University of South Carolina Libraries
VOLUME X.-NUMBER 1465. CHARLESTON, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER I, 1870. S?X DOLLARS A YKAH. THE STATE CAPITAL. JUDGE VERNON AT THE BAR. A Postponement Until To-day-The Senate Hangs Fire-Death of Slr. ? Wright. V [SPECIAL TELEGi.Aii TO THE NEWS.] Ww COLUMBIA. December 19 Wp Mr. Thomas J. Mackey arrived in town this evening. He says that he has Bowens first wife m Washington to testify against that unfortunate Congressman, av! that she can prove that the name of the judge attached to thedlvorce papers was forged. [This is a rather improbable story. Ed. SEWS.] W. A. Wright, the proprietor of Nickerson's Ho? tel, and a prominent citizen, died this morning. The argument in the Dabney-Morgan case was begun this moraine; In the Supreme Court. It took ail day to read the. papers. The case wm last aU the week. The special committee appointed to report on facts mentioned m Judge Vernon's reply to the resolutions of contempt, presented the affidavits to-day and were discharged. Judge Vernon ap? peared before the bar of the House and asked for further time, and he was allowee till one o'clock to-n^Tow. In the House, the bia repeating the act prohib? iting the peddling of ardent spirits was killed. Notice was given of the following bills : By , Ford, to compel the erection of school-houses at j St. James Goose Creek. By Smith, to establish a farm for the poor at Charleston. By Anden, to authorize the land commissioner to purchase cer tain lands in Charleston County. By Smart, to provide for the appointment o? stenographers for the circuit courts. By Reedish, to amend the criminal law by abolishing trespass on un? ity fenced lands, and by punishing persons Tor decoying away indentured apprentices. By Briggs, a bill to amend an act to pro? tect laborers. By Cain, empowering the militia of Abbeville to keep peace and order In that county. The committee on public lands reported on a bul to provide.for the purchase of certain lands on Edisto and Wadmilaw Islands. In the Senate a communication wa3 received from the State treasurer, in which he lays the burne of the non-payment of teachers' claims upon?tbe state auditor. " A resolution offered by Arnim, referring the . House message relating to the impeachment of Judge Vernon to a committee of five, was adopted. * AEEAIRS IN CLARENDON. [FROM OCJt OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MANNING, S. C., December 15. Nothing has transpired here recently, worthy the attention of your readers. Times are dull; planters are rather depressed, owiog to the depre? ciation in thc price of cotton," heavy obligations having been contracted by many In the purchase or frazers, when they looked forward to good prices for cotton. . A small building, recently occupied by negroes, the property of Mr. Galluchat or this place, was burned down on yesterday morning about half past three o'clock. It ls conjectured that it was j_ the work of an Incendiary, a3 the building was unoccupied. I understand the premises were in? sured. Very cold weather. FRANZ. CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. WASHINGTON, December 19. *. In the Senate a House bill regulating the classification of duties on sngar by striking out y the words 'Taw or Muscovado" from the act of . last session, was briefly considered. Mr. vickers said that a large sugar dealer in ^altimore object? ed to the bli'., and lt lies over until to-morrow. A bill was Introduced to admit Colorado a3 a state. The bill to Indemnify J. Milton Best, of Padua ah, Ky., a Union man, for the destruction, of his dwel? ling daring the battle at that place in lsot, was debated upon general .questions of policy. With? out action the Senate adjourned. In the House, McKenzie Introduced a bill for the appointment of a commission to Investigate the claims of Southern loyalists. The Judiciary committee agreed to report the Senate bill for '.".ie reli f of purchasers of lands sold under the direct tax acts in the South. The military committee disagrees to the Ser-ate bill extending the time for the redaction of the army. Among the bills Introduced and referred wore a bill to regulate the compensations in contested elections; a biU to prevent corruption In Congres? sional ejections; a bul to enforce the right of citi? zens* to vote in the several States; a bill to au? thorize one cent postal cards; a bill to put tea . and coffee on the free list; a bUl to provide that accounts and claims disputed by thc proper . treasury officers shall not be opened except by law, and limiting the time for the presentation of claims and accounts; a btu making the issues of gold bank notes receivable for customs. -? WASHING??N GOSSIP* . "WASHINGTON, December 19. The Haytien minister lias written to Fish dir wowing any indention to criticise the Presi? dent's message. It is telegraphed hencejthat Pleasanton favors a uniform 25 cent tax on tobacco, and a doUar tax on whiskey, in which measure he will have the President's and Boutwel's support. The Union Pacific Railroad Company owes the government* nearly $3,000,000 accrued interest, which Akerman decides must bc paid now. - A majority of the financial committees of both houses oppose the repeal of the Income tax. Drake took the iron-clad oath as judge of the Court of Claims-the only court which exacts this oath. The agricultural report estimates the cotton crop at 3,500,000 bales. There was a heavy northeast storm at Fortress Monroe to-day._ _ THE ERIE STRIKERS. NEW YORK, December 19. Several hundred brakesmen on the Erie RaUroi? have struck, alleging that lt ls simply impossible to sustain life cn less than two dollars a day. The strikers carried away the coupling pms atHornetsvllle. Hundreds cf freight cars are blocked,, and the stock In th? can arc dying. Matters we're SD threatening yesterday that the sheriff swore In as deputies half the male popula? tion or Hornctsvuie, and subsequently called out a regiment or militia. The passenger trains are unmolested. *_ SAN DOMINGO. . NEW Yor.E, December 19. Advices fron San Domlogo tc the 9th an? nounce that the Dnited States vessels are safe after the recent gales. Cabres insurrection, back ed by Haytl, was assuming a formidable charac? ter. _ VIRGINIA NEWS. _k RICHMOND, December 19. The steamer Olive Branch passed through Dutch Gap Canal to day with a long tow, being the first vessel that has passed since thc cana! was cleaied out by the great flood. Governor Lctcher-"Honest John"-ls seriously ill with pneumonia. The United States steamer Nipslc, Lieutenant Bryson Wilson commander, has arrived at Nor? folk. The Nipslc ls attached to the Darien sur? veying expedition, and will sail for Key Wes* to monw. _ -Places of shelter have been erected on the ramparts of Paris, at shorn intervals, for the NaHonal Ouards on duty. These places have fires, and are protected overhead by a sloping roof of iron bars, strong enough to resist the .'all of a shell. 