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COLUMBIA. Saturday jfiovning, Jan. 13, 1866. Secretary Seward. As has been already announced, Secretary Seward has gpue upon a tour, or rather cruise, for the benefit of his health, Tlie New York JW .-rs says that, in the good old days of Republican sim? plicity, tho officers pf Government were transported over the public highways, and wont abroad at their own cost. Now, it hus become neces? sary, whenever they leave tho Capital, whether on private or public business, or in search of health or pleasure, that they should be transported by special cars, elegantly furnished, or in Government vessels, and all their ex? penses paid. Does the Governor of a State desire to visit the Havana for the benefit of his health, forthwith a revenue cutter is ordered round to Philadelphia, and the provincial sa? trap and suit are conveyed, at the eost of the Federal Government, to the West Indies, and all the expenses ef extras, even to the wine and sogars, borne out of the funds in the public Treasury. The Secretary of State is ordered by his anxious physicians to the same locality, and a national ves? sel is forthwith ordered round to re? ceive himself and family for a month's cruise in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, visiting tho Havana, Vera Cruz, otc. All the junketings in foreign ports, thc dinners, the excur? sions, and the balls that are to be given iu return for foreign hospitality, will, doubtless, be paid for out of that mysterious heap of treasure known as "the secret service fund," that, during tho war, has swelled to the amount of several millions. Now, ut all times, we should pro? test against such glaring inconsistency and folly in a republic like ours ; but I more especially at the present time, ! when our necessities demand the practice of the strictest economy, j These officials all receive liberal sala? ries, which are continued to them pre? sent or absent, and there is no reason for this shameful extravagance. A country groaning under the pressure ol' a war debt of thousands of mil? lions, with taxation grinding its peo? ple to the earth., and the enhanced price of provisions bringing starva? tion and want in many a cottage, will - hiMaaia^1 nTTi ~ i such w exhibition of wicked and .senseless extravagance. The money expevded in these official junketings .'-.mid bring joy and gladness to the faces of the widows and orphans of many a poor soldier, whose untimely death on the battle-field has left his home desolate. TuriflT mia thc Currency. The advocates of tin; prote<#ive turill' system argue that the require? ments of the National Treasury are not so pressing that a high tariff is absolutely essential to the mainte? nance of the public credit This point would be a good one if the duties were not so high as to cut off revenue. They demand that the duties shall be put so high for their protection as to exclude foreign goods, and then claim that the Go? vernment cannot get along without tiie largest possible, receipts of re? venue. If they wove honest in their professions, and were really solicitous for the interests of the Government, they would not clamor for protec? tion to an extent which would pre? vent importations but they would demand that the rate of duties should be tixed at th^Moint nt wbie!k,tbe greatest anrr^Kjj^^r^iao WOuld L^^?^^MjBSippWe what has always been effleu. in Democratic phraseology, the ''revenue limit." But tile fact is, that in their greed for Kain, they would be willing to see every other interest perish, provided they would be benefited thereby. ONE WAY TO KEEP THEM FROM MISCHIEF.-We notice by the Savan? nah papers that hereafter in that city, tlie vagrant and vicious freedmen who ure brought up for trial for any offence ?md are unable to pay the fine intlieted upon them, are to be placed at work on the streets. This will not only have the effect of deterring others from crime-for tiny have a singular prejudice against manual labor of this sort-but will .lo much towards putting streets in good order. Anything to keep the idle at work-for while at work they cannot be carrying ont their thieving, mischievous plans. - C ' Ex-Generals Marmaduke, Preston and Walker, of Texas, are in London, as is also Mr. Judah P. Benjamin. IT! ex le? u Affiiiis. The prosecution of a railroad from Mexico to thc Pacific, and from Vera Crnz to Mexico, Ls an event of great practical importunes to the Western European- Powers. The first of these improvements is said to be in the hands of a French, and the second, of un English company. It is pre? dicted that this route to the Pacific will prove a successful rival to our own contemplated highway to that ocean. However that muy be, such an enterprise is congenial to the spirit and policy o? Napoleon, who seems more ambitious of the victories of peace thau of war, and who has