University of South Carolina Libraries
. CX)LUMBL?t. .?"< Tine New ?rtu^fetilt. We learn from the -Washington National IntsUigettces- tha? the bill re? ported from the Committeee of Ways and Means as au amendaient of the ~ v existing internal revenue Act pro? vides for a number <pf chants hi the Act, the chief o? which we have already published. The ne* hill modifies and improves the process of ^ - collection, especially by omitting many articles and products hereto? fore taxed. It reduc?s the aggregate of the amount of taxation, in com? parison with the existing Act, by the sum of 60,000,000 or 70,000,000, 01 about one-fifth. It relieve? manj articles of prime necessity, or whicr are of universal consumption, iron any tax at all. Taxes are increasei upon some products. Cotton is t< be taxed five cents a pound, ins tea? of two. Cotton goods are to be en titled to a drawback, when exported equal to the taxes paid on the finishe? goods and upon the raw material . As to the tax upon raw cotton prc due ed in the country, it is the gent ral belief of Congress and of on financial men that, under tho presen state of tirings, the tax will fa chiefly on the consumer-that it upon the foreign and domestic main facturera-and that the producer wi not derive any less profit from lr product by reason ot the tax. Thei may be doubt es to this, for th Southern States need all the encou agement which high prices will aftbi them, in their attempt to rosnscital the culture of cotton. The drawback allowed on cotto fabrics exported will encourage tl domestic manufacturer to look for foreign market. Ho may look i vain, however, until tho currem comes down to the same standai which other nations have establish? The exemption of many raw mat rials used in manufactures from tax tion is a leading feature of the bi This will tend to diminish the cost manufactured goods to consumers. The framers of the bill have folio ed, to some extent, the recommend tiona of the Revenue Commission. This bill will be disposed of befe, the tariff bill is even reported; ft until the project is matured and ? cured, it will be impossible to sha a tariff according to the wants of t revenue. The Freedmen. We are gratified to learn from gentleman, whose position and ni sion gavo him good opportunities ascertaining tho facts, that the fre< men in the Eastern Districts of t State are working well-especia does this apply to Marion Distri He says that nearly a full crop v be made in that section of the St: of the various crops heretofore p duced* We are gratified to chroni this condition of affairs. The Dawn af Day. Tho order from tho War Depi ment, under the direction of Prc dent Johnson, abrogating "niilit. commissions" and courts-mart published yesterday morning, gi universal satisfaction to all < people. Andrew Johnson is mot cautiously, but steadily, in hid gr work of restoration, and, beyond doubt, will be successful in o\ throwing Thad. Stevens and Sunir What wo expect next is tho pro? mat ion of a "general amnesty. " 'I would cap the climax of Iiis nc and patriotic executive acts. BIBLE SOCIETY.-After a ser m on the morning of tho 28th April the Presbyterian Church, at Florei in Darlington District, S. C., Rev. E. A. Bolles, Agent of American Bible Society, for So Carolina, organized the Flore Bible Society, including all dent: nations as an auxiliary to the Am can Biblo Society, for the distri tiou of tho Biblo "without not< comment." Officers-Rev. J. D. Brown, President; Jerome P. Ch Secretary and Treasurer. Execi Committee-Capt. John Wiley, J Pettigrew, W. B. Pettigrew, Mai ville Rogers, John J. James. .Ter P. Chase, Dr. J. J. Ellis. DEATH OF REV. ARTHUR WIOE The Edgefield Advertiser chron the death of Rev. Arthur Wig who resided some timo as a profc at Barham ville. Ho was a i estimable gentleman and a dev friend of the South and her caus< Tnt? Report of. tb* CouMttlttrc. ?. | Forney, iu his Cfiroaicla, my*: ~\ \ "There is no defeating the amend- j ment gu Congress ordiefare the corm- j try, and there is . every reason'4o believe that the Southern people viii at once address themselves io tho ac? ceptance of the conditions so. gene? rously proffered, as^they will be in? flexibly enforced." What language, says the Richmond Dispatch, is strong enough to charac? terize sueh a false hood, based upon such a misrepresentation of facts? And Forney ?V?tete that he was lying. He knew tlrat he had no reason to suppose that the Southern people would accept the terms proposed. Thcso terms will be "inflexibly en? forced,"' says Forney. How? By whom? By what authority? Evi? dently his idea is that the amend? ment will bo adopted by the Northern States, aud "forceii" upon the South. The Baltimore Sun, a truthful paper, takes the true