The Charleston daily news. (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, May 08, 1871, Image 1
VOLUME XI.-NUMBER 1671.
CHARLESTON, WEDNESDAY" MORNING, MAY 3, 1871.
EIGHT DOLLARS A YEAR.
THE EVILS OF THE HOUR.
A PROMIS EST RADICAL OS THE
CAUSES ASD THE REMEDY.
Attorney G cu cr a I Chamberlain De?
clares tliat "Incompetency, Dishonesty
anti Corruption In all its Forms now
Kuli The Party which Rules the
State"-He Thinks Minority Repre?
sentation the Only Remedy. .
COLUMBIA, S. C., May 5,1871.
Colonel if. L. Trenholm, Charleston, S. C.:
MY DEAR SIR-The public evils which now
exist in our State, md the lawless and disturb?
ed condition of society in many couuties, fur?
nish me the occasion and excuse for address?
ing you. I wish I could hope with more confi?
dence that my views and suggestions would
tend to hasten the removal of present evils
and lay a safe foundation for our future har?
mony and prosperity. But I hold that it ls the
duty of every man, who has a thought or a
plan which seems to promise rel'of from e;
isting difficulties, to contribute it to the com
mon lund of information.
I address my views to you because I know
that you are devoted, by association, principl
an? action, to the true, permanent and high
est interests of our State, and beciuse I be
lieve that, though wholly dissociated from
political life, you are not unmindful of that
duty which Cicero tells U9 in his delightful
essay is "thedearestand foremost duty, io car
for one's country.'* I remember, too, the geuer
ous and eloquent words which you have ut
tered in behalf of a hopeful, patient, courage
ous grappling with the dulles and problems ol'
to-day, rather than the cherishing of memo?
ries, however sacred, or the indulging of re?
grets, however just.
I am not, like you, a native of the State, and
perhaps it was my misfortune to have settled
here at a time when circumstances were no
favorable to a cordial reception of those who
had stood upon the other side of the great
civil struggle which bad torn asunder the two
sections of our country. I profess, however,
to be not behind the foremost *in my desire to
do ail that lies in my power to serve and bene
flt the State with which all my Interests are
now identified.
It will be necessary for me at the outside to
give my view of the.nature and causes of the
evils which now afflict us. If we mistake tin'
causes, we shall be certain to mistake the
remedy.
I propose to lay aside all partisanship, and
simply to state facts as I conceive them to ex?
ist. Let us look at our State when the recon?
struction acts first took effect in ISO'S.
A social revolution had been accomplished
an entire reversal of the political relations of
mosi^of our people had ensued. The class
which formerly held all the political power of
our State were stripped of all.
The class which had formerly been less than
citizens, with no political power or social posl
tion, were made thc sole depositaries ol the
political power of tho State. I refer now to
practical resultB, not tb theories. The numeri?
cal relations of the two races here was such
that one race under the new laws held abso
lute political control of the Stale. ?
The attitude and action of beth races under
these new conditions, while not unnatural,
was, as I must think, unwise and unfortunate
One race stood aloof .and haughtily refused ta
seek the confidence bf the race wutch was
just" entering on Its new powers; while the
other race quickly grasped all the political
power which the new order of things had
placed within their reach.
From the nature of the case the one race
were devoid ol political experience, of all or
nearly all education, and depended mainly for
all these qualities upon those who, for the
most part, chanced to have drifted here from
other Statee, or who, Jn very rare instances,
being former residents of the State, now al?
lied themselves with the other race. No man of
common prudence, or who was even slightly fa?
miliar with the working of social forces, could
have then failed to see that th? elements
which went to compose the now dominant
party were not of the kind which produce
public virtue and honor, or which contd long
secure even public order and peace.
I make all just allowance for exceptional
cases of individual character, but I say that
the result to be expected from the very, nature
of the situation in 1868 was that a scramble for
office would ensue among yie members of the
party in power, which again, from the nature,
of thc case, must result in filling the offices
of the State, local and general, with men of
no capacity and little honesty or desire to
really serve the public.
The nation had approved the reconstruction | i
measures not because they seemed to be free
Of danger, nor because they were blind to the ^
very grave possibilities of future evils, but in j,
the hope that the one race, wearing its new
laurels and using its new powers with modesty
and lorhearance, would gradually remove the
prejudices and enlist the sympathies aud co?
operation of the other race, until a fair degree
of political homogeneity should be reached,
and race lines should cease to mark the limits
of political parties.
Three years have passed, and the result is- j
what ? Incompetensy, dishonest}', corruption t
in all its forms, have "advanced their tuiscre- ?
aied fronts," have put to flight the small rem- 1
nant that opposed them* and now rule the 1 \
party which rules the State.
You may imagine the chagrin with which I
make this statement. Truth alone compels it.
My eyes see it-all my senses testify to the
startling and sad ?act. I can never be indiffer?
ent to auything which touches the fair lame
ol' i^at great national party to which all mi
deepest convictions attach me, and I repel the
libel which the party bearing that name in this
State is daily pouring upon us. I am a Repub?
lican by habit, by conviclion, by associulion,
but my Republicanism is not, i trust, com?
posed solely of equal parts of ignorance and
rapacity.
Such is the plain statement of the present
condition of the dominant party of our State.
What is the remedy ? That a change will
come, and' conte speedily, let no man doubt.
Corruption breeds its own kind. Ignorance
rushes io its downfall. Close behind any po?
litical party which tolerates such qualities in
its public repr?sentatives stalks the headsman.
If the result ls merely political disruption, ?et
us be profoundly thankful. Let us make
haste to prevent it from being social disrup?
tion-the sunderiug ol' all the bonds whic?
make society and icovernmeni possible.
Several emiiu*nt citizens, as well ns the
press of our State, have suggested plans for
the am?lioration of present evils. Mr. Mem
minger and Colonel Rion especially deserve
mention as gentlemen of large ability und in?
fluence who have made their contributions lo
the cuuse.