for many .years labored to render the Western hemisphere tributary to French commerce. Mexico, as a highway lo the Pacific, would be of practical value to France; and as Napoleon is a practical man, . his interference; in Mexican affairs has probably more reference to French I commerce than to the "Latin race," or even au extension of French political influence. If order and stability can be maintained in thc country by Maximilian, or anybody else, so as to enable France to have a reliable route to the Pacific, the Emperor of the French would no doubt be williug to withdraw his troops. But it would be essential to that end that the nationality of Mexico should not be absorbed by any other power. There may be some foundation for tho current rumor that France is willing to with? draw its troops from the new empire upon a guarantee from this country that the United States will not take sides with the partizans of Juarez against Maximilian. Stonewall Jackson. It is stated that the family of Gene- ! ral Jackson are in destitute circnm-1 stances. An item from one of our j Northern exchanges is as follows : j An appeal is made to the people of | the North, through the columns of the New York Nt ira, for contributions ! for the benefit of the widow andchilu of Stonewall Jackson, who are said to j b? living upon au income of one hun- ! dred and fifty dollars per year, de? rived from their ouly property, a small house in Lexington, which the widow has not the means to occupy herself, and which, it is feared, will itself have to be sold to meet demands she cannot avert. Contributions, it is added, may bo sent to the care of Kev. Dr. Ho; , of Richmond. lu this connection we take thc fol? lowing- from the Mobile Trttritnc : PRINTERS FOREVER !-We dropped in our press and composition rooms, and lot our boys know that the widow ami child of the great and good Stone wall Jackson were destitute, when the : boys, every one of whom represents a battle-field, unanimously decided that "one day's work should be set aside for the widow and orphan child of that great American." Result, one hundred and ten dollars placed in the hands of a committee. Surely thc city of Columbia can do something in this good work. Many '. of her sons knew old Stonewall well, and we are sure there are hundreds here who will contribute their mite to the relief of his suffering family. Who will take it in hand ? PROFITABLE.-The First National Lank of Richmond, II. G. Fant, ? President, has been doing business about six months, and notwithstand? ing the heavy expenses attending the organization and establishment of a new Bank, it has nevertheless earned for its stockholders- twenty-five per cent*, on the capital stock during this short period-being equal to fifty per cent, per annum. With a view of enhancing the value of the stock, aiv.1 adding to the working capital, tho Directors have very wisely di? vided only ten per cent, of the carn- ; ings-fifteen per cent. lu.Y.ng boen added to the surplus fund. From the quarterly report just issued, it appears that the resources of this Bank sum up $1,282,976.90. The leading items are bills and notes, $314,824.42" due from National Banks, $276,505.26; United States bonds, ?211,000; legal tender and j National Bank notes and cash items, ; $23-4,562.85; specie and sterling, $85,535.94 The first theological seminary on j the Western Continent was built on ! Service Creek, Beaver County. Pa., in IT'Ji. lt was a substantial log ; building, and is yet standing on the old site. A lithograph of it was re? cently taken. A Paris archaeologist has discovered a finely preserved bust of Potiphar's! wife, about the genuineness of which tin-re can be no doubt. Ii furnishes a ki?y to the unaccountable conduct of Joseph. Tlio features appertain- j ing to the "bust" are hideously ugly. ; \ i ?rn The Case ot Young Kc tchum. There is said to be a very great pressure upon the Governor of New York for the pardon of young Ketchum. Some of tho most promi? nent citizens of New York have gone to Albany to urge the exercise of the Executive mercy. It will be remem? bered that the youug man was in? dicted for forging gold checks and embezzling the funds of the firm with which he was connected. The sums of money which he received upon forged paper were enormous, involving millions of dollars. Upon one of several indictments found against him, he has been sentenced to the State pi ison for four years and six months. His friends are not con? tent with this mild and lenient sen? tence1, and the highest social influ? ences are at work to save him from the judicial consequences of his crime. So far as these efforts are enlisted by sympathy with his crushed and heart-broken father, they are honor? able to the humanity of the gentle? men who are taking such an active interest in thc case. But thc Judge, in passing sentence, spoke the simple