view, in saying: "If it is not designed to prevent reconstruction, it is dillicult to sec what other purpose it could possibly have. Tt can hardly be supposed that the committe or the majority ir Congress would expect this illibcra scheme to be acceptable to the people or that thc requisite number of State; would ratify the proposed constitu tiona! amendment." ? ? "Analostan" writes from Washing ton: "The propositions made by th' committee will, without doubt, b endorsed by their associates in Con gress, but are of such a characte that it will be impossible for th I South to accept them, which is pre cisely what the radicals want. The; have no intention that the Soutl shall be represented in tho Nation; Congress unless she sends member in full accord with them, and wh will at once fall into the party trace under the lend of Stevens. Sumnr & Co." The following scathing comment are from tho Richmond Times: The report of the Reconstructs Committee is a bold and most itnpi dent confession of the fact that tl: Constitution is to be used for tl retention in power of the part which is now warring upon the Pr? sident. Tho proposition to disfranchise tl: great mass of tho Southern peop until ii/?er tho next Presidential eic tion, is the result of a shallow sort < political knavery, which flatters itse that when the great majority of tl intelligent and respectable voters i the South have been disfranchise* that the radicals will secure au ea; triumph. A careful analysis of the ropo reveals the tact that tho ouly obje : of the party now in power is to r j tain the offices and patronage of tl Government a few years more. Finding it impossible to keep tl Southern States out of the Unit much longer, the report of the coi mittee provides for their restorath after they have complied with tl most degrading and revolting rcquii merits. They may elect Congressing but those Congressmen shall only ; voted for by more than one per cei of the voters of the South. They m vote for Presidential electors, b none who gave voluntary aid ai comfort to the Confederacy shall ? erciso the right of suffrage. ! By such restrictions as these do t j revolutionists absurdly hope to po I pone the hour of their inevital j overthrow. Nothing can be mc j idle than these attempts to proloi I the existence of a party which cam; survive the angry passions engend? ed by the lato civil war. Even if the Southern Staters wt to abjectly accept the humiliati condition proposed, and crawl ba into, the Union with our peopled franchised, and our representati reduced two-thirds or one-half, t revolutionists would never profit such submission. The conduct that party during tho last six mon! bas deprived them of all hope of c acquiring strength at the South, excluding from their seats in C< gress all Southern members ole whether they could or could not ti the test oath, the revolutionists lu lost their last chanco of building a party at thc South favorable their purposes. The exclusion of the members el from Tennessee, who were cons ent, "loyal men," and the reject of those "original Union men" fr Virginia who would have taken test oath, did more to unite all \ ties at thc South against the radn than any other act of that parry. 'J war between faction and princi must now bo fought to some final suit. Principles aro eternal-t never die. Parties asserting tl may nt times be crushed; thc mei ry of their struggles, oven their v names, may jierish and be forgot! but the doctrines of truth or er onco promulgated, live on, to appear at other times, in other pl: and among other people. Nati great and powerful-nations, measure of whose power and rem has been full to overflowing-nati which havo left their impress u the world and their deeds to hist have lived anti passod away, thc principles which actuated tl in morals, in religion, in politics, and in their social organization, 1 not died with them, but have vi ved, to serve asa legacy for good ?rj evil te-those among whom they might ! thereafter find-ft residence. . The romantic ?nd imaginative Ori? entals uro not wrong in their belief that the Empire of the Universe, and nil it cori taine,' -whether animate or inanimate, is divided "between two eternal, irreconcilable principles or powers-Good and Evil-that these were ever straggling for supremacy, not only a? revealed in the warring elements of nature, hut in the trans? actions of nations and the hearts and passions of men. By this theory they explained ntorms which swept sea and land, fires which devoured cities "and forests, and earthquakes which shook the globe with fierce and convulsive energy. Among nations, in their -wars and peaceful Councils, this "war between Good.and Evil went on, and in the bosom of every indi? vidual the contest