1 THE IMPEACHMENT. THE BEPZT OE JUDGE VZEXON. A Plain Statement and Logical Con? clusion. Judge Vernon has submitted the following answer in the matter of the resolutions of the House of Representatives charging him with con? tempt: I have been summoned to appear berore the House of Representatives of tue State of South Carolina, upon a resolution of that botiy to show cause, if any I have, why an attachment ior con? tempt of the orders of the House should not at once issue against me, in thia: "That on yester dav a resolution, by the plain terms of which the Hon. T. 0. P. Vernon, judge of the Seventh Judi? cial Circuit, was impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors, and, as appears from the report of the' sergeant-at-arms, the legally constituted messenger and agent of thc house, a written com? munication from the honorable the speaker of the House was delivered (at the hour of seven? teen minutes to 3 P. M. yesterday) Into, the hands of the said Judge Vernon by the sergeant-at-arms, which said communica? tion contained a certified copy or the said resolution passed by the House, whereby the said Judge Vernon was impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors, and which said communica? tion also called thc attention of the said Judge Vernon to section 1. article 7, of the constitution of the State, wherein it ii provided that a vote of Impeachment by the House of Representatives shall operate as a suspension from office ot the officer impeached, until judgmeut shall Have been ob alned in the case, and it ls generally and posi? tively known that after the receipt or the comrau I nication aforesaid, by the said Judge Vernon, and ' [after he had publicly rend the same, and made himself acquainted with the contents thereor, he, thc said Judge Vernon, continued to exercise and did exercise the functions of judge, in open and flagrant disobedience to the orders of the House; and, farther, the said Judge Vernon did in public declare that he cared naught for the mandate and order of the House, which the said communica? tion conveyed to him," for answer thereto and for cause, 1, T. O. P. Vernon, Judge, as aforesaid, respectfully show that neither by word nor by act have I held in contempt the order and man? date of the House of Representatives. ? The facts are briefly thesa: Certain persons, citizens of Laurens County, in this State, held in custody by the sheriir ol Richland County, sued out before me writs of habeas corpus, and I was actually sitting as a judge In the said cases lu the courthouse lu the city or Columbia, when a reso? lution of the House of Representatives was hand? ed to me. I do not now remember thc hour, nor do I now remember whether 1 had then signed the order for the discharge of the prisoners upon ball when the resolution was handed tome by a per? son who, I suppose, was the sergeant-at arms of the House. I do not now remember what words I used on the occasion or subsequently. 1 am sure I did not use the words "I cared naught for the mandate .and order of the House." My recoilect.on is, that nelthor then, nor subsequently, did I use these words. If the words were used, and were contemptuous, they were not used in ibo presence ot the House, and, therefort, they do not render mc amenable to an attachment for contempt. I am very sure I dkLsay at the time that the resolution was served upon me, and perhaps subsequently, that I did no: regard the resolution of the House as a sus? pension from office, or words to that effect. I do not admit that I "continued to execute the func? tion of Judge" after the service of the resolution. If, In point of fact, and or time, I did sign the order for bail after the service, h. was not "in open and flagrant disobedience of the order of the House." Such was not my purpose at the time. The Intention of resisting the action of the House In this mode and manner did not then, nor has lt since, influenced my conduct. I be? lieve then, and believe r. JW. that I was In the discharge of my duty In hearing .the cases on habeas corpus; that this could be construed into a contempt of the "mandate and order of the House" did not, for a moment, occur to my mind. Th? ab? sence or such Intention will. I think, be apparent from my written communication to thc House in response to the resolution, which communication bears date the 14th instant. I am quite wining to assume the responsibility of my wrtoie action in the premises, but I am not willing that that should be tortured into a contempt, which was not intended as a contempt in point of fact, and was not a contempt lu point of law. The ques Hon arises, Did the resolution of'the House of Representatives, served upon me, operate as a suspension from office? I hold that lt did not. A mere resolution of the House to impeach a public officer ls not an impeachment* lt ls a mere resolve to do .a thing which has not been done. In section 1, article 7, of thc constitution, lt ls provided that the House shall have the power of Impeachment, a vote of two-thirds shall be re? quired, "and any officer impeached shall thereby be suspended from office until Judgment In the case shall have been pronounced." A two-thirds vote ts necessary to a resolution to impeach, but the officer ls "thereby suspended" by what? Not by the vote on the resolution to impeach, but by the impeachment itself. Now, what is an im? peachment ? Mr. Justice Storv will answer the ques?on. Taking that authority for a guide, "au impeachment may be defined to be a written ac? cusation by tile House of Reprasensatlves to the Senate against an officer." The written ac? cusation ls called articles of impeachment. Until this written accusation ls made to the Senate there is no impeachment. In this con? nection. Section 13, Article 1. of the Constitution of South Carolina provides aiat "no-person shall be held to auswer for any crime or offence until the same is fully, fairly, plalulv, substantially and formally described to him." The impeachment commences with the presentment/A>?t tue House to the Senate. What is the mode of proceeding? When a person who may ba legally impeached has been guilty, or is