The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, August 22, 1867, Image 2
COLUMBIA.
Thursday" Morning, August 22,1867.
Oar 2 nd ns tr lal Prospeem
It is evident that tho prospects of
the Southern States, aside from their
political situation, ure brightening.
Plentiful harvests, and a prospective
crop of cotton of 2,500,000 bales,
combined with the manifest determi?
nation of the people to surmount
their difficulties, must shortly renew
that confidence, both nt home and
abroad, which is necessary in all
financial and commercial operations.
We have signs of this io many ways;
the people of the North are beginning
to realize that, although paralyzed
for tho moment by a stupendous
change in her industrial and labor
system, and bowed down- by such
tremendous losses as scarcely the
people of any seotion ever suffered,
the South and her .people are very
far fro? being ruined. That people
have shown to the world that, while
they h?d a keen souse of what they
deemed their political rights, as
evidenced by tho fearful straggle into
Which they , plunged to maintain
them, they have also the manhood
which submits to the decrees of fate,
and which, moreover; incites to the
noble duty of retrieving the losses
that defeat heaped upon them. The
high reputation they gained in war
for courage and endurance, is being
amply maintain ed by an unequaled
exhibition of fortitude under disas?
ters and defeat.
And now as to their present condi?
tion and future prospects, as regards
their material prosperity. We read
with much interest an editorial arti?
cle, which appeared last week, in the
New York Times, which undertook
to prove that the industry of this sec?
tion would soon re-adjust itself, de?
spite the present exceptional condi?
tion of political affairs. The writes
bases this prediction on thc, well
grounded supposition that the South,
to-day, has probably mortgaged i
smaller portion of her products thai
she has been accustomed to dc
in any one season for thirty yean
past ; and also on the well known fae
that she has borrowed less and owe
less at the North or in Europe, thai
at any time preceding the gathering
of her crops for many years past.
Wo behove the position of th<
Times to bo correct. In forme
years, there was scarcely a planter
whatever was his wealth or means
who did not owo cither the banks
which discounted liberally, or th
merchants, who credited freely, tb
full amount, and more frequently ex
ceeding tho amount of his whole ero]
of _corn aud cotton. This indebted
ness, or such portion of it as be wa
able to pay, haviug bceu canceled
the planter agaiu cutered upon tbi
unthrifty aud ruinous system for an
other year, and thus continually li\
iug one year in advance of his income
This system, we have uo doubt, wo
to a great extent induced by the ir
stitutiou of slavery, nnd the habit
engendered aud rostered, under il
influences, from one generation t
another. Men owning large plan ti
tious and negroes sufficient to ti
them, bad no difficulty in borrowiu
money from the banking institntioi
of the South. Too frequently tl
money, the use of which was so easil
obtained, was spent more for pie;
sure than utility, going into the co
fers of those who rend er cd no equ
valent. Northern watering pla?
absorbed annually thousands upc
thousands, of the money the plant
had borrowed just before he and b
family started ou their tour; and :
this way, as well as in many othe
similar in their depleting effects, ai
material iucrease in thc means of tl
planter was effectually estopped.
All know that what wc say was tri
in thc past. But tho wealth of tl
planter in slaves was swept away 1
the singlo swoop of emancipatio
and with that wealth, ns the plant
imagined under tho old regime^
largo portion of tho valuo of bis lane
Wealth (then so-called) has bei
taken away, but debts aro less; oi
dit, to rich or poor, hos become o
solete, compelling all to live with
their moans, and not outside aud
advance of them; tho discount boo
of -Southern banks are closed ai
hermetically sealed-may wo say ;
hope forever, except solely for coi
merdai purposes?-and thus t
planter to-day, though he fanci
himself poorer, is really richer, aud
certainly more independent, thau he
ever WAS in the .past
We believe we have sWted correct?
ly both the past end present condi?
tion of the planter ; nud thus believ?
ing, we are convinced that his present
position and future prospects are
infinitely moro preferable and favor?
able than in the palmiest days of the
old plantation system. We are fur?
ther convinced, that many of. our
agricultural friends hnve arrived at
the same conclusion. When all po?
litical clouds shall have passed from
tlie Southern firmament, our labor
system properly adjusted, and when
our people have learned, by severe
discipline and experience, tho nature
of true economy, and have realized
its benefits, Southern industry will
reach its proper standard and reap its
rewards-which process, in the past,
has been almost exclusively confined,
in this country, to the more thrifty
people of another section. .
