinion ought to enforce the law against giving or selling liquor to mi? nors. And now, in closing this communica? tion, permit me to invoke the blessings of Divine Providence upon all your delib? erations, with the hope that they may result in good to every citizen of the Commonwealth. Thos. R. Jeter, Governor. MURDER OP WILLIAM MADDOX. Abbeville Press and Banner. Conflicting reports in reference to tho killing of Mr. William Maddox at his home, near Maddox's mill, on the Salu da river, in this county, having reached the village, a representative of the Press and Banner yesterday went to the scene of the bloody deed. The dwelling in which the deceased and his family lived is a log house, with a framed "shed room." The cracks be? tween the logs composing the walls are nicely filled with clay and whitewashed. Notwithstanding this fact, however, there are enough openings to secure sufficient ventilation for hygienic purposes. The house is warmed by a fireplace five or six feet in width, in which a blazing fire on the cold morning was a pleasing sight to one who had been in the weather for four hours. In the house were two beds, a chest, a table, a cradle, a few chairs, and some other articles. Some two years ago the residence of Mr. Maddox, which stood between this house and the public road was burned by person or persons unknown to this deponent, and since that time the kitchen has been used as a dwelling for the deceased and family. The house ha? two outside doors: the front door opening towards the public road, and the "spring door" opening on the opposite side of the house, and in the direction of the spring from which they used water. In addition to these doors there is a door to the "shed room," looking towards the public road. There is in the main part of the house a "loft" room in which the step? son of the deceased slept, and which was reached by means of a ladder made of a round pole split in two pieces, when cross-bars were put from one to tho other. Mr. Vermillion lived' in a much larger house about two hundred yards south? east, Sarah Maddox, a colored woman, who once belonged to Mr. Maddox, lived two hundred yards south-west of Mr. Vermillion, and three hundred yards south of the dwelliug of the deceased. The lot, barn, stables, &c, are on the op? posite side of the road, all being within a few hundred yards of the twentieth mile post on the road leading from Abbe? ville village, and known in that section as the "Cambridge road." To show how little Mr. Maddox sus? pected danger, it is only necessary to state that he had no fastenings to any of the doors of bis house, except a "button" to each with a screw through the centre, the mere turning of which either releases the shutter or holds it as the case may be. The doors not shutting closely could be opened about as easily from the outnido as the inside of the house. As a further evidence of his fancied safety in the hon? esty of his neighbors and the protecting arm of the law to shield him from harm during the silent watches of the night, we would mention the fact that he had no lock on anything in the house except on the top of an old chest, the hinges of which being broken off the lock was sub? stituted for tbem. Between eight and nine o'clock Wed? nesday night of last week, after Mr. Mad? dox and his family had gone to bed, a knock was heard at the door. Unexpect ing the approach of any one with an evil iutent, without hesitating to ask who was there, he rose from bis bed, and opened the door in response to the knock. Three men were plainly visible in the moon? light. One of them said, as he walked into the house, without being asked to come in: "We want you to let us stay all night with you. We are wagoners selling whiskey. Our wagons are stopped up the road." Mr. Maddox then said : ''I have no room to accommodate you. My house was burued two years ago." The intruder then said: "If we cannot get to stay all night with you, give us some fire, that we may build a fire at the camp." At this juncture, owing to the unnatu? ral voice of the stranger and his general behavior, and the quick perception of a woman's instinct, Mrs. Maddox's fears were aroused, and she began to call her son, a lad of twelve years of age who was sleeping up-stairs. She endeavored to awaken him for the pu;4iose of asisting Mr. Maddox in supplying the stranger's request for fire. But owing to the fact that he was a sound sleeper, he was not aroused until a little while later. To the stranger Mr. Maddox replied: "I am very willing to accommodate you to fire. The fire is in coals. Bring in a board of piece of bark on which to carry it away." The intruder then stepped back into the yard for a second. As l.c returned Mr. Maddox was stirring his fire, with the tongs, when the intruder ?aid : "We would like to get a twenty dollar bill changed." To this Mr. Mattox replied: "I can't see very well at night, and I don't care to do so now. It may be that I can change it fur you iu the morning." By this time Mr. Maddox had gather? ed in the tongs as much fire as he could hold with them, aud offering it to