University of South Carolina Libraries
BY E. B. MURRAY & CO. ANDERSON, S. C.. THURSDAY MORNING. OCTOPER 21 1 MMT VOLUME XVI.-NO. 1.1 THU UOYEIIXOU'S MESSAGE.^ A Review ot tho Situation In South Curo Una. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COLUMB.'I, 8. C., Nov. 23, 1880. Gentlemen of the Generul Assembly : At the last regular sesi?n of tue Geueral Assembly of tim State W. D. Simpson nus elected Chief Justice of tho Supremo Court of i 'muh Carolina, and oa the 1st of September lust he resigned the office of Governor of the State of South Caro lina. Tb? Chief Magistracy of tho State bavins thus, under the provisions of the Constitution, devolved upon nie aa Presideut pro tempore of tile? Senate, I immediately assumed thc duties by taking the'oath of office. It now become? my duty, under tho Constitution, to give you information Cf tho condition ol' the Stale, and recom mend for your consideration such meas ures as seem to me necessary or expe dient. I have not had time or opportunity to become sufficiently acquainted with the departments of the State or tho wants and necessities of the peoplo to be able to give such full and satisfactory recom mendations as I am sure my distinguished predecessor would Live made had he continued iu office. I congratulate you, as the representa tives of the people, upon thc great im provement which has been effected in the a Hai rs of South Carolina by tho admin istrations which have had charge of the State Government for tho last four years. The cloud of despondency and gloom which came of prod?gate, reckless and corrupt legislation is bciug gradually cleared away, and the hope of a pros perous future invites us to renewed eilbrtfi. Every interest, material and educntional, is being surely and constantly improved. Agriculture, the principal occupation of our peoplo and tho chief source of all wealth, is remunerative, whilst land ia being gradually enhanced not only in price, but in real value. Commerce is I extending and adding her stores to tho wealth of the country. Cotton manu factories have been increased in power and number, nud whilst in many por tions of the world such eutcrprises have been run on short time or closed tempo rarily, in South Carolina they have been profitably run on full time. Tho sessions of thc 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 positiou it had before the war. Thc rail roads have bcon improved fn condition, and ??are doing an increased business, which indicates, as surely tts anything, tho growing prosperity of the country. The success of the jetties in deepening THE UAR OF CHARLESTON harbor, which is now regarded certnin, . will develop a prosperous future for the city, and yet vt ri fy the wisdom of those who in former days selected Charleston as the Southern terminus of tho road from tho Northwest to tho ocean. Al ready the increased number of vessels seeking that pori, and the much larger receipts of cotton than at tho same time last year, indicate the approaching wave of prosperity. Before many years tho great trude of the West will require a port on the Atlantic most accessible to the trade of the WeRt Indies and South America, and nono will be found com bining the advantages of Charleston. We have just passed through ono of our EXCITING QUADRENNIAL ELECTIONS, in which so much is dono to derange the business of the country, disorganize labor and excite the worst passions of the peo ple, especially the most ignorant. I be lieve it would be better for all the inter ests of tho State if we had State electious but once in four years, and then at a time different from thnt on which United States elections are held. If persons held office for four years they would be come better qualified for their duties, and the .State is more interested in having un , office well filled than in finding bertha for untried aspirants. To show what progress has been made in the way of REFORM AND ECONOMY under the Democratic administration of the State Government, which went into power four years ago, I ask your atten tion to the expenses of tho State for last year as compared with similar expendi tures for the State while the Legislature was in the entire control of tho Radical party. Taking thc average annual ex penditures of the State Government for the six successive years beginning De cember 1st, 1868: For theso e:r years there were paid and appropriated for contingent hinds $376,832.74, or an an nual amount of $62,805.48. Contingent fund for last vear $6,820.17. Difference ' $55,985.31. * The cost of tho session and expenses of tho General Assembly for tho same period were $2,147,430.07, and besides this am: nut there wero outstanding bills payable issued on account of legislativo expenses for thc same period $102 275 15 tho averago cost of each regulur session being about $320,405.16. Legislative ex penses last year $40,504.32. Difference $270,900.84. Tho averago expenditures for each regular session for six years for attaches and contingent expenses have been about $258.424.65. T-??t it be borne in mind that this sum represents only the actual payments made. There was a large amount of unpaid claims in the form of legislative pay certificates, esti mated at not less tbau $500,000. Tho corresponding anion o i of ?asl year, in cluding expenses of pay officers of the General Assembly, was $12,770.35. Dif ference $245,648.30. Dunno* ihren y pa ra ending November 1, 1574, "the cost to the State of perma nent and current printing, and of print ing tho laws in tho newspapers, was $918,620.86. Deducting from this amount all such items as may be called extraordinary, amounting to $375,000, lhere remains as tho cost of printing for three years the RUin'of $543.629.86, oran averago annual cost of $181,209.95. Pub lic printing last year $12,211.40; differ ence $168,998.55. There was collected from tho people in tho years 1873, 1874 and 1875 tho sum of $4,349,461. Of this amount treasurers were paid commissions for collection $151,070; county treasu rers defaulted for $109,988 ; total $261, 058; having paid in to the. treasury $4,088,403. Amount collected from the people in 1876, 1877 and 1878, $1,908, 572. Of this amount treasurers were paid commissions for collection $35.000. Amount unpaid but secured by judgment or thoroughly solvent sureties $506 ; total $35,505, leaving paid into the treasury $1,873,067. The saving in money taken from the people $2,440,889. lu money paid treasurers for collection $116,070. In money fraudulently or negligently lost $109,985. Total $2,066,944. Poll taxes for tho common school collected in 1873, 1874. 