supposed to have been guilty, of some malversation In offic?, a resolution ls genera ly brought forward by a member of thc House of Representatives, either to accuse the party or for a committee of Inquiry. If the com? mittee report adversely to the party, they give a statement of the charges, and recommend that he be impeached. When the rosolutjjk ls adopted by the House, a commlttte ls appos? ed to impeach the party at the bar of 1*2 Sedate, and to state that; the arti--;. ^ peachment against him will be exhibited In (lac time and made good before the Senate, and to deraanu that the Senate take order for the ap? pearance of the party to answer to thc impeach? ment. The House then agrees to the articles of lmncachment, and they are presented to the Sen? ate by a committee appointed by the House to prosecute the impeachment. The Senate then Is? sues process summoning the party to appear nt a given day before them to answer to th-: articles. The process is served by the sergeant-^.-arms of the seriate. This Ls the impeachment in accord? ance with section 13. article l of the Constitution of this State, directing that the offence be fully, fairly, plainly, substantially and formally de? scribed, and at this point comes Into operation eectioa 1 of article ? of the constitution, directing that ? anv officer impeached shall thereby be sus? pended from office," io. None of these things 'lave yet been done, and I shall submit myself to chem when they are done. As a judge in South Carolina, it surely can be no contempt to the House of Representatives that I stand upon my constitutional rights. The whole ?roceeding in impeachment ls derived from the Ugllsh law. What is the proceeding there 1 The course pnrsned is a vote, in the House of Com? mons, ordering articles of impeachment upon such probable cause as might be conslU-red by lt suf? ficient. Tims far the proceeding is altogether ex parte. It has been well expressed by another :. "The accused party was neither summoned nor heard, and the House satisfied itself as to the pro? priety of the proceeding, either by taking ex parte testimony before a committee, or In any other way which was deemed advisable. Upon tiie vote being decided in favor of impeachment, arti? cles were drawn up setting forth particulars, and these were sent up to the House of Lords, under certain managers appointed from their own body, by the House of Commons; at this point or the proceedings the accused was mad* a party for the Tir?t time, aud the matter Uieu assumed the form of a cause to be tried upon proof and rte lenee. b;fore the Lords as Judge-:. The ni use of Commons were virtually the grand jury and pros? ecutors, and the House of Lords united in Itself the functions of the court and petit jury to try the cause." So fur, by this well expresse I rule, every thing against me has beeu ex parl?- the proceed? ings tims far have been to make an accusation worked into which ultimately is to bc the form of a cause-ia other words, the proceedings thus f jr have beeu to make preparation for an impeach? ment, which hereafter ls to become an impeach? ment in fact. Mr. Justice Story describes impeach? ment as a kind of bill of indictment found by the Common* and tried by the Lords. Measured, then, by the rule of a common law Indictment, I would ask, what is an indictment? It is denned in the book$ to be "a written accusation or one or more pc: sons, of a crime or misdemeanor, presented to ai.d preferred upon oath or affirmation by a grand jury .'?gally convoked." ir, then, the House of Repr?sentatives stan-is as lt were on the place of the grand Jury, until tue anieles of Impeachment arc- presented, how can a mere resolution of the House io Un peach stand in th* place of this presentment io the Senate; and until there be a presentment to the Senate, how can there be an Impeachment; and until there be an impeachment, how can there be, under the constitution, a suspension rrom office; and until there be a suspension from office, how can an officer, under the constitution, be ordered by the House of Representatives to cease from ex? ercising tho functions of his office; and if he con? tinue exercising the functions of his office, how eau he be said to bc in open and flagrant con? tempt or the Honseof Representatives!1 in saying, then, at the time when the resolution of the House was served upon me, or at any time sub? sequently, that I did not regard lt, and In letting fo ball the prisoners who were before me on fiasco* corpus, whether the order was signed, be fore or after the resolution or the House was served upon me, there could, in the very, nature of things, be no contempt. L No contempt to the House of Representatives was Intended. 2. There wns no contempt to the House of Rep? resentatives by writ or act. 3. There was no contempt to thc House of Rep? resentatives In contemplation or law. _ _ . _ T. O. P. VERNON. THE USUET LAW BILL. {From the Abbeville Prese-.] We see that Mr. Wilkes, of Anderson, has introduced into the Legislature a bill to repeal the act ot 1866, which repealed the old usury laws or the State. The bill is now in the hands of the commit tee of ways and means lu the House, and will meet, lt Is said, as we think lt deserves, very stroni'opposition; the attempt*to exempt money from the operation or the general laws or trade nnd to subject lt to any other law than that or supply nnd demand, must prove futile. "The worth of a thing ls what it wilt bring," and In this respect how does money? differ rrom any other commodity, or what equity is there In the at? tempt by legislative enactment to force a man to take seven per cent, for that which ls worth twelve ? The attempt is fruitless, and all mercan? tile experience shows that no usury law can be rici Hy enforced. Even ir practicable, the only effect would be to divert capital to sections where trade is unfettered, and the lender ls free to re? ceive thc price which his capital commands lh thc market. Is lt to be supposed the capitalists herc will be so patriotic and accommodating as to lend their money at seven per cent, when they can gc: twelve In out sister States of the South ? Even lu Georgia, where the nsury law ls In full operation, money commands thirteen per cent. seven per cent. Interest, and one-half per cent, per month in tho way of commissions. Every sound raison seem.3 to oppose the repeal or the law of I860, and we trust that the bill of Mr. Wilkes will bc defeated. EAST LIFE ON FIFTH AVENUE. Hollow Show and Gilded Misery-Thc Dazzling Marriages of thc Ton-Dia? monds and