Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA Tuesday Morning, January 15,1867. linn': Leave thc OM stn!*-. We find the following paragraph in last Saturday's Metropolitan Record, published in Now York: "On represen tilt ions from "Smith Carolina, we stilted recently that that Stale was recuperating faster than any other member of tho late Con? federacy. Thc fact that so many people are now leaving South Caro? lina for Texas ami other States, leads us'to infer that our informants were iu error. Wc hear' almost daily of whole families abandoning their old homesteads and setting out in search of now ones. Texas appears io bc tho favorite promised lard. Every friend of thc South must view with regret the emigration of tho old stock from thc soil that it made glorious. Texas is certainly one of tho best sec tions of tho" country to settle in, and South Carolinian? who go there may better their condition. But who will succeed them at home? Shall Soul h Carolina become to the South what Ulster is to Ireland -thc home of his enemies?'' That is tho important question who will take thc places' of those who forsake thc old State? Of course, she must bc peopled, aud it may bo by those to whom thc Record refers. But we arc inclined to think that tho statements made in regard to thc emi? gration from this State aro much ex? aggerated, thc migration Westward being chiefly that of tho "nation's wards," who go to rusticate on tho sand hills of Florida, generously do? nated to them by thc rump Congress, where they will dig and hoc nuder thc supervision of that mi 1, but lynx-eyed institution-tho Freed? men's Bureau. If thc poor negroes can raise sufficient hog aud hominy on these unappropriated, sterile lands, they will have to bo moro dili? gent aud industrious thau they have been about their oki homes. Of tho other race, there may bc isolated cases of plantera romoviuy West; but wo doubt if thc emigration is mudh larger than ordinarily in former years. It would, indeed, bc a matter of deep regret, should Cit emigration of whites become, exten? sive, nor eau we see how tho condi? tion generally of those who leave us is to bc bettered. Thc expense ant' inconvenience of moving must bo ? heavy sacrifice, and tho means ant' energy thus required, if applied a' their old homes, would unquestion ably lu- Hie best appropriation o bot?i. ^_ AT.L?M.V.JJ G?or.NDOF IMPEACHMENT. A correspondent of tho New Yorl Post says Hint "one of the chief argn ninds relied upon for the impeach ment of tin- President is, that it wa: mainly .through his influonce th? Southern State::- repudiated the pend ing constitutional amendment." This ?.karge, however, if at all damniug might bo fairly onset by a credit tc Mr. Johnson on thc proper si.le o Mr. Ashely's ledger, for inducing thc Southern people to adopt ile constitutional amendment abolishing slavery, and also repudiating th. i own war debt, so as to [dace then upon a In tier footing for aiding i: paying the United States cationa indebtedness. ' THE KENGSTBEE JAI ?J ATE AIR. -Tie. Courier learns from a private letter dated Kingstreo, S. C., January 12 that tlie jury of inquest empannelei in the above case, after hearing tin mass of testimony elicited in tho in vesiigation, rendered a verdict cen stiring the sheriff for dereliction o duty in not having the keys at tin jail, and that, in their opinion, hat tho keys been on hand at first, sonn of tho inmates might have beei 6aved. - A NATIONAL CONVENTION.-The Do mocratic State Convention of Con necticut adopted the following rcso lution on Tuesday: "Resolved, That, after solemn dc liberation, it is tho opinion of th j: Convention-at the suggestion of om conservative brethren of Kentucky that a convention of tho Democracy and all constitutional Uniou men o the thirty-six States should be callee with?, it delay by the National Demo eratic Ccmmittce; and wo respect fully suggest that said conventior meet in the city of New York, on tin 4th day of March next, to advise am' counsel upon thc great questions tba: now agitate tho public . lind; lo pro test against thc revolutionary ant' unconstitutional acts of the presen) majority of Congress; to announce the determination of tho conserva rive men of thc Union to resist ant oppose, by every constitutional oxer eise of power, thc disorga: ;zation o States and tho destruction of Statt authority." A General Bankrupt Law. Thc Now York Herald, of tho 7th, has tho following article ou a United States general bankrupt law: Tho Constitution of tho United States empowers Congress to pass uniform laws on tho subject of bank? ruptcies. Thia power has only been twice exercised-once in 1800, when a bankrupt law limited to five years was passed, which was repealed be? fore tho expiration of tho tenu, at the close of the year 1803. and again in August, 1841, when a general in I solvent law was enacted, which was so looso in its provisions'and so avail? able for thc fraudulent debtor as to excito a storm of popular disfavor. The latter law was pushed through Congress by questionable