Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLITALBIA. S~XL Weoneiukt ?Qr^g.geoeinbor vi. ll. -a~ -t . ... ? ? - f?mtg?l*Uv* Corruption. | AU that we have aaid on the eabjeot ot cur oorrnpt, thievingState officials' is a ?tory half told. We are called immo? derate by some. We are deemed, too severe by others. When Ijord Olive was called to aceount for his conduct in Britiah India, when he was called upon to answer for his administrative career and his acts of cruelty, he replied, wWhy, gentlemen! you oall me to account Xor my career; when I review the field, 1 stand astonished ai my modoratiori." So may wo aay, when we reflect upon the monstrous corruption and the grievous wrongs that we are combatting, we are astonished at our moderation-modera? tion of speech-moderation of conduct. Within the last day or two, our com? munity-honest Democrats and honest Republicans-have alike been shooked at the developments connected with le? gislative pay bills. These bills have been hawked about, and have been made to cover all sorts of individual expendi? tures and purohases. These bills have been given over and over again for services not rendered, and under cover of stationery, &o., silver plate, desks, ?co., have been purchased, and the charges sade-against the State. Again, we have been informed that the State capitol bar involves a corrupt source of official and legislative extravagance, whioh, when revealed, aa it shall be, will make the people open wide the eyes of amazement. ?nd this legislative corruption, as re? specta the swindling, infamous pay-bill system, is due mainly to Speaker Moses 'and Clerk Jones. Onr readers will re? member that the effort was made to take from the Speaker the control ot the House attaches, but thia effort failed. ' The corruptionists triumphed, and the door to swindliog and fraud remains wide ope??r This Mr, Moses and thia Mr. Jones we hold np before all the peo? ple. Aa for the Speaker, we know much of his career. It is foll of corruption, and we see no evidenoe on his part of a disposition to turn from bia ways. We spare him a little longer. But let him know, and his confederates in the House, that we in? tend to oall them before the public bar. To impeach a man for "high orimes and mi ado mean o ra," may be done in two ways. The one is to make the accused appear before the Senate. Tim may fail-because it is horrible even for the Senate to have a "thief or two" as guilty as any they can try. But there is one tribunal that will not fail. This is the impeachment before the PXOFIIB. There is where we intend to have the case | tried, if it fails elsewhere. We know what the verdict will be THEUE. Vox populi, vox dei. Pursue the ring-Scott, Parker, Cham? berlain, Kimpton. Pursue, also, the legis? lative corruptionists. Comptroller ?General Nen g io and Hts Part In tine Programme. The Comptroller-General remains si? lent. All the acouBod in the City Hall business have spoken save him. Silence is sometimes the contempt with whioh virtue reoeives assault. Sometimes it is the confession of . guilt. Sometimes it is the dictate of policy. How is it in this oase? We take it that we can ex? plain the Comptroller's silenoe. He publishes no oard. Is it because he knows that card-playing is a poor busi? ness? Or is it because if oard-playicg is not a poor business, it is at least a poor business to show one's hand? The Comptroller-General is reticent. Well, great men are often reticent. But so, too, are great ewindlers. It will not take the public long to decide, after read? ing the affidavits and the Comptroller's own note-the damning evidenoe of guilt and conspiracy-whether the Comp? troller's silenoe ia the silence of virtue, or the silence of vice. We have this to say, that we had hoped that the Comp? troller was on the road to penitence for his State sins. We knew that he hid sinned mnoh; but as we make no war npon the genuinely penitent, but are disposed to cover them with the mantle of oharity and meroy, so we have had little to say thus far of the Comptroller. But now we have this to say to him, in view of the interests of this ci ty : "Insatiate aroherl would not one suffloe?" Was it not enough for you to embrace the State in your schemes of sudden wealth? Why turn upon this poor city, burnt by Sherman, and now plundered by its own Oounoil and their allies? The oontraot was awarded to Allen for 6188,000. You offer to sell the oontraot for $85,000, and thus you proposed to make for yourself and your allies the sum of $50,000, at the expense of the good people of thia State, of all colors and cf ail psriies. $50.000 wai the mark of the prize of your ?ow calling. We leave yon to your bitter reflections. Tile Hon. Henry Stanbery. We were in error in stating that Mr. Stanbery had gone. Mr. Reverdy John? son did go, but Mr. Stanbery is still with us-remaining to look after those legal interests with whioh he has been charged. This eminent lawyer is tenacious and faithful. He desires to follow things to their logical results, and to do faithfully and well whatever he