Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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If COLUMBIA^ " Thursday Morning, January 9.1868. Sensation Ciphering. . The annual meetings of Oongreas of late years have been remarkable for prodigious displays of statistical arithmetic by the head and hands of the Finance Department and bureaus of tho Government, aided by very liberal contributions from outsiders. Two years ago, the Sooretary of the Treasury fixed upon a period of thir? ty-two years for the liquidation of the debt, by the application of the sum of $200,000,000 per annum to its principal and interest. In this suggestion, ?here was no attempt to adjust the burden to the growing ab?ity of tho country to bear it. Neither increase of wealth, nor of population was taken into the calcu? lation. In his last report, he sub? mits a proposition, credited to "a very intelligent gentleman of Massa? chusetts," showing how, by a regalar and uniform assessment of $8.60 per capita per annum, the debt and inte? rest may be provided for, and a com? plete extinguishment effected in seventeen years from date, beginning with an appropriation of $175,000, 000 for the purpose in 1868, and winding up the process with $266, 000,000 in 1884. This last project of the Secretary, it will be observed, by increasing the agony, lessens the period of torture from his former notion of thirty-two years to seven? teen. Contraction everywhere-con? traction of the currency, of the debt, and of its duration-a tonio contrac? tion, promising a general lock-jaw as soon as his system spreads over the body corporate. But it is not these schemes and their workings, but the fantastic statistical figurings em? ployed in theso demonstrations, that just now occupies attention. The grand total of the debt is now ex? pressed in billions-a word so new in the political arithmetic of the United States, that few compass the height and depth, the length and breadth of its meaning; but the amateur cipher? ers let loose by this magnificent sub? ject, and tho problems which it in? volves, seem to make nothing of figures running to ten, eleven or twelve places. Moreover, they are as minute in exactitude as they are sublime in magnitudo-calculations at once telescopic in sweep and mi? croscopic in detail, of which wo have the finest oxamplo extant in the late encyclical letter of the late Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. Robort J. Walker. It concerns him, it seems, somehow, to forecast the wealth of the nation for tho next generation or two, and with a robust confidence in ratios, averages and per centages, he goes to work at tho calculation of predictions of tho greatest propor? tions ever revealed to a benighted world. He gets his ratio of tho na? tion's growth in wealth from tho census of 1860. The rate in tho immediately preceding ten years, it appears by that authority, was 126 per cent. ; and assuming this increase for tho next coming four decades, his multiplication table takes tho respon? sibility of putting the national assets in Anno Domini 1900 at the sum of $423,388,439,2S8. This neat little sum is just twenty-six and a half times the wealth of tho Union, in real and personal property, in tho year 1860, according to census valuation, which Mr. Walker unre? servedly accepts. An increase of twenty-six and a half times in forty years, is not bad for a new country; but it is as nothing to tho results of another score of years' increase, cal? culated by tho same rato that the ex-Secretary so courageously adopts. Four hundred and twentythree bil? lions, increased at the rate of eight and a half per cont, per annum, compound for twenty years, will give just two Ih?ubuud one hundred and sixty bil? lions, or two trillions one hundred and sixty billions of capital wealth in the blessed year 1920, which anybody not over seventeen years old now may livo to soe. Tho Philadelphia Ledger proceeds to show how this looks when split up into moro comprehensible concep? tions. Wo woro worth $16,000,000, 000 seven years ago; fifty-thrco years henco wo shall bo worth just one hundred and thirty-fives times as much. Upon this better demonstra? tion of Mr. Walker's rulo, may wo not turn proudly upon the world' and say: Judge us by our maturity, not by our mere infancy. Between the ydars 1850 and I860, we doubled our wealth only once in eight years and a half;; wait only till 1920, and we shall havo added on the average an? other 816,000,000,000 to our princi? pal, a good deal oftener than once every six months-months, do we say? Lu every month of that sixtieth year hence, we will pile