1875, $177,316; collected in 1876, 1877, 1878, $311,912. THE FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF THE * STATE will, of course, claim your special allen lion, and iii thc consideration of thia platter I would call your attention to n cartful perusal of the able and lucid re Fort of Comptroller-General Hag n d. u connection with this matter I think the State adopted tho wisest course in subniittiug 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 tho matter should be settled definitely and certainly, and ns one Legislature might undo the acts of a previous one, the quest lion bas been submitted to the same tribunal that settles and decides matters of dixpute and debt between citizens. Tho fellowing is A STATEMENT OK THE PUBLIC PEUT. Totnl consols, $5,210,793.82 ; total de ficiencies, $564.855.98; State scrip (Agri cultural College) $191,800; total funded debt, $5,907,449.80. To be funded for ante-helium principal and interest. 6ay $19?,?70.91 ; to be funded for post-bellum principal and interest, say $306.316 ; lo be funded for funduble interests, say $146,689.07 ; to bo funded for bills of the Hunk of the State, say $22,145 ; toto! bonded debt, $6,039,170.78. After all the expense1} and appropriations of thc last fiscal year are paid offther? will remain as a surplus to be carried lo thc fiscul year 1880-81 the amount of $110,000. I' appears from the Comptroller's esti mate that n levy of 4J mills will raise a sui . sufficient'to pay the current ex ?H uses of the government and the in terest. If tL?s Legislature continues tho mode of coil-ding taxes at two periods of the year thero will bc of course a great un certainty as to the amount in thc treasury on the 1st of July. It is important that the Interest of the debt be met punctual ly, and in order to sustain the credit of the State, I therefore recommend, if the present mode of collecting taxes is to continue, that you authorize the Govern or, Comptroller-General and Treasurer to borrow on temporary loan, if there be not sufficient funds in the treasury, so much as may bo necessary to pay the in terest falling due. I ask your attention to the remarks of the Comptroller on the subject of THE POLL TAX, aud BUggcst the importance of devising soino law by winch tho tax may be more generally collected. I will have occasion to speak of for feited lands aud phosphate mining, in bringing to your attention me report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. The questions, however, of the taxation of phosphate mines, which were brought to the attention of the Legislature ati'.slast session by the Comptf oiler-General, nave not all been settled, but remain for your decision. The report of the Superintendent of Education gives much valuable informa tion as to thc condition of THE PCULIC SCHOOLS. The school fund, the school attendance, number of schools and the number of teachers employed were greater during thc Inst 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 lepeatedly charged that if the Dem ocratic party obtained control of the government educational facilities in gen eral, and especially those of the colored race, wouid be diminished. The follow ing tabular statement of the work of the lust four years furnishes the best a ns wei 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, whit* 2,091, colored 1,020-total 3,117; 1878 79, white 2,090, colored 1,076-tota 3,166; 1879-80, whites 2,048, coloree 1,123-totnl 3,171. Increase in numbei of teachers 6iuce 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, increast 13,84:!; 187S-79, white 58,3(38, coloret 114,095-total 122,463, increase 6,224 187?-80, white 61,218, colored 72,853 total 134,072, increase 11,609. Tota increase since 1876-77, 31,678. SCHOOL FUND. 1876-77, $189.352.80 ; 1877-78, $310, 1&7.10; 1878-79, $331,049.90; 1879-8 (estimated), $351,415.50. Tho year 1877-78 was the year ii which the constitutional amendmen relative to thc school tax went int operation. Full reports have not ye been'received from all the counties .ii regard to the school fund for the las year, but the estimate given above i derived from figures carefully compile in tho olliee of the Comptroller-General and is believed to be very nearly accu rate. The report of tho President of Olafli University, which is contained in th report of tue Superintendent of Educe tiou, shows that that institution is in flourishing condition, aud is a Ob rd in ench year increased facilities for th higher education of the colored race. The average of the school sessions fe tho last year was three ant! one-lin months, a slight increase'over tho session of the three preceding years. In Andei BOD County the sessions lusted six month and in nine other counties tho averug length of tho sessions was from four t five months. Tho shortness of the sci ?ions in the remaining comities was du in large measure to the fact that a cor siderable portion of the current schot fund had been diverted by authority ( lill. T uolulalnra f.. ^IHIM. * -0.- - - I-J ??...*???? ...ou..w before the Democratic party came inl power. Tho whole amount of thei claims; which havo been reported to tl Superintendent of ?ducation, is $201) ?HU.I??. Tlie report of tho Superintendent i education gives interesting informatioi showing the many improvements in tl public school system which have bet m ado in tho lust four years. I woul commend to your favorable consideratit tho recommendation in tho report for tl further improvement and dcvclopmei oflhe public schools. The success < tho Normal Institute, held ut Spartat burg during the month of August, wi very gratifying. The Claflin Universii ha? a well organized normal dopartmet for thc colored teachers, but tho Norm Institute gare to the whito teachers tl first opportunity afforded them for spec! training. The meeting of this Institu forms an era in the history of education progress in this State. One hundred at ninety-seven teachers attended, and tin allowed a commendable desire to ave themselves of thc great benefits of t! Institute. They voluntarily, and at thc own expenso, gave a month of tin vacation season to study and to the wo nf self-improvement. Tho praise wot t' spirit thus manifested should be cncoi aged by the