University of South Carolina Libraries
---sm' -TM7" mm wu - m% T ' IT il ?mggm 1 COLUMBIA. Thursday Morning, April 5, 1866. The Labor Question. George Fitzhngh, of Virginia, con? tributes to DeBovfs Review for April an able article on the labor question. North and iWtK. He says, truly, that, including Africa, the West In? dies, Mexico, South America and our Southern States, on account of the general indisposition "to" wSrk" on "th? part of the. tieg?roos; they render worthless far the 'heiter half of the globe. How to remedy this evil, is the great question of the day, for the productions of warm latitudes have become necessaries of life to civilized mankind. Mr. .McCnlloch long since main? tained that the laws of political eco? nomy and ?r&-co?npMitio^?ould not apply to the negro, and Mr. Carlyle has shown that tho laws of supply and demand have no influence what? ever on the conduct and industrial habits of the free and improvident negroes of the "West Indies. Mr. Fitzhngh takes the position, that while t?ie negro slaves worked eight or nine hours a day, the negro freedmen will not average three hours a day, and fortifies his position from experience. He says that, as serfs or villeins, the laborers of Europe did ; aiot I work thre? hours a day, yet all had homes and the rude comforts and necessaries of life." But now, to live at all, these samo laborers have to labor ten hours a day. He remarks very pithily on the former timas, there were no poor houses and no poor laws, because there were no poor un ^^^provided for. ? Mr. F. -takes np the suggestion made in many of the Northern papers, last fall, that a convention of capital? ists, of merchants and of farmers - shonld be held in New York, to take t ,'^to consideration the subject of giv \ \t value and efficiency to the freed *'s labor at the South. He is in S^B^-vor of sp.cir a convention, and says: jfc, "Never did convention have such B?aport.aiit, world-wide matters of l^^^pressing interest to deal with as ?will WL this. Probably it will not be able to f?Xm avert the storm .of social revolution W\ that impends over Christendom, but HHk^it may do something to mitigate its Hf'force and destructiveness. All are concerned in its deliberations, in its ?resolves, and in the measures it shall Kadopt or advise, and all therefore Hf should be represented in it. Rich Rand poor, practical men and theoreti ??"'V1 men, abolitionists, socialists, pro jH?J^^lavery men, agrarians, women and j^women's rights men, Northern men I and Southern men, blacks, whites, - mulattoes, Indians, Mongolians and i Europeans, should attend at its meet? ly _^ ing, and take part in its deliberations. P"^ A World^? Pair, that has to do with ? 'trifles light as air,'> compared to the ': appropriate business of this conven ?_v -*4w?j 'attracts strangers from every / quarter of the globe. As far as man is superior to bullocks, horses, fowls, ^* vegetables and machinery of all kinds, will oar industrial convention be su? perior in importance and interest tc a mere world's fair." Such a convention might concoct some plan or scheme, to improve thc ^ . value of the freedmen's labor. Om own opinion is, that the experiment has not yet been fairly and fully tried. We believe that, with fair dealing, kindness, and efforts to educate and enlighten our peculiar class of work v-.ers, the freed labor of the So uti will, after a ; time, compare favorably with that of'any other country. ? . . ?- ... * THE MASCH ?F_ I?TPI?OVE?TENT. - Through freight trains are now ran? KHk uiog between Lynchburg, Va., and ?Atlanta, Ga. ; and also between Lou Hj^fcsville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., anil Ililli Han ta. Ga. What next ? We heard fjsjjflm very F?.r.ghin? gentleman recently pli|p^ress his belief, that in a few |||^rwionths a passenger will beabletogel HA aboard a train in Nev,- York and gel lllll^^mt again in Montgomery, Ala. A V railroad route is now being surveyed I to connect Washington city and Fred ericksburg, Va. So that the through I New York and Washington trains can \ be extended to Richmond. It is \ known, we believe, that the Rich? mond and Danville and Piedmont Railroads have been consolidated, ^ and passengers run through from Kickmond to Greensboro without ?.hange. ? Y . ^ie Presbytery of South Carolina H Ctttf at Orangeburg, this day, the Wk "'tant. fc^Lij.y^f^harleston Netos has seen by a j?BH>f tiie 3,7V^patch from New York. gSHihl 0.7' uJ8t?nt, that standard prints B?T ????D^d three ? hal* <*nts (?HHtMM^i^Pea^lfca 1st. This iudi I Tbc Southern Methodist Church. i "We noticed yesterday the meeting j of the General Conference at New j Orleans. In connection with this meeting, the first which has been held at the South for eight years, we