Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?,-i-1-.-i-:-?-:----?- '-;-r.--. ." . ?'"Tl Z????J? i VOLUME IX._NUMBER 1927. CHARLESTON, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 15, 187?. J, EIGHT DOLLARS A YEA?. . OUR BLACKGUARD S0L0??S. THE LAST HOURS OF A PROFLIGATE j ASH VENAL LEGISLATURE. A Fitting Close to a Disgraceful Record -Scene? on the Floor of the House The Woman Suffrage Business-Mr. Treasurer Parker's Neat Little Trick The Refusal of Pay Regarded as "Another Form of Slavery"-Acts which have Become Laws, &c. [FROH OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] COLUMBIA, March 13. The agony is over, and the Assembly is ad? journed. It has faded away like a nubilous shadow-dissolved like a noxious exhalation, lu lite it has been unlovely, and In death lt has not belied its record. As lt lived, it has diel-an uncouth, malformed and abortive [ monstrosity, its birth a blunder, its life a ?crime, and its death a blessing. The manner of its death was characteristic. It has been said, or It ought to have been said, that a man shows his true character in articule mortes, and the General Assembly has certainly to? night gone out in a perfect blaze of coneis yncy with Its recent record. The scene In the night session of the House, which was the final session of this Legislature Ol unhappy memory, was a subject for a painter, or for aa abler pen than that of your bumble correspondent. That peculiar float- J lng population that fills the hotels (and erst | the bar-rooms) of Columbia during a legisla? tive session t was present In full force in the 'lower house. The chamber of the Souse, lt must be well understood, ls a gorgeously appointed chamber, with Axminster carpets to deaden the thumps ol the members' brogans, with elaborate desks which commonly afford the resting places for the same brogane. with gorgeous curtains and cornices and lam-11 requins to shutout the sunlight which would 11 haroly care to Illumine the Interior, and.with a plenitude of cuspadores lavishly distributed I j with the design of catching tortultously a moiety of the vile expectorations that are as j ] lavishly ejected. All this magnificence, how? ever, only serves to make the use to which lt 11 is put the more incongruous, and to-night this gorgeously appointed chamber was crowded ? < with as miscellaneous an assortment of hu? manity as can well be Imagined. Tbe floor was overrun with members and their friends, (he aisles were jammed beyond the possibility of squeezing through them, seats to the right and left or the %ali, devoted to ladies, were, filled with an effusive and chromatic array of beauty wherein neutral tints but positive exu? dations predominated, and the gallery was merely a concrete mass ot expectant ebonv. Thia was the scene at the hour of assem? bling. The first subject of debate was oppor? tune. It had been understood, as lt ls gene? rally, understood, that the last hours or the session were to oe devoted to nonsense, and it therefore happened that the first thing in? troduced was the report of the joint N. im it tee appointed to consider the memorial ot the American Woman Suffrage Association. This was a memorial In which a few of the "shriek lngalsterhoud" composing the executive com? mittee of the Boston wiog ol the "woman's right women" had taken upon themselves to beg of the various legislators to secure the I rlgnt of suffrage to the women of their re? spective States. It may be that these women have not considered the exquisite absurdity ; Of this appeal of theirs to a negro Legislature of South Carolina to redress their fancied wrongs, but really this appeal affords a micro cosm of the whole course of the North toward tbe South since reconstruction, lhe Amer! can Woman Suffrage Association ls a body that has sorely taxed the patience ol your hum ble correspondent during his past connection with Northern papers, and I profess to be somewhat familiar with ita objects and aspirations, and with the means by which it has souzht^to accomplish Its designs. It is a body which has the sympathy of but few of tbe ladles of any section of the country, but which, Imbued with a magnified sense of iii own importance, proposes to confer upon the ladies of America, with or without tnelr de sire, the right of suffrage. In pursuance of this object the leaders of this wing of the Woman party first directed their attacks upon the Republicans ol the North, and were re? pulsed at every point. The Republicans of " the North had certainly no overwhelming reason to support the proposition ol allowing ladles to vote, Inasmuch as it waa reasonably certain that ladlee, if voting at all. would vote lor Democratic measures, and the Northern Republicans persisted in turning the cold shoulder upon the woman's rights movement until the leaders aforesaid turned their shout de rs upon the Republicans and sought Demo eratic aid. Their policy now ls, and bas been for months, to your correspondent's positive knowledge, to pledge their undying sup? port and adhesion to Democratic princi? ples, if only the Democratic party will assist them in the accomplishment of their darling; designs. Now they are asking a Badi cal and negro Legislature to help them along, but let a negro woman apply for membership to the American Woman Suffrage Association and she would be Indignantly spurned. There is not to-day a colored woman wbo can claim a membership in that body, and a proposal to admit one would be greeted with derision; and jet this same American Woman Suffrage As? sociation sends down here to ask the negro Legislature of South Carolina to extend the rights of suffrage to the women of this State. .The proposition, however, afforded amuse? ment for the last honra of an unprofitable ses? sion. It was taken up In all seriousness by a few of the members who failed to see the Joke and strenuously advocated it until a motion prevailed to postpone the consideration of the report until the next session of the General Assembly, which motion was carried without a dissenting vote. By as offered a resolution that the chairman of the committee on enrolled bills be Immedi? ately requtred to produce the bill known as the validating bill. Chair-rule the motion out of order. Byes arose to a question of pilvilege, and stated that he was mlormed that the valida ting bill had been cancelled by some member of the enroll! Dg committee. Frost, as chairman of the committee on en rolled acts, stated that he had th? bill in bis