Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA. Sunday Morning, November fi. J865. Spain ?nd the United State*. RECEPTION OF THE AMERICAN MINISTER. On Saturday, the 30th ultimo, the Queen of Spain received in private audience at the Palace of San Bde fonso. Mr. John P. Hale, our newly appointed Minister to that country. On being presented to the Queen, Mr. Hale addressed Her Majesty as fol? lows : MADAM : In presenting the letter which, accredits me to your Majesty's court in the quality of Envoy Extra? ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, I fulfil the mission with which I am entrusted, of assuring your Majesty of the sincere desire of the Govern? ment and people of the United States to confirm, establish and perpehiate the friendly relations which have so long and happily subsisted between tbe two nations, and that I shall dis? charge my duties to the best of my ability, by devoting all my energies to thc realization of so desirable an object. If it be permitted for me in my humbie individuality to introduce a personal matter among the lofty considerations affecting tho progress ?n& welfare of nations, I would add that it is personally agreeable to me to have been chosen as the represen? tative of my Government in the court of a power which was our sincere and constant friend in the first great struggle undertaken by xis to estab? lish our nationality. These rela? tions, cemented under such favorable ?auspices, have continued up to the present day, through the great strug? gle in which we were recently en? gaged on behalf of constitutional gov? ernment against treason, anarchy and revolt. Other nations have sometimes con? sidered it necessary to have recourse to war in order to settle their interna? tional differences, hut with regard to Spain and the United States, reason, justice and public right have sufficed for t?ie pacific arrangement^ of the questions that may have arisen be? tween them. Let me finally be permitted to ex? press a hope that, by fulfilling with zeal and solicitude every act of cour? tesy that a nation expects from the representatives o? a friendly power, I shall succeed in rendering myself sufficiently agreeable to your Majesty to be able, in all humility, to contri? bute personally to maintain the peace, honor and welfare of the two na? tions. I place in your Majesty's hands the letter of the President, with the ex? pression of my sincere wishes for the continued health, felicity and prospe? rity of your Majesty and all the royal family. The Queen replied as follows : SENOR MEXISTRO: I receive with satisfaction the letter you have just presented to nie, by which the Presi? dent of the United States informs mc of having-appointed you his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo? tentiary E oar my person. I am sincerely grateful for the de? sires of the American Government and people to strengthen ;iud perpe? tuate the bonds of amity which have always existed between the two na? tions. These desires are equally shared by me, and considering that our rela? tions of mutual friendship and good? will are already as old as the Republic itself, and that during this long period reason, justice and law have sufficed to effect the pacific settlement of all international qnesiions, I cannot but entertain thc flattering hope that the two nations are destined by Provi? dence to remain perpetually friends and allies. I request you. Senor Ministro, to be tho interpreter of these senti? ments to the President ot the Repub? lic, assuring him of the real satisfac? tion with which I saw the termination of the disastrous struggle gloriously sustained by the American people, at also of the sincerity of my desire thal peace, happily re-established, ma\ completely remove the traces of past strife. With respect to yourself, Senoi Ministro, bo assured that the choice made by the President in you to re side at my court is very agreeable tc me. The declaration you have jusl made, and the expressions you have addressed to me, inspire mc with th? confident hope that during your mis sion, and with thc loyal support o my Government, tho bonds of friend ship uniting the two peoples will b< still more strengthened. / The Episcopal Convention, befon sd'ounrrnent; passed a resolution re commending that the pay of clergy men should be increased at least half Th? Maintenance of High Price?. The canses of continued main? tenance of high prices of all articles of consTxsisteon dj<?T>l?,i-v themselves just noir in various aspects. An ac? tive speculation is going on, based not only upon the immense paper currency sypiem, but upon combina? tions in various articles of prime ne? cessity, and also as regards one most important commodity, that is, cotton, upon the indications of a short supply in the near future. There has been an advance of ten to twenty cents per pound in cotton since July, and all articles of cotton manufacture have risen accordingly within that period. The disadvantage to the community, resulting from this, is seriously felt. Much cotton has been coming forward from the South, but it is said to have been rendered evident to those whose interest it is to be informed in the matter, and who have sent agents to explore the Southern country, that thc bulk of the present supply is al? ready in the market, and that the prospect for a future crop is not at all encouraging. An intelligent gentle? man, entirely disconnected with cot? ton purchases, who has lately returned from an extensive tour in thc Caro? linas, Georgia and Alabama, was ? struck with the face, in the disorgan? ized condition of labor, that there was as yet little or no resumption of industry upon the