Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA. Thursday Morning, Nov. 22. ?86G. Importun! Helens? . Wo congratulate Messrs. J. C. aud Robert Keyes, E. W. Byrom and F. G. Stowers, upon their release, last Saturday, nt'Wilmingtou, Delaware, before Judge Hall, upon a writ of h dbms corpus. These geutlemen have been under arrest for the past thirteen months subjected, in many instances, to more than the usual iudignitics of prison life, coupled with un abseuce from their families and avocations. Our readers will remember their conviction before a military tribunal, in Charlestou, upon a charge of the murder of three Federal soldiers, at Brown's Ferry, in Anderson District, and how they were apparently spirit? ed away from Castle rinckney, after t heir sen lenee of death had been commuted to imprisonment for life. The case was ably argued by Col. H. Tompkins, of Washington, and Thomas Bayard, for tho prisoners, and the District Attorney and Mr. Booth, for the prosecution. From a personal interview with the gentlemen above-named, we are in? duced to extend the thanks of them? selves and friends for the many acts of kindness extended them, by th? good people of Delaware. In this decision and release, we re? cognize much that is gratifying anc" encouraging, aside from thc interesl existing in thc personal safety of th? parties involved." Aware that public interest, in thia State, especially, is keenly alive ii reference to this case, we shall take especial pleasure in laying before our readers the full proceedings, - al the earliest day practicable. The gentlemen above-nientionee leave our city this morning, on tin Greenville train, for their homes, ii Anderson District, and we sincerely wish them a speedy and happy re turn to their fjimiiics, from whon they have been so long absent. Our Relations iviOi Mexico. The extraordinary expedition sen to Mexico, by authority of the Gc vernment, is attracting much atten tion at thc present time in this conn try, and will doubtless attract as mud in Europe, when the authorized state ment of the sailing of the Unite States steamer Susquehanna reache them. The New Orleans Picayune notice the ofliei!"'.! announcement of thi expedition made by* the Washiugto National Republican, and says thal although down in New Orleans the are aware of and guarded against th sensational movements of the Nortl ern press in regard to our Mexica relations, yet there are many reasor to believe that a movement of an e: traordinary character is really on foo which contemplates au entire ove: turn iu Mexico, and that tho work to be done by the United State Among its reasons, it submits tl following: "1. We are informed by ganllenie direct, from New York, who had coi versed with the. officers of the Su quehanna, that they had been ordere on an expedition similar to that a nounced above. When told that \ attempt to take'a Minister, accr?dite to Juarez, into Yera Cruz, now occ pied by the Imperialists or Reactio isis, they replied that they might 1 compelled to cruise off the con awhile, but would at length Iii their way in to give support to tl only Mexican Government with whi< we have diplomatic relations. "2. We havo been assured by gentleman direct from interviews wi Juarez at Chihuahua, that the Unit? States had resolved to support Juar against all contestants. He, moi over, assured us that Ortega wou be arrested on the American side the Bio Grande. This informati was given after Gen. Sheridan's lett to Gen. Sedgewick, but before t actual arrest was made as reported. "3. The nature of the expediti and 'tho authority of the Govei mont' on which it is announce Tlie real head of it is, of cour; Lieut. Gen. William Tecumseh Shi man, formerly Superintendent of t Military Academy of Louisiana, Alexandria, who is, of course, w known here. The other members the 'expedition' can be of but lit account in the presence of sud man-clerks to record his dee? rather than with power or author to elirect them." Tho Picayune, reasoning from 1 above premises, comes to tho cone sion tho.t the Government at Wa ington contemplates au active int ferencc in the affairs of Mexico; t that, if the professed support of J rez be sincere, that interference i assume the form of a protectorate What tho object of the Presid nnil his advisers nuiy ho, is, of course, left to conjecture. Tho reported ab dication and departure of Maximilian is, no doubt, tho immediate cause of this expedition, but it is intimated that-the purpose of the Administra? tion is, eventually, to unito the Ame? rican people by ii foreign war, and divert their attention from political differences at home.. Whatever may be the motive, we do not believe that the American people desire, at this time, to plunge in war, raid especially a war that is almost certain to involve us in difficulties