Sossesslon. That the chairman knows bis titles, and intends to penorm them. If the member from Orangeburg sees flt to get lt, I would like to see bim do it. The resolution was withdrawn. Next came a report from the State treasurer to-the effect that the pay certificates of the members could only be paid by orders on the county treasurers. This waif a subject of vital interest to the legislators, and provoked a storm of debate. Mr. Smart protested against thlsldlspoeal of the members' claims, and de? clared lt illegal, Inasmuch as the county treas? urers had no business to pay the pay certifi? cates, and ought ta .send the moneys they collected to the State treasurer. Jones de? clared that ibis was only another form of slavery, that the colored legislators were used to vote money Info the pockets of the State officials, and were then left to whistle for their own accounts. Whipper followed In a forcible speech, in which ne re minded-Jones and other members of the House that they had been among the first and most rapacious | i plunderers ot the treasury, and should not complain: whereupon Jones retorted that Whipper had been active and Industrious In his plundering, and specified the latter's con-11 nectfon with the Code commission as one of them. With this, and similar exhibitions of the brotherly love that exists in the General | j Assembly, the time was beguiled until ad? journment. In the Senate, the final Bcenes of the session were far more orderly. The principal bus!-11 -ness transacted was the confirmation, in ex? ecutive session, of the following appoint-1J ments : J. P. Watts, trial Justice, Laurens 11 County; C. B. Glover, Jury commissioner, -Orangeburg. County : The following acts were ratified by the pre? siding officers ol both branches of the Assem? bly, and subsequently approved by the Gov? ernor: Act to Incorporate thc Abbeville Agricultu? ral Society. Act to charter the Sullivan's Island Ferry Company. . _ Act to incorporate the American Union Lit? erary Society of Gadsden, Richland County. Act to amend an act to grant, renew and amend the charters of certain towns and vii Act to incorporate the Wateree Presbyterian Church; i ! y Act to Incorporate the South Caro!!ca Real Estate, Planting and Mining Company. Act to incorporate the churches of New Hope, Bethel Grove, &c, in Laurens County. Act to incorporate the Town ol Townvllle, Anderson County. Act to Incorporate the Zion Baptist Church, of Columbia. Act to grant a section of land to the widow and minor children of Isaac A. Cowies, and to authorize the county commissioners ot Lan? caster County to levy a special tax to pay for the same. Act to repeal the charter of the Town ol Laurebsrttte. Act to incorporate the Sumter Land, Joint Stock and Loan Association. Act to incorporate Marlon Lodge, No. 2,1. 0. 0. F., of Charleston. Act to incorporate the Prospect Baptist Church, of Laurens County. Act to amend an act to regulate the manner of drawing juries*. Act to Incorporate the Citizens' Building and Loan Association, of Charleston. Act to renew the charter of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary's, in Charleston, S. C. Act to renew and amend the charter of I the Town ol Lowndesville, in the County of Abbeville, Act to create a causeway over the Big Salke hatchle Swamp. Act to Incorporate the Charleston Land and Joint stock Company. Act to provide for a general license law. Act to exempt the keepers, officers and em? ployees of the State Penitentiary and Lunatic Asylum from military duty. Act relating to the' bonds o? the State, (the validating bill.) Joint resolution authorizing the county commissioners of Abbeville County to levy and collect a tax of two mills on the dollar. Act to Incorporate the town of Ninety-Six. Act to declare public a certain road in Jrangeburg County. Act to incorporate the Gethsemane Baptist Church. Act regulating the f?es o? the land commis? sioner. Jeint resolution proposing an amendment o the Constitution of the State, (In reference ,o further issues of bonds.) Act to Incorporate the Darlington Land, loint Stock and Loan Association. An act to charter the Laurens and Ashville ilailroad Company. An act to empower certain persons to mild a wharf on Wadmalaw leland. An act to Incorporate the Belief Loan Asso ilatlon of Charleston. An act to charter the Aiken Savings Bank. An act to incorporate the Charleston Loan md Exchange Company. An act to Incorporate the -Grand Division of he Sons of Temperance. An act to incorporate the Union Baptist ?burch of Laurens County. An act to amend the charter of the Town of ireenwood. An act to incorporate the Mount Bethel laptlst Church ot Laurens County. An act to charter the Farmers', Laborers' nd Mechanics' Association of Orangeburg lounty. An act to reduce all ac's relating to secur? as and perpetuating the homestead into one cr, and to amend the same. An act to Incorporate the Salem Presbyte ian Church. An act for the protection of buoys and leacons. An act to raise supplies and make appro? bations for the fiscal year commencing No ember l, 1871. An act to supply the defk-ncy in the ap iropriations for the support of free common chool for the year 1871. An act to charier the village of Lisbon. An act relating to the unsocial agent (settle aentblll.) t _ _PICKET. THE OLD WORLD'S NEWS. LONDOX, March 13. The proprietors of the newspaper and Job rioting offices In London are endeavoring to reak up the typographical unions, and a trike of the compositors is imminent. Three thousand seven hundred and fifty ounds of the amount required to ball the 'Ichborne claimant have thus far been found, md the prisoner expects to find the full, mount. If released he is certain to be rear ested on a dozen other charges. LONDON, March 14. The reply of Secretary Fish to the note of I ?arl Granville relative to the Alabama claims [ tas only reached Schenck. The tone ot Fish's ommunlcatlon Is eminently pacific, and intl aatlon ls given ot the regret and surprise of he American government at the English in erprelatlon ot the Treaty of Washington. A telegram from Gibraltar reports that a oat brlonzlng to the frigate Ariadne was cap Ized and eleven persons were drowned, in? cluding two officers. . In the trial for perjury a large number of fitnesses are expected to be bcought forward iy the prosecution to show that the claimant if the Tichborne estates is Arthur 0; ton. It is ?ported that detectives have arrived from Lu?tralla with a warrant for the arrest of Or? ?n on the charge