Remorse. . A New York correspondent of the Troy Tlme9 draws a vivid picture of fashionable life in New York. He says: It ls an old saying that all ls not gold that glit? ters, and the history or the Firth avenue wm prove that the golden hue of luxury ls generally little moro than a deceptive show. If you live in this fashionable spot yon must pay either $75,000 foaa house (perhaps $100,000.) or you must give an equivalent rent. Think of $8000 rent to begin is ith. You cannot furnish this house at a less ex? pense than $10,000, and if pictures and statuary be introduced, you may treble that figure. To this is to be added your carriage and span of matched j horses, worth $5000.at least. Then look over your pay roll or servants. Here is the coachman, who with his family lives In a finished room over your stable. He must have $Soa per year, and will have it, even ir he be obliged to rob the oat bln lu order to meet a deficiency. Next is the foot? man, who on public drives Is perched on the rear of t,'ie carriage and wears the same uniform as the driver. He must have $31 per mouth and' board. Add to these the cook at $16 per month, chambermaid at$lo per mouth, and nurse (for the children mast not be neglected) at $12 per month. The housekeeper cass the Hst, for a fash? ionable lady would as soon take care of her chil? dren or do any other unbecoming work as attend to housekeeping duties, and no housekeeper can be got for less than $30 per month. I have only put down a half-dozen servants, which ls a mod? erate number; but when we consider that each of these may be a thief, it ls as many as you really need; and ir you can meet the expenses and I he peculation which your establishment involves, you must have an Income of $25,000 at least. HOW TO KESP HP AN INCOME. Notwithstanding the immense financial re? sources of this dry, lt ls admitted that to Keep up a regular Income ls a matter of no small difficul? ty. Business here Is subject to incessant vicissi? tudes. Our social and commercial strata are vol? canic, and sudden convulsions are constantly oc? curring. A man must be Indeed fortunate who can hold his own year arter year. A collapse like that of the Pacific Mall Company strikes out the-support of many a princely house. Men here orten become sudtienly Insolvent, but the dis? bursements continue. The pressure of these Fifth avenue families often becomes fearful. The credit system prevails hare extensively, and as a conse queuce there ls au Incessant "dunning" carried on. The professional collector ls on his rounds, and knows how to inflict his presence at the most annoying hours or the day. Then comes the ap? peal to tue money-lender, whose loana require a chattel mortgage. The struggle to maintain ap? pearances may be prolonged, but at last comes thc grand finale-an explosion amid which the nnlncky family sinks out of sight of its former friends, and at lrftt Ands bottom in some lower stratum. To these exigencies are to be ascribed the frequent defalcations in banks, insurance com? panies, and similar Institutions. GRAPES OF RANK. It will be found that alter social ambition hos been gratified by reaching thc dist inc: lou ora Fifth avenue establishment, there ls still a vast unrest. High Ute has Its peculiar grades, and the Firth avenue ls anything bnt a level. ' The man who hires a house there is not on a par with one who owns his dwelling, and he, by the same rule, ls not equal with the one who ls admitted to bc or higher wealth. There is a perpetual criticism and a looking down on one's neighbors because they are poorer, or a looking up to them because they arc richer, and there ls also a perpetual effort to reach the highest rank, at least lu a social ii not a financial way. Hence lt is not to be lmagiucd that social and domestic lire here ls like love In a cottage, or like the happy valley or Rasselas. A LOOK INSIDE. It may be inquired whether there he ranch or what Ls called domestic lire in the Fifth A -enuc My reply ls decidedly unfavorable. There are some exceptions to be round In the old-fashioned class or such people as James Brown, Robert L. srncrt, .ind a row families who are not. only pos? sessed of great wealth, but also of what is of more value-good principles. Domestic haopi ness cannot coexist with that artificial life which prevails herc, and which ls productive of so much misery. Indeed, the splendid misery, as it is sometimes called, or this ramona street, would, if written, mi a volume. SPECIAL INSTANCES. ? Having a'.luded generally to the misery insepa? rable from high lire, let mo now give a special in? stance. Here ls a lady whose position is no doubt envied t>v hundreds of her acquaintances who only look at the outside. She has a carriage and all rhe accompaniments or metropolitan grandeur, besides which she can wear on proper occasions 510,000 worth ol diamonds. She is m ir ried to a heartless and abusive man, who is allured by other T?male attractions which absorb lils t'me and his money. As a consequence he treats his wife with harshness which is breaking her heart, bat which she conceals rrom thcSworld out or re? gard Tor appearances, I might designate another establishment of elegant chaiacter, whose owner ls reputed to be worth a half million of dollars. Thc family arc very showy and keep up an expeusive equipage. The rather ls a retired merchant, and has a control? ling Interest in a great banking house which once was wealthy,.but he has sunk most o' its capital lu stock operations. He ls livras at his nsual rate or ?20,000 per year, and yet he knows that his frauds may be discovered at almost any time. He has been for several years on the verge or ruin, but he will keep up appearances ror the family's sake as inner; as possible, and then when the col? lapse shnll come, laudanum or thc pistol will be a last resort. The question often arises, how long can this deception be continued ?and the reply is, that it depends on good management and gootl luck, ir uo sudden pressure takes place, ir. may be protracted several years; but a panic or any sudden change in affairs will a: once bring it to light. riTTU ATENOS GUZZLING. If wine-drinking can make people happy, the Fifth avenue should be. In a state of extreme beat? itude: for notwithstanding the high prices occa? sioned by thc war, thc mos: costly brarffla here Jin I a rapid market. If any one will stop of a pleasant afternoon at ?my or the first class groce? ry establishments in Broadway, he may wi!ness the delightful-rusk of liquor tasting performed by little kuots of the aristocracy, who