notice the unfairness of some of the so-called religious papers of the North, in insinuating, if not stating in direct terms, that, since the close of the war, overtures had been made by the Northern Methodist Cliuroh to that of the South, for a re-nnion of the churches of the two sections. The fact noticed above, that there has been no General Conference of the Methodist Church South for the past eight years, stamps such a statement as false. But we see from the New York Watchman, of last week, that a paper called the Methodist is published in that city, which, if it represents the Northern church, is sufficient to keep open the breach between the churches, j For instance, it says "the church, j South, was organized for the preserv- ? ation of slavery." The writer either knew that to be untrue, or else he has too little information to be a teacher of the people. He must have pre? sumed upon the ignorance of his readers. Hut there are intelligent men in the Northern church who have copies of the Southern Disci? pline, and when they examine that, they can have no further confidence in the statements of that paper. Again, this article, speaking of the Southern church, says: "Its bishops and pastors illustrated their devotion ; to the Constitution by buying men, women and children, with the inten? tion to enslave them!" Now, this is known throughout the South as being absolutely untrue in form and es ! sence. How can a Christian mau thus misrepresent a whole church? How can the world'expect even kind I ness to be felt by a church so hugely and mercilessly misrepresented? We would be glad to chronicle the re-union of the two divided branches of this influential denomination, for we believe it would contribute largely to the rivettingof the bonds of union, politically, between the two sections -a conclusion which all good men now devoutly pray for. Who ls Right f A respected correspondent calls in question our implication that the great founder of Methodism advo? cated a continuance of the connection of his church members with the Church of Englund. Let us see. lu the seventh volume of Wesley's works, in a letter to the Dublin Chronicle, in answer to some accusations about leaving the church, he emphatically says : "I mean, unless I see more reasen for it than I ever yet saw, I will not leave the Church of England as by law established, while the breath of God is in my nostrils." In a sub sequeet chapter, entitled "Farther thoughts on separation from the church," we find the following para? graph. After stating his belief, which he had spoken to "hundreds j and thousands" of his own sect, he goes on to say: "And at the first meeting of all our preachers in con? ference, in June, 1744, I exhorted them to keep to the church; observ? ing, that this was our peculiar glory, not to form any nexo sect, but, abiding $H our own church,.to do to ali men . all the good W6 possibly could." We do not wish to enter into any controversy on this subject. We simply make the above quotations to justify our remarks in yesterday's issue. The Richmond (Va.) Republic is exceedingly indignant that the ladies of that city, after parting with jewel? ry, clothing, etc., in order to buy bread, should now be forced to labor fifteen hours a day to earn thirty or forty cents. It adds: "If the ladies will furnish us with the names of these ghouls, and a list of the prices they pay, we promise to so brand them with their infamy that they shall be known and despise through? out the land. " PARIS EXPOSITION.-The World's special says the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs have now Tinder con? sideration the proposition - of the House making appropriations to de? fray expenses for the Paris Exposi? tion. lt is ascertained that it will absorb nearly all of the appropria? tion of the Government to pay for tho transportation of the articles sent to the exhibition. The Committee will probably amend, so that the in? ventors and others will be compelled j to pay for the transportation of the j various articles. By this course only will tin: monty^ftPP^M^U^dJ^ S']'''" MESSRS. EDITORS: While we con? sider it unfortunate for the secular press to introduce any denomination? al matter that, by possibility, might have a tendency to provoke religious controversy; still, as a misleading is? sue has been made in your paper in regard to "the Methodists," one by that name must claim, through the same medium, tho privilege of cor? recting doubtless an unintentional error, in the statement nuder that caption. And first, in respect to publishing "tho Episcopal service in connection with the discipline, &c. ;" even suppose that done and brought into use, it is only what has always been in use by most of the M etliodist churches in England-where they are as distinct from the Church of Eng? land as they ever were. And here, at this date, so far from being speedily united as one church, the prospect of it is farther off than ever-the Pro? testant Episcopal Church having re? united with the Northern Church, which the Methodist Episcopal Church still persistently refuses to i do. In regard to Wesley's advice of "a happy re-union," the Methodists, as a Church, neither in England nor in this country, have so interpreted his words and acts. A METHODIST. WHAT TT HAS COST CANADA.