of murder. BERLIN, March 14. The Posen apothecary, who was arrested on uspiclon ot contemplating the murder of Bls narck, was released. PARIS, March 13. No negotiations for anticipating the pay nent of the balance of the war indemnity lave been commenced between France and germany yet. In the Assembly to-day, MiDlster?Du?bur nade a powerful speech In support of the bill iroviding tor penalties against the Interna ional Society, whlqb he declared was a stand ng menace to European society. Jules Favre ipposed the bill. At the close of the debate,, he first clause ol the bill was adopted by 501 o 104, making lt a criminal offence to belong o the society. * ? At the sitting of the budget committee to lay, President Thiers consented to reduce the irmy contingent from 460,000 to 440.000 men, hereby savlngrten million francs. The Presl lent urged upon the committee the adoption >f a (ax on raw materials. Advices received here from Spain Indicate hat'the crisis ?B at hand. King Amadeus is ioncentrating his army around Madrid, dis? arming the National Guard and preparing to lefend his throne. King Victor Emanuel will review the Italian roops stationed in and around Borne during larch, In the presence of the King and Queen if Denmark and General Voa Moltke. GLIMPSES OF GOTHAM. NEW YORK, March 14. The sick juror in Mayor Hall's case ls dead, rhlch necessitates a new jury and an entire ehearing. The board of health found several cases of | mall-pox, which physicians were attempting o conceal. The physicians will be prose uted. _ _ _ y OT OUR FUNERAL, THIS TIME. ? Oh Dear, What Can the Blatter Be !" [From the Savannah News, March 14.] It ls not often that the News complains I .bout the state of things in Savannah, but j .eaily the lack of public spirit ls becoming so ipparent that lt ls the duty of the press to call mention to it. The "funeral Invitation" of 11 he Industrial Association of Georgia ls now )eiog published in the papers, and that Ins; li u lon, which, through a lamentable financial allure, was as a fair a success, when the In ilrect good which lt would have done our city s considered, had it been kept up. We now iee that lt ls to be sacrificed, we fear to the letrlment of the reputation of our city for I jubile spirit and enterprise. In another j jolumn, we record the unsuccessful attempt :o provide means for erocilDg an Odd Fel ows' hall, and the proposed dissolu? tion of the association. In this connection tve might mention that the building of the Masonic Hall has been postponed for want of funds. For several weeks a prominent and snergetlc citizen has been endeavoring to raise sixty thousand dollars with which to ?rect a cotton mill, which would have elven ?mployment to many needy persons. He" has not yet succeeded. Another Instance we might mention is the fact that a steamer which has been lor several years Identified with the trade of Savannah was about being sold to parties North and sent away because of the difficulty encountered In getting subscriptions to the capital stock of a new company amounting to only fifteen thousand dollars. There are other Instances that we might also mention, but thia ls enough, and we but repeat the; heading, "What can the matter be ?" | THE GREAT ERIE WAR. A RING WIXHTS A RING, ARD WHAT CAME OF IT. The Overthrow of Gould-Effect of the Coup d'Etat-How Millions are Man? aged-The Row at the Opera-House Final Surrender of Gould-Complete Victory of the English Stockholders. The New York papers of Tuesday come to us filled with the detailed accounts of the rev? olution in the affairs of the Erie Railroad, whereby Jay Gould, president of the road, and the old board of directors were ousted from their positions, and a new president, In the person of General John A. Dix, and a new board of directors, were elected. From these accounts we make up the following resume of the events attending this occurrence, so im? portant to the interests ol the holders of Erie stock. THE ATTACK ON" THE RING. The story of the means by which this revo? lution has been brought about in the manage? ment of a great railway, forms one of the strangest romances of finance. The Erie Ring, which was Itself a conspiracy, bas been overthrown by a conspiracy, which has taken many months of sklltul plotting to make suc? cessful. The history of ir, in brief, is best begun by recalling the announcement of De? cember 16, 1871, to the effect that General Daniel E. Sickles was returning from Spain in the Interest of the English stockholders of Erie to make another effort to.rescue the road (rom the rule of Jay Gould and Fisk. The an? nouncement then made was generally regard? ed as unfounded; but yesterday General Sickles appeared publicly as the master spirit i who bad directed the campaign against Erle, and had won it. . " j Immediately on his return General Sickles luletly but actively began operations. His , Irst movements were directed against the . esal and legislative strongholds of firle, and ihese lie found very formidable indeed. The . novements against the legal and legislative . itrongholds did not, therefore, promise bril? lant or Immediate success, when, about five >r six weeks ago, the idea was suggested to General Sickles that the undermining ol the j ilng was a quicker though more dangerous netnod of gaining possession of the road, che person who suggested this scheme was a roung man, formerly a Journalist, named ] ?eorge Grouch. Intimacy with Gould and < flak, and long service under their Ring, had 1 riven Crouch an evil reputation. He was c respected of being a spy ot Gould, a dummy < >f the Ring, and was generally understood to t >e the mysterious English stockholder who \ 1 gr red In various suits and financial eche mes. e Crouch represented to General Sickles that t nany ot the directors of Erle were antago- ( llstlc to Gould, though afraid of his great t >ower; and that a majority of them could be ] nduced to combine against bim. He dis- i rusted Crouch at first, but afterward trusted t dm fully, end through him and others Inter- t .lews were had between General Sickles and { be disaffected directors. This was only ac- t ?ompllshed with the utmost difficulty. The t ilrectors were as distrustful of Sickles as of t Crouch and Gould, and Insisted on secrecy in f he negotiations, though General Sickles de- i ilared bis readiness to go with any one of < hem and face Gould and bis minions and i eveal his purpose. But each declared him- E ?elf fearful ot Gould's Dower, sod the com- t