Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA. Saturday Homing, Dee. 80,1865. WiU They bc Ocreatcci? ' , Although we havo?ttle faith in the ho? nesty of pnrpnsfi of the radical majority iu Congress, yet there aro signs that soli interest, as a party, combined with the lust for power, may cause them to discard the leadership of such frenzied fanatics as Stevens, Sumner and some others of that stamp. They evidently fear the power of the President, and his influence in rallying around him, in support of his measures, the conservatives and Democratic p arty of the country. Success in this respect would swamp the Republicans in the slough of their own vile schemes, aud blot them completely out as a party. The first sign of defection from the radi? cal leaders wc published in an article from the New York Times; another sign was in Congress, the other day, when Sumner re? turned to bis attack on what be again calls the President's white-washing mes? sage, several members of his own party took ijsue with him; and on the same day, Senator Wilson declared his belief that there would be no issue between the Presi? dent and the party, and that the Demo? cratic party could not force one upon them. This was evidently whistling to keep his courage up, and we should not be surprised that, on tho re-assembling of Congress, we will see a majority of the party sustaining the President. _ The condition of the country, moreover, in its relations with foreign powers, is fa? vorable to a speedy rc-union of the two sections. Thc Government could ill afford to lose the aid and support of the loyal people of the South in any serious compb cations with France and England, and thc radicals themselves would not dare, under such circumstances, to thwart the mea sures proposed to unite in strength anc harmony tho vast resources of tho entire country. This is our opinion-but nou: verrons. A GOOD AGENT.-Tho Norfolk Virginiai remarks, that the best agent Mr. Johnsoi ever had in tho South is Gen. Granl. He has a reputation for sense and "man hood" which will give his statements : weight that could never be attached, Nortl or South, to the opinions of mere poli ticians. So well satisfied ure we of this that w do not hesitate to say, that if Gen. Gran were to point out to Mr. Johnson an special evil existing among us, which ev: wo could remedy, we would consider tb suggestion with respectful attention. An this because we believe him to be hones and modest, and generous; capable of a{ predating, as he has shown, tho cbaractc and feelings of the men who but yesterda charged with a headlong fury upon h lines, or barred with a grim resolution h march to Richmond. Mr. Johnson has in this, as in mar other things, shown a wise forecast; ax we havo the satisfaction of knowing th: the honesty of the South has been vind cated by the report of Gen. Gsant. In tho contest which is soon to eonvul thc nation, Andrew Johnson and Gener Grant are confronted by those valoro: knights and mighty warriors, Charl Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens. Sumnc! wrongs are of a purely personal charact? and he still treasures up a vast amount venom against an entire section for t chastisement which was inflicted upon hi by a man who now slumbers in his grai Among tho many resolutions (says t Richmond Ti/nes) which havo been int) duced into Congress by Thaddeus Stevei there is one winch explains his voracio appetite for tho property of "Southe rebels." lt provides for the confiscati of our property, and thc application of t proceeds of thc sales of such property the compensation of "loyal persons w have sustained losses by reason of t rebellion." This resolution is the key Stevens' ferocious radicalism. He ii "loyal person" who has "lost property reason of tho rebellion.'' When tho C< federate army invaded Pennsylvania, stumbled upon certain huge iron wor the property of the aforesaid Stevens, a fired them. The conflagration was a p feet success, and tho owner has never b( remunerated for his losses. His bidet person having doomed him to celibacy, wishes to get his pay out of thc wide and orphans of the men who fired mills. It is barely possible that tho hen of the broken head and the burnt m will bc eventually worsted in their cont with General Grant. Both Stevens ? Sumner have a most profound horror gunpowder. Stevens came noar break his neck in jumping out of a back wind to escape the muzzle of a musket dur the now almost forgotten "buck-shot w in Pennsylvania, and