Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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For Presiden^ HORATIO SEYMOUR, OF For Vioe-President, GEN. F. P. BLAIR, OF MISSOURI. STATE KXitttlXOBAIj TICKET. For State at Large-J. P. Thomas, ol Richland; J. D. Kennedy, o? Ker? shaw. . ?I First Congressional District-R, E. Graham, of Marion. Second Congressional District-B. H. Rntledge, of Charleston. Third Congressional District-A. C. Haskell, of Abbeville. Fourth CongressionalDistrict-E. C. MoLnre, cf Chester. COLUMBIA. Saturday Morning, Septembers, 1868 THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. 2b the People of South Carolina. It waa preferred to the State Central Executive Committee, by the late Domo ora tic Convention, to inquire into the disabilities imposed, by rea? son of tho war, upon a portion of our people, restraining them from the exercise of the elective franchise in Sonth Carolina; and to publish tho conclusion attained, for the informa? tion of the people of the State. The eommittee,'in the discharge of that duty, annonnoe that they have ex? amined the subject, and beg to s tato: 1. That no such disabilities now exist by or under the Acts of Con? gress, known as the Reconstruction Act, the State having been officially declared to be in the Union. 2. That no such disabilities exist I nuder the so-called amendment, known as the fourteenth amendment ] to the Constitution of the United States, the disabilities therein ex? pressed having reference to office holding, and not to voting. 3. That no such disabilities exist by the so-called State Constitution of 1868, under which it is claimed that the State has been reconstructed and restored to the Union. The undersigned, therefore, an? nounce that no such disabilities exist ] by foroe of any law, or supposed law, or authority whatever; and they urge ] their hitherto disfranchised fellow citizens, in every part of the State, to exercise their right to vote at the coming election for President and Vice-President, of which right they have been so long deprived by mili? tary power. By order of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 8&* All of the Democratic papers I in the State, will* please publish at j the head of their editorial column. Canvassers Appointed. Agreeably to a resolution adopted I by the recent State Convention, the ! following gentlemen are appointed by the State Central Executive Com? mittee canvassers in the interest of the Democracy: State at large-Gabriel Cannon and A. P. Aldrich. Second Congressional District--J. B. Kershaw. Third Congressional District-D. Wyatt Aiken. Fourth Congressional District-W. D. Simpson. Canvasser for First Congressional District to be hereafter appointed. WADE HAMPTON, Chairman. THE PKOSPECT BIUGUTENINO.-The Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, under dato of August 31, writes as follows: The news received here from the West, by letters to tho Congressional Democratic Executive Committee, and to private individuals, confirms the statements mado in letters last week that the cause of Seymour and Blair is gaining steadily. A letter received this afternoon from a promi? nent politician in Northern Illinois, who is fully versed in the politics of that State, says that the Demooracy are backing their assertions with deeds, and are wagering odds that they will carry the Congressional Districts now represented by xuG?ai'?. Raum, Collom, Baker and Hardwig, and also tho State, while they offer even bets on Chicago and Cook County. Another letter recoived here from Chicago, says that if Pennsylvania and Indiana vote for the Democrats in October, Illinois will be carried by 30,000. A Saratoga correspondent, writing of tho fashion there, says, among other things, that "somewomen dross to please each other; somo to please men, or rather one man, for as a general thing, they despise men's opinions on millinery. But the most dressy women don't dress to please any budy; they dress to worry other women." The liad lc ni Game. We have frequently bad occasion to protest against tbo allegations of tho radical, party, that violent mea safes are contemplated by the whites itt this canvass. Bot in spite of the declaration made from tirno to time, by the press and publia speakers; in spite of the d?claration of the late State Convention, and of tho Sf. tc Central Club, tho wicked and design? ing leaders of the radicals in this State, will have it that war is to be waged by the whites upon the blacks; that the latter are to be reduced to slavery, &c. This, these political mischief-makers know to be false; but this capital is used to influence the negro's mind for party purposes. See the letter sent to Col. Thomas; and we learn a letter of similar import has been reoeived by another of our fellow-citizens. The idea is suggest? ed, very probably, by a white scoun? drel, that the torch be resorted to, and thus the colored man is invited to his doom. Now, we would suggest to the colored people, that the time has come for thom to turn upon these false teachers, and repudiate thoir teachings. Now, what these designing fellows charge upon tho whites they them? selves have aotually committed. Bead the incendiary articles in the Missionaiy Record and the Republi? can, radical Bheets. Observe the inflammatory harangues attributed to Whittemoro. Notice the fiendish