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.

COLUMBIA. Wednesday Morning, Feb. 7, I860. Taxe? of the So ii Ut cr ti St ?tea. Those who oppose the adr fission of members of Congress from the South? ern States, and thus deny the people of that section any representation in the Legislature of the country, to be consistent, should refuse-to accept the taxes levied upon this class of per? sons, for taxation and representation are inseparable under our form of Government. But this position is ignored, and the system of taxation is pushed on as vigorously as if the persons taxed were represented in a republican and constitutional manner in the National Assembly. The fol? lowing is an exhibit of the amount paid by the several States named during the last quarter of the year ending December 31, 1855, upon their quotas of the direct tax levied by the Act of Congress, August 5, 1865: Tonnessee.$ 50,000 North Carolina. 35,986 Louisiana. 20,986 Total.$106,972 The following named States are the only ones that have not yet paid something toward the liquidation of their direct tax account with the General Government: Quota. Georgia.$ 584,367 33 Alabama. 523,313 33 Mississippi. 413,084 66 Texas. 355,100 6? Total.$1,875,871 98 Since the close of the rebellion the States named below have paid over to the Government on account the fol? lowing sums: Paul In. Quota. South Carolina... .$234,756 17 $363,570 fiO Virginia. 171,420 27 937,550 66 Florida.. .V. 43,509 81 77,522 66 Arkansas. 38,135 ?2 261,880 06 Louisiana. 220,000 00 385,886 60 Tennessee. 108,272 00" 669,498 OG North Carolina .... 35,966 00 576,194 66 Total.$852,099 57 $3,272,109 30 Add amount due by Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas....$1,881,871 90 Total amount due the Govern? ment by the late rebellious States.$5,153,981 20 Secretary Seward, on Spain. At a banquet given at the Captain - General's palace, in Havana, Secre? tary Seward, in response to a toast, said : He thanked his Excellency for the marked attention shown him and the personal compliment paid him. and, after alluding to the prosperous condition which the island of Cuba enjoys, he added that the United States had no other views or desires in these regions than the advance? ment and happiness of these people, it being a matter of indifference by what means or by what form of go? vernment they attained these lofty ends. He offered the sentiment that Spain is the only. European Power that has any right to a footing in America, since Spain had always been eminently American. She has the glory of having discovered and be? stowed America upon the world, and of having peopled and Christianized the greater part of those vast regions. He, therefore, wished Spain all man? ner of happiness and prosperity, in order that she might be able to main? tain her American possessions, and bless them -w^th peace and all those gifts with which Heaven recompenses a frugal and laborious people. That these were the wishes and only aspi? rations of the United States. He praised the strict neutrality and im? partial, dignified policy which Spain had observed during the war, and in this connection alluded in very flat? tering terms to Mr. Tassara, Minister plenipotentiary of her Catholic Ma? jesty to Washington, who, by his frank, loyal and conciliiLory charac? ter, had in a great measure contri? buted to a satisf actory solution to ques? tions which had arisen during the past five years. In conclusion, he alluded in a playful manner to Cap? tain Walker, commanding the De Soto, saying that if he (the speaker) could speak of Spain only by what he had been able to observe in the de? spatching of official business, the captain could give other testimony of a more agreeable nature, from his frequent intercourse with the port of Havana. THE LOAN BILL..-A sub-committee from the House Committee of Ways and Means, with Mr. Hooper at its head, have had an interview with Secretary McCulloch in relation to the loan bill, UOAV under their con? sideration ; but no new facts were elicited or conclusions for the future arrived at. The general impression is that the Secretary's recommenda? tions will be in the main conformed to, but that tho bill will be re-drafted as modified before its submission to Congress. The Committee seem de? cidedly opposed to conferring much discretionary power on the Secretary in the matter of negotiating loans or changing forms of securities, and are dissatisfied with his scheme for selling a portion of the bonds abroad. In this it is also believed they reflect the opinion of a majority of the Hons?. "?On th? Wiag." OBBBNSBOKO, N. C., Feb. 3, 186G. DK.VBPHONIX: I reached this in? teresting little town at 10 o'clock last evening, and stopped at the Metro? politan Hotel, where I have been elegantly entertained by the agent, Mr. J. W. McDowell. Greensboro is a beautiful place, containing about three thousand in? habitants, three churches and-stores. There were two flourishing Female I Colleges here, one a