ilnatlon was consequently made with the ] rreatest secrecy. The first to enter Into i be scheme was 0. H. P. Archer, t vho was secretly elected vice-president if the road a week before Fisk's leath, In anticipation of the latter's arrest. Archer had plainly told Gould that he accept id the vice-presidency to serve the Interests 1 if the stockholders, and this made Gould dis- 1 rustful of him. Mr. Hall was the next dlrec or with whom an interview was had through i former aide-de-camp of the general. He, oo, consented to engage lu the conspiracy, or such, literally, lt was, buta conspiracy for , good purpose. Homer Ramsdell was next .pproached, but he was exceedingly timid, j ina lt was some time before he could be In- 1 luced to enter into a conference. Finally in * his way a combination of eleven directors < gainst four was formed, and the opposing } actions stood thus: ( For ?ould-Jay Gould, president; Dr. Edwin i Sldrldge, Henry Sherwood, Francis N. Drake. ? Against Gould-0. H. P. Archer, vlce-presl- 1 lent; John Hilton, C. R. Simons, Geo. C. Hall, ienry Thompson, H. H. Oils, secretary; Ho- 1 ner Ranisdell, C. G. Slsson, Justin D. White, ' reasurer; Frederick A. Lane, John Ganson. < On Friday night the "conspirators" dlscov- I ired that Gould was preparing for a desperate < nove at Albany. His agent there had told I Um that more money was necessary to defeat I he repeal ot the classification act, and that 1 ;he enemies of the Ring were paying two dol- < ors for bis one. He thereupon resolved to < tirow a large amount of stock on the market, ' ?aise two or three million of dollars and buy j ip the Legislature bodily. The combination ] hereupon resolved, under General' Sickles'? . llrectlon, to act at once, and on Friday last, 1 n the temporary absence of Gould, issued a 1 .equest for a meeting. Of course Gould, < lelng absent, was not found, and no purticu- I ar efforts appear to have been, made to find < lim. The secretary of the company, Mr. I );ls, thereupon drew up a letter to Mr. < archer, from the other members of the board, itatlng that they were unable to communicate ivlth the president of the road, and request? or Mr. Archer to issue a call for a meeting of he board of directors on Monday, March ll. In response to this application, the call was promptly Issued. Meantime General Sickles i lad arranged with General Dix, S. L. M. Bar- i ow, W. B. Astor, M. O. Roberts, W. B. Trav- i ;rs, and others, to take place In the new di- : rectory, the resignations of several of the old : Ilrectors being insisted upon. They were in? armed of the scheme, and directed to be i sresent. I THE MEETING. I The "conspirators" were faithful to their ; jromlses; the gentlemen who were to be , roted lu were promptly at their post?, and the . ?Thole scheine was successful. One after J mother the directors resigned, and their places svere filled amidst considerable excitement ! ind confusion. Jay Gould was removed from the presidency, and General J. A. Dix was sleeted In his place. Atter the meeting Gene? ral Dix notified Jay Gould of the action, and, is president of the road, made a formal de? mand for the surrender of documents and aapera In Gould's possession. General Sickles accompanied United States Marshal Crowley n delivering this letter. Gould was in the 1 resident's room, surrounded by a strong '. guard of policemen. SIEGE OF THE RING. , General Sickles approached the door and I lemanded admittance. No notice was taken ' )1 this demand. The doors dividing the offices ' ?vere held on the other side by a number of : versons, and could not be opened. Frederick ' a.. Lane, an ex-director, sprang to one ol the 1 sliding door, and a stout, burly Individual the ? itber, for the purpose of forcing them open. < Ur. Lane's strengt; was not equal to the occa? sion, who gave way to a reporter, who alBO lugged In vain. Without instruments of some Sind lt would be impossible to or/tain access to Gould. An Ice-pick was obtained, and the ioors slightly forced apart, when lt was dis? covered that a number ol policemen held the doors against the Erie Reformers and in the Interest of Jay Gould. A wrench was then procured and wedged In between the doors, gradually forcing them asunder, until they parted with a loud noise and allowed T. G. Shearman, Gould's counsel, to spring like a cat Into the mldBt of Sickles's Irlends, who caught him and held him for a second, and then let him go. The doors in the meantime bad beeu closed again, and the besiegers coniIn ued to work with ihelr wrench until they were again forced open, when there was an Instan? taneous and unanimous cry of "There goes Gould; there goes Gould !" as the late presi? dent of Erle was seen springing successively through the doors of the suite of luxuriously appointed offices, followed hotly by the be? siegers, until he secured a temporary safety in lhe office of the counsellor of the Erle Rali? way, at the further end of the hall. A short consultation was held, and another effort was made to get Into the apartment where Gould had secreted himself, but without effect. It was then determined to effect an entrance through the transom ot another door situated at the head or the stairs on the Twenty-third street entrance, and General Sickles called for a ladder, in order that he might mount It and get on the other side of the door, but Just as the ladder wa9 brought and he waa about to ascend, Captain Petty appeared and prohibited its use on the ground that lt was a breach o? the peace. Again baulked, General Sickles went back to the door of Gould's hiding-place first mentioned, followed by the police, but leaving a man with the order to secure an en? trance when unobserved and serve it on Gould. THE ORDER SERVED. Meanwhile General Sickles maintained a I loud conversation with Captain Petty, his re? marks not being entirely relished by that offi? cer. This had the effect of distracting atten? tion from Slckles's deputy, and when the door at which he was stationed was opened he sprang in, and after surveying the Interior un? observed for ten minutes, coolly served the or? der on Gould, who was quite bitter and very I muoh surprised at the proceeding. After re* covering his equanimity, Gould explained that lt was not so much the service of the writ he feared as personal violence. After the service the deputy appeared through the door at j which General Sickles and Captain Petty were still disputing, and Joyfully announced "he's | served, ''he's served.