of Sumner's valor need say nothing. Fa.ta.1 Occur rene e. SEVERAL F^RSO^lYS^DROWXED. We Lave been informed by a passenger, irbo arrived in this city yesterday, of a fatal "occurrence on the Pee Dee River, where the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad Bridge formerly stood. On. Wedneday, it appears, that in crossing the river, the passengers became excited at the reported sinking of the fla^ and a number of persons, principally women and chil? dren, jumped overboard. Eight are known to have been drowned, and several more aro supposed to have lost their lives. One of the ferrymen (a freedman) saved a lady passenger, at the risk of his life. What originated the report, it ia impossible to say; tho flat arrived on the other side, in perfect safety^ Address to thc Freedmen. Gen. Ely has handed us tho following communication for publication. The atten? tion of thc freedmen is especially directed to it: HKADO/KS -ASS'T COM. BUREAU REFUGEES, FHKEDMEX AND ABANDONED LANDS, SOUTH CAROLINA AND OKORO IA. CHARLESTON, S. C., December 27, 1865. Breitet Brig Gen. Ralph Ely, Acting As sis?mt Commissitmer. GENERAL: Brevet Maj. Gen. R. Saxton, Assistant Commissioner, directs me to in? form you that he will arrive in Columbia, on Tuesday evening, January 2, 1866, with three members of his staff. He desires to have a meeting of the freedmen, and re? quests you to make aU the arrangements, and send out notifications to as many as possible-the meeting to take place on Wednesday. I am, General, very respect? fully, your obedient servant, H. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-Geiicral. Tax on Land in the Burnt Olstrict. Thc Charleston News publishes tin fol? lowing communication from the Treasury Department, which will be of interest to many of our readers: TRKASURV Dr.PART3IF.NT, December 12, 1805. GENTLEMEN: Your letter of November 1G, accompanying applications on behalf of citizens of Gie burnt district of Charles? ton, for a change in the assessment of the direct tax, was duly received and con? sidered. Thc case is, in some respects, a peculiar one. The law of June 7, 1862, provides that this tax shall ba assessed according to the last valuation made by authority of the State, previous to the first day of Janu? ary, 1861, while a subs?quent section directs that in case thc records bf that valuation shall have boen -'destroyed, con? cealed or lost," the Commissioners shall be authorized 4ito take evidence of the samo, or to value and assess the same in theil judgment upon such evidence as may appear before them." It seems that you were unable to find the State valuation, and for that reason adopted the city valuation roll for 18(i0. It appears, moreover, that a destructive fire occurred at Charleston in December, 1861, thc district thus destroyed not having been since rebuilt. The applicants urge that thc spirit of tho law requires that the valuation should be consistent, as nearly as possible, with the real value of the property, and that the law of 18G2 should not be so construct? ed as to oblige pavment upon a basis which, even when that law was passed, had ceased to be correct. You have de? clined changing the assessment, but submit tho matter for my decision. I In order to understand thc object and purpose of the Act of 18t*>2, it should be observed that the Act is a substitute in tho districts where it takes effect, for tho origi? nal direct tax Act of August 5, 1861. It is to the last mentioned law that we must refer to find the date when the tax was originally imposed. It is true that the law of 1862 adds fifty per cent, to the original tax in certain cases; but this is added as a penalty for tho original failure to pay, and does not effect the fact that thc tax was enacted in August, 1861, several months before the Charleston fire. But even were it other ! wise, the law manifestly designs to impose a rate based upon the actual value prior to 1861, and vests no descretion in any officer to relieve cases of individual hardship caused by this valuation. I am clearly of opinion, therefore, that 1 you have, acted correctly in seeking for an assessment of that date, rather than thc present one, and that this Department has no power under the law to make a different arrangement, however unequal such an assessment may appear when compared with tho present value of property. Y'ou will please communicate this decision to Messrs. Brewster and Spratt, Solicitors for the applicants, and also to Miss Elizabeth Pinckney Huger, who applies on bur own behalf. Respectfully vours. H. MCCULLOCH, Secretary of the Treasury. Messrs. W. E. WORDING and W. DRUM? MOND, Direct Tax Commissioners. TRIAL FOR TREASON-ACQUITTAL.