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-t COL?MBIA. Thursday Morning, April 3,1867. A Striking Contrast--I860 TS. 1807. On Wednesday last, Mr. Ooorge Francis Train happened into the "gold room" in New York, and was requested by its frequenters, the bulls and boars of Wall street, to mako ? speech ou the expansion of tho currency. He ropliod in an olaborato sketch, drawing, in charac? teristic language, a contrast between tho financial condition of tho coun? try in 18G0 aud 18G7. The speech is published at length in the New York papers, but our space only permits us to take a glanco at some of its main points. In 1860, he said, prospority was all over tho land; 5,000,000 bales of cot? ton on a thousand plantations; 0,000, ?000 tons of shipping on every ocean; agriculture well to do, manufacturers prosperous, banks and insurance companies paying good dividends, petroleum wells and wealth just being developed, 60,000,000 of gold coming ia from the California mines, tho stock market producing a harvest to tho brokers, the dry goods merchants making money-in short, prosperity all over the land ; and yet all this was dono on a currency of two hundred and fi?y millions of dollars. This was 1860; now for tho other picture he drew-1867. Fivc*millions of shipping wiped off tho sea by England's neutrality; no fivo millions of cotton bales now; three hundred millions sunk iu po troleum ; gold-mining companies havo played out; agriculture drooping; woolen and other manufacturers sus? pending pay mont; insurauco compa? nies failing, and steamship property is dying out. Tho rottenest security in tho street is the so-called gilt-e lged paper; the rich men are all poor, and aro first to call in their loans; those pntriotic radicals who put their mo? ney into Southern cotton plantations have planted it there forever. Tho West is not paying up, and the South has nothing to pay or buy with; tho bonded warehouses have piles of foreign goods not paid for; tho coun? try is stocked with merchandize; tho gold market from thirty to forty per cent, premium; $50,000,000 sunk in the Stock Exchange-that financial Morgue of thc land-since January; in short, paralysis everywhere-the dry rot in Wall street-nobody pay? ing expenses; checks exchanged to show life-all loans on call-no busi? ness doing-no industrial enterprises going on-no confidence anywhere; and yet, all this with u currency of one thousand millions of dollars.' This is a brief sketch of the con? trast presented by the speaker. IIo refers, then, to the future. He refers to Congress, und notices what they arc doing. He says the lawyers are in power, and what do they care? They have added $300,000,000 to tho national debt, lie asks if the South is to be re-admitted under tho milita? ry bill, and says that Stevens holds the reins; confiscation comes next. He predicts that Congress will bring on a financial crash in thc fall, lay it on the Administration policy, aud wlien everything is broken, Congress will meet iu the winter, pass Ran? dall's bill putting greenbacks in place of national bank bonds, pass another bill for paying duties on imports in greenbacks-in other words, giving thc country one currency. Ile said this would make all happy for thc Presidential election for 1SGS. Ho illustrated his position by saying na. tional delirium tremens requires na? tional whiskey, and the national whiskey will make all vote for tho party. Thc contrast drawn by the speaker has much truth, and wo may well say, as loyal citizens, "Cod save the Republic!" --? -o ?. ? SAUCE FOB THE GOOSE, ?fcc.-A Washington correspondent says that Sumner has prepared a bill forcing negro suffrago on every Northern State, under the pretence that it is authorized by the second section of tho constitutional amendment, which abolished slavery. Both Wilson and Sumner declared their determination to force tho negro suffrage on thc Northern States, Connecticut in? cluded, by Act of Congress. All right; let us livo under equal laws; what is sauce for tho gooso is sanco for the gander. -? ?? ?>---. Prussia and France aro spoiling for a fight. Wait until tho big show' is over. ? AK Itinerant Bohemian. A brief reference was made, in oar Tuesday's issue, to a letter written by one of the traveling correspondents of tho New York Herald, dated from this city. We make the following extracts for the edification and amuse? ment of our readers: Columbia, too, shows tho marks of the fire and fury that war has swept over her, and there aro no signs of an immediate resuscitation from the trance into which she has been cast. For, although two years of pence have intervened, the long streets nre still presided over by the gaunt chim? neys and ornmbled walls whioh mark tho track of tho destroyer. Tho peo? ple, in conversing upon