with foreign nations. We have great faith in tho wisdom and conservatism of tho President, General Giant, Mr. Seward and others, whose advice tho Executive? would most likely follow; but, with the sober-minded mass of the Ameri? can people, we cannot but deprecate any action of tho Government which may produco a war, involving the country still more deeply in debt,, and arresting, for the time being, her progress and prosperity. Some Plain Tnllc. Early in our editorial career- j twenty-four years -ago-wo foresaw j that the Abolitionist fanatics would eventually work out their schemes. They, did it. Wo now revert to this reminiscence to show that our pre? dictions .nre worthy of consideration. The following article, from the Chicago Tribune, no doubt foresha? dows the p*olicy which the extremists of the North intend to pursue, if they can sacure the strength' to carry it into effect, lt embodies all that hate and malignity can possibly de I sire, and consults no interests but that of negroes, who have not the slightest wish to bo made objects of hostility to the white population among whom they live. On this subject, we quote from tho Chicago Tribune: "The recent elections have won i derfully cleared the political atmos? phere. They have pointed out a line of proceedure which we hopo to see promptly followed out in the coming session. In the first place, Congress should assert its solo right to adjust these questions, by setting aside the illegal Governments now in exist? ence, and put into operation by the President. I "lu .the second place, it should make treason odious by asserting the full power of the Government over tho life, property and franchises of traitors, and over tho very territory of insurrectionary States, which, by j persistent rebellion, have forfeited their rights under the Constitution; and by teaching tho South that for whatever leniency they receive they aro solely indebted to tho mercy and forbearance of the Government, and can demand absolutely nothing as a right. "It is not necessary to shed blood, or even to enforce confiscation, in order to assert and vindicate these principles so vital to the republic. Not less important has it become to proclaim tho right of tho loyal men of the South, without distinction of color, not only to tho protection of equal laws, but to a participation in the elective franchise in the forma? tion of new Governments. All this may be accomplished by calling elec j tions for constitutional conventions in the various unreconstructed States, and prescribing tho qualifications of voters in such elections, as Congress has the undoubted right to do. "All men of lawful age, white or black, should bc invited to partici? pate in these elections, and their right to participate should be main? tained by force, if necessary. The delegates so chosen, meeting in con? vention, would form Constitutions to be submitted to the people of their respective States for ratification or rejection, and these Constitutions would, of course, fix the qualifications of electors. Governments would be formed under these Constitutions, precisely as in other Territories; and it would then be for Congress to pass upon these Governments, and to re? cognize them, if found to bo repub? lican in form. "This plan of reconstruction will remove all difficulties that have here? tofore stood in the way. It woidd prove speedy, safo and complete. It would bo distasteful to the traitors and rebels; but that is not a reason why great and necessary public mea? sures should be postponed. It would place the power, at once and perma? nently, in the hands of the major iii/ of the people of the South, and render future secession and State insurrec? tions impossible." The comments we desire to make on the abovo article are similar to thoso we have mado on several occa? sions. Tho North Carolina Standard, a week or two ago, warned i ts readers against any doubtful titles of pro? perty-doubtful alluding to persons of secession proclivities, who held tho property during the war. Wo now say to our readers, that tho programme in tho above is most likely to be car? ried out, and let those interested . stand from under. What the South Should Do, The Louisville Courier has a long article under tho above caption, from which we extract the following: The proposition has been recently made-and, we notice, has boen dis? cussed, within the last few days, at some length, and with much ability, by Judge Nicholas, in the columns of tho Journal-that a national constitu? tional convention shall be called, at an early day, for the purpose of re? vising tho Constitution and incorpo? rating such amendments as may bo deemed necessary to conform the Co? vern ment to the changed condition of things growing out of the war. We are disposed to favor tho propo? sition, for many