Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA. -i-~JF-? Sunday Morning, January 26,1868. ~ -r -tp- ~r^r Tht Winter of Oar Discontent. In view nf tho pressure apon ort? people, wo cannot be expected to take a very jolly view of tho future. Wo look backward; forward and aide ways, and Bee everywhere loo ra inp; op suffering that bids fair to in?rense, and injuries .that will require gonio Hying beyond a present United States Congress, or Stat? Conventions, to remedy or remove., Whatever in? fluence may be brought to bear on us from the outside, it is from within that we must look for amelioration of ewe pressing evils. We don't mean any heroic theory of impossible bravery triumphing Over faction and power, and coming oat, like Jack the Giant Killer, with th? spoils of vnn .jnished Bluuderbores. Still less do we mean tho sentimental theory, that preaches up an equally impossi? ble patience, because, forsooth, there most be light Somewhere, and if we wait long enough, (perhaps until the third generation,) it may shine upon oar graves, and, sentimentally speak? ing, warm onr ashes. Neither do we endorse the despairing theory that, looking back through the ages, sees nothing but a hopeless labyrinth of wrongs and errors that have con? tinued! from all time, and through which- me . wandered perplexedly in the beginning of this era, even as they wander to-day, their impatience cul? minating in mad acts and unjusti? fiable attitudes. No!, all these pet theories do very, well for dreamers or closet reformers, but our evils are as urgent aa Luther's prayer, when, with streaming eyes, he cried to God, that "if He would have a ch ur oh at all, He must look after it Himself. " Everything is vague and unsatisfac? tory that has no direct reference to eur peculiar situation. Th ero ia no precedent for it, for other nations held in vassalage find in the Consti? tution, or laws of their oppressors, some faint foundation for the nets they suffer from. But we, with our unlucky noddles full of States rights, "union of interests," and a claim ?pon the pine-fathera of a certain "bird of freedom," have been shaken dismally from our old strongholds. Our attitude before the world is pitiably quiescent. We have rio voioe XD the administration of the affairs of de country in which we live. We arve compelled to submit to tho de? gradation of the political supremacy mi a race hardly emerged from bar? barism. They are fast filling our offices of trust, and will impose upon aw measures humiliating to every eense of national honor and justice. They are certainly but puppets mov mg obediently to the wire pullings ei their masters, puppets of paste? board and wood, which the showmen will soon lay on the shelf. In the rsoantime, however, tho drama they ave preparing is a cross between the **Hro8 rire Tourangeau" of Rabelais .std the frightful tragedy of the "Jae ?gu?rie" where, says the old chronicler, .The rabble robbed, and murdered, and violated, that, in their own words, 'there might be no more gen? tlemen or social distinctions in tho world.'" As we before remarked, the amelioration of many of our pressing grievances must come from ourselves. There aro old prejudices and opinions to be abandoned, and sew views adopted and tested. There must be a new current in onr life, and new blood introduced into an enervated system. The South is on argicultural country, and her popula? tion a mixture of every people under the sun. A now system of labor must bo inaugurated, different rates of wages, and a circumspect regard to minutia!, wbioh the lordly planter of twenty years back thought bo neath bis notice. So many clover ideas on. this subject have ?lready fo?n^dvfeced^thn^ we will obly add that tiny of them would improve the *rasU^ul, ?arelas ay stein whioh pre vsilen 4wor??~ Ht?^ ~ar. S?-?UJU?B,, a,bove all things, should claim the at? tention qt every District. The means of et?tt?ati?t?'nre' not str?l?ciently dis? tributed ninon fr us, and tbs impor? tance of edo.cstiuo not nuiliciently felt. We are weur;v of talking up waste, landa , and rates of labor, for the^j^i^sbou adjust themselves. It is high timo to talk up waste minds valid their ' proper culture, /or ripon tbe education o? the masses now de? pends the whole future prosperity of ibo Sooth. In this connection, th? New Orleans Times brings forward wbat Chancellor Keut says: "The parent who sends I bis son. into tbe world uneducated, defrauds the community of a lawful citizen, and bequeaths to it a nuisanco." Tho Reconstruction Convention. KTNTH DAY. CHARLESTON, Jan nary 24.