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Fri wty Morninp, Apriri<&\ 1B69._ _ Reconstruction l>y Congrtti. Congress hus seen fit to pass an Act Tor thu restoration of the States of Mississippi, Toxus and Virginia, whi"h leaves these States in limbo during the rest of tho sum? mer solslico. As a prefix to their re-union, they aro compelled to come clothed with the provsious of the fifteenth amendment. The .stipulations of the Act, other than this, are axooqtive.. in character, defining the manner of holding eleotions and referring to proviens-enactments to the same end. The moat notable portion of the Act is the compulsory passage of the fifteenth amend? ment. U''\ Simultaneous with tho promulgatiou of this Aot the Supreme Court has delivered au opinion in the Texas case which vitally effects the legal bearing of the bill. The Court decides that Texas is a State; that by no act of hers can she bo divested of that character. Of course tho opinion applies to Mississippi and Virginia as well as Texas. And the question at once recurs upon this status under the law,, whether Congress can prescribe euch terms of admission us those laid down in the Reconstruction Act. To poss an amendment to the Constitution, submit it to the States, and theu compel any of them to pass it, is surely an assumption of extraordinary powers in the legislative branch of the General Government. It is a direct encroachment upon reserved rights, if any aro possessed by tho States themselves, and done in d?fiance of the binding forco of a decision of the .Judiciary. The Act stretches tho plenary powers of Congress to a most unnatural limit. If even the bare forms of law continue to bo tims ruth? lessly set aside, we cannot toll whore tho process may end. Rospeoting the policy of tho adoption of negro suffrage, we aro olear that the South could not do better. As a matter of policy, there can be but little question that the do? mestic harmony of the Southern States would bo vastly enhanced by the total anni? hilation of all political distinctions whatever between their own citizens. In fact, it is doubtful if harmony without or within will ever come to the South at all until negro suffrage is adopted. But it ia by no means clear fhat Congress, following up one of its own enact monts, lian tho powor to destroy till opposition of. the States in the submis? sion to the States of an- amendment to the Constitution. Congress errs vitally-not in encouraging by every lawful means tho adoption of uni vcrsal'snffrage, but in attaching a compul? sory provision to un Act referring to a vo? luntary privilege which it has alroady ac? corded to the StutOH. The recent decision of the-Supreme-Court fixes this point even more firmly than th? tenor of^Oougressional legislation had already affirmed it. The decision comes thus with cotempory force in direct conflict with the provisions of the K?..construction Act itself. . ? r Besides this, thc adoption of .the ?fteonth amendment is not mada final in the pre? mises. , Congress lias constituted itself a final arbiter of thc method and measure of all provisions whatsoever inserted iuto the new constitutions, of which the fifteenth amendment must per force be J part. To prolong the probation put upon the exclud? ed States, Congress bas left the exorcise of tho right of self-government by them in abeyance until its ra-assembling. All this, candid men cannot approve. Tho assump? tion of such extraordinary powers will cer? tainly react upon its authors, by tho same law in public sentiment that is known tobe constant to the physical world-thc rule of commensurate action and reaction. Hui eau of Statistic*. Gen. Francis A. Walker, Doputy Special Commissioner of the Rovenuo, has just issued No. 22 of the monthly reporta of this bureau, from which we learn that the total imports into the country during tho month of August, 1868. amounted to $34, 177,594, of which $31,800,599 paid duties, and 32,071,085 was admitted freo of duty; entered for consumption, $21,500,087; ware? housed, S12.881.507; proportion brought iu American vessels or vehicles, 89,027,471; in foreign vessels or vehicles, $24,850,123. For tho corresponding period of 1807 wo have, total imports, $34,710,308; dutiable, ?32,140,233; free of duty, $2,570,135; en? tered for consumption, $21,487,141; en? tered warehouse, $13,229,227. For tho eight months ended August 31, 1808, the total imports were $203,951,749, ugainst $272,240,457 for the corresponding period of 1807. Total domestic exports for August, 1868, $26,028,041; shipped in American vessels, $8,431,966; in foreign vessels, $17,596,676. For the samo month in 1867, the total do? mestic exporto were $24,897,051. For the eight mouths ended August 81. 