-Our Canadian neighbors are beginning to feel very much ashamed of the fool? ish panic they have just passed through with respect to the Fenians. They have neglected their business for a month, spent their time in con? centrating armies to fight shadows, and have added Si,000,000 to their debt without anything to show for it. The Quebec Daily News says: The first bubble of excitement re? lative to the Fenian invasion has burst, and nervous people, who were somewhat terrified at first, are begin? ning to be more composed. The military authorities alone cannot be persuaded that there is to be no war for the present, for the work of active preparations for defence goes ou as briskly as ever. The cry of "wolf, wolf," would be quite harmless if its effects were confined to the tempo? rary annoyance and expense it has already caused ; but its injurious re sultsUpon the commerce of this Pro? vince cannot be adequately estimated. Never did the prospects of Canadian trade with Great Britain and the rest of Europe look healthier than at pre? sent; everything betokened au un? usually active and prosperous spring business. When the news of the pre? sent state of affairs, of the anticipat? ed Fenian invasion, of the unhinged condition of society, and of the war? like preparations which are going on here, reaches Eugland, we must not be surprised if a crisis ensues. Manu? facturers will hesitate to ship their goods to this market unless the in? voices are covered by remittances; holders of lumber will not force their stocks on buyers; Canadian Govern? ment, railway, and municipal bonds will be fearfully depreciated, and, in fact, a general want of confidence will take place among the capitalists and merchants interested in the trade of this country. Already the stock j of the Grand T .k Railway has de Ereciated fourteen per cent., and is kely to go even lower. Much, if not the whole, of this derangement and injury to Canadian trade must be attributed to the action of our Go? vernment in needlessly causing an alarm where no just grounds existed for it, and keeping np an excitement that should be immediately allayed. It is estimated that the cost of main? taining the volunteers now called out will add another ?1,000,000 to our public debt. In view of the impoverished con? dition of a portion of the people of Georgia, Gov. Jenkins has issued the following appeal to the capitalists of that State> A portion of the people of Geor? gia, in districts overrun by both armies during the late war, are suf? fering for lack of food, and unless speedily relieved must suffer more perhaps starve. Their moro fortunate and benevolent neighbors have done much for them, but can do little more. Tho evidence of these facts is full and startling. The Legislature have ap? propriated money for their relief, but the money is not in the treasury. They have authorized the borrowing of money, upon most satisfactory se? curity, but it will require time to have the bonds and mortgages pre? pared and executed. And while this time runs against the sufferers, their sufferings will be terribly intensified. I am ready and anxious to aol, but i lack the means, In the name of pa- 1 triotism and humanity, I appeal to < you to furnish them. It will be a ? good pecuniary investment, and some- 1 thing more-'/ commendable charily. < Bring forward the money on loan, for ninety or ono hundred and twenty days, or six or five months, or thirty < years, as you prefer, with seven per 1 cent, interest. You will do well, and ? the hungry will do better. i AU editors, friendly to the object, t will please give tho above a few inser- c tions, and briefly direct attention to J it. C. J. JENKINS, Governor. c On the 26th ult.,.a fire occurred at c ! linville.. Vilich d.