landed estates, and tho next year's crop must therefore bc, comparatively, very meagre. Thc cotton on hand iii the farther South, like the tobacco in Virginia, in what? ever quantity the inhabitants possess? ed it, has been their main, and in most instances, their only resource for relieving then pinching necessi i ties, growing out of the late war. It has, consequently, been sold as r^nld-, ly as possible for gold, the heavy cost of transportation often leaving but a small return to the owner. The ope? rators at the central points have gen? erally, however, made much money, selling only at a large advance, or holding for a future rise. The Gov? ernment of the United States pursued this latter policy, and only last week sold in New York 8,000 bales, which had been kept back, middling bring? ing 44% cents, at gold rates, and re? alizing an aggregate of Si,200,000. The whole amount realized from cot? ton sales by the Government, it is stated, during the past year, is six or seven millions in coin. Very large amounts of cotton at high rates, be? ing now in private hands, of course absorbs much capital to carry it. The same is the case with breadstuff's, the heavy speculative holding of which, in the "West, to control the market, il is indicated must no~v soon give way. It is earnestly to be hoped that this expectation will be realized, some de? clines being already felt. Under these great speculation: money is growing tight at all th< great "centres, and the banks at Nev York and in other Atlantic cities are it is said, now forced to require pay mmts of Western advances to meei calls from their depositors. This may force into the market the stock.' 1 piled away on bank loans. Thi j diversion of bank accommodation: I from the legitimate purpose of aidinj useful enterprise, is one of the evil I of banking, though it is a nice poin to determine where useful cnterpris ? leaves oft", and injurious speculatio: ? begins. To whatever degree th ' prices of two leading staples, as col ! ton and bread st nil's, are supported ? by this policy, do injurious effects rt j suit to the community. Not only ar they felt in these articles, but in owen I as prices of all other commoditic are more or less regulated thereby Another sale of 1,800 bales of Go-* eminent cotton was made at Ne ' York at the close of the tveek, an some decline has taken place, tl raters being 55^^57 in currency f( strict middling. Tile banks au ' money lenders have suddenly becon cautious. -Ballimore Suv. England timi itu- lTnite?l States. The cabinet meeting of to-day w; -, of protracted duration, and was a ; tended by all the secretarios for tl . first time in several months. It ; reported that the recent correspon i once between Minister Adams ai . Earl Russell was generally discusse > ! without reference to any action on tl - ! subject. - Special Despatch to New Yo, > Times. t This information from tho Depai ; ment of State confirms what we bofo i ! knew from another and v.\oyc autho - tative source, and we publish it on t as evidence, from a Republican qui - ter, that President Johnson has ii i yet, himself, taken up for consider tion and determination, the matter our demands upon England. 3 The country will, therefore, und - stand, that no lino of action has be - matured by tho Executive. Thc things which Mr. Seward m say, or omit to say, in verbose di? spatches, ".windy an?A wordy," while they may instruct, gratify, or alarm tiie un ip forded will not to those acquainted with his intellectual and moral peculiarities, and aware of the relation he bears to the Executive, be considered very strong evidence of what Mr. Johnson will, iu the end, decide shall be done. The imperative pre-occupations of the President in carrying ont his plans for restoring the Union, doubtless prevent him, just now, from taking np for final action our pending difficulties with the British Government. There is no necessity for instant decision in relation thereto, and he prefers to nnite the States of the Union, and secure their representation in Con? gress, before submitting to that body his recommendations in respect to foreign affairs. The country is at prosont, therefore, compelled to discuss our English com? plications-if diccussed at all-upon an imperfect basis of facts ; but upon the information we have, the Demo? cratic party unite in taking very high ground. Indeed, a large portion of I that organisation, the foreign element, reinforced by thc Fenian organization, will demand that England be visited with tho extreme penalty of violated international law. But prompt and successful settle? ment of our foreign chrficulties de? pends upon prompt and satisfactory settlement of our domestic affairs. If Mr. Johnson can, within the next three months, firmly re-establish the Union of all the States in Congress, he will then be in a condition to make very short work with England. Her arrogant will, without basis of inter? national law, will then be speedily brought into subjection, despite the opposition of the radical Republicans of the Sumner and Beecher school, whose sympathies are with Exeter Hall. W ith the Union restored, what? ever things the United States are en? titled to, and demand, those things England must do. She has no path open to her but submission to our rightful ultimatum. She cannot fail to have reflected what will happen to her dominions whenever President John? son but speaks the word to the Irish population of America. She must foresee what au army directed against her can accomplish when recruited from every section of tho re-united re? public, organized and commanded by Grant and Lee, Sherman and John? ston, Slocum and Dick Taylor, and ! their