Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA, TinirsdaySMorning, Nov. 15, 186b'. American Cn d? Yl>io;i<t. Tho New York Herald, of Sunday, culls attention to a remarkable fact, viz: that United States six per cent, stocks, bearing interest iu gold, are selling in London at twenty below British threo per cents.-that is, the American six per cents, aro selling at sixty-nine, while tho others aro sold at eighty-nine. Suppose tho credit of the two countries to bo equally good-if tho principal and interest of tho United States obligations will certainly bc paid, then, at the rates of interest on tho two securities, the Americans ought to be selling at just twice eighty-nine, or 178. The Herald jumps to tho conclusion, that considering the extraordinary resources of the country and Govcrn rr mt, that the low state of our credit abroad must bo attributable to some? thing radically wrong in the adminis? tration of our financial affairs, or that there must be a profound igno? rance among capitalists of our condi? tion and means. That the first-men? tioned cause cannot exist, the article of the Herald itself proves. At pre? sent, this country has a superabund? ant reveuue-a revenue of over $000,000,000 a year, without the ordi? nary interest of the country feeling the burden of taxation. We have hau a surplus revenue in the last year tc pay off nearly $200,000,000 of tin public debt, and if the present fisca' laws aro kept in operation, tho whole immense debt of this country coule be paid off in ten years. Tho Herald, then, is evido- iy mistaken as to anj mismanages it in the financial de? partment of the Government. As to the resources of thc country, they aro immense and immeasurable, so much so that exhaustion can nevei reach them. The wealth of a continent in all the resources that could possibh contribute to the strength and great ness of any country on the face o the earth, is the standing security foi all tho obligations the United State: may ever choose or find necessary t( issue; so that, even were the peoph of the United States disposed to re pudiate their debt, there would no bo the slightest excuse for them to dc so, and they would stand before tin world as a nation of swindlers. But, notwithstanding these well known facts-well-known, not onh in this country, but in Europe-th other fact stands prominently out that American credit is only half a good as British in the money market of Europe. What, then, is the cause Without arrogating for the Phceni the wisdom or financial ability whie are daily manifested in, the column of the New York Herald, we think w can point unerringly to the cause c the existing condition of affairs i respect to the subject under cons; deration, and that is tho very caus Which the Herald utterly ignores, o very slightingly alludes to, viz: th political difficulties in which thi country is now involved. Had we Government, even Republican i form, as stable as that of Great Br: tain, there can be no question bi; that its credit would vastly improv in foreign markets; for as wo hav shown, this country, with its illiinit: ble resources, ought, in the nature ( things, to become the depository ( all the surplus capital seeking inves ment, in any market in the worl< But the timidity of capital shrinl from the uncertain future of th great republic. This solves the mystery. No cap talist, with the acts and raving threa of the radical party ever beforo hil and knowing that this faction likely to remain in power until UK 'istroy this country, and crush o .n their madness all her industry ai untold resources, will risk its safe in the expected universal crash, the conservative element of the cou try was in power, tho Southern Stat restored to their rightful position the National Government and t question of Southern labor settled, relieved from the intermeddling of Freedmen's Bureau, then might i uxpect a revival of confidence in o money securities, and the wheels commerce to run free and smoot But, so long as tho cotton-growi: States of the South are kept down their present comparatively helph condition-so long as radicalif issues its manifestoes of a purpose perpetuate sneh injustice to the plai ing State.;-s ong as the country unfortunately destined to bo govern- j od by such mon as beast Butler, crazy I Brownlow, fanatical Wendell Phil? lips, aided by rascally Foiney ami j others of that stamp-in fact', "so long | as the Constitution of tho Fathers of thc Republic is ignored and tho true principles of tho Government they founded trampled under foot by a | faction worse than tho Jacobins of France, so long will American securi? ties go begging at the vaultsof tho money-lenders of the world. The IViitiomtl Finances. We learn from tho National Inlclli gencer, that the November statement of the public debt gives a