important reasons. First. Because, in such a conven? tion, tho voice of the South would bo heard, both in argument for its rightn and in protest against its wrongs and the schemes of the Jacobin leaders. Second. Tho delegates elected to such a convention would como fresh from the people, fully advised of their views, and would, therefore, fairly represent their opinions. They would be untrammelled by tho desire for j re-election, and their action would be directed rather to the public good than to the interests of party. Third. Such a body would repre? sent the whole nation and all of its multiplied interests, and would bc uninfluenced by party schemes, and would, in all probability, bo both honest and iudependeut. It would take, for its starting-point, the fact, that the good of both sections, and the prosperity of the nation, required the restoration of the Union, and that such restoration should rest upon tho basis of the equality of tho States and justice to all sections. Fourth. Because, if tho Constitu? tion adopted by such a body was not acceptable, it could be rejected by the vote of one State over one-fourth of the whole number of States. The South would, couserfuontly, bo in no danger of losing any right by going into such a convention, while the North would lose none of its power. If nothingsatisfactory could be agreed on, both sections would be left in the precise attitude in which they stand now. Fifth. The personal assoc ation ano the comparison of views 0? the rep resentative of tho two section: might result in the adoption of t Constitution which would bo gene rally acceptable, and which would re store the.country .to peace and har monv, and amply secure the right; of all. Surely no fair or plausible argu mont can be made against such a pro position. " Such a convention coule do no hurt, if it did no good, while the probabilities are that its result; would be eminently beneficial. Tho Constitution provides tba Congress shall, opon tho application of tho Legislatures of two-thirds o the several States, call a conventioi for proposing amendments, which when ratified by three-fourths of tin States, shall become a part or part of the Constitution. Now suppose the legislatures o the ten excluded States, together wit! Kentucky anel Maryland, whicl would constitute one-thirel of th States, should propose that such : convention should be called, coull the Northern States, or at least sufficient number of them to make u] tho necessary two-thirds, refuse t unite in tho call? What excuso coule they offer to the country and to th worlel for their refusal? The ver fact that they now feel under consti tutional obligations to submit consti tutional amendments to the exclude States for their approval, is an ad mission that they have a right t participate in tho formation an amendment of tho organic law, an if through their legislatures, then wh not in tho other mode of amendmer prescribed by tho constitutio: through a national constitutions convention? It conlel only be an ui warranted exercise of power wbic .. o Ad prevent them from so doinj The radical party profess to de mau of the South only such amendmenl of tho constitution as will secure th Government against futuro rebellioi Such guaranties could be as we obtained in a constitutional convoi tion as by amendments thrust upo tho Southern States by Congress, fe in either case, the amendments cou! not be ratifieel without the assent < at least some of thoso States. And might bo that the Southern Stati would be more willing to acce] amendments which they were allowe an opportunity to discuss, and i the framing of which they were a lowed to participate, than those whie were thrust untler their noses wit the peremptory and insolent denian that they should ratify. If the Southern States should mal this proposition, and the Norl should refuse to accept it, it won then be manifest that fairness ar justice were not parts of their polio and that their seeming anxiety ? restore the Government to its origin conditions, provided conslilution guaranties against future disturbanc could be obtained, was a bare-face fraud anti an inexcusable piece eluplicity. The people would see that the was no sincerity in their profession and that they entertained^ no hone purpose of bringing peace to tl nation. Tho South woulel in th case li ave tho sympathy and its eau tho support of thousands and tens thousands of Northern men who nc regard it as obstinate and couture ciou?, and give their countenance to radical schemes. We know oi no more practicable plan than this whereby tho South can strengthen its position ami throw tho weight of popular opprobrium upon its adversaries, and we trust that the subject will be considered and acted upon without delay by tho Southern legislatures, and that they ask tho co-operation