political topics, profess to be perfectly reck? less as regards the consequences of the reconstruction bill, although I havo seen several legal gentlemen, who are now practicing in this city, worked up to a severe fit of passion by the remembrance of the fact that they aro disfranchised by the new Act, while thoir negroes are given the right to voto in their stead. The chief politicians, Gen. Hampton and others, who led the peoplo of this Distriot through their influence,' after having made a desperate effort against the adoption of the constitu? tional amendment and other demands of the dominant party, finding that they have forced upon them the dread alternative, have switched off on a now track, and, actuated apparently by spitefulness alone, have taken to advocating negro suffrage as vio? lently as they formerly opposed it. This is undoubtedly with the spiteful design of giving tho radicals an over? dose of their own medicino in tho shape of a completely African repre? sentation of the South in Congress. Everything indicates that this is tho programme adopted by at least tho politicians of this section of tho State, who have evidently boon around among the planters near and far in thc District, for all of them whom I have visited confirm this sus? picion by their reticouco ns well as by their hints. That Wade Hampton should toke part in a negro meeting, and address the assemblage on the subject, surely argues this design. On last Monday, however, tho ne? groes of this vicinity took a bold step in tho way of an open endorsement of tho action of Congress. A pro? cession of about 300 colore^, mon, headed by a band of colored musi? cians aud bearing banners, on which were inscribed appropriate mottoes, and one of which bore a likeness of President Lincoln, marched through tho streets of this city and held a mass meeting on thc outskirts. There were about 1,500 colored persons pre? sent, but very few whites. General Wade Hampton and several lawyer politicians of this District made speeches conciliatory to the negro spirit. Hampton especially played well the part of a demagogue, an? nouncing himself as tho friend of the nigger, and inviting the latter to stay and make his home forever at the South, where ho was born, assuriug him ol' good treatment and a chance to make a living as well as to vote. Several lawyers followed in the same straiu, and succeeded in impressing the negroes veVy favorably. In thc evening, the darkies had a very largo torch-light procession, aud were addressed by several promi? nent men of tho city, before whoso residences they appeared by invita? tion. These politicians, finding that there is a probability of the negro becomiug a voter in spite of all they can do or say, conclude that it is to their interest to conciliate him, and hence this sudden outburst of mag? niloquent sentimentality aud affec? tion. It may be earnest .and fair, but I seriously doubt it. There is some hiddou meaning in theso sud? den professions; some sly artifice concealed beneath this smooth sur? face of smiles and these professions of fraternal regard for t he black man. The very men who did the specch makiug on this occasion aro firmly opposed in private arguments to the step taken for tho political advance? ment of tho class which they ad? dressed so plausibly. The Columbia lawyer, Mr. Arthur., who professed in his speech to be in favor of tho move? ment, since it would elevate tho status of the negro, talked altogether differently the day before in a con? versation with several of his fellow lawyers; aud though his influence and his furious denunciation of tho constitutional amendment has aided in holding South Carolina back on tho verge of the precipice where she now stands. On the evening of the procession, a lawyer named Blank man made a speech in front of his residence to the blacks, but after tho procession had moved on, chuckled with a number of his friends at hav? ing done tho thing just right, neither having said too much nor too littlo for their purpose. Theso men have nightly meetings, but are very guard? ed in thoir public expressions of opiniou. They ovidently mean work, and those who really intend to act rarely talk much. Theso men aro wily, wiry, thin, kecu-oyed, tall, lean, spectral in figuro and looks, and, os will bo shown somo day not far distant, nre dangerous to their fellow-citi:.ens aud to the country at large. They are evidently playing for power, and are determined to obtain it by whatever subtorfugo, though tho result may bo the degra? dation or ruin of their State Au old farmer, one of the poor cl asa, residing about fifteen miles from here, West of the- Cori garee River, in Lexington District, in con? versing on tho subject of reconstruc? tion, declared that there would be no trouble but for the