Without discussing the plans proposed by
those geullerneu, or pointing out the impossi?
bility of pulling such plans lr.to practical exe?
cution, I proceed to express my conviction
that there ls a remedy, at once simple and
efficacious, practicable and still radical. I
mean ihe chauge of our present system of the
representation of majorities merely and the
substitution of proportional representation,
or. as it ls more commonly called, minority
representation, by means of the cumuhuive or
free vote.
You know, of course, that there ls no novel- ?
y
I ty in this remedy. The press of our :
especially THB CHARLESTON NEWS, the 0
bia Phoenix and the Charleston Repnb
as well as Individu?is, have discussed ar
vucated it. I have studied the matter,
principles and its results, as a theory ant
practice. I have waited to express mi
vlciiou until I could at least satisfy mys
its practical efficacy as a present remedy,
examination leads me to give my unrest
support to the plan, and to believe that i
lay the loundation l'or a stable peace lt
State.
I regret that time will not allow a full
cttsslon ol tills subject in its principles,
ever-desires this, will rind it abundant
John Stuart Mill on "Representative Go'
ment;" in the debates in the English Pi
ment in 1867, by Chancellor Lowe,
Cairns, Earl Grey and Mr. Mill; in the
able and elaborate report ol Senator Buck!
of Pennsylvania, made to the United S
Senate in March, 1SC8, and, I am happy to
in an address delivered before the studen
Woflbid College In June last, by Colonel
Thomas, ol' our own State, where will be fi
an admirable r?sum? ol the history and na
of the plan, euforced by many new and .:
tive arguments.
As n study merely, to one who is attra
by discussions ol' the great questions o
publican government, lew topics have gre
charms. But ol'nil this I must not speak,
The plan is briefly lids : to give to each v
as many votes as there are representativ*
be elected in his couuty or voting district,
allow him to cast tlfem all for one candie
or divide them among several, as he plea
Thus, to take the illustration ol" another
apply it to a case within our own State : '
Couuty of Charleston hus eighteen represe
Uves in the lower house ol the Legislan
each voter has eighteen votes ; he may
them ;o eighteen * candidates, one to ead
he m.iy cumulate them upon a less nuu
than ten, even to one. One-eighteenth ol
voters may thus be sure ol a representativ
they choose to unite upon one person,
practice, however, no doubt tickets woulr
made up by the two parties, and each p
would send representatives merely proport
ed to its constituency.1'
Such is the plan.* Ils result would b<
give lo each party in our.State a representa
iu our lower house ot Assembly, and. in f
in all elections where more titan ?ne person
to be chosen, proportioned to its ntimet
strength, instead, as now, of ignoring the
nority wholly, and giving to a majority, m
up of one hundred aud une, the sole rupret
talion in a voting district of two hunt!
voters.
This is true republicanism, in dislincl
from taise republicanism. As Colonel Titoi
aptly styles it, lt is "totality repr?sentai ic
giving to nil parties ami ali iuterests a
share of representation.
To make this principle applicable to
elections would require ?orne changes In
organic law; but it wuuld be immediately ap
cable io elections fdr members of the loi
house ol the Legislature', to-elections for co
ty commissioners, aud to the senatorial e
tion in Charleston County. I think no chai
ot our constitution is required to effect all ti
but simply a statute embodying and enforc
the new plan.
The immediate result of such a change t
be immense. If the numerical relations
our present political parties and of the t
races is that ol three to live, tho lower hoi
of the Legislature will staud about forty-sev
to seventy-seven. The same result would
seen In the boards ol'county commlssiouert
board ol prime importance io the taxpayers
the State.
Gradually the application of the syst?
might be extended until it became the univ
sal rule in all our elections, when more th
one person was to be chosen to the EUI
office.
Another result would be to improve t
character and ability ot the officers chosen
each party. It would check Ute debasing i
fluency of professional politicians; it wou
make corruption in popular elections coi
paralively impossible ; it would make the (!
ieat ol specially obnoxious candidates, ur 11
election ol specially desirable candidat
practicable, In spite of party nominations, I
a union of the good men of both parties, n r
suit scarcely possible and entirely improbab
under our present system.
The Immediate influence of forty-seven i
men representing the character. Intelligent
and property of our Statt; in the lower hom
can scarcely"be over estimated. Though not
majority, they would Inevitably prevent ba
legislation, and Induce much good legislatio:
Their 7ery presence would shame ignorani
and frighten corruption. I firmly bellev
speaking Irotn loug anc. close observatioi
that the presence ot SUCH a number ol ab
and true men would banish the crying abu?
which now disgrace our Legislature, and ii
troduce an era ol' comparative purity and it
telligent legislation. Certain it is that
would absolutely prevent the further ir.ceaj
ol' our public debt. Ute reckless squanderin
of public funds, and the improvident giving c
State nid to selfish moneyed corporal fons.
But the whole subject requires deep study t
perceive its wide-reaching results, and such
study will, I th mk, cominee any one tba
here Hes our true remedy; a remedy singtilat
ly well adapted to Just such a community i
voters, interests and influences os now exit
lu our Stale.
There are other reforms also whit-?! we mus
demand Imperiously and peremptorily. One i
the repeal ol that most unjust aud scandalous
election law, under which our last genera
election was held. Another is nu absolut)
prohibition ol any further increase of our publi
debt except under restrictions which shall bi
rigid andgabsolute.
Another Is the Immediate reduction of ul
public expenditures to ai. least two-thirds o
their present amount.
Anolhet is the speedy removal, by the Ex
eculive, of incoinpeteut local officers, especial
ly tax officers, <\nd me appointment of capa
ble and honest men lu their places, regardlosi
of party.
This will effect only a partial presen
remed?-; but it will do much immediately U
remove a deep and just cause ol complaint.
These are some ol' the demands ol' the hour,
which I, for one,' will Join willi all good cili
?ens in making, and I trust that by ever}
means, by individual influence uud action, bj
Lite press and by conventions, the people ol the
Stale will proclaim aud en tyree these just de?
mands.