^fnjMjgj . The Norlbrrn Papers on thc Veto Memiagc The *wo vetoes of tho President the fust of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, the last of the Civil Rights Bill -may be regarded as marking an epoch in American politics which presages and, indeed, necessitates a thorough chango in party organiza? tions and relations. We have already expressed our views on the veto mes? sage of the . President, and present below some extracts from leading New York journals in regard to it. Thc World (Democrat) says: By this wise and able message, Pro sident Johnson has established a new claim to public confidence. He has shown himself, thus far, a statesman of singular independence, self-reli? ance and pobtical courage. * * * Tho veto 'is a conclusivt demonstration of what Avas apparent before-that thc conflict between thc President and Congress admits o neither compromise nor reconcilia tion, and that the controversy can br decided only by an appeal to theil common superiors, the sovereign peo? ple. The Times (Republican) says: The message of the President au nouncing his veto of the civil right bill, which we publish in full in othe columns, may not command universa assent. But we venture to think tba few State papers have ever been givei to the world that will so thoronghl; compel the attention of thinking mei of whatever creed, or kindred, o party. * * ? jt mily hoped that argu meuts so cogent as those employed ii the message will not be thrown away It is not every day that members hav an opportunity of listening to reasoi and common sense. They may fin this appeal a seasonable and accept able change. Be that as it may, th Presiden t's message will be read au studied outside of Congress, an everywhere throughout the civilize world; and wherever it is read au studied, the American name and chi racter will be elevated, in so far ti Andrew Johnson is held to represer. the American people. The Herald, which endeavors i represent both parties, says: The veto of the Freedmen's Burea Bill was but the distant thunder ai nouncing the approaching storn This veto is the storm itself, and whe it shall have passed away, we sha have a purer political sky and a be ter atmosphere. But before th; happy change, the radical majoritit of Congress will be swept away, ai: all the thirty-six States of the Unie will be invited into both Houses und> the successful restoration policy Andrew Johnson. We dare say that this civil righ bill against the President's objectioi will share the fate of the Freedmen Bureau; but, in any event, it is a d claration of war against the radien and their impracticable schemes, ai Andrew Johnson, as in the rebellio is the man to fight it through on li platform of the Union and the Co stitntion. The Netos says: The President has strengthened I position immeasurably by his veto the odious and unconstitutional eh rights bill. Of course, it will intern fy the radical hostility toward hil but that may be considered as a poi gained. There was no possibility any compromise between the Exec tive and the revolutionists in Co gress compatible with his digui and the interests of the country; ai the more open and decided the a tagonism between two such powe the sooner will the issue be deb mined. The masses will hail with t light the evidence of their Chief M gistrate's firmness in combating t schemes of an incendiary fact ion, is only by a resolute ?xercise of t Executive authority that this unnal ral contest between the two most \ tent influences in the political spin can be brought to an end. The New York Commercial Adv User (Republican) endorses the m sage. It says: His reasoning is cogent, and mi bo satisfactory to all who respect t limitations of the Constitution Federal power-who desire econ?] of administration, and who corree estimate tho tme value of St; rights. It can only be distasteful those who have gone wild upon 1 negro question, and who are anxic for legislation which shall especia benefit the black man. Is there i wisdom enough in Congress to dis ver and adopt such measures, or v that body prefer to wrangle with 1 President in the hope of making ] litical capital? There is no real oe sion of difference, certainly not a si ?ow of reason for hostility. Fanat bave but to ignore pet measures loubtfnl expediency, and to ac! strict accordance with tho Consti lion, and they can get along willi / Trew Johnson. ?--4 ?? ? ? Alluding to the report of the sent secret treaty between Louis ? aoleon and Maximilian, given in t Sew York Herald, of the 29th, one ts Washington correspondents sta hat agents of Maximilian have lently made an offer to promin? American politicians to give then ?ontract for collecting th? impei evenues in Mexico for live yea m condition that they will prev< uymtion by our(ijjverninent, lav . Hil ' ^MiiiirtMM-? Markeri Decline or Heal Rotate is: IV cw York. Tho New York Evening Poul, of tho 29th ult., says on this subject: A vast amount of real property of all descriptions is offered for salfc at auction and through agents at this time-far more than at the beginning of the year. The recent downward tendency of prices, and the expecta? tion that all values will