the j man he said : ! "We don't want fire. It's your money i we waut. And we intend to have it, j sir." At this demand Mr. Maddox raised his ' tongs as if to strike the would-be rob? ber. He gave back towards the door, Mrs. Maddox jumped out of bed, ran through the door into the "shed room," and out at the front door of that room, while Mr. Maddox and bis assailants were in threatening attitude. As soon as Mr. Maddox had followed his assailant to the door, he was shot and instantly killed, falling out of the door, clearing thestep, which is a big rock, his head making an indentation in the sand as it struck the ground. About this time the little son appeared on the scene. As he ran out of the house he saw "Uncle Billy" lying on the ground in front of the door, and jumped over him. He did not then know whether he was dead or was playing 'possum, as he frequently had fallen down of late. After running to the front gate in his fright he though the would return and see if the old man was really dead. Acting on this impulse he went back and turned him over, and become con? vinced that life was extinct. This de 1 ponent did not understand what brought out this expression but it is said that one of the gang said something like this: "If you don't behave yourself, we'll shoot you, too." One of their number replied, "Oh, no, he's a little boy. We musn't hurt him." Meanwhile Mrs. Maddox was running towards the houses of Mr. Vermillion and Sarah Maddox crying "murder," "robbers," "they are killing Cousin Billy." Sarah Maddox being ea? sily waked was first to the call, and came running with all the speed possible, meet? ing Mrs. Maddox half-way. Mr. Vermill? ion not knowing the nature of the difficulty thought it better to be a little deliberate in his movements. After putting on his shoes, arranging his toilet, he had a colored man to accompany him to the house of the deceased where he arrived, he thinks not longer than twenty minutes after the murder. One of tbe party is eaid to have been posted in the chimney corner guarding the "spring door," autl the path Ieadiug from it for the purpose of shooting Mrs. Maddox should she at? tempt to make her escape, but it is thought she was not shot from the fact that she ran out of the shed room door, in an unexpected direction. PILLAGING THE PREMISES. Immediately after Mr. Maddox was shot the murderers entered the house, ran? sacked a set of bureau drawers, in the shed room and carried off a little trunk. This trunk was the same which Mr. Mad? dox rescued from the flames when his dwelling was burning two years ago. He theu carried it into the garden and told his wife to sit ou it, and remember? ing Mr. Mnddox's words at the fire, some are of the opinion that they thought it well filled with coin. After they carried it to the plum thicket on the side of the cotton field they opened it and found that it contained two dolls, a few rags, and a number of underclothing for little children. The murderers got no money, and as far as can be ascertained they carried away nothing at all. They took the trunk from beside a chair on which was piled some quilts and clothing. At night the pocket book was put between the folds, where it remained undisturbed, There is no truth in the report that the murderers carried off Mr. Maddox's "land papers." They were kept in the pine chest to which reference was made as having a lock but no hinges to its lid. Just here we would correct another re? port. The murderers offered no further insult or iujurv to anybody in that sec? tion. ON OUR ARRIVAL AT THE HOUSE we made enquiry for Mrs. Maddox, but was informed that she was at tbe resi? dence of Mrs. Taylor, a mile and a half distant up the road, where she has lived ever since the murder. Remaining on tbe place for a while we saw several per? sons who knew more or less of tbe sad affair, and the pumping process was com? menced at once. We may be pardoned if we refer to one of the colored women who seemeed perfectly willing to talk about the affair, and seemed sorry that she could not tell more of it. We .be? lieve she expressed herself truthfully and without bias. In speaking of Mr. Mad? dox, she apparently did not mean any disrespect by speaking of him as "Mad? dox," without the usual prefix, and wheu speaking of the ladies who were present, or saw, or heard anything of the difficul? ty, she merely said "Susan," "Jane," "Ann Maria," as the case might be, with? out prefixing "Mrs." or "Miss" as is cus? tomary among polite people in the most refined society of some sections of the country. AN IMPROBABLE STORY. It is currently reported that two ne? groes now at large in that section of the country attempted to steal a mule from the stable of Levi Shaw, a tenant of Mr. William Latimer. The story goes that a colored man, about the complexion of a ginger cake, together with a negro as black as anybody, went Monday morning about nine or ten o'clock to Levi Wat? son's stable, when his wife discovered tbtm and wanted to know their business. They wanted a mule aud proposed to take it by force. The mule kicked, the woman decoyed them to