for mastery was relentlessly waged. ; state of preservation, having suffered Very little from the lapse of time. The whole cost oOeonstruction ami running stock is estimated at $7.500, 000. The sum already expended leaves about $4,500,000 to be pro? vided ; $2,000.000 to 32,600,000 should bc raised by subscription to the capital stock, and 82,300,000 from *hc unexpended remainder of {lie first mortgage bonds. Tin* mortgage provides for $2,500,0<H), and only about 8200,000 has been Bold. In order to carry out this noble work, we must ascertain whether the people of Cincinnati and Kentucky, who aro now actively engaged in com? pleting the connection between Cin? cinnati, Chattanooga and Knoxville, will consent to come into and assist an enterprise possessing sp many ad? vantages, and which lias already sc? oured so large a portion of the capital. In order to give them the fullest in? formation about the condition of the work, and the manner in which they may co-operate with the people of South Carolina in making their sub? scriptions, be thought it would be wise in the people of Charleston to send a delegation to the people of Cincinnati. Tile South Carolin? University. MESSRS. Eorrous: I am constrain? ed to trouble you with a few words about the University, lest your anony? mous correspondents should bad your readers to place me among those who aro in opposition to our State institution; an institution for which I feel the greatest attachment, and for which I have always shown the most decided partisanship. Your correspondent, whose coin munication appears in this morning's Phoenix, comes to conclusions upon that point from very imperfect data a singh* paragraph. 1 am under ob? ligation to him for the Courtesy of suggesting this very consideration, i The error, however, is not his; but it arises froin the fact, that he reads the Columbia Phonix, and does not read the Yorkville Enquirer^ Out of' nine articles upon the University ' that I have written for thc Eitqitirer j since the middle of .January, thc Phoenix has reproduced but one thc j only one liable in itself to bc misun? derstood Only that one your cor? respondent had read; and he was of | course misled. Thc fault was not his, nor mine. I had given my readers from week '. to week all the fact? upon which I based my conclusions -the number of ; students matriculated, and thc gent-- 1 ral progress of the University as ? public institution. 1 did this, be? cause I believe that these facts belong ; of right to the public. I had given ; the facts before 1 expressed any con? clusions or opinions. Your anonymous correspondent has a right to his opinions; and I to 1 mine. So has the public. Your obedient servant, JAS. WOOD DAVIDSON. COLUMBIA, May 2, Ls6C. DBAINING THE EVERGLADES. -We are informed that the Trustees <?f the Florida International Improvement Fund have made an agreement with Mr. Wm. II. Gleason that promises to reclaim and bring into cultivation a large portion of swamp and over? flowed lands bordering upon the everglades on thc South-eastern coast of Florida. The climate is salubrious and delightful beyond any other in the United States. Tropical fruits of every description grow all tho year round and attain thc great? est perfection- -oranges, lemons, pine apples, limes, cocoa-nuts, guava , Av. Sisal hemp, wild flax, and compte or arrow-root, nf the best kind, eau there be raised or found in thc fo? rests. All that is wanted to make this one of the finest countries in the worhl is that energy and intelligent enterprise without which the advan? tages of soil or climate cannot be linnie available [ortho benefit of man. - CrvTL RIGHTS UAW AT MEMPHIS. Judge Hunter, of tho Memphis Crimi? nal Court, has decided that the law of Tennessee discriminating against colored persons in the licensing of billiard table? is in conflict with Un? civil rights Act recently passed by Congress., ?nd therefore void Tfete Birne Ridge Kuilmml. George A. Trenholm, Esq., ou in I vrfcatbm of the Charleston Board o? Trade, addressed that body ou th< subject of tho Blue Ridge Railroad As this is one of the most imporatau enterprises in which our people hav* engaged, we append Mr. Trenholm' remarks as reported by tho. diaries ton Courier: Mn. PXK?SU?ISNT A?r> GorriiEME?f I desire to avail myself of the presen occasion to call your attention to th importance of a project which, befor the commencement of the late waj had, in a great degree, engaged th attention of the people of this Stat? and in which a large amount of cap; tal has been invested that is ne lying idlo and unproductive. lu January, ?H51, the State ? North Carolina, at the instance of few spirited, enlightened and ente prising citizens of that State, grante a elia rt cr for a company to constru? a railroad from the point where tl lin?; ?