means, and among tho first who availed them? selves of its provisions was tho Chevalier James Watson Webb, who, after making a great fuss over tho passage of the law, coolly wiped out some Laif a million dollars of debts by its aid. He derived no permanent benefit from the white? washing process, however, since he could have resorted to it again a few years afterwards, on a smaller scale, to his own advantage. The law of 184 L had less than two year's exist? ence, a bill for its repeal having re? ceived tho President's signature on March 1843. During the period it remained in operation, it was cal? culated that some 40,OOH persons availed themselves of its provisions, whoso aggregate debts must have been in the neighborhood of 8200, 000,000. Notwithstanding the failure of former experiments, it luis long been thc opinion of tho ablest financiers and tho most honorable businessmen in the United States, that a general bankrupt law, fair and liberal in its provisions, and containing strict safe? guards against fraud, would bo at once a protection to tho honest debt? or, and an advantage to thc business community. Congress alone has power to pass such a law, which would be binding upon all creditors in thc United States, and all deserip i Hons of debts. Tho insolvent laws of a State can only reach its own citi? zens, unless creditors from other States, by voluntarily recognizing the insolvency and accepting divi? dends from tho estate, put'themselves within the pale of their operation. Thc close and intimate commercial relations between tho Stales render it very desirable tb ut a uniform sys? tem of laws relating to bankruptcy, which all understand, and by whicb all alike are bound, should exist; anti it was a wisc provision of the Con? stitution which vested tho power tc make such laws in the CongrcSs ol thc United States. In Europe, bankruptcy laws aro ol a quasi criminal character. The pro ceedings are regarded as hostile tc the bankrupt. Under tho Frencl: law, ho is arrested-and confined ii prison, or put under surveilance, anc after an examination into his affairs, by the Tribunal of Commerce, he cai: bo released on bail or uncondition? ally. After the investigation is com pleted, bo can be condemned to im prisonment, with or without labor, i: fraud is proved against him. Th? English law has some peculiar fea tines. A bankrupt who obtains hi? certificate of discharge, is allowed : percentage toa limited sum onto, tho proceedings of his estate, when the dividends n ach a certain amount. Wlnm fifteen shilling-, in tho pounc is realized by Iiis creditors, ho re ceives ten per cent, on tho whole as sets to a sum not exceeding ?000. j and so in proportion for a smallei dividend. This affords a bankrupt i a small capital with which to oom menee lifo anew. Ono provision o the English law would hardly sui the United States. A bankrupt ii not entitled to his discharge if ho hat lost a certain amount within tho yeal immediately preceding his bankrupt cy, either at gambling or stock-job I bing. lt is objected 1)3' some that b;uik ruptcylaws are a protection to fraudu lout and dishonest debtors. A goot law must always bo tho reverse. Oui present system, without any geno ral law at all, is oppressive only tc the unfortunate and honest debtor and affords the rogue every facility h< can desire to cheat his creditors. Ii is also an inceutivo or temptation tc men of weak and unstable principle: to become dishonest. When a per son who is doing business with ar intention and wish to establish i good reputation finds misfortune coming upon him he has now no op portuuity to redeem himself, and will in a large majority of instances, *oi to work to put his property out of thc reach of his creditors. If he goos down, ho argues, he can never get ny again, and self-preservation is thc first law of nature. A fair bankrupt j law would enable him to stop at once, ? to put all his properly in the hands j of his creditors, to payasrauch as he j could,.and to commence again with j out an incubus of debt weighing him I down. From dishonesty and fraud j no law devised by human wisdom can entirely protect tho creditor. But a . good bankrupt law would afford him ? more protection than ho at present enjoys, since it would enable him to take immediato measures for his pro? tection whenever evidence (ff intend? ed fraud should make itself apparent. Tho lack of a uniform bankruptcy law deprives tho community of some of its best commercial ability and business enterprise. To keep a man constantly out of business because he has once been unfortunate, or to compel him to resort to all manner j of tricks and subterfuges to conceal his property and cover up his j interests, cannot conduce either to the good of the creditor or of thc i Stale. Tho honest debtor, if he j should become a bankrupt, would ; never fall to pay np his old obliga gationsin full should he subsequent- ! ly secure tho means to do so. The \ dishonest limn wpuld never pav a : ; debt nfc all if he could avoid it. "Wc i have examined with some cure thc