1868, the total exports were $306,667,069, against I ?332,565 ,644 for the corresponding period in 1867. Total r?exporta in Augost, 1868, 81,752,030; dutiable,4757,883; free of doty, $994,144; shipped in American vessels, $1,199,076; in foreign vessels. $552,954. i)t the totul re-?xports. 3681,502 were from warehouse. Total ro-erporls in August, 1867, $1,557,374. Tbe re-exports for tho eight months ended Angiiat 81, 1868. aggre? gate $15,104,115, against $16,087,091 for tho same period of 1867. Tho total value of foreign commodities remaining in warehouse nt the beginning of Augsut, 1868, WHS $51,257.593; ware? housed during the monti), $14,107,630; withdrawn from warehouse, $15,648,506; remaining in warehouse at the olose of tho month, $49,716,717, against $48,396,262 in August, IftfVT. Tho warelion.se transactions aro given both by commodities auddistricts. Total tonnago of vessels engagod in the foreign trade entered nt the ports of tho United States during tho month of August, 1868: American, 316,136; foreign vessels, 536,829. Some month. 1867: American, 484,199; foreign, 399,574. Entered duriuR eight months euding August 31, 1868: Ame? rican, 2,254,328 tons; foreign. 3,201,354 tons. Corresponding period, 1867: Ameri? can, 2,468,500; foreign, 2,776,712. Total tonnage of vessels engaged in the foreign trado cleared from the ports of the United States in August, 1868: American, 321,426; foreigu, 557,164; samo month, 1867, American, 514,529; foroign, 436,725. Eight months ended August 31,1868: Ame? rican, 2.286,256; foreign, 3,249,298. Cor? responding period, 1867: American, 2,584, 010; foreigu, 2,935.147. Total tounnge of vessels engaged in the coastwise trade during August, 1868: En? tered 2,922,050, cleared 2,793,011. Same month, 1867: Entered 2,861,335, cleared 2.777,310. Eight months ended Angust 31. 1868: Entered 15,842,113, cleared 14. 953,446. Corresponding period, 1867: En? tered 13,647,323, cleared 13.48S.309. The tables from which the foregoing synopsis is taken are very full and complete, and ure followed by cummaries comprising month with month for the eight months ended August 31, 1867, and the samo for 1868. TJio commercial reports with which the report closes are replete with interest to the mercantile Community. For details as to Ibo leading articles of imports, exports, etc., wo refer our renders to the report, where every article is sepa? rately given by quantities and values. -o Tltr. New ^Hululer to England. Hon. John Lathrop Motley, who hus been appointed Miuister to England, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, April 15, 1814, graduated nt Harvard College in 1831, and afterwards studied a year at the University of G?ttingen, and auotber year at the Uni? versity of Berliu. Ou his return to America, he studied law, and was admitted to the bur, bub did not practice Iiis profession, prefer? ring the lighter wnlksof literature. In 1849, he was appointed secretary of legation to our embassy to Russia, which post he held about eight mouths. He wentto Europa in 1851, passing nearly five year? in Berliu, Dresden aud the Hague, engaged upon the composition of his history, "The Rise of the Dutch Republic." This work has been translated into French and Oermon, and in Englund, the sale reached 15,000 copies. In 1860, "Tho United Netherlands" waa pub? lished, and tho same year, ho received the degree of D. C. L., from Oxford University. In 1861, Mr. Motley was appointed Minister to Austria, a position which could as easily bo lilied by a scholar as a politician. As his reputation is chiefly literary, and ho has given no evidence of diplomatic ability, it is to be hoped that hi., appointment to Eng? land indicates that our relations with that country aro considered to bo left by his pre? decessor in a fair train for adjustment, not? withstanding tho present opposition to the Alabama claims treaty and Mr. Sumner's speech ou the subject. -o There aro 39 books and 929 chapters in the Old, and 27 books and 260 in the New Testament ; there ure 23,214 verses. 