There are abundant means, .a my judgment,
within the reach ol" Hie taxpayers ol our State,
:o enlorce these changes without doing vio
ence to e."ll and social order. lu fact,
milling is eo "i.re to prolong the present si.u
ition as a resort to violence. Nothing can,
md nothing will; in the eyes of the tuition
ind the wor u, justify or excuse what li known
is Ku-Kluxlsm. It is simply horrible, infa?
mous, diabolical: never to be tolerated us u
neans ol reform br relief from present abuses,
br it is Tn Itself the must stupendous ol' ?Ul
crimes. Good citizens who look io reform
nust compel such means io t-i forever aban
loned. violence begets violence, and soon
hat spirit of lawlessness which finds counte?
nance or escapes denunciation will run riot
ind prostrate'all the common safeguards of
:ivil society. It will, in duo time, return to
plague Its inventors.
But by whatever means and from whatever
Muses relief and relorin ure secured, they
must cume from ourselves, r>nd from
xbroud.
Our hope lies solely in thc strong and fixed
resolution ol our own people tu ri^hl our ..wa
wrongs and lu work out otic own Balragon.
Repression ol upen crime may come from Hw
national government, be:, oerinaneut reform
in unr political 'jnndill'jii can only Come
Uiruiigh ourselves. LH luis truth believer
forgotten. Il is a lesson vh.cll mus', be lean:!*
at whatever cost.
With a resolute and prut'eui sprit on the
part of uur responsible und enlightened fullow
clIbsens, cheerfully acknowledging and defend?
ing the equal civil aud political rights of all our
citizens, laying aside . effete traditions, and
bending all their energies tu the work of ?res?
ent reform, I coufideully say, from ruy<nii
fuate knowledge of the present Situation, that
nut only cnn ute present dominant party be
restrained rr? ai further abuse, but they caii be
euutrulled hi ihe interest ut' thuse who lou* lo
the common, and permanent welfare ul' our
Slate.
Despair is fully ; doubl is weakness. Resolu?
tion, confidence, prudence, fairness, justice,
are the qualities which the situation calls fur.
Our State can be saved-saved by peaceful,
constltutiunal meaus; and only by such means
adopted by uer own citizens can sue be saved
at all.
You and I, at least, are readr lor such a
work. Who that loves his race" or his State
will reluse his aid ?
With sentiments of high personal regard I
remain your obedient servant,
I). H. CUAJIBEKLAtNY
GLIMPSES OF GOTHAM.
TUE MURDERER FOSTER~SWIFT
TE A'O EA It CB OF TBE JUAW.
A KUii Father Intervenes-Who arc
the Counsel-Heartlessness of M e W
York Street Crowdg?Tlie May House?
moving- City Improvements- T h c
Blameless Blonde.
[K'.IOM OCR OWN C0KRR9P0NDEXT.]
NEW YORK, May 3.
Short work is to be made of Foster, the ruf?
fian who killed Mr. Putnam as he was stepping
from a Broadway car last Wednesday night.
The coroner's jury yesterday brought in a.ver
diet against him, ten minutes afterwards the
grand jury indicted him, and to-day lils* trial
began. The speed with which this casCJg
pressed is a concession on the part of the offi?
cers of Hie law to the popular demand for
swift justice. Ordinarily, a murderer is al-1
lowed several months' leeway, sa that public
.indignation against him may cool.
Fb3ter, though a man of abandoned charac- I
ter, has a rich lather who ls loth to see one of |
Iiis family brought to the gallows. There will
be a desperate fight tnade,tlierefore,to save the
murderer. The elder Foster lias already dis?
bursed $5000.in lawyers' fees, and lias retained
three of the best criminal lawyers in New
York l?r the defence : John Graham, William
Howe and Ex-Judge Stuart. The first
named was counsel for McFarland. He stands
at Hie head of the criminal practice, and is al?
most always successful. . The defence will at?
tempt lo prove?an alibi; thal is. that some un?
known man struck thc fatal blow, and that |
Foster left the car before the assassination
took place.
The evidence before the coroner disclosed a
phase of New York character which, to use
the mildest term, is disgraceful to us. The in?
difference of passers-by In large chics to the
misfortunes that happen to Iheir fellow-crea?
tures In the streets ls notorious. ? Let a ruffian
knock a man down and rob him In the most
crowded part of Broadway, and the chances
are Hint, though a mob will collect, not an in?
dividual will molest Hie aggressor, unless It is
a policeman luckily proximate. When Mr.
Putnam was felled to the earth senseless, the
other nicht, a curious crowd gathered, and
though the ladies who were with the injured
man entreated assistance, they were only
stared at, and were obliged to drag.his body to
the neighboring drug store themselves. They |
complain that the druggist's clerks exhibited
the same callousness to their misfortune. The
car conducion alter seeing Mr. Putnam fall,
bothered himself no further about tlie matter,
but pulled the bell and rode away from the
scene. Only one human being In the multi?
tude present exhibited a glimmer of feeling,
and that wasa.young divinity student, who
ran off in search of u policeman.
Probably much of this heartlessness ol peo?
ple in large cities arises from tue peculiar cir?
cumstances in which we are placed. We are
all in a hurry, and cannot spare time lo do
more than satisfy amassing curiosity, and if we
meddle in.street affairs we are liable tobe
summoned, even arrested and detained, as wit?
nesses, driven into the witness box half a
dozen times durlnc aa many examinations or
trials, badgered and brow-beaten by such law?
yers as John Graham, sketched, caricatured
and defamed by the local newspapers, and ex?
hibited infriglulul woodcuts lu the police Ga?
zette and Day's Doings. To be a witness in.au
important criminal trial in New York ls equlv
lent to being hanged, as fur as one's reputa?
tion is concerned. This, however, is no ex?
cuse for our neglect to observe our obligations
to society. The path of duly leads often
through thorns and brambles. One should
dare lo be manly and humane, even though
he may know that the next edition ol the Sun?
day Mercury will contain a full and particular |
account, of that curious quarrel between his
wife aud the family washerwoman lost year,, ]
and thal the familiar old picture ol Gibbs the
pirate will be revamped to represent him in
to morrow's Sun and Star.
