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VOLUME IX.-NUMBER 1360. CHARLESTON, MONDAY MORNING, MAY 2, 1870. SIX DOLLARS A YEAR. HE IRV LATEST. MDSIGHT DISPATCHES. THE METZ MTSTERT. TJ?? SMOKE OF TUE CONFLICT NOT YET LIFTED. WHAT PALIKAO TOLD THE CORPS LEGISLATIF. THE PRUSSIANS "CHECKED AND RETIRING." ADVICES F BO M STRASBOURG. &C., <SCC. latest fron? Paris. . PARIS, August 16. *The official confirmation of a great victory is Impatiently awaited. Large crowds are col? lected. Advices from Strasbourg state that the Prus? sians seem inclined to retire. Some shots had been exchanged. The people are determined to defend the place to extremity. In the Corps L?gislatif, to-day, Deputy Kel? ler said the troops had been fighting three days, and there was no news as to what had been done. The Corps could not think of any other matter. The meeting most be perma? nent tUl the Ministry report. Minister Pallkao said lt was not proposed to speak of the defeat th? Prussians are said to have sustained. He had no official dispatches j touching yesterday's events, bnt had news from reliable sources that the enemy were checked several times, and was retiring from Commercy. He was full of confidence, but could not give details. In a few days a much greater force would be-under Marshal Bazaine, the only and true commander-in-chief. Deputy Ferry said the Emperor's address to the people of Metz created a bad effect. The speaker was interrupted by cries of dis? approval, which drowned the speaker's voice. The Chambers then voted several laws for the prosecution of the war. . POLITICS IN THE STATE. Great Hally in Columbia-Speeches by Jutlgo Carpenter, General Easley, Jonas Byrd and others. ' ? {SPECIAL TELEGAM TO THE NEWS.*) COLUMBIA, Augus* 16. It is rumored that Treasurer Parker is to be sa?ruiced for party purposes, and he intends i writing a letter exposing the corruptions of the Scott Bing. Judge Carpenter,. General W. K. Easley, General Kershaw and Jonas Byrd spoke to twenty-five hundred people In Sydney Park to-day. Two-fifths of those present were colored. A brass band was in attendance. ; General Butler was absent, owing to sickness. Among those on the stand with the speakers were Alderman Holloway, of Charleston, Colo? nels Thomas and Pelham, Major Siebels, Rev. Father O'Connell, Rev. P. J. Shand, Generals Arthur and Taylor, and Colonel McMaster. Colonel McMaster presided and made a graceful Introductory address. Judge Carpenter then sp ok e. He denounced the Bing, and feared that the corruption would extend even Into the Judiciary. Heal } so denounced Orr's plan of joining the Radi? cals to reform them. He denounced the re. moval of Dr. Parker.^ He said that Purvis, the member from Loxing ten, wanted a place for Ensor, got lt, and Dr. Parker was re? moved to give Ensor an office. He asserted that, under the laws of the State, Scott had no right to accept militia companies ; and in do? ing so, and arming them, he and the adjutant general rendered themselves liable to indict? ment; and he called upon the attorney-gen? eral to do his duty and prosecute them. He sipd he was willing to meet Scott at any time, and let him commence and close the discus? sion. General Easley briefly alluded to the existing evils, and the interests ot the two races being ldectical, and of the necessity of the two work? ing together before the State would be pros? perous. . General Kershaw explained the principles of the movement, and depicted the horrible re? sult of the two races keeping up ttitk antag? onism. Jonas Byrd made a speech regarding the cause, and gave his reasons for joining lt, be? cause he believed it waa the only way to bene? fit both white and black alike. During the meeting, Colonel R. B. Elliott twice wanted to speak, but on being told that Scott would be allowed to discuss with Carpen? ter, and that this wa<a Beform meeting.,to present the claims of Beform, and not to dis? cuss questions with minor speakers, he ex? pressed himself satisfied, and when his colored friends attempted to disturb the meeting, ad? dressed them, beseeching them to be quiet and give the Reformers what the Radicals de? manded, the right of free speech. This quieted the crowd. The Fourth Congressional District. [SECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE .VE WS. ^ COLUMBIA. August 16. The Covention of the Fourth Congressional District unanimously nominated to-night Colo? nel J. J. McKisslck, ol Union, for Congress, i ?ff the counties were represented. Colonel McKlssick's disabilities have been removed. There was a large meeting to-night in front of the Colombia Hotel. Speeches were made by W. L. DePass, of Camden, and J. E. Bacon, of Edgefield. Elliott and Worthington have been invited, and are expected to speak yet. Ralney Nominated for Congress. [SPECIAL TE LE G KAM TO THE NEWS.] FLORENCE, S. C., August 16. The Republican Convention, in session here this evening, nominated J. H. Rainey for the unexpired term ol the Forty-first and for the Forty-second Congress. There was no oppo? sition, and the proceedings were harmonious. GOLD AFH JBOND MARKET. LONDON', AllgUSt IC. Consols 91A. Bonds 87j. NEW YORK, August 16. Money active owing to Increased ease in London. Gold generally quiet, opening at 16$, advancing to Iii. with large transac? tions at 17?, declining to 16?, but closing at 17?al74. Governments opened dull, with a slight advance; closed very dull; eighty oneB 14A; sixty-twos 12. Southerns generally quiet; April and October issue of South Caro? linas advanced, 75j bid, 77 asked; new 61. Vir? ginias 60; new 62. Louisianas 70; new 67; levee sixes 71$; eights 85J. Alabama eights S?fr?ves 71. Georgia sixes 83; sevens 89*. North Carolinas 52*; new 43|. South Carolinas 80;new 72*. THINGS IX COLUMBIA. Another Sirocco Cometh. [FROM OUR OTK CORRESPONDENT.] COLUMBIA, August 15. The effort of the Colombia correspondent of the Scott Bing organ to make capita] ont of the burial of Pleasant Goode is so feeble a thing-so pitiable a falsehood-that nobody would care to mention it were it not that its littleness shows to what etraitB they are re? duced. This correspondent stated that the Reform party had refused to pay for the coffin of Pleasant Goode. The coffin was ordered and paid for by private citizens; and the Re? form porty h a.i no more to do with it than the Scott Ring or the Rindolpb Monument com? mittee have. The fact that they resort to such] trickery as this invention, shows that they are in a condition when men catch at straws. The Reform movement has already made im? portant prJgreBS among the colored citizens of Richland County. This will appear at the pro pertime. But the