** The cry was taken up and echoed Irom one end of the rooms to the other, while the deputyjslgned an affidavit of his service of the order. THE BATTLEFIELD AT NIGHT. A telegram from New York, dated Tuesday, sayd: "Jay Gould remained locked in his room this mornlDg, the new'directors main? taining possession of the remaining offices. Each had a strong force of policemen, deputy sheriff- and roughs ready for hostilities. The party In the Interest of the new directors was pretty noisy, and excited several false alarms among the Gould " retainers. Towards morn? ing the roughs of the new party made a dem? onstration on the vaults, but a sepulchral voice from the depths below stairs warned J them to desist, and they did so. After this all was quiet, and the floors of several of the rooms were soon pretty well strewn with the sleeping beauties of the sheriff's office and the pot-house." MEETING OP DIRECTORS. The directors held a meeting abont noon, atj which General Bickies was present. They passed resolutions that bona fide stockholders shall hereafter have lull exercise of their rights :o control the direction of this company, and :he board will do all In Its power to bring tbout this result; also approving the bill be? fore the Legislature repealing the classification ict, and sending -two of the counsel of the >oard to Albany to urge the passage thereof. GOULD SURRENDERS. Jay Gould, signing himself president, to-day. ssued an order directing alt the clerks and .mployees to receive instructions only from lim. It ls believed tbat none took any notice >f this ma nt les to. Gould subsequently resign td the presidency at a brief meeting, at which he board of directors and General Sickles vere present. The resignation of Jay Gould is president of the Erie Ballway ls Bald to lave been accomplished as follows : General Sickles was empowered by he board to offer an ultimatum that Gould, aldridge, Sherwood and Drake would be per nltted to retain their position as directors If | hey would come Into the session of the new >oard. The general, with difficulty, gained tccess to Gould'B stronghold, where, alter con? siderable discussion, the terms were acceded o. and these gentlemen attended the session, it which all acts of the new board were con-1 Inned, and Gould's resignation offered and accepted. Lynch and his men were dismissed, >rder was restored, and the police left the lulldlng. General Dix then took formal pos leeslon of the president's room. Jay Gould laid that he was glad to be out of the Erle ^residency, the salary of which did not pay or the perpetual harassment that came with he office. He will soon come to Wall street. Latent-All Quiet Along the Line?. NEW YORE, Thursday. March 14. i General Dix presided over a lull meeting of he Erie directors to-day, and everything ap leared harmonious. WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING. " Wxak?iaTov. March 14. In the House to-day the bill paying Kansas ;32,700 for war expenses was passed. The >111 authorizing the Southern claims commis? sion to appoint special commissioners to take evidence was passed. A large number of pri? mate bills were reported by the committee on ilalms and passed. The conference committee ?eported a bill giving St. Louis $500,000 for a lite, and $1,750,000 for public buildings, which vas passed. In the Senate most of the day was used In a wrangle over precedence. Sherman wants he tariff, Cole wanta appropriations, Chan iler wants commerce, while other senators jress comparatively private measures to pre? cedence. Trumbull said lt would be folly to lass the tariff, because the House would table t. The House had passed the bill repealing ;he duly on coal, and Sherman had tacked m the general tariff bill In the face of the con - ul tut ion. which says that bills for revenue ?hail originate In the House. The conference report giving St. Louis two and a quarter mil ions was passed, and goes to the President. The salaries of district Judges were raised to Ive thousand dollars, with a clause authori? ng their transfer from one district to another, ts the exigencies of the service require. This roes back to the House for concurrence. The tariff bill was ?read. Scott, of Pennsylvania, ja ve notice of an amendment for free tea and :offee. Adjourned. ,. THE METHODIST CONFERENCE. WARRENTON, VA., March 14. The conference was in session until after twelve o'clock this morning, Bishop Paine finishing reading the appointments at twelve midnight. Resolutions complimentary to Bishop Paine, the presiding officers and the Kev. Geo. G. Brook, late Sunday-school agent, were passed. Also to the citizens of Warren Lon for their generous and whole-souled hos? pitality in extending the freedom of the town io the entire delegation, three hundred in number. After a harmonious session of seven days, the conference adjourned at 12.40 A. M. Lo meet again in Baltimore on the first Wed? nesday in March, 1873. The ladies of Warren? ton were interested spectators. Bishop Paine left for Washington this morning and Bishop Dogtrett for Richmond. THE WEATHER THIS DAT. WASHINGTON. March 14. The diminished pressure over West Virginia will continue Friday morning northeastwardly over the Middle and New England Slates, with cloudy weather and rain, except from Northern Ohio to Northern Vermont and New Hampshire, and northward, where snow will prevail. Cloudy and threatening weather Is probable for the Gulf and South Atlantic States to night. Rising barometer, northwesterly winds and failing temperature by Friday norning over the Southern and Middle States, with clearing weather very generally, and probably over the New England States by Friday morning. Dangerous winds are not anticipated for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Yesterday's Weather Reports of th? Signal Service, U. S. A.-1.47 P. M., Local Time. Piace of Observation. Augusta, Ga.... Baltimore. Boston. Charleston. untcago. Cincinnati. Galveston, Tex.. Key Weat, Fla.. Knoxville, Tenn. Mempnls. Tenn.. Mt. Washington. New Orleans.... New York. Norfolk. Philadelphia. Portland, Me.... Savannah . it. Louts. Washington. Wilmington,N.C. H SS 30.04 30.01 30.02 30.05 80.27 30.01 30.07 30.16 29.89 30.08 29.84 30.09 30.00 29.96 30.02 30 03 30 091 30.2?! 29.93 13 .03 O S Calm, W sw N N 3 E W NW W -.21 NE 14 SB 65 S*V 12 E ?7 SE Il SW 3? SE 55 NE S3 SW Gentle. Fresh. Gentle. High. Fresh. Gentle. Fresh. i-rest. Brisk. Gale. Fresh. Gentle. Light. Light. Light. Gentle. Fresh. Gentle. Brisk. ll Fair. hondy. Clear. Fair. Clear. Lt. Rain Cloudy. Fair. Thr'ng. Cloudy. Fair. Fair. Cloudy. Cloudy. Ttir'ng. Fair. Fair. Cloudy. Cloudy. Cloudy. Non.