language used by Elliott, a colored member of the "Legislature." Con? sider tho malignant utterances of Randolph, also of the "Legislature." And last, but not least, bear in mind the fearful threat of Judge H?ge, that in a certain contingency he would throw off his judicial, robes and grasp his trusty sword. "Lord Dalhousie, great God of War, Lieutonant-Gencral to tho Earl of Mar.'1 Look, finally, to the numerous armed organizations of negroes in many parts of the State-a fact which Gov. Soott himself has, at last, to notice, although his proclamation is so worded as to apply to the whites when tho proclamation is read at tho North, and to the negroes whon it is read at the South. A few gentlemen provide them? selves with weapons for individual defence,- and a mountain is made of a mole-hill. But it is competent and right for arms to be given by the hundreds to the freedmen. Read what tho New York World says. Hero is testimony from abroad : "In South Carolina the negroes aro organizing into military bands, and arms are entering the State from the North for their use. Some few days since we were privately apprised that certain parties in the North were sending these weapons to the blacks, and now the carpet-bag Governor, who finds that he and his co-adjutors have raised a devil they cannot lay, is out in a ciroular reprehending the formation of military organizations and 'the introduction of arms into the State. ' Who is introducing these arms? We will tell yon. It is the leaders of the radical party. All these threatening indications, all these foreshadowings of blood and fire aro dictated from the radical headquarters in Washington. Those mon aro mad and desperate. It is all or nothing with them. The issue is not simply defeat bat annihilation; and, as a last desperate resort, they seek to repeat the murderous strategy by which they fired the Northern heart with Memphis and Now Or? leans. " -? ? ? ? There has been a perfect reign of terror in Arkansas, for several weeks -white men shot down and Demo? cratic negroes "put ont of the way." A despatch from a radical source says: "Tho Arkansas disturbance has been quelled by tho interference of Gov. Clayton and the shoriff. The courts have been re-opened and quiet restored throughout the State. As to the beginning of the affray, we learn, by mail, that somo negroes in Conway County assaulted a colored Democrat, who was summoned as a juror for tho trial of one of their number, and afterwards fired upon two white men, wounding one of thom mortally. Two members of tho Legislature then assembled tho ne? groes in large numbers, and the whites commenced fleeing for safety. About 800 whites banded together at Lewisburg for mutual protection. Gov. Clayton, at Little Hock, mus? tered in 100 negroes, armed them and moved to the scene of the disturb? ance. " Most extraordinary rises occur in California rivers. 150 feet is not un? common. Ono year every bridge in the State was swept away, though the arches of many rose seven ty-five feet. Prolonging the War, The Now York Tribune begins a long article of the moBt malignant misrepresentation of. the political sentiments of the "Southern people, j with the sentence: "Dearly aa the American people loved peace, many of them feared that the war would end too soon." "From many men in the North comes the assurance tilt* ttbe war for the Union ended too soon." Wo dare say that is the prevailing [ sentiment among a good many con? tractors and speculators, as well ns the Tribune school of philanthropists, who, gushing with such compassion for all human tribulation, that they would not send even murderers to the gallows, can deal iu such talk as the following, to those whose only offence is a difference of political opinion: "We are taught every day that the war should have been indefinitely Erolonged; that tho rebellion should ave been crushed inch by inch, till its leaders had died in battle, or fled from the country; till its armies had dwindled into bands of robbers; till it had been driven into tho woods and swamps, to starve and perish, where tho negro had starved and perished in the days when the rebel? lion was only an unlifted menace, in that insulting hand which slavery shook in the face of the republic. Victory was ns premature, as wo are assured, in 1865, as it would have been in 1862. Nothing was decided by tho war, if we trust the defiance now hurled at us by the South. It has gone baok to 1860, and proposes to begin over again." The Baltimore Sun intimates that the people who think "that the war would end too soon," are not those who did the fighting, but are mostly persons who, from the sereno and secure positions, wherein they were able to obtain exemption from mili? tary service, snuffed the battlo afar off, and who, if the war had continued till the end of time, would never have been profaned by the smell of gun? powder. Such a programme as the Tribune has marked out in the above paragraph, founded upon tho amaz? ing falsehood that tho South "pro? poses to begin the war over again," is worthy of the spirit of the prince of darkness, or of a professional philanthropist. Greut Republican Fizzle at Lexing? ton. MB. EDITOB: On Saturday lost, at Lexington C. H., the poor Democrats of Lexington expected to be utterly demolished. Great preparations were made, distinguished spenkers announced, and