of the legislatures of the Northern States in the movement. They will sacrifice neither their rights nor their dignity by so doing, bat may accomplish much good and gain security for the safety of their section. Our Duty to tlie IV*gr<>. The Wilmington Journal says: The tendency of the negro is to quit the natural field of labor and rush to the towns ?md cities, thus to become, in a majority of cases, tho victim of his own ignorance, acquired vico and disease. Our province, should bo to take charge of the negro in all that perta'ins to his welfare; for by improving his condition mentally, morallyj and physically, wo shall advance ourselves, benefit our present condition, and secure the prosperity of our children. And before going farther, let it be distinctly under? stood that wo believe there is a barrier between the equality of the races which God has made, and that any attempt which man may make to remove or overcome it, must end in calamities which tho violation of nations' laws will always entail. The first duty will bo to direct the morals; and how can this lest bo ac? complished? In our judgment, it must be effected by influencing their affections, securing their confidence, enlighfenirig their conscience, and directing their intellect. The negro is now ivcot, but because so, it does; not follow that he is ablo to take care of himself. AU of our prccon ! ceived notions, all our present con? victions tell us that alone lie is unable to walk in tho paths of civ ilization, much less to reach the heights of moral excellence. Humanity, reli? gion, duty, interest demand, and order, that we assume at ouce the position of teacher to this race, so long a useful part of people. They were brought to us by the English and Yankees, the heathen savage; as slaves we taught them to be useful christians. They are free by no working of theirs; shall they, by our blindness or neglect, become again what th^y were? \VIs!?t South Curolinn. lina Dour. Thc Charleston Mercury, of Tues? day, has a very good article, showing that this little State, nowithstandyig her misfortunes, and the destruction of a vast amount of property, has, when compared with other ?States, manifested great energy and enter? prise in tho . work of recuperation. In our own city, there are daily evi? dences of the determination of our people to retrieve their shattered fortunes at as early a date as possible, and it gives us pleasure to say to the Mercury, that our burnt districts are being rebuilt with amazing rapidity. The buildings, too, being erected now, are much superior in stylo and finish to their predecessors: In no Southern State have more industry and activity been shown in repairing the injuries of war, than in South Carolina; and even Virginia, thestill proud "Old Dominion," as? sisted as she has been by Northern capital, has not, comparatively, done as much as has been accomplished by this State, unaided und alone, lu Columbia and in this city, the burnt districts have not been, it is true, re? built, to any great extent; but our great lines of internal communication, -our first necessity-have been promptly and thoroughly placed in order. In Virginia, in respect to depot buildings, this is not as gene? rally the case. On the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, between Lynch? burg and Bristol, only two depots are standing, none of those destroyed having been rebuilt. On the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, only two new depots are slowly creeping to? wards completion; and on the Virginia Central Railroad, tho work of recon? struction does not seem to have even been commenced. In this State, on the contrary, most of the principal railroads have already been thoroughly repaired. New and substantial depots have been put up, to replace those wantonly and unne? cessarily destroyed by tho enemy; the road-beds havo been ballasted, the culverts havo been cleaned out, the iron and cross-ties have boen re? newed or over-hauled, and traveling, throughout the greater part of the State, is both safe and agreeable. CoiiOKKD SUFI-'HAOE.-On the 12th instant, tho Chicago linus, a well known Democratic journal, came out in favor of the constitutional amend? ment, and more or less of colored suffrage, on the idea of being "pro? gressive." A despatch from that city, dated the 13th, says: Thc attempts of the Chicago Times to commit thc Democracy of the North-west, of which it has hitherto been tho organ, to negro suffrage, is meeting with strong resistance by the rank and file, although tho leaders sus? tain the paper in its course. Tho agi? tation promises to bo one of the most bitter ever known in Democratic his? tory. Amnesty und Pardon. Tho 13th section of tho Act of July ! 