Presbyterian, the other a Methodist; the building ! of the latter was burnt several years ago, but energetic efforts are being ' made to rebuild, and we fondly hope j that both institutions will soon be in a prosperous condition. I One of the most interesting estab ! lishments in this place is the publish I ing house of Messrs. Sterling & Albright, who did good service for I their country in bringing out South* j ern school books during the lato ! cruel war; and for this and their j public enterprise they deserve the ' gratitude and patronage of their countrymen. " The fourth reader in their series of Southern readers is very neatly gotten up, and well bound. Its chapters are mostly ex? tracts from Southern authors and speakers, yet there is nothing of a sectional character in it. By the way, I have been traveling with Mr. W. S. Hill, of the firm ol Henry M. Morris, New York, who is quite an accomplished gentleman, and favorably known in this his native State. Ho thinks that many of thc New York merchants are disposed tc favor our struggling Southern mer? chants. Before I leave this lovely place, allow me to suggest that it would b( well for the proper authorities to mov< the capital of this State to Greens boro-it is more central than Raleigh and offers other advantages. _ OMEGA. Terrible Disaster?. The United States steamer Narcis sus, from Pensacola for New York was lost during a storm on Egnion Key, (entrance to Tampa Bay, Flori da,) with all on board, about thirt; souls. The United States tug Althei left Pensacola in company with th? Narcissus, and arrived safely at Ke? West. One body was washed ashon from the Narcissus, bnt could not bi recognized. A despatch from Louisville says The steamer Missouri left New Or leans last Tuesday week, with Ugh freight but full of passengers, mos of whom were landed at Cairo. Oi arriving at Evansville she receive< about a dozen passengers, all of whor were reported lost. Tho officers o the Dictator brought off one hundre. and twenty people from the wreck It is thought by the officers of th Missouri that the total list of casual ties will not exceed seventy, an probably be less than sixty. But the most heart-rending calami ty is related in the following despatc from Memphis : The steamer Miami, which left thi port on Saturday night, heavily loade with freight and crowded with pa* sengers, in addition to ninety-on soldiers of Company B, Third Unite States Regulars, on the hurrican roof, exploded on Sunday night. Tb accident occurred seven miles abo\ Napoleon, on the Arkansas River, ? 7 o'clock in the evening, just as tl passengers had taken supper. Coi sequently both passengers and office] were assembled in conversation aroun the stove in the hall. The explosio was of such terrible force as to ren the cabin floor asunder, and let evei living soul in the front part of tl cabin down into the dreadful mass < fire and steam below. The boat toe fire immediately. The passenge: were frantic with fear. They snatche doors, life-preservers and everythir. light enough to float, and plunge with deafening, unearthly and piteoi screams ot woe, into the river, i their attempts to escape the devourir flames as they rapidly destroyed tl boat. Capt. Levi immortalized hie self by his daring and heroic deed coolly walking about, trying to ket the people from jumping overboar as the boat was fast drifting towal the North shore, where it touched few moments after the disaster. B now, to those in the back part of tl cabin, it was an bad as being in tl middle of the river, as the boat was vast flame in the middle, and all in tl back part were compelled to perish the flames or bury themselves in tl raging flood below. Mr. John Lus second clerk in the boat, along wi Charles J. Johnson, his assistant, wi were sitting in the hall, were eith killed by the explosion or burned scalded to death. Mr. Lusks wife a. child, his sister-in-law and a Germ lady just from her native land, wc in the ladies' cabin. The former tin were lost : nd tho latter saved. M J. E. Rai.i.in last saw her with i child, on a state-room door, which had given her. Over thirty of t soldiers were lost. Two had been ti up for disorderly conduct, and in t agonizing excitement of the tryi ordeal they were forgotten, and th< left to burn to death. Two men w< seen to blow out their brains with volvers. The Matertal and Political Stat?? of thc South. NEW OBLEAXS, January 10, 1866. To the Editors Union and American, Nashville: You requested a line from me on my return to the South-west upon the general condition of affairs, and upon the prospects which the future seemed to open. I shall endeavor briefly to comply. Everywhere in the interior of the country, as well as in the towns, there are evidences of activity, and people who were reduced to the greatest extremity show a spirit and determi? nation in grappling with the situation which is truly astonishing, and every branch of business or employment is already crowded. The planters, how? ever, struggle against a