uneasiness of the anti-Re form/rs appears in scores of ways. Certain stunning revelations about the land commission and hie Excellency's connections therewith is expected soon to be published by Treasurer Parker. Ex-Governor Orr's letter, which is to appear in to-morrow's Phcebix, is understood to be his bid for the United States Senate. Governor Orr does not seem to he awate that bis Ex? cellency has promised his influence for at least five othor men for the same place; among whom are understood to be Mackey, Moses and Cain, and two other negroes. COES.UK. WAR TOPICS. [From the Continental Correspondence of the English Newspapers.] The German Conscription. When I arrived early this morning at Ober lahnstein, that station was completely blocked up, and the large platform before it, viewed from my carriage window, was a curious and painful sight, its length, breadth and depth be? ing densely thronged with a living mass of true Prussian-blue "humanity. All "the male peasants of the old Nassau territory wear azure blouses, and all the females blue cotton gowns, more or less thickly constellated with white spots; and as there must have been at least a thousand of both sexes, closely wedged I together in expectation of the train that was to bear off the fighting.half of the assembly from its lamenting moiety, things looked very blue Indeed at Lahnsteln. There were the poor, square-faced, sunburnt fel? lows, trying with a ghastly gaiety to vindicate their manhood by roaring out staves of pa? triotic songs, each couplet supplemented by a chorus of sobs from the women and girls clinging around them. So few minutes lett, and so much to say before the parting that may be the last on earth ! So fer?, minutes, in? deed ! for, ere H'e started in the direction of Mayence. the train bound for Coblentz gilded swiftly into the station, already half full of "mobilized" men, who, having got over their partings, liad rallied their spirits, and were cheering, singing and waving their handker? chiefs as heartily as If their goal were not a battle-field, but a .wedding. Fine fellows, these, in physique and morale-broad-should? ered, sturdy, bronzed youths, ranging, I should think, from twenty to thirty years of age, and most of them already provided with some out? ward and visible sign of their military calling. As soon as their train stopped, the poor folks in the station began to kiss and embrace one another almost desperately; and I wish never, ta hear again a Bound Ufa .hat.. which reached me from that platform. It M'as ! all over in a minute; the men got away, some? how-I dare say they scarely themselves knew how-from mothers, wives, sweethearts and sisters, who were all thrust back to the Inner part ot the station; then half-a-dozen smart non-commissioned officers, one or two ot whom quite simply put their coat-sleeves up to their eyes as they stepped forward, came to the front and told the draft off into the car? riages; then the miserable women made a rush to the steps of the carriages, and-but I think I would rather not say anything more about the closing of this tragical scene, If you please. Thank Heaven ! our train moved out of the station before it was over-and I do not think there were many dry eves amongst the homeward bound tourists and nvalids of whom our freight consisted. All Germany Depopulated for the War. The Prussian system is, as you know, un? sparing of persons. Let me give you ah In? stance, out of the many that have come under my notice, of the grim impartiality with which lt lays hold of every class. Many of your read? ers will remember the tall, good-looking and courteous proprietor of the Hotel du Nord, In Cologne-a prosperous, wealthy man. quite a personage In Rhineland, an excellent linguist, and the head of a large commercial enterprise, which he has hitherto successfully managed in person. On Saturday last he consigned eight of his best carriage horses to the army ser? vice; and on Monday he himself was drafted into a cuirassier regiment Here is a man taken away from the conduct of his own Interests and from his family, compelled to sacrifice his substance, and to risk his life on t>;c battle-field. Of course his case is not one whit more deplorable than that oi the humblest peasant, snatched from his Sem or his vineyard; both jeopardize their existence for the Fatherland; but the former, outside that grand equalizing stake, suffers actually a greater material loss than the lattor, even taking into accortcl their relative positions. In the towns many of the shops ore being shut up; for their occupants are obliged to assume needle-gun and helmet, and there ls nobody to keep the business going. The hotels are be? coming forlorn of walters-a deprivation that Is mitigated in its severity by the fact that but few guests are left to require the minis? tration ot those obliging polyglottists. The exodus ot ""foreigners "from Germany during the past week has been something astonish . lng. Having occasion to go over to Homburg this evening, I found that essentially Biitisn settlement in the way of becoming a'howling wilderness. A week ago, so the last of the Mohicans Informed me, you could hardly struggle through the crowd on the lower ter? races during music time; the glass gallery was in a chronic state of "More chairs," and the plav-tables unapproachable under an hour's elbowing. Now. the "gay and glittering" throng" ls composed of about half-a-dozen faithful Russians, as many English, three or four tenacious Americans, anon hundred or two of the miserable natives, making hollow pretence of enjoying themselves, an? rlsKlng a double florin twice a day to "keep up ap Eearances." The glory ol * Homburg-on-the [elghts bas departed, scarcely to return this year. King William in Berlin. In an hour or so we were in Berlin, and emerged Into streets filled with men In plnin clothes proceeding In some sort of military or? der, with small escorts of soldiery, to the rail? way station. Many of these Wore decora? tions-medals, ribbons and crosses-which spoke of service In Schleswig-Holstein and in Bohemia. They were sober, orderly men quiet, unexcited, and perhaps all the more anxious to fight hard to end the campaign, be? cause they liad been called away so suddenly from hearth and home-men mostly of 25 and upwards, several in each band belonging ap? parently to the well-to-do bourgeoise, or better class of artisans. Large cavalcades of horses, in better spirits, were led off in fours in the same direction. Detachments of troops were passing all day, down the Lime-tree-walk, and at 2 o'clock the King drove through the streets to the station in a Russian drosky, and