up a clean increase of $15,300,000,000, aud so ou for ages, till figures fail to expresa and imagination to conceive the grand sam total of our inventoried opulence! lu the figures quoted, Mr. Walker runs his rule thirty-three years a&ead, bul Lu ?Low that ho does not flinch from any legitimate re? sults, he himself gives the increase of the thirty-fourth year at $42,000,000, 000-one single year's growth nearly three times SB great as our total capi? tal wealth in 1860! If he had tried his rule of doubling every eight and a half years backward, he would have found that we have only increased about seven times in 100 years, which is something less than one hundred and thirty-five times in six? ty years, the rate of progress which he promises us in the future. But who ever thought of making calcula? tions in statistics like those of eclipses-work backwards as well ns forwards! We have done our best to help our readors to a just apprehen? sion of these stupendous figures; we have put up scaffoldings and gang? ways for their ascending thoughts, and now we dare them to look over the railings-wo mean the balustrade, not the badinage-of tho top terrace to which we have helped them, awoy down from the giddy height of tril? lions, through billions, millions, thousands, hundreds, tens and units, to the base sum whioh they can com? prehend, count and carry in theil pookets, bank books or understand? ings. Gold and legal tenders are corni UL into collision, and the question will have to be settled without delny, because tho balanoo cannot reniait in its present uneven condition mud longer without seriously affecting thc commercial interests of the whoh oountry. The question will have ti be settled, too, upon the basis o common sense. For instance, whei it is contracted that liabilities shal be met in gold, they should be liquid ute tl in that materiel, just tho 6am< as if it was contracted that the; should bo liquidated in cotton, o any other substance. But if tho cou tract contains no such specification then it follows naturally that th debt shall be liquidated in money which moans tho legal tender of th country. This is the common sens view of the matter, and this view there is little doubt, tho courts wi take of the subject, when it come before them for final adjudication. ELMIRA.-The North is so niue absorbod with its own living misery that it has ceased to torment tL ghosts of Andorsonville. It sti hints, however, at Confederate ba: bari ty and Yankee generosity. TL latest fabrication is about our dca at Elmira. The radical press copie a report that on*: of 5,000 prisonoi at Elmira, only six died during thr< months. Tho Elmira Gazette giv< the official figures, which show tba out of 5,000 prisoners, 884 died wit! in three months, and 1,311 withi four. - At tho Commissoiner's sole, i Fairfield, on Monday, tho followir. sales took place: 152 acres fair ootton land, sold f< 852-throe years' timo. 250 acres of land, on which was house that cost at least $2,000, wi sold for $280, on three years' time. GOO acres-one of the best oottc plantations in Fairfield-sold for j per acre-ono, two and five year time. Now is tho time for Northern cap talists and emigrants to come South Carolina, as land is so chea ? ? ? ? Speaking of tho woather, the Cha lesion Mercury says: ' 'So far this season wo have had on one or two cold days, and tho mi term sinco Christmas, has started < tho early fruit trees and plants. Tl young Gf;s aro making their appen ance, ar_d scores of peach trees private gardens havo been in fi bloom for a week past, while up tl King street road, at tho garden fart of Messrs. ThomaB Lynch, Geo. ?\ Martin and others, green pea i a almost blooming." Th? Southern UrlleT Question-Con? sideration* for Congress. Congress must do soinothing to mitigate Southern distress. Exagge? ration there may be in tho published reports, as to the condition of the freedmen and large numbers of the whites; but the substratum of fact is too broad and too deep to allow of denial. Eren thoso who allege that the statements of distress are in ex? cess of tho actual truth, admit that prospectively they are probably cor? rect. Outside help is, therefore, in? dispensable, if the country is not pre? pared to permit starvation to do its work un cheek ed; and considerations of economy, as well as of humanity, suggest the expediency of grappling at once, with a difficulty, which pro? crastination would render infinitely worse. W^rc thc question simply ono of relief, it would be only necessary to determine the precise nature and ex? tent of the emergency, and tho best means of rendering whatever relief