lawyers, who wero stirring up discord and main? taining troublo for their own pur? poses. "That's just what was the matter with our war," said the old man; "wo had too many lawyers a holdin' of it, and they've just made a sorry looking country of this. They'll never stop until they have ruined all of us, or else have got their object, and that is all the offices and all the profits. They didn't go into the wnr-none of 'em, I noticed-al? though they made it, bat they forced us all in. When the proposition was made in the Confed?rate Congress that tho members should adjourn and go into tho army as private soldiers, how many on 'om voted for it? Jest ono, tho mau that proposed it; and that's tho way they always do. They'll keep the State in hot water till thoy gain their ends, but they won't suffer themselves." I endorse tho old man's opinions in reference to the political strate? gists now operating in Columbia and the district round about. They havo their own interests to subserve, and they regard no considerations of pub? lic welfaro or political good. If they could he removed, tho honest and untrammelled sontiment of the peo? ple might find expression, and gonn me peace and prospority might bo re-established iu this unhappy State. ANNIVERSARY DINNER OP THE CHARLESTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Tho Charleston papers publish long accounts of tho anniversary dinner of tho Chamber of Commerce, which was given in the spacious aud olegant banquet hall of the Charleston HoteL Gen. Sickles, Gov. Orr and a number of other civil and military dignitaries were present, nud the utmost good feeling prevailed. The first regular toast-"The State of South Caroli? na"-?was responded to by Gov. Orr in a long and eloquent address of a historical diameter, in which ho an? nounced that the Democratic pal ty had been found wanting, and should be buried with the past. The Go? vernor was listened to with marked attention, and his remarks were seve? ral times grouted with rounds of ap? plause. - Wo learn that a fire occurred at Timmonsville, S. C., on Sunday night last, by which the Temperance Hall, tho dry goods store of Mr. C. J. Coney, underneath, and thc dry goods and grocery store of Mr. D. A. McEnchcrn, adjoining, were de? stroyed. WHERE SHALL WK TURN?-The New York Herald is veering round, and tho needle of tho political compass has passed by the extremists to point steadily at thc inoderatists. From the moderate men alone, according to tho Herald, may the country ex? pect moderate and wiso measures; and pity it is that this conclusion had not been reached before the Herald had done all in its power to inflame the passions of the bitterest of the radical party. However, the metro politau daily reserves tho right to change its opinion, and accordingly and inconsistently says: There is ono section of politicians to whom the nation is beginning to turn its eyes with a hopeful confi? dence. The moro conservative of tho Republican party, who have long been in the minority, ure already making their inilnence felt. Now is their opportunity. If they would givo a new tone to aud tako the lead of the party with whom they have been acting, or if they would organize a new party on a broader and nobler basis, they never can have a moro fitting opportunity. Tho nation is sick of strife and divisions. Wiser and more temperate counsels are needed. Thc change of feeling which has taken place in tho South seems to have begotten a corresponding change in the North. Restoration cannot bo more anxiously longed for in thc ono caso than it will be heartily welcomed in the other. 13y dint of skillf ul management, North and South may soon be knit together in tho bonds of a happy Union. But the crisis is delicate. Extreme measures may mar and ruin the whole. Wis? dom and caution are in tho highest degree necessary. There is no party whoso counsels aro more suited to the occasion than those of conserva? tive Republicans. Theirs is tho op? portunity, if they will only embrace it. If they fail to take advantago of it, it is impossible to predict into what disorganization tho Republican party may be thrown, or what may bc tho parties and measures of tho fu? ture. If they seize it and provo themselves worthy of tho occasion, they shall have the honor, not only of restoring tho Union, and thus of wiping out tho last trace of our un? happy domestic divisions, but of building up a great and powerful party which shall control tho desti? nies of this nation and guide her in her onward and upward pathway of prosperity and glory for at least the next half century. MESSRS. EDITORS OF THE PHONIX: Will you please td allow ir/e space in your paper to reply to the statements of S. B. Thompson npd A. Williams, or 1 shoo?d have said, statements of some persons