Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

? zy' mt VCLUME IX.-NUMBER 1967 CHARLESTON WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 1, 1872. EIGHT DOLLARS A YEAR. THE BOGUS CONVERSIONS. CARDOZO MAKES A CLEAN BREAST OF IT. The First Doubt-An Appeal for Ad? vice-The Great Seal Goes to New York-Six Million State Bends Fraud? ulently Issued. Secretary o? State Caraozo has addressed the following letter to bis counsel, Messrs. Melton & Corbin: SECBKTARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, I COLUMBIA, 8. C., August 6, 1872. J Messrs. C. I>. Jfetton and D. T. Corbin, Attor? neys and Counsellors-at-Law: GENTLEMEN-Having been able to retain your valuable services to show cause why a peremptory mandamus should not be issued by hts Honor Judge S. W. Melton on Wednes? day next, August 7, to compel me to seal con? version bonds, I desire to submit a few reasons why I think such a mandamus should not be Issued. IQ November, 1870, 1 began to suspect that the conversion bonds that had been sealed by me were not being used for the purpose lor which they were intended, viz: In exchange for any of the other various bonds that had been las,.ed, or certlflc?tes ot stock, which were to be cancelled as soon as exchanged, and kept In the treasury as evidence of the conversion bonds issued in their stead. I ?lsn endeavored to learn from the treas? urer the purposes lor which so many conver? sion bonds were declared to be needed. He replied that the finances of the State were under tbe control ot a financial board, con? sisting of the Governor, treasurer and attor? ney-general, and that it was not my province or right to know their action, except so tar as leonid learn them from the public reports they might make through the treasurer and financial agent, and that he thought lt was simply my auty to Beal as many bonds as they required. 1 then communicated with the attorney general, requesting from him a written opin? ion as to whether I had the power to require from the financial board-a knowledge ot their transactions bet?re I should take the responsi? bility of Bealing any more bonds. The saor ney-general gave the opinion that my duty was simply ministerial; that I had no right to know the transactions ot" the financial board;' and that lt was my duty to seal es many bonds as the treasurer, instructed by the financial board, requested; that the financial board had the absolute and exclusive control of the issue and sale or hypothecation ol bonds, and the disbursement ol" the proceeds of such sales or hypothecations. Though I believe ibis opinion to be accord? ing to the letter of the law, lt did not entirely satisfy me or convince me that I had no re? sponsibility in the matter, and I therefore de? termined to use my utmost exertions to learu whether my suspicions, as to what I deemed to be the misapplication of conversion bonds, were correct br nor. During the legislative session of 1870-71, a law was enacted to create what ls known ns the "sterling funded debt" of South Carolina, and a board of five officers, called the "Ster? ling Fund Board," was authorized to manage the negotiation of these bonds, which board consisted of the financial board referred to, viz: the Governor, attorney-general and treasurer, with the addition ot the comptroller general and myself". I then felt In a belter position to remove or confirm my suspicions with regard to the use being made of the con- ? version bonds, and determined to use my op? portunity to the utmost This loan, as those whoXire acquainted with the law are aware, was to consist of $6,000,000 ot bonds, which were to be negotiated lo London, and tue proceeds of the Bale used In the purchase of other bonds at a lower price In New York, and thus prove a great saving to the State. This was one ot the reasons given to the Legislature to secure the passage of the bill. In accordance with this Jaw, 1 sealed $3.500. - OOO of these bonds during the summer of 1871. I then refused to seal any more ot these bonds, asl Inferred from a conversation with the treasurer that au effort would be made to execute this law contrary to what I conceived to be the true purpose and intent of the law. The treasurer informed me that they, the "Sterling Fund Board," had the authority to use the proceeds oi the sale of these oonda to pay any existing public debt of the State. I further learned that the existing public debt would probably be very large,. perhaps the entire amount of the loan, $6,000 000. This state? ment astonished me bejond measure. I Im? mediately Informed the treasurer that nothing should be done with the sterling loan bonds except at a full meeting cal,ed by the presi? dent of the board through me, the secretary. I was determined to prevent, if possible, what I conceived to be a diversion of the bonds to a purpose entirely different lrom what was In? tended by the law. On inquiry from the treasurer, by what method lt was Intended to apply the sterling loan bonds to such a purpose, I was told by him that he proposed Issuing sufficient con? version bonds to cover not only all other bonds and stocks that