posters all over the District, was expected to bring out the crowd. Well, the time came, and so did Sawyer, and Robinson, and Chamberlain, and Boozer-and they all made speeches to the faithful. The crowd consisted of 130 in line, all told-men and boys-all darkies. They had their flags and mottoes, and their drums. A few faithful whites were also present, but they were so scarce that even Sawyer in? quired where they were, and declared that there were not enough to com? pose a corporal's guard. And now, Mr. Editor, wo aro able to breathe free again, for tho thing has como and gono and no one hurt except the radicals-for ono of their frionds, at least, who was at the meeting, said that he had iieard enough to satisfy him that radicalism would not do. This is indication of radical fizzling throughout the State. Georgia has taken the lead, bot Sooth Carolina will follow. * LEXINGTON. To lite Varioui Democratic Clubs of Lexington District. It is respectfully urged that each Club send up a delegation to this place, on Monday, tho 14th iustaut, to nominate delegatos to a convention to bc held in Columbia, on the 15th instant, called for the purpose of nominating a candidate for Congress for tho Third Congressional District. HENRY A. MEETZ, President Central Club. LEXINGTON C. H., Sept. 4, 18G8. Three distinguished persons of title recently sat down to a private dinner in one of the principal hotels of Ostend, Belgium, and on the waiter entering the room to serve the dessort, he was astonished to [find the three corpses lying on the floor. Prusio acid was found in each champaguo gloss, which partly explained tho tragedy._ Tho "tanners" of Chicago hare had a nico little row abont admitting blacks into their organizations. The Irish and German "tanners" swore death to the black "tanners," if the latter were allowed in the procession, and consequently it was thought pru? dent to exolude them. "Let us have peace." A. TVtre&i mad the Reply. MB. EDITOB: I band yon the fol? lowing communication, received through the post office, and address? ed to me. My consideration for the '/great body of the colored peoplo who, I know, are misled by tho teachings of bad men, both white and black, in? duces me to depart from my usual rule of not noticing anonymous com? munications. My anxiety that no responsibility shall attach to the party with which I am identified, for any collisions that may arise in this State, induces me further to state the truth as it is. As to myself, it is not true that I am providing arms and ammunition, as alleged, for Democrats or others. What anns I have, or may obtain, are designed for self-defence, and to meet just such incendiaries os the "head com rittee of safety" threatens to let loose upon me and others. In the second place, it is proper to state, for tho information of the per? sons whom designing men are lead? ing to acts of violence, that the De? mocratic party of this State have no disposition whatever to harm them in life, liberty or property. No vio? lence will occur, unless begun by their opponents. The election will be peaceful, unless made otherwise by the radical party. Nor is it true that a triumphant Democracy would seek to impair tho just rights of the colored people, or deny to them their reasonable claims. On the contrary, tho triumph of that party is alone consistent with tho well-being of the African race. It will not give to the black man the unqualified privilege of suffrage; but it will give him what is better thau suffrage-tho fruits of his labor; the protection of his person, and all tho benefits of civil rights-these con? ducing to his mental, moral and physical improvement. The people of tho South think kindly of, and are disposed to deal generously with the great body of the freedmen; and cer? tainly we have no desire to kill them, as tho Columbia "head committee of safety" seem to imply. As to the threats of this committee, of course, it becomes us all to take notice, and to heed the "timely warn? ing." But it may bo well for me, soberly nud candidly, to suggest that it will be a fatal day for the colored people, when they shall bo induced to court an issue of arms nud blood aud fire with the white people. For one, I shall do all in my power to avert this calamity; and this I know to be tho sentiment of tho party with which I am acting, and the gentle? men with whom I associate. "In the name of God we have set up our banners," and we seek no violent settlement of the issues that have been sprang upon us. But let this "committee of safety" under? stand that beneath the velvet glove of honest conciliation, is the mailed hand of power; and that this hand will be raised with regret, but in con? fidence, whenever it shall become necessary for the protection of fami? lies and fire-sides. J. P. THOMAS. Mr J P Thomas Sir. i hear from a good witness that you a geting 18 shooting Rifles and a large lot of amunition at your house, in fact you are ordering for tho de? mocrats so as to arm them to kil us, now Mr thomas we once thought you wus a fair mau which you said you was but you have now turned agin us and say this is a white mans government, aud we have no rites except to labor for you. now I can tell you that we are disposed to bo peacible, but when you begin to kil us i must say that we have no guns but wo have got plenty of matches and we will use them and Shermans March will not be a circumstance when you begin to kill us. why cant you let us alone wo dont trouble you we only want what the United States government pivo us and wo intend to have that. all we ask is a fair election and if your party is a fair party yon will givo us that without a fus. we no souio of your tricks but when you commence to kil us got ready to camp out and to eat grass which we dont think will last you long aa frost is so near, we no you li%'e in a flue houso and got a largo family and is at the head of the democrats and wo give you this timely warning. head commit tt; of safety. HOMICIDE.