Legislature. Tho foll ai able rvport of thc distinguished gent man who was the p.?p?pal of the Ins tuto gives much interesting inform?t! ns to the work accomplished, aud sho thc importance of continuing it. Exi rience in Europe mid lr? thia country ? demonstrated tho necessity for apeo training s? h ?o?s for teachers. Until tl State can found a Normnl Sch'ol. mu good can bc accomplished by tl ehod of institutes during tho Hummer monti Tho Superintendent of Education at tho authority of tin; General Assembly to use*during the next year, for defraying the expenses of the Normal Institute, $1,600 of a fund of $3,776.22, belonging to thc free school fund, and now in the bands of the State Treasurer. This fund, as will bo seen from the report, is the proceeds of an investment of moueys paid in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 378, approved Mr;ch 8, 1871, to establish the Charleston Charitable Asso- j ciation of the State of South Carolina 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 | the State, and, even if much iurg^r, no botter use could bo made of it. I recom- ! mend that the authority asked for bc J granted, under Ruch regulations as th? General Assembly may prescribe. The following iable, which is contained j in the report of the Superintendent of ' Education, gives thc number of educa- j tiona! institutions now in operation in I this State : Colleges, mnlc nnd female. Professional schools., Industrial training schools. Private academies or high schools Publie academies or high schools. Elementary evening schools. Private elementary schools. Public schools. LUNATIC ASYLUM. The unfortunate nnd helpless condi tion of the inmates of t^is institution np peals to the best sympathies of our na ture, and I am sure you will give the reports of the board of regents and superiu tendent of the institution t?<-it careful examination and attention which thc im portance of tho matter demands. Tho board consists of gentlemen of much ability and experience in such mntters, 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, und thc efficient steward and treasurer, Mr. H. P. Green, hos been successful and economical. Whole number of patients treated 641. There now remain 420, of whom 203 aro males and 217 females ; 208 aro white and 152 colored ; 391 aro State patients nnd 29 pay patients. The increase for the year has teen 45. Of those present 26 .oay be considered curable, 87 doubt ful und 307 incurable. You will per ceive from tho roports of tho snperiuten dc:.t that much needed improvements havo been made, not only in new build ings but in general repairs; and that provision bas been made against acci dents from Gre, by which a jet of water can bo thrown at any point of thc interi or of both departments in less than two minutes from thc alarm. Tho board of regents have been fortu nato in purchasing tho Purker Farm of of about fifty acres lying close by, with funds saved from the annual appropria tion to the institution. The farm may be made not only a means of wholesome exercise and relaxation lo those patients able to do somo 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. The estimate for maintainance last year was based on the lowest rate adopt ed in similar institutions; but by pru dent economy and good management a considerable sum has been saved fur tho benefit of the institution. I recommend that the amount asked for maintenance for next year be allowed. Tho Rev. Edwin A. Holies has been faithfully ministering to the spiritual wants of tho inmates. INSTITUTE Ol' THE DEAF, Dl'MD AND BLIND. It appears that tho appropriations to this Institution havo been wisely and economically disbursed. Admitted during thc year, 56 pupils; ono graduated ac two discharged, being incapable of receiving ?ducation. Nine teen counties of the Stnto have pupils in the school. I think that any one who could visit this institution and see tho progress which these poor unfortunates are mak ing in education, would be satisfied, if a taxpayer, that the smull amount of his contribution, about the 1,350th of his tax, could not bc 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 somo children in the Institution, who were born deaf, have in a little more than three weeks learned co utter distinctly mostof thc consonants, and a portion of the vowel sounds. THE PENITENTIARY. Tho reports of the board of directors and the superintendent of tho Peniten tiary will give yon all the necessary information aa lo this institution. There were on tho roll of the prison, at tho end of thc fiscal year, 500 convicts in ali, a decrease of thirty-five from last report. Tho health of the inmates of the prison has been very good, tho death rate being less that 2 percent. Important improvements have boen made in buildings as well as walls, and the gener.il management of the Peniten tiary, under the very efficient superinten dent, Col. T. J. Lipscomb, seems to be well conducted. Some additional appro priation should be made to mako the buildings secure from fire. The management of tho Penitentiary farms has been attended with success, th? C?tift?tcd vicar proiu being between $9,000 and $10,000. I think some provision should bc made for the recapture of escaped convicts by providing a reward for the captors. Where criminals aro to bo punished for short terms, say for four or B?X month", it would be better if they could bo worked on the roads, or for Home other public interest in their own county. The expense of transportation, in many cases, costs about as much as tho labor of the convict is worth. As ene of the prime objects of pun ishment is reform, J, recommend that some provision bv ?