unknown to me, but published over their names. S. B. Thompson says, first, that the resolution that was not published he did not approve, and that it did not pass the meeting. I assert that it did pass, but ho fenrs to publish it. The composition that was got up by Thompson's allies is well got up-pity 'tis not truo. The missionary that ho speaks of came here in December last, and called a meeting of thc freedmen. At that meeting, ho ad? vised the colored people to send threo delegates to Washington to offer uni? versal amnesty for universal suffrage. S. B. Thompson was one of the dele? gates chosen; but, unfortunately for him, but lucky for his constituency, he tried to make a speech in favor of universal suffrage. i\lr. Pickett then rose and made some remarks, when, to the utter aetonishment of every person present, Thompson again rose up and tried to make a speech in favor of partial su ff ruge. Great was the indignation of tho people, when they found out, from his voice, that it was not the lion, but a certain ani? mal that had on the lion's skiu; though they did not see the ears, they knew tho voice. Bo, nt the meeting in January, tho election in December ' was set aside, and the gentleman who could make, or tried to make a speech on both sides, the samo night, was left out in the cold-ho only getting eight votes, and Pickett thirty-four. At this meeting, I opposed the policy of instructing our delegato to offer universal amnesty for universal suf? frage; and if tho same state of things were existing now ns then, I should voto against it now. The cruel treat? ment to my race, then, had, or should have, aroused tho indignation of every man that had one drop of negro blood in his veins; and you will allow me to say, here, that 1 feel as proud of having sprung from that race as if I had thc blood of the Howards or Percys coursing through my veins. When I saw my pcoplo wore driven off without any pay for their services, half-starving, with their children beg? ging for bread, day after day, and reports como of cruel murders com? mitted in thc upper Districts upon the freedmen, (I had done every? thing iu my power to get justice for them, but the authorities seemed powerless,) I then felt as if every colored mau should leave tho State, aud said so publicly. I have ever defended tho rights of my race from those that would oppress them; and from tho reports, and from tho suf? fering that I then saw, my feelings wero bitter against tho ruling powers in this State; and feeling so, I had tho manhood to say so, and to so act. When I saw my people rushing from tho State, Westward, I felt proud to see that they would not stand oppres? sion in their native State longer they showed the true Carolina spirit. Thompson mentioned the name of Gen. Hampton. Now, Gen. Hamp? ton's name was not mentioned at that meeting; but there is a set of men in this community to whom truth is stranger than fiction. The name of Gen. Hampton seems as terrible to evil-doers nowa? tho horn of Roderic Dhu was in days past. 1 never had spoken to Gen. Hampton that I know of until I met him on tho stand, on the 18th of March; but when I hoard the noble sentiments expressed there by him and other gentlemen-thc representativo men of thc District-I threw down tho hatchet, and called on my people to do tho same, and to meet our white citizens half way in a Christian-like spirit. I repeat, I am for thc honer and interests of my State. I feel happy at the chango in the public sentiment towards my peo? ple, and I believe that I am safe in saying that it is mutual. Now for Alexander, the copper? smith, who asks mo some questions. When tho convention met in Wash? ington, on tho 10th of January, I was in Mobile, on my way to Louisiana. When I returned here, Mr. Pickett had returned home. Ho told me that when ho offered the namo of Govor nor Orr to the convention, that the people all cried out, "Treason! trea? son!" This is all that I know of it. This was in January. I arrived in Washington on the 1st of March; on the 2d, I was present when the enfranchisement bill passed the House, and clapped my hands at its passage over tho veto of tho Presi? dent. He can't seo how I can bo a Union mau and a South Carolinian. I don't suppose he can; for tho Flo? rida fever and thc Ely grip is enough to destroy a stronger mind than his. His statement about confiscation is false. I never was in favor of it. I opposed it in tho convention of 1805. I endorse tho lotter of Gerrit Smith to Mr. Garrison, that peace without confiscation is worth moro to tho whole nation, and particularly to tho black man, than confiscation without peace. Poor as ho is, tho black man needs peaco more than property; and having peace, he will not long lack property. But it seems, Mr. Editor, that