be perma? nently lower, have caused this gene? ral offering of houses, stores, lots, ?vc. ; but the demand, particularly at the various agencies, is by no means so active as it was. At auction a considerable number of sales are made daily, and aro reported; but the actual sales aro small in compari? son with the amount of property that apparently goes under the hammer. A very large proportion of it has been knocked down to persons offer iug it, because they were unwilling tc take the prices bid. Real estate that is valuable and de? sirable commands, however, ful rates, and the market for improving property is probably as good as it ever was. Some of the sales recent ly made by auction show this, bu there arc fewer transactions at fanc^ prices. A singular instance of falling o? in the value of up-town unimproved property has recently been reported Some lots on Eighty-third street near Avenue A, which changed hands in I860, at $785 each, were sold ? short time ago for $600 each, and ar understood to have brought thei market value. On thc West side o thc island, in locations where th streets are not graded, there ar many lots that have risen in prie very little during a period of years Undesirable improved propert I down town will bring now only j slight advance, if any, on the rates o ten years ago; and some real est?t ! in the districts that are "abandoned I us business centres, or as fashionabl places of residence, has necessaril suffered a marked decline in value. These facts explain, to some ex tent, the. advance that has takenplac in the prices of property in man parts of the city. The excitement in regard to reul luis subsided; and persons who dt dined to act hastily early in the sen son, by obtaining houses and store at extravagant prices, have generali found their account in that course It is now conceded that the reid asked in January and February wei far to high. Houses for which froi $3,000 to $1,000 a year were demain ed, are now to be had, we hear, at. decline of ten to twenty per cent and in some eases more. Smal neat houses of less value, have bee in great demand, and very few ( these are now to be rented. Fu nished houses, of which many wei offered, will be let much cheapt than they would have been a mont or two ago. For such places of business as ai not rented, the asking price is lowe: Tho case of a store in a down tow street, near Broadway, may be give in illustration. It rented last ye* for S3,500. This year the sum wt raised to $5,000.* The occupan knowing where to find a eheapt place, declined to pay the $5,00< and decided not to remain. Tb store to be vacated was not rented t the advanced price; but afterward was offered for the rent of last yea: and finally the price was reduced t $3,000. The number of stores icc, au the number of dwelling-houses in th city being insufficient for the accon modation of business and the pei pie, there will probably bo few chea rents for the present. But the speer lation with which the year openei and which had the effect of raisin rents beyond all reason, has st) nearl ceased as to promise a far bett* state of things than was anticipate a few weeks ago by the public. Tl: extreme upward movement never ha the support of the most sagaciot holders of real estate, or of the we informed dealers and agents. I view of the depression and unce tainty of business, there is littl doubt tliat many extraordinary ba gains iu rents will prove very disai vantageons to all concerned. In discussing the point, whether c not the late President Lincoln ev< fontein plated the evacuation of Fo Sumter, the Herald, of the 2t>th ult says: "The evidence is principal] levoted to a question of veracity Ix tween Baldwin, on the one side, au Lewis and Botts on the other, asl ivhether President Lincoln did or di :iot submit to Mr. Baldwin, as a me ienger from the said Secession Coi mention, sent for by the President, >roposition that if said Conventun vithout dipping into secession, woul idjonrn sine die, he would take tl .esponsibility of evacuating Fo sumter. Baldwin finys he reeeiv? io such proposition. Lewis au Jolts say that, from his own stat neufs at Hie time, Baldwin did r rive it, and that Botts took him 1 ask for nol submitting it to the Coi ention, as a matter of the utmo mportance. IN DISOUISK.-A reverend gentl nan, who has been quite conspicuo! u Wisconsin radical politics format ears, is thus irreverently treated 1 ne of his parly papers of the Sta ap?lala "Kider Spooner, the aoooi >lishuAli vine, )'<j x .rt v]Jgmmm%%u\1 ' f th^Hilroad lobby^? Kn Uooal Itoxia?. Mortgages and Conveyances or Kcal Mu? tate for sale at this office. B<K)K AND .Ton 1'r.iNTiN i. The I'/neuir office is now folly supplied with eards. colored and white paper,colored ink, \?.