>f thc State of Tennessee crosse thc Tennessee River to the poii where the Georgia line crossed tl I same river, near the village of Fran! I Un, in North Carolina, a distance > j about seventy-three milos. The iii j portance of that graut was perha] I not thoroughly understood, exec] by the few who ha?l been active engaged i" obtaining it.' Jt wa? I departure from the cherished poli? ? of North Carolina, which had bc? consistently and firmly opposed every project for thc construction a railroad across the State in a d' "! tion to bring trade and traffic beyoi its borders in thc direction of tl seaport of South Carolina, lt lu been opposed to carrying thc trafi and trade of that State either to Sou Carolina or Virginia. They had n ouly been oppose?! to granting prh I leges to accomplish these objects, b I they threw every obstacle in the wi j of existing railroads I >e i n g made , conduce to those ends by re?piirii that the North Carolina railroa : should have a guage different fro both those of Virginia and Sou ' Carolina, and by refusing, as the ge ? deruen here all know, for a long til ! to permit connection to 1>?> made t j tween Charlotte and Danville, whi j is a part of that policy. This ro began at no pla.md teruiiuated no place. It brought nothing frc anywhere, [t carried nothing in t direction of any important pla? But those who projected the ont terprise saw clearly that the peoi of Cincinnati and the great, eoimni cial and manufacturing interests the intervening country of Tenness and Kentucky, would, iutheprogn of time, inevitably seek an outlet our own Atlantic coast; and looki; at that outlet with an eye of intel gence, forecast and judgment, i which they were entitled to gr? credit, they foresaw what had lie conceived and counted upon, it u that as the Mississippi River mad? deflection towards tho sea at N Madrid berni anti the borders of t State of Tennessee, making a hu indenture towards the Atlantic con and the Atlantic coast, on thu otl baud, deflecting from Cape. Hatter taking from thence a South-west?, direction, with a straight line dla1 from the Mississippi Uiver, made t shortest railroad route that could made from the Mississippi River any point on the Atlantic coast, other voids, that a railroad co mencing at Cincinnati, ?iud ir' thence passing through Nashvi: Knoxville, <>r any interior poir seeking an outlet on thc Atkin coast, would be shorter by seve hundred miles t?> Charleston than Boston, Philadelphia or Norfolk. This railroad in North Carob which I have spoken of, was intent to form the link in that direeti and the construction of it is inevi blc. lt is ii question merely of th It was interrupted, before the v, by circumstances over which the l who wen? interested in the proj could exercise no control. It. i postponed indefinitely by the w Hut wc have now reached a perioc progress winn the great politii social and commercial and in dust ?.banges which are about to take pl absolutely demand and enforce construction of this road. South Carolina graute?! a chm for this road in lxt?l. Those who] been actively engaged in obtain the charter found that the session the Legislature bad passed away, : that nothing further could be obtai at that time. In the succeedingy? they moved upon the Legislatur? Georgia-so wise, prudent, jealou everything that pci*tains to thc i: rest'of that State ami obtained passage of an Act authorizing construction of a roa?! from tho minus of the North < karolina Kaili to intersect the South Carolina 1 road, passing through Clayton, ( in Kabuli County, to Anderson South Carolina. There were t two charters granted for two link this road. lu February. IKC2, thc Stat Tennessee, through its Legislat granted a liberal ?'harter for a c pauy to construct a road from Ki ville, in that Stat?', to unite with North Carolina Railroad,at the N Carolina line, endowing it with largest privileges; conferring up? all tho privileges which it had ferred upon any railroad in the i of Tennessee, and giving them power and t'a?'iliti?'S ?>l conn?'?' with those other railroads. Finally, followed the action of own Legislature, wbieb. tn Deoem j 1862, passed the Act incorporating tl i o Blue Biu&? Railroad in Sou?h CVo o ; lina, and authorizing its connection ' and consolidation -with the i other roads. "' This -was rendered essential by tho charter granted by the State ? of Georgia, one of the requirements > being tho.