592, 439 words, and 2,728,100 letters in tho for? mer ; and in tho latter 7,954 verses, 181,208 words, and 838,380 letters, exclusive of tho Apocrypha, which has 183 chapters, 6,081 verses, and 152,185 words. Tho middle chapter, and the least in tho Bible is psalm 117. Tho middle verse is the 8th of psalm 118. Tho word "and" occurs in the Old Testament 35,543 times. The samo in the New Testament 10,084 times. Tho middle of the Old Testaments is Proverbs. The middle chapter is Job 19th. Tho middle verse is 2d Chronicles, chapter 20th and 17th verso. The least verso in tho Old Testa? ment is 1st of Chronicles, chapter 1, and verse 2. The middlo chapters in tho new Testament aro tho 13th and 14th of Bomana. Tho middle verse is in Acts, 17th chapter and 17th verso. Tho least verso is John, the lltb chapter and 35th verso. Tho 21st verso chapter 7th of Ezra has all the letters of tho alphabet in it. The 19th chapter of 2d Book of Kings, and the 87th chapter of Isaiah are both alike. -o - An old lady in Now Jersey, having read an account of the bursting of a grindstone I in a manufacturing establishment, became I terribly alarmed, if it a grindstone whioh was standing in her cellar should burst and blow the house up. Why is the President like an American I gift?-Because he is a U. S. Grant. How to Plant Corn. EDITORS MACON TKTJBQBAPH: AS it is corn pl au ting timo, it occurs to me that it might not bo amiss to remind our planting friends of Mr. Dickson's method of plant? ing corn. The readers of the Southern Cul? tivator are familiar with his suggestions on thiB HU bj set; but as yery many of your readers possibly do not take this Talaable journal, and would be glad to know the plau pursued by this "prince of farmers," as the result of his experience and scientific researches in farming for moro than tweuty ! years, I will take tho liberty of furnishing the desired information. Certainly, if our plan tors could but take a peep at Mr. Dickson's corn cribs, still well tilled with corn which he mude three years ugo, and see tho abundance and ovou waste of that vnluubld product winch seems to grow around him MS if by magic, they wonld bc anxious to learn the secret of such success. For tho benefit of those not posted, and who feel an interest in this ail- | important subject, I will furnish Mr. Dick-! son's method of procedura, in his own words, for breaking the land and planting tho crop: "Have good turning plows, and according to your ability use one or two horses, and subsoil. Ride over the field and lay off the I land so that tho horses will go round in a| level, aud the dirt will full down hill. A team will break up tho soil nine luches deep j in this way ns easily as they could seven | iuches on a level piece of land. Continue to take the hind in the same way until tho field is finished, one team following anothor -all tho time going round the circle; and if you subsoil, hnve one team between each turning plow running to tho bottom of tho furrow. Wheu you finish, the field is ready for planting, if the proper time has arrived. In deciding thia point, yon must bo go? verned by thc weather, lt varies from tho 10th of March to the 1st of April. Accord? ing to my experience a man only gai ns bard work, and more o' it by very early planting. "Now for the planting: Lay off furrows with a long shovel plow on a level, seven feet apart. Commence at the opposite end with a longer shovel mid open ont the same furrow. Tho reason for this is, you get up to trees and stumps, and m.ike a better flu ish at the ends. This furrow should stand open seven or eight inches deep. Whether you use compost, cotton seed or g janos, let each baud have his