-The first trial for treason since that of Aaron Burr, occurred recently in East Tennessee. Captain Gamble, a Confederate enrolling offi , . .is indicted for treason, and when tr. ?, acquitted by thc jury. In another ' .. Judge Trigg decided that paroles . ' . to the Confederate armies have not been binding since the close of thc war, not being equivalent to pardons. Tho Polish emigrants hi France havo been re-admitted to the favor of the French Government. About 800 of them have boen informed that a pension, vary? ing between 150 fiancs and 35 francs*a month, according to the rank the appli? cants held in the insurrectionary forces, will be vouchsafed them in future.' Foreign News. AMERICA EXPECTED TO DECLARE WAR AGAINST SPAIN. *"Nows from Madrid is looked forward to with mack interest, as wo expect to hear tuf.c Admiral Pareja may any day do any? thing, supported as he is by the nome go VKrninnnf T ?.??v jsgar^d uv ku ?ulhu? liv that Chile will resist, and it is added that the United States will support the Chileans with arms. Thk assurance comes from a person who certainly might giro a good guess of what the Washington Cabi? net would do, seeing another of the small sister republics unjustly attacked by a European Power. At allcvents, an Ameri? can squadron is on its way to Chilean waters, and no one can sar what events will Occur. There is tho Island of Cuba, which an admiral of the United States might visit with as much reason as Pareja has blockaded the Chilean ports. Thc Americans are getting jealously irritated about European interference with Ameri? can republics. Mexico, Peru and Chile are sore subjects. Depend upon it, the United States will support thc small republics, and not with worths only, now that tho civil war is over. As regards news from Madrid, we get the further assurance of Admiral Pareja's conduct being supported, and, what is more significant, several ships-of-war are being prepared for active service, provided with war material and marines in full complement. The Madrid Epoca says: " Spain will soon have twenty five ship* of war in the Pacific." Viewed from Paris, the Chilean difficulty* presents itself just now as follows: 1. Spain will continue to prosecute her claims. 2. Chilo will resist. 3. England and France will confine themselves to neutral observation. 4. Tho United States wUl come to the ac? tive protection of Chile, and declare war with Spain.-Paris (Dec. 4) correspon? dence of London Press. FRANCE AND MEXICO. Tho affairs of Mexico have come at last to the crisis anticipated by wise mon from the very first, but not anticipated even by them tb take place quite so soon. The difficulties which have arisen between tho Court of tho Tuileries and that o? the Em? peror Maximilian, with the bold determina? tion of tho Amorican Government with regard to Juarez, have renewed the rumor of the secret treaty of Mir am ar, which em? powers tho Emperor to withdraw his troops at any time from Mexico whenever Maxi? milian's payments should be two months in arrear. The pretext would be curious enough on the part of a power which prides itst_?f on conciliating for ideas alone. Louis Phillippe, whose system differed with this ideal one of Louis Napoleon, declared the country rich enough to pay for any amount of glory it might choose to purchase. But, in this case, the pretext will be seizec without scruple by the Emperor, who, ix presence of thc irritation displayed by thc United States, is resolved to avoid a fur? ther complication of the difficulties ami?! which he has so thoughtlessly rushed. Tin cause of thc coolness between the two Em? perors is tho refusal by Maximilian t< receive as Minister of France the invalua? ble treasure sent him in that capacity ii the person of M. Langlais. Maximilian whose whole life has buen spent in dodginf his duns, is scarcely green enough to con fide his purse itself to one ol' his mos urgent creditors. The message from th< United States, of which Gen. Schofield i: undoubtedly the bearer, whatever tin agreeable journals may declare to the con trary, has eaused the greatest ire at Com piegne. Maximilian has given orders fo the evacuation of the Northern and South ern portions of tho empire, in order ti remain as true as possible to the famil; tradition of the quadrilat?re. The