Political Km lasarles.
The New Orleans Tribune has a
correspondent-J. M. Davis, a color?
ed man-who has no faith in radical
"firebrands" and meudicant loyalists,
who pretend great affection for the
negro, in order to insure their own
personal advantage. \ Speaking of the
Republican Executive Committee of
that State, he rather broadly inti?
mates that some of the members
should take back sen ts, or leave the
committee altogether, and adds:
"They have made themselves very
obnoxious to the people by forcing
themselves at every opportunity they
can get to make the colored man
think that they, above all others, are
the most important defenders of his
political rights. The people who
attend the meeting of the committee
go there for the express purpose ol
getting information; but go away
disappointed, by seeing these fire?
brands jump up and oppose every
resolution that the intelligent portion
of the committee offer. These same
pompous gentlemen go around among
the colored people, inquiring aftei
the health of the old man, and when
they come across the old woman and
the children, they tell her that the
children look just like their father,
because they are black. Then th 03
go right into a public meeting and
vote to get the nigger out of the plat
form, which makes tho old fellov
think white men mighty uncertain
* * * Those persona may shak<
hands with the old man and hug tin
old woman and squeeze the daughter
but when they go to kiss the baby
then the man knows something is no
right, and he will tell them he has ix
use for nurses."
Verily J. M. Davis understands th
character of the fire-brand tribe o
politicians of whom he speaks. Ti
talk about kissing "the baby" wa
"the unkindest cut of nJl."
, ? ? ? ?
Tho revelations of the Conove
case caused great consternation i
Washington and elsewhere; and t
counteract tho significance of thes
revelations, persons connected wit
the Impeachment Committee and th
Bureau of Military Justice are charge
with having concocted a counter-blai
to impugn the credibility of tho wi
ness, who, perjurer as he is, was cur
ning enough to preservo the writte
documents, os proof of his assertion!
Certain jail-birds have been procur?e
who swear that the Conover revell
tion -was concocted by Ben. Woo
and Boger A. Pryor. These gentli
men have promptly branded th
assertion us an unmitigated falsi
hood, and are prepared to punish i
instigators.
THE CABINET.-Tho corresponde!
of the Baltimore Sun says:
"There is no doubt that politiciai
have, as they have heretofore, evi
since tho accession of Mr. Johnson 1
the Presielency, boen urging upo
him to make changes in his Cabine
on tho ground that thereby the Ai
ministration would bo strengthened
"It is equally well known that tl
present members of tho Cabinet ha'
more than once stateil to tho Pres
elont that they will not for a n*oaiei
embarrass him in making any cuang
.in tho executive department that 1
may deem proper. At present, the
is no prospect of any such change
tho relations of tho President ai
tho membors of the Cabinet being
the most courteous and friendly ch
racter."
? <-.-??->
THE Tmii?NE STAKTLED.-Tho Ne
York Tribune, of Monday, says:
The news is startling, but it
scarcely to be doubted, that Genei
Grant will, as instructed by tho Pi
aident, issue an order removing Sb
ridan from the oommaud of the Fif
Military District. This, then, is to
the reward of Sheridan's loyalty ai
courage-this the first act of the rn
Secretary of War.
The Temper Of Hu Southern Prc??.
Tlie following fuir und liberal criti?
cism upou the tone and temper of the
Southern press is from that ably con?
ducted journal, the New York Journal
of Commerce:
Nothing is easier than for the peo?
ple not in trouble to advise other
people who are in trouble-to "put np
with their fate," not to "cry over
spilt milk," to "forget the past, and
look only to the future." Tliese
apothegms of wisdom are full of con?
solation for philosophers, but the
Shilosophers are few. Most people
nd it impossible to sit down among
the ruins of their fortunes, aud be
cheerful or even patient. The news?