might be required. These points como up now, and will have to be settled when Congress enters upon the question practically. But they are not unlikely to be encumbered with extraneous issues. Politics will invade the domain of philanthropy. Partizan contingencies will make themselves felt where prudent chari? ty alone should rule. The question will be invested with "loyal" and with "rebel" aspects. Just as aid toward rebuilding tho levees of Lou? isiana aud Mississippi, was frustrated by politicians on tho ground that these States were not up to the radi? cal standard in respect to loyalty, so we expect to hear of all manuer of reservations and provisos designed to prevent "rebel advantages" in the distribution of help. Destitute blacks will, of coarse, in these con? ditions, out-rank the destitute whites. I And there will be a strong effort to j defeat propositions for utilizing re? sident Southerners in any plan of as? sistance for the planters. The possi? ble complexion of impending elec ; tions, and tho possible need of all the appliances which Congress may com? mand to securo reconstruction in time for tho Presidential vote, are matters which will not be over-looked when any scheme of relief invites decision. Nothing is more certain, however, than the mischief which any further attempts to mnkc pets of the freed? men will involve. The nation did owe a great deal to them, we admit. It assumed a temporary guardianship over them when it deprived them of the care and direction which were incident to slavery. But tho obliga? tion is not perpetual, except iu rela? tion to their rights. Civil equality they were entitled to; political equal? ity they have got; and they may also claim protection against starvation pending the organization of the new system of labor. They aro not for this reason to be encouraged in the belief that they are permanent pen? sioners upon tho nation's bounty-as many (if them have been led to con? clude. And it is against this error that Congress should carefully guard. Tho opportunity should not be lost for teaching the freedmeu that eman? cipation was not the prelude to ti gigantio system of pauperism, or to any system of protection in reference either to tho conditions or rewards ol labor. The lesson is required. Tho ope rations of tho Freedmen's Bureat and the bearings of tho Reconstrnc tion Acts have been calculated tc impress these untutored people witt the notion that they may obtain al they waut by asking for it. We art not impugning the legitimate work o the Bureau. For certain purposes it has doubtless been valuable, ant as a guido rather than as a provider its continuance for some time longe may bo desirable But tho tendency of its iuiluenco has been to encou rago tho freedmen in tho delusioi that they may for all time roly upoi tho Government, instead of trustin| to themselves. The political powe conferred upou them by Congres has served to strengthen this impres sion. Both causes eomhiued may 1> supposed to bavo hud not a little ti do with tho generally unprofitabl character of their last year's labor They did neither as much nor os wei as formerly, ?.nd their prevailing wan of thrift explains tho attitudo o pauperism which they exhibit in th cotton-growing States. It is, there fore, of the utmost importance tba tho relief to be afforded this seasoi shall bo used os an auxiliary in disci plining the freedmen to tho stead; faithful labor which is, with them the solo alternative of pauperism The country, we doubt not, wi cheerfully, and with needful libera: ity, provide for their present irami nont necessities, but it is not iu dined to maintain them in laziness or to encourage expectations whic point to shiftlessness and beggary. The most wholesome help, thor which Congress can give to the freed mon is in tho form of work. Whor Government must take actual charg of this class, owing to a surplus c labor, from whatever cause, tho Bi reau should allot so much food as th pay for so much work. Every local ty does not present facilities for en ployment on public works; bi where these exist, as in tho neighboi hood of tho Mississippi and Be Rivers, they should bo turned to a< count in connection with aid furniBl ed through tho Bureau. lu oth( Districts, arrangements are Barely possible, in conjunction with local municipal authority, for employing the labor at tho command of. the Burean in public improvements, of which, since the war, every part of the ?outh is in urgent need. The best of all labor, however, is that which the farmers and planters fur? nish and direct. In no other shape will it be so economical or so imme? diately