Empres Charlotte, whose journey to Europe i ostensibly occasioned by the wish to visi her father in his dying state, loaves wit] tho greatest regret; but Maximilian, o: beholding the war of extermina"ion whie is now commencing between the insui gents arid the Imperialists, as tho naturi consequence of all that has gone befor< insists on placing his wife out of dangei The Paris journals arc strictly forbiddei to speak of Mexico, and yesterday th office of the Temps was visited by thc ma in black, in high dudgeon at WIIA? h termed tho "indiscretion" of which cht paper lmd been guilty. Thc arrival i Paris of the magnificent jewels belongin to tho Empress Charlotte, under pretenc of alteration and repairs, has given rise t all sorts of comments. People say that certain great financial firm has been ii duced to lend a considerable sum upou tb imperial coronet, which was composed < the whole of the wedding diamonds of tl Princess Louise, and which was all tl dower King Leopold over got with his wif [Paris (See. 1) Vcr. Licerpool Journal. THI FENIAN TRIALS. The official investigation into thc escaj of Stephens has been postponed until tl close of the Commission, but the Iuspe tor of Prisons, Mr. Corry Conneilan, hi been directed to answer certain interrog tories tendered to him by order of tl Executive. A large number of persons considerable position aro said, by tl Dublin Evening Mail, to be seriously con promised in tho affair. O'LEARY'S ADDRESS TO THE DOUBT ON II CONVICTION. The prisoner addressed the court cool and with deliberation. He said: " ll lords, I was not wholly unprepared for th I felt that a Government which had safely packed the bench would not be u likely to obtain a verdict." (Judge Fit gerald here intimated to thc prisoner chi while the court were willing to hear an thing ho had to say, language of that kii could not be permitted.) O'Leary rcsut ed: "Very well, my lord. Mr. Luby d dined to touch upon this from a ve natural fear that ho might do harm some of the other political prisoners, b there can be little fear of that now; foi jury that could be found to convict me this conspiracy will convict them all. ll Luby ad.nittcd that he was technical guilty according to that highly elastic i stratneat-british law; but 1 did not ?hi that those men -(bore f e prisoner point to the benches where the crown count sat) -could make that case against n; And this brings me naturally to a subje on which there hos been much misrepi gestation in Ireland-the ?abject, I mea of informers. Mr. Justice Keogh ?aid, his charge against Mr. Luby, that men would always oe found ready for money to place themselves at the disposal of thc Govern men'.. and make known the designs of the conspiracy. Ko doubt", men wilLbe found for money so to place themselves at the disposal of the Government, but I think lt is agitators, and not rebels, who have been generally bought in this way, who have certainly made the best bargain's. And now I come to speek," added the prisoner, "of thc moral assassination of me, for which that miserable man (point? ing to Mr. B?rry; Q. C., law adviser to the Irish Government, ) is mainly responsible." Here the Judge again interrupted O'Leary, and the prisoner said he would not pursue that tone of observation. He, however, continued: "Ho did not mean to defend himself or others now, but he would de? nounce the moral assassin. Mr. Justice Keogh, had administered a lecture to Mr. Lnby about the consequences of revolu? tion; but he should like to know whether the same consequences did not follow war. Only one word more would he say. He had been found guilty of treason-tre&son felony they called it-and no doubt it was a foul crime. The poet Dante placed trai? tors in the ninth or lowest circle of his 'Inferno.' But what traitors? Traitors against king, country, friends and bene? factors. England was not his (the prison? er's) country, and he had betrayed no friends or benefactors. Hampden and Sidney were traitors, and Jeffreys and Norbury were loyal men. He would lcavo the case there." Except in the closing passage, the speaker was calm and unim? passioned. FromjWashin?ton. WASHINGTON, December 22.