stop in to leave orders. In all families, whether or the highest or less repute, we find wine a staple, and the way lt w drank would excite the admiration of all tee? totallers. Hardly a grocer's cart backs up to a house, hu: you" see the champagne basket, After dinner thc wine circulates and is daly praised, fer it is of good American manufac? ture. The only man in the secret ia thc follow who comos rons 1 every week :o buy the empty bottles. He takes them down to thc bottling house, whei'c tbey are filled, aud in due time they are rot urned with rre3h brands and silver topa". lt seems absurd 'hat the wine-drinking commu? nity Should bc Ignorant of this, wheo almost op? posite the Academy of Music th- re is a large ware? house devoted to this branch or trade. Herc* one may behold vast quantities of second-hand bot? tles received dally. . There ls no necessity o' pene? trating the mysteries or this place, for they irre not beyond the power of good guessing. The transformai iou or Jersey cider ant petroleum iu to Heidsieck and Vau ve Cliquot is so rapid and marvellous that lt ls a wonder ilia: lt is not reckoned among the tine arts. WHAT BECOMES OP THEM. It ls said that lire in the Fifth avenue is con? stantly changing, and that when a rresh pareenu comes in somebody must be going out. The qucs lonmay naturally arise, what becomes of these decaying gentry, and the reply ls that they generally go to ruin unless their course be delay? ed by the patronage or friends. The children of our once richest families have been round dwell? ing in tenement houses, and sometimes at a still lower depth. I know that a son of one of our first-class families died some time ago in the alms? house of this etty. Luxury proverbially exhausts that capacity and efficiency which are necessary in tue cattle of ure. ALL QUIET LN PARIS. THE PARISIANS ACCEPT TBE SITUATION, Evacuation of Amiens-The Imperial Crown-Rnssla.and Reform-Italy and thc Pope. BORDEAUX, December is. The Prussians, leaving the valley ot Cher ana concentrating on Loire, attacked General Chansey and were again repulsed. Nearly a thousand Kabyle horsemen have been landed at Toulon, and will Join the French army. The Mobiles who .went to Algeria to replace regu? lars, are to return to France, and will be replaced by national guards. LONDON, December 18. The Germans have evacuated Amiens, retreat? ing towards Clermont, which is halfway between Amiens and Paris. The capture of Ham le re? ported. Twenty thousand Germans have passed Channey. General Fardherbe advanced beyond Amiens. The Bishop of Luxembourg thanks the King of Holland for his cheering language de? nouncing the transfer of the Duchy to Prussia. LONDON, December 19. The bombardment of Paris is considered liable to begin at any moment, as the Prussian supplies and amnnltlon have been fully recruited. The St. Petersburg correspondent who furnish? ed foreign papers with a synopsis or Grant's let? ter to the Czar concerning a Joint mediation be? tween France and Prussia, has been banished to Alooetz. The letter was considered private, and the publication of it a personal insult to the Czar. KENIGSBURO, December 17. Five French frigates have been sighted off-Pil lan, twenty-flvo miles from this city. There Is alarm in some quarters, but it ls generally be? lieved the preparations to meet the enemy are ample. FLORENCE, December 18. A bill introduced into the Italian Parliament, guaranteeing the Papal prerogatives and perfect freedom of rho Oeumenical Council, has passed through a committee. BERLIN, December 18. Four times thc amount required for the new loan has oeen subscribed. Russiav reply to Prussia's note regarding Lux? embourg says the K'ng of Holland must disprove the charges brought against the Duchy, or give guarantees that the obligations or neutrality shall uot be violated again. If, however, the charges alleged are proved, Prussia is Justified in annex-, lng Luxembourg. Thc French were driven from Vendome yester day. LONDON, December 17. The French gunboats are cruising between Cherbourg and Havre. No fleet has appeared. The journals to-day, referring to the triumph of the peace party in the cabinet, say the govern? ment has signed English abdication as a great power. * . FLORENCE, December 18. Thc King sails Monday. CATONA, SICILY, December 17. The steamer Psyche, or the British eclipse expe? dition, has foundered. Her crew and Instruments were saved. BORDEAUX, December 17. The Prussians did not attack General Chansey yesterday. Chancey has received heavy rein-, forcements. It ls understood that the generals commanding the armies of tho Loire have con? certed a plan for a simultane?is forward move? ment, all having been largely reinforced. The Germans are retreating all alon? the valley of the Loire. The chi.rge against General Cole, com? mandant of T urs, is .iat he left behind guns and other war material, when no enemy was near the city. The French in the north have gained fresh advantages. Havre will be defended to the last. NIGHT BISPATCBE8. Paris Provisioned-Thc Czar apon Re? form-A Likely Story from Bordeaux. LONDON, December 19. News has been received from Paris that provi? sions are plentiful and will last three months. Great com!dence ls felt in friture successes. * A large open air meeting was held lu Trafalgar Square, London, to-day, when resolutions sympa? thizing with Franco were adopted. The Germans have invested Laugrea. Desert? ers from Paris are numerous, but are all repulsed at Versailles. Tlie Baden Chambers have created a further credit for thc prosecution of the war. Thc King of Bavaria announces that all the German princes concur in bestawiug the imperial crown upon the King of Prussia. ST. PETERSBURG, December 19. The Czar ha3 severely reprimanded the corpora? tion of Moscow for petitioning In behalf of a free pres3. religious toleration and other reforms. BORDEAUX, December 19. Some jounul3 assert that there have been troubles in Paris, but semi-official advices sta'te that the city is quiet and animated with one sen? timent-that or the common defence. Reports from thc forces in the north and east of France are good. There ls some excitement herc over the promulgation of false news under the forged signature or Gambetta. The purpose was, apparently, to cause a reactionary movement by disseminating intelligence unfavorable to the French. . Dispatches or this sort, purporting t ) come from Havre, appeared simultaneously in all parts of France. It was soon discovered, however, that lt was a Prussian device. It is noticeable that