paper editors of the South, with the
exception of those who are fresh from
the North, and are"supported by
Northern fonds or official patronage,
are men who saved little or nothing
beyond their presses and types out of
the general wreck. Borne of them
are Confederate generals of distinc?
tion, and, as a class, they are men
who stood by their "lost cause" gal?
lantly and truly to the end. It would
be only natural for men thue situated,
and pluming themselves on the honor
which they had brought out untar?
nished from the fray, to look back
with fond regrets upon their old
principles and their old friends, and
to manifest a sensitive impatience at
anything like oppression or injustice
from their conquerors. Feeling a
proper harity for human weakness,
we should not feel like blaming them
for an occasional exhibition of irra?
tional peevishness or a proneness to
discuss old issues, which ought to be
considered dead and buried. But the
Southern papera, so far as wo have
au opportunity of seeing them, are
remarkably free from these venial
frailties. But, going over all the
Southern papers carefully, it might
be possible to clip out a string of de?
tached passages which would give the
reader an impression of a prevailing
acerbity and unsubdued rebellion
throughout the South. Some of the
radical papers are doing this to justify
"a strong government" down there.
It is as a class that the Southern press
should be judged, and as a class that
we would speak of it. lu its tone ol
resignation, or disposition to.endure
what cannot bo cured, we think that
it merits praise. Ou the whole, it is
better tempered thau the Northern
press.
This is the calm, manly, dignified
utterance of a Northern mau, con
ducting a Northern journal iu t
Northern city.
TIMELY WARNING.-The New Yuri
Nation, an ultra-radical paper, warns
the colored people of the South, anc
especially those of Virginia, aguins
the suicidal policy of banding them
selves into a patty exclusively ngains
the whites, and suffering themselve;
"to be kept in a constant ferment'
by a few white meu, who are usiuj
them for their owu profit and ad van
tage. And it tells tLein to remembe
that whilst this game may succeed fo
a year or two, it must, iu the cud
recoil upon those who are playing it
for, says the Nation, "there is scarce
ly a State, except South Caroliun
which can be controlled by the cc
lored vote alone for more than two o
three years. Certainly Virginia i
not one of that class. The whit
voters will constitute a majorit
whenever they choose to act togetbei
and they will probably increase fa
moro rapidly than the others. In
migration will soon flow iu that d
rectian; and this, of course, will b
exclusively white, and iu great pat
unfriendly to the colored people.
This is tho warning not of "rebels
or "secesh," but of a warm, devote
friend to the radical party, and th
power of the colored race.
No PARTISAN RECONSTRUCTION. -
The Buffalo Commercial Advertise!
(Republican,) commenting upon th
removal of Stanton and the appoin
ment of Gen. Grant ad interim to til
Bureau of War, says:
"What the country needs most, i
present, is a straight-forward, noi
partisan execution of the reconstru?
lion Acts. The South should I
made to understand, by daily pract
cal demoustration, that the letter au
spirit of the laws will be observe!
that they will uot be interpreted <
executed iu tho interests of Nortl
ern extremists or of Southern rebel
Wo think it is safe to assume tin
Gen. Graut may be depended upc
to do this."
?-???-?
ATTEMPTED INSURRECTION rs Cru
A despatch to the Baltimore Su
dated Havana, 13th instant, says:
"A negro insurrection has ju
miscarried in St. Jago de Cnba, tl
Government having had timely war;
ing. At the first sign of discover
at the village of Del Cobre, ma?
took to the mountains, armed, i
that the scouring parties sent ont t
the local authorities have had to k:
a few who persisted in. holding ou
not listening to their offers of Uber
quarters. Quite a magazine of ai
munition was fonnd on the neighbo
ing estates, and all leads strongly
the supposition that there must 1
some whites connected with the plot
How it?? Paciffc Railroad la Ballt.
We have noted the rapid progress
runde by tho construction partie* who
are laying down the tr.tck of the
Union Pacific Railway. Th? best
explanation of the actual proteas of
construction is furnished by a corres?
pondent of the Cincinnati gazette.
He saya:
One of the most complete roads of
which tho country can boast, with
equipments that surpass many, is
being laid with a speed that fails to
impress the nation, simply because
it is not believed. But let the facts
tell their plain yet wonderful story.
