Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tuesday Morning, July 16, 1867, ConKiTU -ra. tile Attorney-General. The Attorney-General, at tho re? quest of ibo' President, whoso legal advisor ho is, wrote out his opinion on, and gavo his interpretation of, the reconstruction Acts passed by Congress at its preceding session. Thc Attorney-vionoral's interpreta? tion was at once pronounced not tc bo tho true meaning aud intent ol tho aforesaid Acts; and consequently, in pursuanoo of the provision made by Congress at its adjournment, that body r-ssembled on tho 8d instant, aud on Saturday last, the 13th, passed a declaratory Act, whioh puts beyond cavil or dispute the true construc? tion of the laws-at least, what il meant by tho aforesaid enactments. Wo published, on Sunday, tho ful text of this declaratory Act, as passed by both houses, received by tole graph, and our readora, by this timo, fully comprehend their position, ano" tho nature of the temporary govern? ment assignod to them. "We ?vii ondevaor to give a brief summary they need no interpretation-of the provisions of this last Act. The first section wipes out thc State Governments existing at th? timo of tho passage of tho recou struction Acts, for it is declared tha they **wero not legal Stato Govern ments," and that, by the Acts afore said, they were only permitted to b< continued on tho condition that thej should be "subject iu all respects t< tho military commanders of tho re spectivo districts and to the para mount authority of Congress." N< legal quibbling or technicalities cai misconstrue, or affect in the slightes degree, this plain and positive onnct ment. Tho Commanding General c this military district is invested wit! all tho powers which formerly appci tainod to tho Stato Governments c North and South Carolina. Tho second aectiou is only a natv ral sequence of tho first, in vestin tho Commanding Generals with th power to remove Stato officers, an fill tho vacancies mado by such r< mov?is, subject only to tho disaj proval of the General of the Arnr It will also be noted that in this se? tion tho term ' so-called Stato" used-from which wc iufer that tl late "rebel States" aro not yet regan ed as bona fide States by Congres and will not bo so regarded unt reconstructed in conformity with tl laws. Tho third section, while not dives iug tho President of his coustiti tional rights as Oommander-in-Cbi of tho Army, invests tho General i that Army with all authority tone! ing the administration of tho militai government of tho districts of tl South. Tho fourth section is rotrospocti' in its operation, and confirms tl removal of Stato officers which hi boon previously made by the Coi maudicg Generals, mid moreov empowers them to continuo romun for disloyalty or malfeasauco in oflic This section moro immediately su tains General Sheridan, as ho h exercised this authority to a great extent than any other of the Geu raia. The fifth section enlarges tho \ o ers of tho boards of registration, f "no person shall bo registered unie such board shall decide that he entitled thereto." Refusal to adn registration, however, must bo ma a note of by tho board, and su notes reported to tho Commandi General. This section also provic that tile mere act of taking tho p scribed oath does not entitle the i pliennt to the privilogo of regist tion. Tho sixth section defines tho di liilitics of State officers, and all sr officers, whether they took an oi to support tho Constitution of i United States or not, and who aft wards "was engaged in iusurrcct or rebellion against tho United Stat or giving aid and comfort to thc e mies thereof," arc not entitled to gister or vote. Tho seventh section merely extci the time of registration, and provi for a rovision of the registration li: It also wipes out any enfranchisem claimod on account of any exeout pardon or amnesty, for any net thing, which, without such par? or amnesty, would disqualify fr registering or voting. This seel is sweeping iu its provisions, i leaves t?o one entitled to rote but thorough loyalists, both in Hi? past and at present. Tho only remaining section of this declaratory Aot that is wort?h noticing just now, is tho tenth, which makes completely tho civil authorities sub? ordinate to tho military. It expunges tho Supremo Court and all other civil tribnnals of the United States, and relioves every District Commander fromheiug "bound in his action by any opinion of any civil officer of tho United States." Congress is su? preme, according to this