-Calculations made at the Treasury show that the tariff of March 3, 1861, as amended July 17, 1862, and July 1, 1864, has been more" pro? tective of domestic manufactures than any tariff since 1800, with the exception of that in operation in 1842 to 1846; the manufac? tures under consideration were those of cotton, wool, hemp and flax, iron and steel. Thc receipts from customs during the first nine days of the present month at the ports of New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore, amounted in the aggregate to about $4,000,000. The receipts from the same ports during the month of November were nearly $11,000,000. j In the recognition of Alabama as a State of the Union, the President has looked over the fact that her Legislature repu- : diated the second clause of the Amend? ment Act, giving to Congress the right to legislate for the freedmen; and as the Pre? sident was well aware of this repudiation, it follows that he regarded it as wholly immaterial in the recognition of thc Spite. In fact, it is known that he looks upon this clause as harmless; and Secretary Soward has himself declared his opinion that the passage of tho amendment would rather "restrain" than "enlarge" the powers of Congress. The rejection of tho latter part of the amendment has, therefore, been no bar to the admission of the State, and it probably will not be to tho States who acted in a similar manner. Georgia and South Carolina adopted tho amendment j clear, as passed by Congress; but all thc : other States rejected the clause that was \ attached to the amendment. The Governor of Georgia, and also of Alabama, it is understood, aro now at full liberty to give certificates to tho Senators and Representatives elect from those States. Governor Patton, of Alabama, is what is known as a "Douglas Democrat," aud though during the war he took the part of his State, it was in a quiet way, and always on the conservative side. He has been a member of the Legislature almost succes? sively for a period of nearly thirty years. The "President will find him a working man, and a powerful assistant in the great duties that fie before him. Gen. Saxton has written a letter, dated at Charleston, S. C., asking that contribu? tions of clothing, provisions and other necessaries be immediately made for the relief of the freedmen in his district, all of whom are in thc most destitute and suffer? ing condition. Thad. Stevens has got the House of Rep? resentatives in his breeches pocket, and it will not get out this session. Not even Tennessee will be admitted. The Com? mittee on Reconstruction is a committee on destruction, and Thad. Stevens' holds it. He is locking up all the credentials of the members from thc South, and they will not be unlocked this session. The case was only a devise to cheat the South, and Tennessee and Arkansas, out of their rep? resentation. The President continues earnest to desire that thc South shall bc represented in Congress, and to restore self-government. This Senator is full of fight against President Johnson, and avails himself of every opportunity to pitch in. The fact is, Senator Sumner was spoilt at the White House during the Lincoln ad? ministration, and now he is no longer a pet there, Andrew Johnson does not appreciate him. Heneo the principle is added per? sonnel, and he is h>.$i4<>, \f not outside, in? tensely personal against tho President. The*Postmaster-General ia only enabled to appoint women in many of thc South? ern States, as there are "no men fit for postmasters who can take the oath. The women can take it, as they have had no fighting to do. A bill is being prepared to increase thc pension t to $30,000,000. This amount just doubles thc present bill. . The exciting event in Congress, to-day, has been the bold, earnest, conservativo speech of ex-Governor Raymond, of New \ork. It takes strong ground in support of the President, and breaks with the Radicals. According t the Estafette, a French paper publish) d in Mexico, 1,000 Zouaves, on their way to reinforce Marshal Bazaine, landed at Martinique and there revolted, with cries of "Death to tho Emperor!'' "F?&e In R?publique" Ac. The garrison was called out to reduce them to order, and many are reported to have been killed on both sides. A partv of 400 had arrived at the city of Mexico, been disarmed and orUered to trial by court-martial. The event caused great eicitement among the Mexicans, who looked upon it as additional evidence of the unpopularity of Napoleon's Mexican interference. Local Items. "THE CODE."-The Acts passed by the Legislature relative to the freedmen, for Bale at this office. Price 20 cents; by mail 25 cents. NEW FIRM.