* the road should intersect * with the railroad in South Carolina al Anderson, a privilege and franchise ' j which the State of Georgia was in i competent to confer. : ; By subsequent legislation, the Statt t j agreed to subscribe $1,310,000 to th* i j capital stock : the city of Charlestor j had previously subscribed $1,060,000 ( I which, together with private sub '. scriptioiis and the sale of $200,000 o mortgage bonds, produced an ag gre . gate eura of $3,000,000; all of whicl r has been paid up and actually ex pended upon the substantial work o [ the road, such as excavation, tunnel i ing, embankments, excavation o . rocks, masonry for bridges, and ethe I expensive works that have cost a vas II amount of money. i I Recent examinations show that th I j work thus accomplished is in a goo< t ! Have we in our Government th . j similitude or counterpart of thes . I principles, or do they exist arnon [ I our people? When wo consider th . struggles of parties, when we recoi j ! lect tho history of our institution? t ! from the period of their formation r \ the question can safely be auswere II in the affirmative. In all populn r Governments, when the will of th 11 people finds it,s expression in th , I laws, p:vrties inevitably spring up ? [ men differ in opinion as to how thei . ! laws arc to be made or how adniini; [ ' tered. And when these parties uris? ? ; then commences that strife betwee [ : Good and Evil which the Orien talsn ; j cognize as pervading every portie [ I of the universe. It is impossibl 1 that tht! principles of both should t j right, because they ure antagonists j and have been so from their origil which dates back to the foundatio , of the Government. There, ami the materials ?mt of which our repu? j; licau forefathers built this .structui . of freedom, we find tho germs ot" tl ! two parties (for there were and ha^ been hut two) which, under differei names und eircumstauces, have bee fighting for the possession of pow* ! in this (Government ever since its i j stitntiou. One was a party the adv : cate of consolidation, of strengthe ! ing the hands of power bj such i j extent as even to endanger the lib? .; ties <>f the people. The other w i jealous of power, was tender of tl i rights of the people and the Stat?. 1 advocated a strict construction of tl constitutional compact which w ! creative of the Government, and d ! sired the protection of certain cheC i and balances, as essential to the pi ; servatioti of tho whole and of ea I individual branch. One of these pi j ties, from its centralizing tendenc I was eminently centripetal. T other, sn far from being centrifuge : contended tor that just balance I ? tween these forces, which they mai fained was ?is necessary in gove? ment as in the harmony of thc sol system. These two par-ties, though oft assuiniiig Protean shapes, have ne\ changed their principles, and ha always preserved the same relatioi the one to the other, which chan terized them at their starting poin The Government has been alternat* in possession of both these parti : but by fur the most successful a J glorious administrations lia ve bt those conducted hy the represen tives, and under the auspices of tl party which opposed centripetalis This party is out of power now, o as soon as it was dethroned, cb nienced that war which has brouj such ruin and distress upon our cot j try. Is it not safe to say that had j power continued the war would hi been averted? There the princi I of evil triumphed. ' The dangers of the eentript 1 party has ever been the source deep solicitude to our wisest men t ? purest patriots, and tho recent v of tho President was a wholesc correction of that ceutripetalii Here the principle of good trium I ed. But the contest is not end 1 Thc evil is repulsed, not destroy ' lt still wages war with the good, ? ! seeks proselytes among the Ameri : people, to strengthen its cause i consolidate its empire. But the g has afftithfni sentinel upon the wal ' tower of liberty, and the peopl : trnstry -ervant. The principle evil will not triumph over And Johnson. ( /HOUBKA INDIGENOUS. -Quite ! interesting statement has been ii to the ISew York Hoard of Hes tending to show that cholera is d igen ons and not necessarily < tagious. It appears from the rec? of the State Emigrant Hospital between tho 22d of November the 20th of December, 18G5, t were thirty-one cases of choler; Ward's Island, twenty-seven of w were fatal. These patients ha* communication with the passer of the Atlanta, yet they contra thc disease, atid those who died all tho most marked symptom cholera. -??-??<.?.?--. THE LADIES' PUONCNCIAMENTO. - 1 protesting against all the old wort dentifrices now in the market, the li willi one consent, have adopted the dont ?a th? one thing needful to i the integrity of the teeth and a fra tireatb Xi?oal ito Mortgagee and Conveyances of Real Es? tate for Hale at this office. Tax DOHNTS*-, or COLUMBIA.- A? inter? esting account ot tho "Sack and Destruc? tion of the City of Columbia, S. C.." h** just been issued, ht pamphlet form, from the 1'h.aatix gleam {tower press. On!, ir can bc rilled to any extent. BOOK Awn JOB FRINTIN?. -Tue /'}.