law which passed the present House i at its first session, and is now before j the Senate. Its main piovimons np- j I pear to be fuir nnd just holli towards : I the .creditor and debtor, and it eon-! j tains apparently stringent safeguards t j against fraud and dishonesty on the I part of a bankrupt. At tins period I of our lifo usu nation it is omiuentTy j j desirable that some uniform law j should be given to the country, :u:J ' j the subject should claim thc early i j and the serious attention o? tho j I Senate. It is one of the most im portant matters that remains before I that body, :ui<l should he passed I ; during He; existiug session, so that if { j any- amendments lo the bili are j found desirable they may be acted ; upon by the present House, which hus already maturely considered and thoroughly debated the subject. Specie I*? y inc nt>; - The Washington corresponden! o? tho New York Herald writes: The resumption of specie payments on or before July 1, 1868, a? has been suggested by Mr. McCulloch, in his late report to Congress, is a startling proposition, and is well calculated to shake the confidence of the commu? nity in his financial sagacity. It is true, that it would bc very pleasant to handle thc coin in our daily busi? ness, and to buy at the low prices which prevail when we have a cur? rency redeemable at sight in coin. But these pleasant dreams have se? rious obsL.ieles in the way of their realization. It is necessary to hear in mind that we have some $300,000,000 or more of short-dated Government liabilities, which fall due within that time, and from 8:i00,000,000 to fr?OO, 000,000 of six per cent, bonds, which are payable on this side in coin, prin? cipal and interest. What would be the effect of a resumption of specie pay? ments, in July, 1SGS, on them? These bonds have cost the present holders on an averrge not more than seventy per cent, of their pur value in gold, and wc have the privilege of redeeming the short dated paper in currency at maturity. But if it once understood that by holding on to them until July 1, 1868, the ownei can draw gold for.their face value, ii is likely that we will continue to fund them into a six per cent, live-twenty bond, whose market value is only about scventy'-nine in gold. And how long could our banks and the sub treasury continue to pay specie wit! the large quantity of six per cent, bonds always at the disposal cd tin Bank of England? Let the drain o $37,000,000 of our gold in May anc Juno last answer. If the hanks ii New York had been paying specie a that time, they would have been com pelled to suspend payment. The two pre-requisites, therefore to a safe resumption of specie pay ments, ave: first, to lund the $800, (Kit),000 of notes into bonds; and se cond, to convert, if possible, the si: per cent, bonds held in Europe inl< rive per cent, ''sterling"' bonds, o what is thc same thing, into bond which are payable, principal and in terest, in the coin of the country it which they are held, i Now, can all this ?ie done previon to July, 1868? Wo think not. W< also think that tho less Mr. McCul loch may say or promise about rc j suming specie payments until afte these obstacles are removed, the bet ter it will be for the countr and himself. It may be said that j is unreasonable to expect European to give up their six per cent, bonds payable here, for the five per cents, payable at home in their conn try; but we have numerous instance of five per cent. State bonds selliii] higher than the six per cent, hom bonds in the European market. We, therefore, think, tho Secreta ry's plan of effecting tho conversioi is practicable, and wo expect to se Congress authorize tho attempt a once. ASHAMED OF THEIR COMP ANT.-W take the following editorial paragrap] from tho New York Evening Post, respectable radical sheet: Eor the honor of the country, w trust that the debate on Saturday wi] bo struck out of the journal of th House of Representatives, and tba the House will ta-kG sumo measure for preserving itself and the countr from the degradation of again lia toning to such language as Messrs Stevens, of Pennsylvania, and Spahl ing, of Ohio, indulged themselves ii on that day. A parcel of sailors, in a ship's fore castle, would have hissed down, witl disgust, such indecency, coming fron two old men, and would have dc manded that they should be decent at least out of respect to their owi gray hairs. But it seems tho Na tional House of Representatives, les decorous than a forecastle full of sail ors, encouraged the ribaldry of thesi two old men with roars of laughter winch the "Speaker vainly endea vored to repress." Brown colored children aro callee "fractions of republican currency.' Tlie ?