17, 18G2, defining tho penalties of ! treason and insurrection, is tu the following terms: "Thc President is hereby authorized, nt any timo hereafter, by proclama? tion, to extend to persons who may have participated in the existing re? bellion, iii any State or part thereof, pardon and amnesty, with such excep? tions, and at such time, and on such conditions, as he may deem expedient for tho public welfare." We cannot doubt that the Presi? dent intends, and the country ex? pect:;, that all, or nearly all, of the excepted classes will, sooner or later, be pardoned, if this is to 1m tho final result, the sooner it is consum? mated the better. The persons yet unpardoned are the tuen of wealth, ! the men of enterprise, thc men whose capital and business capacity are needed to relieve thc South from its industrial stagnation', and renew its prosperity. The eases are all so nearly alike, the crime is so precisely the same, not differing at all in na? ture and but little in degree, that thcro is no good reason why every caso should receive a separate exami? nation at the hands of the President. A new amnesty proclamation for thc immediate relief; of all classes is one of the littest things the President could execute. We deem it important that he should publish such an amnesty now, before the meeting of Congress, les! that body should repeal the sectior above quoted, and then deny the au? thority of the President to take anj further action. The radicals want t< keep the remaining cases, as the onh means they have left of terrifying tin South into a ratification of the pend ing or some more objectionable cort stitutioual amendment. Tho Presi dent should promptly take this weapoi ont of their hands. His authority t< do so now is undoubted and iucontrc vertible, for Congress itself has OJ pressly conferred it. If that permis sion should be repealed at the begir ning of the s?ssion, his ' authorit \yonld be open to question; and il after a repeal, he should act in man fest d?fiance ol the will of Congres, they might muk'.; it a ground of in peachment. [New York World, November 15. -_-<<-.>. FROM ARKANSAS.-A special d< spateh to tho Memphis Ac aland says: A resolutton introduced in th? 1?? gislature to-day to reject theeouatiti tional amendment was referred to tl: Committee on Federal Relations, an there is a disposition to treat the ma ter with great deliberation. In the Presbyterian General A sembly, to-day, reports of coiumi tees on foreign missions and educ; tion were read. After this, the di cussion of the revised book of disc pline was taken up, and a long ai: animated debate held upon that fic? tion which defines the relation > baptized children to discipline at the chureh. Debate was opened I Rev. Arnold W. Miller, of Nort Carolina, in opposition to the pr posed change. Lie was followed 1 lier. Dr. Adger, of Sonth Carolin and Rev. Dr. Baird, of Virginia, favor of thc amendment, and Ile Dr. Riee, of Alabama, in oppositio Rev. Dr. Palmer, of New Orlean had the floor when tho houso a journed. -< ?? ? > "THE CUT IS STILL THEY COME." The tide of emigration, still flo1 Westward. Every day parties from seven to twenty, in wagon? ai on horse-back, carrying their all, a seen wending their way slowly to t' West, in search of homes where li may be enjoyed in peace and qui? where justice is regarded and hi' respected; where radicals do not rn' These refugees from partizan ai political proscription excite the syj pathy of ali good citizens, and ofl a sad commentary on the conditii of our unfortunate State. With the facts, and inuumtn-ablo others, ali tho natural fruits of the outrages the radicals, they have the han hood to appear before the publ asking a continuance of power in tin hands.-Columbia (Tenn.) Gazette. THE COTTON Citor.-A special c spateh, from New Orleans, to t World, of the 19th, says: The present average of cotton : ceipts, since November 1, at all t ports, do not warrant an estimate 1 the whole crop of over one and-a-h million bales; and were the accotii from the British manufacturing cl tricts moro favorable, and curren in this region more easy of acce there would be a material change : the better in all the markets of t South. Planters are sending in th' cotton freely, to obtain the money: it, and many of them report th supplies already exhausted. - ? ?? ? ? i 'The New York Evening Post say "We cannot well soe how Mr. Jol son can give up the position he 1 always and rightly maintained, tl all the States are entitled to adm sion to Congress, and that, subject tho constitutional provision wh: makes each house the judge of 1 election and qualifications of members, and to the oaths prescrib? those who present their credenti should be admitted. This grount constitutional, and we should sorry to see tho President give it i Wo have no idea that ho will do sc TjOOal ~T-*.4TS-m ess.. Tho rhcrnir office ia oh Main, street, a. fen-doors