Tray, Blanche, Sweetheart and the whole pack isnftorme. The Flo? rida traveler, while in tho terrible igony of tho Ely grip, whispers through his chattering teeth, "Nash!" Now, there is a crowing old hen in this place, who has a bad reputation for kackling without laying, and has 'ttiscd such a hub-bub that sho has caused the resurrection, of a dead duck in Washington, who astonishes the w hole feathered tribe by rushing from the barn-yard quacking. But is there no cure for this awful plague that ray two friends have? It is said that those whom the gods would de? stroy they first mako mad. One of theso mon has office on the brain; tho other has the Ely grip. God grant them a safe deliverance. W. B. NASH. COLUMBIA, April 2. Acqulaltlon of Hnulan Antrrlcn. It lins been annouueed by tele? graph that the President communi? cated to the Senate, on Saturday, a treaty with Bussia, by which the latter power cedes to the United States all her territories in North America for $7.000,000. The New York Hefald, of Sunday, making the announcement, says: Although a price is sot upon the territory thus surrendered, it is in fact merely nominal, the value of the fisheries and the fur trade alone to our enterprising people being vastly iu excess of tho sum agreed upon as the purchase money. Tho treaty is an ovidenco of tho close aud friendly relations existing between the two great powers, and evince* the con? currence of the Russian Government in the policy which denies to Eu? ropean monarchies tho right to build up kingdoms and dominions on the American continent. With Russian America in our pos? session, it will need but tho aUnexa tion or absorption of British Colum? bia and Vancouver's Island to give us the wholo of tho Pncific coast North of Mexico as our own; and in ono way or other this result is certain to bo acomplished. We cannot con? sent that our territory on the Pacific shall bo broken between Washington Territory and Russian America, when the latter is fairly in our possession. It will bc well for England if she is discreet enough to profit by the example of Russia, and to withdraw gracefully from a continent where her institutions are out of place and where her intrigues can only bring trouble upon her colonies and humiliation to her Government n? home. Tho acquisition of the now terri? tory is of especial importance nt the present time, when the trade of the United States with China and Japan is being so satisfactorily developed. The Baltimore Sun comments as follows: The whole aroa is about 380,000 square miles,- but the strip along tho coast from tho 54th to tho 60th degree of latitude is only from twenty to sixty miles broad, yet it cuts out perhaps one-half of the British territory of Columbia from the sea, the Russian lino oxtendiug some 400 miles, and ceasing at Port? land Inlet. The greater portion of the territory lies between the 142d and 1 Goth degree of .longitude, and the GOth and 71st degree of latitude. Portland Inlet is in about the samo parallel as the most Northwardly portion of Canada. On the North, Russian America is bounded by Behring's Straits and the Arctic Ocean. Tho population is now esti? mated at about 70,000, of which some -10,000 to 50,000 are Indians aud Escmimaux, tho remainder being Russian, Creoles, Kodiaks, kc. The principal settlomcnt is New Archangel, said to contain 1,000 inhabitants, on tho island of Basanow orSitka. Tho other chief islands are Prince of Wales, Kodiak, Numvak and St. Lawrence, forming with numerous others, tho Aleutian Archipelago. There aro also tho settlements of Michaclovski on Norton Sound, Sou waroff on Kvichack Biver, Fort St. Nicholas on Aliaska River, St. George Factory on Priblov Island, and a factory on St. Paul Island. A great portion of tho country, how? ever, may bo considered uninhabi? table, but the Southern and coast portions of it aro considered valuable for tho fur trade and fisheries. It will afford ns commercial advantages upon tho Pacific, and a strategic position in a naval sense, which may bo made available for many purposes. It will also givo us possession of a large extent of country through which the overland telegraph is car? ried. If this treaty is ratified, as most probably it will be, the British au? thorities will be sandwiched in British Columbia, by the possessions of tho United States on the North and on tho South of them. Hence tho an? nouncement of the negotiation of this treaty is said ; to havo caused a lively sensation in Washington. What may be its ultimate effects on British power in tho extreme Northern region in question is an interesting subject for speculation. Tho thought naturally suggests itself that it may lead to further acquisitions there, on the part of tho United States, in time, through similar peaceful negotiations with Great Britni)-tho interest and convenioncc of both parties mutually working to that end. It is suggested that Russia cedes her American territory for the sanio reasons that induced Napoleon to sell Louisiana. That is, haViug ilesigns in Europe, in tho event of a war, sho would probably loso this territory. But, apart from that, the cession to tho United States at this timo is the fruit, itt part, of tho extremely friendly relations which liave been maintained between our 3wn and the Government of tho Czar. Xiooal Items. CIUCDTIAKS! CIRCULARS !