-The usually quiet com? munity of Bethel, in this District, was startled on Saturday evening last, by ono of those unfortunate events which has cost a gloom over the hearth-stones of many in its midst. On Saturday afternoon, while R. L. Simmons and James A. Glenn, a brother of oar estimable sheriff, were returning home from this place, an altercation occurred, which result? ed in Simmons shooting Glenn through the head with a pistol, from the effeots of which ho died on the afternoon of the following day. As to the origin of difficulty, or the amount of criminality on the part of Simmons in the unfortunate act, we forbear to speak in advance of a judioial investigation. Simmons surrendered himself, and is now in jail.-Yorkville Enquirer. THIS LEGISLATURE. P1?00EEDINUS OP FIFTT-FOUBTH DAT. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. COLUMBIA, September 4.-D ri tile offered a resolution to nu thor i zo tue Governor to make temporary appoint? ments of Justices of the Peuco, which was roferred ' to the Committee on Officers und Offices. The Committeo on Vacant Offices reported on the communication of W*. J. Lee, declining to act as County Commissioner of Williamsburg, and recommend that the office be de? clared vacant and a new election or? dered. Adopted. Communications were reooived from the Governor, announcing his approval of the joint resolution to appropriate $70,000 for the pay and mileage of members, and also cover? ing a request from the municipal au? thorities of Columbia, that the fenc? ing around the new Stat? Hojse be restricted to its proper boundaries, ns it touches upon the publio streets. Tho latter was properly referred. The bill to establish the Counties of Oconee and Pickons, as Judicial Districts, was read the third time and passed. Tho bill to incorporate tho Colum? bia Educational Society (darkies) was read tho third timo and passed. Tho resolution proposing that the General Assembly adjourn sine die on the 11th instant, was laid on the table. The bill to allow minors and others to recover monies, stocks, bonds, ?.fcc., converted by guardians and others into Confederate money, was poit poned until tho regular session. The Railroad Committee reported favorably on the bill to authorize ad? ditional aid to the Blue Ridge Rail? road, aud the bill was read tho first time. It authorizes the President and Directors of tho road to issue 81,000, 000 worth of bonds for tho payment of contracta, under the Act of De? cember 21. 1854; no issue of bonds under that Act having been previous? ly made, and for the payment of these bonds the faith and credit of the State is pledged and the Comp? troller-General directed so to endorse on them. It further pledges the faith and credit of tho State for the pay? ment of 83,000,000 worth of bonds to be paid for tho fulfillment of con? tracts; provided the interest shall not exceed 7 per cent., and further pro? vided that no part of such bonds shall be used unless Congress or pri? vate capitalists furnish the money in exchange for or on tho security of these bonds. All the property of the road in Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina, is pledged by mortgage having priority of all future liens for the payment of theso loans. The Board of Direction is to be increased to fifteen, of whom the Governor shall be ex officio afmember. The Governor is authorized to draw $20,000 in bills receivable, from the State, to keep the road in working order. The bill to appoint a commission to codify the statute laws of the State was passed, with an amendment, ap? pointing D. T. Corbin, James M. Rutland and W. J. Whipper, (negro,) as commissioners. SENATE. Nothing of importance was done in this body. Tho attention of the members was principally devoted to tho consideration of a communication spread before them by the President, to whom it was addressed, recording the fact that a Republican County Convention, of Barnwell, had re? quested Senator Leslie to resign his seat, as his speeches and actions in? dicated that ho no longer represented the party which had placed him in power. The reading of the paper having been concluded, Mr. Leslie addressed the Senate in his usual vigorous stylo, showing that the County Convention referred to, was composed of fifteen men, eleven ol whom were negroes, who could neither read nor write, and the rest mean white men, whom he had ac? tually saved from disgrace and starva? tion. Randolph, Senator from the burni district, made several efforts tc launch into one of his fits of black guardism, but even those of his owr color and party cried him down; ant he succeeded in saying nothing mon in substance than, that ho was pre seut at tho Convention which nomi nnted Leslie, to which Leslie repli?e sollo roce, but loud enough to b( heard in any part of the Senate chambor, "that's a lie, why don't yoi speak tho troth. " Coghlan, also, tho man who revell in the idea that he is almost a3 gooi as a negro-au imputation which al the ropectablo colored Senators in dignautly repel-attempted to throv dirt at Leslie, but was brought tc order beforo he had said twenty words. The papers were finally laid on the table. -? IMPORTANT TO WORKINGMEN.