was re? ceived with uncovered heads and a buzzing sort of suppressed cheer as he passed. He "looked every inch a King," plumed and helmeted in strijetest soldier tunic-a real monarch of the dajs when kin^ led subjects to battle. Whit a Arie old head ? ad front it is. The stamp ol' imperator is tLere already, and it would not surprise one very much to learn that In an hour of stress that old man, with his piercing blue eye and open brow, and tine lip curved under his massive white moustache, would cut the Cordlan knot ofa constitution with a swill, sure sword. Certainly he ls not the sort of man one would like to worry coram populo in a watering place. And then he has a faith; "he believes" and he Is sure that He in whom he believes has placed h'.s cause beyond the reach of human harm. CONFUSED REPORTS. BOTH SIDES STILE CLAIX A VIC? TORY AT XETZ. STRASBOURG NOT INVESTED. BITSCHE STILL. HOLDIXG OUT. A STRANGE STORY FROM TOTTL. NO AUSTRIAN MEDIATION. Reports from Washington. WASHINGTON, August 16. There is nothing official regarding battles. Prom the Seat of War. VERDUN, August 16-6 A. M. There is no news lrom Metz. Nothing has occurred to-day. All day yesterday cannon was heard between Metz and Verdun. Persons from that direction say that a gr??t battle was fought, and the Prussians lost more than four thousand, and were completely de? feated yesterday morning twenty-eight kilo? metres from the fortifications ol Verdun. The enemy had been seen directing his retreat to the south. Signed : Prefect of Verdnn. Though transmitted by authority of the gov? ernment, we have not been able to verify it, and it Is given to the public under reserve by the Minister ol'the Interior. The Bishop of Luxembourg and several clergymen have gone to Metz to comfort the dying. Reports from London. LONDON, August 16. Two hundred Uhlans appeared before Toul. Shots were exchanged, and the Prussians de? manded the surrender of the town. Receiving a defiant refusal, they retired. Strasbourg is not invested. The French still occupy Bitsche. It is again asserted that the Prussians hold Mulhaus and Besancon. Extracts from the French official bulletins state that the Prussians are not In force before Strasbourg, and Bitsche still holds out. The bridges at Teigerheim and Basle were destroyed by the enemy. Pruse!an dispatches to the Prussian Minister here are full of triumphs, and express the greatest confidence in the early result of the war. English experiment? with thc mitrailleur Indicate that they are destructive at close quarters, but troops holding them may be an? nihilated before they come in range. The Times sympathizes strongly with Prus? sia, and rejoices in Prussia's successes. Reports from Purls. PAMS, August 16. The Prelect of the Meuse telegraphs to the Minister of the Interior that Uhlans were seen in the neighborhood of Commerc.v, marching towards Bar Le Due. The prefect cut the rail? ways in that section to impede the progress of the enemy. The French Journals complain ol the brevity ol the dispatches from the sent of war. Even -the Constitutione^ semi-official, says the In? formation ls not precise regarding the posi? tion of either army. The Journal .Officiel declares Cherbourg, Brest, L'Orient and Rochfort in a state of siege. The French left two dispatch boats in the Tiber on evacuating Rome. No Austrian Sediatton. VIENVA, August 16. Baron Von Beust denies any. attempt on his part to mediate between Frar ce and Prussia. The Storming of Metz hut Conti rmed. WASUINGI ON, August 10. The State Department lias nv dispatches re? garding the storming of Metz. The Battle at Metz-Prussia n Account. BERLE*, Aug'lSt 16. j The following additional particulars of the fight were received late last night: "Late on Monday afternoon the fir;! and seventh army corps vigorously attacked ihe French forces under the walls of Metz. A san? guinary conflict ensued. The French were finally driven within the city. The French loss is four thousand. On the same day a grand rc connoissance, led by King William, maintained itself for some hours within two lines* of the French defences, from which, without effort, a part of the French were dislodged. The lacts show the utter demoralization of the French." Another Version. LONDON, August 16. The Daily News (sensational; has a dispatch from the Continent that the French have driven the entire Prussian linc. The Telegraph has an editorial arguiug Prussian disasters. The Times' money article says a French victory is necessary to predispose the Emperor to treat for peace. The Telegraph's Paris correspondent writes that the French Chambers are unworthy of public respect. Were the members not elect? ed by fraud and coercion they might be trust? ed as a committee of public safety. The Prince Imperial is certainly in Paris. Blockading Operations. The British Consul at Hamburg telegraphs that the mouths of the rivers Elbe, Eyder, Jahde and Weser are blockaded by the French fleet. The Governor of the Island ol' Heliga lanrl has refused to grant a pilot permission to conduct a flag of truce boat to Cuxhaven. King William's Proclamation. The King of Prussia has issued a proclama? tion at St. Avoid, in which he declares mili? tary conscription abolished In all French ter? ritory occupied by German troops. He also announces that though the French Govern? ment should persist in the forcible expulsion of Germans from France, no measures of re? taliation will be adopted by him, as it would be unfair to punish men who belong to a coun? try cursed with a Bonaparte for its sovereign. He adds, "Frenchmen in Germany need not be uneasy. They shall, in common with all mankind, be c . lnced that Germany moves at the head of civilization."' Awaiting the Issue. LONDON, August 16. The Saturday Review refrains from specula? tion on the war, because, it says, a few days must determine the fate of France and the Emperor. Probably the army will take mat? ters in its own hands, choose a leader, and fight eut the war. Too Quick on the Trigger. PARIS, August 16. Count Palikao has Issued an address to the troops, in which he blames them for firing too quick at Weissenburg. He says they used more ammunition in one day than the Prus? sians would in three days. The marshal re? minds the soldiers that they are now on a grand line ol defence from Thloaville to Metz and Nancy, and they muse hold their ground. Back of that is the line of the Meuse, thoa the Argones, then the line of rivers illustrated hy? the campaign of 1814, and behind all this is Paris, and behind Paris ia all France, with 400,000 armed men and one thousand millions of treasure. Thc French "Stay Lu.? .?. The text of the decree voted yesterday by the Corps L?gislatif has boen to-day officially promulgated. It is as follows : 1st. The tims allowed to make protests and all acts with regard to appeal concerning all commercial papers negotiated bifore the pro? mulgation of this law is extended from-one month to forty-five days. Paymeut shall not be reqairod ot endorsers or other parties in? terested duriDg said time. Interest thereon will be due after maturity up to the time of pavmeut. 