*?usc in Business. There ure causes enough ut this , period influencing a pause in busi- 1 ness, which ure nore or less of a legi? timate and necessary character, with? out having added thereto all manner ! of wanton schemes, born ot' political ' partisanship, either in Congress, in ? State L?gislatures or ..elsewhere. It ; is true-and well it is that is so-that I : of the crude projects or willful de- j : vices of legislation which may bc | ? brought forward on one sido or the other, all ure not likely to become law. Yet they have their effect to disturb tho public mind, influence thc popular temper, and affect, most disadvantageonsly, material interests, commercially and financially. Among these illegitimate causes of disturb- : ance bas been tho proposition of 1 ultra radicals for impeaching the Pre? sident. This, wo had previously judged, would bc disquieting, and it is well that some evidence is given to the people, by reason of the refer? ence of the subject as one of inquiry, to a committee in the House, that so rash and business-disturbing a mea? sure is not to bc acted upon without considerativa). Mr. Stevens thinks that the impeachment should have been undertaken long since, and ho and Mr. Ashley, of Ohio. want, mem? bers to give consideration to it this Congress, although there are led a few weeks of tho session, and neither ;he tax lull, the currency nor the tariff aro disposed of. to say nothing ot other practical matters. lint, as wo have said, there arc legitimate causes enough influencing a pause and disturbance in business. Prices, which went so high under rapid currency expansion in the past several years, and which were still j further increased by the speculations I which it engendered, as well as the multifarious forms ?rhd rates of taxa? tion, are settling back considerably in many articles oi production and trade, now that measures for the re? duction of the currency, as well as of taxation, aro receiving attention. And though prices may not soon, if ever, again de-.-eend to the old stand? ards in this country, there aro still j snell changes going on as to prevent | the realization of thc large profits on stocks on band that merchants ha1 e ? been accustomed to for some time, and in many ea^es losses aro en? tailed. Production is, therefore, for the time, cheeked, and business lan? guishes, lint that tho prices which still prevail for all tho necessaries, conveniences and luxuries of Iii"*.? arc high, cannot be- disputed. Tho li nal further shrinkage is doubtless dev sirable in tho interest -, of tho mass of the community; but. in thc mean? time, with the uncertainty which now maintains, business meu dare not buy for future sales, lost they should be unable to disip?se of their goods without sacrilice, or perhaps ruinous losses. Thc mercantile classes, therc ; fore, at present, do business very much from hand to mouth, and a journal, which is authority on the subject, says that prudent men aro driven, in self-defence, to refuse business, rather than take the risks. Tiley are, not unnaturally, getting weary of the long suspense, which 1 not only diminishes the Government revenue from taxation, but, what is j moro important still, contributes to tho impoverishing of the people, and to the hampering of that unexampled enterprise, energy, versatility and productive efficiency which aro tho secret of that amazing growth in material wealth in which we rejoice above all other nations in tho world. The question what will be '.he futuro I course of prices, then, is one which I is being anxiously asked, ou 'Change and elsewhere, by all classes of eiti j zens. In every counting-room, ma? nufactory, steamboat and railroad ! ear, wc find farmers, mechanics, j manufacturers, bankers, agitating this problem. And it is one on tho solution of which tho well-being1 of many, and thc salvation from bank? ruptcy of some, very much depends. As a deduction from these facts, ? the Financial Chronicle very naturally suggests that tho pcoplo need and must have a fixed financial policy. Congress is held responsible by thc country. Let thc policy of gradual, safe contraction, of wise remission of oppressive taxation, of abandonment of excessive protection, be settled and iixrad, so that every mau may kuow what to expect in tho imme diate futur3, and then thc descent from our inflated values to safer and more legitimate prie s may. perhaps, bo so gradually effected that our pub? lic interests will not be sacrificed r\f : our public prosperity long interrupt? ed. Or, if this is too much to real? ize, the present intolerable uncer? tainty and suspenso would at least bo at an end.-Baltimore Sun. WHY THE BEST FLOUR IS CHEAPEST. Two dollars extra on tho price of a barrel of flour will secure a much superior quality. Any one wdio will devote a little observation to the sub? ject will notice that.with poor bread people eat from three-fourths to one half moro butter than they do with that which is of superior or extra quality. If wo reckon three-fourths moro, it will bo seen by thc calcula? tions of tho proceeding item that two dollars saved in Hie price of Hour in? volves five dollars and sixty-two cents more expenses for butter, or for other condiments, to make tho poorer bread palatable. Tho Missouri State Senate has : passed, and thc House of Delegates tabled, bills to repeal the lest oaths in , that State. FROM WASHINGTON.