renewed assurance of thc fact that, with wise legislation on the part of Congress, the public credit can bo sustained and improved, tho national indebtedness gradually and with certainty extin? guished, tho burden of taxation re? duced and productive industry re? vived and extended throughout the country. The Secretary of thc Trea? sury has gone just as far towards the reduction of the currency as ho could do under the Act of Congress of last April, restricting thar, reduction to 10,000,000 for the firct six months, 'and 4,000,000 a month thereafter. I Some 7,000,000 or 8,0X),000 of the compound-interest note i have also ? been retired, and several millions of tho gold interest-bearing bonds pur? chased for gold at a rate below par. Tho national currency has been in? creased, meanwhile, up to thc limit allowed by law-300,000,000. Thc large accumulation of currency in the Northern centres of commerce has led to an increased demand for national securities at enhanced prices. All securities of a stable character, like railroad shares, have been, and continue to be, in groat demand. They ure on the rise, and must, ne? cessarily, bring higher prices, while money for regular business purposes will not bring more than five per cent. Any stocks in companies that pay dividends of eight or ten per cent, must necessarily rise much above par. There never was a country so bede? villed in her political affairs and "so party-ridden as this country is at present, which could mako such a satisfactory financial exhibit. The payment of the national debt, in the course, of a very short time, will be an accomplished fact. THE GKEAT PEIUUEEP..-Sanford Conover, the witness charged with perjury in the plot charging Jefferson Davis with Mr. Lincoln's assassina? tion, is yet in jail. He declares that he is iunocent. He has been unsuc? cessful in getting bail, and has been presented by tho grand jury. It is stated also that he has been indicted for perjury. ELECTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE. James M. Carson, Esq., was elected, on thc 13th, to fill tho vacancy occa? sioned in the Charleston delegation by tho resignation of Hon. F. D. Richardson. THE POPULATION OP MISSISSIPPI. The Clarion, of the 26th, gives thc census, so far as received this year, 1860, with comparative table of that of 18G0, and says: The sixteen Counties from which we have no returns, had, in 1860, a white population of 71,702, and a black population of 85,532. If the decrease of population should be simi? lar to the other Counties, the number of negroes in tho State would be re? duced, in round numbers, from 437, 000, in I860, to 380,000; and the white population from 353.000 to 345,000-making a total estimated decrease of population in the State, during the last six years, of 8,000 whites and 57,000 blacks. In the forty-four Counties whose population is given, seventeen have increased their white population 10, 906, and twenty-seven Counties de? creased 17,705. Net decrease in forty four Counties, 6,799. In thirteen Counties, there has been an increase of 7,799 blacks, and in thirty-ono Counties a decrease of 53,374 blacks. Not decrease in forty four Counties, 45,575. The per cent age of white decrease is 2'.<, per cent. ; that of blacks 13 per cent." CAST IKON HEAD BLOCKS.-Tho resting places of the Union soldiers who died during the war are to be marked hereafter with cast iron head blocks, instead of the wooden ones, as at present, in the various national cemeteries, The names, number, ?fcc., of each soldier are to be cast in raised letters. The Quartermaster Gmeral has accordingly invited pro? posals for furnishing the cast iron head blocks. About 280,000 of them are required. Great Britain has withdrawn her legation from Saxony, thereby recog? nizing the incorporation of Saxony with the kingdom of Prussia. Good Sense. Ou tho opening of the Georgia Legislature last .week, the Speaker of tho Lower House, Mr. Hardeman, among other things, said: Condition after condition has been prescribed as tho terms upon which we should have restoration and union; but no sooner are tho humiliating requirements complied with, than others more exacting are proffered, and thus wo have been lcd, step by stop, to the very throne of power, where we soon discover, written over tho great door of tho temple, re? nounce your manhood and your honor, and it shall be opened unto you. For one, rather than enter upon such humiliating terms, I will sit, like Mordecai, at tho King's gate, clothed in sack-cloth, and mourn the fate of my people. I refer to our national troubles for tho sole purpose of impressing upon them how little you may expect from the Federal Government in rebuilding the ruined fortunes of our down-trodden State. Upon ourselves alone wc must rely, and by wise, wholesome, economical