Act, and has claimed for itself all the functions of the General Government iu every department-Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Such is now the Go? vernment appointed to the late "rebel States"-such is the law of the coun? try, so far as thc people of the "so called States" of tho South are con? cerned. Tho pooplo of tho South arc now enlightened-they know exactly where they stand, and it is for them to as? sume their position in relation to tho matter. As wo havo always coun? selled, wo counsel now, obedience not voluntary acceptance or approval of-to tho law, so far as its require? ments cmbraco privileges accorded to them. They should register, when permitted, and vote for their best men as their representatives, either in convention or in legislativo assem? blies. Haviug done this, they will havo performed their whole duty under tho circumstances-to their country and themselves. Their opi? nion or construction of tho law amonuts to notliiug, so long as it is on tho statute book, unrevoked or unrepeated, for it cauuot, by its own terms, bo set aside by tho verdict of any civil tribunal of the United Statos. ?-?-?-> Hon. AV. AV. Hoyt < . "Wo lind the following brief extract of a letter from our former Repre? sentativo in Congress, in the Claren? don Press. Li is addressed to Mr. Galluchat, of that District: A word us to the publie Platters. 1 think our people ought io registe] and participate in the elections. Tc do nothing, will be to commit sui cide. I think the great point is tc carry out Goncral Hampton's ideas and show themselves thereby th? frientls of the colored people. Oui people should recognize what is in evitable in regard to the legal ant political rights of tho blncks, nm grant of their own volition what wil be given in spite of them. 13y tin course, harmony between the tw< races will be maintained, and politi cal power in tho State will remain ii safe hands. All expressions throng] tho press or otherwise against tin dominant party here should be avoid ed. It is impossible at this time fo the Democratic party to help th South. The great object with th South now .should bo to get estai: lished in their political rights. The: a feeling of confidence will take th place of present insecurity, and cap: tal How in from the North. I feel intensely for the uuhapp; condition of my Southern friend; You must not be discouraged-stru?: gio on-affairs must improve. With kind wishes, your friend, WILLIAM W. BOYCE. -. ? ? FBO? HAVANA.-The correspond ent of tho New York Times, in th: paper of the 12th, announces tba notwithstanding thc recent proclaim tion of tho Captain-General regari iug tho slave-trade with Cuba, alarf cargo of negroes has recently bee landed near Havana. The militia revolt recently reported at Porto Ric originated with a corporal and a fe souliers under his orders. With tl arrest of tho belligerent corporal, tl "revolt" was at au end. The oflh of tho American Consul was barn 8omely decorated with flags on tl 4th of July, and a fine band treat? the American residents to a few < their national airs. Tho rates of tr adopted by tho Cable Company are ; follows: To Key West, 83.50 "fi twenty words; $1.75 for ten, ar twenty cents for every word ov twenty. To England, 853.50 f twenty words, $2(5.75 for ten; ai $2.75 for every word over twenty. RJ Ceylon, $81 for twenty words; ai $31.25 for ten. To the United State to nny part, $10 for twenty word and 85 for ten; nud fifty cents f every word over twenty. -?-?*-? Loss OF THE SCHOONER BJRROEX. Tho telegraph brings ns tho iutul geueo of tho burning of the schoou Borgen, from this port, at sea. Tl crew escaped iu a boat, and we picked up by the schooner Silsa dpt. Blanchard, and taken to N? York. The Bergen was command* by Capt. Parsons, and was cleared f Boston on the 26th of June, I Messrs. H. F? Baker k Co. {Cheleston Neus. Correspondence Of thc Phoenix. WASHTKGTO.V, July 12,1867.