thousand dif? ficulties. The ruin of estates is but a small part They are perplexed and worried by the labor question, and until a few days ago, it seemed as if the freedmen had abandoned all thought of further occupation. More recent? ly it is said that they are contractors, and on favorable terms, but it must be admitted that the greatest distrust prevails of their future. The plant? ers find it impossible to procure ad? vances to work the estates. Capital is too cautious to seek such adven? tures. A Thousands of estates are in the market for sale at half or a quar? ter their former values, or for rent, but there are few transactions. Agents offer the most inviting lists, but offei in vain. The capital and labor which were tc have come from the North 01 Europe have not yet appeared, and the evidence so far is complete thal tho Southern crops for another yeal will be very short, and that a mifiiorj bales of cotton will be a very libera estimate. The great activity which prevails, and which is so imposing to the eye. ought not, however, to deceive. It is no augury for the future. Th? wretched condition of affairs at th? end of thc war occasioned almost t struggle for life among our people and all the little savings that had beer hoarded up or hidden away wer< brought forth to replenish supplies In the utter exhaustion, there was t demand for everything-thus tin large trade which immediately sprung up. The cotton which survived tin war, and which was generally diffus?e over the country, furnishes the mean! of keeping up this commerce. It wa' an act of Providence that so mucl was saved in the general wreck, but when that is gone, a collapse ma; reasonably be expected, unless som? great and unexpected relief present itself. The idea generally prevails and men speak gloomily of the future Certainly there never was such a fieh I for enterprise as that which the Soutl furnishes, but the capital is wanting So far for the material question. Now as to the political. There i an intense feeling of disappointmen and chagrin prevailing, and peopl who, a few months ago. accepted th situation and were in good faith en deavoring to perform its duties, ex press themselves with bitterness They perceive a disposition in th national councils to humiliate au degrade them. They are required t make sacrifices from which thei manhood shrinks. Their honest prc fessions are mistrusted, and the maj nanimity which might have been ej pected from a generous foe has nc been shown. This remark does nc apply to the President, whose nobl course is universally lauded. Eve those who were called Union men i the past, and those who were recor structionists during the war, apea with indignation. It was not for th: they bargained. They predicted generous policy on the part of tb North, and are twitted by their assc crates with their over confidenc Certainly a great change has take place in public sentiment, and tl radical party may take credit 1 themselves for engendering feeling of alienation and hostility greah than wonlcl have resulted from ai other year of war. Ninety-nine in tho hundred of tl Southern people were devoted to tl Confederacy, gloried in its achiev ments, doubted not an instant of i just cause and its eventual triumpl and sacrificed, or were willing 1 sacrifice, for it all they possess* or expected to possess of life or pr. perty. When the crash came, th? were overwhelmed. The path of dut; however, soon opened to them. Tl conqueror was entitled to their all giance. They would give it freel openly, unreservedly, and the ftdeli which they had shown to the extin Government proved them to be faithful and true and loyal peopl wherever their allegiance was give Never in history was there a mo generous effort upon the part of tl conquered to submit themselves wi propriety and decorum. No repi ing, no sullenness, no covert hosti ty. Their work was done-their eau had failed-hopelessly, and they f quiesced ! It was practicable to ha worked with the existing elemen and produced an early restoration good feelings and a return of t better days of the republic. It TR the alternative left, and the best m of the South hoped for such evei The majority of the North had it theil power to heal up all the ? wounds, and so to reconstruct sock as to make one homogenccuc m; out of our people. Have they act with wisdom and prudence, mode tion and justice, or from prejud and passion? Let them answer. For one, I had confidence tl there was a sentiment in the Noi which would become the domini one, and which would sustain the generous efforts of the President in the direction of reconciliation and reconstruction, and so declared my? self openly and publicly. I argue it from nistory and from a knowledge of human nature, and alienated some old associates in doing so. It was the clear dictate of interest as well as of reason, I thought. No one desired more than I did to perpetuate the old Union upon the basis of equal rights to all sections and the inviolability of the Con**'>ition. I