and constitutional legislation, stimu? late her sons to labor for her deliver? ance and lier r?demption. Our people are depressed and despondent. Hea? ven, as if to chasten: them more, has withheld her showers and her smiles, and scant harvests barely reward the husbandman for his labor and Iiis toil. Want and poverty is the lo. of many, who have in vain scattered their seed, hoping in due season to reap the reward of their labors. From mountain and vale, from villago and city, the cry of distress falls upon the ear, asking deliverance. I trust I will be pardoned the expression of a hope that the wisdom of this General As? sembly will devise some modo of relief that will do justice to all, and that will stand the tests of constitu? tions ana of courts. Lotus show our appreciation of their condition by curtailing the expenses of tho Go? vernment and by practicing a rigid economy with the people's money. Georgia needs but little legislation; let us enact it and adjourn. Exp?? rience has convinced me there isniore danger of too much than too little legislation. Let us do but little, and do that little well. Not being per? mitted to participate actively in your deliberations, pardon a suggestion, too, upon tho duties of tho session. Guard well, with proper safeguards, these Trojan horses that yearly enter this hall-the many applicants for chartered privileges. Encourage, by wholesome provisions, manufacturing in our State-elevate to the dignity of their claims the mechanic arts. Rebuild your waste' places, by en? couraging the immigrant to settle in your midst; bind him to tho soil hy? the ties of homestead; welcome him, by repealing all laws on your statute book that deny him the privilege of owning tho soil he would reclaim by his energy and industry. Encourage, from every quarter, capital and labor, and Georgia, under these wholesome influences, will soon elevate her fallen credit-business will revive-com? merce will no longer languish-our granaries will be tilled with the pro? ducts of our fields-our mines will enrich us with their hidden treasures, and our people, revived and re-ener? gized, will be made to feel "there is life in the old State yet." .II?issarHiisct?s. The National Intelligencer thus dis? courses of Massachusetts and her ne? gro legislators: The telegram informs us that two negroes have been elected to the Le? gislature in Massachusetts. This is certainly a new idea in this country. But there is no disputing about tastes. If the people of Massachu? setts desire to bo thus represented, wo imagine no one else will have any objection. If any constituency pre? fers colored representatives, there can be no reason why they should not be allowed to satisfy themselves. When it is considered how very peculiar tho people of Massachusetts have become in their politics, per? haps tho existing majority of them will be as fitly represented by negro legislators as by any others. The standard of talent in the public men of the Bay State has been steadily running down for the last fifteen or twenty years. When they used to bo represented by such men as John Quincy Adams, Daniel Web? ster, Caleb Gushing and Edward Everett, the otate enjoyed a large in? tellectual prestige. But of late years their intellectual contributions in the public characters they have presented to the country have been, with few exceptions, of a very ordinary stand? ard. The very meagre talent they have of lato years commanded in public life has one advantage-that in elect? ing negroes to represent them t y rio not run much hazard of losing iiuythiug by the change. The rmi da of Massachusetts for tho negro is in? teresting as a psychological fact. It is curious to know how much further they can carry it. As they are so much infatuated with their black idol, it would be wei! for them to obtain i larger infusion of this element. Im? migration of tho black race ought to be encouraged there. Wo have no :loubt some of tho Southern States, where tho black population is in ex? cess of the whites, would very gladly spare a portion of their colored popu? lation to accommodate Massachusetts. This is a point upon which they night happily find themselves in ac ;ord with their Southern brethren. THE EVENING STAR DISASTER.-The correspondent of tho Baltimore Sun ?writes : Tho official investigation ordered by tho Treasury Department into the causes that led to tho terrible loss of the steamship Evening Star has been concluded, and the report submitted to tho Secretary of tho Treasury, by Capt. W. M. Meid, who is in charge of tho administration of tho steam? ship laws. Thc report is very lengthy. Mr. Waterbury, or the ship-building firm constructing the vessel, testified that she was .