-The House bill on reconstruction will, sub? stantially, pass the Senate. Full power will bo giver, to the command? ing generals to remove any persons from office they choose, and to ap? point others in their stead. Tho amendment of Ashley, re? quiring all the State officers to take tho oath of having been always loyal lo tho Union, will not pass. This would necessarily vacate all the offices at ouce. Gen. Sickles' letter advising Con? gress to exempt judicial officers from tho oath of past loyalty, produces no effect here, except that tho General is laughed at for his pains. The Con? gress uuderatnnd this point perfectly. "What they are determined upon more than anything else is, to banish from office all persons mingled iu seces? sion. After awhile, there will doubt? less bo mitigations in this particular, and especially will Congress be dis? posed to exempt from the proscrip? tion of holding oflice all who mani? fest a disposition to accept the new order of things, iu other words, to [ join the Republican party. Very soon, the political millenium will be? gin, which means that every good Republican South will get just as good au office as ho wants. Isn't that the millenium? Think of everything going begging, from United States Senator to District Judge. All these excellent offices will be vacant, just waiting for good Uniou men and Re? publicans to take possession of them. Now, is not that thc milleu in m for the politicians who can answer thc description? The information w hich the Republican organization possess hero of tho condition of affairs in your State, (as iu every Southern State.) the prominent Union men and Republicans, &&, is wonderful. Their organization is perfect. They are in constant correspondence willi men whom they trust, in your State, and they can tell, in a moment, by refer? ring to their records, who are the coming men in overs' District of the State. Impeachment has broken down. Tho inability of the committee to whom this matter was referred to make any report, shows what a failure tho scheme is. Mr. Wilson, (of the House,) tho chair mau of the commit? tee, takes tho ground that impeach? ment cannot take place without a pre? vious law defining what are impeacha? ble offences. This is an amusing dodge. Tho truth is, the moneyed interest don't want impeachment, because they want tranquility; and the argument is, that impeachment is unnecessary, because they say the President is absolutely powerless. 'OBSERVER. -? ? ? ? LITTLE IRELANDS.-The New York Times says: "The Express accepts the truth of the report about a Russian proposi? tion for a joint inquiry into the state I of affairs in Ireland, and adds: 'As we happen to have just now ten little [rolands of our own on hand, and if j there is to be auy 'joint inquiry.' we suggest that it begin ou this sith? of thc Atlantic. The 'state of affairs' in Louisiana, Mississippi, the Caro? linas, oro., are quite as much in need of investigation as the 'state of affairs' on the Lilley, on the Shannon, or on the Boyne.' This is very .smart, we suppose; but then suppose that be? fore the Czar, the Emperor and the Queen got the joint commission ap? pointed, or before its members got at their labors on this continent, our 'ten little Irelands' had transformed themselves into ten free, self-govern? ing, equal, constitutional States, what, we ask, would tho Express say. and the commissioners report, and the Czar think? For, unlike the Hibernian Ireland, our 'ten little Irelands' have it in their power to redeem themselves." The Times had not then seen the new reconstruction Act. PITHILY SAID.-The Richmond Whig thus concludes au editorial on the political situation: We aro in difficulties, and there is but one way of getting out of them, and that is by "co-operation" with the dominant party. The sentiments that carried us into the war will not be allowed to get us triumphantly out of these difficulties. He who falls into a quagmire must escape from it t' best way he can. If he cannot get out alono and unaided, ho must be helped out, or stick there and pe? rish. If he likes the quagmire better than the proffered help, and refuses it, he will have nobody but himself to blame. -?-*.?-. DEATH OF AX Onn CHABX?ESTO3 MEWHANT.-Wo received, lost night, tho painful intelligence of tho sudden death of Mr. Jas. K. Robinson, au old and esteemed merchant and citi? zen. Mr. Robinson was in the streets attending to his usual avocations on Saturday, when he was affected by a partial sun-stroke; in order to relieve himself, lie drank largely of cold ice water; this produced a congestive chill, which terminated fatally ut G p. m. yesterday. [Charleston Heirs, 1677*. Tho vacancy caused by the death of Justice Wayne, of tho Supremo Court, will not be filled. A law of Congress prohibits tho filling of any vacancies until the number of judges is reduced to six. Tim FOURTH IN YOBKVXLLE. - Thc colouration, in Yorkville was attended by at least 4,000 people, three-fourths of whom were colored. Tho Enquirer says that it never saw a better be? haved assemblage. A flue barbecue had been prepared, and among the speeches