truth, when ho said that if he should mitigate the punishment of Ketchum because of personal sympathies, he should feel that he was "a respecter of persons," and that he was officially j declaring that men of influence and station could offend against the laws without fear of punishment. The same considerations forbid the exer? cise of Executive clemency to the eriniinai. If Ketchum had been put upon trial upon all the indictments brought against him, the term of im? prisonment would have extended through the greater part of his life. The public arc ready enough to be? lieve that a man of humble station, who had committed such colossal forgeries, would have been put upon trial for each and all; and if Ketchum is not to suffer the penalty of convie- : tion, even upon one single indict- | ment, it will go far to convince those ! who are disposed to put the most charitable construction upon the ad-j ministration of criminal justice in i this country that the penalties of the : law are only intended for bhe restraint and punishment of the poor and: friendless. | If the public interests and necessi-j ties ever demand that an offender should be punished and made an example of, it is in cases which give j such a shock to commercial credit and i enutidenee. The wealthiest city of a continent reeled for a time under the staggering blow of Ketehum's vast and unparalleled forgeries. Better educated and better men than this j criminal have been executed in Great j Britain for frauds iu?nitely inferior in magnitude to those of Ketchum. . And when the humanizing spirit of the age brought about the abolition, , in England, of capital punishment for forgery, it never discriminated between different classes of offenders, nor rendered less certain the penalty windi wjvs substituted tor mai' ol death. It must be admitted that, in ? Great Britain-the most aristocratic of countries-social distinctions are never permitted to interfere with the , adniinstration of justice; but the peer j and the peasant are alike equal before j the law. -Richmond Dispalcli. NEW ENGLAND SCHEMING AGAIN.- j It is stated in several of our ex changes that New England has a scheme to alter the Federal Constitu- i tion so that export duties may be ! levied, tho object being to secure cotton ten or twenty cents per pound cheaper than foreign nations can buy ; it and pay the export duty to that, or any amount that may be levied. Tho New England States being in thc Union, tin y would, of course, receive it^or any other product of the soil ; South or West, free, that an export duty may be levied upon. Succeed- \ ing in this, tue South and West, as ! consumers, would be forced to pay j such prices as the New England manufacturers would demand for their goods. The only way to trump this trick of the New England manu? facturera, would be for the South and West to manufacture, their supplies at least, for themselves. By the way, has it ever entered the minds of the "Fenian Brotherhood" that in New j England they have an enemy more to be feared ia the future than Old England ? An enemy with all the world and "the vest of mankind?" A ruthless, fornicating enemy, whom or? law, human nor divine, has ever yet restrained in her greed after gain and in her intolerance and fauati- j cism ? If this "Order" to which we refer has not thought of this, it is ; time it should do so, for if we be not deceived, the time is rapidly ap? proaching when it will lind in New England a foe as relentless and perse? cuting as ever Old England has been to the kith and kin of the members of that "brotherhood" in the "Land of Erin." By laying a piece of charcoal upon abnrn, the pain subsides immediately. By leaving the charcoal on one hour, the wound is healed, as has been de? monstrated on several occasions. The remedy is cheap and simple, and cor tainly deserves a trial. - i?, - Resolutions were adopted on tho '21st ult., by the Indiana Legislature, : unanimously in the Senate, and with but one negative vote in the House, j declaring it to be the duty of the ! United States to protest against the usurpation of political control of any portion of this continent by Eur', pean princes or powers, mid especially against the Mexican invasion. Senator Wilson and tile President. Mr. Wilson, member of Congress from Iowa, at the request of Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, offered the reso- ! lutiou of which the latter had given notice concerning reconstruction. Immediately after its adoption by the House, Mr. Wilson sought aud ob? tained an interview with the Presi? dent, of which he has made a report, published in the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Wilson, at that interview, as? sumed to speak on behalf of thc majority in Congress, and he in? formed the President that it was very desirable that no conflict of action should arise between them on the subject