The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, August 17, 1867, Image 2

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COLUMBIA. - , . M<^. . r . .?? ?;---(ir . Saturday Morning, August 17,1867. Tb? Newspaper. There are many readers, intelligent enough on other subjects, who ap? pear not to understand fte true cha? racter or mission of the newspaper. We -will Bianco at a few of the popu? lar errors prevalent in relation to journalism, its duties and responsi? bilities, and endeavor, so far as many yean' experience has taught ns, to enlighten our 'reade?. It may be beneficial to them in various ways, and help to give them more correct leas on the subject. In the first place, it should be dis? tinctly understood by all, that there is not an item of material, not a .piece of work, nor anything which ?utera into the printing or publishing business, which does not cost ready money. Presses, type, paper and labor, from the foreman down to the well-known imp attached to the printing offices, have all to bo paid for in cash. Even in former times, - tho ?redit of a newspaper publisher, no . matter what his circumstances - were, waa extremely limited. Now, - especially in relation to the publish? ers'in the South, no such thing is thought of as credit; it is not asked "or, because it is well known that, on account of the impoverished condi? tion of the country and tho unprece? dented scarcity of money, it would i not bo given. Let o very reader, and every one having business dealings with a newspaper office, remember,* then, that everything employed in turning out work there costs the ?proprietor ready money. The next fact to be remembered and it is one that is more generally ^recognized than any other connected with the business-is that the main source of the revenue of a newspa? per is its advertising columns, and in Southern offices generally, the small profits arising from job work. As for the support of the journal itself, its existence chiefly depends upon the amount of advertising in its co? lumns. Mere subscriptions, or the small amonnt realized from the sale of papers, more especially at the South, would barely pay for th? white paper upon which it is printed. It is, therefore, a sine qua non thal that all advertising should be paid for and paid promptly, to enable the publisher to furnish an efficient and well conducted journal. Withonl this revenue coming promptly in, editors and reporters, printers anc mailers aud telegraphic correspond ence, cannot bo paid for weekly; ant yet all these must be paid, or else th< paper must drag out a feeble exist once, if not uttorly fail. And in connection with this fcatun .of newspaper publishing, it is propc: to advert to auothcr popular error indulged in even by shrowd and in telligent business men, and that is, t< expect a publisher to do a considera bio amount of gratuitous advortisinf in tho shape of notices of this or tba article of merchandize, or of som useful invention, forgetting that while any benefit derived is realizei by them, every line set up costs th publisher money; yet, often, a rt fusal or declination to oncourage thi practice, gives offence. Better leav all this style of advertising to th conductors of the paper, feeling we assured that any notice which will t of benefit lo tho public will be pr< perly attended to by them. There no publisher of a newspaper wi does not annually contribute large! in this way to almost every ch ari tab .enterprise; bub in this line, als there must bo somo limit, if ho ii tends to make a living from his biu ness. That a newspaper is a sort of pu lie omnibus, or other conveyanc running for hire, and that those wi pay their fare are entitled to passag is partially true. Tho newspaper really a private outerprise, althouj dependent for a support on the pu lie, Uko a merchant or mechanic tl pends on that public for patrons and support. Yot, like these, it re ders an equivalent for every doll spent. Neither tho conductor of i omnibus, nor tho captain of a steal boat, would permit u passenger enter either conveyance with alight torch in one hand and a package gun-powder, or other explosivo n terial, in tho other, simply because would eu dan ger the safety of all on board. In railroad oar* and otnor conveyances even, rules ?nd regula? tions oro in force. to ?coludo minor annoyances. Audao it is iwitb the novfspaper; its publisher most see to it that nothing giving unnecessary offence to others-nothing that would endanger the safety of the craft itself-finds its way into ita oolurans; and of this he ie, and of right ought to be, the sole judge. A responsible name accompanying an anonymous contribution to a journal is neces? sary; hut even that requisite does not relieve the publisher from the odium which attaches to libellous publica? tions. Again ; to preserve the influence of the press, its impersonality must, to a great extent, be preserved. In the larger newspaper establishments, both of Europe and this country, thia feature of journalism is strictly adhered to. Not one reader of a thousand knows who sends forth tho thunders of the London Times; all that is known, or sought to be known, ia the merit of tho article perused by the reader, its ability and its efficacy in shaping public opinion; and hence the great influence of that world? wide known journal in