felt with Mr. Calhoun, that under tho Constitution it was a Governm?nt to love; honor and serve. I deplored, though I ad? mitted, the necessity under which the South felt herself 'constrained to move. Her fortunes were mine, and I was the last to abandon them. I gloried in them. Bot that is all in the past. I am again a citizen of the United States, and it is due to that Government, to which I had the option of allegiance or not, (for I might have emigrated,) that I give faithful and true service. It is my Government and my country, and I should do all in my power to promote her prosperity, her honor, and her name. I have entered upon that work already in connection with the restoration of the South. There is no other power to divide allegiance with. I give it wholly and freely or not at all, and this I believe would have been the sentiment of our en? tire people, and will yet be their sen? timent, if wisdom and prudence rule the national councils. God grant that the era of good feeling may return, and that speedily. Whatever may be the fortunes of the South, they will be mine, and yours, Messrs. Editors, far all that are ours of family or pos? sessions are within her limits, and are likely to remain so. Your obedient servant, J. D. B. DEBOW. Territorial tiOTcmnitntt. Propositions have already been offered in Congress to establish terri tortial governments in the Southern States in place of the State govern? ments now in such successful opera? tion. This is no more than was to have been expected from the fanati? cal and unreasonable malignants who constitute a majority of that body. But fortunately for the South, in this proposition, they make the issue fairly and squarely with tho Presi? dent, and array themselves in open and undisguised hostility to the policy which he has announced and to which he is fully committed. He cannot give way if he were disposed without attaching infamy to his name and ad? ministration, and he is by nature one of the very last men to abandon a position lipon which he has taken his stand. We predict that if the act is passed to establish territorial govern? ments in lieu of the State govern? ments which were erected by his invitation and at his suggestion, he will interpose his Executive veto and crush it to the earth. It is not likely that a two-third vote could be ob? tained to cany such an iniquitous measure over his head, and, therefore, we apprehend but Utile danger of the triumph of the radicals in this re? spect. But every measure of this charac? ter presented by the radicals, and the tables of both Houses are loaded with them, only go to show us how very important to the South is the friend? ship and firmness of the President in this crisis. But for the protection which the South enjoys in his liberal feelings and resolute and indomitable purpose to maintain and restore the Union, the tide of fanaticism would roll in one resistless and destroying wave over every State in which the rebellion ever had a foothold. Those who carp at and object to the Presi? dent's policy surely do not consider that he now stands as a wall of de? fence between the destroying malig? nity of Northei'n fanatics and tho helpless and down-trodden people of the Southern States. Were ho to falter or to yield, ruin more desolat? ing than any yet known would sweep like a sirocco from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, prostrating and blighting everything before it. Though his plan of restoration may not be all that we should have desired, or perhaps all that we thought we had a right to ask, compared to the legis? lation the radicals would fix upou us, it is superlatively good, and every candid man must admit that it is so. It saves the Southern States from further humiliation, places in their hands the power to raise their voices in their own defence, and in protest against o ct rage, and admits them to political rights and privileges, which will enable them to command and en? force respect. This much cannot be denied. Then why should any man, professing a regard for the interests of the South, refuse his support to the policy of the President, so liberal and so satisfactory, when he must see that the failure of that policy inevi? tably involves the triumph of that of the radicals? Surely, he can be no true friend who will so act, and he is merely trifling with the interests of which he pretends to bo the supporter and the advocate.-louisville Courier. A circular has been issued from the Treasury Departniant, rescinding for? mer orders relative to taxation on m?Ti?fn.otl?red articles in hands of manufacturers in Southern States, which have been hitherto exempt from taxation. After the 1st of March, such articles will be subject to tho prescribed rates of t ixation nuder excise law, no matter whut is the date of the manufacture. p From Washington. The special correspondent of the I Charleston Courier, under date of the ; 31st, writes : The President is more free of re- 1 mark upon all the topics of the day than he has ever been. He has never faltered from the beginning in his own course, but he has certainly hoped at some moments for a relaxa? tion of the radical policy of Con? gress, and, for that reason, has made I so many conciliatory observations to Mr. Wilson, Mr. Kelly and other radicals, who have misconstrued their meaning. It will be remembered that Mr. