University of South Carolina Libraries
VOLUME XI.-NUMBER 1883. CHARLESTON, THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 18, 1872. EIGHT DOLLARS A THE ROGUES OF THE RING. THE VULTURES THAT AXE PROTECT? ED BT GRANT'S MARTIAL LAW. Thc Colossal Robbers of Sooth Caroli? na-A Legislature Packed with scoun? drels, Black and White-Let the South Carolina Legislature Adjourn to the State Prison. [Correspondence or the Nev? York: Sun.] COLUMBIA, S. C., December 26. For ODce the old adage bas proved untrue, -and the history of events In the Legislature of tbls State within the past fortnight bas de? monstrated that lt ls not always true that '.when rogues' fall out honest men get their dues." for the rogues who were charged with the administration of the State Govern? ment bave bad a serious, falling but. While it is true, however, that the honest men ot the , State have not received their dues, this row among the members of the Ring has brought to light many damnable facts lhat have hither? to lain comfortably hidden by the veil of ob? scurity, and the well filled coffers of two de? lectable carpet-bag princes have;been made tc^pour out their treasures copiously into the depleted pockets of their colored brethren, who legislate for their constituency at the ex? ceedingly cheap consideration of six dollars .per diem. THE CASUS BELLI. It will be remembered thal ex-Congressman C. C. Bowen, after his pardon by the Pres! dent, turned his eyes toward the Gubernato? rial chair of South Carolina. His first objeot was to ruin Governor Scott's chance for a re nomination. He took a seat in the Legisla? ture. This was easily done. Being a sort of prince among the unlettered colored inhabi? tants of the sea Islands, Bowen had merely to fe t one of the leg'slators to resign and signify ls desire to bo elected. Upon presenting himself for qualification in the House some of the colored members entered a protest against bis admis: lon, and the ex-Congressman, ris? ing to explain, promised to expose the frauds of the Ring and make the pilferers of the pub? lic treasury disgorge. Having obtained bis seat, one of the first acts of his new official -career was to Introduce a resolution for the appointment of a committee of five to investi gate the alleged over-issue of bonds. The committee having been appointed, with Mr. Bowen at its head, submitted a report In which they charged the Governor and treas urer of the State with having fraudulently ls sued over six millions of State bonds, and recommended that the House "take imme? diate steps to bring to justice those who had defrauded the State and ruined her credit." BOWEN'S FLAN K MOVEMENT ON SCOTT. The recommendation contained In tbls re port was adopted as the sense of the House by an overwhelming majority, and Bowen thereupon immediately introduced a r?solu tion to Impeach Governor Scott and Treasurer Parker of high crimes and misdemeanors in office. Thia was the signal for the fray. His Excellency at once perceived that bis time for -acton had come, and as promptly began his preparations for the fight. His funds were properly arranged for distribution among his mends In the Legislature, and a market forth? with oper.ed for the purchase of votes. Dur? ing -the consideration ol the resolutions Bowen made a speech in which he openly ex posed the frauds of the Statehouse Bing. General Whipper, the black member from * Beaufort, fought by his side, and the entire battle was carried on by these two, assisted -by a few straggling colored members and the handful of white Democrats In the House. , . SCOTT'S AMBUSCADE. These two newly made Reformers prolong? ed the battle until the 22d, on which day the .General Assembly bad agreed to adjourn for the Christmas holidays. Their object was to stave off a vote un Ul the reassembling of the Legislature, wben tbey hoped to be able to t obtain a two-third vote to impeach the Gov- s ernor and treasurer. But his Excellency was I too sharp for them. He poured out his money I -Tim Hurley swears he spent $100,000- | bought votes right and left, and issued a pro? clamation convening the Assembly in extra session on the following day, and so forced a ?ote whereby the Impeachment resolutions 11 were defeated by a vote of 63 to 27. To those 11 unacquainted with the wire-workings of the Legislature Of. South Carolina, this action would appear somewhat strange on the part of the House after lt had adopted Bowen's re port, but the trouble ls Governor Scott bas too much money, and having used it with an unsparing band, can afford to snap his fingers at bis opponents. ROTTENNESS UNPARALLELED. When the Impeachment resolutions came up for consideration the question resolved itself Into a mere matter bf how much each vote was worth. Governor Scott, having made enough money out of the State treasury to pay the trifling consideration which the mom Mrs of this Legislature demand for. their votes, can afford to snap his fingers at Bowen, Hurley and Whitemore, the three reformers, and laugh their threats to scorn. The highest price, I am informed, that was paid for a vote by the Governor was $15,000, and that the recipient was Dennis, the Statehouse furniture mao. Jimmy, be lt remembered, was the chairman ef tho committee from whose report I have just cited, and as such signed the report de? nouncing the frauds, and recommending that Its perpetrators be brought to Justice. Two days before the adjournment ol' the Legisla? ture, Scott sent for Dennis to call at his office. The conversation that followed ls reported] nearly as follows : A RICH CONVERSATION. Governor Scott. Well, Dennis, what the hell do you mean to do about this impeach? ment business ? Dennis (with a wink.) Well, I dont know, Governor, but I guess the House means busi? ness,. Governor. Business, the devil ! Don't the scoundrels know that I can send one-halt of | them to the penitentiary ? Have they not all received their share of the moneys from me ? What 1B the matter with that d-d rascal Harley ? Why ls he raising such a howl ? Dennis. I don't know. But Hurley ls hand In glove with Bowen, and means to show Tight. Governor. Did you delay that report so as to prevent its reaching the House until after the holidays ? Dennis. That's all right, but the House threatens the committee with expulsion un? less a report 1B banded them in the morning. Governor. Well, you will have to fix up a report, and if you do the proper thing i'll give you that check, and keep mum about your o?er to sell out to me in New York last sum- 11 mor. (It should be stated here that In pursuance of tbls agreement Dennis did, on the follow? ing day, submit an informal report from his committee, which whitewashed the Governor, and reported that there bad been no fraudulent Issue of bonds.) Dennis. I'll do It; but you must manage to keep Bowen silent by sprlnglog some job on him. It will take about $60,000 or $75,000 more to do the business. Scott, m attend to that. Tou look out lor the report. The servant (entering.) Mr.