three feet measure and depo? sit the manure just three feet apart. Theil drop the corn withiu three or four iuches of thc manure, one or more grains, as ia your custom-dropping on the near side of the manure, as the dropper goes; and thou with a very light furrow cover the corn one or one and a half inches deep. The harrow should go the same way ns the dropper goes, to keep from pulling the manure on the grain. "If you cover deep yon lose all the ad? vantages of low ploughing (but not of the deep breaking) and for this reason: Corn, in good weather, will come up from a depth of one to six iuches, but will strike out roots about ono inch from the surface of the ground, and nil below that will perish. That is one reasou why 1 am opposed to dirtiug corn as soon ns it comes up-it brings the root of the stalk to the top of the ground." This, Mr. Editor, is Mr. Dickson's method of preparing tho land und planting the crop. The plan is subject to the ap? proval or disapproval of your many readers. Wo must make our own com, aud some change from the usual popular system of planting is necessary, iu view of our dull labor and increased liability to drought. Wo must guard against, thc effects of hot, dry sommers, and the deep ploughing and deep planting, ns advised by Mr. Dickson, promise tho appropriate remedy. -o Tho Horry News has obtained from C. L. Johnson, Esq., County Auditor, the follow? ing statistical report of taxable property in Horry: Number of horses, 517, valued at $39.161; cattle, 19,633, valued at $85,928; mules, 100, valued at $17,755; sheep and goats, 7,708, valued at $9,028; hogs, 20,098, valued at $30,218; watches, 151, valued at $1,703; pianos, melodiuns, 10, valued nt $1.295; carriages. 58, valued at $2,095; dogs, 1,095, valued at $2,443. Besides the above, the uverago valuo of merchandize, manufac? turing interest and mauufactured articles with fixtures, value of moneys, stocks, bonds, leases, Ac., making n total value of all taxable personal property of $418,101; the total valuo of real estate, "$447,139; total taxable property, $865, GOO. Apart from this, there is $15,150 worth of real esjtate not taxable, and $53,032 worth of personal property not taxable, making $08,782 worth of property exempt from taxation, and an aggregate of $934,382 worth of property in Horry. Notice. ALL persons having claims against tho estaco ol late THOS. H. MCFADDEN, will presen? the same duly attested, and all persona indebted to him will make pavmeat, to WILMOT G. DKSAUSSURE, Adm r, April If? w?* 2:? Broad st.. Charleston, s. C. Great Attractions AT I STJLZBAC HER S. -o ygv EJ3K.Ql.UL?JS??tO ?|f$j?| J TC XV E li II Y . Sgl FINE SPECTACLES, fe : xl Q H TC A P CLOCKS, Ac, ?St c. J HAVE OFENED, ?nd roady for inapeotion, my NEW STOCK OP GOODS. All aro invitsd to come and examine them, but more especially the ladies, as I bavo a large and varied assort? ment of JEWELRY to suit the most fashions. CLOCKS ?t $2.60. BOGGWOOD SliTS at 50 cents. JET SETS at 60 cents. April 16 I? o cal Items. --O OUR NEW OPERA HOUSE-WHAT THE PRESS SAYS OF IT.-The announcement of the project to build a first class opern. house in tiri? city, wbioh tro made several" days sino?, bas created qa?te n sensation in o"r sister cities in tho South, and the press is quito enthusiastic iu its expressions of praise for that enterprise which originated and will perfect the soheme. In illustration of this feeling, wo quote from the Augusta : Press, which, like the Phoenix, is a live pa? per, ?nd one which appreciates tho necessi? ties of tho times. We hopo that our friend Pnghe will no bo discouraged because wo have beaten him in this ono particular, but will go on dealing ont to his readers, as we intend to do to ours, telling and earnest words in tho interests of u wido-awake, pro? gressive and intelligent spirit of enterprise -an enterprise which 'aloin? eau build np our waste places, and make Columbia, Au? gusta and other cities of the South the home? steads of a prosperous and happy people. Says thc Press: "This prospective improvement in a city which, four years ago, was a bed of ashes and charred ruins, stands out iu lively cou trast with the Vau Winkleism characteristic of the city of Augusta, in a like enterprise. With a city which escaped the terrible ravages of the enemy's torch during the war, and whoso resources wore compara? tively unimpaired, wo are outstripped, by a little city with scarcely more than one third our population, and certainly not ono third the advantages enjoyed by us in point of preserved capital aud wealth. Wo can but bln.