of reconstruction; that it could be avoided provided the Presi? dent would not press his peculiar views, but would accept the action of Congress as conclusive; but that un? less he did so, he would certainly get into trouble. "If yon are disposed," was Mr. Wilson's language to the President, "to interfere with Con? gress, by patronage or otherwise, and force your peculiar views upon Con? gress aud the country, you will meet with serious opposition by those that arc now the friends of your adminis? tration and desire sincerely to make it successful." What Mr. Wilsou menus by being tho "friend of the Administration " is apparent from the context. He claims io have aided to bring it into power, and he therefore claims the right to dictate and over-ride its policy, and aUihe same time retain the dispensation of its patronage. The President has been engaged ever since his accession to office, in the patriotic task of re? storing the Union and healing the wounds of the war. He has adopted a policy for this purpose which is heartily approved and upheld by the country, and which is rapidly effac? ing the disasters and animosities of the dreadful contest so happily closed. Just at this moment Mr. Wilson steps in, aud, on behalf of a powerful party in Congress, demands that the President shall abandon this policy, or, at least, hand over all the j patronage and power of his office to aid those who would set it aside, and who propose: to complete thc disrup? tion of the Union, which the rebels failed to achieve. If he will do this, "there can be no possible difficulty between the executive and legislative branches of the Government. " But Mr. Wilson was not content with thus laying down his terms of peace with the President. He pro? ceeded to denounce certain other members of the Administration party in Congress who propose to support the President in- tho policy he has thus far pursued Here is his own report of what ho said on that subject: ' And let nie add this: the so-called Conservatives of Congress, the men that claim to be your exclusive friends, go with you to-day because they think it is to their advantage to do so, but they will post; yon to? morrow if they s?mil < d that it is to their disadvantage .. > support you. You i ill find in the end, that the men who diner from you to-day, from sincen1 convictions, and honest, pa? triotic motives, are much more reliable and trustworthy friends than these time-servers." This is a curious and characteristic specimen of the Pharisaical self compl icency of Mr. Wilson and those on whose, behalf he claimed to speak. They alone are the men who act from "sincere convictions." They alone are the men of "honest and patriotic motives," and their principal concern is lest they should not be allowed to control the patronage of the adminis? tration to overthrow its policy. The country will not be surprised to learn that Mr. Wilson failed to obtain the r utrance which he sought. The President did not surrender to his demands. He "said nothing that could be construed into an admission .hat his own policy of reconstruction had failed." On the contrary, he "seemed to be fully persuaded of its present and future success." And what was still more astounding to Mr. Wilson, he "did not say one word to indicate his intention" of allowing Mr. Wilson and his asso? ciates to use the patronage of his olliee.for the overthrow of his policy | and the permanent disruption of the Union. We venture to predict that j it will be a long time before any snell assurance will be obtained from the ? President. RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.-By statistics ' which we published yesterday, we learn that the number of railroad ac? cidents in this country during the : past year was one hundred and eighty- i three, against one hundred and forty the y ear previous. The fatality, how? ever, was in favor of 1865, the num? ber of lives lost during that year being three, hundred and four in 1864. We here find some reason for con? gratulating the public. Although the number of accidents the past year was above that of the previous year, it seems that the fatality was consi? derably less. We do not know to what cause this may be attributed, other than that railroad companies are becoming more careful about the lives of passengers-a consideration, no doubt, superinduced by the amount of pecuniary damages they mav b*e mulcted in.