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, in his harangue in favor of the unqualified negro suffrage bill for this District declared} that the President favored it,- and had so stated in an interview, withjbim (Mr. Kelly). This declara? tion remained unanswered, and it served to disconcert some of the Pre? sident's supporters, who had under? stood his policy as very different. But yesterday it happened that in a con? versation with a citizen, the Presi? dent adverted to this subject and ig? nored the opinion attributed to him by Mr. Kelly, and, further, expressed his opposition to the measure in a very decided manner. Perhaps the change which the Pre? sident has anticipated in the course of Congress may have commenced. There are some signs of a break in the ranks of the radicals. The one man power-as exercised by Mr. Stevens-begins to be a subject of abjurgation. The Committee on Reconstruction is also openly denounced as an inno? vation upon Parliamentary mle, and it is alleged that in offering projects for amending the Constitution it has usurped powers not intended to be committed to it. The first attempt of the committee to touch the Constitution in the mat I ter of representation, is an entire failure. It conciliated no support-? not even from the radical side-for it left the regulation of suffrage to the State. The committee w?l trv its hand again, and probably with, as little success. The opinion gains ground that if the Constitution is to be changed, all the parties to the same must take part in it. A National Convention was promised for this purpose by Senator Seward, in 1861, that is, as soon as passions had sub? sided-the public mind a little tran quibzed-every difficulty then im? pending might, he thought, be sub? mitted to a National Convention. The President does not cease, on every occasion, to insist that the Southern members elect should be at once admitted. He has encouraged some of them to remain here, in the hope that the tide was turning. But I notice that they are becoming dis? couraged, and are all preparing to re? turn home. Lieut. Gen. Grant is about to go to Europe on leave, and expects to be absent eighteen months. He has nearly completed all the necessary arrangements for the reduction and re-organization of the army. General Sherman will succeed him in office here, at headquarters. MESSAGE OV THE GOVERNOR OB PENNSYLVANIA.-Gov. Curtin's mes? sage was communicated to the Legis? lature on the 30th. The financial report shows an improvement in the condition of the Treasury since No? vember 30, 1860, of over two million five hundred thousand dollars, not? withstanding tho large expenditures for military purposes. The extra? ordinary expenses growing out of the war, not refunded by the General Government, is four million dollars. Yet on the 1st December, 1865, the State debt was nearly half a million less than on the 1st of January, 1861. Under these circumstances the reduc? tion or even the repeal of the ordi? nary State tax of two and a half mills is possible with entire safety to oui finances, also the local taxes on bonds, mortgages, luans, Arc. The Goveruo] then gives a highly interesting state ment of the action of Pennsylvanit in the prosecution of the war for the Union; alludes to the promise of thi Federal authorities to reimburse th? State for the expenses of the emer? gency troops and the failure of Con gress to do so, and recommends th< Legislature to adopt measures t( bring the subject again before Con gress. The Governor concluded a follows: "My uniform cum se daring the late war was to avoid tho discus sion of the policy of the Genera Government, while giving a heart? support to the national authorities ii all their measures to suppress the re hellion. I shall continue to pursue th' same course during the embarrass ments necessarily connected with th entire restoration of the country. Th principles expressed in the message o the President at the commencemen of the session of Congress will receiv my cordial support." -a??. CHANUE OF STATION.-The Rich mond Times says: "A few morning since we noticed at the first marke two beautiful, well-dres: 3d femalei j young in years, from Powhatta County, who had driven a wago from home loaded with produce which they were offering for sah These ladies were of high respect) bility-and before the war were i affinent circumstances. Their effort to gain a livelihood by their own e3 ertions should serve as an examp] 1 for many young girls who are to proud to do any other work than tin which is of the most agreeable chi : racter." Local Xtems. Advertisement*, to insure insertion, should be banded in by 4 o'clock p. m. Casu.