had ever been issued, but also the.''sterling loan bonds," and then simply place them In the treasury, and report that they bad been converted by the holders; The conversion bonds could . then be hypothecated for loans by the financial board, Independently of the sterling fund board, as they (the financial board) claimed that they had a nght to do, under the law permitting them to bypothecatv. any bonds, in the treas? ury, orin the bauds of the financial agent where these bonds were, and the moneys thus obtained used to pay off all debts hitherto authorized by law. And thus Instead of the sterling loan bonds being sold in London at a higher price than they could bring In New York, and the proceeds of i he sale applied to the purchase of our othjer bonds here, they would have been simply"ex? changed lor conversion bonds, which conver? sion bonds would have been hypothecated for loans, and then forfeited and sold, and the moneys thus obtained applied to the payment of all debts hitherto authorized by law, and they (the sterUng loan bonds) would thus have oeen au addition to an alleged debt of between $15,000,000 and $16,000,000. It perhaps would not be amiss here lo state that the treasurer, or financial board, who had possession of the sterling loan bouda, amount? ing to $6,000,000, meant to hypothecate these bonds even as late as last March, without the knowledge ot the sterling fund board, as such, for/loans, and was only prevented from so doing by the timely repeal of the act and cac /ellatlon of the bonds by authority of the /Legislature. / From November, 1870, to this period, (Au? gust, 1871,) I sealed, under the advice given 1 by the attorney-genoral, sufficient conversion bonds for converting the one million of seven per cent relief of tbe treasury bonds, and $700,000 of the land commission bonds, as the treasurer positively Informed me that be de? sired them .for tAis purpose only. I was cooUy Informed by the treasurer, last September, that these same "reliel of the treasury bonds" and "land commlssou bonds," for which .1 bad sealed conversion bonds for the purpose ol exchange, and which were so . excha?ged, liad never been cancelled, but had been reissued from the treasury, and are now either hypothecated for loans or forfeited and sold. The Governor also informed me that these were facts within his own certain knowledge, especially with regard to the "relief ot the treasury bonds."" .: During tac month of October, 1871, the treasurer requested me to seal a small amount of bonds, lor the express purpose, as be said, of saving a loan of between three and lour millions ot bonds, which had been hy? pothecated, and would certainly'besold ala sacrifice if more collaterals were not put up to save them. I at first refused io do so, re? minding the treasurer that tho same reason was alleged several times before, und that I did not feel satisfied of the correctness of his statement Ke then requested me to accom? pany him and the Governor to New York, and satisfy myself, by conferring with the financial agent of Ibe necessity that existed for the selling of these bonds for the purpose of pre? venting a sacrifice of those hypothecated. The treasurer requested me to take my seal along with me, so that no time be lost. 1 had previously consulted with the attorney general on the lawfulness of taking my seal to New York, and the Governor on lhe propriety and necessity ot so doing. The attorney-gen? eral assured me it was perfectly legal, and the Governor, that lt was necessary. I took- the seal with me very reluctantly, believing I wimld be In a better position io insist upon knowing the truth of what I had so long sus? pected. The treasurer also informed methat the sterling fund board, of which I was a UilOJlS?-tlxUH . Ua?C 1 1 member and secretary, would meet in New York and take some definite action in regard to the negotiation or the sterling lund bonds. This last statement determined me to pro? ceed to New York. I went, and, upon the representation there made, sealed $250,000 of bonds. You may Imagine my surprise wben I saw this amount of bonds, the sealing of which had been performed by me upon the urgent representation that they were absolutely essen? tial, as additional collaterals, to prevent the sacrifice of several millions, handed back to the treasurer by the financial agent, after they were sealed, as being unnecessary for that purpose; and then the Governor Informing the treasurer that he might use them in any man? ner he pleased ! I soon afterward informed the treasurer that I would not seal another bond, unless compelled by the courts of the State, where be would b" required to make an exhibit of what nad been done with the con? version bonds; that I considered tjhe hypothecation ot conversion bonds by the financial board, which I strongly suspected, as positively illegal; that they were simply for the puposo of exchange, as Indicated in their title, and the bonds exchanged, cancelled and flied in the treasury, as vouchers for the conversion bonds. This was in October, 1871. I have not sealed a single bond since, though repeatedly requested