2d. No law suit shall be carried on against citizens called upon to render military service durine the war in virtue of article second of the law of August ll. 1870, or against the members of the Garde M jbile at present serving under the flag. Trouble lit a New Spot. Algeria is declared in a state of siege. [ This probably means that the hostile Arabs have taken advantage of the war and the consequen t withdrawal of a portion of the Frenoh troop? from Algeria to renew hostilities.] Switzerland Trrnqnll. BERNE, August 16. The Swiss Corps or Observation is disbande d. The German Army or Invasion Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men Grand Concentration of the French. , The following special dispatch, received from Paris on Friday night by the Courrier das Etats Unis, the French journal of New York, gives a clear view of tbe military Situa? tion of Franco, aa seen by the people of Paris at that time.' ' t News from the" army is now awaited with anxiety; tje d:c,isive moment draws near. Tbe iniurmation obtained by the War Depart? ment shows that Prussia is concentrating a great army of invasion, consisting of seveu hundred and fifty thousand men, between Cologne and B istadt. lt is certainly ascer? tained that there aie no longer mora than two bnodrcd aud fifty thousand men in Alsiee and Lorraine. rhe leaders ol the French array are miking preparations to resist this tide of iuvaderu. More than tour huudred thousand men will be brought together between the VoBges and the Moselle within two days. Tbe bulk of tbe army remains concentrated around aleiz, where the first detachments of the corps of McMahon, and of that of Do Fuilly, arrived yesterday. The re? treat of these corps has been effected in very g lod order. Tho partial abandonment or Alsace by our troops gives rise to lively anxiety for the fare of Strasbourg. Tue city is well supplied with war materials, food aud ammunition, but the very limited numbers of tho garrison excite fears lout they cannot bold it long. Ooe of tbe first efforts ot the new minieter of war has been t" remedy the defects in supplies, which occasioned tbe demoraliz dion of our troops. Immense convoys of provisions havo been bent to tho field. Ii ere the situation is much the s-me; there is less tumult and moro r?solution. In ail classeB of society there is an irresistible cur? rent towards the frontier. For example. M. Duruy, formerly a cabinet minister, aaa M. Paul dc Cassagna-c, tho belligerent editor of the Paya, have enlisted, the former in the re? serve, the latter iu a regiment of zouaves. Paris is transforme i into a citadel, tho ar? mament of the fortifications is completed; five thousand marino artillerymen arrived thia morning from Cherbourg. There ie serious thou h not thrcitcuio? agitation at Marseil? les, Toulouse and Lyon9. THE WAH OF 1870. (From the Saturday Review.] ; Much reproach has been cast upon military \ critics for not forecasting truly tho results of ! the last two great wars. Ev j n now men freely i Bay that it is useless to anticipate the events of the coming Btrugtile, ?lace in 1862. as iu 1866, the most able predictions were just those that events falsified the most completely. We were told, it ia rem.irked, by experts in the former year that the North would certainly be beaten; two years later we saw the North completely triumphant. We were told four year? since, by those supposed to know beet, that Prussia had no chance against Austria, that the lm Cerial aimies would emerge from Bohemia in a old offensivo, and that the untried levies ol the Hohenzollern would prove altogether un? able to stop the way to Berlin. Exactly tho contrary of these events occurred. The AUB (rains weie uuable to get ready in time to take the offensive; they proved equally unable to meet the Prussians in fair fight; the Pr us gian armies, and not the Austrian, dictated peace before tbe enemy's gates'. From these two examples it has not unnaturally been de? duced th.it the opening of a great war finds the most uninformed and the mest skilful writers on a level as regards knowledge of the future, aud that tbe only retuge trom filling into error is lo reserve all commentary until the close. Are not the premises somewhat insufficient for the conclusion ? Is it really thc case that although sixty-five years since, before the cam? paign of Jena^ it was possible for a theorist at Pans to point to tho spot ot Ueimin soil where the battle which was to decide tho tate of Prus? sia should be fought, and for Wellington dur? ing the peace of 1814 to indicate the impor? tance or Waterloo in the defence of Belgium, matters are now so c'aaogei that the whole progress of any futute war must be inscrutable from first to last ? These questions may be best answered by a very brief examination of the causes whieb set at naught all attempts to prophesy the course of tho American aud Bo? hemian campaigns, and by seeing how far these apply to the present crisis. The American war is now understood by all j well-mtormed Englishmen to havo been far 1 more au affair of politics than of mere soldier? ship. No honest Northern writer disputes tbe genius which the chief Southern comm indera showed, or the valor of their troops. Tho Unionist historians chronicle fairly enough the tremendous "flefeats which their invading armies at first' endured, and the teaacity of re? sistance which Lee and Johnston showed to the last, when their iofeiionty threw them en? tirely on the defeuaive. But neither genius nor valor displayed on a single front could avail against the preDonderating force which the Unionists c?ul. exert when once fairly roused. Tbe ill-fated counter-invasions at? tempted by Jefferson Davis's orders were just sufficiently alarming to waken thoroughly the seutiment which is called ambition or patriot? ism, according to the feelings with which it is viewed, whilst made without sufficient force to carrv out any design of conquest. The splen? did obstinacy which the Jniouists thenceforth displayed, anti the daring policy which made use of the public feeling to gather overwhelm ir g forces by sea and laud on every vulnerable point of the Confederacy, did tbe rest. The South succumbed, fairly overborne by her gi? gantic enemv, her means of resistance (the feebleness of which was at tho first skilfully cr.ncealel) being quite inadequate to supporc tbe repeated shocks which the resources of lue North heaped upon ber. The victory was emi? nently a political one, and the result was :ts surtc?from the moment the greater power be? gan unreservedly to put forth ita strength. No military skill could long avail against such odds when the raw material of the contending forc.