>...i type, etc., and is now in condition to exe? cute all manner of book and joli printing in the shortest [x>ssible lime, (?iv,- ns a call. THE BUKXINO OF COLUMBIA, AH nucl? eating account ol thc "Sack and Destruc? tion ol' tho City ol' Columbia, S. C., ' has just been issued, in pampldct lorin, ii mn the l'lornis. steam power I>IVSM. Order:) can be lilied to . ny extent. Dy reference to our advertising columns, it will lie seen that. Messrs. Mull .V Cn. propose to carry passengers from Colum? bia to Doko, (the present terminus id' tho Charlotte and .South Carolina lia ill-wad. ? for one lioUar. Truly this is cheap fare. We regret to state that, owing to an ac? cident to the main pipe, opposite the ruins of thc market steeple, Superintendent Der? rick was uuable to put the gas on yesterday. The injury will bc repaired in a day or two. An important notice hom the Secretary of the gas company is published in another column . NKW ADVERTISEMENTS. Attention is cull ed to tho following advertisement?, which are published this morning tor the first time: Shiver A Beckham -Special. Jacob Levin- Gas-light. Mr. Ferguson's Situation Wauled. John C. Dial - Buggy, Ac, for Sal.-. George. Davis Stallion Picked Up. Mnll & Co.-Reduction ot Fare. Gibbes & Huggins Insurance, .Ve. j .{??Acacia Lodge- Extra Meeting. DEPOPULATION OF IRELAND.-Tho Liverpool Courier, of February 27, publishes the following editorial ar? ticle on the British Postmaster-Gen? eral's report on the decrease ol' Irish population: In Ireland, during the past year, there has occurred a decrease in the number of inhabited houses to the extent of 1G,277, and in the popula? tion of 94,84(5. There is every reason to believe that the decrease will pro? ceed still more rapidly than before. It cannot be concealed that the Fe? nian conspiracy has afflicted already an inconceivable amount of iujury upon all classes. Capitalists have withdrawn their loans, or refused to extend that accommodation which was the life of the Irish trader. Confidence is broken, especially between landlord and tenant, and little encouragement will be given by any mau to the location of a peasant ry wini may combine to assassinate their benefactor, and divide his estate among themselves. If to this we add that the Western States of America are organizing an extensive plan of immigration, while it is proposed to convert the Fenian machinery into a means of bringing Irishmen to the States, it may be anticipated that the population of Ireland will continue to diminish, even in a greater ratio than before. The Irish, however, who remained have been busier with the peu. Whether it is that there has been au increase in trade, commerce or litera? ry intercourse with England and foreign nations, or whatever else may be the reason, it is clear that there has been an additiou of 3,000,000 to the number of lettei-s posted last year. The total number, however, is oulv 54,500,000, while Scotland, with half the population, posted 64,260,000. MY CONCLUSION. - Congress ami the President will never harmonize. They will remain asunder and divided even unto the end. It is immaterial how this separa? tion is caused-the result is equally langerons in its consequences to the party in power. It may be charged, jn one side, that tho President hus switched off' the party track, and on .he other -hand, that Congress has "ollowed the lead of these crazy radi? cals until they have run them into* he camp of the enemy-the disunion - sis. The fact remains-they are leparated. My own conclusion is, hat Congress, under the lead of bose old parliamentarian radicals, las gone a little too far and too fast, ,ud got away from both the President ,nd the people; that the President las stood still since thc day of his lection, and has failed to keep pace eith the progress of the people. Tho President will use all the tower he has, in the way of patron ge and influence, to bring men to is support, and will cut off those ,'ho are against him. For this he annot be blamed. A new deal will robably be made in the Cabinet. Secretaries Stanton and Harlan, and .ttomey-General Speed, are notori usly opposed to the President, 'hey aro inharmonious elements in ie Cabinet at this time. Secretary [arlan, it is alleged, is in intimate nd daily communication with tho ulicals in Congress, and is in sub bance acting the part of spy and in >rmer of the measures and move tents ol the President. In the new eal, Mr. Seward, Mr. McCulloch nd Mr. Dennison, would probably e retained. They are in harmony i th the President; stand by and lpport him as against the radicals, tan ton, Harlan, Speed and Mother /"elles, will probably retire.- fl'he Uer to her tea and warm cornea ^ :n satisfied that no man canlajr as