the house. Theu she slipped away from tbem, bridled the Balaam, rode oft" in a hurry, &c., &c. Although this story seems to be exceed? ingly thin, there are quite a number of persons who believe it. We were told that about one hundred men were in search of them. The community is in a state as to be ready to believe nearly anything they may hear. THE OPINION ENTERTAINED BY SOME is, that the people of that section are en? tirely off the track as to the real perpe tors of the crime, and it may be that reports are put in circulation to divert attention from the culprits. There are circumstances which has led at least a few persons to havo an opinion totally different from the generally accepted theory. Two years ago Mr. Maddox's dwelling was burnt; three weeks before his death, a uew pasture gate which sep? arated his stock was cut to pieces and totally destroyed; last Wednesday night the murder was committed. It is uot impossible for the same enemy to have committed all these crimes. Mr. Mad? dox was a man who lived almost entirely to himoelf. He was a quiet and pence able citizen. Free from gossip. Always paid his debts, and in no way was he an aggressive man in the offensive sense of the word. It is our opinion that if a detective were sent there he would soon astonish the natives. AFTER THE MURDER, a well-worn wool hat, on which was con? siderable cotton lint was found under the body of the Mr. Maddox. In another place, near the spot where the trunk was | recovered, a haudkerchief was found with eye holes and mouth hole, blacked around the holes with shoe blacking, and strings attached for the evident pur posenftieing around the neck. A piece of pistol was found, which was carried to Mr. John Wilson at HoDea Path, who j pronounced it a piece of a Smith & Wes j son p'stol, of a larger size than is ordinari I ly found in this section. AT MRS. TAYLOR'S wc were met by the good lady herself, who is the only sister of the deceased. We were soon seated by a comfortable fire, when we informed her of the nature of our business. She then related the facts substanliallyas we have given them and she expressed and seemed to feel an anxiety to have the murderers of her brother caught and brought to justice; and inquired of us what officer usually offered the reward in such cases. When we informed her that the Governor of the State would, no doubt, offer a suitable J reward as he was officially informed of the crime, she seemed greatly pleased. In a little while MRS. MADDOX CAME OUT, bringing in her arms an infant less than a year old. She is at least thirty years Mr. .Maddux's junior, and by no means an ill-favored lady. She appears to bear her affliction with the nerve of a stout heart, and was willing to impart any in? formation that she could. The fact is, however, that she was so badly fright? ened that she was able to tell but little of the difficulty and the killing. We were informed, though we did not hear Mr.-. Maddox speak as to this point, that THE LITTLE CHILDREN WERK FAST ASLEEP, during the occurrence ; that they lay in their beds alone, while the mother weut to Mr. Vermillion's house, and during the time that the robbers were ransacking the house. MP.. MADDOX AND HIS ELDEST DAUGH? TER slept in the bed facing the door, while Mrs. Maddox and the smaller childreu occupied the bed before which the door shutter opened and partially screened from her view the various movements of the murderer. Mrs. Maddox was so much excited at the time of the murder that she was unable to recollect whether Mr. Maddox and his murderer had laid violent hands on each other, or whether Mr. Maddox had only raised the tongs in a ihreatening manner, but she seemed to think that her husband did not strike his assailant. She was inclined to the opin? ion that it is possible that Mr. Maddox would not have been killed if he had given up his money when the demand was made upon him. "But," she added, "Mr. Maddox was not that kind of a man. tie would defend his rights under any circumstances. Wo had very little money in the house. It took nearly all that be had to pay his taxes. I am sor? ry now that he "didn't give them his money." THE LITTLE BOY SHOOTS. After the murderers bad accomplished their purpose, and had gone away, the hid returned, got bis gun and fired it off ii: the air, in an aimless manner. THE ALARM was given and a great number of the neighbors came to the house in a few hours after the murder. The corpse was taken in the house and cared for. GUARDING THE BRIDGE. In a very short time after the killing an armed guard was put at the bridge to intercept any one who might attempt to pass. But no one came. SOMETHING OF WILLIAM MADDOX'S LIFE. He was born within a mile of the spot where he was murdered, and had lived in that neighborhood all bis life. He was perhaps sixty-eight years of age. He lived a life of seclusion from society, and devoted his energies chiefly to the accumulation of wealth, and never mar? ried until seven or eight years ago, when he married his cousin, Mrs. Clara Brown, whose maiden name was Maddox. They have three children?the