-s waa so essentiully similar in fibre. Aa tue Austro-Frussian cauipaigu, the chief facts kuown were that both parties had very large armies, the one inexpt-rir-nced but fresh? ly reorganized for war and armed with a new weapon, the other proved in action but weight? ed by tbe leadeu governmeut of a narrow coieric. Tho improved otgauizatton" of tue Prussians bad not been stjdied. The effects of their breech-loader were-as thevrown print? ed tactical instructions show-misdoubted by their authorities, and appreciated by none but a few far-sighted officers who liad served in Schleswig. Had we learnt that m rapid aim iDg they had secured the advantage, had (iabicuz's warning to the Emperor been made known tnat troops armed with the muzzle loader had no fair chance against tbe needle gun, predictions would have oeeu as freely launched in favor of tue Prussians as they un? doubtedly were agaiust them. Jomini, in the laal paper that ever iaaued from his fertile pen. attributed the rum of the Austrians to three distinct diaudvautages-^n numbers, weapoue and strategy. The loa -of these was neces? sarily a doubtful element. As to tho first, the full superiority of tue new Prussian system waa altogether unknown save to those who bad created it, whilst the otner was roally a very grand experiment, which had not beon fairly tried. In short, the value of all such forecasts de penda not only upon the powers of thc diviner, but on the accuracy ot bis knowledge. To Uko the famous inscacco of 1806, before ad? verted to, it is only possible tbat such marvel? lous accuracy as foretold the battle of Jena could b9 attained when great intuitive skill was favored by practical knowledge of the con? ditions. Joanei had boen studying Napoleon's career with the highest critical iuterest. and bad served with the Grand Army in ita late brilliant advance to the Danube. He was therefore peculiarly acquainted with the in? strument, and with the genius of him who wielded it, whilst be bad, both as an historian and a French staff officer, become aware that the Prussian army was not only inferior in numbers, bnt antiquated io its habits. The process of reasoning by wbich he drew his famous conclusions may be fairly traced some? what as follows : "N ipoleon will certainly fol? low his bent and take the offensive. As Anstiia is closed to him by the late treaty, he must attack Prase!* either from Bavaria or the Rhine. Hu' his army is just now gathered in Bavaria on its way back from Vienna, and he will never waste limo in goiog all round to get upon the Rhine again. Therefore Northern Bavaria will certainly be bis immediate base no doubt the line of the Upper Main, where he is screened by mountains, and bas the Upper Danube plains at his back to supply him. Here then he will collect, fronting naturally due nortn. The Prussians know nothing of war sines 1793, and will infallibly follow the old system and spread out their lesser army fronting hts. and facing the south, with their left pointing towards Berlin. Supposing this actually happens, it is quite as easy for the Emperor to fall upon their left as on their cat?te or right, with thia advantage, that if they stop to concentrate, he will concentrate too, and have bis superior force between them and Berlin, ao that a single defeat will ruin them. This is what can hardly escape ao brilliant a genius as his. Now I observe that the roads rrom tbej Upper Main into Saxonv ron well forward through a piece of Bavarian territory which projects northward towards Hof, and is of course a convenience in euch a cage. Though difficult, this end of the Th?r? ingen Forest is not mountainous; sud as there are several highways, two or three dava' march will bring tbe bulk of the French through it. Whilst tbe columns converge to unite in the lower ground or Saxony, the Prussians, discovering tbat thoy are beintr turned and outflinked to the east of their line, will draw in towards their own left to meet the enemy. The deep valley o? the Upper Saale, ol great importance in former Genna u wars, divides the east eud ot the Thuringian country from thc rest, and will naturally separate the two armies. The passages of the Upper Saal o all converge about Jena. It is pretty certaiu, therefore, that tbc Prussians, unless much wiser than I take them to be, will have to tight for these paas'ages, and there is therefore fair reasou to foretell that a g.eat battle, on whioh tbe fate of the kingdom is to depend, will be fought iu tho neighborhood of Jena." Such we may suppose to have been the train of thought which led to a prediction, by a then obscure writer, which has mide his name more noted th "in the most elaborate of all his books. But matters are not in 1870 as in 18G6. A hundred Jomiuid, if (bey were to meet in council at the Tuileries thia week, could Dot possibly foresee tho resultant ot the tremen? dous forces about to bo brought into collis? ion. No one knows exactly the avui'able armies which may bo gathereJ by a certain time. Thc French boast that they can nut 350.000 men on thc Rhine in a few days. Very possibly; but thc Germans ean certainly as? semble 300.030 men by corps d'ann?e ia a fort? night. 