-The President laid before the Convention a communication which he hurl re? ceived from Gen. R. K. Soott, As fdaaant Commissioner of the Freed? men's Bureau, who says: "I have the honor to transmit for your eonsidernti in, and for tbe action of the Convention over which you have the honor to preside, if in your judgment it may seem best to lay the matter before it, the enclosed letter. It is one. of the ninny complaints I have received during the past lew weeks; and as the condition of affairs described therein, arises from what seems to be a gradually growing sen? timent on the part of tbe freed peo pte of the State, I think an expres? sion of some kind, in the form of a resolution, sssouuoiug the sense of the Convention on the subject, wonld have the moat beneficial results. The sooner such ideas as those held by the freed people upon the planta? tion of Mr. Erwin are eradicated, the better it will be for both the planter and laborer. "I have also suggested that suoh an expression on the part of the Con? vention, would do more tban any act of the military, to disabuse their minds that the Convention has lands at its disposal for distribution." The letter of Mr. Erwin is dated from Kensington, Eastern Branch, Cooper Biver, and tubs tan tinily is tts follows: "A condition of things bas arisen on this plantation, among the freed? men, of which X think it necessary to inform you at once, and request that you will communicate with mo upon the subject. I have offered General Scott's contract to the people on the plantation for their acceptance, but was answered with a flat refusal to make any contract at all. They went on to say that they would work the lauds, bat until something was de? cided in their favor by the sitting of the Convention, they wonld not sign any agreement, or make any terms with me whatsoever. Now this is like taking possession of my lauds out and out, and I um not disposed to submit without every effort to establish my authority over what I consider my own property. I am not disposed to be harsh in my mea? sures, believing as I do, that all this is the result of false teaching, but simply wish that you would advise me as to the proper method to pursue either to compel them to sign this contract of General Scott's, or to qoit my premises at once, so that I may have a chance of procuring other labor before it is too late. I have given these people full warning that if they insist upon working my lands without a contract, they do it at their own risk, and I am not bound now to contraot with any of them again against my will, or recognize their work in any way. If my plantation affairs aro to await tho deliberations of tho Convention, you will readily perceive tho necessity of immediate action, in order to disabuse their mindsof the prevailing idea thatsoroe thing is to bo done for their special benefit by the Convention." The President observed that tho communication would lie upon his table until it was token up. On motion ot R. C. DoLarge, (colored,) the Convention rosolved itself into Committee of tho Whola, on unfinished business, L. Boozer, (white,) in the chair. B. C. DeLargo obtained tho floor. * ? '"i', (I-JJL-..:-*.-..... H? said lio had not mter?d^4?"flPCftk, bat finding thorn wero thoso who w?re , acting {rora purely > personal motives, who were inter-sated in the defeat of tho measure from DO higher object than their own ooffors, wtm get up S?d Kiisu objections TO ,soch a measure in'face of the impoverished confution of tho people of tho State nt anding in need of relief, he'felt that duty to himself and his consti? tuents required- he should sot-remain silent,, If they .had been ?en tent to go no'farther than in Convention, he' might have beeu .induced to keep quiet. But when members go out? side the Convention, and uve threats to intimidate o thens, be for one would let them and their satellites see' that there is one member who would not be intimidated by threats. T. J. Robertson rose, and asid if the gentleman had any reference to him, he would pronounce the charge false. DeLarge disclaimed any reference to the honorable gentleman. He said he wished to deny the allegation made by the opposition, that the pro Eosed legislation was a class measure, [e could conscientiously say it was for no specific class. He held in his hand letters from almost every sec? tion of the State, addressed to mem? bers of the Convention, crying ont for relief. These letters d?nict, in strong language, the impoverished condition of the people, and demand that something shall be done. He believed that nothing but the zeal of the members who spoke yesterday induced them io style this measure class legislation. It is simply a re? quest to Gen. Canby to relieve the necessities of a large part of the peo? ple of the State. Some members had gone further, and attempted to prove it was a scheme to keep the freedmen from becoming purchasers and own? ers of laud. He claimed to be as muoh interested in the welfaro nf his own race as any member upon the door, and he thought his claim would be substantiated by that race much more than the claims of gentlemen having thousands of dollars upon the issue, and who desire to defeat the measure for the benefit of their pri? vate coffers. The debate was continued by Whipper, Cardoza, Duncan and others, until adjournment. THE INDIAN PROBLEM.