associates, on both sides, in the late rebellion ! j There is no denying that tho Demo? cratic parly, North and South, would rather relish than otherwise a war with England. Its never-failing sym? pathies with thc aspirations and hopes of the adopted citizens of the repub? lic, tend powerfully, if not irresistibly, to action in that direction. But we wait for the word from President Johnson. Mr. Seward's record in his Trent collapse, and in the Mexican humiliation, warns all men who value persistency in the right, not to put themselves under his infirm lead, nor to act upon his vapid generalities, j "We want thc signal from a captain I whose moral courage is guarantee that j we shall not be forsaken in the dark i hour ! Sueli a man is Andrew John ! son. and the Democracy need but a ? hint frbm him ! But. first of all, let ! us restore the Union ! [Kew York World, 21 ?h. j A story is told of a man who in I sured in London ene thousand cigars, ' valued at ?200, against fire and water, j After the lapse of six months he made his appearance, at tho insurance office ? and demanded his money, as the cigars had been all burned. "But : not on board the vessel, sir," said the ! secretary, "for she is in dock now." I "ves, on board the vessel; I smoked ? th.jm, and, therefore, binned them all myself, and the insurance says against fire." The secretary seemed taken aback, but told the smoker to call again next day. He called at the appointed time, but vas met hythe solieitor of the company, who told him if l.e did not relinquish Iiis claim he would be prosecuted as one who had knowingly and wilfully set fire to goods assured by thc company. An orator, in appealing to the "bone and sinew," said : "My friends, I am proud to see around me to-night the hardy yeo? manry of the land, for I love tho agri? cultural interests of the country, and well may I love them, fellow-citizens, for I was born a fanner-the happiest days of my youth were spent in the peaceful avocation of a sou of the soil. If I may bo allowed to use a figurative expression, my friends, I was raised between two rews of corn." "A pumpkin, bv thunder!" ex? claimed an inebriated chap, just in front of the stage. Old Hlekory. All Americans are familiar -with tb!? soubriquet of General Andrew Jack ecu, TCt TC? j fe VT kiiG",? Ut?vy ii Wita earned by the old hero. I happen to be able to inform your readers. In 1836,1 was intimately acquainted, with Colonel John Allen, United States Agent of the Chickasaw In? dians, residing in Pontotoe, and with his brother, Captain William Allen, then a merchant in the town. I learn? ed from Captain William Allen that his father was a near neighbor and devoted friend of General Jackson, and that he and his brother John served as soldiers in his escort, in all his campaigns, and camped at the same fire, and messed with him du? ring the Creek war. They were cer? tainly great favorites with him ; and he rewarded them for their friendship by giving them lucrative appoint? ments in the Chickasaw nation while he was President. In conversation with Captain Allen about General Jackson, on one occasion. I asked him how he acquired the name of "Old Hickory* ?" I give his reply, as well as I can remember, in his ow; words : I "During the campaign which in? cluded the battle of Emuckfaw Creek, the army was moving rapidly to sur? prise the Indians, and we were with? out tents. In the month of March, a cold equinoctial rain fell on us, min? gled with sleet, which lasted several days. The General was exposed to the weather, and was suffering se? verely with a bad cold and sore throat. At night we bivouacked in a muddy bottom, while it v .us pouring down rain, which froze as it fell. My brother John and I, finding that ho was very unwell, became uneasy about him, although he did not complain, and laid down upon his blanket by the camp-fire with his soldiers. See? ing him wet to the skin, stretched in the mud and water in his suffering condition, we determined to try and make him more comfortable. "We cut down a stout hickory tree, in which the sap was rising, and pealed ed the bark from it in large flakes ; cut two forks and a pole, laid down a floor of bark and dead leaves, and roofed it, and closed one side, or rath? er one end of thc structure against the wind with bark, and left the other end open. "We then dried our blank? ets, and made him a pallet in the tent we had constructed. "We woke up the old General, and with some difficrdty persuaded him to crawl in. With his saddle for a pillow, wrapped in our dry blankets, and his feet to the fire, he slept snugly and soundly all night, well cased in hickory bark. "Tho next morning, an old man from the nighborhood came into camp with a jug of whiskey, with which, after imbibing quite freely himself, he gave us all *a treat,' as far as the liquor would go. He seemed to be a kind-hearted, jovial and patriotic old fellow; a sort of 'privileged character' in his county. While staggering about among the camp fires, full of fun and whiskey, he blundered upon our little hickory bark tent, which immediately arrested his attention. After eyeing it for a moment, he exclaimed, "What sort of an outlandish 'Indian fixin' is this ?" and gave it a kick which tum? bled down the queer looking struc? ture, and completely buried the old j hero in bark. As he struggled'out ? of the ruins, and looked fiercely I around for tho author of the mischief, I the old toper recognized him, and exclaimed, "Hello, old Hickory! come out of your bark, and join us in a drink." . There v.ft3 something so ludicrous in the whoiC scene that respect for his presence and rank oula not re? strain our merriment. He very good j humoredly joined ns in laughing at i the mishap. As he rose up, and shook the bark from him, he looked so tough and stern we all gave him a vira 'Hur? rah for old Hickory.' This was the first time he ever heard these words, which were afterwards shouted by ? the minions of his countrymen when? ever he appeared among them." I will only add that Captain "Wil? liam Alien, of Davidson Co., Tenn., who died at Pontotoe in IS!)