\iade 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 tba first report of ita operations since the'act creating tho department, and includes, besides, a statement of its receipts and expendi tures, an exposition of the objects of tho act, also tho system adopted by the commissioner, under tho direction of the board of agriculture, to protect the far mers from the use of inferior fertilizers. It is claimed that tho protection is now ubsolute, while, it is generally conceded, that before it was a failure. Tho modut operandi is given at length in the re port. About 100,000 tons of fertilizers, val ued nt $3,000,000, were sold in tho Stale last year; a - small discount in value per ton of this amount would mako a considerable sum. 12 2 3 si 49 S 203 ._',7'.I3 The office? of phosphate inspector and phosphate agent have been abolished, and the duties thereof aro now per formed by a special assistant of the agricultural bureau. Tho amount nf phosphate rock mined 2nd shipped fur the nine months end ing 30th of September laut, is 53 054 tons, upon which the State has received a royalty of $53,054. As to the concurrent jurisdiction of thc commissioner and the comptroller geueral over tho phosphate mines, ?c., I attic your consideration of the matter as expiai:.ed by ?hese officers, and that you make such amendments as you may in your wisdom think best. Thc report of the commissioner also includes the report of lb? chemist to tho department, Dr. Charles TJ. Shepard, Jr., and thc report of Mr. E. L. Roche, special assistant. A report of tho fish commissioner, nt ?dc by C. J. Huske, a practical pisci culturist, who has charge of that de Siartment, is included with tho reports, ask a favorable consideration of this subject, us I am satisfied the State will bo amply repaid far the small outlay'made. With facilities for hatching fish eggs and the ready co-operation which is given us by thc United States fish commissioners, it will not be long before a large increase offish will be seen in our waters. It is not an untried experiment. Tho fish commissioners ot New Hampshire report, "as the results of artificial breed ing the price of shad in thc Kew York market had fallen from $18 to ?-'3 per hundred, and fishermen complained that fish were so plenty they wero unable to get fair pay for the labor of taking them, and that a poor man could now buy as good fish for a shilling, or twenty-five cents, as bc could a few years ugo for a dollar." The following is tho number of fish d:s tributed in our waters: California sal mon 30,000, Land lock salmoi: 15,000, shad 2,230,000, California trout i,r>00. I also call your attention to the v? ?y important subject of immigratioi. em braced in the commissioner's report. A subject of so much importance will, lam B?ro, receive thc consideration it C x serves. You might well consider whell er a portion of tue forfeited lunds could not bo profitably disposed of in settling immigrants. STOCK LAW. While this law would not be accepta ble, and perhaps would not be to thc interest of a majority of the, citizens o some of the counties of thc Stale, yet J am satisfied that it will prove a grea blessing in those counties where it is nov of force. Besides iho lime which is sav ed from so much fence building and rc pairing, and which may be applied t< improvements generally, the soil wil naturally improve much faster by tin vegetation which grows, dies and shade tho land. Thousands of acres which before the law was passed, wen almost valueless, for tho want of timbe to fence against a tock, are being brough into cultivation and use. PUBLIC ROAD8. For moro than a half ceutury the nt tention ol tno members of tho Goners Assembly ol' this State has been repeat edly called to tho bnd condition of ou public highways. The difficulty wit! most of tho roads, especially in the bill portion of thc State, is 'hat they hav been mode with no iden OB to grade; but seem to have beea located in th cowpatbs or Indian trails, straight u and down the hills. - The consequence ? that, ns time progresses, such roads ar becoming worse and more difficult to kee in order. I think it would be better if many < the old roads were abandoned, and nc oncB located by competent engineer There is a class of convicts which about be worked on the. mad?. I hope you wi mature a plnu which will show thatthei is a prospect of our having good roads i some ?ime, even if in the future. MILITIA. It is the most important function < Government to preserve the peace au guarantee under the laws tho rights i person and property. In this State tl military is held in subordination to tl civil authority, but in all well regulate Governments the civil may bciomo ti weak to repress disturbance. Considi the riots in thc great State of Pennsylv nia a fer/ years ago, where it bei'."r necessary to call on the militia. I wou; recommend that you give encourageraei to the volunteer militia. Such organ zationB take pride in their efficienc while the militiamen who muster simp because thc law requires it, would be i awkward squad when* service was r quired. But it is too much to expect youi men to loso their time and pay all tl expenses of their organization. Tl State should give some assistance, and commend the matter to your favorat consideration. Tho Centennial nelfthratii.in nf tho bi tie of Kings Mountain was entirely su cessful aud reflects great credit upi those patriotic citizens who original and conducted it. Many citizens frc our sister States, especially North Cai lina, Virginia and Tennessee, were pr? ont to show their appreciation of the ii oort.ince of Cue event. The victory r; at tho battlo of King's Mountain reanim ted the drooping spirits of the patriots the country, who on the 17th January 171 achieved under Gen. Mnro.-tn anni) glorious victory at the battle of Cowpci This battlo was, in the language of t distinguished historial) Bancroft, t first chain of events that led to t surrender o? cornwallis and the succe ful termination of thc war for Americ Independence. It is proposed to co mem?rate the ccntenuial of this bat in an appropriate manner, and 1 President of the United States, 1 Governors, and citizens generally, of 1 old thirteen States have been invited co-operate. I hope you will give i matte." a favorable consideration. COMMISSIONERS AND MANAGERS ELECTION. According to law, it is the duty of Governor to appoitit commissioners election, "at least sixty days prior to ta such election." I submit that sc provision should bo made for tbe i pointment, in tho event the Gover should fail, refuse, or neglect to do duty in the promises. CODIFICATION OF THE LAWS. It is now difficult for a lawyer ascertain what the statute law of State is. Tho modo by which our li have been amended for many years j has had tho effect of almost puttinj out of the power of an uuprofessio person to find tho law in the books. ' Constitution requires a revision, dif and promulgation of our laws every years, and I recommend that it bc d ns soon as possible. CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. There are several changes which she be made in our organic law, but who' by amendments in the constitutif form, or by