productive. The difficulty in this case is that tho planters aro un? able to employ the freedmen uuless they are themselves aided by Con? gress, by loan, or by the repayment of last year's cotton tax. The former plan, as we attempted to show, is open to almost insuperable objec? tions, and the latter can scarcely be hoped for uuless the Senate be moro liberal And mnro prompt thuu il hu? been in regard to the measure which awaits its action. No finer opeuiug can occur for the industrial reconstruction of the South at tho hands of Congress. Planters and freedmen-both are all but help? less, if the Government come not to their relief. Indirectly, iudeed, it may assist in the cultivation of the next crop, by taking as security for advances to the freedmen a lien upon their iuterest. Such a proceediug, although better than inaction, would bo Hubie to the objection that it in? terferes with the relation of employer aud employed, and lessens the vigi? lant supervision and just authority on the ono hand, and the faithful service on the other, which are essen? tial to profit. By enabling the plauter to make his own arrangements, and to cultivate his land in his own way -subject iu one or two respects to tho approval of the Bureau-the return of the South to prosperity would be promoted, and a founda? tion laid for its future system of labor. How far it would foster the success of the Congressional recon? struction plan, wo undertake uot to guess. But it would assuredly dis? pel some fears and many misappre? hensions, and would promote kindly feelings and the healthy enterprise which are essential to genuine recon? struction.-New York Times. OFF WITH THE SHACKLES.-It is quite time that Congress should cease its ebony legislation, and do a little deceut aud timely legislating for the whito masses of the country. With? out desiriug to uuduly obtrude our? selves upon the attention of the honorable body of American repre? sentative-?, we would respectfully re? mind it that there are not less than 100,000 unemployed men and women in tho United States nt this moment, who aro entitled to their earnest and instant consideration-mon and wo? men who are suffering tho most dis? tressing privations in consequence of uuwise, ill-advised and illiberal legis? lation. It is not unnatural that this vast host of homeless starvelings should begin to ask the grave ques? tion-why are we without work and food? And sooner or later the ques? tion must bo met and answered. And when that time comes, we opine Congress will havo no reason to con? gratulate itself. These men and wo? men aro without emplovment ou the same principle that millions of tons of American shipping are to-day lying idle and rotting at the piers of our city. Prohibitory tariffs, custom and intornal revenue, are at the bot? tom of tho mischief. These, like so many slave chains, shackle tho indus? trial interests of tho country, aud throttlo its vitality and progress. Off with tho shackles! gentlemen of Con? gress, and give our hungry masses bread, and our ships freight. No matter if Now England shirtings fall ten couts a yard; so much tho better for the people-and the capitalists can take care of themselves. Havo dono with prohibition and protection whining, gentlemen, and open the doors of trade, so that the poor man may have a good coat as well as tho rich mau, and let none seek in vain for employment. Away with your miserable, petty, dwarfed high-tariff schemes, and give us impost and internal revenue duties which will not ruin our com? merce, or starve our poople. Give ns, wo beseech you, gentlemen of Congress, some slight assuranco that you aro still susceptible to the dictates of dcccucy and reason; and off with thc shackles.-New York Citizen. A party of spiritualists who have been making undo demonstrations in Newark, N. J., are all declared to be partially insane by tho doctors. Tho chief of thom, a man named McEwen, declared himself Jesus Christ, and demanded to bo crucified; while Mrs. Keoves, tho oldest woman of the party, believes herself to be either Eve or tho Virgin Mary. They were in the habit of haranguing multitudes on the doctrine of spiritualism from their door-steps while in a nade state. They aro all at present in tho station house. SnciDE.-Wo are informed that Miss Lucy Gray, who lived about twelve miles abovo this place, com? mitted suicide, by hanging herself, on tho 22d ult., in the chamber in which she slept. The room was oc? cupied by others at the time, but they wcro asleep aud know nothing of her sad death until morning. A jury of iuquest was held by T. P. Gaston, Esq., acting as coroner, who returned a vordict in accordance with the above facts.