Tile annual May aay-upset.T?Torer, anet bj
this lime something like order is coining, out
of the chaos In a Lhousand households. There
was not so much moving Hits year as lust,
probably because landlords havo been con?
tented lo leave rents as they were. It is ex?
tremely aggravating to have your landlord
raise oh you every February, and to the na?
tural Indignation the Imposition evokes may j
be attributed some part of Hie New Yorker's
proverbial restlessness. The stream of]
movers was rather over the ferries to Lone
Island and the Jersey suburbs than around
town. Brooklyn oilers small houses with
cheap rents in d?sirable localities. The space
in New York is so valuable that it pays land?
lords best to pul up large houses and exact
corresponding rents, which they can generany
gel, as there is an Insane und unreasonable
desire on the part of most people lo live on
lins island. "Oh, that dreadful lerry," keeps
some hundreds of thousands in single rooms
and garrets in New York, when a beautiful
cottage and garden and plenty of frosh air can
be bad on Long Island at half the expense.
Improvement is tho order of Hie day with
ihe park commissioners. I have already writ?
ten about the Iransformation of the old Bullery
from a muck heap Into a sort of seaside Eden.
The City Hall park bas likewise been laid ont
with new grass plats, walks, fountains, trees
and ornamental stutues,and with the gathering
green ol summer is beginning to look charm?
ing. Thc ancient uppio women on the side?
walks, and the Tammany politicians lounging
around the City Hall steps, with cigars between
their teeth, detract somewhat from the loveli?
ness of Hie scene. A new park is to be laid
om between Hie Boulevard and'Eighth ave?
nue, above Ninety seventh street, and the
Mauliattan Park is to be prepared and graded
fur the erection ol' the new buildings ol' Hie
Metropolitan .Museum ol' Arl and tim Museum
ol' Natural History. The iron fence ?round
Hie park in Union Square ls to be lorn down,
and Ihe space thrown into an open plaza.
Our oilier new parks, the Sunnyside mid Hie
Morningside, ure coining along finely? How
magnificent we are going it? be, in thc year
limo, willi our grund Boulevard on Hie west
side, and our Central Park sufficiently ai?C?j to
give the appearance ol maturity to'the trees
and vegetation.
When somebody prepares another ediljon of
that English classic oin the "Calamities ol Au
thors," the melancholy history of Pauline
Markham, the stateliest of Hie "blondes, must
not be omitted. Miss Markham, perhaps, your
readers may know, came over lrom England
willi Mrs. Lydia Thompson Henderson, (who
appeared ut the Charleston Academy of Music
last win!"i ) and divided honors with that cor?
neous young woman at Niblo's Garden,
During the mn of the "blondes," New York
was divided between a'Thompson party and a
Markham party. Mr. Richard Grant White,
the eminent Shakespearean critic, was so en?
raptured with Miss Markham's performances
us a younc man in a fairy spectacle, that ho
published, over his own signature, in Hie pub?
lic prims, his opinion thal she pronounced her
English mure sweetly and more correctly than
any oilier person thea in public life. * Well,
Miss Markham became so celebrated through
Hie praises of the Shakespearean critic and her
owl; loveliness, thal thc world was acoc about
lier past Hfe. In a moment of weakness she
listened io the persuasive tongue of a newspa?
per reponer, and consented io be written up
m book lunn. Shu furaikhejd the biographer
willi a mululu le ol'iacis, and then relived io a
bed ol'sickness, which she kepi foi-! wu months
or inure. *
Meanwhile Ihe newspaper man was working
like a steam engine agalnsi Hine. Winni, at
la-l, his lacis wore exhausted, and the re?
quisite number of pages not covered with ink,
lie resorted to a ferule Imagination to supply
the hiatus, ile described numberless love
affaira in which the blui.Ju was iLlerested, how
siie had rej -cieil millionaires, and spurned
princes of the blood; huw men had fought for
Uer; how lovers bad blown uni what ihey call?
ed their brains, fur her dear sake. The
biographer, having a little private grudge of
his own, made Miss Markham indulge in vari?
ous spiteful remarks aboul her triend, Miss
Thompson. He even went so fur as to make
lier confess Ural she was no blonde at all, buta
brunette, and that Lydia, willi the lone colden
hair, was also a brunette, and so likewise
were nil the other profess'onal blondes, and
that the whoie tliingwusa. . abug, cunning
art effecting Hie irunsforinutiou from dark lu
light.
When the autobiography appeared, a critic
on a daily newspaper cul it up, and this
brought Mi>s Pauline forth in tears, and a com?
munication from lier bed ol sickness. Ko pro?
nounces the book ta be a tissue of mis.epre
sentations; throws the responsibility of them
I on the ambitious newspaper hack; proclaims
the warmth of her affection for her beautiful
rival, and the immaculateness of her own and
Miss Thompson's blonde hair and complexions.
As for being the "goody" sort of person the
bookmaker pictured her, she denies lt.
"Brunette as to the skin, but blonde as to the
soul," exclaimed the critic. To which Miss
Markham responds: "Now I do not pretend
to have lived a blameless life. Do you, sir ?
If you have, there is good authority lor your
throwins the first stone at yours, obediently,
Pauline Markham." NTM.
THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Its Management Under thc S trw Regime.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
Sra-Among the just causes for complaint
on the part of the May Convention is the
"peculiar" management of the State Lunatic
Asylum. The salary of the superintendent,
Including board for family and servants,
amounts to more than the salary of the Gov?
ernor of the State, being twenty-five hundred,
dollars, besides the perquisites indicated. But
the salary is nothing. Here ls an institution,
costing sixty thousand dollars a year, In which
the superintendent makes accounts and ap?
proves them himself. Formerly the bills were
examined by a regent appointed for the pur?
pose, and, if found correct, approved. They
were -afterwards submitted to the board for
examination. Formerly, when a'patient en?
tered the asylum, his name was registered on
the books of the superintendent, and the
financial account kept by the secretary had to
correspond with the books of the superin?
tendent. Novo, a patient may enter and
motley be paid without any record being kept
in the matter, for the superintendent ts also
secretary and treasurer ! It is the same*as If
the Governor were the treasurer and comp?
troller-general. **
The big thing, however, is to come. Hith?
erto the State paid, for maintenance of pauper
patients, between ten and eleven thousand
dollars a year; and this Is all the law now re?
quires. Yet an appropriation has been made
lor this purpose of thirty thousand dollars, ?
while the counties are taxed the same as.usval.