Gens. J. S. and D. C. Casement,
of Ohio, grade the road, lay the
track, and put up' the telegraph.
The graders go first. There are
2,000jof them. They protect them?
selves and are digging the great for?
tification which makes the future
sure for us, on through Indian bat?
tle-fields, while the daily fight goes
on.
Of tie-getters and wood-choppers
there are 1,500. Their axes are re?
sounding in the Black Hills, over
Laramie Plains, and in the passes of
the Rocky Mountains. A mile in ad?
vance of the track-layers are the
squads which place the ties. There
are three of these. First, however,
the engineers set their levelling
stakes at a distance of 100 feet on the
straight lines and 50 feet on thc
curves. At eaoh of these points,
sawed ties are placed and leveled bj
them. Then come two men with
measuring rod, marking off spaces
equal to the length of a rail, and alsc
the half of this space. These sawed
ties are laid by the second squad, tc
give firm support to the end and
middle of each rail. These are placet]
by sighting along the guide tiet
already laid. The third squad ther
places tho intermediate ties, mid thc
bed is then ready for tho iron.
Now go back twenty miles on tin
road and look at the immense con
structiou trains loaded with ties an(
rails and all things needed for tin
work. It is Uko the grand reserve o
an nrmy. Six miles back are othe:
trains of like character. These an
the second linc. Next, near the ter
minus, and following it hour by hour
are the boarding cars and a construe
tion train, which answer to the actus
battle-line. The one is the camp
the other is the ammunition used il
the fight.
The boarding cors are eight fee
long. Somo aro fitted with berths
two are dining halls; one is a kitchen
store-room and office. Under th
I whole, those men who prefer fres
air have swung hammocks. Rifle
are hung overhead, plentiful in nun
ber, loaded and convenient. Til
party protects itself without atter
tion from the Government. Th
track-laying gang numbers 400. O
the 350 miles already built, there ni
1,000 track repairers constantly in
proving the road bed.
The boarding cars go in advauci
They are pushed to the extremity <
the track; u construction train thc
runs up, unloads its material au
sturts back to bring another from tl
second line. The hoarding train
then run back until it has cleared tl
unloaded material. *
Three trucks, each drawn by tv
horses, ply between the track-laye
and their supplies. The horses rv
outside the track, pulling with a loi
tow-liue. as boats are moved on c
nals They must be out of the wi
of the workmen. One of these true
takes on a load of rails, abont fort
with the proper proportion of spik
and chairs, making a load, when tl
horses are started off on a full galh
for the track-layers. On each side
these trucks are rollers to facilitu
running off the iron. On reachii
the end of the last rail the truck
stopped. A single horse is attach
to move it over each successive ra
Meantime, the truck last emptied b
been turned on its side to allow t
loaded one to go to thc front. T
two horses released are started ba
on a keen gallop for another suppl
The third one moves up in like mo
ner, and thus through all the d
they are rushing forward with th<
iron load. To see them, and relie
what their rush and roaring means,
as exciting as it ever was to watch
battery thunder into position al
needed moment, nt the vital point
its line.
The rails within reach, parties
five men stand on either side. O
in the rear throws a rail upon t
rollers, three in advance seize it, a
run out with it to the proper d
tance. The chairs have, meantin
been set under the last rails plac?
The two men iu tho rear, with a s
gie swing, force the end of tho i
into the chair, and the ohief of 1
squad calls out "down," in a tc
that equals tho "forward" to
army. Every thirty seconds thc
I came that "down," "down," on eitl
side of tho track. They were t
pendulum beats of a mighty era; tl
marked the time of the'march and
regulation step.
One of the roar men drove the ca
in addition to handling the rail. 1
horses started as eaoh rail fell into
place, the truck rolled on to the c
of it; a second rail was projected ii
the wilderness with the same prc
sion and haste; then carno the ma
"down," tho car moved on aga
and another length was accomplish
Two spikers followed each rail, t
party a little in advauoe of the otb
One rail was fastened at the end c
Ai the middle. The secoud party
then drew the opposite rail to the
exact gauge, aud fastened at the
middle and the end. "-Then came
other -squads of spikers, moving
(dong with tho precision of military
drill, each having a particular spike
to drive, and no oue interfering with
another. Track liners followed these,
and with their crow-bars rectified the
line. The fillers came last. One
party of these filled and paoked the
spaces at the ends and middle of the
rails; the other completed tho inter?
mediate intervals, and the job was
left till the squads of track repairers
should come up and finish the bal?
lasting. But as the fillers leave it,
full trains can run over it, with safe?
ty, at twenty miles au hour.