-..s strong a ship as he had built in his twenty-eight years' expe? rience. The evidence shows, also, that tho engines, though built in 1854, for lake navigation, were strong enough; that the spars, sails and rig? ging were new, though there were no extra sails or spars; that the ship had six lifo boats, all that are required by law, but that her crew numbered only thirty-four officers and men. In May last, the steamer was fifty hours on a reef off the Florida coast, but she continued her voyage to New Orleans, and afterwards mado an? other trip. In July, she was over? hauled at New York. Her keel was found to be split in places from amid? ships to thirty feet aft, but thc scams were not started. She was repaired and then pronounced seaworthy. Thc final sinking of tho vessel, according to the evidence, was caused by heavy seas forcing the forward gangway, pouring great volumes of w^iox into tho engine room, which it was impos? sible to relievo thc ship of, because there Avas no ship's carpenter or ap? paratus for that purpose. Capt. Meid, in recapitulating the testimony, concludes that the princi? pal cause of the disaster was an error of judgment on the part of the cap? tain, because, having strong premo? nitions of tho storm,- he might have avoided its main force by changing his course. He did not do so, how? ever, but kept on in his direct course, encountering the full force of the storm in the evening. When in the storm, he might, have kept his ship's head to the sea by means of a drag and some show of canvass, which does not appear to have been at? tempted. When in the trough of 1 ho sea, the captain could do nothing, it would seem, because the ship was so short-handed. SAVE ME FROM MY FRIENDS.-The New York Timex is hard on its friend Butler. It says: Gen. Butler, having been elected to Congress, is likely to be afforded an opportunity of carrying out the ter? rible threats ho has been making against President Johnson. But we judge that lhere is danger of his weakening himself by undertaking too much. For it appears, from speeches recently made by himself, as well as by his principal backer, Wendell Phillips, that Butler is al? most as bitterly opposed to General Grant as he is to the President. The charges against Grant are no le^s serions than those against Johnson the former being jointly responsible with thc latter for the New Orleans massacre, tho Memphis riot and the Baltimore troubles, as he was also a joirrt partner in the President's West? ern tour. Butler's dealing with Grant will also bo enlivened by his personal vindictiveness toward the head of the army, which had boen so long re? strained. It came near finding vent, a year ago, when Butler bad a book printed, (which, for some reason, has not yet been published,) showing up Grant in a stylo moro pungent than complimentary-so wo are informed. Neither is Butler likely to confine himself to Grant and Johnson, when ho gets going. He has accounts, not merely political, to settle with Sher? man; and there aro a number of dis? tinguished officers, of only less fame, such as Generals Gilmore and Baldy Smith, and Admiral Porter, who can? not be overlooked, and might as well be knocked down in the general melee. In fact, when Butler gets into Congress, he will have to lay around him, right and left, if be means to get even with all who have been the objects of his wrath. Wo are glad that a year must intervene before ho takes his seat and opens out. MASSACHUSETTS COLORED REPRE? SENTATIVES.-Tho Springfield Ixejmb Hean thus endorses tho colored State representatives chosen: Two negroes aro chosen as repre? sentatives to the Legislature-Charles L. Mitchell, who is elected from tho richest and most aristocratic ward of Boston, which also happens to have the most colored poople in it; and Edward G. Walker, of Charlestown. Thcso men are chosen, not as a joko or a satire, but in honest earnest, be? cause they are fit for the position, and because they have rights which white men at last respect. Mitchell is a printer, formerly lived in Hart? ford and Springfield, and was em? ployed for some months in tho Re oublican office. We found him a capable and intelligent workman, and bis brother representatives aro as rared by our old printers that they will find him "all right." This is the ?rst timo, we believe, that black men aavo held seats in our legislative ?alls, and taken a share in the con iuct of tho Government. Both Houses of the Cherokee Legislature have elected Wm. P. Koss Chief of tho Chorokco Nation, n place of the late John Boss, by a :our-fifths vote. Thc Plot ?it Washington. We take the following from the Richmond Times: We perceive from the Chronicle that Forney, true to his instincts, is at? tempting to inflame tho public mind by calling upon tho Loyal Leaguers, as they are termed, to organize them? selves and come to ?Washington, for the purpose of protecting and vindh culing the