-, of the New York Sun, would like to see your Excel? lency. Scott. Tell bim I'm not in. Go, Dennis, now, and look sharp after that report. This terminated the Interview, and on the following day Dennis did actually present the whitewashed report, and voted against Im? peachment. TIM HURLEY ON THE WAR PATH. Our old friend Tim Hurley, who was from first to last arrayed on the side ot the Impeach? ers, ls exceedingly wroth at the result. The Governor offered to buy bim off, but either failed to bid high enough, or else Timothy has struck an honest groove, and refused to be bribed. He swears that be will write to the Sun and expose the entire affair. He has, how? ever, entered into an agreement with those members whom Scott bought. Scott is te be subjected to tho bleeding process for the re? mainder of the session. Hurley agrees to In? troduce at stated times resolutions of Im? peachment which tbe majority will agree to entertain. Meantime, an agent of the organi? zation will walt apon the Governor ana re? ceive proposals. As soon as his Excellency shells out, the resolutions will be voted down. This programme is to be repeated at slated In? tervals during the session. By this means Hurley proposes to revenge himself on Scott, and the impecunious members will be enabled, to pocket some of the proceeds of the over? issue ol bonds. This plan ls nicely concocted, and all the details are arranged. Should ix be carried out according to agreement, the Gov? ernor will be In a bad way. The men whose votes he bought are perfectly unscrupulous, and will not hesitate to bleed him to the last cent. AK HONEST NEGRO. Not all of the members, however, are of the stripe of Dennis. Among the colored men are to be found a few who are honest to the backbone. One of these men came to your correspondent the day the Legislature ad {ourned, to borrow five dollars to pay his way lome. Said he : "I could have had my pay certificate cashed and had a hundred dollars in my pocket to? day, if I would have voted for dat damn rascal, Scott. But, afore God, I radder my little children starve than to take his dam money ! " I loaned him the money. THE CITT DEBT. The Law of Corporations- Whose Is t:he Debt and Who mast Pay ttl-Can Connell Try tl!? Cause ? To the Members of the City Council: GENTLEMEN-In a recent article we raised the question whether you can assecs the city debt, and therein presented reasons for be? lieving that under the charter, you yourselves would not have undertaken either to create or to assess lt; and we now propose lo show that, contracted by your predecessors, you ure as much without the power to enforce lt by taxation. It is known to you that there are two kinds of corporations, the public and private. The public, as a town council for instance, ls the agent of the State for local government. It makes laws only, and, having no capital, may be, and generally Is, vested with the power to raise the fund lor Its expenses, by taxation. The'private, as the bank or trading compa? ny, is the agent of the corporators for private anterprlse. It makes contracts only, and hav? ing capital, ls without the power of taxation, ind not paying Its debts, like natural persons, ls subject to the adjudication of the courts. It Is known to you, also, that these corpora? tions, usually distinct,are sometimes combined in the same body; and the municipal corpora? tion, the agent ol the State tor local govern? ment, ls made the agent, also, ot the people Tor their private enterprises; and so harbors, parks, gas and water-works are constructed, and lt may be known to you, or If not, the Tact ls so, that these corporations, though com? bined lu the same body, are yet distinct. So far as it is the agent of the State In making laws lt is a public corporation; so far as lt ls the agent ol the people In making contracts lt ls a private corporation, and Its acts In either character are the same, precisely, as if still apart, and in its public character it can no more make contracts, than lu Its private it can make law?, and Its expenses in making and executing laws are as necessarily assessed, and its contracts as necessarily adjudicated, as If they were the laws of a public, or the con? tracts ot a private body. Now your Council, by the charter, Is simply a public body. It has no capacity as a private corporation. As we have shown, and as you will Bee, looking Into the charter, lt was cre? ated to the regulations necessary "to the pre? servation, peace and .order of the town." To that end, it has power to make "by-laws, rules md regulations," only, respecting certain 3e?lgnated objects, and others added by toiendment. There Is no indication of a pri? ntie character-no Intimation that lt ls to ?ct o ah y business enterprise-no capacity to do io. lt has no capital, no means of raising 'unds but by assessment, and by assessment iu. to the objects of ita powers, and any lm alicatlon that it should make contracts ls positively excluded by the provision that all ,'ts acts shall be sffbjectto the '-revision, alter itlon and repeal ot the Legislature," which. If contracts, they could not oe, for reason of the prohibition In the Constitution of the United States. But lt has assumed that capacity. It has undertaken to act as a private corporation tor the paople in their business matters. It has assumed a capital, issued certificates ol stock, made investments In railroads, and Laken upon Itself the functlonsjrf a monstrous, ind most complicated moneyed corporation, ind In that capacity it has contracted. Its iertiflcates of stock are contracts, tts sub? scriptions to railroads are contracts intended to be obligatory upon the people in their private fortunes, and thence ls the debt, the propriety of whose assessment, we are now considering. And so contracted, can you also, undertake to coerce the payment ? You seem to assumenhat the obligation ^results upon rou to pay that debt, and to raise the fund for payment by taxation, and we say lt does not. We say, that so incurred, it imposes no obligation on you whatever,* and If lt does, lt gives you no power to execute that obligation apon us. Now to the proper understanding of the