-Thc special j correspondent of the Baltimore Sun telegraphs to that paper, of Friday : 1 The freedmen of tho District are preparing fora mammoth jubilation over tho passage of the suffrage bi!!, j Several different plans fer the affair ' j ire now under discussion. The fea? sible points will ba amalgamated toi >uit the wishes of all concerned. ; i Among other foulures of tho celebra- \ tion will bethe raising of a liberty -, pole and a national Hag. It ?4 now substantially tlett rmiued that we arc to have the fortieth Con? gress assemble . n the 4th of March I next. The Senate to-day passed thc j i lieuse bill for that purpose, with ? . amendments that thc House will con-1 i cur in beyond doubt. The President ; s will approve the bil!. j An amendment to the bill to vega- j , Late the tennrc of civil offices was h offered in the Senate to-day by Mr. \ , 'Lowe, which wu.-, voted down prompt ly. This amendment included Cabi- ; ri?t officers among the restrictions ? i intended to be. placed upon the ap- < pointaient of officers by thc Presi- i dent. The action of tho Senate ru rejecting Mr. Howe's amendment is important, as showing thc concur? rence of that body i:i the views ex? pressed by Mr. Fessendcii, that thc , relations between the Executive andr his Cabinet .ire of such a delicate, intimate and confidential character, , that the almost exclusive right of the I . President to appoint such officers is conceded by the Senate, and the propriety and, perhapi, necessity of j the Cabinet advisers being in perfect accord with the President iu senti? ment, is admitted. -.- ?? ?.?- ? DESTRUCTION <>F AN EXTENSIVE FnounMriiXj AND GRANAK? nr FIRE. About 10 o'clock, Saturday night, dense volumes of smoke were disco? vered bursting out from the North side of the extensive Cj.s story brick building on Anson street, originally , known and used as a sugar refinery, ? which was entirely destroyed. The property belonged to W. C. Dukes, II-, ?.. but had been leased lo Mr. R. Hiker fora term of years. ?>Ev itiker had vee ntly fitted .ip thc pr< ulises for a Vi HU? mill and granary, with e . and improved machinery, and had it in full and successful opera? tion. Thoro were in the building at the time some 10,000 bushels of grain, 150 barrels of Hour, between 1,000 and "J,Gilt) grain bags, und three or four l?alos of hay. A few hags of corn only were saved. No ciao has been obtained as to the origin of the iive. but it is believed to have been the work of an incendiary. The machinery and stock Avas insured for 821,000; the building was insured for $10,000. Mr. CT. A. Nen O'er, associat? ed \sith Mr. Biker in business, lost about 8500 worth of furniture stored in Vze building and uninsured. The desi ruction of the mill Ls a serious loss, throwing out of employment a I large number of workmen. [Charleston Courier. THE SUPREME COURT'S EXPECTED DECISIONS.-It will, in our judgment, decide that no State can so get out of the Union as, under the Constitution, ? to bc relieved of the obligation or de? prived of the right of repr?sentation in the Congress of the United States. We feel sure that it will decide that the citizens of thc State of Virginia have never been, either by secession i ordinances, or Confederate authority, j or actual war, relieved from the duty ? and thc right of fleeting Senators and Representatives. We believe it will decide against the folly of under? taking to convert one of tho original thirteen States into a Territory, and will vindicate the indestructibility of a Slate as surely as that of the Con? gress, lue Executive, or the Court it? self.- National Intelligencer, M. The radical sentiments in the speech of Mr. Grinnel, of Iowa, were, that the members from the new North-west were not committed to the admission of lue rebel Hiatos on the adoption of the constitutional amendment. Mr. Woshburne, of Illinois, who was called out, concur? red in this. Mr. Grinned also de? clared that "thc demand for impar? tial justice was made as by the voice of God, and tho party which had saved the country could not survive a compromiso which left unprotected millions of our friends. Our Su? preme Court decision and thc rebel? lious spirit m%st be met by carly and radical measures for the States now in political chaos." [Cor. Neio York Tribune. INDIANA DEMOCRATIC STATE CEN? TRAL COMMITTEE.-Tho Democratic State Central Committee held ii meet? ing at Indianapolis, on the 8th, and adopted the following as a base of operations: First, that they renew their devotion to the cardinal princi? ples of tho Government; second, j t" at they endorse the veto of the suffrage bill; third, that tho present ' troubles of- tho country were the ? work of the Republican part v, fourth, , that it was still thc mission of the ? Democratic party to maintain the integrity of the Federal Constitn- I lion; and, fifth, that tho Supreme Court's late action gave them much ! hope. The meeting was well attend? ed by the politicians of the State. A private letter received by one of the editors cf the Nashville Union states that dov. Isham G. Harris has determined to leave Mexico and I engage in commercial pursuits in Liverpool. Thu JPlnenix office io on Main ?licet, a ew doora above Taylor (or Camdt u) street. Wo learn Hint Gov. Cir has appointed "oseph T. Zeiiy, Esq., a Magistrate fur liehhmd 5'?strict. Or;: EEAMNC ROOM.