power of Congress over the constitutional rights of the President, which is'nothing more nor less than a revolutiau, which must be met with deefsiou and firmness. If Forney & Co. arti determined to persist in the course they have marked out, it is the bounden duty of thc friends of the President to accept the issue thus presented, and prepare themselves for the struggle. If the time has arrived when the legislative department of the Covern mcut in to absorb the co-ordinate branches, the time has also arrived when it should bc resisted at the point of the bayonet. We are in laver of the constitutional rights of every department of the Government, which can only be maintained by each acting within the prescribed limits of the Constitution. When Congress shall transcend tliest; limits for tlie purpose of absorbing the powers of the President, it is revolu? tionary, and lu; is justiiied*in calling to his aid the whole military power of the country, which would bc re? sponded to from North to South, Fast to West ; and, when this formi? dable array of lighting materiel shall present themselves in vindication of the Constitution, this grand army of "Lot/ul Leagu&s," as they style them? selves, whose loyalty consists in plun? dering thc public treasury, skulking from the army when their services were needed, and now exciting the country to revolution, will never pre? sent themselves in battle array. The war will he for the Constitution-not for plunder; for the independence o? the three co-ordinate branches of the Government, and against either one absorbing the functions of the other. If the programme presented by Forney & Co. is the true and legiti? mate ground upon which the radical Congress intends to plant itself, we say to the friends of the President, let us accept the issue, and at once organize; for the struggle. Let our friends in every hamlet and village organize themselves at once, and be ready for the conflict. Let their watch- vords be thc Constitution the independence of tho President in the execution of his constitutional rights--and an united country upon terms of equality and justice, and present themselves also in Washing? ton, where these Loyal Leaguers may have a fair opportunity o?f looking upon the materiel with whom they will have to iocJc liomsil they attempt to absorb the constitutional powers of this Government. The impeach? ment of the President is a.sins qua non for war, and the friends of the President accept the issue. Prom Washington. We copy the following despatches to the Baltimore Sun: Hon. Fernando Wood, newly elect id to Congress from the Ninth Dis? trict in New York, is in the city. Po? liticians say he is declaring himself in favor of the constitutional amend? ment. Doubtful. Quite a number of the Governors :>f the Sou thorn States have addressed otters to the President, asking for lis opinion as to what the Southern states ought to do, and it is said that ie has the matter nuder advisement lOW. The Solicitor of tho Treasury has .endered an opinion to the effect hat incorporated banks, under the .evenue act of 1864, an; liable to tax ipon the amount of their chartered .apital, not including surplus funds. General Howard, of the Froed nen's Bureau, has addressed a letter o colored clergymen, seeking their .o-operatinn in trying to get rid of ?onie of the surplus freedmen here, vho must be sent away, or supported >y the Government during tho win? er. General Howard says that al .eady about 5,000 colored people nive secured employment elsewhere; hat this class of the population yet lumbers 22,000, of whom not more han 15,000 can be provided with fork, leaving 7,000 who ought to go iway. Ho proposes to send them hiefly lo Pennsylvania, New York .nd New England. NEWSPAPERS.-Do Tocqueville, in lis work on America, gives this forei >lo sketch: "A newspaper can drop he same thought into a thousand ninds at the same moment. A news taper is au adviser who does not re [iiire to be sought, but who comes to ou briefly every day of common real, without distracting your private flairs. Newspapers, therefore, be ome more necessary in proportion as aen become more equal and indi? quais more to be feared. To sup? pose that they only serve to protect reedom would bo*to diminish their nportance; they maintain civiliza ion." DECLINE IN PBICES.-The New 'ork papers announce the breaking p of various speculating movements l the necessaries of life in that city, hich has caused a most gratifying eclinee in prices. Pork has fallen mr dollars a barrel, wheat from five ) eight cents a bushel, and corn ight cents a bushel. Buyers, it is sported, even at these reduced gures, aro very scarce. Tho Phrrnis. office ii? on Main street, a few doora abovoTaylor (or Camden) street. Tiie lovers of choice groceries, fine se gars. genuine liquors, Ac, can get their wants supplie i by calling on Messrs. K< -n netb A Gibson, nearly op] osit- tho ruins of the old City H .od. Their articles are fresh prices reasonable. SEVENTEENTH OF FEBRUARY, 18G5.