-li for the absence of public spirit among our capitalists, as we draw the com? parison. "Will not the improvement of our spry little sister city induce a shaking amontj the 'dry-bones' of Augusta? Or shall we, in conformity to old fogy supineness, fold our hands, cluse our eyes upon tho future, and chaut a lullaby of satisfaction with pre? sent prosperity? If this is to bo tho policy of that class of our citizens who have thc men ns to impart life, vitality aud euergj into every avenue of business, then thc sooner the mechanics and artizaus of om city migrate, the better for themselves ano families. Mechanics never get fat in a towt or city that is considered 'fiutsbed.' " -o SOMETUXU NEW UNDSB THE Susi-Tb? mania for velocipedes, and the genius dis played in their construction, constitute tlx passion of tho hour. It cannot, then, bi wondered at that the mechanical talent il our midst should be exercised in tho perfec tiou of this wonderful vehicle. Our oitizens have beheld with admiratioi the three-wheeled arrangement of Mt Wright, have rode the imported byeyelo o our friend, Major G-, but far in advnno of these is tho one-wheeled velociped which eau bo seen this morning, betwee the hours of 10 and 12, at the store of Gee Symmers, Main street. Without an engraving of tho machine, c a personal inspection, it is impossible t give a correct idea of the wonderful perfec tion to which human genius can attai when bent in a given channel. The ii ventor has, for some time back, been secre ly experimenting, and has succeeded in prc docing a nne-icheelcd velocipede, which n< nilly can bo propelled by one man, but necessary con accommodate n second pari with perfect safety, nfter a little practic Tho exercise is wholesome and iuvigoratin? Tho inventor nsks for no patent; and any our carriage or wagon builders eau dup! cato the one on exhibition at a price fi lower than tho imported bycycles. -o STATE NEWS.-There is not a pris uer i tho jail of York County. No injury has occurred to the fruit York. An election was held in Broad Hiv Township, in York County, on tho 7th i stunt, for three Selectmen, a Constable, Clerk and a Survoyor. Tho balloting f Clerk resulted in a tie, which renders a nt election necessary. For thc other office tho following is tho result: I Seleotmen-J. A Hope, D. C. McKiun? W. T. Hartness Constable-D. C. Crosby. Surveyor-R. G. Wbitesides. Mr. Lewis Worthington, of Greenvil died lust week. Mr. William Cox, of tho sumo Conn hus invented a guano distributor, whiol highly praised for elliciency and cheapnc Henry Mciver, Esq., has been elect President of the Cheraw and Darling! Railroad, to supply the vacancy occasior. by the death of tho late Col. Allan McFarli Rev. Thomas R. English, of Suinter, d Sunday last. Tho repairs on tho Court Honse of Sr ter aro completed, and the citizens titer rejoice. -o A lot of cards and bill head paper i just been received at the Phoenix offio something new and pretty. Also a lot "unction cards"-which will be printed j extraordinarily low prioes. CHARLESTON ra A NUT-SHELI?.-General John Sohnierle died Wednesday. A great number of robberies by servants, are ieported. The thermometer stood twelve degrees i abpve cero, Wednesday. At a sale of stocks io Augusta, on Tues I day, certificates of indebtedness of the j South Carolina Railroad, six per cent., sold I at 82 ceuts. At the same nate, Columbia j and Augusta Railroad stock sold at from ? $11.12)..i to $12.25. ?U . , I Daniel H. Silcox has been elected Presi I dont of the First Baptist Church. Fifty thousand dollars of Savncnah and Charleston six per cent, second mortgage coupon bonds, State guarantee, have been sold within tho last two days at fifty cents. On the day before