undertakes. He and Mr. Johnson have been of immense servioe to the oause of impartial investi? gation and to that oause of constitutional liberty that oonoerns the North as much aa the South. Texas complains that thousands of her oattle are dying, in consequence of ?he severely cold weather. Tbs City OoaacUof ColvaablavCornered* The reply of tho City Council of Oo ln.rn.bia, with tba accompanying * G?d? Y i tc, given to the public in hot haste, has been reoeived with the general remark that it is a most lame and impotent de? fence. The City Attorney ought to be able to do better. If that official does not do better, the Council may yet con? clude that he mast be, after all, an oneiny in the camp, whilst affecting to be their outspoken advocate. They may yet, be? fore this business ia done with, have cause to conclude that the Oity Attorney has himself winged some of the shafts that have pierced home and brought the oity * 'birds of prey" down. We have simply to say that the showing of the Council witt not do. This is tho publie sentiment. ?We have yet to meet with with one apologist for the Cou noil, oataide of the ring-which really in? cludes, more or less, the Mayor and all the Aldermen. We repeat it, the show? ing is not satisfactory, and fails to re? lieve either the Council, or Messrs. Neagle, Allen and Wigg of the charges that now rest upon them. As to thc affidavits of Messrs. Allen and Wigg, they are the affidavits of the accused, and must go for what they are worth; and, nntil sustained by proofs, they will not go very far. As to the affidavits, ol Messrs. Waring, Johnson and Parkins, as given in the Council proceedings. w< have simply to say that they were giver a week or so before their sober second thoughts Jed them toc?me forth out o: a false position, and give the more recen affidavits, whioh clearly point out tin conspiracy, and which, together wit! the affidavits of Messrs. Troy, Fry Soott, Baldwin and others, show the oom plioity of the City Connoil. The matte is in a - nut-shell; -It is obvious tha Mesara? Allon, Neagle, Wigg and all th Counoil . stand implicated upon th affidavits of the. plaintiffs,* not yet di; proved. The question is, did the Mayo and his Aldermen all not know that th City Hs?-jcas to co?t hut from $75,000 t $80,000? The evidence shows that the did. When, then, they voted to a war the oontraot to Allen for $138,000, the voted for what boro on its face tb corrupt marks of fraud, and they sha not oecape the responsibility. And the are all involved-because, although A dermen Denny and Moony were not pn sent when the oontraot was awarded, y< they said or did nothing about it afte wards, and thus consented to the wron| doing of their fellow-Aldermen, Tc long have our people been trifled wit in State and city matters. It cann longer be borne. It is time for the pe pie to strike with the eleotrio current their indignant wrath. Under the ls and within the law, let us bring all o powers to bear upon the monstrous cc ruption of the Stat? and the oity-a cc ruption morally demoralizing, and m terially fatal to all our hopes of ag cultural, commercial and mechanical o velopment. All we want is official i tegrity, and common honesty/and pi per intelligence in governmental matte: All we want is honorable peace and fruits of popular happiness and oontei ment. They who hold that wo se party ends and are making party oapit affirm falsely. We do, however, wi all onr powers, intend to make war up land pirates and impenitent thievet whether found in the State House or the City Hall, and to this war we su mon all the people, of all parties and colors, who are arreyed against the d honesty of officials and the oorrupti of men holding place and power. ' The State must be saved, and we ru redeem the city. Awards of tbe State Auriculturnl a Mechanical (society. We have had the pleasure of exam ing some of the medals issued to i fellow-townamen at the late fair. Th medals are handsomely oxeonted. one side are the emblems of indust; development-=-the palmetto tree encc passed with ootton bale, barrel, an grain, plow, hoe, rake, fork, &o., <S whilst on the other aide is the note award, enoiroled with a conjoined wre of grain and the ootton plant. Two of the premiums are awarded Goldsmith & Kind, for "Best omame cast-iron window-cap;" the other "Best horse power." Oae is awarded the Columbia Briok, Granite and 1 Company, for superior brick. One awarded to R. Tozer, for "Best port steam engine." Mr. Tozer, a workei brass and iron, has won not a few lao in this line. He reoeived a gold mi from our State Agricultural and Mee nioal Sooiety before on this behalf, ia this ali. This portable steam euc is said to have been much admiret the Savannah Exposition, and to h stood ahead of three oompeting cngii Further, we notioe with pleasure 1 tbs Journal of (he Warm, a monthlv v liehed at Philadelphia and Chicago, c tains an engraving and desoriptiot 4 "rozor's Gold Medal Portable Sh Engine." The Scientific American, November 25, also contains H notice this engine. Work on, Messrs. Me< nica. We stand firmly by the inter industrial, aa well as political, of State, and we have a kindly word every man who honestly and energ cally do ve lop es the resources of Carol WORKS OP AnT.