1'be French declare the Chaseepot a better weapon than tbe Z?ndnadelgewehr. Very possibly; but tno Prusian gun has stcod the brunt of war, and nears the prestige of tho moat rapidly successful campaign on record. Thc French put faith in their uew mitroi'leura; all recent experience teuds to loasen expecta? tion of great r. fulta from complicated firms of light artillery. The (french believe that the Prussians have lost the practice of one sort of tactics, and not fixed on anything to take its place. The Prussian writer? allege that, with any shortcomings, their new system ia far in advance of tboae of other natiouB in its adap? tation to the breechloader. The French poiot to the strategy that gave them Magenta, aod the tactics that won Solferino. The Prussians say tbat the one was lost by the pa 1 terii g in? competency of the Austrian, staff, the other by the meddling of Francis Joseph with matters fur beyond his grasp. Tue French ore proud of the ac ive intelligence of their democratic rink and tile and their self-made officers and generals. The Prussians hare faith in theil' patient sturdy soldiers, and the high profes? sional spirit' wbioh animates their officers from the Ring's son down to the youngest ensign. Out of all the war of words and con? troversies on theory this truth rises clearly up, tbat no man can at this moment pretend to fathom the probabilities, since no man bas the knowledge which would make his judgment worth the having. The most important cle? ment of all in an equal war is the power of the leader. In this case each has been tried in but one campaign, and each against an adver? sary whose blunders prepared defeat. Tbe military aspect of the war is in fact as un? certain as itB effect upon the politics of Eu? rope. With the views we have anuoanced, it will not be expected that we should attempt to forecast the events now near at band. It will be our endeavor rather from week to week to sum up the facta, and analyze or apply them only as far as moans permit. The bellige? rents aro resolved io keep the world thorough? ly io the dirk. Happily this is hardly possible, and we will do our best to pierce the cloud, not looking lo the political side of the question, nor pointing out whether Freucli ambition or Prussian aggrandizement is the more sinful. For seven long years Count Bismarck has steadily and successfully pursued a policy which bas, step by step, brought his country into a m:re leading position. Step by step he baa roused the jealousy of bis neigh bora. At last Prussia finds herself rated as the first military power in Europe. Bat that position has lou g been claimed by another; and no homilies, nor chanters on political economy, nor declarations on the rights of mau and solidarity of the peoples, can avail to put off the Inng-prepariug contest, which bas sprung from causes no nearer their fmal extinction tbau when Borne made war upon Carthage. This said in exposition of our purpose, we shall keep henceforward to our task of chroni? cling and explaining events which must inter? est deeply even those who deprecite them most NETTS FROM WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, August 16. Thc steamer Powhattan lias boen ordered to be got ready for sea. Admiral Gleason has been ordered to send an American man-of-war up the Elbe and Weser to protect American in? terests, but to observe the strict rules of blockade. A delegation iroru North Carolina is here to confer with the leading Republicans regarding the disaster in that State. They will visit Kelly, ol' Pennsylvania, and Butler, of Massa? chusetts. Congressional Printer Clapp has placed a woman at the case. A defect in thc law prevents thc payment of Southern revenue officers who could not take the iron-clad. THE CAUSE OF CUBA. Kmr WEST, August IC. General Ryan, who left Cuba August 6th, says that at present the Cubans feel confident o? their speedy independence and the curly termination of the struggle. THE S AXION AL LABOR UNION. CTN-C1NXATI. AugUSt IC. The National Labor Convention admitted Samuel Flarey to a seat. Ou a motion to ad? mit John M. Laugston, colored, a stormy time followed. He was finally admitted, three or four ladies voting aye. An acquaintance of the Nows took a trip over in the Fork the other day, and reports the crops to bc lu a remarkably fine condition, the cotton especially. The same gentleman rode over Mr. Vf. h. W. Riley's plantation, at his request, and declares he never saw a bet? ter prospect; that Mr. B. has seventeen acres of cotton planted, and a great portion of it is live aud six feet high. [Orangeburg Hews, THE REFORM CANVASS. ar ASS ainETJjfo AT x,j.uitExrs c. ar. The militia-Do they Mean Fight:-The Leaders of thc Militia-General Butler and the K. K. K.-Specimen Radicals. [FROM OUR OWN C0RRE3r0NDENT.] LAURENS C. H., August 13. THE LAURENS RAILROAD. Testerday morning our party left Columbia for Newberry C. H., where we expected to take a train on the Laurens Railroad for this place. But as there is only a trl-weekly train on that road, we were fortunately deprived of the privilege ol a ride over it. It ls true, that Mr. Joseph Crews, who is properly believed to be the owner of the road, offered us a hand? car, which wc declined with thanks, and when we saw the road we were glad that we had done so, and more than one of us suspected that Joseph must have had designs upon our limbs when he made his proffer. However, we concluded to go to Laurens Courthouse by private convey? ance, and left Newberry at 12 M. After a ride of sixteen miles, we arrived at Martin's Depot, where we were met by Dr. Wright, in charge of two conveyances, sent by the committee of arrangements from Laurens Courthouse. In these we made the remaining sixteen miles, arriving at the courthouse at 8 P. M. Our route was alongside of the Laurens Railroad. For the first sixteen miles the ties were rot? ten, and sunk into the ground, the rails Jagged, and many only fastened with four nails, two at each end. The weight of the trains passing over the rails had made them lay tolerably close to the ties, and as these were at various heights, the track presented a wave-like appearance. Within a few miles of the Courthouse the road Is laid with T-lron rails; but the road-bed ls no better than on the other portion of the track. Some of the trestles are very high, and in a dangerous condition. Frequently the tmins nm off-oh, no, crawl off the track-but very few persons have been hurt. At a meeting of | the stockholders, held at Newberry yesterday, Major J. M. Baxter was elected assignee of the road. The people of this section ol' the coun? try are very anxious for the road to be put in order. The majority prefer traveling by pri? vate conveyance to going over the road in itu present condition. TUE .MILITIA. There is quite a large force of colored mltl tia in this county. They are well armed, but poorly drilled. They are under the control ol' Joseph Crews and Y. J. P. Owens, the former member of the House, and the latter State sen? ator; but more ol' them hereafter. Under the advices ol' their leaders, the militia have com? mitted a number of outrages, but none so out? rageous as firing Into the Town of Clinton about two weeks ago. On our route we passed through Clinton and saw the marks of the bul? lets on the houses and through the windows. They had been drilling without interrup? tion during the day, and when the drill was over marched to the top of a hill, about two hundred yards from the centre ol' the village, and without warning fired, thus endangering, the lives of the Inhabitants, who were on the street and in the houses. The leaders of the militia