This will be a clear gain" JV7?i?fee/i thousand
dollars, to whom ? And who "knows whether
the institution will not be os much in debt next
year os ever before ? Again : The money is
drawn wijieut vouchers. It-is drawn on the
simple request ol the superintendent and phy?
sician and secretary and treasurer, who is one
and the same person. How different is all
this from the manner in which the institution
was conducted under Dr. Parker. .
And who is this new superintendent? A
man q/ very limited education, from Maryland,
who entered the Federal Army and came here
to serve the "Bureau"-a man who ls in no
wise competent for the position he holds, and
not to be compared with either of th?? former
superintendents, nor with any of the many
distinguished physicians In Columbia. Bad as
it is to.have such a man in charge of unfortu?
nate patients, it strikes one. more absurdly to
think ol his managing the finances without re?
straint. . B. P. S.
TROUBLES XV FLORENCE.
False Alarms or "Kn-Klux !"-Excite?
ment amongst tlie Negroes-How It
Originated-Restoration of Quiet.
_[FRQjl OUR QWy COnRESrON'DENT.] _
FnbRiN-cKrM?v GT
From Saturday evening last up to Wednes?
day our town has been the seat of much com?
motion. There has been some talk of Ku-Klux
in Florence ever since the killing of Daniel
Edwards, in Williamsburg County, which un?
fortunately-was reported to. have occurred In
Darlington County, where Edwards formerly
resided. O ri Saturday afternoon last a white
citizen of this place fired upon James Balsley,
a colored man, under the impression that
Baisley had threatened his life. That night
the colored people wets flying to arms, and
crying, "Ku-Klux ! Ku-Klux !'r A lltilo girl
said she saw mounted and armed men ride up
and hitch their horses in the bushes on the
north of the Wilmington Railroad. The color- '
ed citizens very promptly scoured the bushes, j
but finding noKn-Klux, most of them retired
to their homes. A few, however, remained
out and under arms, marching, countermarch?
ing, firing, and threatening vengeance on
everybody and everybody's property, il it sin?
gle colored man was Ku-Kiuxed. When re?
quested lo tlesist, they said a white cillzen
was allowed to fire ou u colored man, and they
would not be stopped. On Sunday nlghl they
were again out with their arras, but not firing.
On Monday night they were out in larger num?
bers, and nearly all armed, bul quiet, except
threats of vengeance on Ku-Klux. Ou Mon?
day evening a reported Ku-Kiux was arrested
here by the sheriff. It is reported that he
conlesses to being of the "billie Brother?
hood," hut no Ku-Klux. The party so arrested
ls an unlettered, dark-complexioned laboring
man named Sweat, originally from Marlboro',
ami has-been regarded as a colored man." He
Is said to have been a nn\n ol low character ut
home, and his statements ought to be taken
with great camion. . is reported there are
oilier "Ku-Klux about hore, and slops are be
in^' taken lor I heir apprehension. After lt was
seen and known that the town authorities
fined, and the trial Jnslice arrested and com?
mitted, the while cllizeu who fired in th?!
streets upon a colored man, the disturbances
subsided, aud we are now restored, we hope,
to our wonted peace.
A KU-KLUX COUNTY.
What thc People Think of thc United
States Regulars.
Union County, which was some time ago
believed to be the headquarters ol' the Ku
Klux, has a coL-'pany ol Uncle Sam's cavalry
quartered at Its courthouse; but, strange to
say, the soldiers find nothing to do. No riot,
no outrage, no "cold shoulder" even. Here is
what the Union Times says ou this subject in
its last issue, and we commend the para?
graph to our Northern exchanges:
True soldiers are always gentlemen, who
seldom step out ol* Hie walks -ol propriety a Jd
decorum, aud wo of thc .South know how to
appreciate the true United Stales soldiers,
when, stationed among us. Company ii. 7th
Uniied States Cavalry, has now been stationed
here aboul six weeks, und by their gentleman?
ly deportment ami actions have secured the
respect ol .Ul classes of our citizens. Captain
Thompson ls a man ol' superior mental and
social qualities, and by his agreeable manners,
free anti Intelligent Intercourse with our citi?
zens, has gathered around him many warm
friends and associates. We have nut, as yet,
made the acquaintance ol'tue subordinate offi?
cers ot' Hie troop, but all who have, ?peak ol'
them as being relined, educated and pure gen?
tlemen. In tact, we speak the sentiments of
all our citizens, when we say that a inure or?
derly, gentlemanly and pleasant body ol men
cannot be found anywhere, tuan those com?
posing Troop B, 7ih Uni led States Cavalry,
now 6talioned here.
-Hall's Journal of Healtli, writing of lon?
gevity, states that out of one thousand per?
sons who have reached seventy years, it will
be found that aboul 43 are clergymen, orators
and public speakers, 40 are larmers, 33 are
working men, 32 soldiers, 29 lawyers, 27 pro*
lessors and 24 physicians. One half ol all who
live die before lite age of 17; only one person
in a hundred reaches CO, and one in ten thou?
sand reaches 100. Mai ried persons live longer
than single.
TAXPAYERS Cf COUNCIL.
THE MES WHO WILL REPRESENT
THE PEOPLE IS CONTENTION.
A Strang Array of Delegates.
The following is-a list of the delegates from
the several counties to the Taxpayers! Conven?
tion, which meets in Columbia to-morrow.
There are a few counties from which we have
had no reports as yet; but the Hst, as it now
stands, Includes an unusually strong array of
the very best men in South Carolina :
Abbeville-Delegates, Hon. Armlstead Burt
and Colonel B. Z. H erndon; alternates. Thomas
Thomson and W. K. Bradley.
Anderson-Delegate's, John J3. Sitton and
James A. Hoyt; alternates, J. P. Bead and F.
E. Harrison.
Barnwell- Delegates. General Johnson
Hogood and Colonel T. J. Counts; alternates.
Hon. W. P. Finley and Major J. E. Crosland. '
Beaufort- Delegates, H. C. Smart and J. H.
Screven; alternates, J. L. Ruddell and William
Elliott.
