Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA. Saturday Morning, February 8.1868. FEED. DOUGIJAB TO HTS PEOPLE. -In A late speech at Akron, Ohio, Fred. . D?nalos. addreaa'nor tha onlor?d peo? ple, told them that the Government .emancipated the negroes as a matter .of policy, and not from any Chris? tian motive of right or justice, and that they had no more reason to be thankful to the Government for their . freedom than had the Hebrews to feel thankful to Pharaoh for their de? liverance from bondage. Douglas aaid that although it was possible ?that, naturally, the colored men were .equal to the whites, they were not so practically, and that they must rise through their own exertions to a .much higher degree of intelligence boforo being allowed all the rights -And privileges of the white man. He Added, that they were now on proba? tion, and if fifteen years hence found ?them as they now are. it would be almost impossible for them to make any advancement. Perhaps this ad? vice from' an intelligent colored man may be received by his race as the .counsel of a friend. It is certain that the competition against whioh they will have to contend for the . means of support, must increase, by immigration, every year, whilst they . can rely on no such addition to their ? numbers, but must make np for tho Inequality by inoreased efficiency. The ignorant and degraded, nf what? ever color, must always bo subject to superior intelligence, and it behooves the colored people to reflect whether -'those are their true friends who would plunge them into politics without .previous preparation and training, or ' those who would help to fit them, as ? far as may be accomplished, for tho '-discharge hereafter of suoh duties as may devolve upon them. The tooth-treaty with the Fejoes ia said to contain, among other pro? visions, one that the President, on his part, shall "agree to prevent the rival Fejee King from levying war Against the legitimate sovereign dur? ing the continuance of the mortgage." ' ..The question is, whether the Presi? dent shall be permitted to exercise this enormous influence over those -who may one day be our fellow-citi? zens, and whether there is not ground for Congress rather to intervene aud ^'reconstruct" the Fejee Islands. Here is a bright idea-say for Mr. Ashley. Let a bill be made ready to "secure a Republican form of government" to the islands, as soon AS the islands are annexed. The Kew York Times suggests that Con? gress will, of course, confer on the Fejees the right of suffrage. THE HAM II:.-In tho report of the XoniBiana State Fair at New Orleans, .we find the following in regard to this new plant: "Quito a number of persons have been attracted to the machine for cleansing (or ginning) the ramie plant-the substitute for cotton which certain enterprising persons are en? deavoring to introduce among South? ern agriculturists. Apparently tho machine does its work well, leav? ing the long, strong, silky fibres free -from dirt or parti?les of tho stalk. . Many qnestions are asked, and satis? factorily answered by the exhibitor, who refers with pride to the growing -ramies on the Fair Grounds, which aro in a nourishing condition, al? though planted but a few weeks ago. The ramie grows from slips or cnt ?itags, and thu routs wiii last for live years, yielding annual orops. It is .claimed that tests already made prove that this cnn be made a more ?profitable crop than cotton. It will, d i bi le s, receive a thorough test from our planters." Mr. J. Fraser Matthowe?, a resident of Charleston, was brutally murdered by some negroes, in Beaufort, on tho 1st. ? ?.. . s r^H'-Vt) ? -M- . <-t>\ Oar Vint Ul Uro art. The Charleston Nevos pnblishes an interesting sketch of the South Caro? lina Railroad, from which we extract the following: It is little more than forty years ago that the practicability of railroad cc;ni???>Ca*i?? rrilu the interior was first discussed in Scuth Carolina. Horse power was all that was con? templated; and those who favored the project believed that horse power alone, upon a rail or tram-way, would be so superior to the' ordinary road as to be highly profitable to the com? pany, as well as convenient to the public. One of the earliest projectors was Mr. Alexander Black. Ho was ably seconded by Mr. Tristram Tup Ser, Mr. Wm. Aiken, Gov. Bennett, ir. B. J. Howland and Dr. Samuel H. Dickson. These gentlemen met with every kind of discouragement; they persevered, nnd, ns the result of their -labors, South Carolina may claim: 1. The first railroad of any consi? derable size built iu the United States. 2. Tbs first steam propelled cars, running regularly with passengers and baggage, in the world. 