advised thc colored people not to at? tend the Reform meeting held to-day, telling them that it was a plot to get them together, quarrel with and shoot them. During the duy two companies of militia were drilled on the edge of town, and in the evening, one company under charge of Thomas Howerton, paraded through the streets. A number of colored men who joined the militia became disgusted, and will possibly withdraw from their com? panies. They state that when Invited to join they were told that as soon as they signed their names, they would be furnished with arms, uniforms and regular army r?lions and pay, but that they have only received their arms, and have been prevented from working by the constant drilling which they have to undergo. Several of the colored men are highly indignant that the colored people should be armed by Governor Scott and weapons re? fused the white men. "DO THEY MEAN FIG UT F The action of the militia In this county,has had the effect of creating considerable un? easiness in the minds of the white people, who apprehend that they Intend creating a dis? turbance. The whites, of course, have no fear of the result of any disturbance, but desire that there should be harmony, and will bear much to prevent a breach of the peace. Last week a citizen met one of tho, militia on the road, and thinking to have a Jest, said; "Have yon heard of the tight nt the courthouse be? tween the militia nud the white people ? The militia commenced the fight, and were whipped, but many on both sides were killed and wounded;" to which the militiaman re 6lied that he had not heard of the fight, and e was surprised that it had commenced so soon, as he understood that it wa3 not to com? mence until the 30th of August. TUE LEADERS OF TUE MILITIA, As we have stated, Joe Crews and Y. J. P. Owens are the leaders of the militia in this county, and the fomentera of all disturbances. When we state that Owens was a deserter from the Confederate army, we say enough to make him stink in the nostrils of all honest men. Besides this damning record, he has been engaged in numerous dirty tricks, which seem to come natural to Scott's minions. As a senator, he voted as he was told, not having sense enough to know how to cast his vote. Joe Crews is a shrewd, cunning; man, and, it ls generally believed, does all of the dirty work for the Scott Ring. According to popular be? lief, he and State Treasurer Parker were in partnership during the last session of the Leg? islature. When the members would go to Par? ker for their pay, he would tell them there was no money In the Treasury. Parker would then give1 the money to Crews, who would lend it to the members at the rate of twelve per cent, a month, they giving him warrants on the Treasury as security. As we are in? formed by citizens, Joe was not in the Confed? erate army, but lie hired a substitute, and gave hlB note to the wife of the substitute. The sub? stitute was killed, and the widow still holds Joseph's note. Of Howerton, who led the militia this afternoon, there is little tq say be? yond the fact that while a member of Compa? ny D, First South Carolina Regiment, station? ed at Battery Marshall, on Sullivan's Island, he was publicly flogged on his naked back for stealing watches, and that he spent a number ol days strapped to a gun for cowardice, and .pure cussedness" generally. TUE MEETING TO-DAY. At ll o'clock to-day. in a grove at the upper edge of the village, Judge Carpenter, General Butler and Hie Hon. W. D. Simpson addressed a crowd of over two thousand persons, In? cluding about three hundred colored people. The brass band ol the village was In atten? dance, anil discoursed some excellent music. On the stand were Colonel li. W. Ball, Hon. W. H. Simpson, Hon. H. C. Voting. Rev. Mr. Robinson. It. P. Todd. Esq., ihe candidates ol' the Reform party, and oih-r?. Alter a fervent prayer by Rev. Mr. Robin? son, Colonel Ball said*the people had metro listen lo ibo speeches of the distinguished .Alzens cf South Carolina, who were put for? ward us the standard bearers of the Union Re irm imriy, which was not In antagonism to accomplish tacts of the present, but In the In teresl ot i he luture. The Reform party looked lo thu hereafter and the defeat of the great evils ol'the State government which embar? rassed both the white and black alike. But the Reform party above all had for its object the removing ol' the prejudices existing be? tween the white and colored people; to close the gulf which had been created by the ene? mies of South Carolina, and bring the two races together, and drive out ol office the men who had taken advantage of the existing pre? judices and preyed upon both white and black. GENERAL BOTLHH AND TOE KI7-KLUX. After a graceful Introduction by Colonel Ball. General Butler made a stirring speech,addrcss lng liimsell mainly to the colored people. He thoroughly convinced them that the Scoit Ring, Instead of being their friends, were their worst enemies. In alluding to the charges made against him, the General said that during his campaign he had deemed it his duty to make certain specific charges against Governor Scott; he had made them deliberately, and expected to produce specifications and proofs; but pend? ing these specifications and proofs, a third party, said he, intervenes and makes certain charges against me. Who this third party ls, I do not know, but I will say en passant, tor Ms consolation, that if his charges against me? are true, and I am the monster he makes me; have murdered as many colored people as he pretends; have committed the crimes which he lays to my door, Governor Scott is a very dere? lict Governor, else he would have had me ar? rested by his constabulary, tried, convicted, sentenced and hung. If they are not true, the - author of them is simply a liar. Which hom of the dilemma will Governor Scott select ? But my charges are made against Governor Scott. Why does he not answer them ? His responsibility to the people of South Carolina Is ten-fold greater than mine; my fight is against him. Will he meet me on the stump, before the good people of the State, and reply" to them ? Will he meet me ia the public prints ? I challenge him. and have no Idea of allowing him to make his fight by proxy, either on the stump or through the press. But he will not meet me; he does not think the people worthy to be addressed, and he sends his minions to address the people and circu? late lies about the good people of South Caro? lina. As regards the Ku-Klux. I do not believe there is one in the State; if there ls one, I do not know of It; and I believe that they exist only In the fevered mind of this