convention, is a questioi .?onie doubt. I am inclined to favor former method as the wisest. To elect our judges for life, or du good behavior, I consider ouo of tho best changes that could be made. With a pure, learned, and impartial judiciary, not subject to the whims aud caprices of popular elections, tht rights of person ?nd property, as well as the liberty, of the citizens aro safe. But when the high office becomes a re ward for eager partisanship, or the judge has io maiutain his zeal and devotion to party politics, that he may be ro clecfed, then are thc rights of tho peoplo in jeo pardy. I ask your attention to the report of tho secretary of Slate, In which is in cluded tho report of the land commission. Number of acres of land unsold, 66,371 ; total value, $157,076 04 ; balance of pur chase money $47,493 87. You will also find on your table a very full aud explanatory report from T)r. Lebby, who has charge ot tho 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. Tho Executive Mansion, I am inform ed, requires some repairs and improve ments, and I recommend that you appropriate for th.a 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, tho importance of doing something to check tho growing evils of whiskey drinking, and the carrying of concealed weapons. I believe it is gen erally conceded that strict prohibitory InwB have been unsucccsful, yet prudent aud wise legislation can do much goad. Public opiuion ought to enforce tho '*.w against giving or selling liquor to mi nors. And now, in closing this communica tion, permit mc to invoke the blessings of Divine Providenco upon all your delib erations, with tho hope that they may result in good to every citizen of the Commonwealth. TIIOS. II. JETER, Governor. MUNDER OF WILLIAM MADDOX. Abbeville J'rett and Banner. Conflicting reports in reference to tho killing of Mr. Will iain Maddox al his home, near Mnddor's mil', on the Salu da river, in this county, having reached the village, a representative ol tho Prent and Banner yesterday went to the Pcene of the bloody deed. Tho dwelling in which the deceased and his family lived is a log house, with a framed "shed room." The cracks be tween the log" composing tho 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 r? fireplace five or six feet in width, in which a blazing fire on thc cold morning wau 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 crudle, a few chairs, and Boraoother articen. Some two years ugo tho residence of Mr. Maddox, which stood between this house and the public road was turned by person or persons unknown to tbb deponent, and sinco that time tho kitchen nos been used ni a dwelling for tho deceased and family. Tho house has two outside doors: the front door opening towards tho public road, and the "spring door" opening on the opposite sido of tue house, and in the direction of the spring from which they used water. Ii! addition to theso doors there is a door to tho "shed room," looking towards tho public road. There is in the main part of tho house a "loft" room in w.tieb tho step son of the deceased slept, ani which was reached by means of a ladder male of a round polo split in two pieces, when cross-bars wore put from oueto tba other. Mr. Vermilliou lived in a much larger house about two hundred yards south east, Sarah Maddox, a colored woman, who onco belonged to Mr. Maddox, lived two hundred yards south-west of Mr. Vermilliou, and three hundred yards south of the dwelling of tho deceased. The lot, barn, stables, &c, are on tho op posite side of the road, all being within a few hundred yards of the twentieth milo post on the road leading from Abbe ville village, and known in that section as tho "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 his house, except n "hulton" to each with a screw through the centre, the mero turning of which oithor releases tho shutter or holds lt os the case may be. Tho doors not shutting closely could be opened about as easily from tho nuuido as tho inside of tho house. As a further evidence of his fancied safety in thc hon esty of his neighbors and tho protecting arm of the law to shield him from barm during tho silent watches of tba night, we woula mention tho fact that he had no lock on anything in tho house except on the top of an old chest, the hinge* of which being broken off tho lock was sub stituted for tbem. Between eight and nino o'clock Wed ? ne.-day night of last week, after Mr. Mud dox and nts family had gone to bed, a knock was beard at the door. Unexpect ing tho approach of any one with an evil Intent, without hesitating to ask who was here, he rose from his bod, and opened the door in rcsnonantothn knock Tb TOO men wero plainly visible in tho moon light. One of them said, as he walked into tho house, without being asked to come in : "We want you to let us stay all night with you. We aro wagoners selling whiskey. Our wagons aro stopped up tho road." Mr. H?ddox then said : ''I have no room to accommodate you. My house was bumed two years ago." Tho intruder then said : "If wo 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 tho unnatu ral voice of the stranger and his goneral behavior, and tho quick perception of a woman's instinct, Mrs. Maddox's fears were aroused, and abo began to call her son, a lad of twelve years of age who was sleeping up stairs. She endeavored to awaken Eira for ?be purpose of asiating Mr. Maddox in supplying the stranger's request for fire. But owing to the fact that he was a sound sleeper, be was not aroused until a little while later. To the ?tranger Mr. Maddox replied : "I ara very willing to accommodate you to fire. The fire is in coal?. Bring in a board of piece o. bark on which to carry it away." The intruder then stepped back into the yard for a second. Aa he returned Mr. Maddox waa stirring bia fire, with tho tongs, when thc intruder enid : "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 ! can change it for you ia the morning." By this lime Mr. Maddox bad gather ed in tho tongs as much fire aa ho could hold with them, and offering it to tho man he said : ! "Wo don't want fire. It'? your money i wo want. And wo intend to have it. ! sir." At this demand Mr. Maddox raised his ? tongs as if to strike the would-be rob ber. He gave back towards tho door, Mrs. Maddox jumped out of bed, ran through the donr into the "?died room," and out at ho fr ,nt door of that room, while Mr. Aiad 1 JX and bis assailants