?, was distinguished for courage, integrity and strict veracity ; and the above may be regarded as a true account of thc origin of the nick-name of Gene? ral Andrew Jackson. [Jackson (Miss.) News. Wines and Liquors. The. celebrated "comet year," 1811, is renowned among connoisseurs in wines aa a season of great abundance in Prance. Not only was thc crop of grapes immensely large, but the quali? ty ol' the wine was much superior to tho ordinary production of former {?ears, so that in the Vinters' eata oguo a wine of 1811 took precedence, and thc opinion prevailed that such a season of fruitfulness was scarcely ever to be hoped for agr.in. But we are told from France that all the re? markable features of the season of 1811 Jiave been repeated in 1865 in the xrench vineyards. The grapes have been so plentiful, and the juice so spontaneous, that large quantities of -wines have been wasted in conse? quence of the want of casks in which to store it, and of people to gather the grapes and make the wine. In parts of Burgundy it is said that new wine is selling at from four to nine cents per gallon to those who furnish their own barrels. Prices like these are so very low that it will follow that there will be an immense production of brandy, and that the best quality of this liquor, wanting age only, can be sold in France at considera! ?ly less than a dollar a gallon. The price in this country may he somewhat affected thereby; birt when it is recollected that gold rates must be paid for the purchase of thc article, and just as much as the article is worth be paid in duty at the United States custom house, also in gold, added to which will be freight and profits, any great reduction in the price of brandy in this country cannot be locked for. As an article of consumption in the United States, brandy is now of small account, except for medicinal pur? poses and among the wealthy. Tin price has driven it out of ordinary use. and whiskey is king. The taste for the latter among drinking men has increased so much that even if brandy were so reduced in price as to ! be able to come in competition with whiskey, the latter would hold its own against the foreigner. A very curious history might be made out of the changes in drinking usages in this country. Before the Revolution, the gentlemanly drinks were Madeira or Port wine, and for ordinary puiposes the rum or spirits of Jamaica or the West India Islands, which was then sold cheaply. At so? cial gatherings punch was the great beverage. The breaking up of our dependence on England rendered for? eign spirits dear; some reliance was placed upon New England rani, but the popular mind gradually settled down upon gin. Fifty years ago gin was drank in the United States as commonly and generally as whiskey is now. Low tariffs then brought in French brandies and their imitations, which, from cheapness, became ex? ceedingly popular. The light French wines, particularly champagne, be? came objects of commerce, and grew rapidly in popularity. But revenue regulations produced new changes, and brandy becoming too dear for the means of ordinary drinkers, whiskey was forced into service. "Old rye" was at the time in Pennsylvania the only indigenous fluid, but success in the West in the distillation of whiskey from corn has made-"old Bourbon" somewhat celebrated. The lager beer interest, which has grown steadily since about the year 1850, has now become immense. It has acted bene? ficially in keeping down the consump? tion of spirituous liquors, which, but for such means of relief, would now be frightful in extent and excess. Probably the next great beverage universal in popularity among us will be American wine. The facilities for the production of light wines in this country are very great, and we must expect that our domestic wine pro? duct will advance with astonishing rapidity. -Ph iladelphia In quiver. APPRENTICES AND JOUKNET?IEN. - The subject of regulating the law of apprenticeship is being consider-/*, by the New York Convention of Trades Societies, now in.session at Albany. This Ls one of thc most im? portant matters that could occupy the attention of such a body, and might bc made to result far more beneficial? ly to mechanics and the people gen? erally than wrangling over questions of strikes and -?the.r matters which the laws of den:and and supply will set? tle. O-rhig to the faulty system of apprenticeship in this country, it i" well nigh a general complaint that the number of good workmen in nearly every branch of industry is growing less every year. It is too often th case that young lads go to an esta' lishment for a year or so, and having acquired merely the rudiments of a trade or employment, leave for ai. other city and set up for journeymen or, what is quite as bad, arbitrarily leave then unlearned trades half < dozen times before arriving at a x-' spec-able proficiency or a proper age, and turn out incompetent, of course, at last. This is not only detrimenta to themselves, but to the community and discredits th'.' trades for unskilful ness. The remedy for this great evi is in the legal establishment of j liberal system of apprenticeship, a; we are glad to see at least some sig of steps being taken in the rig] quarter to bring about reform.