-A memo? rial in relatiou to the management of tho Indians has beon presented to Congress, which proposes to change the method of dealing with them, by abolishing the tribal relations and making the Indians citizens of the United States, subject to the laws the same ns other persons. Doubtless this would be wise, if it could be done. But can it? The Indian's nature is such that he will not mingle with white mon, and take upon him? self the obligations of the pale faces. He is born a member of his tribe, and learns his duties to the organiza? tion among the earliest things taught him by his mother. His instincts are wild. Ile longs for the broad sweep of the prairie, and is fettered while he is subservient to the white man's customs. Instincts born in a human being may be changed in some cases by education, but they usually assert themselves in some way; and who shall hope to educate the Indian so that he shall reject the customs of his forefathers? -14'S? ?? ? . THE MURDEH EB'S ORDEAX?.-Ono of tho oldest and most universal super? stitions is the belief that the body of a murdered man will bleed, if touch? ed by tho murderer. It is rare, how? ever, in these days of trial by jury, to meet with a caso of a bona fide mediiuval ordeal. Such was testified to, says tho News, in Charleston, on Thursday last, in tho Court of Ses? sion?, before Judge Moses, in tho caso of Proston Johnson, when a colored witness testified, that tho bloody te9t was gone through with, and that when the body was touched by the prisonor, blood issued from the mouth and nose; upon tho strength of which the arrest was made. Is IT POSSIBLE?-John Nanoo was hanged in Knoxville on Friday, lie was convicted for robbing an ex-Con fedorato soldier named W. McBee, and Gov. Brownlow refused to par? don him. Local Xte:naa. rV ? -?f--fe, Cijbn-PAX Upji-Eroitf uu(?afWr January 1, 1808, the cusWaystora wfll betitrictly enforced. Kraon*' wli<> aro now indebteiV%?r ^bscYipt?onli, nm] who wish their.papcrs continued, will confur u favor by paying up ut once. Tlmse who fflirwiirhnve their papers discontinued. "Casli will also be required for:; dil advertisements. Persons forwarding advertisements from a distance, must send a remit? tance. ' Job work bash on delivery. DECREASE IN Sax, KT?.-Owing to the. excessive dallness in business oiroles at the North, and the conse? quent great falling off lu advertise? ments from that section-which pub? lishers generally depend on to .rill large sheets-we are forced to curtail somewhat tbe proportions of tho PJtaenix. The usual amount of read? ing matter will, however, continue to be published, besides telegraphic despatches from all parts of the world, embracing general news and market reports. Supplement will, of course, be issued, as nsnal, when required. There are some parties who-without knowing tho cost of publishing a daily news journal think the rates of subscription and advertising aro too high-that they are above anti-war rates. They make a grave mistake. The prices are actually less-taking the difference between gold and greenbacks. It has been clearly proven, also, that the Phoenix-now rapidly approach? ing its third birth-day-is not a spas? modic affair, to be published a few weeks, at rates below the actual cost of production, and then suddenly collapse, leaving subscribers minus the amounts paid by them. It is the intention of the proprietor to con? tinue its publication, whether "times are good," or-as now-"particularly bad." Besides which, it should be J remembered, that subscription prices I oannot be altered-advanced or de- ? creased-in a day, like articles of I general merchandize; bat whether the cost of necessaries is very high, or extraordinarily low, the subscriber expects his paper to be furnished at a uniform rate. The terms of the PJtamix are: $2 per quarter for the Daily-about 2}? cents per number; Tri-weekly $1.25; and Weekly (T/ie Gleanei') 75 cents. Advertisements inserted at 75 cents a square for the ilr.it, and 50 cents for each subse? quent insertion. IlKiiioious SERVICES THIS DAV. Trinity Church-Bev. P. J. Sbaud, Lector, 10}4 a. m. and 8 p. m. Presbyterian Church-Bev. W. E. ?oggs. pastor, 10}? a. m. and 7 p. m. St. Peter's Church-Rev. J. J. O'Connell, 10 a. m. and 8 p. m. Washington Street Chapel-Rev. S. Leard, 10>? a. m., 3}? and ly, p. m. Marion Street Church-Rev. S. H. Browne, 10% a. m. 3>? p. m., monthly conference. Lutheran Lecture Room-Rev. A. R. Rude, 10;? a. m. Baptist Church-Rev. J. L. Rey? nolds, 10>? a. m. and 3% p. m. Christ Church Congregation-Theo? logical Seminary Chapel-Rev. J. M. Pringle, 10>? a. m. Rev. S. Leard,- who has been ap? pointed Sunday Sohool Agent by the Methodist Conference, will address tho scholars of the different Sunday Schools in Columbia, this afternoon, at half-past 8 o'clock. A general at tendance i? desired. Seats free. HAMD TIMES.