worein thrtc?f.it?ng attitude. As soon i._ Mr. Maddox had followed bia assailant to thc door, he WAS idiot und instantly killed, falling out of the door, clearing the step, which is a big rock, his head maLing au indentation itt the sand as it struck the ground. About this timo tho little son appeared on tho scene. As he ran out of the bouse ho saw "Unelo Billy" lying on the grund in front of thc door, and jumped ov-r him. Ho did not then know whether he was d?ad or was pinyin"; 'pcaum, as ho frequently had fallen down of late. After running to tho front gate in his fright he though thc would return and PCO if the old mnn was really dear'. Acting on this impulse he went back and turned bim over, and become con vinced that life was extinct. Tim de ponent did not understand what brought out thia expression but it ?B said that one of the gang said s- nettling like this : "If you don't behave yourself, we'll shoot yo' too." One of their number replied, "Un, no, he's a littlo boy. Wo musn't burt him." Meanwhile Mrs. Maddox was running towards the houses of Mr. Vermillion and Sarah Maddox crying "murder." "robbers," "they aro killing Cousin Billy." Sarah Maddox being ea sily waked was first to thc call, and came running with all the speed possible, meet ing Mrs. Maddox half-way. Mr. Vermill ion not knowing tho naturoof thcditliculty thought it better to bc a little deliberate in his movements. After putting on his shoes, arranging his toilet, ho had a colored man lo accompany him to tho house of the deceased where be arrived, he thinks not longer than twenty minutes after the murder. One of tho party is enid to have been posted in tho chimney corner guarding the "spring door," and the path leading from it for the purpose ol'shouting Mrs. Maddox should sho at tempt tu make her escapo, but it is thought she was not shot from thc fact that she ran out of the shed room dcor, in an unexpected direction. PILLAGING TIIL PREMISES. Immediately after Mr. Maddox was shot thc murderers entered the buuso, ran sacked a set of bureau drawers, in tho shed room and carried ofT a littlo trunk. This trunk was thc same which Mr. Mad dox rescued from thc names when bis dwelling was burning two years ago. He then carried it into the garden and told his wife to sit on it, and remember ing Mr. Maddox's words at tho fire, sumo are of tho opinion that they tb jught it well filled with coin. After they carried it lo tho plum thicket on tho sido of the cotlou field tb,'y opened it and found that it contained two dolls, a few rngs, aud a number of underclothing for little children. The murderers got no money, and as far as can be ascertained they rnrripij n way nothing at all. They toot the trunk from beside a chair on whick was piled somo quilts And clothing. Ai night the pocket book was put betweer the folds, where it remained undisturbed There is no truth in tho report that tb? murderers carried off Mr. Maddox's "lane papers." They were kept in the pim chest to which reference was made ai having a lock but no binges to its lid Just nero we would correct another re port. The murderers offered no furthc insult or ?ujurv to anybody in that sec tion. ON OUR ARRIVAL AT THU HOUSE wo modo enquiry for Mrs. Maddox, bu was informed that sho was at the res! dence of Mrs. Taylor, a mile and a bal distant up tho road, where she br.? livei ever ?ince the murder. Remaining 01 the plr-o for c -?bile we saw several pet sons .. .io knew moro or less of the Ba? affair, and thc pumping process was com .Ticnced at once. Wo may bo pardonei if wo refer to one of the colored womoi who Beemeed perfectly willing to tal! about the adair, and seemed sorry tba she could not tell more of it. Wo be lieve she expressed hersolf truthfully an without bias. In speaking of Mr. Mad dox, she apparently did not mean an disrespect by speaking of him as "Mac dox,'* without the usual prefix, and whe speaking of tho ladies who were presen or saw, or beard anything of the difficul ty, sho merely said "Susan," "Jane, "Ann Maria," os the case might be, witt out prefixing "Mrs." or "Miss" as is cu: ternary among polite people in thc mo refined society of somo sections of th country. AN IMPROBADLE BTOIIV. It is currently reported that two m groes now at large in that section of tb country attempted to steal a mule fro thc stable of Levi Shaw, a tenant of M William Latimer. The story goes th; ti colored man. about the complexion a ginger cake, togethor with a negro : black as anybody, went Monday mornir about nine or ten o'clock to Levi Wu son's stable' when his wife discovcr< them and wanted to know their businef They wanted a mule aud proposed take ;t by force. The mule kicked, tl woman decoyed them to the house. Tin she slipped away from them, bridled tl Balaam, rodo off in a hurry, ?kc, & Although ibis story seems to tic excee iij&ij Illili, Miera arc quito a cumber persons who believe it. We were to that about ono hundred men were search of thom. The community is a Rtfttf) aa to ho ready tn heliftvn ur-ur anything they may hear. THE OPINION ENTERTAINED BV SOM is, that the people of that section aro e tirely oft" the track as to the real pert tors of tho crime, and it may be tl reports aro put in circulation to div attention from tho culprits. There i circumstances which has lcd at least a f personB to havo an opinion total different from tho generally accept theory. Two years ago Mr. Maddo dwelling was burnt; thrco weeks bef< bis death, a new pasture gate which s arated his stock waa cut to pieces a totally destroyed ; last Wednesday nij tho murder was committed. It is i impossible for the same enemy to hi committed all these crimes. Mr. M doz was a man who lived almost entir to himself. Ho was a quiet and pee able citizen. Freo from gossip. Alw paid his debts, and in no way was ho aggressive man in the offensive sense the word. It is our opinion that a detective were sent there bo would a astonish tho natives. AKTER TUE MURDER, a well-worn wool hat, on which was c siderable cotton lint was found under body of the Mr. Maddox. In anol place, near the spot where the trunk recovered, a handkerchief waa found v eye boles and mouth hole, blac around tho holes with shoe black and strings attached for tho evident i poseoftieingaround the neck. A pier. pistol was found, which was carilec Mr. John Wilson at Henea Path, pronounced it a piece of a Smith & V son p'etol, of a larger size than ia ord it 