to do so both before and alter the passage of the validating act, which contains an especial clause requiring me to seal for purposes of conversion only, thereby implyicg that the previous use of the conver? sion bonds, lu hypothecating them for loans, was Illegal, and which the Validating act was supposed to legalize. The treasurer made an exhibit in November lasl, which showed thai all my suspicions with regard to the use being made of the conver? sion bonds were correct. Since that exhibit I have positively refused to seal a single bond, telling the treasurer that I had now positive knowledge from his published report that be bad used more than $6,000,000 of conversion bonds for purposes ot hypothecation, and which I believe to be forfeited and sold; that I considered this whole amount, which had been sealed by me under the most positive as? surance that they were being used solely tor the purpose of conversion, misapplied. The treasurer now assures me that he de? sires conversion bonds for the purpose ot exchange only, but I have received similar assurances several times before, and they have not been verified by subsequent facts; and I have ns authority to insist upon seeing the bonds cancelled that are taken In the treasury in lieu of the conversion bonds issued. The treasurer resents this as ques Honing his veracity and integrity. The treasurer has also Informed me thr.t thia $182.000 of bonds ls only the first instalment ol $1,700,000 that he desires sealed. If ibis manaamue, therefor.,,' ls granted, I will be compelled to seal that amount at least, per? haps an indefinite amount more. I hold that I have already sealed sufficient conversion bonds for all legitimate purposes, viz : In exchange for other bonds. I believe their hypothecation to be Illegal, and that if the treasurer or financial board hypothecated them, be or they are personally responsible for the amount so misapplied; and that lt is certainly not my duty to seal anymore, with the DOBltlve tacts in my possession which the treasurer's report of last November shows. It will be seen from that report to the Legis? lature, page 4G9 of the reports and resolutions 1871-72, that the public bonded debt ls stated as $15.851,327 35. Of this amount there are $7.191,700 ol conversion bonds. ONLY $1,034, 302 35 OF THIS AMOUNT HAVE BEEN USED FOB THE LEGITIMATE PURPOSES OP 7HE AOT, VIZ : CONVERSION. As will be seen, by reference to page 471, the enormous balance o? $6,151, 397 75 have been, I claim, FRAUDULENTLY AND ILLEGALLY USED. The relators In this application for manda mus to compel me to Beal, who claim to suffer great pecuniary loss by my relusal to seal, and who threaten to hold me personally responsi? ble lor damages, should hold the treasurer or financial board responsible. I have already sealed conversion bonds for the purpose of converting the bonds which they now desire to convert, and whioh have been certainly once before converted, and perhaps two or three times. If the construction placed upon ' this act by the financial board be correct, viz : that they had a right to issue conversion bonds without exchanging them for the olh?r bonds, as they have done to the extent ot more than $6,000, 000, and thus increase the debt of the State by se much, the act 1B unconstitutional. The Constitution (Art. IX. Sec. 7) requires three distinct condition? in the passage of all laws contracting public debts, viz: First, that lt be passed by the vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch of the General As? sembly; second, that these votes be recorded by yeas and nays on the journals of each house respectively, and, third, that every euch law shall levy a tax annually sufficient to pay the annual interest ot such debt. It will be Been, by reference to the journals, that the act was not passed by the required two-thirds vote, nor have the yeas and nays been called and recorded upon the journals; and it will be seen, by reference to the act Itself, that it has no sect lon requiring the an? nual levy of a tax sufficient to pay the In? terest. - , I repeat,; therefore, that THE ACT IS UNCON? STITUTIONAL, lt the construction placed upon lt by the financial board is correct. But I hold that that construction ls not correct. THE ACT SIMPLY PROVIDES FOR CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE OP BONDS, AS ITS TITLE INDICATES. The fact that lt was not passed by the General Assem? bly in accordance with the constitutional re? quirements referred to above, which they were very careful to observe In the passage of every other contracting a public debt, proves that they never meant it to; increase the public debt. The act has also Internal evidence to show that lt cannot bear the construction placed upon lt by the financial board. Section 3 re? quires that the treasurer shall receive one dol? lar fee for all bonds or stocks exchanged, and Ul ty cents lor every Want used in the transac? tion, thereby plainly showing that the conver? sion bonds, though signed, countersigned and sealed, were regarded as so many blanks, until they were issued from the treasury, and other