the opposition Journals are more violent towards Pras-la than ever. THE OCEAN CABLES. NEW YORK, December 19. Notwithstanding the interruption of commu? nication by the two English *cable3 the accumu? lated dispatches have al! been transmitted. The cable is clear, for the. Cst time in two weeks. -The artistic gold pen, in Imitation of a quill, which was recently mentioned as having been made by Herr Bisslnger, jeweler, of Pforzheim, with a view to Count Elsraarck signing the treaty of peace with it, has been presented to the Count, who, In acknowledging it, wrote: "Your beauti? ful and very artistic present has been delivered to mc by Herr Jolly. I feel some difficulty in know? ing how lo express my thanks for lt. At a time wheu the sword of the German nation has per? formed sud Illustrious feats, you render the pen .almost too much hon.r in making lt soccsiiy. I can ouly hope that thc usc to which you have destined the pen In the service of our country, may conduce to its permanent wellare in a for t?nate peace, arid I can promise you that, with God's help, it shall in my baud subscribe nothing unworthy of Gc-rmaa feeling and of thc G:rman s word." ? -Tlie alarmist faction is very strong among the CoDiervatives in England. A recent letter In the Times-. In leaded tyne, says ilia: iu the even: of Pruss'a violating Belgian territory, England" could, at most, only land 31,000 troops at Ant? werp, to oppose 700,010, and to do that abc must I withdraw her regulars from Ireland, "which ex? ist only to nfl as a source or anxiety and weak? ness.'' Thc writer suggests that the Prussian irou-clads with the French fleet-supposing them to obtain lt-would be a powerful adversary against the English fleet, and pointing to Eng? land's political isolation, the unsettled Alabama claims, and the power of Prussia, urges the ne? cessity of placing the army and naVy on a war footing. British ministers are between two Arcs. When matters look pacific there ls a howl about extravagant expendlturejrhlle Immediately there ls war, or rumor of war, they are furiously de? nounced for retrenching and reducing. CITY AFFAIRS. THE EEUIT TRABE. A Chapter *n the Fruit we Eat-Where it Grows-V/hen and How it Is Im? ported-Its Increasing Importance. Charleston is without doubt the largest im? porter of tropical fruits on our South Atlantic coast. Indeed, it may bc said that lt was th6 success of our fruit merchants thirty years ago, whian, directing the attention of persons in New York to the mat? ter, led to the establishment of the immense trade which now exists between that city, the West In? dies and Mediterranean ports. The fruit business Is of necessity a specialty, requiring peculiar risks In its management, and a peculiar experi? ence In its managers. The nature of the crops abroad, the selection of fruit at precisely the right season to avoid rot, the style- of packing, the probable demand at home, the prompt disposition of cargoes-all these considerations and more con? stitute the business one of peculiar hazard, and compel the exercise of the utmost energy, pru? dence and sagacity. The four artltles of fruit which are most largely Imported Into Charleston are bananas, oranges pineapples and cocoanuts. BANANAS of the best quality come from Baracoa, on the east end of the island of Coba, and are known to our citizens by their long, red skins, and large size, j la New York at the beginning of the season they command almost fabulous prices. Here they are always reasonably cheap. There the trade com? mences about the 15th of March and goes on briskly until the latter part of August, wken the red is succeeded by the yellow-skinned banana, known as the Ruatan, Asplnwall, Jamaica and Nassau banana. Here the season commences about the first of November, and continues daring the winter, the yellow bananas generally follow? ing in February and continuing until the quaran? tine is established on the first or May. This pretty effectually stops the trade. The rrult is perenlal and common to most tropical countries. Its .leaves are six feet in length, more or less, and about a foot broad in the middle. Unlike ourselves, the Spaniards have a superstitious dislike to cut a banana across; they always slice ' it from end to end, because in thc former case the section presents an imaginary resemblance to the Instrument of our Savior's crucifixion, in the West Indies, the banana ls fried lu slices like fritters, and if the pulp be squeezed through a fine sieve, it may be form? ed Into small loaves, which, after having been properly dried, may be kept for a great length of [ time. On the arrival of a vessel' in Cuba, word ls at once sent to the plantations in tue li tenor, ' and the picking Is commenced, the bunches being ' sent down on the backs of mules and cattle. Our Charleston schooners lu the trade are gene? rally of from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty tons burden, and carry from twelve to eigh? teen hundred bunches. The Northern vessels are larger. On rea?hlng this port, the discharging of the cargo generally occupies two days. What ls unsold on the wharf, goes Into store, but there ls a virtual disposition qf the fruit at the vessel. ORANGES. We are now la the midst of the orange season. The West India oranges come from Jamaica and Havana, but the-latter are giving way before the Florida crops, which are not Inferior In sweet? ness, do not rot so easily, and give more satisfac? tion to both dealers and consumers. The Florida trade commences about the 15th of October, and continues until the 1st or March. When imported, from the West Indies, oranges are packed loosely m the hold, sometimes to the number of three, four or five hundred thousand, and are sold by the barrel on their arrival. There ts always more or less or loss OD the cargo, goaerally averaging from fifteen to twenty per cent, bul. It varies ac? cording to the stage or greenness at which the fruit ls picked, the amount of handling and the length of passage. PINEAPPLES are better between the middle of April and the 10th of June than at any other period of the year. They come in small quantities during the winter, but do not possess that rich, luscious flavor which makes them so welcome an addition to the table at thc season above referred to: The great bulk or this fruit ls now shipped to Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia, where lt ls canned in im? mense quantities and shipped to all parts of the world. Their importation ls attended with even a greater I033 thou on oranges, owing to the fact that