Let the reader picture the scene.
The rush of the loaded track; the
successive drepping of the rails in
place; the rattle of the spiker's ham?
mer, sounding like a hotly contested
skirmish; the roar of the distant
supply trains moving up; the resound?
ing of the freqneut signals, near at
baud; the universal bustle; "the
rumble, and grumble, and roar" of
tho wonderful advance.
On the 9th of May, I860, but forty
miles of road were completed. In
182 working days thereafter, 215 ad?
ditional miles were laid and put in
prime condition; every rail und tie
aud spike haviug been brought up
from the rear. Seven saw-mills fur?
nish the ties and lumber. All bridges
are framed, the pieces numbered,
and set up where wanted without thc
least delay. Tho bridge at Loup
Fork is 1,500 feet long, aud ns fino u
Howe truss ns eau be found in the
land. While our train was running
the sixty miles from North Platte,
over a mite or track had been pul
down, and one train passed over it.
From 1 o'clock till 4 in the afternoon,
a mile and 200 feet wero added tc
this while the party were lookiugon.
The road will touch the base o:
the Rocky Mountains the coming
autumn. The California end has al
ready reaehed a point about 10(
miles Fast, and is descending th?
Eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada:
into the valley of the Humboldt
It is confidently expected that Sal
Lake will be reached next year, an<
that 1870 will see the wholo line com
pleted. While the uation has scarce!
heard of what was being done, th'
work has been near one-third accom
plished.
Dec-reuse of Southern Population.
The authorities of Mississippi prc
vided for taking thc census of th
State last year, a statement of th
result of which recently appeared i
the Jackson Clarion. The figures ai
suggestive. Tho total population i
1864 was as follows: Whites, 343,461
blacks, 381,258. Total, 724,718.
In 1860, the aggregate popula,tio
was as follows: Whites, 353,89!
blacks, 447,404. Total, 801,303.
The actual decrease of populatio
during tho six years, from 18G0 1
1800, was, therefore: Whites, 10,43
blacks, 60,140. Total, 70,585.
The ratio of increase from 18.r)0 i
1800, of whites, was about tweul
per cent., and of blacks somethii
moro than forty per cent. Und'
this ratio of iucreaso during the pa
six years, there should have been
population in Mississippi of 854,00
instead of 724,000, which shows
loss of population by a failure to i
crease of 230,000. This, added
the natural loss, aggregates a tot
loss of population of 300,000, in tl
space of six yeavs! Of this loss, tl
whites suffered to the extent of 51
000, aud the blacks 254,000.
Thus it will bo seen that Miss
sippi emerged from tho war min
nearly a third of a million of h
people, one-quarter of a milli?
being blacks. Instead of increasin
as previous to tho war, she coi
menced the retrograde march, givii
up nearly one-tenth of the popa
tion she held at thc commenceme
of the war. These figures shou
arrest the attention not only of t
people of Mississippi, bat the statt
. men of the country.
With the exception of Texas, it
highly probable that all the otli
unreconstructed States are iu a cc
dition similar to Mississippi in tl
respect.
-!-?-?-?
MEETING IN PICKENS DISTRICT.
There was a meeting held at W
halla last week, at which a pic-i
was prepared by tho colored peop
Tho Pickens Courier says:
Col. W. D. Wilkes, of Andersc
delivered a lengthy and very app
priate speech on tho occasiou. Se'
ral colored persons made remarks
a spirit of kindness and sympathy :
both races. A considerable numl
of white persons were present. 'I
colored people spread their pic-nic
a pleasant spot near by, and seem
to enjoy it with moderation and gc
order. They prepared a sepan
table for their invited guests, a
were assiduous in their attention
them. The colored people demean
themselves well on thia occasiou.
was reserved for their white friei
to get up an unpremeditated row 1
in the day. "John Barleycorn" w
we think, to blame for the distu
ance.