picket-line Governor. He knows that the murders he has charged upon the Ku-Klux are on his own shoulders, and that he Instigated them or con? nived at them for political effect. T. J. P. OWENS SEVERELY HANDLED-. In referring to the leaders of the Radicals who were doing Incalculable mischief to the colored people, the General spoke of Joseph Crews and Y. J. P. Owens. The latter, ne said, had purchased for $30 a claim of a school? teacher against the State amounting to $70. He had then put the figure 1 in front of the 70, thus making the claim $170, and had attempt? ed to collect that amount from the State, bot the school teacher, hearing of it, had exposed the swindle. After thus exposing the swind? ler Owens, the General proceeded to show the people how the educational matters were con? ducted by the "Ring." He mentioned that two thirds of the educational fund was ex? hausted In salaries, and asserted that few. if any, persons conducting schools for the color? ed* people, outside of the courthouses, were, paid. SPECIMEN RADICALS. Judge Carpenter followed General' Butler^ and spoke at length of the corruption of the Scott Bing, and gave brief sketches of some of the men wno composed it. He told how H?ge first wanted ali of the negroes confined in a ten acre lot, where he could play upon them willi artillery until the last one was killed; had then used them to elevate him into office;, alterward called them brutes for not renomi? nating him, and endeavored to get into the Reform party, ana now was promised the United States Senate by Scott-the twenty sixth one he had promised. Ol" Wallace, the Judge said that he was the only man he had ever heard of who had attempted to sell the free colored men Into slavery. Whlttemore, said he, was kicked out of Congress twice, and not caring to risk being kicked our. the third time, had been promised by Governor ? Scott the office of State senator from Darling? ton County. These men, said the Judge, are the men who, with Scott, Xeagle, Parker and others, are engaged In plundering the State ol South Carolina and disgracing her citizens. ANOTHER CORBIN. It is a notorious fact that outside of a few men (five-sixth white) who live about the county seat, no one ls appointed to office by Governor Scott. These men constitute a small Ring inside of the Scott Ring, and receive all of the offices and emoluments distributed from the larger ring, and some of them hold three offices. At this place there Is a white man. t named Freeman who is county auditor, school commissioner, census taker, Ac. Judge Car? penter called the attention of thc colored peo? ple to the above fact, and asked them why the Governor gave all of the offices to a few men, mostly white, about the courthouse, and gave none to the co.'ored people in the county ? A colored man n the audience replied, ..Be? cause the colored people ain't competent." What, said the Judge, the colored people are not competent ? I know better than that There are many more competent to hold office than Freeman, Crews and Owens. PU tell you the reason Scott does not appoint you colored people in the county to office. He knows that j-ou are too honest; that you will not aid and abet him and his horde in their nefarious transactions. He prefers to have the court? house Jting. GENERAL J. B. KERSHAW. In concluding his speech the Judge said he knew that a great many in the audience were disappointed in not seeing and hearing the gallant, distinguished soldier and patriotic cit? izen, under whom many of the audience had served during the war, and whom they lov? ingly called "Old Joe." [Cheers.] But he was unable to be present. He had labored' earnestly and effectively in the cause ol the Union Reform movement until lie broke him? self down, and then went home to/rest and and pray for the success of the movement which was so dear to bis heart. He will come back again. He prays before he fights; and all of us know that a man who does that ls an ugly customer to handle, and when he again returns to the stump you may look for some telling blows for Reform. [Enthusiastic ap? plause.] At the conclusion of the Judge's speech,. Colonel W. D. Simpson, who was elected to Congress, but was not allowed to take his seat, made a long speech In support ot the movement, and predicted the most successful results. LOYAL LEAGUES AND GOVERNOR SOOTH The meeting to-day was one of, If not the{. most successiul we have yet had, and its effect most gratifying, especially with the colored people. After the meeting the loyal leaguers had a session, when several colored men arose . and announced their Intention ot leaving the league forever, and then left. They state that they were advised not to leave, and their lives were threatened if they did. One of the arguments, according to their statement, used by one of the speakers to keep them In the league and prevent others from leaving, was that if they remained in the league and worked for Scott, he would pardon them out of the penitentiary if they committed a crime and - were sent there. LAURENS COURTHOUSE is a village of about eight hundred Inhabitants, with two hotels, several fine stores and dwell? ings. The courthouse building is the most im? posing building of the kind In the State. It ls far superior to the county courthouse in Charleston. The whites here and in the county will all vote for Carpenter and Butler, as will also a large number of colored men. In the - county there ls a majority ol about two hun? dred colored men; but at the last election, when there was a fair test, several hundred colored men voted with the white people and defeated the Radical ticket. A Row tn the Radical Camp. NEWBERRY C. H., August 14. On Saturday last the colored people had a grand picnic at Jalappa, about seven miles from here, on the Laurens Railroad. About one thousand colored and about six white people were present. These white men had circulated a report that the white people in? tended to break up the picnic, and induced the negroes to bring their arms. During the pic? nic politics were discussed, and the crowd divided on some local issues, and commenced quarrelling. While thus engaged, a colored man accidentally shot an opponent, dangerous? ly in the thigh. The friends of the wounded man opened fire upon the man who had Inflict? ed the injury; his Irlends returned the fire. This was kept op for a few seconds, and both sides left the field hurriedly. No one was kill? ed, but a few were mortally-scared. FLEMING'S WORM CONFECTIONS, . (SANTONlA'E.) 4 They are purely vegetable, safe and sure. Thc best in nae. For sale oy Dr. H. BAER, So. 131 Meeting street, oe ts Wholesale Agent