bond** received in their stead, and, of course, cancelled and flied as vouchers or evidences ol the conversion bonds Issued in lieu thereof. I know, from repeated conversation with the treasurer, that the construction now placed I upon the 'xor version act" by the financial board ls an ajter thought, a pure invention, de? vised to extricate themselves from a difficult and perilous position. The rumor has been Industriously circulated that I have never ; kept a registry ot any or all th? bonds I have sealed. This statement is not correct. I have kept a careful registry of all the bonds sealed, except the conversion bonds. I have never supposed for a moment that those conversion bonds would have been used for any other purpose, except in ex? change for the pther bonds I had sealed and kept a registry of. But, as soon as I suspected that they were being used for othe&purposes, I did keep a very -careful registry. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, UN F. Lu CARDOZO, Secretary State South Carolina. A. THORN IN THEIR SIDE. Secretary Cardozo Plumply Refuses to Sign Conversion Bonds, and Declares th? Conversion Law and Validating Law Null and Void. The following ls the return of Secretary of State Cardozo to the note recently served on him, requesting him tb sign and seal a batch of conversion bunds: STATE OP SOUTH CAROLINA-RICHLAND COUNTY. To nis Honor the Honorable Samuel W. Mel ?Ilhe Court of Common Pleas of the Filth Circuit of said State ?,?i?Btl?a?,n8been served upon this re? sponden! F. L. Cardozo, secretary of State lor said Stale, to show cause why a perempto? ry writ of mandamus should not Issue against him, commanding him, without delay, as re qu i-Md1byAtbe?ct,or1lhe General Assembly, Ifi l'^ ?P^110* 10 tbe b0Dds of the State ol South Carolina," to affix the seal of the State to certain bonds Blgned by tha Gov la? countersigned by the treasurer, which have been presented to him as secre? tary of State to be thus sealed, In order that the said bonds, when perfected, may be Me llvered to the petitioners, in exchange for cer? tain other bonds of the Slate by them held on the application of Levi p. Morton Ge->m? BUBS, George 8. Bowdoin, partners, doing business In New York city, in the State of New York, under the style of Morton, Bliss & Co claiming to hold certain bonds ol the State of South Carolina: , Now comtiB the Bald P. L. Cardozo, secretary of State, In response lo said order, and for cause shows - 1. That bis Honor the Honorable Samuel W. Melton, Judge ol the Court of Common Pleas for the Fifth Circuit, bas no power or au? thority, at chambers, to issue a writ of man? damus; that the Coure of Common Pleas for Bichland County only, under the provisions of section 15, article 5, of the constitution, bas power to issue writs of mandamus. This respondent therefore, prays to be hence dis? missed, with his reasonable costs in this be? half, wrongfully sustained. 2. This respondent further shows, that under the provisions of section 8 of the act approved March 13,1872, entitled "An act relating to the bonds of the State of South Carolina," this respondent is not authorized or required to affix the seal of the State to any bondB, except lor the conversion of bonds or stocks already Issued pursuant to law. That upon Informa? tion and belief, this i espondeo t says that the pretended bonds of the petitioners, for the ! conversion of which bonds of the State are now sought to be sealed, are not bonds Issued pur? suant to law. 3. This respondent further shows, that un? der the pro vlsi ons of Section 9 of the act ap? proved March 13, 1872, entitled "An act relat? ing to the bondB of the State of South Caro? lina." this respondent ls not authorized to seal bonds for the conversion .of any bonds of the State, "other than those named in the report made by the State treasurer, as specified lo Section 3 of said act, and such as had been authorized under previous laws of the State." That this respondent, upon information and belief, says that the bonds held by the petl ners, for which bonds of the Slate of South roltna are now Bought to be sealed for the purpose of conversion, are not such bonds as have been authorized under previous laws of this Stare. 4. This respondent, ou Information and be? lief, says that the pretended bonds of the peti? tioners have already been once converted in to other bonds of the State, under the provisions of an act entitled "An act to provide for the conversion of State securities," approved March 23,1869: that this respondent has once, to wit: on or about the 1st day of June, A. D. 1871, sealed bonds of the State for this pur? pose, and this respondent is informed and be? lieves that the same were duly Issued therefor by the treasurer of the State. 5. This respondent further shows that the aol entitled "An act relating to the bonds of the State of South Carolina," approved Maroh 13, 1872, and the act entitled "AU act lo pro? vide for ihe conversion ot State securities," approved March 23,1869, are contrary to the const Hut io ti, and null and void. ? v. ! 