point we make, lt ls necessary to state that the question ls not whether you shall pay your debt. If it be your debt, pay lt, of course; and we would tiftfar from impertinent inter? ference with your sense of your own pecuni? ary or moral obligation. But lt ls not your debt. It ls our debt. Your body has assum? ed-gratuitously, we believe-to act as our agent In contracting obligations for us, and the question you consider ls whether we shall pay lt; and, not only ls it not clear that you propose any peculiar Individual sacrifices to this preservation of pecuniary lal th. but some of you may hold (he stock, and If the blush of virtuous indignation shall mantle your cheeks at what may seem to be our hesitation la the matter, ls lt not possible that it may be In? spired as much by the feeling that you will be prevented from receiving aa from making pay? ment ? Nor ls lt the question whether you. will pay Ute debt. If you hold*funds ol ours in your hands it would, we think, be unbecoming and Improper in you to apply them to this debt, dow, with so many reasons to believe lt ques? tionable, and when you know lt is ques? tioned, and that proceedings are now pend? ing in the courts to test its validity, and to re ?tralu you. Your body will have done enough In this matter to perplex us. Without capacity In the charter- without authority from'us without notice of your instentlon, to have Imposed upon us obligations to the extent of millions to no earthly advantage, upon which we have already paid more than $2,000,000 In? terest; and which, when paid, if lt be paid, must utterly exhaust our fortunes,-surely were enough for you to do. And. when we question obligations so Incurred, if you had our funds In hand, you ought hot to antici? pate our right to try that question by the payment of the debt. But you have no randa In hand. The question is not whether you will pay thlB debt, but whether you will make uspay it; and we surely may complain that rot content with such gratuitous infliction, you should persist in, as we think, the equally gratuitous enforcement, of that wrong to its final consummation. But to that have you the power ? This, lt an obligation at all, ls a legal obligation. This debt, is a contract. The subscriptions to rail? roads were contracts. Each Issue ol stock ls a contract-a contract wlih the holder that at certain rate of annual Interest he shall be paid a certain amount of money. Il ls a con? tract by you as a private, not a public, corpora? tion; as the agent, not of the State, but ol us, binding not the State, but us, it it bind at ell; and that, like every other legal obligation, is within the judicial power, ana to be enforced, If enforced at all, only on the judgment of a court. And are you a court ? Has the State given you a commission to try causes ? or do you take that power from the fact that you, as agent, made the contract ? Is it the office of agents to determine the validity of the ob? ligations they undertake to impose, and to ex? ecute them? Could the broken bank, for whose debts the corporators by law In this State are liable, render judgment and execu? tion against them * And ls lt not, in fact, an additional objection lo the exercise of this power by a corporation, that it ls, itself, the agent contracting the obligation it undertakes to adjudicate. TAXPAYERS. THE KU-KLOX TRIALS. . TEN MORE PRISONERS PLEAD 6 XTILTY. DKcharge of in Old O?an-The Answer of Colonel mcmaster to Judge Bend. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TEE NEWS.] COLUMBIA. S. G., January 3. Ten more of the Spartanburg Ku-Klux pris? oners pleaded guilty to-day, and told their story to the court. One poor old man among them was discharged on his own recogni? zance. Colonel McMaster submitted his answer to the rule to show cause why he should not be stricken from tae roll of attorneys for refus? ing to answer Judge Bond's questions, as to the whereabout of Dr. Avery. Mr. Ficklin made an able argument In Colonel McMaster's favor. The court reserved tbelr decision until to-morrow. _ PICKET. NOTES AND DETAILS BY MAIL. The Avery Trial-Speeches by Messrs. Mcmaster and Wilson fur the Defence -Harangue of Mr. Corbin-A Verdict of Guilty. fFROSf OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] COLUMBIA, January 2. In the United States Court tbls morning, after some preliminary business, Mr. Cham? berlain made an argument of nome length as to the propriety of proceeding with the trial ol Dr. Avery In the absence of the de? fendant. He claimed that the trial should go on, his principal point being that, while a prisoner could not be deprived of his right to be present at all stages of bis trial, still he could not take ad/antage of his voluntary wa: -or of that right by going away with the obvious purpose of escaping the control and jurisdiction of the court to deleat the ends of justice. The only case he found to sustain this view was a counterfeiting case in Ohio reported In Bishop on Criminal Procedure, Section 687. The counsel for defence re? frained from argument upon the polar, and Judge Bond announced the opinion of tbe court. He said that the court bad to decldd this question Immediately, while they would prefer to have further time for consultation^ They thought lt safest to proceed to trial, be? cause all questions then before the bar could be argued when motion for Judgment came to be made, If the verdict should be against the prisoner. Mr. McMaster then proceeded with his ar? gument to the Jury, which was Interrupted yesterday: He criticised very severely the composition of the jury, explaining that lathe first place the jurors were selected by the three collectors of Internal revenue. Among the voters of this State there were about two whites to three colored men, but the jury Usia showed no such proportion ol white men as that. Another remarkable peculiarity was shown. There were, In South Carolina, but very few white Radical?, but strangely enough almost every white man drawn -upon these juries was a Radical. Eleven of the jury whom he was addressing were violent partisans. It was infinitely woree than the notorious Episcopal Juries who tried O'Con? nell, the Irish liberator, and the other Catho? lics, during the troubles In Ireland. w?f the present Jury, nine were'colored and three were white. The outrages had been commit, ted on colored ?nen, and naturally the colored men upon the jury were inflamed against the men who were brought to trial for those outrages. The world had never seen a par? allel to these cases. Macaulay bad said that In the Irish cases Just referred