they generate a vast amount of heat and rot rapidly. The sweetest pines come from Havana and an Island near Nassau, but we rarely taste them In their purest flavor. COCOANUTS and bananas abound on the same plantation, and grow In great profusion. They generally consti? tute a part of the fruit cargi, and as au Invest? ment are safer, if not as saleable. The competi? tion In this line is small, but the profits are more certain. Thirty or forty thousand cocoanuts often constitute the ballast of alargo schooner. SHADDOCK. This is a species of orange, but usually insipid to the taste, except during thc months of April and May. They are much used for preserves by Southern housekeepers, are cheap, and in this condition highly palatable. Ia the West Indies they arc frequently fried like apples, and make a delicious dish when properly prepared. As an article of trade they have little prominence. MALAGA GRAPES, FIOS AND NUTS, with the exception of the pecan, which comes from Texas, are not imported direct into Charles? ton. New York monopolizes this trade, and sup? plies thc country. The season for Malaga grapes ls December and January, wHen the steamers bring them lu large quantlties.the fruit being pack? ed in cork saw-dust, in kp-s-tv^dlng about eigh? teen pounds each. The pr.e ranges from 19 to $15 per keg. TUE MANNER OF .. JRTATION. This, of course, var.es according :o the demand and other circumstances. Frequently a cargo of provisions, lumber and general merchandise is made up here, and exchanged for fruit in the West ladles. Again, a vessel will sometimes stray into Charleston for a market, with a cargo which the captain or supercargo has taken on board as a venture, and If the fruit be good there ls little difficulty lu effecting a sale. The se? lection of fruit is always made by a commission merchant or other responsible party, and the cap? tain, as a representative of the importer, is also expected to exercLsc_oroper vigilance in rejecting everything not merchantable. Much of the suc? cess of a cargo depends on this care. The largest direct importers lu Charleston are Messrs. raul, Welch A- Bran les, and Bart A Co. On thc arrival of their cargoes, these firms have a busy time In disposing of the same with the least possible delay. With them procrastination is a practical thief who ravages wildly-not merely a thlcr, but an assassin, who destroys in a night the best labors or a month. Hence by previous arranger meats shipments are promptly made to Savannah, Wilmington, Atlanta, Augusta, and thc West, and1 willi equal promptness the fruit is there got Into the hands of the consumer. Large quantities of fruit are also used In the Interior or South Caro? lina, especially now, while the holidays are ap? proaching. Mrs. Kenrick, on Market street, like? wise makes foreign fruit a specialty of trade, and during the season has an establishment overflow? ing with bananas, oranges and pines. The Ital? ians in the market seem never to be without them. These patient fellows form a sort of close corpora? tion, put their money into a "pool," buy as much or a cargo as they want, agree on the retail price to prevent opposition, and then, as every pater or mater familias who goes to market ls aware, are eloquently Incoherent In effecting a sale very "sheep." FLORIDA. In this connection lt is not amiss to state that, in both the North and South, business men are beginning to foresee that Florida will 30on become tho great tropical fruit-produclng region of this country- Tue successful experiments with oranges, bananas and pineapples Heretofore made, and the character of the fruit produced there, renders lt almost certain that with proper care and enterprise the fertile climate of the peninsula may yield abundantly all .the product*1 of the West Indies, while the saperloi-?ahd rapid communication by steamship and rail, which is possessed by. the State, will enable her to supply promptly, certainly, and with diminished risk, the demand of almost the entire con nt ry. m CONCLUSION. The following figures, taken from an article published in the American Grocer on the 27th of June, 1870, by Messrs. Paul, Welch & Brandes, Viii show something of the character of the annu? al Charleston fruit trade. "The following quanti? ties of fruit were disposed oil last winter: Of the various kinds of oranges, Floridas take the preference, and command the highest figures. Jamaica and Havana next in demand. Oranges, 2,200,000. Of these, 1,000,000, or 3000 barrels, were Floridas. Bananas, 11,000 bunches; cocoas, 256,000; grape fruit, 20,000; pines 42,000." ' Last year there were eighteen cargoes; this year It is estimated that there will be twenty-five cargoes. The snbjcct is an agreeable one to con? template, and lt ls with pleasure that we inter juice lt to the reader. THE HOPE STEAM FIRE ENGINE COMPANY_ At the twenty-eighth anniversary meeting of this company, held last evening, at their hall, the fol? lowing officers were elected : Wm. H. Smith, president; George O. Bourke, vice-president; O. P. Rouse, first director; John 0. Cammer, second director; James Buckner, third director; John T. McDowell, Jr., fourth director; H. T. Peters, Sr., secretary, vice W. P. Patterson, who declined a re election; Isaac Lippman, treasurer; Charles P. Moussean, engineer; John Riley, assistant engi? neer; James Kelley, Charles Bcleston, M. Maher and James Corcoran, axmen. TnE FREONDSCHAPTSBUND.-The beautiful ball of the Freundschaftsbund, at the cerner of Meeting and George streets, was wen filled last night by the members and their friends, all of them eager to witness the repetition of the stirring military drama whose first representation was noticed at length, m these columns. It ls no nattery to say that the drama went off with even more life and accuracy than when it was first performed. The muele was charmingly played and sung, and Die Wacla am Rhein, with which the drama closes, was vociferously applauded. After the drama, the members and their friends began thc enjoyment of the pleasures of the dance, which lasted until a late, or early, hour/ THE BOWEN CASE.