3. The first application of Ameri? can improvements to locomotives and passenger coaches, which improve? ments have sinoe been almost uni? versally adopted. Ia 1827, the charter of tho South Carolina Canal and Railroad Com? pany was obtained, and in February of that year, books were opened for additional subscriptions. The stock was all taken, and in May, 1828, the company was formally organized. In June. 1829, a meeting of the stockholders was held. It was re? solved to commence the work at once, aud the directors were authorized to construct and complete forthwith a portion of the road between Charles? ton and Hamburg. To save them? selves from satire and ridicule, the directors stole quietly out to Line street, on the night of January 9, 1830, and turned the first sod of what is now the South Carolina Rail? road. The "Best Friend," the first rail? road engine built in the United States, was designed by Mr. E. L. Miller, of Charleston, and was built in New ?ork. She was a small four wheeled engine, with an upright boiler, with flues close to the bottom, and the flumes circulating around them. Its performances on its trial trip, in December, 1830, were regard? ed with wonder and, perhaps, appre? hension. In January of the following year, 1831, the directors were formally au? thorized to locate the road, and by the end of the month the "Best Friend" was running over eight miles of track to Goose Creek. In Decem? ber, 1832, the road was opened to Branchville, and tho doubters and skeptics began to fear that they had wept and foreboded in vain. 1833 was an eventful year. In April, the road was completed to Midway, seventy-two miles, and a train was run up to that point, at the rate of twelve miles an hour. In October, tho entire road to Hamburg was completed and thrown open for traffic. The road was fairly stocked with engines and cars, but they were of a weak and incomplete description. The engine ''Phoenix," for instance, was three-horse power, and was capa? ble of hauling 6,000 pounds oi freight. The "West Point" waa eleven-horse power, and could haul five cars of a capacity of 2,000 pounds each; and the "Barnwell," a mam? moth among the locomotives of thirty years ago, was twenty-four-horse power, and could hunl ten cars ol 2,000 pounds each. It is interesting to compare these locomotives with thoso of the preseut day, which have a power of 300 horses, weigh from twenty to tweaty-six tons, and can haul with ons? twenty curs of a capa? city of 16,000 pounds each, or an aggregate of 320,000 pounds. Early in 1838, ground was broken on the Columbia branch, which wac to connect Charleston, by the Charles? ton and Hamburg Road, with Colum? bia. lu Juiy, 1842, tho Columbia branch was completed, and the total income of the two roads-from Charleston tc Hamburg, and from Branchville tc Columbia-wus for the six months, ending June 30, 1843, $215.982. During the year 1842, permission was grunted the oitizens of Camden and Kershaw Districts to construct s branch to conneot Camden with the South Carolina Railroad, and, in De? cember, 1844, an Act of incorpora I tion was grunted by tho Legislature. VENUS ANT/JOTTTEB,-As these two planets have attracted considerable observation and interest recently, ! owing to the fact of their late prox? imity, a. phenomenon never before witnessed by our readers, the Char-1 lestsp jSsws collates a iew facts re- j garding them. Of all the luminaries of Heaven, the sun and moon ex? cepted, the planet Venus is most conspicuous. She appears like a brilliant lamp among the leaser orbs, and alternately anticipates tho morn? ing dawn, and ushers in the evening twilight. The diameter of Venus has been computed at about 7,800 miles, and consequently its surface contains 191,134,944 square miles, and could contain a number of in? habitants equal to more than 53,500, 000,000, or nearly sixty-seven times the population of our globe. Venus revolves in au orbit which ?B 433, 800,000 miles in circumference in the space of 224 days and sixteen boors; its rate of motion is, therefore, about 80,000 miles every hour, 1,830 miles every minute, and about twenty-two miles every second. Its distance from the sun is 68,000,000 of miles, and from tho earth, when nearest us, about 27,000,000 of milee, which is the nearest approach that any of the heavenly bodies, except the moon, make to the earth. Yet this distance is very great, for a cannon ball would require six years and three months to move from the earth to the near? est point in the orbit of Venns, although it were flying every mo? ment at tho rate of 500 miles au hour. At its greatest distance from us it is 163,000,000 of miles. Jupiter, when nearest tho earth, is the most splendid of all the nocturnal orbs except Venus and the moon. Its distance from tho sun is 495,000, 000 of miles, and tho circumference of its orbit is 3,100,000,000 of miles. Around this orbit it moves eleven years and 315 days at the rate of nearly 30,000 miles every