moulding public opinion.? Not ono reader out of the thousand knows who writes the editorials, numerous and varied, both in style and political complexion, which appear from day to day in the New York Herald. Wo take that journal as an example, as a vast amount of labor is bestowed upon its editorial department, its correspond? ence and its reports, and we think any inquirer would come off very much crest-fallen, should ho stop to ask the veteran editor and proprietor who wrote this or that article. It appeared in tho Herald, of which James Gordon Beunett is proprietor, and that is all tho anxious inquirer would learn. So it is with other lead? ing journals in Now York, and so it ought to be with every newspaper in the country. No man bas a right to inquire tho authorship of any arti? cle which may appoar, unless it af? fects himself, and still less has ho any right to be offended, should the information sought be refused. The impersonality of tho press is one of the most powerful lovers of its in? fluence, and one of the safest gu?r? anteos of its usefulness. We might refer to other matters counected with journalism, concern? ing which tho public are at fault, bul postpone further remarks to some fu? ture occasion. Working on Share*. Wo seo it stated that a planter ir Mississippi, who bas given up tin wages system on his cotton planta tiun-a very largo one-has adopted with success, a sort of quasi indus trial partnership. For the benefit o our agricultural friends, wo give then an outline of his plan. He gives encl workman a house to live in, a gardei and a field for his own tilingo; In hauls tho fire-wood, and furnishes tin food-and these represent the month ly wages. Then he gives them one fourth of the crop besides. The mei and tho women aro divided into gang of twenty, ono of whom acts as fore man; this foreman reports to th general overseer the casos of absenc or idleness, and, an account bein] kept, tim idlers or absentees loso, ti the end of tho season, a certain prc portion of their share of tho crop but this share ia divided among th remainder of the gang. We give this simple plan for th consideration of our planting friends Wo can conceive, if tho details c such an arrangemont were faithfull carried out on a large plantation, thc it would be a most equitable syRten How it would work on our sinalle plantations, in this State, we cannc tell; but at all events, so long as w have to depend upon freed labor i tho agricultural districts, every feas bio plan for the most successful tiling of the soil should bo tried, and tl best m?thod adopted. ???> Goneral Schofield issued an ord? on Thursday last, sotting aside tl judgment of the Circuit Court, < Norfolk city, in the caso of Clintc C. Bell vs. Daniel Maloney, in wilie case the validity of such titles w? annulled. Tho order concludes i follows. 4 'Tho validity ; of * tho titles give by the military authorities of tl United States to property acqnirr by the operations of war cannot I questioned." . . -, ===== Tl?? Kew York JPrens on ?IM Itemoval. The Herald concludes its editorial on the removal of Seoretary Stanton AS follows: "But it is only the beginning of the work required of Mr, Johnson to clear the track of radical obstructions. We have heard enough within the last few days of the want of backbone and harmony in his Cabinet to satisfy us that the suspension of Stanton will only weaken tho Administration if not followed up by other suspen? sions. 'In for a penny, in for' a pound.' From the State Department down to thc Attorney-General a new Cabinet is wanted to sustain' and strengthen Gen. Grant and the Pre? sident in this now political departure. The Cabinet under Mr. Johnson has been a patch-work Cabinet long enough, and, having broken ground for a decisive reconstruction, ho ought to make of it a clean piece of work, beginning, if not already writ? ten, with a courteous letter, embrac? ing many thanks, requesting Mr. Se? ward to retire. That old Paul Pry, Thurlow Weed, among other things to be considered, will thus be got nd of, in a similar step whereby 'Honest Old Abe' was relieved of the annoy? ances of the Blair family. "Next, in regard to tho five com? manders of the five Southern military districts. We have renewed guaran? tees that Sheridan's head will soon be brought to the block-a necessary proceeding, perhaps, to defeat the game of Stanton. But is not tho programme of reconstruction adopt? ed and pursued by tho other four commanders substantially tho same as that of Sheridnn, and equally, or to a greater or loss extent, in disre? gard of tho President's wishes and suggestions? Why, then, make fish of ono and flesh of another? To meet the case fairly and fully, Mr. Johnson must have a new set of mili? tary commanders, from first to last. Otherwise, ho will fail to touch thc radical reconstruction combinations, which run from Mr. Schcnck's Con? gressional Exrcntivo Committeo all through tho military and Freedmen's Bureau machinery of tho South, in behalf of negro supremacy. A now Cabinet and a new set of military commanders under Gen. Grant, who ic generously inclined towards the Southern whites, will enable Mr. Johnson to turu the tables upon Stanton, Stevens and Sumner in the interval to the next appointed meet? ing of Congress in November. "In pursuing his first decisivo blow with these other