to there was a reasonable certainty of a verdict against the prisoner; but here the chances were Increased one hundred fold. But be declared If he were a colored man he would pl orv lo aa oppoeta*. nlty such as would be afforded by being on that jury to show his race was flt for freedom that a black Jury could rise above the pas? sions and prejudices of tbelr race and do Jus? tice according to the facts proven. He knew that he would have to conquer a prejudice la their minds because Dr. Avery had ran away ; bathe begged them not to let that warp their judgment of his case. The true way to Judge ot bis action was to put themselves ia his place, and th*>n say If they would not have acted as be did. There had been an effort made to connect hlu (the counsel) with com? plicity ia the defendael's escape: but as ta that he had nothing to say, for that was not the time or place. Dr. Avery was gone, and he boped he was by that time in a coun? try which be thinks freer than- this. Dr. Avery had come to that court positive of his innocence. He bad not known a member of the jury. He had been told that eleven of them were partisans, but still he hoped for Justice, but be was afterward astonished, horrified at the practices resorted to to secure conviction. The prosecution introduced Its blackest testimony as to outrages in York County, not pretending to connect those out? rages with Dr. Avery, but Introduced solely to paint in the blackest background to the scene, and play upon the passions of the Jury. Then he bad Introduced his witnesses. Some of them were too scared to talK, and others were kept away from the witness stand. . He knew from his position In the community that ihe prosecution were determined, by any means, to attach to him the damning stigma of all ihe outrages committed by the very dregs and offscourlng ol" York County, the devils of the coal Melds, and stamp the gentlemen of that district with the infamy of these acts. He knew that three months would not roll by be? fore those very devils who had committed these merciless acts would still have honor lett to aquit bim (Dr. Avery) of participation in those orlmes. But wheo be saw ten years In the penitentiary, In convlet's garb, and in a convict's cell, because be was a gentleman, could anybody blame him lor going, "where the woodbine twlneih?" He bad seen an aged gentleman sent to prison for Ave years because forsooth, la the language of the court, he bad not put forth his Influence and stopped these outrages. The counsel asked, In the nante of God, bow could be do lt? If the moral force of this community bad been so great as that, could the stealing, bribery and rascality lo the government of this State have gone oa until the debt had been piled up to mountain height? Would not this venal Legislature have been long ago expurged? The court had told the prisoner re? ferred to that be should have stop? ped these outrages. No matter that he was a quiet farmer, living at a dis? tance from the outrages. He should forsooth have gone to Yorkvllle, twenty miles from home, and stopped these outrages. It was ab? surd to Bay that the state of society In South Carolina, Georgia and Florida can be judged by such rules as In a social condition of pro? found peace. Those States bad been harried, outraged, ravaged by war, and bad not yet been settled to their normal condition. - The counsel then reviewed the evidence, tearing to tatters the fltmsy testimony lor the prose? cution, and proving that Dr. Avery had never belonged to but one organization bearing any resemblance to the Ku-Klux, and that was an organization in 1868, purely for home protec? tion, perfectly innocent and laudable In Its purposes, and which bad been dissolved years before the outrages in York County were com? mitted. Mr. Wilson followed on the same side, and completed the reductlo ad absurdam of the theory of the prosecution. He first remarked that although the departure of his client had added aa unexpected and heavy burden upon him lt should not deter him, and he begged that it should not prevent the Jury from doing their whole duty. The flight was not necessa? rily a proof of guilt. It might reasonably be attributed to despair. He saw that he was drifting to that roselBtrom from which no one man had yet returned, and he took refuge In flight, but tbelr duty was unchanged. The counsel then read the enforcement act of 1870, and showed the absurdity of charging that the organization of 1868 was in defiance of that law, and he pointed out dozens of the glaring discrepancies and contradictions in the very testimony of the prosectlon, and declared, what has been perfectly patent to every listener, that before- any Intelligent jury the defendant would need no furlber vindication of his innocence than the very testimony against him. Mr. Corbin then made bis argument for the prosecution. He laid great stress upon the flight of Dr. Avery, claiming that that was a confession of guilt. He dilated upon the irrelevant testimony of his old stand-bys, and made a most inflammatory speech, based upon the outrages of last spring. He evaded most of tbe points made by the counsel for the defence, but labored very hard to recon? cile the apparent perjury In the testimony of their unfortunate witness. Postle. He also digressed to ex Dress an opinion of Rev. Mr. Latham and Rev. Dr. Winkier, the conclusion of his harangue being as follows : uNow, gentlemen, we come to another In? teresting matter in wblsh the ministers are engaged. I wish I could find the ministers of Yo" k County In better company. It ls only a day or two since there was a long article In a New Tors paper defending the Ku-Kluxlng in York County, from Rev. Mr. Latham, of York County. Only a day or two since we saw a long letter in THE CHARLESTON NEWS from a Rev. Mr. Wlnkler. He says: 'To anybody who knows the facts about this Eu Klux busi? ness, he would not be true te his Cod or his country if he wished well to these prosecu? tions.' What do you think of a minister of this kind ? What have you to say for a man I who preached Christ and Him crucified-had a commission for that-but who says: I never said a word against Ku-Kluzism. Whipping, killing and murdering could be done ana I say nothing about lt, because I don't preach poli? tics. Is there any surprise that Ku-Klux could exist In York County ? "The question of whether Dr. Avery was In this conspiracy ls to be determined by you, by the testimony given you In thia case; and I think, gentlemen, that I am not doing myself Injustice or you wrong by saying that I think you will