youngest being ten months old. HIS WEALTH. He died the owner of one of the best mills on the river, and is said to have been the owner of two thousand or more acres of the best land in that community, while he had thousandy of dollars at in? terest. THE WONDER TO US will be, if the murderers in this instance do not set up and establish a plea of self-defence. Did not Maddox pursue his assailant? Did he not retreat as he fired? Some juries we doubt would read? ily excuse a man for killing another in a case of self-defence like this. If our ju? ries do not do their duty better and more fearlessly we shall soon see this country goiug to the bad. HIS ECCENTRICITIES. Although Mr. Maddox's wealth in amount was equal to the richest in his community, yet ihe poorest tenant on his place had as many of the comforts of life as he enjoyed. TRYING TO LIVE THE LIFE OF A CHRIS? TIAN. In his latter years he has striven with varying success to live in accordance with the requirements made of man by his creator, and some two or three years ago he joined the Baptist Ch'Tch at Turkey Creek. For one who '..aa lived so long without the restraints wnich the Church puts on man he found the Chris? tian's life no easy one. He was always regarded as an honest man, and never failed to pay every debt which he may have contracted. AN ARREST. A negro man from the neighborhood ofHonea Path, whose name we have for? gotten, was sent to Abbeville jail two or three days ago, charged ith being one of the murderers. Trial Justice Young, who committed him, thinks there is very little evidence against him. On our trip we saw one of the gentlemen who arrest? ed him. He said it was in evidence that the negro was absent from home on the afternoon previous to the killing, aud when he returned next day he had mud on his pantaloons. Aiken: Mrs. Ann Ergles was found dead in her bed on tho morning of tho 4th instant. She was 88 years old.Mrs. Elizabeth Hewitt, an elderly lady who was living alone, was found 03- her neighbors lying dead on tho lloor of her house, with her clothes all burnt off her body, and her body horribly burned. The Edgelicld, Trenton and Aiken Rail? road has taken ;i new'start, and tho man? agers have gone to work on a business? like basis. They have engaged a compe? tent and skillful engineer, Mr. C. R. Mo riand, to whom they have given the su peritueiulencc and general management of tho work.The county commission? ers of Aiken County have adopted a plan for anew courthouse.There are forty four Northern visitors registered at the Aiken hotels. Abbeville: No political arrosts have yet been made in Abbeville.Tho Ma? sonic Lodge at Abbeville is receiving nu? merous accessions.The Due West people go to bed at 7 o'clock in the even? ing.A new postolliee has been opened at Warrcnton an. I will have a mail three times a week?n,uesdays and Saturdays. Capt. William I. Brooks is the postmas? ter.A hanasoino crayon portrait of tho late Rev; Dr. Ilcinphill has been pre? sented to theEuphcmian Literary Society of Erskine College by Dr. Cr. F. Wenck. .On last Sabbath a difficulty occurred in town between a printer and a carriage painter and a duel was very seriously talked of, and tho sole reason why tho Eartics did not resort to tho "Acid of onah" was tho religious scruples of one of the parties to tight on Sabbath, Wild Oats. Statistical science, that remorseless prophet, reports that out of so many ba? bies dreaming on their mothers' breasts, there shall be numbered so many inebri? ates, so many suicides, so many murder? ers, so many victims of battle, violence, and sudden death. Inspecting colleges, the stern-browed registrar records that this proportion of young men will honor themselves in their daily walk and con? versation, and that will wander by de? vious paths to doubtful ends. Behold? ing "sweet girl graduates" with unmel ting gaze, the seer foretells that these shall dwell in reputable peace, and those make shipwreck of their lives. "Forewarned is fore-armed," says the old proverb. But while we heed the dan? ger signal for our boys, we are apt to for? get that our girls arc threatened. When a young feliowwho has been amiable and correct begins to waste his time and mon? ey on questionable pleasures, to show an abnormal eagerness for excitement and change, to find home dull and his old amusements tedious, to start off vagabon? dizing, "strange countries for to see," >ve deal gently with him, if we are wise. He is "sowing his wild oats," we say. If the crop is harrowed with reproaches and watered with complaining tears, it is likely to prove a large and evil one. Wc help him with kindness and counsel, we give him all the freedom possible, we arc wisely blind to much that hurts and humiliates us, we make home tbe most delightful of resorts. And we do this because we recognize the fact that a mor? al crisis, a spiritual fever, is upon him. The eager young blood can not longer temperately keep time, as ours, and make as healthful music. There are laws of physiology as domi? nant as any law of morals. ,The adjust? ment of the human soul to its conditions is nicer