decisive blows sug? gested, Mr. Johnson cannot fail tc make a case so broad and a sensation so general in his behalf, as to result in a powerful popular re-action ic our coming Northern elections k favor of white supremacy against Southern negro supremacy; espe cially as tho white policy of Johnsor. will bo represented by Gen. Grant, aa tho general superintendent o: Southern reconstruction, by anthon ty of Congress." The Times does not attach mucl importance to this act, illustrative o the President's obstinacy. It doe not think Gen. Grant's acceptance o the office means au3'thing. It says "Meanwhile, Gen. Grant admin is ters the affairs of tho War Depart mont. An attempt will be made ti invest the circumstance with a signiti cauce wholly unwarranted. Throng] many channels it will be asserted tba Gen. Grant's compliance with th call indicates his approval of Mi Stanton's removalf and consequent! of tho policy which exacts that prc ceeding. On this head, fortunately there, is no room for misrepresent; tiou. Gen. Grant has not allowe his habitual reticence to leave th country in doubt as to his positio on tho great occasion of differenc between Congress and tho Executive lie supports tho plau of Congres; and is in favor of its prompt and v gorons enforcement. The coppe head counselors of Mr. Johnson wi derive no succor from Gen. Gran His acceptance of tho duties of Seen tary is temporary and formal, an will neither blind him to tho mi chief-breoding tendencies of tho Pn sident's action, nor impair tho eflica? of tho backing ho gives to Shoridai Pope, and other objects of Executh hostility." Tho Sun says: "It is noticeable that Mr. Stank refused to be driven out of his pla? by hints, slights or insults. He p tiently awaited his first kick, au then hurriedly took his departur His undoubted objoct in thus awai ing this indignity, which he receivei was to throw the responsibility of r moval entirely upon tho Presiden and at the same time make of hil self a first class martyr. If he hf resigned, there might have been le chance to make political capit against the President, and likowi his chance for himself to get up tl reputation of a martyr, for he th? could not, have showed, as he nc can, tho impression of the President boot toe. There is no evidenc however, that the President wat? tho least timorous about taking ti responsibility of removal, and tl probability is that he put a mu? lower estimate upon tho importan of that act than did Mr. ?tanto In considering the consequence this removal, it is not difficult to se ia tho first place, that Stanton will c uco become ono of the radioal ide t and a conspicuous candidate for the presidency. Gen. Grant, on the con? trary, is<politically doomed, so far as the radical road to the White House is concerned." The Herald Again. The New York Herald, ot Monday, has another loading article, from which wa make the following extracts: We fought to free the nation from party domination guided by slave? holders, and we fall under a party domination based on the votes of the slaves we made freo. We have set them free to make them our masters. We exohange a white tyranny for a black tyrr.nny. This was not what the people meant when they gave lives without limit and money without stint to prosecute the war. Even those who desired to free tho slaves would not have made them mastors of tho political destinies of auy part of the nation;yet something very near to this must be the result . of the policy of those radical leaders of -whom Mr. Stanton is the type. Actual political domination in ton States ?B given to the nigger; and what did he do to deservo it? From fifty to a hundred thousand enlisted on our side, out of four millions, and tho remainder stayed at home und did what they could against us and our cause, in growing the corn that fed the rebel armies. Not a singlo insurrection-not eve organized blow for froedom-came from these slaves and sons of slaves during four years of war, that taxed the utmost energies of their musters. They wer? held iu bonds by mou at war with tho nation, und they never added tho weight of ono little effort from their own side, to aid tho cause whose success was to make them free. They tamely ploughed and sowed, and meanwhile half a million white men were maimed in tho struggle that was theirs as well as ours. And of such material we make voters! Into tho bauds of creatures who coutinned slaves while there was any ono left to hold a whip over them, we put such power that they may become tho arbiters of great political questions, aud even bulauce votes with North? ern ns well as Southern white men. We degrade and adulterate tho na? tional life by introducing into it half a million servile, semi-brutal voters -all that tho supremacy of an arro? gant and daugerous faction may be secured and mado permanent. Aud this, indeed-this making of nigger voters and driving the wbito men of the South, from tho polls-is tho whole result of tho war, as radical lenders see it. But tho people are awakening to tho true perception of this great mat? ter, and it needs no extremo provi? sion to know that tho nation will eventually trample under its feet every vestige of tho party that holds such ideas and has led it into this false position. Tho plain question for Mr. Johnson is, whether be bas tho courngo to take tho current