yesterday, Mr. W. W. Pemberton, of tho house of G. W. Williams &Go., HY.y ne street, met with a painful ac? cident while riding through Auson street. His horse fell, and before he could extricate it] from the stirrup, his foot was badly mashed. He is reduced to crutches for tho titno being. Niue companies are to visit Charleston at the approaching parade of tho fire depart? ment. One of these is our gallant Palmetto, and wo will bet high on one of the prizes coming in their hands to Columbia. -o St. Maur, the Ventriloquist and Prestidi gateur, arrived in this city, yesterday, on a flying visit to his relations aud numerous friends, after au eminently successful tour through some of the upper Districts of the State. He leaves again, to-day, for Union and Spartan burg, whero he is to give a series of his brilliant nnd acceptable enter taiumeuts next week. To the citizens of these towns, as to those of every other, we cordially commend him not ouly ns a skill? ful professor of the art of magic, but as a youug gentleman of character and pleasing address. -o Tun CONTRACT FOR FIXING TO? THE NEW STATE HOUSE.-Through au inadvertency on tho part of the clerk having the matter in charge, un error was made, yesterday, in the advertisement iu reference to the work to be done in fitting up certain portions of the new State House. It should have read "sealed proposals will be received until the 21st," instead of "tho 25th instant." -o The attention of all interested is called to the large ?-alo of very choice groceries ad? vertised by our friend, Mr. Jacob Levin. All in want cf such would do well to attend. -o A few oopies of the "Sack aud Destruc? tion of Columbi. " oan be obtained at tho Phoenix office. Price twenty-five cents. -o NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Special attention is called t<? the following advertisements, published for the first time this morning: I. Snlzbacher-Groat Attractions. Wilmot G. DeSaussure-Notice. Acts Passed by tho State Legislature. Mr. J. S. Mixsou, the County Surveyor, has eutered upon his work of laying off the County iuto townships. -o Scrofula or King's Evil is a disease of the blood, making its appearance in every year, and when fully developed is characterized by the presence of scrofulojs matter in Eruptions, Tumors, Swellings, ?fcc. It is really the seed* or germ of many diseases that are most fatal to mankind. Consump? tion may follow from it and derangement of the liver aud digestiou is a frequent result. Rheumatism,Erysipelas, Disease of the Skin, Female Weakness and Irregularity, Kid? ney Affection, Dropsy, Pain in the Rones, Head, Buck, all come from a vitiated condi? tion of tho Blood. Now, what is the remedv? Time and experience has demonstrated tho fact that tho only sure remedy is Heinitsh's great modicine-the QUEEN'S DELIGHT-no other medicine will do it; thousands attest its worth, and tens of thousands aro trying it to-day, and npou tho recorded verdict of tlio people, let it stand tho wonder of mo? dern medicines. To the afiiiotod we say try it. For side by FISHER k HEINITSH. A13 -o From tho Army Hospital, the bloody battle field, the mansion.of inc rich und the humble abode of the poor-from tho offioe and tho sacred desk; from the mountain top, distnnt valley and far-off* islands of tho ocean-from every nook and corner of the civilized world, is pouring in the evidence of tho astonishing effects of DKAKB'S PLAN? TATION BITTERS. Thousands upon thou? sands of letters like tho following may bo seou at our office: * * * * I havo becu iu the Army Hospital for fourteen months, speechless and nearly dead. At Alton, III., they gave mo a bottle of Plantation Bitters. Three bottles have made me a well man. C. H. FLAUTE. MAONOLIA WATER.-Superior to the best imported German Cologne, and sold at half the price. A10 Jlf3 -o GREY HAIRS, BEGONE!-TTJTT'S IMPROVED LIQUID HAIR DYE is a perfect wonder. By its usc tho old becomes young again, lt converts the grey head int? abeautifnl black or brown. It imparts a natural ?olor to the grizly mustache and wniskers, and gives to the hair and beard a softness ood gloss that tho young beaux might envy. A10 6