agree with me that the testimony In this case and the conduct of the defendant and his counsel show you, equally, that he ls guilty." After an absence of about half an hour, the Jury returned and rendered a verdict of guilty. The following named prisoners appeared and pleaded guilty under the Ku-Klux act: First. Glbeon Cantrell, who said he lived in Spartanburg County, was slxtv-slx years of age, and bad belonged to Rprae Creek Klan, but was never on any raid, and had joined for protection. Jesse Tate, Cbrlstenbury Tate, David Collins. Billy Scruggs, Judge Edwards, King Edwards and Sherwood Blackwell were members, and Alfred Harris was chief. Next, Turner Phillips, Lewis Sally and W. S. Blackwell. The last three stated that they had been forced Into the klan against their wishes. Tbe court directed the marshal <o bring the prisoners up to-morrow, to be sentenced! and adjourned tl;l to-morrow, at eleven A. M. _ PICKET. ABOLISH THE FENCE LAW. The In J mt Ice of the Pr?tent Fence Law -Will not the Bottom Rall More First ? A correspondent cf the Columbia Union, over the nom de plume of 'Tenant," writing from Hopkins's Turnout, In Richland County, says: JSvery friend of agricultural progress will be gratified to see that the subject of fences has at last been mooted In the Legislature. Improved stock, Improved implements and improved culture may receive a full abare of our attention, but with all this, we will ad? vance but slowly as long as the "fence law," as lt now stands, remains a stumbling block In our path. The great revolution In our agricultural sys? tem necessitates a change also lo this respect, and it is demanded by toat great principle on which all good laws are based-the greatest good to the greatest number. ' Let us take for Instance a plantation of eight hundred acres cleared land. The true maxim of a "few acres well cultivated" re? quires about half this tract to be abandoned. The owner and tenants, or parties renting the same, select the most fertile spots; but In or? der to protect the crops the whole body must be fenced or each tenant must enclose his own field. Would il not be more rational to enclose a pasture of thirty or forty acres for fchftrtMoeAfciAjf: all Darl|e$ ftfl. the plantation ? Indeed Itwould, but- here Ts" tue aiumutCf there is no guarantee that the occupants of the neighboring plantation will act BO wisely, and the whole eight hundred acres must be enclosed to guard against a few scrub cattle which probably are not worth one-iourlh the cost of the fences. Again, how many plantations ia this State are destitute of "rall timber." It 'ls a fact familiar to axmen that every tree ls not suit? able for rails. Many forests which still have an abundance of timber have been worked over and over again with the maul and wed?. A law requiring every man to enclose his own stock will benefit the landowner because lt will spare his limited supply of wood land. It will benefit tbe tenant, because lt will re? quire less labor to enclose bis few head of stock than to keep a "lawful fence" around his crop, and he will not, as ls now often the case, be called from his plough to replace the fence which some careless "possum hunter" has burned. His stook being under his eye always, will be safe, and receive a greater share of attention. And lastly, lt will benefit all parties. In the fa:t that lt will abolish the most fruitful cause of quarrel and contention that ever cursed an agricultural community. "Every man shall live by the sweat ot his brow, but his cattle shall live by the sweat ol his neighbor's brow." Thus virtually stands the law of South Caro? lina. Shall we change lt? Shall we adopt what other communities have proved to be a wise, Just and good law? Or shall we continue In force one which is every year becoming more oppressive, more unjust, and rendering our beautiful land more unsightly. We are told that we cannot get rid of the fence because the "bottom rail ls on tap," but that rall ought to be the first one to move. WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP. WASHINGTON, January 3. The ship Osprey, of Boston, ls traced by the United States Treasury records to the coast of Australia, Ihe claimant of the Tichborne estates asserts he was saved by the O.'prey Irom shipwreck off the coast of Brazil. The records were searched at the instance ot the English attorneys for the defendants. It ls stated that the steamer Congress sails with sealed orders, supposed to have refer? ence to the Hornet. THE WEATHER THIS DAT. WASHINGTON, D. C., January 3. Clear weather, with northwesterly winds, is probable for Thursday from Florida to Ken? tucky and westward. Cloudy and clearing weather prevailing on the South Atlantic coast. The barometer will continue to fall in tbe Middle and Eastern States, with cloud and fog. Westerly winds, with cloudy weath? er, continues over the lakes. An area of low barometer will develop In Nebraska and Min? nesota. Warning signals are ordered. Dan? gerous winds are not anticipated for to-night. Yesterday's Weather Reports of the Signal Service, V. S. A.-4.47 P. M., Local Time. Place of Observation. AuguBca, Ga.. Baltimore. Bustoa. Charleston.... Chicago. Cincinnati. Galveston. Key West, Fla Knoxville, Tenn. Memphis. Tenn.. Mt. Washington. New Orleans... New Tork. Norrolk. Philadelphia. Portland, Me.... Savannah . St. Louis. Washington, DC. Wilmington,N C. H 30.20 30.10 30.38 30.16 30.07 30.04 30.2.' 30.14 30.04 30 23 30.05 30.14 30.26! 30.14 30.26 30.48 3t>.16 80.?0 30.18 30.15 NW NB NE E W w NW N SW w s N NB NE NE N 55 SE 29 W 41 SE 55ISE Gentle. LI gat. Gentle. Light. Fresh. Gentle. Fresh. Gentle. Fresh. Brisk. Fresh. fresh. Fresh. Gentle. fresh. Light. Fresh. Llghr. Light. Non.