-Mn. EDITOU: Tho general complaint of the scarcity of money scorns pretty well to have been dissipated by Mossrs. D. C. Peixotto Sc Son, auctioneers, at their sale of furniture, which took placo on tho 28d of this month, at tho residence of tba lato Rev. J. T. Mund?. The Iii rill prices obtained, by tho zeal aud energy displayod on the part of those gentlemen, certainly places thom at tho hoad of their profession. OBSERVER. ?* - UNIVERSITY LECTURES. -The lecture by Prof. John I^C&te,' ap '/Friday evening, was pr<<cisely what'we would have expected from.auch'a distin guioue<4 sourco. Ti)o subject was the "Stellur Universe," sud grand and comprehensive as it is, we feel that we can say no less, than that by his thorough knowledge and admirable il? lustr?t i ons, h e on ch ai ned th e attention of a large and intelligent audience for two hour.). His limine wna sub? lime; to set forth the mutual, rela? tions, movements and arrangements which subsist between tho sun, the planets, the - fixed stars and other heavenly bodies, ns far as these have been brought \o view by the lights of science. Bat sublime as it was, he rose "to the height of his great argument," and excluding all notions of accident in the connical arrange? ments, vindicated the waja of God to man, and strikingly exhibited his wisdom, power and superintending Providence. We tender onr thanks to the faculty, and we are sure we utter the sincere wish of the entire community, when we express the hope that the series will be con? tinued. The next lecture will be de? livered ou Thursday evening, the 30th, by Prof. M. LaBorde. Subject, "The G eu i us and Writings of Walter Scott." Stature is nothing-quality every? thing. Tall men are sometimes fools aud short ones geese. People are judged by what they.are and do, uo? by their fine olothes cr clcvatad rel? tives. ff sw ADVEBTISKHFOTS.-Attontien io call? ed to the following advertisements, pub? lished this morning for the first tune: Ladles' Industrial Association Deposit'y. E. Pollard-Honey. O. F. Jackson-Bargains in Dry Goods. Jacob Lavin-Auctions. J. P. M. Epping-La Bankruptcy. F HIES IN GnuENViniiX.-We regret to learn that.the house on the South side of Reedy River, owned by our cotemporary. J, 0. Bailey, of tho Enterprise, and occupied by a freedr man and family, waa, on Wednesday afternoon, destroyed by fire..- Also the valuable mill owned by Mr. David Gunter, on Mountain Creek, about six miles North of this town, waa, on last Sunday, between the hours of 10 a. m. and 12 m., entirely destroyed by fire. The perpetrator of this dar? ing incendiarism is said to bo a negro boy not more than ten years of age, who, however, was most likely acting under the influence of older parsons, whom, we understand, Mr. Ganter had notified to move from his pre? mises- Greenville Mountaineer. \ LOST HER SPEECH.-A colored wo? man, residing in Blandford, some twelve months since, lost her speech, and has not been heard to speak to any of the family since, though she remains with th? same person. She waa, previous t ' his misfortune,, very ? talkative, and marked on ono occa? sion that her tongue would bo .her destruction. From that moment, she ! bas not been heard to speak a word.. The marriage between Adelina Patti and the Marquis de Caux has been arranged. Patti's dower is $200,000. The Empress Eugenie has written a congratulatory letter to Mlle. Patti, in which she has ex? pressed the pleasure with which she will receive the great artiste at coori: as Marquise de Caux. DISTRESS IN NEW YORK.-The New York Journal of Commerce says the amount of poverty in that city is very great, and that tho suffering from this causo has not been equaled for a longtime. Large numbera of able bodied mon wonld cheerfully engage to labor, if promised no more than the means of subsistence. vii? BUUMR AND COTTON BURNT. On Saturday last, tho gin house of Mr. J. O. 0. Fleming was consumed, with about eight bales of cotton. Tho fire ia supposed to have origi? nated from friction of tho machinery. \haurcnsville Herald. A school teacher was put off the cars near Minneapolis, Minn., on Tuesday, for refusing to pay ten cents extra for not having A ticket, and was frozen to death. The ioe in New York harbor is in? creasing in quantity and thickness, so much so that navigation is at times almost suspended.