6. Tbat the pcditloners are not authorized by law to maintain this action and demand, and nave this respondent seal bonds of the State for the purpose of conversion fsr olber bonds or stocks ot the State. That under the pretended law of the State, to wit: the act entitled "An act to provide for the conver? sion of Stale securities," approved March 23, 1869, the Slate treasurer is authorized, only on application of any person holding coupon bonds of the Stale of South Carolina, lo take up the same and Issue In lien thereof stock or bonds of said Stale, and the said State treas? urer only can demand and have this respondent seal bonds for the said purpose. Having fully answered said rule, this re? spondent prays to be hence dismissed, with his reasonable costs. CORBIN & MELTON, Attorneys for Respondent. NOT THE MAN FOR GALWAY. A Lively Debate apon the Election De? cision. LONDON, August 9. The House of Commons, last night, resumed the debato on the motion for the removal of Justice Keogh from the bench for bis decision in the Galway election case, unseating Cap? tain Nolan on the ground of undue Influence, in his election, by the priesthood. Most of the prominent Irish members strongly de? nounced the course ot Justice Keogh, which was approved of by the. government. The debate wes excited, and did not conclude until four o'clock this morning, when a divis? ion of the House was taken, and ibe govern? ment was sustained by one hundred majority. THE LONG BRANCH RACES. A Successful Close to Ihe Season, v LONG BRANCH, August 9. This ls the last and most nuccesslul day of the August meeting of the Monmouth Park Association. The weather was delight lu I, and there ls an Immense attendance. The first race was a steeple-chase, handicap, all ages, three miles, for a purse ol one thous? and dollars. The following are the entries: Donohue'.- Blind Tom, Banaullne's Du fly, Tul lls's Vesuvius, Shea's Astronomer and Cham berlln's Impecunious. The race was well con? tested, and the jumps were taken in splendid style. Blind Tom refused the water Jump, and, though puulshed severely, could not be induced to take it. Astronomer threw his rider. Duffy won the race by a neck, with Vesuvius second. Time 7.55. The following was the belting on the second race: Kingfisher 650, Susan Ann 400, Littleton 250, Milesian 220. The race was fur a purse ot $1500. for ill ages, four miles; first horne $1200, second f .00, third $100. It was won by Susan Ann, Littleton second and Milesian third. Time 7.40}. The si art was effected at the first attempt, ihe horses getting away.In a bunch, Littleton leading on passing ihe stand. At th? second mlle Susan Ann was in the lead, closely attended by Littleton and Milesian. King? fisher broke down at the two mlle and a hall post. The race was very close for the remain? der o I the distance between the other three. The finish was very exciting, and lt was thought at first that Ltitleton would win, but close to the string Susan Ann clapped on steam and won by about a neck. A Plucky Defiance. NEW YORK, August 9. The owner of Jena, who won ibe 2.34 purse at Buffalo, issues a challenge for two races, mlle heats and two mile heats, each for $25,000 a side. _ .-i ( i -.- t ? THE WEATHER THIS DA Y. WASHINGTON, August 9. Partly cloudy weather and southeasterly to southwesterly winds in the Middle and East? ern States. Southeasterly to northeasterly wluds, with threatening weather and rain, In the South Atlantic and Gulf Slates. KILLED BY LIGHTNING A Terrific Storm at Society Hill. [From the Darlington Southerner.] On Thursday night, the 1st ot August, the house of Mr. J. T. Rogers, a few miles below Society Hill, was struck by lightning and con? siderably shivered. Providentially, it waa just then unoccupied, the two brothers hav? ing left in the afternoon to spend the night with their elder brother, at the house of his father-in-law. Tc ls believed, they wonld cer? tainly have been killed bad they been in the house. The kitchen was alee.struck. Ju the absence ot the occupants of'the house, Mr. Bachelor, bis wlie and a married daughter, who was on a visit to her parents, who are la? borers on the place, were temporarily lodging in the kitchen io protect the place. The daughter was killed; the mother so seri? ously injured that her recovery .is doubtful. The father escaped escaped with a severe shock. A colored man, not far off, whose cabin was in the track of the storm, gave his Impression of its terrific character by saying he thought judgment had come. JOTTINGS ABOUT THE STATE. V- The National Bank 'of' Greenville' has a paid up capital of $100,000. - _ -Thirty-eight shares ol Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad stock sold at $18 15al9. -A rattlesnake with seven rattles and one' button was killed in Greenville last month. His snakeshlp was lour feet two inches long. -The schools in the eastern section of Greenville are reported to be in good condi? tion. -Elbert Woodruff, a colored man, was found drowned in Turkey Creek, near Barn? well, on Saturday last. Elbert was Bubject to fits, and It is supposed while lu convulsions fell in the water und drowned. -The Camden Journal is informed by