-The weather resort dated 7.47 O'CIOCK, this morning, will be posted in the rooms of the L'a amber of commerce at 10 o'clock A. M., and, together with the weather chart, may (by the courtesy of the Chamber) be examined by ship, masters at any time during the day. THE ROCHESTER OUTRAGE. .STATE TROOPS IK POSITION-MENA? CES OF THE MOB. Setting the Colon-A Woman in Peril Plucking Honors from the Cannon's Month-The Public Peace Mnst be Pre? ?erred. KOCHESTEP.. January 3-Midnight. The main portion of tbe crowd has dis? persed. A public meeting 1B proposed for to? morrow. The captains of the companies disa? vow having ordered the firing whereby four citizens were killed. The negroes have aban? doned the streets. John Utter, who ls killed, was a prominent German citizen. The mill lar y claim that they were assailed with stones. [SSCOND DISPATCH ] ROCHESTER. January 3. From three until eleven this morning the city was comparatively quiet. Four companies of the fifty-tour th regiment are guarding the jail and Its approaches, and loaded' cannon are placed to command the bridges. At eleven o'clock the crowd assembled, and there ls a ?rood deal of booting of tbe military, but no overt act is committed. At half-past eleven o'clock some one placed on the canal boa', In the slip of Court street, a flag on which were the words, "Avenge your brothers." Brigadier-General Clark tore it down, and Ihe crowd rushed upon bim, and for a short time be wes lu peril, but he was released and firearms were handed to him by his friends. Ihe sheriff has ordered out the remaining six companies of the Fifty-fourth regiment, and they are now assembling at the arsenal. It is learned that there will be more trouble this afternoon and evening, and the authorities are determined to defend the Jail, but they wish the negro Howard well out ol ll. Further particulars of the shooting last eve? ning show that the soldiers were pelted by "the mob with brickbats and stones, and seve? ral were Injured. An order to charge was given, and some of the men fired Instead. [THIRD DISPATCH.] ROCHESTER, January 3. There ls a considerable crowd about the Jail, but the heavy rain checks tbe excitement, and there has been no violence since noon. Preparations are made to meet any emergency. The negro Howard has been indicted. [FOURTH DISPATCH.] ROCHESTER, N. T., January 3. The police charged the mob gathered around the Jail, driving them through the streets in every direction. There is a great crowd now (four o'clock) in Buffalo street, at tbe inter? section of State. Four veteran companies are sworn In as special police. Several soldiers who stepped put of the lines were knocked down by the mob. Howard will not be brought before the court until lt ls known whether his victim will die. (FIFTH DISPATCH.! ROCHESTER, Januarys. The Judges of the Oyer and Terminer Court directs the sheriff not to take Howard from Jail at present, and to proteot public property and to preserve the public peace at all haz? ards. The howitzers are removed to posi? tions where they command Exchange street and the approaches from the east side of the river more effectually. CRIMES AND CAS VAL TIES. A Fire in Kentucky. LOUISVALE, January 3. A Are In Somerset, Pulaski County, burned several buildings, Including the courthouse. Loss $76,000. Triple Murder in Connecticut. HARTFORD, January 3. A mau, his wife and another woman have been murdered at Windsor Rock. No clue. The Mormon Leader. SALT LAKE, January 3. Brigham Young ts refused ball. Young gave the Federal Government ene of his houses for a prison, wherein Young ls confined. -nxmhlp-dvcrt YtlhBinr. _ NEW YORK, January*37~ Two ruffians seized a respectable married woman on Eighth avenue and carried her to a disreputable house. The woman fought, and one of the twain split ber forehead with a brass knuckle and fled. The other was ar? rested and proved to be George Schuyler Burns, who was convicted of a similar out? rage a year ago. HILLED IN COURT. General R, Davis, of Mississippi, Shot Dead. An unpleasant state of fe/Ung has existed between General Renben Davis and S. M. Meek, both lawyers of Mississippi, for some time back. In last July or August these gen? tlemen appeared In Aberdeen, Mississippi, on opposite sides of a killing case, which was in course of examination before the circuit court of that place. The person under trial was C. Taylor Hill, who was charged with murder. Davis was defending the prisoner, and Meek was prosecuting. It is generally represented that Davis bad what ls forcibly called "a vio? lent way" about bim; whereas Meek was upon ordinary occasions among the mild? est of men, a modest, unobtrusive gentleman. He was Insulted by Davis ar. that lime, and felt much aggrieved. After that they never spoke to each other. Cn Friday last they again met on opposite sides of a case In the courthouse of Columbus, Mississippi, when Davis, as usual, indulged in violent and offen? sive language, and so Irritated Meek that be could bear lt no longer. He said : "Davis, I can't stand your brow-beating any longer. Defend yourself." Meek jerked out his pistol, and Davis proceeded to draw his weapon, but was too slow, and was shot before be bad his weapon ready for use. This was In the court? house. In the presence of the Judge and a full court, Great excitement prevails throughout the town consequent upon the shooting. General Davis was a colonel of the Second Mississippi Regiment during the Mexican war. He was a general of the sixty-day Mississippi militia ia the late war. He was before the war a member of the United States Congress from the Aberdeen District, Mississippi. He served two years. After that, he returned home and followed bis profession of criminal lawyer, in which he achieved long ago a fine reputation. Davis was about fifty-eight or sixty years of age. S. M. Meek ls now perhaps forty years old, and stands at the head of bis profession.-Memphis Appeal. THE GRANT RING IN NEW ORLEANS. NEW ORLEANS, January 3. Yesterday the Senate had no quorum, the customhouse partisans absenting themselves. The sargeant-at-arms sought them Ineffectu? ally, in the House Carter (antl-Warmoth) received a vote of thanks and an endorsement of bis official acts by a handsome majority. This ls regarded as a decided customhouse or Grant Bing victory. THE WINTER WEATHER. .. SAK FRANCISCO. January 3. The weather cleared on New Year's Day. Twenty-five hundred tons of salt and the works were washed away at Alemeda. OMAHA, January 3. Four eastern bound passenger trains, near Shoeman, bare been two days trying to shovel their way through. BERGH AND THE BIRDS. ' NEW YORK, January 3. The pigeon shooting match of the Long Island Shooting Club was Interrupted yester? day by Bergh. A member shot two birds, however, to enable Bergh lo make a test case in the courts. The society, on the other hand, threaten to sue Bergh for trespassing on the club ground. THE OLD WORLD'S NEWS. LONDON, December 3. The Times, in discussing Catacazy's recall, says that minister served bis government zeal? ously but not Judiciously. Slr Charles Dllkes's supporters are preparing a grand demonstration In bis honor. BERLIN, January 3. Yon Boon has retired from the ministry of GKZELET ONTHETRESIDEITCY. The Fail Text ot his Famous Letter. Mr. Greeley acknowledges the genuineness of the following, which he call? Man old prt-l vate letter:" ? \ . STEW YORK TRIB?NE, I a ? Sf October 18,1871. f P. Donan, Esq., lexington, Mo.: