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