of this national tendency and mtike a bold fight with Congress and the radicals, now that they aro in the wrong-to light when bo may have the peoplo on bis side, with the same spirit with which ho assailed Con? gress when its acts were in harmony with the national will. If bo has, tho case is plain before him. He must make a clean sweep of all the present personnel of reconstruction, lie must brush away nil tho commanders, and if there are no generals to take their places, make some. Ile must not stop with Stanton even in bis Cabinet. Taking thus a now departure, pur? suing an honest policy of recon? struction, never losing sight of the real objects of the war, but breaking up utterly this mischievous attempt to secure uigger supremacy, be will merely go before the wishes of the people; and though au attempt at impeachment would come as sure as sunrise with tho assembling of Con j gross, the attitude of tho nation would , a wo it into silence. A NEW CONFISCATION Bn.n.-A bill is being prepared by prominent loyal men of the South to enforce the pre seut confiscation laws, and so modify them as to re-survey all of the seceded States in the same manner as the public lands are surveyed, and to grant pre-emption rights to the freed? men and Union soldiers; 0300,000,000 of the proceeds arising from the sales to bo used in re-imbursing loyal mon for property destroyed and confis? cated by the Confederate Govern? ment, and tho balance to be used iu paying pensions to disabled Union soldiers. Tho bill provides that after the survey is made, the confiscated laud shall bo offered for sale to freed? men and discharged Union soldiers, ut tho rate of SI. 25 per acre, payable in twenty years, nt an interest of six per ceut. per annum; other parties to be allowed to purchase by paying twonty-fivo per cent, cash, and equal annual instalments for three years, at six per cent, interest. The last sec? tion provides that disloyal persons shall be allowed to retain property to tho amount of 05,000, provided tho limits of such property shall not ex? ceed one of tho legal snb-divisions ICU acres. We find the above in Forney's Clironicte. It is a mero pioco of spite. We have tho assurance of all the decent radicals that thero is no danger of confiscation. XJOOAI T.teyns. Bead Udolpho Wolfe's advertise? ments in to-day's paper. ft GOMY ron SKFTBHBER.-We are indebted to Mr. MoCorter for a copy Of this attractive fashion magazine. REGISTRATION.-As on the preced? ing day, the registration of voters in this city yesterday progressed very quietly. The list footed up 69 whites and 93 colored. Persons desiring tickets in the en? tertainment to be given by the So? ciety in Aid of the Suffering and Destitute Poor of the South, can now be supplied by applying at the Phoe? nix office. The entertainment will come off in Washington city, on the 30th September, when the list ol awards will be immediately pub? lished, and the prizes forwarded to the lucky holders. MESSRS. EDITORS: Will you please cull the attention of the Mayor to thc fact, that there are families in certain parts of tho city that are snfferers, and have been through tho entire winter, spring and summer, from th? filling up of the draius and othei obstructions in the street, owing tc the heavy rains, causing the water tc flow back, inundating tho yards anc flowing into tho basements and eel lars; and, besides the great inconve nience, makes their places unhealthy Will not something bo dono immc diately to relievo them? D. DEATH OF Con. CAMIMIELLR. BRYCE Wc regret to learn, by a private de spatch received in this city, that thi respected citizen of Columbia diet in New York on tho 14th instunt. H had just returned from Brazil, whi ther he had been, accompanied by hi son, and where, we understand, h contracted the disease which termi na tod his existence. His remains ar expected by tho family this morning on tho nrrival of tho Charlotte train Col. B. enjoyed the confidence c his fellow-citizens, and, on severn occasions, represented thom in th State Legislature, and perhaps woul have entered more heartily into pul lie life, bad declining health not prc vented it. THE SOUTH CAROLINA PENITENTL' RY.-Less than ono year ago, th Legislature made an appropriate of $20,000 for the purpose of tryin tho novel experiment of erecting State penitentiary. Not a few boote at tho idea of its success; but to-du; ono story of one wing is completei and 100 convicts aro serving the time in manual labor connected wil tho progress of the institution. Fif cells have been finished, and, dnrii the coming week, tho constructs of the second fifty will be commence Tho work is being done chiefly by tl convicts, under the direction of few skilled nrtizans. Stoue-cuttii and tho removal of immense bloc of granite from the adjacent quarri affords ample occupation to all, ai tho work is progressing as uhenv and rapidly us possible. Tho immense importance of t development of these granito qu? ries cannot be over-estimated. In t course of time, tho material is like to be introduced into all cities a towns accessible by railroads, a employed in tho erection of pub and private edifices; while the op< ing of tho canal will create a wat power that must invite Northern ca tal to Columbia, and aid us materia iu tho development of tho resouri of this section of the S bite. In view of the largely iucreoi responsibilities eiovolving upon \ officers of the penitentiary, tho sc ries have beon increased. It may proper to add here, that among 1 rewards -"hieb are given to convi for goou behavior, during their te of imprisonment, is the followii That when recommended to the ( vernor by the Superintendent their exemplary conduct, they si have their terms shortened o twelfth. One has already been c charged under this clause of the rn and regulations. Tho punishmo inflicted for insubordination are th authorized by tho army and nt regulations of the United Stat Flogging is strictly prohibited. 