MT DEAR SIR-1 have yours of the 14th lost. I have no doubt that the policv you sue gest ls that which your party ought roadODt They .should have taken up Salmon p Chase in 1868. Then, as the result of that contest the return of genuine peace and thrift would have been promoted. That policy gave you more last year in Missouri than could have been achieved by a party triumph. Yon only err as to the proper candidate, am not the man you need. Your party ls mostly free trade, and I am a ferocious pro? tectionist. I have no doubt that I might be nominated and elected byyonr help; out lt would place us all In false positions. Il I, who am adversely Interested, can see this, I am sure your good sense will, on reflection, realize lt. You must take some man like Gratz Brown or Trumbull, or General Cox, (late secretary of the Interior,) and thus help to pacify and reunite our country anew. Yours, HORACE GREELEY. SHOOTING SCRAPES IN MARION. [From the Marlon Star.] -Mr. Resto Hinds was accidentally shot by his brother on Christmas day. The wound ls not considered dangerous. -We are informed that a negro by the name of Locklear shot another colored man lu the knee, in the neighborhood of Mr. John L. Smith's, last Friday. -Mr. Len Posto a, a very old man, was shot j In the back ot tbe head and dangerously wounded on -the 21st ultimo, near W. M. McNeil's store, in Marlon County, by a negro named Stone, brother of Barn Stone, who was convicted at the last term of court of commit? ting an assault with Intent to kill on Stephen Parker. On the day alluded to, Mr. Poston was at McNeTs store, where he had received some money In the presence of Stone. When he had started home, a short distance lrom the store, he passed Stone standing by a tree , with bis gun, which he fired when Mr. Pos-1 ton was about twenty paces from him, lodg lng several buckshot in the back of his heat The shot have been extracted, and the patient ls doing well. The murderer ls still at large. TILE TROUBLES OF. TWEED. NEW YORK. January 3. The counsel for the people propose to ex? cept to young Tweed as surely for his father on the ground that love and affection aa a consideration are Insufficient to constitute a good title. Tweed will not go to Albany j until his ball bonds are arranged. Special STatices. ^??TISST^NATTONAL BANK OP i CH ARLES TOS-CHARLESTON, JANUARY 8,1872. The annual election for DIRECTORS of this Bank will be held at the Banking house on TUESDAY next, the ninth (0th) Instant. Polls open from 12 M. to half-past l o'clock P. M. WM. C. BREESE, Jani-thmtoS Cashier. ?BF* ACADEMY OF MUSIC DRAWING Club Lists, on the following plana, are now open.J for members to join: 1. Small and Large Clubs to divide equally. 2. Each member selects his own Tlc ket and de? posita lt with the Treasurer of the Club. One half of any Prize drawn by a Ticket to be given to the member who chose it; the other hair to be owned by Club. 3. Cubs appropriating three-fourths and nine tenths on the same principle. The best plan to secure something in the BUT? LER, CHADWICK k GARY DRAWING, ls to put hair the amount invested in single-tickets, and 'jutu III- ??rn t .iMM-t^Q_jn?rftJ<.-one_nrig?-j In every sixty-two tickets. Any smaller Clubs formel that wish to Increase tbe sizs of Club, can do so oy applying to me, who will add them to smaller clubs now formed. Apply to EBEN COFFIN, Sub-Agent, Office, E. M. Moreland, No. 29 Broad street. decSO /SF* FRESH VACCQO MATTER, JUST taken from the Arm, kept constantly on hand at BCRNHAM'S Drug Stole. . j an 3-6 /JF* PEOPLE'S NATIONAL BANK, CHARLESTON, S. C., JANUARY 2, 1872.-Prepa? ratory to the removal or the Safe?, Ac, from the Old to the New Vault of this Bank, persons who have Special Deposits on hand therein, (such as Boxes and Packages,) are requested to have them I removed by the 4th instant to some other place of | safety for the time being. H. G. LOPER, jans . Cashier. jEaT* OFFICE OF THE CITY APPRAISE ER, CITY HALL, CHARLESTON, S. 0., JANUARY l, 1572.-NOTICE.-This office will be opened from this date, and remain open until the 20th instant, tor Issuing Licenses for the year 1872. WM. H. EASTERBY, Janl-18 city Appraiser. jar THE CHARLESTON CHARITA? BLE ASSOCIATION, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREE SCHOOL FUND.-OFFICAL RAFFLEB NUMBERS. CLASS NO. 278-MORNING. 56-74-77-30-42-13- 9-78-65-69-52-54 CLASS No. 279-EVENING. 47-24-16-46-23- 4-28-12-67- 3-11-34 AS witness our band at Charleston this 3d day of January, 1872. FENN PECK, JAMES GILLILAND, oct3 Sworn commissioners. pa* CITIZENS' SAVINGS BANK OF SO?PH CAROLINA - CHARLESTON BRANCH, No. 8 BROAD STREET.-All moneys deposited In this Bank on or before the arm day of each calen? dar month will bear interest (six' per cent.) for that menth, as if deposited on the 1st. D. RAVENEL, Jr., dec306_'_Assistant Cashier. pa* UNION BANK OF SOUTH CARO? LINA, CHARLESTON, 29th DECEMBER 187L DIVIDEND.-A SEMI-ANNUAL DIVIDEND OF FOUR PER CENT, free from tax, having been declared by the Board of Directors, the same will be paid to Stockholders on and after TUESDAY, 2d day of January next. dec30-6 H. D. ALEXANDER, Cashier. FIBST NATIONAL BANK OF CHARLESTON, CHARLESTON, 28TH DECEMBER, 1871.-DIVIDEND N0T1CE.-A Seml-Annual Divi? dend or SIX (6) PER CENT, or SIX DOLLARS PER ; SHARE (tree of tax) having been declared by the j Board or Directors, the same will be paid to stock? holders on and after JANUARY 2D, 1872. dec.9 WM. c. BREESE, Cashier. ~pf CITIZENS' SAVINGS BANK OF SOUTH CAROLINA-CHARLESTON BRANCH, No. 8 BROAD STREET.-On and after THURSDAY, 18th January, 1872, the regular semi-annual inter? est will be paid to depositors. All Interest not paid on the 3ist day of January will be added to the principal of the depositor, and will draw interest as tr deposited on tue 1st January. Depositors are requested to bring in their books, that the interest may be entered. Interest ls c:mponnded quarterly, but payable as heretofore in January and July. D. RAVENEL. Jr., dec30-20 ' Assistant cashier. ON MARRIA G E . Happy relier for Yonne Men from the effects of Errors and Abuses In early life. Manhood re? stored. Nervous debility cared. Impedimenta to Marriage removed. New method or treat? ment. New and remarkable remedies. Booka and Circulara aent free, In sealed envelopes. Ad? dress HOWARD ASSOCIATION, Na 3 South Ninth street, Philadelphia, Pa, ootia Special ??oiites. CONSIGNEES PER MERCHANTS' LISE Schosner VRAIE, from New Yorkt will tena * to Adger's North Wharf for goods before sunset. No claims allowed after goods are removed. Jan4-1 . WILLIAM ROACH A CO. fi** CONSIGNEES PER STEAMSHIP SEA G CLL, from Baltimore, are hereby notified that she ls THIS DAT discharging cargo at Pier No. lr Union, Wharves. AU gecds not taten away at sunset will remain on the wharf at con sign?es' risk. MORDECAI A 0?? " J*n4-i ' .