-Tho ^ terrible incidents of that fearful night, to? gether with those of the day preceding and thc two ?lays following, are minutely related in tho volume issued from the Phoenix office. They are all faithfully re? corded by an eye-witness, and ono of the most graphic writers in the State. Secure a copy before they ar? all gone. HORSE ACCIDENT.- -A freednir-n riding a horse, yesterday morning, waa either so anxious to show tho quahtii 3 of tho ani? mal be was riding, or from s.n.ie other mot ive, be reined bim too suddenly, an?! the horse fell back and broke bis neck, without doing injury to tl ft rider. There ought to be a curb-bit put upon thc freed? men riders. TUE Hoc ORDINANCE.-Our attention has been called to tho ordinance prohibiting hogs front running at large. We arc of opinion that now, when acorns and rich mast aro falling from our forest trees, those animals ought to bo permitted to enjoy the benefit. We cal* the attention of our city fathers <<> this fact, and ask j them for a repeal of the >. dinance afore? said. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Attention is call ed to the following advertisements, which are published this morning for the first time: ?lohn D. Bateman-Norfolk Oysters. 1". Cantwell-Fish. Browne A Schirmer-Corn, Flour, Ac. Arthur, Melton A Melton baw Card. .b?hn English-House to Rent. Thoa. B. Lee, Jr.- To Contractors. Tribute of Respect to the late B. North. J. E. Dent-Sheriff Sale. BOLD ATTACK ON A RAILROAD TRAIN. Ou Wednesday night, about 2 o'clock, as the train on tho Louisville and Nashville Railroad was about five miles from Franklin, Ky., the en? gineer discovered that the roael waa barricaded. He immediately slack? ened speed, but not until the engine, baggage car and express ear were thrown from the track and upset. Tho passengers being aroused, found the train surrounded by gue? rillas, who tired one shot as a note of warning, which passed through the car without injuring any one. The guerillas then entered tho sleeping-car, and ordered the pas? sengers to go forward to the next car. As they crossed tho platform, each one was compelled to band over his pocket-book. The whole transaction occupied not more than five minutes, and, before the passengers fairly recovered from their astonishment, the intruders were gone. When the guerillas had departed, it was discovered that the train was on fire, having caught from a stove in the express car. The passenger cars were pushed back out of dan? ger, but tho engine, express car and baggage car were burned. None of the express freight was saved, though most of the baggage'was removed. The safe of tho Express Company even was burned.-*-Allanta Era. AMNESTY.-The Turkish Sultan, a despot who acknowledges tho Ma homedan faith, has issued a decree in which amnesty bas been offered to the Cretan insurgents. These men are at the mercy, of Turkey, and might, if the Sultan choose to do so, be sent to the executioner and their places be easily supplied, so that in their death the country would stiffer but littlb loss. The Sultan is what tho Christians of the Puritan faith, who live in the New England States, would calla worse than heathen. He has not as good an idea of the truths of the Christian religion as the most ignorant of the negroes at the South; yet, with all this, he possesses the Christian virtues-charity-mercy humanity-magnanimity, and exer? cises them towards his ignorant hea? then subjects. Look on that picture-now on this. Cn an enlightened country, where Christianity is the only religion, and where a party formed on t platform Df great moral ideas is in power, a mau charged with the crime of hav? ing lcd an insurrection, and whoso trial has been refused, though asked tor ever so many times, is held in prison; still there is no voice lifted i>y any one of the leaders of the party )? great moral ideas asking for Iiis .elease. Christians though they pre ?end to be, yet they permit a follower >f the Prophet to excel them in the .imples^ of all human virtues. [ Wilmington Dispatch. A "jjowii Easter" happening a pas euger on a Western steamboat which ?uttered tho misfortune of sinking rom the effects of running upon a nag, struck out boldly for the shore. L large crowd had assembled upon he banks to witness the exciting cene; but Yankee, disdaining any coffered help, readied the shore afely, remarking coolly as be did so: 'He didn't a straw for himself; it was bo danged old life insurance compa? ny he was swimming for." He was nsured for 85,000. It is stated that John Morrissey ave $180,000 to carry on the politi al campaign in the State of New? ark.