- Our friends aro nvitcd to visit the /'.'<.... <.<> reading room, vherc they will find -.n tile papers -.nd icriodicals from every sect iou of the I 'mun storian -.viii com ct in si hr-march ill ho look tels and de? ny true and vents of the I se,.', v. ill bo 1 from ti-.i.; We are itidebted to Maj. .J -hu Alexander vim h-.e-: just arrived from l?irope) for a MEMOIUAL AsstHmviidN. -The member? if the Columbia Memorial Association are requested to attend a meeting thia (Tues? day) afternoon, at I o'clock, at thc Wash? ington Street Chapel. Boi.n RODBERY. -We regret t<> state that [". Bouknight, Esq., ie again tl:?' victim of th?: midnight prowler. On Sunday night last, his stahle was enti red and robbed of a quantity of ;orn, oats and peas. There were marks of wagon wheels in front of thc building -so that the robbert; must have deliberately driven np and helped themselves. It is to bc hoped that some? thing will bc done to put aslop tn these oft-recurring robberies. NEW BOOK_We aro indebted te Me- -rs. Bullio & Chapman, booksellers, of tina city, for a "copy of "Thc History qf r. bri? gade of South Carolinians, known first f.s Gregg's, and subsequently aa McGowan's; by J. F. J. Caldwell, lately an officer of thu first Regiment, S. C. V." Thia work, cm bracing about 2?0 pages, will bo read with interest by one and all. lt is written in excellent style, and presenta a truthful his? tory of the brigade, including biographical sketches of prominent officers. TUE TEM VOUAI. POWER OF TH a POPE. The address of Rev. P. N. lynch. D. D., Bishop of this Diocese, on Sunday afternoon, was largely attended by our citizens of all de? nominations. The a Idreas waa highly in? structive, giving thc origin "f tho tempo? ral power of tho Pontiff, and tracing its varions fortunes np to the present time. It was listened to with marked attention by thc large auditory present, and was pro? nounced by all tis a highly interesting and eloquent address. FINE GARDEN SEEDS.-Messrs. E. A G. D. Hope have laid in, for the accommoda '. m of their custom* rs, both in town and country, one of the largest stocks of fino garden seeds, of every description, that has ever bren offered in thia market. They are from the well-known house of Thor? burn A Co., and may bo relied on as fresh and genuine. Every foot of avail tblo land should be planted, especially in the city, and one or two dollars spent for seeds will tit- a profitable investment. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attention ia call? ed to the following advertisements, which ure published this morning for thc first t imo: Communication of Columbia Ledge. J. C. Lyons -Appointment of Attorney. Proclamation by the Governor. Sale of f'statc of John Bates. Executors of John Bates -Estate Notice * Meeting of M. E. G. Loyal Areli Chapter. Howard Association, Philadelphia. THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY.--Tho London Times, of December 19, says: In President Johnson's message there aro not wanting signs that he is conscious of his powerlessness in the face of Congress, and that, whilo maintaining personally tho principles of which he is thc advocate, ho must bc content to soc them overthrown, and to seek a field for his own autho? rity in the direetiou of those parts of the public policy in which tho majo? rity of his countrymen agree with him. Thc falling Mexican empiro and tho question of tho Alabama may servo him when his schemo of reconstruction shall bc perforco aban? doned. It is not difficult to seo that already the President is disposed to fall back on what remains to him of power, and to make more of foreign policy as the conduct of domestic policy is leaving him. We trust that the desire of regaining popularity in tho North may not lead him to any act that may lesson the harmony be? tween tho United States and any foreign nation. But, to do him jus? tice, whatever lie may think or pur? pose on foreign matters, his heart is evidently in the battle which ho has fought and lost against tho Republi? can majority. SPEAKER COLFAX'S RECEPTION.- -An amusing as well as instructivo inci? dent occurred with tho Southern mem? bers. They expressed, in a jocular way, when meeting thc Speaker, their desire to get back into the Unios? and asked Air. Colfax when that hap? py period would come. Tho saga? cious Speaker referred them to thc Supren Court, and laughingly waved uto Chief Justice Chase, who stood in tho midst of a bevy of fascinating ladies. Approaching him, the anxious Southrons inquired as to the point referred to, and, innocently, thc Chief Justice gravely referred them to Congress-jiointing to thc Speaker! - Washington Chronicle. ?truction of Columbia. Th-, i .all statement of the t< rt iblc i light of tho 17th February,