and more difficult than those fine mechanical adjustments which are the wonders of the age. The possibilities of life are so vast, he himself is so little, the leaping fluid in his veins is so vital and insistent, that it is little wonder he goes wrong. Fortunately there are helps on all sides for him. Gymnasiums, base-ball, cricket, swimming, hunting, shooting, rowing, walking, fishing, riding?all these offer themselves to tire his restless body. So? cieties, politics, science, art, travel, at? tract his eager mind. Presently the fer? mentation of youth subsides, and the clear wiue of manhood, rich and sweet and potent, remain. At an earlier age than boys feel it comes a kindred restlessness to girls. Some? times it takes the shape of mild melan? choly metrically expressed in composi? tions, or, when it is of a serious nature "strikes in," like a bad form of measles. Sometimes it is seen as a brazen aggres? siveness, such as young girls show in horse-cars or other public places. Some? times it is an utter dissatisfaction with all that their life knows, an unspeakable hunger for something other which to their inexperience, is of necessity bet? ter. In school, occupation is likely to be incessant, if not absorbing. But the average girl who leaves school behind her, leaves also all definite plan of em? ployment, all fixed interest, all healthful habits of industry. To ambitious girls full of imagination, energy, and unrecog? nized aspirations, a life of dawdling is is not enough. Visiting, dressing, fancy work, parties, no more satisfy ardent Jane than the dull routine of shop, or count? ing-room, or office, satisfies eager John. John betakes himself, if he can, on an embassage to the Pigmies, or to fetch him a hair off the great Cham's beard. But alas for Jane! she may not travel. She may not hunt, or swing from paral? lel bars, or go into politics. Usually there is but one entrance into Wonderland for her, and that is by the gate of mar? riage. She endues the first man she meets with the grace of Apollo, the wit of Mercury, the courage of Mara. If father and mother forbid tbe banns, she will elope with him if she can, or, fancy? ing herself broken hearted, marry without love, any man to whom her parents will give her. Or, if the man of her choice is unobjectionable, and she weds him with white favors and wedding bells, all the same may the awakening come when she sees the ass's ears aud can no longer stick musk-roses in the smooth, sleek head. Often and often these early and ill-as? sorted marriages are simply a girl's wild oats, and what harvest will come of the sowing, who shall say ? It may be sub? mission, patience, sweetness, disgrace. But our point is that we do not help Jaue as we help her brother to feel her way through the tumultuous troubles" of youth. If she is un? easy, vacillating, with a liking for strange company, full of adventure, reaching out for action, addicted to man? nish employments, impatient of crochet and decorative art, we draw her lines e'oser, instead of enlarging them. Where we should give the eager mind absorbing food for thought, the conscious body sufficient scope for action, we stint tbe one and hinder the other. Mothers can not too carefully study and cherish their young daughters at this critical spring-time of their lives. It is not an instinct for evil, it is "a wish that they hardly dare to own for some? thing better than they have known, which makes girls unmanageable, head strong, even "fast." And they have a deeper claim than boys on the utmost parental wisdom, patience, and tenderness as their destruction, when they go astray, is more remediless?Harper's Bazar. ? "What will you take to drink?" asked a waiter of a young lad, who, for the first time, accompanied his father to a public diuner. Uncertain what to say, and feeling sure he could not do wrong if he followed his father's example, he replied, "I'll take what father takes." The answer reached the father's ear, and instantly the full responsibility of his position flashed upon him. "Waiter, I'll take water." And from that day to this strong drink has been banished from that man's home. One Experience from Many.?"I had been sick and miserable so long and had caused my husband so much trouble and expense, no one seemed to know what ailed me, that I was completely disheartened and discouraged. In this frame of mind I got a bottle of Hop Bit? ters and used them unknown to my fam? ily. I soon began to improve and gained so fast that my husband and family thought it strange and unnatural, but when I told them what had helped me, they said "Hurrah for Hop Bitters! long may they prosper, for they have made mother well and us happy."?The Mother.?Home Journal. ? Cincinnati has a Matrimonial Ben? efit Company that pays its members a benefit upon marriages, as mutual insu? rance companies do upon a member's death. The Cincinnati bachelors pay an initiation fee of $5 to this concern and an assessment of $1 whenever a member ! m:trries. i ? Calvin Phipps, of Bedford, Indiana, j drank a gallon of whiskey every day for j a mouth, and then died,