-The weatner renort dated 7.47 o'cioca, this morning, will be poBted lu the rooms of the HQamber of Commerce at io o'clock A. M., and, .-cgettier with the weather chart, may (by the courtesy of the chamber) be examined by ship oi as ters at any time during the day. THE CONFEDERATE GOL] WHAT BECAME OF IT?-THE ZA DATS OF THE CONFEDEBACT. The Pacts and Figures Given by \ Confederate Commissary In Chargt Lieutenant-Colonel E. J. Hosea write? follows to the Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer: . Tou publish an extract from the Blchme Dispatch in reference to the Confederate gi left by President Davis, at Washings Wilkes County, Georgia. Tbe extract' rd red to has this sentence, which requires answer from me: "I-learn from an old army acquaintance highest respeci ability, who was one ofl party formed here to guard lt while bel transported to Augusta, that the returned s diers were prevented from helping the selves by being told that the money was to used for tbe benefit of oar prisoners at t North; that it reached Augusta in safety: t guards "were then paid twenty-five dolli each for their services and discharged; a while lt cannot be proved exactly what I came of the gold, yet lt ls certain that our si fen n g boys in prison never beard of IL" As I am the officer with whom that gc was entrusted, and as I am able to prove the curious who desire to inspect the vouc ers that .tbe gold waa appropriated in exa accordance with my orders, to the ntmo farthing, I think it ls due to myself that tt much further should be added to what tl writer in the Dispatch terms "historio inte est in -connection with the last days of tl Confederacy.". President Davis, General Breckenridge, E gan of Texas, and others of the cabinet, a rived In Washington, Ga., with the gold; Ge eral Bragg was also there, and a large body ? cavalry who had guarded the gold to Wael lngton, and who received a part of their pe in gbld. I bad received orders, to have 18G OOO rations at different points, with which I supply the returning soldiers from General. E. Johnston's army. The commlssary-gei eral. J. E. St. Johns, then in Washington, ba no funds. I called to see the President, bi could not see him: he was exhausted lroi fatigue. I then had an interview with Gei eral Toombs, and told him of the necessity < having funds to supply the troops. The gol had already started, President Davis havlo left previously. General Toombs had an Intel view with General Breckinrldge; the reau was that I received an order tor forty tboi sand dollars-ten thousand for the quartern) a: ter's department and thirty thousand for th commissary departmenr. This was among tb last orders ever issued by the Confederal government, and was sent by me to Genen Toombs about a year since, as a historic relic in which he had acted a generous part in b< tialf of our soldiers, and ls now, I presume, ii lils possession. I followed the train and ovei took lt that night, and received sixteen boxe }f bullion, estimated to contain forty thousan lollara. I returned with this to Washington md paid on the order of W. F. Alexander, me or and assistant to the quartermaster general Jaree boxes of bullion, estimated at ten thou sand dollars, to be opened and weighed be lon ; wo commissioned officers. These b oxes wer lelivered to H. R. Wood, ma]or and quarter master, at Washington, Wilkes County, 01 Lhe 5th of May, 1865. I employed four youn? men of tho Washington Artillery to guard th? gold that night and accompany me with lt t< Augusta. The guard was rendered necessar because there were a great many straggling soldiers and cavalry prowling about Washing ton. The next morning I started for Barnett where I would have to wall an hour or tw< for the Augusta train. A number of cavalry men and returning soldiers went on the sami train wltn us, and when we arrived at Garnet made what was then called several "charges' upon the gold. These, with the guard an< kind assistance of Colonel Sanford, now o Montgomery, and private - Shepherd, nov of Texas, were successfully resisted. When I ?ached Augusta I addressed a let ter to General L. McLaws, commanding, ant with his concurrence entered Into a corres pondence with General Mollyneux, win rocelvod the funds In my hands-thlrteet boxes bullion weighing $34,955-and he ampi] provided for the returning troops from tht the United States Commissary Department; st that the fund, $4,965 In excess of what J receipted for, was every dollar appropriated as lt was Intended by the order. The excess occurred irom the fact that the bullion when received coull not be weighed, but had tc be taken in estimate. It was delivered by mt to Captain Adams, of Massachusetts, Regi? mental Provost Marshal of Augusta, weighed at the Mechanics' Bank, Augusta, and certified to by Mr. Hatch, the cashier, and two officer? of General Mollyneux's staff. The original receipt is in the hands of Hon. Jere S. Black. I left lt with him IB the presence of Colonel J. D. Waddell, present Clerk of the House ol Representatives, as I was curious, through some one In Washington, to ascertain whether the bullion bad been accounted for to the United States; of which fact I am still unad? vised. Another curious "historic incident" occurred about this time. The day after the gold (that was carried away by the Confed?r? ente train) Jefe Washington, a cavalryman threw a bag over General Toomba* fence and galloped off. On examining lt, the bag contained $5000 In gold coln. Gen? eral Toombs Immediately sent lt by my son to the Federal Quartermaster then stationed at Washington, to be used for pro? visions to supply such troops as might pass through Washington unprovided fur. I could state many amusing Incidents, and annoying ones, too, that occurred while I was possessed of the treasure; but suffice to say, in the then condition of the country, determined to exe? cute the order with wbiob I was entrusted, I found $35,000 In gold an elepbant in my hands; and was rejoiced to get rid of lt, and at the same time have the soldiers supplied with ra? tions, and the Confederate Government vin? dicated from anything like a disregard to their comforts. Respectfully, B. J. MOSES, Late Confederate Commissary for the State of Georgia. WOMBS IN THE MINISTBT. ST. LOUIS, March 14. There will be a moss meeting of the women of the Methodist Church here to-morrow, to