-New York Herald. Lieutenant-General Grant is in favor of consolidating the military department of the South, so as to relieve two-thirds of the command? ers. Three-thirds would be an im? provement. \ I The New York Herald. The New York Herald, with the beginning of the new year, gives a flattering account of its history* and diameter. It claims to have out? stripped, in its liberal enterprise, ali its competitors, and thereby to have earned for itself not oidy an entire success, but a world-wide rep?tale . Whenever American vessels approach foreign ports, whether it be the civil? ized cities of Europe, the most dis? tant islets of the Pacific, the shores cf India, the harbors of Japan, or the coasts of Africa, the inhabitants eager? ly sail or swim out to sen, to board the vessel and obtain the latest num? ber of the New York Herald. The King of Dahomey is a regular sub? scriber, and sometimes takes up the pen as n. correspondent. The Herald announces that "even the commer? cial, financial and political action of foreign statesmen takes it shape from its contents and opinions." Under these c ircumstances, it is gratifying to know that the Heraldhaanot "been unmindful of its responsibilities." It has used its gigantic power for the benefit of the species, and endeavored to increase the general happiness of j this planet and its reputation and in j tinonee in the solar system. When . i its laudable ambition in this respect j I is crowned with complete success, j j the Herald will look around for other worlds to conquer, and prepare to I supply copies of its mammoth sheet, containing intelligence from ail parts I of the globe, to the most remote stars of the firnument. What a pity that the Heraldis not published in Jupiter? This contracted little orb is con? temptibly small for operations of such magnitude. The public will be proud and happy j to learn from the Herald that, whilst j other presses have too commonly J arrayed themselves under party ban- ' ners, the Herald is the shop for prin- I ciple. "It has studied impartiality, 1 candor, justice and truth. It has j often tempered the popular feeling ; with discreet discussion, or stayed ' the hand of violence with a word, or j calmed down a useless discussion with an opinion, and yet always stood up j fearlessly for what was right." If i this does not establish the Herald's claim io having the news before any- j j body else, we do not know what can. , ! It is altogether too great and good an j j institution for this world. Its merits : j are only equalled by its modesty. [Richmond Dispatch. \ -, A WONDERFUL INVENTION.-Our ! citizens will have an opportunity to ; day of viewing one of the most won derful instruments which has been ! produced in this age of invention. It I I is caljed an iclloseope, or, literally, a ? ; storm-viewer. Its object is to save, j ; to a great extent, the loss of lifo and - property caused by shipwreck. I An obscure individual in our city, j i after twenty-one years of study and ! 1 labor, has brought out an instrument i ! willoh ?uppli?<5 at onto tho only want j j in thc plan to prevent shipwreck and ' disaster at sea: an instrument which, ; ! nuder any and all circumstances, will \ j indicate, with unerring certainty, the j i approach of a storm several days in I I advance of its appearance. ! The tello'scope, as it is called, is ! constructed upon a plan entirely new j \ in barometric philosophy. The mer- j ! cury performs a secondary part, and j j is not visible. The principle upon i ; which this delicate indicator is con- j structed is that of atmospheric dis- ! placement. ' The great storm of the 1st .ind 2d of January, 1.S04, was predicted here j by this instrument eight days before i it made its appearance and while yet j beyond the Rocky Mountains. This | ' storm extended from Canada to the i j Gulf of Mexico. The storm which swept over Chica.' ? and produced such disastrous results i on the Otb of July last was indicated here by this instrument un the 2?lU i of June. There has not been a storm ! since the instrument was set up but it has unerringly predicted. [Rochester Democrat, 307/i nit. A COMMON IU'T SAD STORY.-A cor respondent of the New Orleans Cres? cent writes: The widow of Governor R. F. W. j Allston advertises in the columns of the Charleston Daily News for board- i ing and day scholars for young ladies, j Fortune bas freaks, but who cordd have thought of one so wild us this? Happily-yes, happily-her tender j husband sleeps quietly in the tomb ; of his ancestors, the faultless model : of as true a gentleman "as ever graced this latter age." His death occurred j during tlu; war, at the commencement of which be was one of the wealthiest ! men in the State. His liberality was diffusive, his social virtues the theme of every tongue. The writer of this, when a boy, was brought under the influence of his captivating and 1 courtly maimers at one of his pfantt tious on the Waccamaw, and has never ceased to retain a vivid recollec? tion of the impression then made upon his mind. And now, by one turn in the fluctuating wheel of for? tune, his aged widow is reduced to the hard necessity oT earning a scanty support by daily toil. I have no heart for reflections. George Wilkins Kendall, who was for so many years connected with the New Orleans Picayune, has again taken an interest in the paper. For the last seven or eight j ears, Mr. Kendall has been in the stock-raising business in Texas. The Texas markets ar? ove and goods are selling low. Xjocal Itoms. The Northern mail railed to come tolland yesterday. Advertisements, to insure insertion, -should be handed in by ! o'clock p. itt. "TKF. CODE."