hour. When nearest the earth, it is about 400,000,000 of miles distant, and when at its greatest distance from us no less than 590,000,000 of miles. This planet revolves around its axis in the space of nine hours 55 mi? nutes forty-nine and a half seconds. This rotation is far more rapid than that of any of tho other planets. The circumference of Jupiter is 278,000 miles, and therefore its equitorial parts will move with a velocity of 28,000 miles an hour, which is 3,000 miles more than the equitorial pnrts of the earth's surfaco move in twenty-four hours. Jupiter is eleven times largor in circum? ference than the earth, and moves round the sun in 4,332'. of our days, and round its axis in nine hours fifty-six minutes nearly; there? fore its year will be 10,470 days. This planet is the largest in the system, being 84,000 miles in diame? ter, and consequently 1,400 times larger than the earth. Its surface contains nearly 25,000,000,000 square miles, with accommodations for near? ly 7,000,000,000 of inhabitants, which is nearly fifty times the number of human beings that have existed on the earth since its creation. Such au immense globe, moving forward in its annual course 30,000 miles every hour, and carrying along with it four moons, larger than ours, to adorn its firmament, presents to the imagination an idea at once wonderful and sublime. INCENDIARISM.-The gin house aud cotton press, together with twenty five or thirty bales of cotton, belong? ing to Mr. J. R. Smyer, who lives about fifteen miles below this town, were entirely destroyed by fire on Friday night last. Several freedmen have been arrested and committed to jail at this place, charged with tho perpetration of the incendiarism. 1 Greenville Mountaineer. ANOTHEH BARN BURNT.-About 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning last, the barn of Mr. A. H. Boykin, on Swift Creek, was destroyed by fire, to? gether with 2,000 bushels of corn. The Aro was, no doubt, tho work of an incendiary.-Camden Journal. CHOIJEBA TN FiiOBiABA. -Thn Sa? vannah News, of the 3d, has inform? ation that cholera has made its ap? pearance at Cedar Keys, Florida, and that several deaths from that disease have occurred within the last few days. An unromantic youth in New York hung himself with a towel to a hat peg, and thus pegged out of exist? ence, i Some Georgia negroes stole a hog and ate it. The hog had tho cholera, and the negroes never stole more. ILaCfrOAl J.toma. GASH-PAX UP.-From and after January 1, 1868, the cash system xviii be strictly enforced. Persons who are now indebted for subscriptions, and who wish their papers continued, will confer a favor by paying up at once. Those who fail will havo their papers discontinued. Cash will also be required for all advertisements. Persons forwarding advertisements from a distance, must send a remit? tance. Job work oash on delivery. VALENTINES.-Mr. McCarter lins furnished us a package containing various reminders-comic as well as sentimental-of the rapid approach of the 14th-the natal day of the patron saint of all true lovers-from the little four-year older to the sober, sedate citizen of fifty-four. GROUND HOG DAY.-Sunduy last February 2-was tho traditional day on which tho ground hog comes forth from his winter quarters. If ho sees his shadow, he goes into his hole and remains six weeks longer, during which time winter holds sway-"lin? gering iu the Inp of spring," as the poet hath it. If, however, the day is cloudy, and ho can't see his sha? dow, he tarries with us, and warm weather will come early. Did any? body see his wise hogship out on Sunday? THE QUEEN'S BOOK-Leaves from the Journal of our Lifo in the High? lands, from 1848 to 1861; to which is prefixed nnd added Extracts from tho same Journal, givingau Account of Earlier Visits to Scotland, and Tours in England and Ireland, and Yachting Excursions. Edited by Arthur Helps. 12mo, pp. 287. Harper & Brothers. Mr. Arthur Helps is, we believe, Clerk of the Privy Council, and his office brought him into that close personal relation to the Queen which, together with his literary reputation, led to his becoming tho editor of the Queen's Diary. He states, in an in? teresting way, how the book came to bo published. During an official visit, her Majesty showed him ex? tracts from her journal of life in the Highlands, which she had it in mind to print for private distribution. Mr. Helps and others suggested that the work would be not lesss interesting to the public than to her personal friends. The preface goes ou to say, that it was urged that extracts from a privately printed book would be almost sure to find their way into the papers in a garbled shape, and that her subjects would be gratified "to be allowed to know how her rare moments of leisure were passed iu her Highland home, when every joy was heightened, and