delivered was the following excellent address, which we extract from tho Enquirer's report: Jefferson McCall, (colored,) pre? sident of the assembly, thou rose, and in a speech of over a half hour, clearly and impressively advised with his people upon their duties and re? sponsibilities. Our interests, he said, were now one. Together tho people of this country, black and white alike, must stand, or together fall. The white people of this vicinity had given unmistakable evidence of their kind feelings townrds the colored people, and be could soc no reason why they should not mutually sustain each other as well under their new relations as in the past, when they were master and slave. He alluded feelingly to bis old mistress, Whoso spirit had been with God these many years, but whose memory was still with him; and the only compunction ho felt now was, that be bad not been half as faithful and as kind to her, when a slaro, as be should have been. These fifty-one years he had lived with the white people, and be bad always found them the friends of those who conducted themselves pro? perly. He advised his people against allying themselves with any party, but to ascertain their duty to their State, and to do what was best for its interests. Bad men, be said, could be found in every community, and with bad men the freed people should have nothing to do; but they should respect sacredly their contracts, and trust in those only who trusted in God. He closed with a cordial invi? tation to the white people present to go with them to the table and "eat a piece of bread and drink water toge? ther." His address was well received, and created a most favorable impres? sion upon all who heard it. It did milch to disarm prejudices, and bring the two classes in this District into a doser friendship and a moro compre? hensive understanding of their inte? rests in union with each other. BUSINESS IN NEW YORK.-The Times says: The trade of the past week em? braced only five business days. The holiday interruption made rather a dull week. A large number of mer? chants left town on Tuesday and Wednesday, not to return until this morning. The interruption was less noticeable iu bank and on the Stock Exchange and at tho Treasury. The banks and Treasury paid out a very large amount of July dividend money, including several millions for the Western States, two of which, Indiana and [own, paid off part of the principal of their respective debts. The collection und rc-investmcnt of this money, and the conversion of the United States gold interest into currency, made an active time in Wall street, and added largely to the demand for the public funds at advancing rates. The money mar? ket, already as cheap as could be desired, was made easier in supply, and this, in turn, contributed to tho buoyancy of the stock exchange. The weather continues all that could be wished for, so far as the wheat harvest and the growing crops of corn and c?ttou are concerned, and the best calculations made on the fall trade, and its attendant railway traffic, are likely to be realized. The Herald says: The failure of a large dry goods house in thin city-that of George A. Wicks & Co.-bas thrown dry goods paper into some discredit for tho timo being, and tho rumor thut two other prominent firms in tho same business aro privately settling with their creditors, adds to the dis? trust thus occasioned. Tho liabili? ties of the firm referred to in tho United States are said to aggregate 2,500,000, and it is expected that it will pay a dividend of forty or fifty cents on the dollar. Thc failure is attributed to losses by deprecia? tion of stock during the past year. -?-??-> EUROPE.-Tho goneral impression in political circles in Paris is that no great event will result from tho inter? view of the Emperor Napoleon with the Czar and the King of Prussia. At tho samo time, it is noticeable that all the great military sovereigns aro giving unusual attentiou to the augmentation and perfecting of both armies and Hoots. The Paris corres? pondent of the Loudon Morning Post says : "Tho warlike policy of Franco is a great European disaster; it may bein some measure tho result of outward events, and the Emperor Napoleon might prefer a solemn congress for disarming; but tho fact stands thus in 18G7, when Europe enjoys peace, France asks her children to become soldiers to tho amount of nearly 2,000,000 of men! And this, too, whilst the sovereigns fraternize in tho great exhibition of pence and indus? try, which is called the world's/e/e de la Paix!" .Those who repudiate their own debts want the country to keep them in countenance by repudiating hers. laooal T.toms. We ore indebted to Col. Thomas J. Robertson for late copies of New York and Washington papers. POST OFFICE HOUKS.