abovoTaylor (or Camden) street. Wo have been requested to state that the services of Christ Church will bo held ou Sunday morning next, '25th instant, in thu Chapel of the Theological Seminary, which has boen Kindly loaned for tho purpose. V. 13. Class, E*q., bookseller, will accept our thanks for late Now York papers; also, for a pamphlet edition <>f poems by Mrs. C. A. Hali, containing tin- "Jacket of Grey," and other pieces ot' like sentiment and merit. DON'T LET rr U<> Orr OF PUIST. Tbc only truthful and authentic account of tin sack and destruction ol' Columbia, written by one of South Carolina's mos) compe? tent men, all the- incidents bein;; noted on the spot at tho time. Your children will be glad to get a copy at any price. For sale at tho Plucnix office. Tur. LEGISLATUF.E.-Wc arc requested by the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to state that tho Houses over which they respectively presido will a-semble and be called to order at 7 p. m., on Monday, the 2Cth instant. No hour being named by the I (institution, this has been selected, as it is believed to be thc most convenient and agreeable to thc members of both branches i of the Geucr&l Assembly. NEW AJovERTr.itijtEN'rs.- Attention is call I cd to the following advertisements, which I are published this morning for tho first ' Unit: A. L. Solomon -Herrings, Mackerel, .Vc. Pollock House -Lunch. Extra Mei ting Acacia' Lodge. 'A. R. Phillips -Auction. Oration by .Mr. J. T. Dargan. iii.jmvlanl, if True. A special telegram from Washing? ton, to the New York Herald, of the 19th, furnishes the following news, which, if reliable, is somewhat im? portant: "Statements made to-day by a number of the leading representativo men of both the Republican and Democratic parties tend to confirm the few intimations that have leaked out from tho recent consultatious at the White House, that the President is outhe eve of a grand coup d'etat, that will gratify his friends and be? wilder his enemies, lt is safe to con? clude, at the very least, that there is au carnet desire on both sides to settle upou some feasible plan of se? curing harmonious action between Congress and tho Executive iu the .future." The New York Times, of the same date, has the following special de? spatch: "Mr. Johnson has not indicated his purpose relative to the amnesty-suf? frage plan mentioned in these de? spatches on Friday last, though tho gentlemen who advocato the proposi? tion represent that the President has given them encouragement to expect that'he will adopt their suggestions ^substantially, if not exactly in tho form they advise. Several newspaper correspondents have endeavored to create doubts of the existence of such a combination of leading men, for tho purpose of inducing the President to accept the proposition and advise the Southern people, us set forth in my despatch. In order to put at rest such doubts, I am enabled to say, from personal kuowledge, that such a combination does exi :t. A number of the gentlemen co-operating in it have had interviews with Mr. John? son, and they have been laboring in the matter for about a month, visit? ing and corresponding with influen? tial men of tho North and South." CHARLESTON* AND SAVANNAH RAIL? ROAD.-According to announcement in the papers of the city,, this road/ nuder order of the trustees, was sold by Messrs. Wardlaw & Carew, at the North of the Exchange, yesterdav morning, to Messrs. J. H. Taylor and others, for the sum of $30,000, subject to existing liens, including the State lieu of about 8750,000. This salo needs no comment, as no? thing can better evidence the effect of .tlie present political status of the South. A railroad of 103 miles in length, that cost about $3,000,000, connecting two of the largest cities of tho South, sacrificed at about 87.000 per mile. - Charleston Courier, 21s/. THE NEW WHEAT.-The season has been favorablo to tho wheat sown this fall, and from all accounts, it has come up very beautifully, and appears most lively and thrifty throughout this section of country. It is what is termed a good "stand," and thus far promises well. Tho only draw-back has been tho difficulty experienced by the farmers in getting seed wheat, which forced them to put less ground in this important grain than they de? sired todo. Onr exchanges from all parts of the country represent thc wheat fields as presenting a remarkably fine ap? pearance.- Danville Register, YMli. It is positively stated in radical circles that < ?ov. Wells, of Louisiana, in view of the recent elections and the President's policy in tho Balti? more affair, has determined on imme? diately removing the sheriffs and other officers who have been derelict in the discharge of their duties. Steps are also being taken to arrest prominent parties accused of aiding in tho July massacre.