-Commer? cial and other circular?, in the various forms-note, letter and commercial post-neatly printed in our Job Office, and wi* work of this descrip? tion finished in thc best style of print? ing, and at moderate prices. MAPS.-Mr. Joel Kctchuni adver? tises for sale a vario ty of large maps of tho world, North America and smaller ones of the different States. As he is a general agent, he is pre? pared to appoint sub-agents. We aro iudebted to him for a copy of the equestrian portraits of Confederate Generals, gotten up on rollers. If you want to decorate your walls, give Mr. K. a call, at Mr. Jackson's dry goods store. Jon PRINTING.-The Job Office of the Phoenix is as complete as any in tho South. It is furnished with new fonts of type of all descriptions and of the most modern styles. All work executed promptly, with taste and skill, und at reasonable rates. FOR NEW YORK.-Messrs. Street Brothers A Co. advertise to carry passengers from Columbia to New York, by the South Carolina Railroad and their fino side-wheel steamer Manhattan, at the low rate of $22.50. CARDS! CARDS!-Show cards, busi? ness cards, visiting and wedding cards, executed at the Pltviiix Job Office, in the neatest styles of the. art. Cards of all sizes constant!}' on hand, and all orders from town or country promptly attended to. "HUNTING A HOME IN BRAZIL.'" We aro indebted to the author, Dr. J. McF. Gaston, for a copy of this instructive and truly interesting work. It is written in the style of a journal, and gives a truthful aceouut of the agricultural resources and other cha? racteristics of thc country; also, the maimers and customs of the inhabit? ants. It is a book of nearly 400 pages, and will repay perusal. Copies can be obtained at the bookstore of P. B. Glass, Esq. Snow POSTERS, HANOI? LDS, AC. Our supply of type and facilities of press-work enable us to turn out from the Phcenix oflico the most attractive styles of posters, hand-bills, Sec., at short notice, and in the most satis? factory manner. PLAYING "TERRITORY."-A Colum? bus paper sa) s that people with cer? tain propensities must not imagine that because we live in a territory, the commons around Columbus are prairies, and that the cattle ou them buffaloes, or that anybody has a right to kill and eat them L?e they would a calf on the open plain. Several mistakes of this kind have occurred lately in that yicinity, but^ they are just such ones as lead men to the penitentiaries. Imagination is a pretty good thing, but it don't justify stealing. NEW Anvcnri.si:iiKNTs. -Attention id call? ed tc. the following advertisements, which are published thia morning for the first timer S. II. Myers A Co.-Competition. D. C. Peixotto-Boots, Shoes, Ac. Fisher A Heinitsh-Midnight Raid* Street Bros. A Co.-Steamer Manhattan. Joel Ketchum, jr.-Maps, Portraits, Ac. J. C. Dial-Limo, Cement, Ac. J. A T. It. Agnew-Prunes, Raisins, Ac. Alonzo Heese- Barbering. Thoa. H. Wade-Tax Notice. LETTER FROM GOVERNOR PICKKNS. - Tho following is an extract from a letter received by a gentleman in New York from cx-Gov. Pickens, of South Carolina: "You know the desolation of our conntrj' has mined us all, and AVC are in great poverty. God only knows whether we will bc enabled to gather this year's crop, and the policy of the Government forbids all enterprise, and puts it utterly out of our reach to raise any money now on any terms whatever. Wo would gladly sell half of our lands for support and ready means; but, of course, no one will purchase, with the open threat of universal confiscation standing over our heads, and want and starvation before thousands of our people, both black and white. Tho most cruel part of it is, if possible, the first suf? fering conics upon tho helpless black people, who have boon innocent of di blame, and really havo acted as ivcll as any people would have done nuder tho circumstances. I really think that most men who own laud ire struggling now to do all they can lo for tho support ? of their former faithful slaves. I know this is my ;ase, and it is what adds greatly tc ny present embarrassment aud ?ramped means." The Boston Journal says, in speak ng of the President's last veto: What s the usp to bc so particular in loari? ng and discharging a blank car rid ge V