-The office is open from 8 a. m. until 3J? p. m., aud from 6 until 7 p. m. The North? ern mail closes at 3'.? p. m., and all other mails close at 8 p. m. DEMOBEST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE. We are indebted to Messrs. Duffie & Chapman for the August number of this readable and reliable monthly. "Tho Dreamer" has b^en at work for Demorest, as it contains a ucat and, of course, truthful (?) representation of "thc Boulevard as it will be in 1872." REPUBLICAN UNION CONVENTION. A Convention of the Uniou Republi? can party of South Carolina will bo held in this city, on Wednesday, 21th instant. As the Sumter News sug? gests, the Phoenix will keep its ex? changes aud its rcadert posted, as it is of importance to tho people of every part of the State that they should bo fully acquainted with the movements of parties, that they maj' shape their action accordingly. FINE BEEF. - Columbia is decidedly improving in providing for the phy? sical needs of her people. This can be amply tested this morning, by visiting tim market, where, at Stalls Nos. 1 and 12, directed and con? trolled by that famous caterer, B. T. Dent, Esq., will be dispensed, in portions to suit purchasers, a magni? ficent stall-fed beef, unsurpassed by anything yet offered. That's right, gentlemen; we need the consolation of good things just now. NICKEI;S.ON*S HOTEL.-The publica? tion of au advertisement for several weeks past, offering for rent the Methodist Female College-Nicker sou's Hotel-would lead persons tc suppose that this hotel was to bc closed; but such is not the case-th? notice was only inserted to comply with the requirements of the director! of tue institution. We are pleased tc state that the present popular pro prietor-Col. Thos. S. Nickeneon hns re-leased the building for a tern of years, and will continue tho hotel as heretofore, in the very best .style. Diavola, or Nobody's Daughter. IV* Mrs. M. E. Braddon. Price 7i cents. New York: Dick A Fitz gerald. The taleuted authoress of this bool is known in thc literary world fron ber much-admired productions, "Th Doctor's Wife," "Lady Audley's Se cret," "Darrell Markham,"and othe works. To our thinking, this lady' pen illustrations of life's phases ran! with Dickens, aud in this story sh has succeeded so admirably, that th reader feels as if the scenes and chu racters described were actually "c thc earth, earthy." The plot of th story turns ou tho mysterious murdc of a nobleman, Valentine Jermor and the final detection of tho mui derer, through the perseverance c his devoted follower, Joyce Hnrkei Tho sketch of tho advancement c "nobody's daughter" from the poe public housesingcr to the admire Lady Eversleigh, is peculiarly iut< resting-and tho whole story, n though of a very exciting nature, by no means over-drawn. JOB PRINTING.-The Job Office < the Phoenix is as complete as any i tho South. It is furnished with ne fonts of type of all descriptions ar of the most modern styles. All woi executed promptly, with taste ai slcill, and at reasonable rates. VEGETABLES IN COLUMBIA.-Tho is much truth in tho remarks and su gestions of the following paragrap from the Clarendon Press. Wo a gratified to be able to inform our c temporary that Columbia, at tl time, has abundance of vegetable raised in her own gardens, and tl market stalls are over-laden with gr den products. Tho suggestion of t! Pi-ess is, however, very good: "Columbia, wo learn, is in pr supplied from tho market gardens tho neighborhood of Charlesto Since cotton has censed to be a pa ing crop, ami since fruits, vegetable Ac, meet with a ready salo at fi prices, wo see not why it is that C lumbia has not market gardens si ficient to supply its own consum tion. Ono well-rilled market gard of five acres, in the neighborhood suoh a city ns Columbia, will yield larger profit than 100 acres iu cottc Hero is a fine opportunity for a sk fal and industrious young man to 1 tho ground-work of a fortune." HOMICIDE.