-The Acts passed by th? Legislature relative to the fro? hue:-,. sale at this o?ice. Vrier -i<) cents; by 25 cents. CASU.-Our term* for subscription, ad? vertising and job work aro cash. Wo hops all parties will bear this hi mind. (lEEES VILLE KoUNTA.rSEEK.-Cr. V. Townes, Esqp, bas become associated with Mr. Elford in the management of the Mountain* er. SOUTH CABOLINA RAXLUOAO. -We wire informed, yesterday, by Mr. Peake, the Superintendent of this road, that ho expected to mu a train to thc depot in this city on Tuesday evening next. STOWE BKEAKINO. -The store of Messrs. Norris A Baldwin, on Assent! ly street, waa * entered ou Thursday night. Tito parties entered by forcing the window ahnttcr. Thc loss of merchandize was not very great. THE BCUNINO or COLUMBIA.-An inter? esting account of the "Sack and Destruc? tion of the City of Columbia, S. C.," has ust been issued, ia pamphlet form, from tho 1'ltwnix steam power press. Orders can be lilied to any extent. THE WEEKLY VISITOR. -This is the name of an excellent literary paper just started at Selma, Alabama, by J. I'. Armstrong. It is beautifully printed, and promises to bc a credit to our Southern newspaper literature. Terms. S I.Od per annum NEW Anvr.tmsr.M*:N"rs.-Attention is call ted to thc following advertisements, which are published this morning for tho first lime: Fisher A Lawrance --Mackerel. " *? -Sugar, Ac. " -Buckwheat Flour. '. -Cheese, Flour1-, Ac. " " -Corn. Levin A Peiiotto - Com. Merchants. '? --Ladies' Silk Hoods. '. ?' -Furniture, Ac. Mrs. McMahon-Rooms to Rent. 000. H. Walter A Son - Forw'g Agents. C. R. Bryce -For Sale or Rent. Dr. C. I?. Miot-New Crop Garden Seeds. T. Stobn Farrow- Commissioner's Sale. Dr. S. W. Bookhart-Female Institute. Durbec A Walter-Auction. THE "SITUATION."-Our able co temporary of the French side of the New Orleans Bee. thus concludes a review of the events ol the year 1SG5: "The close of the year. 1865 has been sinking. The Southern States, responding to the appeal of the Pro? visional Governors appointed by the President, hasten to appoint Conven? tions or Legislatures, and to elect civil functionaries. In the assemblies elected, tho constitutional amend? ment legally oblishing slavery (al? ready abolished, in fact) is adopted, and the recommendations of the President are followed. Representa? tives and Senators proceed to Wash? ington to take their seats in the Con? gress of the United States, and it would seem that this formality ac? complished, nothing would remain except to leave the governmental machine to work according to its normal laws. But there is a party which was the cause of the war, which grew with it, and which hopes to absorb everything and to govern everything. This party desires neither peace, nor reconstruction, nor reconciliation. It shuts the door of Congress against the delegates from the South, and it declares upon opposition to the plans of the Presi? dent for reconstruction. "The struggle is begun at this point, and the year lSGG opens at the same time with the parliamentary campaign, in which is to be decided the fate of the Southern States, an I, perhaps, that of Republican Govern? ment in the United States." Two SWINDLERS AT LABOE. -Messrs. B. F. Sage and C. D. Eaton, con? tractors with the Cleveland and To? ledo Company for the* new railroad li^efrom Elyria to Oberlin, absconded on the 15th instant with $16,000, the greater part of which they had re? ceived that day from the company to pay off the laborers under their charge. On investigation, it was found that the wives of the contractors had left a day or two previous for New York, and the whole transaction assumed the form of a well-considered swin? dle. There were due tho laborers the wages for six weeks' work, and it is estimated that two thousand people suffer in consequence. The, total amount of indebtedness of the al <~g??R sconding parties was about $20,OOO^H>| They were natives of the South. a.,J| it is thought thev had gone to ?eor^^B ~in- . ..._ 1 Fourteen out of seventeen of the T Ohio Republican Congressional dele? gation, and seven ont of eleven of tho Indiana Congressmen, will vote for a repeal of the Washington City char? ter, in preference to favoring negro suffrage. John Heart, Esq., formerly of tho Charleston Meroin/, represented t.ii?*> Memphis Commercial n the Press Convention held recently in the city of Memphis. Gov. Andrew has been favoring the J 1. ?\gislat!in^^^g^jk----e; ts with his J -gfifi Ht'"' ' t(> the i jtm 3*^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Mdl^^W^iU-} AL