-Th< suit instituted in the Wostchestoi (New York) Court of Oyer and Ter miner, to test the rights of mechanici to prevent non-members of theil unions from pursuing their avoca tions, has been concluded. Eigh brick-layers were indicted for con spiracy in refusing to allow the de fendant, William Dawson, to work a his trade, he not being a member o the dab. After considerable evi dence and a legal exposition affecting the case, the jury returned a verdie of guilty. Sentence deferred. The statement in yesterday's paper, relativ? tQ: the death of Dr. Ray, is incorrect, vo are pleased to announce. The doctor has -been ill, but is now rapidly recovering. Our information was obtained from a source deemed reliable. About 2 o'clock, yesterday morn? ing, the house of Mr. James Dent,4 on Quinine Hill, near Columbia, was struck by lightning and considerably damaged. The chimney was thrown down, -weather-boarding and plaster? ing demolished, bat, fortunately, no one waa injured. An unoccupied bed-room was completely covered with tue debris. We are informed that Mr. Frank L. Miller, who claims to represent Georgetown District in tho so-called, is a candidate for Presidential Elector from the First Congressional District. Mr. Miller is, we believe, a Southern man, and it is a problem we are un? able to solve-bow such individuals can act with the Republican party which ^uses every effort to degrade the white man and elevate the negro. M AID ARRANGEMENTS.-The post office open during the week from 8}4 a. m. to 7 p. m. On Sundays, from 4 to 5 p. m. Tho Charleston and Western mails are open for delivery at 5 p. m., and close at S}4 p. m. Charleston night mail open 8% a. m., close 4?? p. m. Northern-Open for delivery .at S'.j a. m., closes at 2.45 p. m. Greenville-Open for 'delivery 5 p. m., CIOSCB at 8}-.< p. m. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Special at teutiou is called to the following ad? vertisements, published for the first time this morning: Mrs. Monteith-School Notice. D. 13. DeSaussure-Sales. MASONIC.-On the 15th of this month, there will be, probably, one of tho largest and most important gatherings of Masons, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri^ that has ever been held in this country. Three of the highest bodies of the order will be assembled in that city at the same time, viz: the "Supremo Council of the 33d, or highest degree in Mason? ry," the "National Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States," and the "Grand Com mandery of Knights Templar." Delegates will bo present from every portion of the United States. South Carolina will be represented in the "Supreme Council" by Dr. A. G. Mackey and Hon, Henry Buist, both Sovereign Grand Inspector-Generals for this State, and will be also repre? sented in the "National Grand Chap? ter" by R. S. Bruns, Esq., M.-. E.', Grand High Priest, and Capt. C. E. Chichester, R.\ E.*. Grand Scribe of South Carolina. The brethren of St. Louis promis? their visiting brethren atruoMasonic welcome, and, among other enter? tainments provided for their happi? ness, after their labors are completed, is a trip to the Rocky Mountains, by way of the Pacific Railroad. [Charleston Courier. The resignation of E. A. Lowie, a member of the House from Lexing? ton, who came here, elected on the radical ticket, was sent in and accept? ed to-day. Mr. Lewis has been suffering for some time past an in? tense disgust for the rottenness dis? played by the party with wliioh, in an evil hour, ho had affiliated, and no longer able to endure his. mortifica? tion, he returned to his constituency last week, made an open confession of faith in tho Democratic party, tendered his resignation and came squarely out as a champion for Sey? mour and Blair. He is the third conspicuous convert since the com? mencement of the session, TJiowny Goode Stubbs and Riohard Grant, both primary radicals, from Marl? boro, having preceded him. The latter retain their seats, voting with the Democrats, and on their return homo, will tako the stump for the white man's party. [Columbia Cor. Charlestoi\ Courier. FIRES.-We learn from th>iSavan? nah Neuis and Herald, of Tuesday, that a fire occurred, on Broughton street, in Savannah, the day before, which destroyed the millinery store of Mrs. S. V. Prentice, and the fancy goods storo of S. Cohen. The fire was the work of an incendiary, who first robbod Mrs. Prentioe of eight or nine hundred dollars, and afterward fired the store. The total loss of both parties is estimated at about $22,000, with an insurance for $10, 000. Tho Columbus (Ga.) Sun learns that a destructive fire broke out in Lumpkin, on Friday morning, about half-past 12 o'clock, by wliioh the Masonic Hall, drug store of Tatum & Co., and four other stores adjoin? ing, were burned; also two dwelling houses in the rear of the stores, but how, is not known. Most of tho goods were saved, though in a damaged condition.