consider a plan for memorializing the General Conference of the Methodist Church to permit the ordination of women as ministers. The call lor the meeting waa signed by ladles hold? ing high social position and of great personal worth. _ _ _ JOTTINGS ABOUT THE STATE -Mr. Stanslll, of Sumter, has recovered the wagon which was stolen from him some time ago. -Agle Takato. a Japanese gentleman, and scholar at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, arrived In Aiken a day or two since. -Winslow Hamilton, who killed Captain George Butler, was tried in Edgell eld on Monday. The Jury returned a verdict of not guilty. -Mr. N. A. 8tedman, Jr., retires from his editorial connection with the Marlon Star In a graceful valedictory. Mr. W. J. McKerral re? tains his post as editor and proprietor. -James Hall, a stone mason, and a negro boy were drowned by the upsetting of a boat at the Broad Blver bridge, on the Air Line Ballroad on Monday. -The breaking of Mustang ponies ls now one of the features of village Hie in Abbeville. Some ot them are gentle enough, but the gyrations-"the ground and lolty tumbling" or others, ls a sight to behold. -A race came off on Wednesday, at the Congaree course, between a large sorrel hor?e entered by Mr. Tolbert, and a brown pony en? tered by Mr. Bobert Joyner, .whlch-was won by the latter, by about three lengths. Dis? tance one-fourth of a mlle, single dash. The stakes were for five hundred dollars aside. The day was fine, and a large attendance at the course to witness the race lhe betting was spirited, two to one In favor of the horse which proved to be the wluner. -The Sumter Watchman compliments Judge Greeu upon his re-election and says: "In ?he difflculr. and delicate and trying or? deal through which he has frequently passed, in no case nas he been found to swerve or to denart from lhe accepted rules ol practice and the well-established principles of lhe law. For this, in these corrupt and degenerate times, when partisan zeal and blas, too, are often thrust rudely aside, right and Justice, as in? volved In the administration of the law-the broad iegls of the people's liberties-we honor him. and the better sense of the people re? spects and confides in him." ABOUT THE CROPS. Information Wanted. BISHOPTILLE, S. C., March 9. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS. . Being a constant and appreciative reader of your paper, I beg that yon will grant rae a small space lo lu columns. The uniformly favorable tenor of the crop reports published In THE NEWS since January has greatly astonished me, and leads me to Inquire from what sections yonr Information ls obtained ? In this portion of the State, the season has not been so unfavorable and farming opera? tions so backward, since the war. In Sumter County, the rains have been so excessive as to seriously retard all field work. I have never seen less ploughing done at this period of the year. The bad condition of the roads, in consequence of the rains, has made lt im? possible for persons living at a distance to bring fall loads of fertilizers from the depot, and more time than usual has been consumed in hauling. Should the weather, which is now very much unsettled, break off fair and"warm, lt will be some days before planters can put corn In the ground with any certainty of get? ting a stand, the earth is so wet and cold. There ls no more sign of vegetatlon-now than there was In the. month of January. il there are others of your subscribers dis? posed to send you correct statements concern? ing the agricultural interest, I take the liberty to say that many other planters of Sumter Connty, as well as your correspondent, would be glad to see their reports with their names in full. H. A. JAMES. AMUSEMENTS. . The Academy of 3f nate. L"The Fair One with the Blonde Wig" was produced last evening at the Academy by the Oates Troupe before a large and fashionable audience. The cast comprised the whole strength of the company, and the blazing bur? lesque went off with a spirit which bore testi? mony to the perfect training and peculiar tal? ents of most of tl. performers. The continued snccess and popularity ol Mrs. Oates and her company are dne In a measure to the absence of everything offensive to ears polite in their plays. To night Mrs. Oates takes a benefit in the sprightly and attractive role of "Arline,'' in Balfe's famous English opera of the "Bohe? mian Girl.". Professor Churchill's Readings, Sic., take place at Hibernian Hall this evening, and will be agreeably varied by choice musical morceaux by that skilful pianist, Professor Porns. THE FLORIDA TORNADO.-On Saturday last, the City of Jacksonville, Florida, was visited by one of the most terrible storms ever known In that region. It began at one o'clock in the afternoon, and striking Camp Moony, six miles west of the city, lt started on its destructive path eastward. In the distance of a mik- iou; dwellings, besides outbuildings, trees, Ac, were torn from their places by the violence of the winds and destroyed. The bouse of Mr. 8. Thomas was completely carried away, leaving him and bis wife both badly Injured among the ruins. Two miles west of the city a color? ed woman was blown over fifty rods. A bouse was alI?~5?re blown away, killing a woman named Wiggins who was within. At the next point Mr. Lercey's house was totally destroy? ed, his daughter being killed outright. An old colored woman was also blown up lo a pine tree, where she lodged .until rescued next morning, with fatal injuries. The track of the tornado seemed to be about two hundred yards wide, and its whole fury seemed concentrated within this limit Mr. B. Godfrey's new building on the banks of the St. John's was completely de? molished. Miss Godfrey was terribly Injured, and Jerry Harrison, a colored man, was crushed to death. The further course of the tornado was marked by large trees uprooted, the ruins of houses and the carcasses of mules, horses and cattle. In the city the greatest consternation prevailed, as the houses rocked to and fro with the violence ot the wind, and many persons vacated their house* preferring to brave the rigors of the storm than to risk being crushed beneath the falling ruins. For? tunately, however, the tornado did not pass directly through the city, and which did not suffer very materially. The casualties, how? ever, were numerous from falling tiles, chim? neys, ?cc. Mr. Lang was struck on the head by the tailing sign of uThe Forty Thieves" and severely