Charleston-Delegates, W. B. Smith and
George Shrewsbury; alternates, Colonel Thos.
Y. Simons and Myron Fox.
Chester-No report.
Chesterfield-Delegates, General E. B. C.
Cash and Colonel A. M. Lowry; alternates,
Major A. McQueen and Albert Evans.
Clarendon-Delegates. ex-Governor J. L.
Manning, Hon. J. P. Richardson, James E.
Tindall, Esq., and Dr. R. R. Durant.
Colleton-No report.
Darlington-No report.
Edcefleld-Delegates, General ii. C. Butler,
ex-Governor M. L. Bonham, General M. W.
Gary, James A. Talbert, 0. 8heppard, A. P.
Buller and J. H. Giles ; alternates, Lewis
Jones, Z. W. Carwile. Renj. Bettis, Wyatt
Holmes, R. R. Watson, Dr. Hugh Shaw, James
Purvis.
Fairfield-Delegates, Major J. W. Woodward
and General John Bratton.
Georgetown-No report.
Greenville-Delegates, ex-Governor B. F.
Perry and General W. K. Easley: alternates,
J, P. Boyce and J S. Westmoreland.
Horry-No report.
Kershaw-Delegates, General J. B. Ker?
shaw and General James Chesnut; alternates,
Colonel W. M. Shannon and General J. D. Ken?
nedy.
Lancaster-Delegates, W. M. Connors and J.
B. Erwin, Esqs.; alternates, Maj or B. R. Cly?
burn and Mr. H. H. Gooch.
Laurens-Delegates, B. W. Ball and G. W.
Sullivan; alternates, J. W. Watts and R. S.
Griffin.
Lexington-Delegates, J. N. Huffman and
W. J. Barr; alternates, Dr. F. S. Lewie and
Dr. S. A. Haltawanger.
Marion-Delegates, Hon. W. D.-Johnson and
J. Eli Gregg: alternates, General Vm. Evans
and Dr. W. il. Johnson.
Marlboro'-Delegates, Hon. C. W. Dudley
and Hon. T. C. Weatherly; alternates, Col. J.
H. Hudson and James B. Willis.
. Newberry-Delegates, R. L. McLaughlin and
Colonel E. S. Keift; alternates, Wm. Ray and
W. G. Mayes.
Oconee-Delegates, Jame3 A.. Doyle and
Wm. C. Keith; alternates, Samuel Lovlngood
and BenJ. Holder.
Orange burg- Delegates, Dr. A. D. Goodwyn?
and Colonel D. J. Rum ph, Colonel A. D.
Frederick and Dr. R. N. Rates.
PickenB-No report.
Richland-Delegates, Captain Kinsler and
Robert Adams; alternates, Colonel Wm. Wal?
lace and Dr. Wheeler.
Spartanburg-Delegates, Hon. G. Cannon
and Hon. A. Ii. Woodruff; alternates, Colonel
J. H.* Evins and Captain Samuel Means.
Sumter-No report.
Union-Delegates, General W. H. Wallace
and ex-Governor W. H. Gist; alternates.Colonel
R. J. Gage and Major R. H. Rice.
Williamsburg-Delegates, Colonel James
McCulchen, David Epps, W. Lee and T. M.
Keels; alternates, B. J. Porter, George J.
Graham and G. D. Rhodus.
York-Delegates, General E. M. Law and
Colonel Cad. Jones; alternates, V. D. Wither?
spoon and John R. London. .
-C.1 -gtnri npjmjol'Trndr Iirnry Gourdin^
Esq.. and Ricnaiu UIUUJ, ujq. ? 1
Charleston Chamber of Commerce-Hon. W.
D. Purler and Hon. Geo. A. Trenholm.
A HOWL EEO M CATS.
A Waining to the Radicals who are
Milking Money Oat of the Negroes. -
The "Missionary Record," Parson Cain's
paper, does not like the course of things, as
developed during the post few months before
the United States commissioner In this city.
In au article in the last copy of the Record,
entitled "The Crimes Against Liberty in the
Name of Justice," he ls very severe against
the administrators of public Justice, speaking
of them as "ignorant, irresponsible persons,
oppressing poor inoffensive colored people,
who have been engaged in the last elections I
In this congressional district."
"It appears," he says', "that there are fire
different classes engaged in this work of
making money out of Hie arrests, prosecutions,
convictions and imprisonments.u? these poor
people: First, the informers, who receive pay
lur working up the Cases and finding those
wiio ure willing io make a few dollars by be?
traying their fellows. Second, the runners,
wliu are employed by the higher officers, who
ure anxious to. have something to do in their
offices to make money. Third, the deputy
marshals, who must have something to do lu
tiicir -offices. Fourth, the lawyers and com?
missioners, who get so much for every case
brought belore them. Firth, the Jury, who
make money either way, whether they con?
vict ur clear-which ever side gives the most
to secure their success. Now, we make these
statements on good authority, and we
propose to ferrel out certain transactions
in these prosecutions and publish Hiern
to the world, that it may be knuwn
to Hie public what kind of material we
have to work with in our cutirla. We
aru informed of certain transactions in
the conviction of the Beaufort commis?
sioners which will show,the damnab;e cur
ruptions practiced by certain officers to secure
their conviction, and of certain Jurors .vho
have been placed on every case, and have sold
out on several occasions. We give these men
warning, and we assure them that lhere are
detectives on their tr di who will hunt them
to their lair. It is lime that this vlliany was
stopped, and that the liberties of the people
be protected. We witnessed on Monday a
scene which beggars description. At the cor?
ot Meetiug and Broad streets, on both sides of
Meeting, stretching down from the corner to
the Clubhuuse. now Hie Untied Stales Court?
house, was a line of colored men, of all ages
and varied conditions, in rags, barefoot, half
naked, In all shapes ot garments, who were
drugged from every section of the district as
violators of the election laws. These caine for
trial. Some have been in jail for two months,
some longer some less; some have been arrest?
ed lately on charges made by some informer.