relia? ble persons that the number ol deaths occur? ring lately, are in great excess of the general list of mon ali ty throughout, the section. Every variety of disease seems to prove more fatal than ordinary. THE BALL IN MOTION. PLAUDITS FOR THE RIVAL CHIEF? TAINS. The Enthusiasm for Greeley-North Carolina Worth Shoaling and Firing For-A Crowd Following Grant. WASHINGTON, D. C., August 9. Dlspalcb.es Indicate that Greeley's progress through New England is a continued ovation. Thousands of throats and hundreds of cannon roar a welcome wherever be comes. The Republicana are firing guns in nearly every city over the North Carolina elections. The Democrats reply to the taunts about their premature shouting by saying that a Conservative Legislature and a Democratic senator are worth firing and shouting over. Grant, as be moves lrom place to place, Is received by shouting crowds. , , Four harmless pistol-shots were fired Into a Conservative torchlight procession last night. THE NORTH CAROLINA' ELECTION. Caldwell Expected to Hare Twelve Hun? dred Majority - Murderous Attack upon a Democratic Editor. RA LR io H, N. C., August 9. The city is quiet at last. Caldwell's majori? ty will be some twelve or .fifteen hundred. AU the official returns are not yet in. The D?mocrate demand that the matter be con? tested before the Legislature, in consequence of the alleged frauds in many sections. The residence of Isaiah Turner, Jr., of the Raleigh Sentinel, at Hillsboro1, was fired into last night, a ball passing through the window ot his wife's chamber. The perpetrator ls not known. Fortunately no one is hurt. SUMNER'S SERENADE He Talks to the Colored People-Their Rights can Never be Taken Away-A Side Lick at Grant. WASHINGTON, August 9. Senator Sumner was serenaded to-night at his home io Lafayette Sqnare by the colored people. There was an Immense audience and unbounded enthusiasm. Sumner talked alto? gether to the colored people. He Bald he never thought of them except as friends, among whom he bad lived more than twenty years. During that period great changes had taken place affecting their interests. Then they were slaves; now they are citizens with all the rights enjoyed by their neighbors. Then they were degraded and deprived of schools and the ballot-box; now they are all open to them, never again to close. Re vol it Hons never go back? ward, and they are secure forevermore in the rights they now enjoy. These rights all political parties now concede and acknowl? edge, and have placed In their platforms; and he doubted not that ere loDg a law would be passed fully redeeming those pledges. He advised them never to cast a vole f jr a man who is not true to them; to lett tho allegiance of political candidates to them be the measure of their support at the pol lc He closed by assuring the colored people he would ever be their true friend, and would never be pushed, tempted or bent lrom that position and from their support._ ? THE RADICAL TICKET IS FLORIDA. TALLAHASSEE, FLA, August 9. The Republican Convention has nominated O. B. Hart for governor, Major Stearns for lieutenant-governor, J. T. Walls and W. J. Partner for Congressmen. CRACKS FROM CAMPAIGN RIFLES. -Io a political, row In Missouri, Captain John Stevens was assailed by six men. He knocked one of them down, but the others kicked him to death. -Governor Chamberlain, of Maine, says that his name was attached, without authority, to a CM 11 for a soldiers' and sailors' conven? tion at Pittsburg. THE GENEVA BOARD. Present Aspect of the Negotiations. GENEVA, AugUBt 9. Mr. Kvari s goes to Paris to-day, but will re? turn before the reassembling ot the court of uroli ration on next Wednesday. Caleb Cu sit? ing and Mr. Waite will visit Chamounlx dur? ing the adjournment of the court. It is sup? posed that the American representatives have completed their case, and the English agent and counsel are employing themselves during the recess in preparing' their reply thereto. SPARKS FROM THE WIRES. -Oswald Caveman, of Caveman ?? Co., bankers, of New York, died yesterday. -The Hon. Joseph Mayo, of Richmond, Va., for fifteen years mayor ol' the city, died yester? day. -No more of the new United States loan will be negotiated until after the Presidential election. -The Cuban privateer Pioneer bas been dis? mantled and removed tu New York where she lies under the Jurisdiction of the Federal Court. -General Sherman, Nellie Grant and ex Secretary Borle and family leave Liverpool on September 16th for home. COMPARATIVE COTTON STATEMENT. NEW YORK, August 9. The following is the cotton statement for the week ending to-day: 1872. 1871. Receipts at au porta for tbe weeK. ?.470 B.390 Total for the year....2,"00,073 3,784,253 Fxports for the week. 9,o4i 9,287 Total exports for the year... 1,847^818 3,039,012 Stock at all ports In the UU ted States. 83,ooo 101,202 Stook'at Interior towns. 6,820 14,73e Stockin Liverpool......;.... 930,0.10 643,(100 American cotton afloat for Ureat. Britain. 10.000 Si,000 COMPENDIUM OF TARIFF LAws.