1/ found in this ?action. * AT MKS. TAYLOK'S wo were met by the good lady herself who is the only sister of tho deceased, We wcro soon scated by ii comfortable lire, when wc informed her of the nature of our business. She then related the facts substanliallyas wo havo given them und ehe expressed and seemed to feel an anxiety to havo tue murderers of bet brother caught nnd brought to justice ; and inquire:) of us what officer usually offered thc reward in such cares. When we informed her that the Governor of the State would, uo doubt, oflbr a suitable reward as he was officially informed of the crime sho seemed greatly pleaded. In a little white Silts. MADDOX CAME OUT, bringing in her arms an infant less than a year old. Situ is at least thirty .years Mi. Maddox's junior, and by uo means an ill-favored lady. She appears to bear her affliction with thu nerve of a stout heart, nnd wns willing to imparl any in formation thnt she could. Thc fact is, however, that she was so badly fright ened thnt she was able to tell but little nf thc difficulty and thc killing. We were informed, though wo did lot hear Mrs. Maddox speak as to this point, that THE LITTLE '"HILDREN WERE EAST ASLEEP, during tho occurrence ; thal they lay in their beds alone, while thc mother went to Mr. Vermillion's house, and during thc time that the robbers were ransacking tho house. MU. MADDOX AND HIS ELDEST DAUGH TER slept in tho bed facing tho door, while Mrs. Maddox and the smaller children occupied thc bed before which tho door flintier opened and partially screened from her view tho various movements of the murderer. Mrs. Maddox was so much excited at thc timo of thc murder thnt she was unable to recollect whether Mr. Maddox and his murderer lind laid violent hands on each other, or whether Mr. Maddox had only raised tho tongs in a threatening manner, but she seemed to think that her husband did not strike his assailant. She was inclined to tho opin ion that it is possible that Mr. Maddox would not have been killed if ho had given up his money when tho demand was made upon him. "But," she ndded, "Mr. Maddox was not that kind of a man. Ile would defend his rights under any circumstances. Wo had very little money in lim house. It took neariy nii that ho had to pay his taxes. I am sor ry now that he didn't give them his money." THE LITTLE UOY SHOOTS. After tho murderers had accomplished their purpose, and had gone awoy{ the lad returned, got his gun and fired it off in tho air, in an aimless mannor. THE ALARM tvas given and a great number of thc neighbors came to the house in a few liours after the murder. The corpse was taken in tho house and cared for. QUARLING THE BRIDGE. In a very short limo after tho killing [tn armed guard was put at tho ui?c?ge to intercept any ono who might attempt lo pass. But no one came. SOMETHING Ol" WILLIAM MADDOX'S LIFE. iso was born within a milo of the spot where he was murdered, and had lived in that neighborhood all bis life. Ho was perhaps sixty-eight years of age. LIo lived a life of seclusion from society, and devoted his energies chiefly to the accumulation of wealth, and never mar ried until nevell or eight years ago, when he married his cousin, Mrs. Clara Brown, whose maiden name was Maddox. They have three children-tho youngest being ten months old. 1118 WEALTH. He died the owner of one of t? TC best mills on the river, and is said to have been the owner of two thousand or moro icres of the best land in that commuuity, tvhilo he had thousands of dollars nt in terest. THE WONDER TO US will be, if the murderers in this instance lo not set up and establish a plea of ;el( defence. Did not Maddox pursue iiis assailant? Did ho not lotrcat as he ired? Somo juries wo doubt would ?sad ly excuse a man for killing another in a :ase of self-defence Uko this. If our ju ries do not do their duty better and more fearlessly we shall soon soo this country ;oiug to thc bad. HIS ECCENTRICITIES. Although Mr. Maddox's wealth in mnount was equal to the richest in his ?immunity, yet the poorest tenant on bis place lind as many of the comforts of lifo is ho enjoyed. TRYINQTO LIVE THE LIFE OF A CHRIS TIAN. In his latter years he has striven with varying success to live in accordance cv i til tho requirements made of man by rds creator, aud some two or three years igo ho joined tho Baptist Church at Turkey Creek. For one who had lived io long without the restraints wnich the '.'hu re h nuts on man ho found tho Chris ian's life uo easy ono. lie was always i zv. trded as au honest man, nnd never railed, to pay every debt which ho mny lave contracted. AN ARREST. A negro mnn from tho neighborhood >f linnea Pctll. whoso namn wnhnvA (nr. gotten, was sent to Abbevillo jail two or direo days ago, charged with being one jf the murderers. Trial Justice Young, who committed him, thinks there is very 'little cviticr.ee ?gr.Ui?t linn. Cn our tnp ?.e saw ono of thc gentlemen who arrest ed him. Ho said it was in evidenca that thc negro was absent from home on the afternoon previous to tho killing, aud when he returned next day he had mud on his pantaloons. Aiken : Mrs. Ann Erglea was found dead in her boil on tho morning of tho 1th instant. She waa 88 years old.Mm. Elizabeth Howitt, an oldorly lady who was living alon", waa found by her neighbors lying dead on tho lloor of hor house, with ber clothes all burnt off ber body, and hor body horribly burned. Tho Edg??lold, Trenton and Aiken Rail road baa taken a new*start, and tho man agers havo gone to work on a business like basis. They havo engaged a compe tent and skillful engineer, Mr. C. R. Mo l land, to Whom they havo given tho su perintendence and general management of tho work.Tho county commission ers of Aikeu County havo adopted a plan for a now courthouse.Thora aro forty four Northum visitors registered at tho Aiken hotels. Abbeville: No political arrosta have yet been mado in Abbovillo.Tho Ma sonic I,odgc at Abbovillo ls rocolving nu merous accessions.The Duo weat people go to bod at 7 o'clock In tho even ing.A new postolllco baa been opened at Warrcnton and will havo a mail tbroo tiinea a week-Tuesdays and Saturdays. Capt. William il. Brooks is tho postmas ter.A haudscmo oravon portrait of tho lato Rev. Dr. Homphlll has boen pre sented to tho Euphonium Literary Society of Erskine College by Dr. O. P. Wonok. .On last Sabbath a dlinoulty occurred in town botw.