Over une hundred men, we should judge, were
in lilis plight. Ail these waited lor Hie lime ol j
Hie opening of Hie court, and when they saw ?
the United "Slates attorney going to the Court- '.
bouse they all fell lu line and marched two
and iwo imo Hie yard and up stairs, like so
many sheep lu the slaughter. Some of these
are accused of voling under age, yet they are
men ut' ramilles of three and four children, and
do nol know their age. This is one ol' Hie
most singular cases upon record. Never were
men taken up on so flimsy pretences in any
county but ibis. No other people would sutler
their liberties to be taken fruin them so lamely
us these puor inoffensive sufferers. Their Inno?
cence is Hie shield to Hie unprincipled men
who drug them from their homes. Rut there
ls a day ul reckoning coining, when the vile
unscrupulous demagogues will meet their Just
retribu-tlon."
-Under Ihe Burlingame treaty the Chinese
Government agreed to protect American mis?
sionaries in China. In view ot the persecutions
of ihe latter our Minister to Pekin called atten?
tion to Hie violation of the treaty. The Chinese
Government, it is reported, replied that they
could not do anything, as the United Slates had
first violated the. treaty by failing to protect ?
Chinese in this country, and especially on the
Pacific coast.
TEE Ky ICKERS O CK EE EIEE INS EE
Ay CE COMPANY*
Official Report of the Superintendent of
the Insurance Department of New
York-A Satisfactory Exhibit.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
CHARLESTON, S. C., May 8,1871.
For the information of policy holders in the
KNICKERBOCKER LIFE INSURANCE -COMPANY,
and to remove an erroneous Impression that,
the examination ol the affairs of companies,
In conformity with the stringent laws adopted
by New York for the special protection of in?
surers, is an indication of supposed weakness
on the part of said companies, we take plea?
sure in publishing, in full, the following ofJl
I cial report of George W. Miller, Esq., Superin?
tendent Insurance Department of the State of.
New York, as to the result of his Metalled and
critical investigations.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM S. HASTIE & SON,
General Agents for Carolinas.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. )
ALBANY, NEW YORK, April 29, 1871. j
Pursuant tp the authority vested in me by
law, and in accordance with an Intention ex-,
pressed in my annual report of 1870 to the
Legislature of this State, I have made, and
caused to be made, certain examinations into
the affairs and condition of several of the In?
surance Companies doing business In this
State.
In the month of November, an examination
of the books, accounts, assets and general con?
dition of the KNICKERBOCKER LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY of New York was instituted. That
examination hus just been completed, and al?
though in the annual report referred to it was
distinctly announced that "it need not be'con?
sidered as an imputation upon the standing of
any company that lt ls under examination,"
still as lt is claimed that an effort has been
made to use the fact of the protracted investi?
gation in this case to the disadvantage of the
j Company, I deem it due to the Company, and
1 also to the public, to make a report of the re?
sult of such examination.
Thc examination was hot made in conse?
quence ol any specific charges against the
company or its management, but in accord
' ance with the general intention above referred
! to.
The KNICKERBOCKER was organized in 1853,
upon a'capital ot $100,000, and for the first ten
year8lts progress waa alow. Since 1863, how
' ever, Its business had i'apMUiy luciuabt?il,' Uli Ul,
i as appears by the annual statement of the con?
dition of the company, December 31,1869, lt
had outstanding 22,078 policies, insuring the
sum of $66,398,439, with aggregate assets ot
$6,680.965, and aggregate liabilities of $5,
860,701.
There were but three companies organized
under the laws of New York which reported a
larger amount of business done or more assets.
The business of the company was done on the
"note" plan, and consequently quite a large
portion of its assets consisted of premium '
notes.
It had been intimated that note companies
were quite careless in regard to the accuracy
ot the statement of assets, and that notes were
frequently included among the assets which
were, iii fact, given for premiums upon poli?
cies not in force, and hence of no value.
The KNICKERBOCKER, being a leading note
company, it was thought best to make, at as
early a date as practicable, a thorough investi?
gation of all its affairs, with a view to settling
this and other questions, at least so far as that
company was concerned.
The examination made has been most ex?
tensive and exhaustive. All the notes,
amounting in the aggregate to over 25,000 lu
number, have been separately examined, a
full list made and compared with the entries
In the books, and they have, without excep?
tion, been found to be notes given upon poli?
cies ia force. All the other assets and ac?
counts of the company have also been subject?
ed to the closest scrutiny, and quite large
amounis staudlng upon the books against
agents have been disallowed, from which the
company will no doubt be able ultimately to
realize, but which are of so uncertain a value
as to prevent their being allowed in my esti?
mate of the condition ol the company.
Xotwithstancing Ute thorough sifting to which
the assets of the company have been subjected,
however. I am happy to be able to state that
they amounted on Ute first day of January, 1871,
to the sum of $7,020,972 85, while the liabilities,
including resertit fund and o?pital stock,
amounted to $6,814,996 26, leaving a surplus of
assets over all liabilities of $175,977 5!*. ' This
surplus, however, would be increased to $550,
662 84 by including the amounts disallowed as
above stated, which are claimed by the company
ta be valid and available assets, thus showing
the company ?o ba entirely solvent and entitled
to the confidence of its policyholders and the
public.
It affords me much pleasure, also, to be able
to slate that the company has adopted the
policy of, as rapidly as possible, abandoning
the "note" system and effecting insurances
upon the all-cash basis, and that with this and
oilier improved methods ot business adopted,
and the extensive business alreadyestablished,
the company has every prospect of continued
success.
Complaints have been made against this as
well as other companies, ol e. want ol*fairness
anti liberality toward policy-holders, but so tar
as the facts appear, from ray investigation, I
find that Vie Knickerbocker has honorably and
promptly met and discharged all legitimate
claims, the gross sum paid for such claims
upon policies since its organization amounting
to $2,S8l,819 30, besides dividends paid to
policy-holders amounting to $995,424 85.
In view of all the facts disclosed, I feel war?
ranted in saying that the company is entitled
to public confidence.
GEORGE W. MILLER,
Superintendent Insurance Department,
State of New York.
PARIS TO BE STORMED.
The Germans Getting Impatient..
McMahon Preparing for a Grand A?
I sault To-Day-A New General for the
Communists.
PARIS, May 5.