1 learn that there havo beon several stances of violent insubordination the part of convicts, and, not lc ago, a plot was discovered, which it had succeeded, would proba1 havo cost tho lives of Capt. Gr< and his sorgeant of the guard. Wo are indebted to the Georgia Publishing Company, of Augusta, for a copy of ex-Gov. Brown's re? plie* to B. H. Hill's Notes ou the "Situation." SOMETHING NEW AND ENTERTAIN INO.--Messrs. ^Harper & Brothers have issued a series of writing books -Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4-entitled "Sym? metrical Penmanship, with Marginal Drawing Lessons, for schools and colleges." These books aro really useful, and at the same time will prove attractive to beginners. They, are writing and drawing books com? bined. An inspection of the books will prove iuteresting. Mr. McCar ter has placed copies of each work upon our desk. KIND FEELINGS.-We aro gratified to learn that the colored men of Co? lumbia havo taken steps to petition Gen. Siokles for the release of the young men Badoliffe and Daly, or rather, we should say, for a remis? sion of their severe sentence. Such evidences o'f the kind and sympathetic relations between the two races sneak louder than all the platforms, speeches and resolutions in tho world. The colored commu? nity know, like others of our citi? zens, that those young men are wrong; but they are also assured that they did not mean wrong, and in this notion which they have token, they (ieinonstrato that no mere political differences of opinion can alter the allegiance which they have ever held towards old friends, nssooiates and citizens. This petition is one of the hap? piest signs of confidence we have yet beard of, and it is to bo hoped that, coming from such an honest source, it will bo entitled to some weight in its consideration by the military au? thorities. It is the white man who, when the colored man is in trouble before our courts and magistrates, affords the latter assistance; and now, when a young son of Columbia is in a bad box, why should the colored mad not reciprocate? He is doing so. DE AB PHOENIX: I venture to send you an extract from a letter just re? ceived from an accomplished pen, that has been taken from Columbia by one who is enjoying life to the full in the North Carolina mountains. As it is not written in the interests of any hotel concern, I hope it will be found of interest to all of us sum? mer-bound folk, who would like to know of agreeable places-in the event of our getting able to get off to them. The extract is written, as they seem to live at Cleavelaud Springs, con amore and with spirit : "Why are you not nt Cleavelaud Spriugs, with all your friends? If you are sick, tired, old, hungry, thirsty or blase, twenty-four hours' ride from Columbia will bring you to that place of places, to bo made well, young, fat and handsome* Such rolls on the bran new ten-pin allev; such noon-day baths in tho perfectly appointed bath-houses; such sunset strolls to tho springs of white or red sulphur; or tho still more romantic one round to the iron and free stone! Such ovenings of interspersed music and dancing, or of charades, farces, pantomimes and tableaux, acted in the well-iitted-np private theatre; such nights of comfortable beds, cool breezes and no mosquitoes; tables spread with fare which would tempt an anchorite-all these make tho old young, the sick woll, the sor? rowful glad, and contrive to make all forget for a time the existence of such bluo realities as national con? ventions and radical platforms. Nor must I forget the drives to the lovely mountain village of Shelby. Every day, the ladies appear in a new style -sometimes in a blue vehicle, some? times in a yellow, sometimes drawn by horses, sometimes by oxen. Ve? rily, I believe, if they demanded a team of elephants, they would be supplied by the gallant proprietors. One thing I do know-never yet has a guest at Cleavelaud Springs ex? pressed a wish within the bounds of tho possible, which hos not been promptly gratified, and the cures wrought by the waters border on the miraculous. " NEW ADVKKTISKMKNTH.-Attention is call? ed to the following advertisement*, whiob uro published this morning for Ibo first time: J. C. Janney-List of Letters. Duffie A Cbapmau-New Publications. J. P. M. Epping-Bankruptcy Notice. J. J. MoCarter-New Dooks. C. F. Jackson-Bracelet Lost. G. & C. R. li.-Stoppage of Freight. A fino lot of Desirable Goods havo Just boon opened by Slr. It. G. Shiver, who still adheres to his popular principio of good articles for little money. BORU his adver? tisement, and then examino tho goods. The Adoerl i uer states that from noarly all portions of tho District of Edgefiold tho crop prospects are pro? mising.