-Carolina Spartan. Ijooal Xtem?. CASH-PAY UP.-From au tl after January 1, 1808, the cash system will ba strictly enforced. Persons who are now indebted for subscriptions, and who wish their papere continued, will confer a favor by paying up at once. Those who fail will have their ?papera discontinued. Cash will also be required for all advertisements. Persons forwarding advertisements from a distance, must send a remit? tance. Job work cash on delivery. POSTPONED.-Owing to the unset? tled weather, the lecture by Dr. Reynolds, which wag to have been delivered on the 2d inst., iu the Uni? versity Chapel, was postponed uutil this (Thursday) evening, at half-past 7 o'clock. The January number of the South? ern Cultivator, published in Athens, Georgia, has just come to hand. It is a valuable addition to the periodi? cal collection of any Southern farm? er. The terms are $1 for six months. A SUDDEN DEATH.-Mrs. M. V. Hicks, (widow of AV. B. Hicks, who was killed by Wm. D. Morris, several years ago,) died very suddenly Tues? day last, aud under peculiar circum? stances. Coroner Thos. P. Walker was notified of the matter, and after obtaining the particularsof the affair, summoned a jury of inquest. One of tho witnesses testified that on Tues duy morning, the deceased complain? ed of severe pains in the back of the head, and about tho heart and sto? mach; aud partook of some spirits, in order to relieve this excruciating pam; as she rapidly grew worse, a physician was called, who prescrib? ed for her; but death ensued a short time after. By direction of the jury of inquest, a post mortem examination of the body was made by Dr. W. P. Geiger, assisted by Dr. John Lynch, who reported that "her death was caused from an inordinate collection of gall-stones in the gall-bladder, which produced cougestiou of the liver and adjacent parts." Twenty-two gall-stones, each about an inch iu circumference, encased in a sort of bag, were taken from tho pit of the stomach of the unfortunate woman. Dr. Tweedie, in his "Dis? sertations on Diseases of the Diges? tive, Urinary and Uterine Organs," speaks as follows of this matter: "Biliary calculi may remain iu the gall-bladder, without occasioning pain, or any other symptom, and have frequently been found, in that situation, in dead bodies, when their existence was unsuspected during life. Sometimes, however, they oc? casion a dull pain, which may in? crease on motion or after food, and in sonic instances the pain is very severe. The pain which usually at? tends the passing of a biliary concre? tion along tho gall-ducts, is often in? tenso. It is generally seated in the pit of the stomach, extending to tho right hypochondrium aud back, and recurring in frequent paroxysms like labor pains. Tho sufferings of the patient are of the most acute and agonizing description. Intervals of comparative easo succeed these paroxysms, but there generally re? mains a dull, o', ii uso pain in thc epi? gastric region, from which thoso of a more acuto character appear to pro? ceed." TUE SOUTHERN GIFT ENTERPRISE. By tho following extract, from an article published iu tho New York Time/, it would appear that a num? ber of our citizens havo been de? frauded, by tho "bursting up" of an enterprise in which they had invest? ed sums varying from two to nine dollars: "Tho public mind is just now con? siderably exercised in regard to the status and probable result of certain 'gift enterprises,' tho managers of which promise their patrons abun? dant profit for their small invest? ments, by setting forth a long list of glittoriug prizes, which generally consist of 'magnificent farms,' 'ele? gant mansions,' 'splendid diamonds,' 'cosh prizes,' 'valuable oil paintings,' and 'premiums' with other attractive and high sounding titles. "For some months a 'Grauil award of premiums by tho Ladies' Society, in aid of the Suffering and Destitute of tho South,' has been extensively advertised as being about to take placo at No. 845 Broadway. The Executive Committeo of this concern j wero announced aa Mrs. L. Brooks, Mrs. C. Wadsworth, Mrs. D. Mills, Mrs. E. S. Adams, Mrs. H. Sherman, Mrs. M. Duncan, Miss Maria Moul? ton and Jamos Clark, who wero to bo assisted by tho following oflicors* Mrs. Harlow Mather, Secretary; H. Hartmau, Treasurer; F.H.Norton, Actuary. "In order to lend an air of respect ability to tho 'enterprise,' tho adver tisement, so extensively circulated, j contained a long list of well known ladies, who each agreed to net as tho 'Honorary Committee.' Among these I names are those of Mrs. L. W. Je vome, Mrs. W. B. Astor, Mrs. August