~,n a printer anda carriage palntor and a duel was very seriously talked of, and tho solo reason why the parties did not rosort to tho "Acid of nonah" was tho religious scruples of ono of the parties to tight on Sabbath. Wild Oat?. Statistical science, that remoreeles? , prophet, reports that out of so many ba , bies dreaming on their mothers' breasts, ! there Ehall 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 etern-browed registrur records that this proportion of young men will honor themselves in their daily walk and con ? venation, and that will wander by do I vious paths to doubtful ends. Behold ? ing ",-wcet girl graduates" with unmel tirvg gnzp. the seer foretells that theso shall dwell in reputable peace, and those mako shipwreck of their lives. "Forewarned is fore-armed," says tb? old proverb. But while wo heed thc dan ger signal for our boys, we are apt to for get that our girls aro threatened. When n young fellow who has been amiable and correct begins to waste h?3 time and mon ey on questionable pleasures, to show au abnormal eagerness for excitement and chnnge, to find homo dull and his old amusements tedious, to start off vagabon dizing, "strange countries for to see," ?ve deal gently with him, if we pre wise. He ii "sowing his wild oats," v.e say. If the crop is harrowed with reproaches and watered with complaining tears, it is likely to provo a large and evil one. Wo help him with kindness and counsel, we give him all the freedom possible, we are wisely blind to much that hurts and humiliates us, we make homo the most delightful of resorts. And we do this becauso we recognize the fnct that a mor al crisis, a spiritual fovcr, is upon bim. Tho eager young blood cnn not longer temperately keep time, as ours, and mako os healthful music. Thero aro laws of physiology as domi nant as any law of morals. ,The adjust ment of tho human soul to its conditions is nicer and moro difficult than those fine mechanical adjustments which aro the wonders of tho age. Tho possibilities of lifo aro^ so vast, ho himself is BO little, tho leaping fluid in his veins is sa vital and insistent, that it is little wonder he goes wrong. Fortunately lhere arc 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 bis eager mind. Presently the fer mentation of youth subsides, and the clear wine of tnonh.oodi rinh and swnpt nnrj potent, remain. At an earlier age than boys feel it comes n kindred restlessness to girls. Some times it takes .bo shape of miid melan choly metrically expressed in composi tions, or, when it is of n serious nature "strikes io," like a bad form of measles. Sometimes it is Reen as a brazen aggres siveness, such ns young girls show in horse cars or other public places. Some times it is an utter dissatisfaction with till tbat their life knows, nn unspeakable I hunger for something other which to I their inozperionco, is of necessity bet ? ter. In school, occupation is likely to bo incessant, if not absorbing. But the average girl who leaves Behool behind her, leaves also all definite pinn; of era Kloyment, all fixed interest, all healthful nb its of industry. To ambitious girls full of imagination, energy, and unrecog nized aspirations, a life of dawdling ls is noteuongh. Visiting,dressing, fancy work, parlies, no more satisfy ardent Jane than tlio dull routine of shop, or count ing-room, or office, satisfies eager John. John betakes himself, if he can, on an erabas3ago to the Pigmies, or to fetch him a hair on 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 en trance into Wonderland for ber, and that is by tho gate of mar riage. She cuducs tho first man she meets with tho grace of Apollo, the wit of Mercury, tho courage of Mars. If father and mother forbid tho banns, abo will elopo with him if she can, or, fancy ing herself broken hearted, marry without love, any man to whom ber parents will givo her. Or, if tho man of nor choice is unobjectiomable. ?nd she weds bim with white favors and wedding boils, all the same may tho awakening come when she sees tho ?ss's cars and can no longer stick musk-roses in tho smooth, sleek hend. Often nnd often these early and ill-as Bortcd 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 Jauo ns we help ber brother to feel ber way through tho tumultuous troubles of youth. If she is un easy, vacillating, with a liking for Btrango company, full of adventure, reaching out for action, addicted to man nish employments, impatient of crochet and decorativo art, we draw ber lines e' osor, Instead of enlarging them. Where wo ehouid give the eager mind absorbing food for thought, the conscious body sufficient scope for action, wo stint the ono and hinder the other. Mothers can not too carefully study and cherish their young daughters at this critic?l spring-lime ot their lives. It is not an instinct for evil, it is "a wish that they hardly dare to own for^some thing bettor tu an tney nsvc ?.now ?1, which makes girls unmanageable, head strone, even "fast." And thny im?? ?. deeper claim than boys on tho 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 walter of a young lad, who, for the first time, accompanied his father to a public dinner. Uncertain what to say, and feeling sure he could not do wrong if bo followed his father's example, he replied, "I'll take what father takes." I Tho answer reached tho father's ear, and instantly the full responsibility ol his position flashed upon him. "Waiter, I'll take water." And from that day lc this strong drink bas been banished from that man's home. ONE EXPERIENCE FROM MANY.-"1 bad been sick and miserable so long and had caused my husband so much trouble and expense, no one seemed to know what ailed me, tbat I was completely disheartened and discouraged. In thu frame of mind I got a bottle of Hop Bit ters and used them unknown to my fam ily. I soon began tn improve and guned so fast tbat my husband and family thought it strange and unnatural, bul when I told them what had helped me, they said "Hurrah for Hop Bitters J long may they prosper, for they have made mother well nnd us happy."-The Mother.-Horne Journal._ - Cincinnati has a Matrimonial Ben efit Company that pays its members ? benefit upon marriages, as mutual insu rance companies do upon a member^ death. The Cincinnati bachelors pay ai initiation fee of $5 to thia concern ant an assessment of $1 whenever a merabe m-"calvin Phipps, of Bedford, Indiano drank a gallon of whiskey every day fo a mouth, and then died.