-A difficulty occurred yesterday afternoon, about G o'clock, betweeu Natali Beragbi (proprietor of the Congoreo Restaurant) nnd M. Brown, (an employee on thc Green? ville Railroad,) which resulted in thc death of thc former from the thrust of a knifo in the hands of the latter, which severed the femoral o-tery; iu five minutes after receiving the wound, thc unfortunate mnn was dead. Brown was immediately ar? rested aud confined in jail. A jury of inquest was empannellcd by Co? roner Walker, last evening, and they will conclude their deliberations this morning. Tho funeral of the de? ceased will take placo this afternoon, nt 4 o'clock, at tho Catholic Church. SurroRT Yocn OWN JOURNALS. Tho Gleaner, issued every Wednes? day, from this office, defies competi? tion as a literary and news journal. Thoso who subscribe to it are kept well posted up in tho current events of tho day, as it embraces the tele? graphic news, political, commercial, state of tho markets, ?fcc, tip to the hour of going to press. The Land of Thor, liy J. Ro. Browne, author of "Yusef," "Cru? soe's Island," etc.-illustrated by tho author. New York: Harper A Brothers. Mr. McCarter bas presented U? a copy of a book of travels, princi? pally on the continent, w ith tho above rather unattractive title. Mr. Browne is an excellent artist as well as writer, and, in this work, proves himself likewise a close observer of human nature; and in a short time makes bis reader almost os thoroughly ac? quainted with the character of the people* of whom he speaks, as.though bc had taken a trip through the va? rious countries mentioned. Wo com? mend this book to all thoso persons who are desirous of paying a flying trip to Germany, Russin, Denmark or Iceland, and are unprovided with the "ready" for tho trip. An active ima? gination is all that is necessary to carry out tho illusion. STAMPS.-Wo have been requested by A. S. Wallace, Esq., Collector of Internal Revenue, to call the at? tention of all persons interested to the following extract from the law relative to stamps-as "tho time ex? pires on the 1st of August: That hereafter, in all cases where the party has not affixed to any in? strument the stump required by law thereon, at the time of making or issuing the said instrument, and he or they, or any party having an in? terest therein, shall bo subsequently desirous of affixing such stamp to said instrument, or if said instrument be lost, to a copy thereof, ho or they shall appear before the collector of the revenue of the proper district, who shall, upon the payment of the prico of the proper stamp required by law, and of a penalty of fifty dol? lars, and where the whole amount of the tax denoted by the stamp required shall exceed the sum of fifty dollars, on payment, also, of interest, at the rate of six per centum, on said tax. from tho day on which such stamp ought to have been affixed, affix the proper stamp to such instrument or copy, and note upon the margin there? of the date of his so doing, and the fact that such penalty has been paid; and tho same shah thereupon be deemed and held to bo valid, to all intents and purposes, ns if stamped when made or issued: And provided further, That where it shall appear to said collector, upon oath or other? wise, to his satisfaction, that any such instrument has not been duly stamped at the timo of making or issuing the same, by reason of accident, mistake, inadvertence, or urgent necessity, and without any wilful design to de? fraud tho United States of tho stamp, or to evade or delay the payment thereof, then and in such case, if such instrument, or, if tho original bo lost, a copy thereof, duly certified by tho officer having charge of any records in which such original is re? quired to be recorded, or otherwise duly proven to tho satisfaction of the collector, shall, within twelve calen? dar mouths, after tho first day of August, 13GG, or within twelve calen-, dar months after tho making or issu? ing thereof, bo brought to tho said collector of revenue to be stamped, aud the stamp tax chargeable thereon shall bo paid, it shall be lawful for tho said collector to remit the penalty aforesaid, and to causo such instru? ment lo bo duly stamped. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attention is call? ed io tho following advertiaemen rs, which are published this morning for the flrst time: lt. Joyner-Milch Cow for Salo. fl. V. "Aarrington-Palmetto Fire Co. E. Pollard-Bata Baga Turnip Seed. Meeting Independent Fire Company. D. fl. Peixotto ft Bon-Copartnership. Meeting Columbia Lodge. Situation Wanted bv a Nurse. Rupert Jones-Festival at Janncy s Hal!. A fine lot of Desirablo Goods have ju-: been opened by Mr. R. C. Shiver, who still adheres to his'popular principle of good articles for little money. Read his adver? tisement, and then examine the goods. \