Belmont and others. The committee also included the names of all the District Commanders, as well as Go? vernors of ten or twelve States. "We understand, by information received at police headquarters, that the whole affair is a 'swindle from bo ginniug to end,' and thc exphiuatiou is this: A number of philanthropic ladies in this city organized a society immediately after the news of the ut? ter destitution prevailiug in the South roached tho North. This society was intended to aid in the grand move? ment for roliof then organized in all thc States, and was presided over by Mrs. James J. Roosevelt, who was ably aided by an energetio board of vice-presidents and committees. Scarcely had this Ladies' Society for the Aid of the Destitute of the South fairly commenced operations, when tho gift enterprise just alluded to made its appearance. Handbills aud circulars were scattered broadcast throughout the land, und the result was that the original society found themselves followed by a gigantic shadow, which derived oil its shape and movement from their efforts. "We have been unable to ascertain whether any of the ladies and gentle? men, so prominently mentioned as lending their influence to the enter? prise, really did give permission for this use of their names or not. , lu some instances the police have ascer? tained that names of several have been used without even asking per? mission. Tho report of tho police regarding some of the Executive Committee and the officers of, this so called society is quite unfavorable we do not feel called upon to say more. Since the enterprise has been started, a dozen rumors have been rife regarding it; one was that the Trea? surer had absconded, and another was that the police had interfered, and so broken up the affair, with others of a similar import. Exactly how many tickets have been sold will probably never be known, but it is very certain that the greater part of the holders will not receive any re? turn whatever, while the prizes even should they bo distributed-will not bo found to represent the value specified in the billa." The proprietor of the Phienix, as an act of justice to himself, deems it necessary to make a statement of the canses which induced him to agree to dispose of tickets in this so-called gift enterprise. During a business visit to New York, in June last, the subject was broached by individuals in whom he had confidence-one of them a gentleman from Abbeville District, and another a latter day re? sident of Columbia; the object stated being to dispose of 300,000 tickets, at 82 each, aud to distribute prizes valued at 8300,000-leaving a margin of $200,000 profit, after deducting tho necessary expenses, which was to be distributed among the different Southern States. The first prize-a house in Fifth Avenue-was de? signated. The parties proceeded to the residence of the acting secretary of the Ladies' Southern Relief Asso? ciation, in Fifth Avenue; and after some conversation, the proposition was made to insert an advertisement in the Phoenix, tickets to be accepted as pay for tho same; and also to take a number to dispose of in Columbia, for tho beucfit of tho society-ali of which was agreed to. The adver? tisements and circulars, contain? ing the names of man}* of tho first families of New . York, were dis? tributed freely about the Northern Stated; and it really appears very singular why those parties allowed their names to bo used, without pub? lishing a denial of tho authority. Remittances from the salo of tickets were mado to Bentley, Clark & Co., Washington-in which city it was stated the drawing would come off, during the month of August last. In consequence, os was 3tated, of all the tickets not having been disposed of, the drawing was postponed; the dull times caused a still further post? ponement. Nothing definite has since been heaad of the matter, ex? cept tho ;ibove publication in tho Times-which it is hoped will prove to Lave been exaggerated. MAIXI AKIUNQEAIENTS.-The post office open during the week from 8)<j a. m. to G p. m. On Sundays, from \% to 2i? p. m. The Charleston and Western mails are open for delivery at 2 p. m., and close at 9 a. m. Northern-Open for delivery at 101? a. m., closes at 1 p. m. Greenville-Open for delivery at 3 p. m., closes at 8 p. m. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attention is call? ed to thc following advertisementn, pub? lished this morning for the first time Fisher & Lowrance-Empty Sack?. I Kentucky Mules at Logan's Stable*. Loeturo at the University. \ Tarado of Independent I ire Company. D. C. 1'oixotto A Sou-Aucti'M- Salo.