-By roferenco to our adver? tising columns, it will bc seen that Messrs. Crawford & Miller have formed a copart? nership for the purpose of conducting a commission business, etc. AB they are both men of thorough business habits, they will doubtless give satisfaction to their patrons. - ^_ MUNICIPAL_Complaints aro being made to us daily concerning the obstructions ou tho side-walks in thc city. Parties having their bricks removed and cleansed, should not have them piled upon the side-walks. Thc latest complaint is in relation to thc approach to the Post Office in its new loca? tion, and we hope ihat thc postmaster, on whose premisos the obstruction occurs, will take measures to have it removed. In other localities, we earnestly commend to tho City Council tho ' adoption of mea? sures to remedy the evil. Tho ordinance in relation to this mattor should, at this time, bo enforce . ALMOST A DISAPPOINTMENT.-Wo were | startled, yesterday afternoon, by a crash, j and, on examination, discovered that a young contraband, with a waiter of fine oys? ters, had stumbled on tho steps, smashed the crockery, and sent tho oysters flying into the yard. Of course, our spirits went down correspondingly, as wo supposed that our prospect for a feast was upset. But in a short time, much to our gratifica? tion, thc contraband aforesaid again made his appearance, with the compliments of Mr. T. M. Pollock, and a waiter full of as fine New York oysters as we have seen in man}' a day. That this is not an exagge? ration, can easily be proved by a call at the "Bear House,'' and an order for a dozen "F., R., S." TUE RICHMOND MEDICAL JOURNAL?-We have received from the publishers, Messrs. Gaillard and McChesney, tho first number ; of tho Richmond Medical Journal. is an octavo of eighty pages well printed, and its contents recommend it to the favorablo reception pf the profession. The tablc_of contents embraces {a large variety of original communications upon thc science to which it is devoted; a medi? cal and surgical retrospect, containing eight different subjects; thc Eclectic Department; Clinical Lectures; Original correspondence and some ably written editorial articles. From what wc learn from the Richmond daily journals, we feel authorized in pro? nouncing thc Journal a success and a permanent institution. It numbers among its subscribers, already, most of the phy? sicians in the Southern States and a very considerable number in tho Northern cities. N*3W ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attention is call ted to the following advertisements, which arc published this morning for tho first time: W. A. Harris-Gold Mine. Francis Lance & Son-Furniture. J. H. Clarkson k Co. -Hams, Strips, kc. Clarkson k Talley-Cotton Seed. Richard Caldwell-Candles. Crawford k Miller-Com. Merchants. P. W. Fuller-Account Book Lost. THE LAST VETERAN.-The war ?t thc American Bcvolution closed about eighty three years ago, and it is announced that, of all tho many thous ands that once figured as Revolutionary soldiers on the pension rolls of the Government, barely two remain: William Hutchins, of Penob scot, Maine, and Samuel Cook, of Claren? don, Orleans County, New York. Several have died within the last year; and it may be that 1866 will witness the closing of the books. SENTENCE APPROVED.-The President has approved tho sentence of a military court held in Georgia, wherein a colored man called Isaac was sentenced to be hung for killing his former master. It appears Isaac ran away from bis master and joined the Union army. After thc war he return? ed, and learning that his master had said that if the negro over came back he would shoot him, Isaac deliberately went to his master's house, after night? raised the window, and shot him dead with a riflo. From Mexico intelligence is received of tho arrival of Empress Charlotte at Meri dia, the capital of Yucatan, on tho 23d ultimo. Her reception appears to have boen an enthusiastic ovation. After being conveyed through the town to tho Cathe? dral, and the offering up of tho Tc. Deum, she repaired to her residence and made a speech to the people, concluding with a cheer for the province of Yucatan. According to a calculation in* a recent Paris journal, the total nominal strongth of the armies of Europe is 4,735,7tc2 men; or. for a population of 372,000,000, one soldier to about seventy-five inhabitants. At thc minimum cost of 600 francs per man, the total would be 2,841,469,200 francs per annum. Pennsylvania asks Congress for nearly a million dollars to pay tho expenses of re? pelling Confederate invasions of that State. An attempt will be mi?de to refer it to a committee.