Three Communist battalions were captured
in the affair at Moulin Saguet. The chief ol
staffof the Commune Sotiila was arrested on
the charge ol deceiving the Commune ln-re
gard to stores in the ships under his charge.
VERSAILLES*, May 6.
It is reported that Favre has gone to Frank- .
fort in consequence of a German dispatch to
the effect that if the VersailliatB failed to enter
Paris by Monday, the Germans will enter'
Tuesday. No dring to-day. It will be resum?
ed to-morrow, and the grand assault , will
probably be made on Sunday.
VERSAILLES, May 6.
Firing all last night. Some engagements in
the trenches. The communication between
Forts Issy and Vanvres is destroyed. Supple?
mentary elections for vacancies In the Assem?
bly are postponed till after the surrender of,.
Paris.
At noon to-day a sharp engagement took
place in the trenches In front of Forts Issy and '
Vanvres. The Versailles troops carried, by aa- '
sault, a small redan defended by a force,
of Communists, who were taken prison-'
ers. The work, however, was evacuated by '
the Versal Hists, In consequence of their being
exposed to the fire of Fort Vanvres.
PARIS, May-6.
The Commune suppressed the following
Journals: The Petit Moniteur, Petit National,
Bau Temp3, Petit Presse, Petit Journal and '
Frances Temps.
A decree Issued by the committee of public
safety vests In General Bossel military direc?
tion of military operations. The committee
have also given order for the demolition of tho
Expiatory Chapel.
General Bossel has formally taken control o?.
the entire Communist army, and an order of
the day appoints General Dombro wski to com?
mand the right wing, General LaCe?ella the
centre, General Nollecaskl the left wing, and
Generals Bouge ret and Eudes to the reserves.
The commandant ot Fort Vincennes was re?
cently arrested on suspicion of disloyalty to
tho Commune. It ls said that Rossel ls un?
popular with the Commune. Rossel was dis?
missed, as commandant of Fort Issy, for In?
subordination. The Prussians still Intercept
provisions for Paris, and refuse explanations
The Communists occupied the Park of Issy.
The Commune declares Fort Vanvres still",
tenable, and that their troops carried the bar-'
ricades on the Island Jatta. Blanchet, a mem?
ber of the Commune, was arrested by order of
his associates.
FRANKFORT, May 6.
Bismarck, Favre, Pouyer and Quertler are
here.
. NEW YORK, May 6.
A World special, dated Paris, 6th, says Ros-,
sel is preparing for an offensive movement
with forty thousand of bis best men. The
Communists cannot be expelled from Fort
Issy. The advancedbatteries hare opened on
Fort Valerien.
The Latest.
PARIS, May 7.
The commandant at Vincennes asks for re?
inforcements. Rossel complains of interfer?
ence from the committee of salety. Pyatt
.rattiornori from, \.ht\ committee of safety. Ros1
sel and Dombrowski are upon bad terms.
The firln^rsouxn or tm?-en? ts ?ifeumu?^
while at Neui?ly and Asnler?s it is alternately
furious and weak. A fresh attack on the
southwest side of the city is impending.
FRANKFORT, May 7.
Bismarck and Favre have bad two meetings.
Favre asked concessions. Bismarck insisted
upon a strict and immediate compliance'with,
the preliminaries. Another consultation occurs
on Monday.
THE COTTON MOVEMENT.
NEW YORK, May 7.
The cotton movement for the week ?*ow8 a
marked falling off. The receipts at all of the
ports have been 51,452 bales, against 56,685
last week, 63,042 the previous week, and
64,156 three weeks since. The total receipts
since September have been 3,623,373-bales,
against 2,637,253 for the corresponding period
of the previous year, showing an increase of
986,120 bales in favor of the present season.
The exports from all of the ports for the week
are 71,087 bales, against 36,275 for the same
week last year. The tocal exports for the ex?
pired portion of the cotton year have been
2,687,962 bales, against 1,790,606 lor the same
time last year. The stockst all of the ports
ts 426,944 bales, against 353,068 at the same
time last year. The stock at the interior
towns are 58,632 bales, against 69,909 bales
last year. The stock in Liverpool ls 994,000
bales, against 540,000 last year. The American
cotton afloat for Great Britain amounts to
230,000 bales, against 180,000 bales lost year.
The Indian cotton afloat for Europe amounts
to 275,223 bales, against 178,113 bales last
year. During the week cold rains prevailed In
the South, which have done much damage.
In some sections planting has been delayed,
while In others a large area of land will, no
doubt, have to be-replanted.
-There is still later news of Dr. Living?
stone, the African explorer. The dispatch
comes by way ol' Bombay, from the Island of
Zanzibar, situated on the epstern coast of Af?
rica, near the sixth parallel of latitute. The
intrepid traveller ls said to be alive and well,
though he has been stripped of everything
that might facilitate his return to civilization.
There is no reason to doubt the authenticity of
the news, since it has, doubtless, come in the
lorm of a direct communication to Living?
stone's friend, Dr. Kirk, the British Consul at
Zanzibar. The Portuguese story of his mur?
der has long since been exploded; and this is
the third authentic tidings that have reached
us ol Dr. Livingstone within six months. He
may, therefore, be assumed to be making the
best of his way to the coast, with intelligence
of unknown nations and freshly discovered
realms.
QEBMAN SOOTHING CORDIAL I
AN INVALUABLE REMEDY FOR INFANTS I
This ls the-best Medicine Tor young children
s tillering with Colic, Diarrhoea, or any other com?
plaint, ia idem to Teething, lt may be given
with safety, as lt contains no opium, or other in*
jurions anodyne. $
Price, 25 cents a bottle.
Manufacturei and for sale by
DR. H. BARR.
Also by the following Druggists:
A. W. ECKEL k CO., Dr. A. RAOUL,
Dr. W. A. SERINE, A. O. BARBOT,
W. T. LITTLE k 00., J. BLACKMAN,
P. M. COHEN, Dr. E. H. KELLERS,
E. S. BURNHAM, GRAMAN k -CHWAKE
G. W. AJUAR, J. LOCKWOOD,
G. J. LUHN, W. T. LINN,
W. A. GIBSON
And by Druggists' generally/ ' jan2