-Our terms for subscription, ad vert isin g and job work are cash. We hopi: all parties will bear this in mind. "THE CODE.*' -The Acts passed by th* Legislature relative to the freedmeu, f--: sale at this office. Price 20 cents; by sr.v.i 25 cents. THI BUKMNU OI? COLUMBIA.-An inter? esting account of the "Sack and Destruc? tion of the Cit}' of Columbia, Fl. C.," bau just been issued, in pamphlet form, from the Phcenix steam powor press. Ordc-ru can be filled to any extent. WEEKLY FAMILY PAPEB.-On the 14th instant, we shall commence the publication of a family paper, entitled "Titi Weekly Gleaner-A Home Companion." The paper will be double the size of the Phoenix, ?Dd will contain the cream of the news, miscel? laneous matter, editorials, stories, etc., in the daily and tri-weokly publications. Sub? scription price $4 per annum. Specimen copies sent on application. There will :>*? an interval of two weeks between the pub? lication of the first and second numbera. NKW ADVERTISEMENTS.- - Atte.ion ia eall ed to the following advertisements, which are published thia morning for th? tirat tune: Durbec A Walter-Furniture, Ac. Andrew Crawford-Corn and Hay. Manahan & Warley-Corn and Hay. " " *-Collins'Axes. Henry M. Morris-Commission Merchant. Stenhouse ?fe Co.-Corn, Flour, ?tc. F. H. Elmore-Notice to Tax-payers. A, B, C-Partner Wanted. Extra Communication Richland Lodge. James T. Hopkins-Mule Stolen. Levin A Peixotto-Desirable Furniture. -Cotton Seed. luto her mighty trumpet fame baa breathed a now word-Sozodont; and she is making it resound through thc civilized world, lt is thc Greek for tooth preserver, but in plain English, Fragrant Sozodont. It ia the most effective dentifrice that che? mistry has ever yet extracted from the oriental vegetable kingdom. t THE MILITARY COHFKRKHCES.-A despatch from Washington to the New York Herald says: The conference of the senior major generals of the regular army now pro? gressing here is causing the most ex? tensive speculation as to the results to be attained. Among the most practicable theories yet advanced is the supposition that these officers have been summoned more to give their united views concerning the Southern country they have traversed, and as to the necessity for garrisoning the South with troops, than for a council touching the immediate af? fairs of the army. This proposition is the more credible from the intro? duction and passage of a resolution in the Senate to-day, asking the Pre? sident to transmit Major-General Sherman's report of personal observa? tions in the South. It is supposed that Mr. Johnson is principally de? sirous of obtaining the opinions of the generals, and that Congress will adhere to its original idea of delegat? ing sub-committees from the joint Reconstruction Committee to make a trip of observation through the ex? cluded States. THE TENDENCT OF RADICALISM.- I The New York Jh-ibune having charged the Evening Post with going over to the Democratic party, the latter forci? bly and truthfully responds : 4 'As to returning to the Democratic party, we have this to say : that un? less wiser, juster and more liberal counsels prevail at Washington, there will soon be no Republican party to hold to. If the Union, for which we have spent so much money and pour? ed out so much blood, be not fully restored before the close of the pre? sent session of Congress, the people -whose instincts discern only grand general results-will sweep the party that has the power out of sight. The Union, in all its length and breadth, they will have, and political differ? ences they will adjust afterwards, and such impracticable schemes as Sum? ner's and Stevens' and others, will only succeed in separating the domi? nant party from the popular sympa? thy both South and North." The United States Consul, at Man? chester, England, under date of Jan? uary 9, informs the Department of State that the cattle disease has made frightful progress, the cases for the week ending tne date of his despatch being 7,693, an increase of 1,437 upon the returns of the previous week. He reports that the authorities are making every exertion possible to restrain the plague, but without the slightest ap? pearance of success. The disease, ho asserts, has been discovered to bear some striking analogies to small-pox, and many experiments in vaccination are being made. He says that many of the towns prohibit the driv? ing in of beeves for slaughter, and re? quire that they shall be killed where fed, and the meat only brought to market. The whole number of cases thus far reported for England alone is 73,549, and of this number 55,422 have either difd or have been killed. MASSACHUSETTS MANUFACTURES. -It appears that in the year ending on the first of May last, there were made in this State 3,457,702 yards of broad? cloth, 15,412,242 yards of cassimeres, 6,471,642 yards of satinets, 20,027,875 yards of jeans, and 577,556 shawl.-. The value of the products was over 840,000,090.- Basion Traveller.