> Agents. /ar* CON SIGNEE NOTICE -rTHE schoonef J. H. STICKNEY, from Baltimore, ls dis charging ter cargo at Kerr's wharf. Goods re? maining on tho dock at sunset will be stored at ' risk and expense of owners. . jans STREET JRQTHEBSJA CO., Agents; pf* RAFFLE.-A BEAUTIFUL ' SET Of TOY FURNITURE to be RAI ned at ; MCLEAN'S Stores, Kos. 844 and 448 King a tree t. ' Everybody . that sees lt wants lt, especially those who have a ittle girl to give ltto. janl _?s?-CITY HALL, .OFFICE CLERK OF COUNCIL, CHARLESTON, fi. C., DECEMBER 29, . 1871 .-Estimates will be received at this office until the 6th- of January. 1873, at it M., for the b mid in g of a PLANE ROAD on -King street, frcm Shep herd street, to City Boundary. Same to be ' made per running foot, according to the plans and specifications in the City Engineer's office. - Estimates to be directed to Committee on Con? tracts. - : .W.'W. SIMONS, -: %r deoaro' " ? -Clerk of Conuco.' ^r-NOTICEl-THREE WEEKS AFTER date application win be made to the Planters' and Mechanics' Bank, of South Carolina, for renewal of Certificate No. 14,184, for Ten Shares, and'Oar* tlflcatoNo.l?, 103, for Se ven Shares in the Capital Stock of said Bank, standlog In the name of MES. -ELIZABETH SMITH, the original having been lost or destroyed., decal-ths >Bt*SCREVEN HOUSE.-NOTICE TO PARTIES INTERESTED.-Major JOHN W. CAM- 1 EROS has consented to*condoot, and' la daly ap? pointed Manager of the 80 RE TES HOUSE. decao-imo ... . R. BRADLEY. -- jirNATURES OWN BE2IEDY.-GER- - TAIN CURE FOR HEADACHE, Dyspepsia, Dis .asesor the Kidneys, Ac-SARATOGA PAVIL? ION SPRING WATER. Try lt. For sale by all Druggists. . - : . . decl8-3snh . ST CLEAR AND HARMLESS AS WA? TER-NATT ANS'S CRYSTAL DISCOVERY FOR - THE HAIR.-A perfectly clear preparation in one ; bottle, as easily applied as water, for restoring "to gray hair its natnral color and youthful appear- . ance, to eradicate and prevent dandruff,1 to. pro? mote the growth ot the hair and stop itt falling j oat. It ls entirely harmless, and perfectly free from any pola on otu s ab J tan ce, and Will therefore take the place .of all the dirty ind unpleasant preparations now in use. Namer aus tea tiruonhVs have been sent us from many of oar most promi? nent citizens, some er which are subjoined. Ia everything in which the articles now in use are objectionable, CRYSTAL DISCOVERY IS' perfect. It is warranted to contain neither Sogar of Lead? Sulphur or Nitrate of Sliver, lt does not soil tte clothes or scalp, is agreeably perfumed, and 1 makes one of the beat dressings lor the Hair tn ase. It restores the color af the Hair "more per? fect and uniformly than any other preparation,'' and always does so in from three to ten days, virtually feeding the roots of the Hair, with all the nourishing qualities necessary to-its growth and Healthy condition; lt restores the decayed andlndaces a new growth of the Hair more pod lively than anything else. The application of ?vms wonicniumscuvery toto procaces a pieasainr and coollngeffect on the scalp and gives the Hair a pleasing and elegant appearance. < We call especial attention to the fact that a limited nu moer of trial bottles will be given way gratuitously to those wishing to try it. Yod will notice that m parse lng this course oar aim ls io convince by the actual merits of the article. ARTHUR NATT ANS, Inventor and Proprietor,- Washington, D. c. For sale by the Agent, - DB. e. BABB, Ko. 131 Meeting street, Charleston, s. a novia-stnthly_ . SntiLytt*. ' -pAOLFIO GUANO-COMPANY'S COMPOUND' ACID PHOSPHATE OF LIME,/ FOR COMPOSTING WITH COTTON BEEJjfsf PRICE-$25 CASH, WITH USUAL ADVANCE FOR TIME. This article ls prepared under the superintend? ence of Dr. ST. JULIAN RAVENED, expressly for Composting with Cotton Seed. . It was introduced by this Company two years ago, and its use has fully attested its value. 200 to 260 pounds of this article per acre, properly composted with the same Weight of cotton seed, famishes the planter with a Fertilizer or the high? est excellence at the smallest cost. A Compost prepared with tula article, as by printed direc? tions furnished, contains all the elements of fer? tility that can enter into a Plrst-Ciass Fertilizer, while its economy must commend its liberal use to planters. For supplies and printed directions, for Composting, apply to J. N. ROBSON, Agent Pacific Guano Company, Nos. es East Bay and 1 and 2 Atlantic wharf, Charleston, S. C. JNO. S. REESE A CO., General Agents. nov27-3mo8D*c ?1 0 L ? B L E PACIFIC GUANO. PRICE, $45 CASH, WITH USUAL ADVANCE ^ FOB TIME. Experience m the use of this GUANO for the pas. six yearsAn thia State, for Cotton and Com, has so far established its character for excellence as to render comment unnecessary. In accordance with the established policy of the Company to furnish the best Concentrated Ferti? lizer at the lowest cost to consumers, this Guano ls put into market this season at the above re? t? aced price, which the Company ls enabled to do by reason or its large faculties-an 1 the reduced cost of manufacture. The supplies put into market this season are, as heretofore, prepared under the personal superin? tendence of Dr. St. Julian Ravenel, Chemist of the Company, at Charleston, S. C., hence planters may rest assured that ita quality and composition is precisely the same as that heretofore sold. At the present low price, every acre planted can be fertilized with 200 pounds Guano at a cost not exceeding the present value of 80 pounds of cotton, while experience has shown that under favorable condition of season and cultivation, the crop la inoreased by the application from two to three-fold the natural capacity of the soil, hence nnder no condlUon could its application fall to compensate for the outlay. Apply to J- N. ROBSON, Agent Pacific Guano Company, Nos. 08 East Bay and 1 and 2 Atlantic Wharf, Charleston, S. a JOHN 3. REESE A CO., General Agents. nov27-3mosnAC ? Senilis ?tlacrjinee. TECES WEED F. F. SEWING MACHINE has not yet become such a drug la the market as to require tobe hawked through the streets ot left at the residences against the wishes of the oo cnpints. But my sales have not diminished, nor has the reputation of these Machines suffered bj competition. Call and see them and yon will be convinced a their superiority. D. B. HASELTON, dec20>lmo N?. 307 KING STREET.