every care and sorrow diminished, by the loving companionship of the Prince Con? sort. Upon these considerations, her Majesty eventually consented to its publication." All this is a plain, un? varnished table, and gives, we doubt not, the true history of the appear? ance of this book. Following so olosely as this does upon the publica? tion of tho first volume of the Life of the Prince Consort, it continues tho biographical interest which that excited, and derives a charm from tho stripping off that mystery which surrounds a royal personage, and allowing us to poop behind the hedge of divinity which is believed to en? compass a king. Such a book can scarcely be judged on its own merits. lt is not above criticism, nor below it. Wo may as well take tho book for whut it is meaufc, confess to a be? coming curiosity as to tho inner lifo and rural enjoyments of a happily wodded pair, and read this record with a duo sonso of gratitude for the condescension which spreads it be? fore plebeian oyes. J. J. MoCarter, .Esq., has favored us with a copy o? this work. PASSING THROUGH.-A delegation of twelve men, from Baltimore, ia charge of a fine steam engine, Niaga? ra No. 4, will reach this citv to-day about 10 o'clock, en rouie to Augusta, to present the Columbia fire company with the engine It ?o under the im? mediate direction of Mr. Dunn, Fire? man, of Baltimore, Md. A delegation from the Bollingbrook Fire Company will meet and escort them through tho city to the Court House, where they will try the strength of the engine. ? It is from the foundry of Messrs. Iv^s, Pool & Hunt, Baltimore. [Petersburg ( Va.) Express, Feb 4. The Augusta Chronicle thinks this is a mistake; that the eugine must be for the Columbia (S. C.) fire com? pany. Hope it is so. One of the Cherokee delegation, who passed through this city several weeks ngo, died very suddenly, in Washington, on the 1st inst., and was buried on tho 3d. The Commis? sioner of Indian A fiai rs aud the various Indian delegations, agents and superintendents, now in Wash? ington, attended the funeral in a body. _ WHAT- NEXT?-Golden hair, red hair, auburn hair and black has re? spectively been "the fashion" in the past, and now comes gray bair. Hair dyes have been pronounced injurious, and the consequence ? is that the numerous owners of silvery locks have declared gray hair fashion? able. During the past week, a noted barber in that city has obtained as high a sum as fifty dollars and soveuty-flve for small bunches of gray hair. What next? % TlUAIS DY THE MILITARY.-The following order was issued on Thurs? day: CHARLESTON, S. C., Feb. 6, 1868. General Orders No. 18. I. In trials of offences nt common law or under State statutes, and in trials of civil actions, provost courts, military commissions and military tribunals, organized by virtue of authority Tinder the Reconstruction Acts of Congress, will bo governed by the rules of evidence prescribed by the law of the State in which the case ia tried. II. No provost court will entertain jurisdiction of any case, nor will any post commander refer any case for trial by any such court, nnless it shall appear to the satisfaction of the post commander and shall be certi? fied by him, either First. That the case involves mat? ters of difference between employer and employed respecting rights under provisions of military orders; or, Second. That the proper State au? thorities have refused or unreason? ably failed, or are unable to take action needful for the protection of persons or property; or, Third. That there is good ground for believing, upon facts shown, which must be preserved of record, that impartial justice cannot be se? cured in the State courts, by reason of prejudioe on account of race, color or former condition. MAIL ARRANGEMENTS.-The post office open during the week from 8)4 a. m. to 6 p. m. On Sundays, from \)i to 1% p. m. The Charleston and Western mails aro open for delivery at 2 p. m., und close at 9 a. m. Northern-Opon for delivery at 10>.< a. m., closes at 1 p. m. Greenville-Open for delivery at 3 p. m., closes at 8 p. m. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attontion it* call? ed to the following advortinemouts, pub? lished this morning for tho tir*t Hmo: R. L. Bryan- Valentines, Ao. Jacob Levin-Auction Balo. M. W. Bytbewood-Auction Halo. D. 0. Peixotto A Hon-Ju?t KecHved. John* Agsow-R?ai Estato For salo. THE CONVENTION TAX - Goneral Cunby has ordered assessors of taxes to add to their assessments the tax levied by the Convention for the purpose of paying the per diem and contingent oxpouses of that body. The Treasurer of tho State is author? ized and directed to pay the per diem and mileage of thu delegates, the contingent expenses, and tho compensation of the officers, upon tho warrant of the President in the usual form.-Charleston News.