Injured. From all accounts the storm was equal to the hurricanes ot the West In? dies, and Jacksonville bas had a most provi? dential escape._ Hotel Arr 1 vain-31 arc h 14. MILLS HOUSE. J. W. Pegram, Virginia; Wm. Wray, Geor? gia; Geo. Caroline, New York; Wm. L Gutter, eon, Miss Fannie A. Guttereon, 0. C. Deluce. Boston; G. A. Seymour, South Carolina; Cor? nelius Cass, Charles E. Wllbourn, F. McMul len, Solomon Rice, New York; Geo. Gage, F E. Wilder, Beaufort. CHARLESTON HOTEL. H. A. Hall and lady, A. S. Hall, Atlanta; W. Porter, H. B. Corbett, Blackville; G. Bolivar, Orangeburg; H. H. Haman and wife, D. W. Ham, Effingham; J. B. Sherman, Greenville; J. D. Sough, South Carolina; P. F. Sarllng, Augusta. CHARLESTON HOTEL. M. Stein, Now York; Frank A. Ware, Sa? vannah; Geo. R. Roxbury, Virginia; D. 8. Plume, Connecticut; A. H. Love, New York; Andrew Johnson, Richmond; J. S. Peironnet Chicago; G. A. Groves, Connecticut; J. B. Gould, Virginia; Mrs. Semklns and sons, South Carolina; P. 0. Deluce, Boston; W. D. Single? ton, South Carolina; Thomas D. Hoxsley, Mrs. D. Hoxsley. Paterson; S. E.'McMilian, Marlon; Solomon Bice, New York; Walter S. More, Maryland; J. F. Bush, Rochester; H. Brand, D. Brand, Emma Brand, New York; L. A. Treat, Boston; Wm. Elliott, Beaufort NEfVS FBOM THE. FAR WEST. SAN FRANCISCO, March 14. The proprietors of the A tia California were acquitted of libel for calling a lawyer's shyster. The suit was for fifty thousand dollars. Arizona dispatches say that Wm. McFarland was found murdered and horribly mutilated. The American residents went alter a Mexican who was reported to have threatened McFar? land's life, and, having found bim, shot him. on sight. His Mexican friends retaliated by killing one of ihe party, on which the Amer? icans made a general raid on the Mexicans and killed four. A fifth entrenched himself In an adobe bouse, on which the attacking party blew up the house and shot him also. All the business houses In Sanford and Florene? are closed in apprehension of attack from tho Mexicans, who are most numerous and aro greatly exasperated. -The Republican Stale Convention of Rhode Island fully endorse Grant and Colfax and favor their renomination. BARGAINS . - ur iCLOAKS & SHAWLS. ? . . ..? .-. ase. r Darlns; the remaiiid er of the season, GOODS IQ " this Department will be sold at their COST to manufacture. . -". 13 RE SS GOODS. CHEAP DRESS GOODS, - - ? ._ ... "J* CONSOTINO IK PAST OF : , [JOLORED SATINES " ~ ' . ' -' DIAGONAL CLOTHS ' VELOtJKS -V ' ' %wm6 P ";"ra * " * ?'." 'l?ASHMBRES, Ac Especial attention t? invited to a lot of assorted i '0 PL f NS and MOHAIRS, being offered at 28 cent i ter yard. s .. ; J. R. READ. BLACK DRESS GOODS* A splendid assortment of new and most approv d BLACK DRESS MATERIAL : Black BiarrltS,; latines, Diagonals, Benin Cord?, Persian clothr Upacas, Empress Cloth, Mohaire, French Merino ? Tamise Oloth. Bombazine, Ottoman Cords,. Ac. KID GM^OVPB^. HARRIS'S "SEAMLESS" KID GLOT'S, (first ' inaiity.) A rall assortment of street colors, and 'there. AI?), . r FRENCH RID GLOVES, at $1, in dark and Ugh t loiors, black and white. ? ! j. R. READ. HOSIERY AND GLOVES. ENGLISH AND GERMAN HOSIERY ' Ladles' Superior White Cotton Hose, at soc. lien's Extra Quality Half Hose, at si, 37* and SOO, [jad?es' Does kin Gauntlets and Gloves lien's Beruh and French Cair Gloves Hisses' Superior White Cotton Hosiery. I . J. R. READ. MISCELLANEOUS GOODS. LADIES' PLAID SCARFS, new Ladles' Twilled Scarfs, with tasa ela Ladles' Twilled Scarfs, plain White Tarietans, 84 French Muslins Colored Tarlatans, Evening colors Black Silk Parasols, oiove-flttlng Conen Black Silk Fringes, French Perfumery '.%;?> Hair Brushes, Dressing Comba, Fine Tooth-Brash es. Lace Sera, Lace Collars, Roches, Ac - J. R. READ. . BLACK^SILKS. BLACK, WHITE AND COLORED REFT VALOURS for Trimmings - " Black and Colored Poplins._ SPECIALTIES^ GENTLEMEN A new lot of GENTLEMEN'S SCARFS, In latest novelties, TIES and CRAVATS, received per last ?teamer, at greatly reduced prices. J. R. READ. oct27-mwfflmoa_ ?JRUGS AND MEDICINES, WHOLESALE & RETA TT,. DR. H. BAER, * NO. 131 MEETING 8TREET, Oilers his Large and Well-Asaorted stock or DRUGS, MEDICINES, CHEMICALS, PERFUMERY, TOILET ARTICLES, FANCY GOODS, &C, &.C., &c, AT.THE LOWEST HARKST HATES. Constantly on hand all the leading Proprietary Ued i cines FRENCH, ENGLISH. GERMAN AND AMERICAN. FOUNTAIN SYRINGES, the beat and most con renient for general nae. Also, every other kind of Syringe known m the marker. Trasses, Abdominal Supporters, Shoulder Braces, Abdommal Belts, Physicians' saddle* Bags, Physicians' Packet-Cases, Elastic Stockings and Medicine Chests. Druggists' Glassware, of every description, at the lowest rates, and a full assortment of "Drug? gists- Sundries." Agent for Nattan's. "Crystal Discovery for the Hair." Agent for the "New Tork Medical University's" Preparations. Agent for Bison's Tobacco Antidote, and Up* lam's Antidote to Strong Drink. Agent for the elegant preparations of W. R. warner A Co., of Philadelphia, consisting of a (all line or Finid Extracta, Sugir-Coated Pills Elixirs, Medicated wines and Syrups, Licorice ind Pepsin Lozenges, Ac, Ac. Special attention ls directed to the .following articles of his own manufacture: GERMAN SOOTHING CORDIAL! An excellent Carminative, invaluable in the diseases incident to the period of dentition In children; as also In colic, diarrhoea, dysentery, and other tufan tile com plain ts. It ls superior to other medicines used for this purpose, as lt ls en?, tlrely free from any Injuri?os drug, and CONTAINS NO ANODYNE I It ls recommended by the best physicians, and mothers may administer lt with confidence. THE EXCELSIOR HAIR TONIC, ls a carefully prepared Dressing for the hair, at once answering the purposes of hair oil,, hair wash, and hair tonic. It contains no sulphur, lead, or nitrate or sliver, and la NO DTE I lt will promote a healthy growth or hair, and prevent their railing ont, and will not injure the general system. Baer's Improved Vegetable Cathartic Fills. A gentle Aperient, or purely vegetable Bub Btahces, recommended for Dyspepsia, Headache, Constipation, Ac, Ac DOUBLE DISTILLED BENZINE, for removing%rease spots, and cleaning clothes. None but the Purest Drugs used, and satisfac? tion guaranteed, both as to price and quality. Order are sollclted-from Druggists, pnys'cuns. Country Merchants, Planters and other?, with the assurance that they shah receive prompt and careful attention. ? acM-fimorocaw