Thaddeus Stevens is the lat
LL.D. The University of Vermt
did it for hire.
Ltooal T.te^na.
POST OJEIOE Horns.- Thc office ia
open from Beim, until 3.'j p. m.,
?nd from G unt? 7 p. m. The North?
ern mnil ?loses Rt 3Vii p. m., and all
other mails close at 8 p. m.
TEA SET TO RAFFLE.-A handsome
silver-plated tea set, belonging to au
unmarried man, is offered for raffle,
?he articles can be seen at the Phoe?
nix office. Fifty chances, at $1 per
chance. _
REGISTRATION.-The result, yester?
day, at the office of registration, was
tis follows: Whites 35; colored 22.
The books for the upper box will
cdose to-day, at 3 p. m., and those
who have been dilatory in tho upper
wards, .should present themselves to?
day for registration.
CAMP GROUND.-Mr. Chairman
Windsor gives us the following os the
result of the three days registering at
the Camp Ground precinct, in Rich?
land Distriot: Whites 80; colored 139.
JOB PRINTING.-The Job Office of
the Pheonix is as complete as any in
the 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, aud at reasonable.fates.
To CORRESPONDENTS.--We have re?
ceived from ex-Gov. Perry a criti?
cism on n certain work which he had
received from the West-the subject
the s'utus of the negro. As it has
nothing to do with our political situ?
ation, and as the work commented
on is utterly unworthy of notice, we
decliue publishing the correspond?
ence between Gov. Perry and the
gentleman who sent him the work
referred, to. We have cheerfully
published the views of Gov. Perry
on the situation, but the present cor?
respondence is entirely irrelevant to
that important subject.
Marie Antoinette aud her Son. An
Historical Novel."1 Ry Louisa Muhl -
bach. New Yorkf D. Appleton &
Co.
The works of this great German
authoress have been very generally
read and admired. The present vo?
lume-the latest production of Miss
Muhlbach's pen--describes the most
thrilling epoch in the history of
France. The romantio career of the
beautiful and unfortunate Marie An?
toinette, and the "reign of terror,"
are depicted with historical accuracy,
and in the author's happiest style.
The book contains eight illustra?
tions-paper covers Si.50; cloth #2.
This work, liko those which have pre?
ceded it-Louisa of Prussia, Joseph
II and his Court, Frederick the Great
and several others-will increase, if
such a thing is possible, the author's
reputation as an historical novel
writer. She speaks thus in justifica?
tion of tho historical romance:
"Historical romance should be no?
thing but an illustration of history. If
tho drawing, grouping, coloring and
style of such nn illustration of any
given historical epoch is admitted to
be true, then the illustration rises to
the' elevation of a work of art, worthy
of a place beside the historical pic?
ture, and as equally useful."
Copies of either of Miss Muhl?
bach's works can be obtained at
McCarter's bookstore.
Read Udolpho Wolfe's advertise?
ments in to-day's paper.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attention is call?
ed to the following advertisements, which
are published this morning for tho first
time
D. C. Peixotto A Son.-Cows and Calves.
Graeser A SloJnnkin-Corn, Flour, Ac.
T. J. Gibson-Eggs.
A fine lot of Desirable Goods have just
boen opened by Mr. B. C. Shiver, who still
adheres to his popular principle of good
articles for little money. Bead his adver?
tisement, and then examine the goods.
THE RIGHT WAY TO SERVE THEM.
The Selma Times says :
"A certain young gentleman emis?
sary, from Yankeedom, passed
through tho County of Anson, a
short time since, vending tickets or
certificates to the negroes, which he
told them would entitle each holder
to forty acres of land. He sold a
large number to the negroes along
his -.onto at fifty cents each. The
negroes, however, becoming assured
that they had been swindled, pur?
sued tho scoundrel, overtook him,
made him refund the money, with nu
additional fifty cents in each case,
and then drew his shirt, when they
prooeeded to administer a severe
flogging upon his back? This done,
they allowed him to go on his way
rejoicing.*'
A Memphis barber advertises that
he employs only "Conservative"
darkies in his establishment.