-The impor? tant acts of the Forty-second Congress of May 1 and June G, 1872, repealing the duty on tea and coffee and reducing the duties on imports, have so materially modified the previous laws upoa the subjects of imports and Internal revenue, and the latter have now become so numerous and con meting, that a compact volume containing these various acts, with the amendments Inserted in the proper places, with convenient alphabetical tables Cf the tariff and.revenue taxes and with copioua indices, will now be found extremely useful to all persons engaged in business either as manufacturers, Importers or dealers in any articles of merchandise which are Imported qr manufd? ured. Such a band-book has now been published by Messrs. Harper & Brothere, and ls for eale in Charleston at Fogartie's Book Depository, No. 260 King street. It is a neatly printed and bound volume of one hun? dred and twenty pages, containing Just what is needed in the most systematic and easily understood form, and must prove cf great value and interest to all business men. THE COURTS YESTERDAY. Court of Common Flea*. A motion waa made before Judge Graham yesterday tor a new trial In the case of John? son against the City Council. The judge re? served h Ls decision. The readers ot THE NEWS may recollect that an old man named Johnson fell through a cel? lar door on Queen street sometime during the summer of 1871 and died from injuries so re? ceived. His widow brought a suit for dam? ages against Connell, whloh came up at the last regular term of the Court ot Common Pleas, and resulted in a finding for her of twenty-five hundred dollars. This ends the litigation for the term. The court will be kept open until the first of Octo? ber for the Issuing and signing of orders. The United ut ates Commissioner's Office. James Pearson, of St. Stephen's Depot, Northeastern Railroad, was up before Com? missioner PorteouB, yesterday, charged with selling tobacco without a license. He pro? duced a license, taken out after the warrane against him bad been Issued. He was bound over to appear at the next term of United States Court. Mr. Porteous had a conference yesterday morning with United States Attorney Corbin, on the application of the enforcement act to the election riots of the night previous. Hr. Corbin decided that the election, not belog for officers of the United States government, did not come under the provisions of the act. The municipal Court. S. D. Dawson, disorderly; one dollar. - Sander?, drunk and disorderly; two dollars and peace bond, or twenty days. Elisabeth Haskell, disorderly; trial Jostice. Trial Jastice Courts. Charles Benton, Daniel First, Boston Fow? ler, J. J. Toung, Robert Mahers, Samuel Ma? hers, Samuel Simons and Mike Terry were taken before Trial Justice Sobroder yesterday charged with participating in the riots ol Thursday evening. They were all bound over to appear ior examination. Robert Smith, who stabbed Josiah Fraser on Thursday, was released 17 Trial Justice John G. Mackey, yesterday, on two hundred dollars bail, a certificate from Dr. E. H. Kel? lers that Fraser was doing well having been produced. F. C. Bremmer was convicted of assault and battery by the same trial justice and sentenced to pay ten dollars and coats. He appealed. THE HEW YORK VEGETABLE AND FRUIT MARKETS. The Tribune ol Wednesday, August 7, says: Some poor potatoes will not bring Quota? tions. A lew barrels Maryland sweet potatoes have been received. Tney sell at $4 50i5.1 Cucumbers are unsalable. Onions have a lair inquiry. Watermelons ' continue abundant. Quotations: Cabbages, per 100, $4a8; corn, sweet, $lal 25; Cucumbers, Long Island, per bbl, $1; onions, 100 strings, $3*3 50; onions, red, per bbl, $3a3 50; onions, yellow, per bbl, $3 50a4; potatoes, rose, bbl, $2a2 50; squasher, marrow, bbl, $lal 25; tomatoes, Long Inland, bushel, 75ca$l; watermelons, Georgia, per 100, $30a40; watermelons, North Carolina, No 1, $20a28; watermelons, North Carolina, No 2, $10al8; clironmelon, New Jersey, per bbl, $2 50d3 50; Russia turnips, per bbl, $1 75. The Tribune of Wednesday, August 7, says: ~ Another car California Bartlett pears la due to-morrow. Some crates of good virginia and Delaware Bartletts sell at 5a7c. Common pears are very plenty. Apples are a glut, and very Irregular In price, but the common rate il al 75 per barrel. Some poor lots have been Bold at 50c, and some would not sell at all. With such a crop of good iruitand low prices, it is lollv to pay irelght aud commission on poor fruit. Sweet boughs sell al about $1 50, choice red astrachau $2, and occasionally $2 50, with Orange or Nyack pippins at $1 75. In lots. There were about forty-five oars Del? aware and about twenty (cars Jersey peaches to-day, some of them late io. Some choice Hales went at $2 60 per crate, with fancy Troths at $4; but the common price ot fair Delaware lrult are $2a2 60. Common Jersey baskets sold to peddler boys at 30a50c. A few plums are on sale, but lhere ls no regular price, nor much sale as yet. Apricots are not eelllng. Some South Carolina Catawba grapes arrived In rather poor order. No price ls es? tablished. Ives and Hartford prolldo, from Norlb Carolina and Virginia, sell at 10al4c. Quotations: Apples, poor, per bbl., 60a76c; apples, fair to good, $1 60al 75; apples, fine, $2; peaches, Delaware, per crate, $2a3; peach? es, Delaware, per basket! ?lal 26; peaches, Jersey, per basket, 50c.a$l; pears, common, per bbl., $2 50a3; pears, bell, $3 60a5; pears, Bartlett, per crate, $4a7. The Daily Bulletin of Thursday, August 8, says : Early BORO potatoes have again been re? duced a trifle, and holders now offer ut $150a2, and Early Goodrich and Jackson Whites at $1 25al60 in bulk; in shipping order 60c per bbl ls added. In vegetables, seed onions are more plenty and easier. Cabbages continue hlgb. Other articles without decided change. We quote: Green corn $lal 25 per 100. Red onions, per bbl, $2 50a3; do Connecticut $2 50a3 per 100 strings. Cucumbers, Long Island, 25c per 100. Squash, marrowfat, Der obi, $lal 60. New turnips $1 al 50 per bbl. Cabbages $8al4 per 100. Beets, Jersey, $1 60. Tomatoes, Jer? sey, 87ca$l per crate, aud Long Island $1 25 al 37 per basket Egg plant $2 60 per dozen. Becelved to-day another car load (about 400 boxes; of Bartlett pears from California, all In good order, and are offering them at $6a6 per box. The supply ol peaches is liberal from New Jersey, but Delaware stock not very plenty to-day. Choice fruit would command good prices, but very little of such quality has arrived as yat Watermelons are very plenty. Some seven vessels arrived last nleht at Vesey street pier with full cargoes ot- melons. Blackberries scarce, and good Staten Island brought IGaISc per quart to? day. Other fruits and berries without es? sential change. We quote as follows: New ap? ples $la4 60 per bbl, 26a60c per crate. Water? melons $30a35 per 100 for Georgia, and $12a20 per 100 for Virginia, Delaware and Jersey. Jersey whortleberries $2a2 50 per bushel and SalOc per quart. Nutmeg melons $2a3 per bbl. Pears, common $2 50a3; do Bell $5a6; do Bartletts, per crate, $3a6. Peaches, Dela? ware $1 50a2 SO per crate, 75ca$l 60 for bas? kets, and Jersey 40ca$l 25 per basket. Hotel Arrivals-Auguat 9. PAVILION HOTEL. ... D. II. Howell, Gadsden; J. P. Buckabie, Abbeville; J. Graham, Savannah; Gorge P. Cotcbett, Soutpens Express Company; A. P. Postell, Savannah; J. P. Blaslngame, Macon, Georgia. CHARLESTON. H. Johnson, Unionvllle; J. Egan, J. A. Pope, Wilmington; W. E. Towne, Beaufort; E. W. Carroll, Barnwell; G. C. Kresse, Vicks? burg; R. S. Agnew and wile, Aiken; E. T. Moore, Edgefleld: W. W. Kirkland, Savannah; W. M. Mahone, Savannah; H. B. Bults, F. Warren, Atlanta; E. H. Sylla, New York; J. P. Feller, Iowa; F. B. Strour, Atlanta; George Gage, wife*and twochlidrcn, Beaufort;D.Cox, Savannah. THE CROPS.-A letter received yesterday by a prominent firm ol Charleston fi,-?tors reports the appearance of the cotton caterpillar upon the plantation of Dr. Royal,. In Christ Church Parish, about six miles irom Mount Pleasant. A trustworthy planter who arrived -in Charleston Thursday evening from Edisto Island reports an abundance of rain there during the early part of the week. The cotton upon the high lands had been considerably retarded in growth by the drought, but that In the low lands had not been materially injured. REDUCTION OF TEA **A. JU8T RECEIVED TBA. I . TBA. H TEA. TRA A LARGE INVOICE OF , , . ; ... y jEi:; TBA. TBA., FINE TEA?, ITBA. U iTEA. TEA. fi . TRi . - WHICH WK AHB i :.,lDA*.: . . TBA. SELLING VERY LOW. TEAS WHICH WE BJC FORME ULY SOLD AT TEA. TBA.' TBA. TEA. TBA. TBA. .:- /.rt.,-ru,. 80 CENTS, NOW SELL AT SIXTY CENTS, TEA. : rum <r. .1 sui 'TBA. .-'EA. ? TEA. ? TBA.-"",-;!R $1 00.NOW SELLINO AT.8O OINT8. . .. ?ft i?!-*j . TBA. TEA. THAT AT SI 25 THAT AT NOW SELLING AT . . ...SI OO. ".iii.i.I ~<i: THAT AT ' - ? . TEA. TBA.;^' TEA. jfi?? TEA. ' " ? -TBA;-!;.!.;:)_' : mp " '*' ? .; f T: iST**..- waa i fr. C.:-.; !>:..,? . : ci !" . j ffj&J fi? . i!.' .'. THAT AT SI 60.NOW SELLING AT.ll 40. SI 40.NOW SELLINO AT . -.SI 29. t^'lf - ~ 1 TEA.' #5 TEA. TBA; . titi . TBA;. ...Vi. TEA' . ' , ? . " I'-i '- ...| iii- .. !>r. .. *i- K'trvj TEA. . THAT AT J" . ?I 75.NOW 8ELLINO AT.:.....~-*TTJO- TBA. - .- .;;<. TBA. . . TEA; f "?'.OS *-:'.: . ? ::l.......7 i;t.?f|iV .TBA., v fi WHICH IS THE BEST TEA TO BE HAD &?i, " IN THE CITY AT ANY PRICE. ; TBI :' TEA. ' . TEA.. TEA. WJLB0N5'. W1L80NSY WniSOBB?; ?.?.;!"... - WILSONS'. WILSONS'. WILSONS'. WILSONS'. WTL80N5. WILSONS'. WILSONS' YOU CAN GET A BETTER ARTICLE wiLSOJU?. FOR LESS ?v. ON EY ? HERE THAN AT WILSONS'. THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU TO BUY YOUR TEAS. ANY OTHER STORE. WTJUSOMS'. ;'.'; WtL90*8';: .: WILSONS'. WlL30??r\ WILSONS'.; i- .1,. ?...-. w^i^?t, '->>' WILSONS'. . ? ; 1?.;. i ??;?,t1 wi! ,? >?i?:i'>>i .: rWJLSONB?. WILSONS'. ;.."? i... . WiLSONS*. Z2?? ?;'.. i- :. brtl WILSONS*. WE WISH ONE AND ALL TO GIVE US A TRIAL AND PROVE THE FACT FOR THEMSELVES. WILSONS'.: W?LS?NB'.. WILSONS'. WILSONS'. ' . uaai .>?; 5J?IT? :. -: * .tim ! : W1WHSV .>^-'-WitSONS?;; WILSONS'. WJTXSON&V WILSONB'. S. H. WILSON & BRO., NO. 306 KmOr STKEET, CEC ABLESTON, S. C? WJL80NB'. wrjLSONsy WILSOSS'. WiLSONB*. - WILSONS*. - WILSONS'.. WILSONS'. WILSONS'i i- WILSONS7.' SAMPLES MAILED FfiiEE, soe KINO ST,'