>> "ix ^ oflice in now fully. supplied with card?, T colored and white paper,colored ink, wood type, etc., and is now in condition t<> exe? cs te all maimer of book aud job printing in the shortest posaibl?: time. (rive UM a .*\ call. Owing to the reduction in tba cost ?if priming paper, and th?' tumble in pri<-ea generally, we have reduced th?- subscrip? tion to the FUtxtUx as follows; Daily paper, one year.W.OO Daily paper, jter ?ionth. 7.", Tri-weekly, ?me year. 5.00 \ Tri-weekly, per month. fin -- -? ,^. s^^.-^..m FIRE ALARM.- It will bc seen hy the pr? eceding* of the City Council that arraug?' tucnts have beeu made to give au alarm ni cane of tire. We learn that the excellent bell cast for the city hy Mr. Alexander han been exhumed from the ruins of the ntar I ket steeple, and that the founder can re I pair it, so an to make it "as ?O?M! a* new." I _ . ... _ Ho, ron CHARLESTON!-Many of our country friend?, who are visiting Charles? ton, will rind that they can savu a ^reat deal of exp?mse whilst there, in the way nf hotel hills, by securing accommodations at private boarding-lmuscs. Wo arc informed that on?: ?if the best and cheapest of these in thc Hilliers House, in King, between Wentworth ami Hasel street*, where th?* tabb' far?- ia as good as can possibly be d< sired. and where they will meet with ali the accommodations and conveniences n? ceasary to a pleasant sojourn in the city. ^ Miss MCCULLOUGH-THE OPERA.-The friends and admirera ol' this gifted youio; lady, who is a native ot' Columbia, 8. C., will be gratified at this deserved compli? ment to her talen*?, copied from the New York Erpret*, of the Pith ult.: The bijou theatre ?if Jerome waa tilled, last evening, with a gay and very fashion? able audience, ot' about 500 people, tickets three dollars each, to listen to a debutante . preparing for the opera. The name of the lad y is Miss McCullough, from South Caro? lina, who to a charming person adds a charming voice, with great theatrical talen t for a beginner. The Maretzek Troupe as bisted ber in tho opera and character of Norma, anti her suceess was beyond the uii -st sanguine expectations of her friendo . MEETIXO OK STOCKHOLDERS. -The stock? holder? of the Greenville and Columbia Railroad met in convention on yesterday morning, at .Nickerson's Hotel. The meet? ing was organized by the appointment of Hon. Theodore Starke, Mayor of the city of Columbia, as Chairman, and C. V. Car rinoton aa Secretary. A committee cm proxies an?! individual representation ot' stock was appointed, anil reported that a full representation of the stock was pre? sent. The reports of the President, Super? intendent, Ac,, were presented and referred to the appropriate committees. The meeting adjourned to meet this morning, at 10 o'clock. The convention will probably be able to conclude its business to-day. NKW ADVERTISEMENTS. Attention is caU ed to the foll? wi tig advt-i tiaeineuts, which are published this morning for tho fust time: Fisher & Heiuitsh-Sundries. Dial St Pope-Dissolution. C. Hamberg-Butter and Eggs A. R. Phillips-Furniture, ftc. TH? GOOD WOKE GOES ON.-Tho President stands his ground. We ure told that his firmness is demoralizing the radicals, and that they have fallen back from their advanced position, with a view to preventing a split in the Republican party. A Washington letter says: "The President openly avows his intention to appoint none but friemls of his policy. Gen. Wilson's propo? sition in the Senate upon restoration is significant." WILMINGTON AND MANCHESTER RAILROAD.-The Sumter Watchman has information that the financial^ managers of the Wilmington ami Manchester Railroad have so arranged with its bond-holders as to place them in possession of about S?OO.OOO, an amount which it is believed will be sufficient tt> place the road in tho? rough repair and to re-supply it with nil necessary rolling stock. THE HEAD CENTRE COMINO.-lt is stated that Jas. Stephens, C. E. I. R., would positively sail from Havre on the steamship Napoleon III, on Sn turday, the 28th ult. Mr. StepheiiM will address the people of the differ? ent American cities. PROSPECT OF A WAR WITH FRANGE. "Druid," the Washington correspon? dent of the New York News says: There is every reason to believe that we are on the verge of misunder? standing with France. If the recent opinion of Attorney-General Spee?l that arms may be sent to the Juarists in Mexico is followed by correspond? ing action, it will surely be regardetl by the French Government as a violation of Mr. Seward's pledge of ibsolute neutrality, and the French troops in Mexico instead of being withdrawn will be reinforced.