-The Louisville Courier Journal of Friday, alluding to the pending Indict? ment against Congressman Bowen for bigamy, says: "in order to ascertain the facts in regard to the Indiana divorce, a reporter yesterday called upon Mrs. Bowen at her residence In this city. She states that the published facts are true, with some exceptions, relative to the Indiana di? vorce. She denies that Bowen employed her counsel, or that the p?tition was made upon any grounds other than that of adultery. On the con? trary, she says that his treatment to her was always kind; that that far he was "the best hus? band alive." In her petition she prayed for ali? mony, but by some arrangement there was a compromise effected by which he agreed to pay her $1.600, in three instalments. She says he was married a. few days before the divorce was granted, but the action was unintentional on his part, and. resulted through some delay by tho court In rendering the.decree. Special Notices. ^?B*ALL PARTIES HAVING CLAIMS against the Estate of WM. B. MCDOWELL, de? ceased, will hand "them mi properly attested, within thirty days, or they will be debarred pay? ment. Those persons indebted to the Estate win make payment to WM. A. MCDOWELL, decl0-s3*_Qualified Executor. pm AWAY WITH SPECTACLES.-OLD Eyes made new, easily, without doctor or med?* cmes. Sent postpaid on receipt of io cents. Ad. dress Dr. E. B. FOOTE, No. 120 Lexington avenue, New York._declS pm AWAY WITH UNCOMFORTABLE TRUSSES.-Comfort and Core for the Ruptured. Sent postpaid on receipt of io cents. Address Dr. E. B. FOOTE, No. 120 Lexington avenue, New York._dsolB pm GETTING MARRIED. -ESSAYS for Young Men on Social Evils, and the propriety or Impropriety of getting Married, with sanitary help for those who feel unfitted for matrimonial happiness. Sent free, m sealed envelopes. Ad? dress Howard Association, Box P, Philadelphia, Pa._sepl7-3mos pmA GRAND EPOCH IN SCIENCE. From the time when, m 1834, Dr. RDGGE discov? ered "Carbolic Acid" and Us extraordinary medi? cal effects, nothing to the history or Medicine has equalled lt. Largely used by the French physi? cians in treatment of consumptive, and scrofu? lous diseases, lt was introduced by the Court Phy? sician Of Berlin, MAX ERNST HENRY, into Prus? sia, and from thence to the United States. No? thing else of the present day can equal HEN? RY'S SOLULION OR CARBOLIC CONSTTTDT?ON j RENOVATOR. Patients get better after only one j dose has been taken, and we cordially recommend lt to the public-rEdltor "Argus." janl7 lyr ?timaemairs. EOLLER SKATING AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC HALL, COMMENCING SATURDAY EVENING, OCT. 1. The assemblies will be as follows : MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY AFTERNOONS from 4 to 6 o'clock, and TUESDAY, THURSDAY and SATURDAY NIGHTS rrom half-past-7 to 10. Admission to Night Assemblies 60 cents; Chil? dren 25 cents. Tickets In packages or twelve, $3. Use of Skates, 25 cents. Afternoon Assemblies, Ladles and Children, in? cluding use of Sates, 25 cents; Gentlemen, includ? ing use of Skates, 50 cents. Season tickets of admission (good for all assem? blies during three months) for gentlemen $6; for ladles S3; for gentlemen and lady $7 50. sep2"-3mos (Eailcrinq. jr E ff FASHION CLOTH?, CLOTHING, AND FURNISHING GOODS, &C MENKE A MULLER, MERCHANT TAILORS, No. 325 KINO STREE1, Have Just opened the largest and finest stock 01 Clothing ever offered lu this city for MEN, YOUTHS AND EOVS, comprlslug a full assort? ment or UK ESS and BUSINESS SUITS, Derby Suits, Walkin? Coats. Overcoats, PeaJackots, Ac Thc largest i.ortlon ls of imported goods, and manufactured Into garments by ourselves-we can therefore recommend them as regards flt, wi'ar and workmanship. Our TAILORING DEPARTMENT ls supplied With the finest selection of English, French, German and Domestic Glottis. Doeskins, Beavers, Tricots, Meltons, Veivetlne, Diagonals, Cheviots, Cordu? roy, Casslmeres, Ac, anil a large variety of mod? ern Pants and Vest Patterns, which we make up to order, by measure, In the latest style. The foreman In this department of our business Las no equal In the artistic world for cutting and pro? ducing au elegant flt. FURNISHING GOODS.-This department ls sup? plied with the Celebrated *?* Shirts, Englian, French an i Domestic Undershirts and Drawers. Alexandre and Convolssler's Kids, Buckskin. Cas slmere, Silk and Thread Gloves, Linen and Paper Collars, Neck Ties, Bows, Scarfs, Pocket Handker? chiefs, Socks, Umbrellas. Ac Our stock has been^elected with great care, and prices marked verynow in plain figures. Buyers to our line will find lt to their advan? tage to call In and see for themselves before pur? chasing elsewhere. novi-tuths2mos Clo?rjirtrj an?s ?nrmsr?ng ?oobs. ir-,nnnriiin^riA^nA^ri^rhnrtn^nnno^Anr-i V*>/^v>~ii~'r>oiVwMHWj^|^ ? LOTHIM FOR THE SE1S0N. SUITS POE THE H&LrDj>.YS. NEW SUPPLY OP ALL STYLES OF MORNING COATS, , BUSINESS COATSY ' DERBY SACES, ? ? DRESS FROCKS, OVERCOATS, ... Of Chinchilla, Beaver and Waterproof, in Glenga? re and Cape Styles. . ? - ROBES DE CHAMBRE TRAVELLING SHAWLS. FURNISHING GOODSk^ The Leading Styles of : . 1 CRAVATS, BOWS, TIES, SCARFS, Ac, AC CAMBRIC HANDKERCHIEFS. . . >.?..-. "ii. -* HOSIERIES. MERINO AND LAMBSWOOL SHIRTS AND DRAWERS, NEGLIGE SHIRTS, CARDIGAN JACKETS. GLOVES, OF FRENCH KID, CALFSKIN AND BEAVERS, ENGLISH BUCK, DEER AND CASSIMERE. \ BUCK GAUNTLETS. The Celebrated . STAB SHIRTS, COLLARS AND CUFFS, Of au Qualities, and sold byrne for the past80 . years. TAILORING DEPARTMENT supplied Wita ft. Foll Assortment of Imported and Domestic Cloths, Beaven, Coatings and Cassimeres, made np at moderate prices. WM. MATTHIE3SI35? B. W. McTUREOUS, Soperintendent. declfl CHlt?STMAS ^OYBLTIBS OVEBCOATS. DOUBLE-BREASTED SACKS DERBY SACKS PRINCE OF WALES FROCKS . ENGLISH MORNING COATS'; DRESS FROCKS SILK AND VELVET VESTS, and LOW PRICED BUSINESS SUITS. SCAEFS. OUR FRITZ MONARCH" CHANCELLOR LORD STANLEY;_ . . WINDSORS; HOSIEEY. CASHMERE. MERINO SHAKER, BRITISH, and GERMAN COTTON* PATENT PANTALOON DRAWERS SCARLET AND WHITE SHAKER FLANNEL C0TJJ0N FLANNEL AND JEANS SHIETS, DEA WEES' CARTWRIGHT AND WARNER'S SUPER STOUT COTTON SCARLET AND WHITE ALL-WOOL COLORED AND WHITE MERINO TRUE FIT 8HIRT8 NEGLEGE SHIRTS CARDIGAN JACKETS. LINEN COLLARS; HENSINGTON, FLORENCE FRANKLIN, GUARDS BISHOP AND PARAGONS THE THUNK PAPER COLLARS AND CUFFS. GLOVES. ENGLISH BUCK, CALF DOG, KID, BEAVER SILK, CLOTH, and ? FLEECED-LINED COTTON. SUSPENDERS. RUSSIAN ? ;. CANTAB GUYOT BERLIN and > ENGLISH. _____ . TOILET AETICLES. VIENNA TRAVELLING BAGS TRUNKS, LAP ROBES and TRAVELLING SHAWLS ROBES DE' CHAMBRE and SMOKING JACKETS. For elegance, ease and comfort to the wearer, these Goods are recommended with confidence. J. H. LAWTON & CO., ACADEMY OF MUSIC BUIXDim Men's Un?emeat. MEN'S UNDERWEAR. Shaker Flannel, Patent Merino Undervests, Drawers, and Hosiery. A LARGE VARIETY OF NEW GOODS FOR THE HOLIDAYS, At Extremely Low Prices* E. SCOTT'S STAB SHIRT EMPORIUM, MEETING STREET, OPPOSITE MARKET,