-We bad the plent on yesterday of examining two wa colored miniature paintings of a 1 and gentleman of our acquaints! which show the artistic genius o favorite Bon of Sonth Carolina, i dead. These excellent paintings v ezeonted thirty-seven years ago by Charles Fraser. Ootnplalnt for R?ll?f. The Stale ex relations Robert Cl. Shiver, Edward Hops and Ru/us D. Sennt Plaintiffs, vs. the City of Columbia and James M. Allen, Defendants. The following is the paper apon wbiob the present proceedings in law hare been instituted, on the part of the tax-payers of Columbia, against tho city of Colum? bia and others oouneoted with them. It will be seen opon what grounds these people have been called to account, and it will be found to show some, though not all, of the chargea that are made against them. Here is the complaint, upon which, sustained by invincible affi? davits. Judge Melton granted his order of temporary injunction and restraint: The State of South Carolina, by D. H. Chamberlain as Attorney-General, and Robert C. Shiver, Edward Hops and Rufus D. Senn, the individual plaintiffs above named, complaining of the de? fendants herein, allege: I. That the plaintiffs. Robert O. Shi? ver, Edward Hope and Rufus D. Soon, are citizens of the said State and corpo? rators and tax-papers of the oity of Co? lumbia, owning considerable real estate in the said city. II. That the Baid oity of Columbia was only incorporated byan Act of the Gen? eral Assembly ot the said State, entitled "An Act to alter and amend the ohartei of the town of Columbia, and for othei ?urposes," ratified on the 21st day ol leoembor, 1854. That by the said Act, and subsequent Acts amendatory thereto, the mnnioipal powers of the Baid city ar< vested in a mayor and twelve aldermen, to be ohosen in manner as prescribed bj lil. That on the - day of April, A. D 1870, the following persons were dnlj ohosen and eleoted mayor and aldermer. of the said oity for the term of tw< years, to wit: John Alexander, Mayor and Charlea Minort, Augustus Cooper John W. Denny, Wm. H. Wigg, Israe Smith, Wm, Huyne, Samuel B. Tbomp son, Wm. Mooney, Robert M. Wallace Wm. Simons, Joseph Taylor and - Goodwin, Aldermen, all of whom ar now serving in their offices, respectively IV. That the taxes levied and assesBet by the said defendant, the oity of Oolam bia, upon the real and personal propert; of the citizens and tax-payers of eui* oity during the present year, and sine the induction of the said mayor am aldermen in office, has been muoh i: 0X0088 of any previous year. V. That by reason of the corrupt an fraudulent acts of the said mayor an aldermen, in squandering the publi moneys, by farming out and disposing c the pnblio property, contracts, right! privileges and franchises, in manne hereinafter stated, and in various othe ways, the taxes of the said city have ii creased, aud are increasing annually, t an alarming extent; the effect wheret will necessarily be detrimental to a larg number of persons transuoting buBinei in the said oity, and enforce others 1 remove oat of its limits to avoid tb onerous taxation annually imposed upc the property owners of the oity. Vf. That on - the said may? and aldermen passed a resolution pr< viding for the building of a City Hall i the said city of Golumbia, and appoint? a committee, of whioh one Wm. H. Wi{ was made chairman, to carry iuto effe the purposes of the resolution. At that the said committee thereupon pu lished a notieo calling for bidders for tl contract to build said City Hall, requi ing said bidders to give bond in the BU of $50,00?)sk>r the faithful discharge the oontraof, and reserving the privilej of rejecting any and all bids. 711. That B?X days after the public tien of their said notice, and before ai sufficient time was given for the exau nation of their plans and speoificatiot according to whioh the said contract w to be made, the said William H. Wig chair mun of the committee as aforesai reported to the said Mayor and Aldi men that tho contract was awarded I the committeo to James M. Allen, < fondant in this action, for the sum $188,000, and that the contract w thereupon awarded to the said James 1 Allen, by the Baid Mayor and Alderme according to the terms of the report the committee, and a contract execut ' between the oity of Columbia and t said James M. Allen accordingly. VIII. That competent and skill 1 contractors could have been easily p: oared to build the said City Hall, acooi ' ing to the plans and specifications fi . nished by said committee, for the sum , 885,000-853,000 less than the sum I whioh said oontraot was actually awa: ' ed-if a fair and just competition 1) 1 been allowed in the biddings. IX. That the said Mayor and Aid men well knew, at the time of awardi , the said oontraot to James M. Allen, tl ' the sum of 8138,000 was an extravagi amount to pay for the said building, a that the same oonld bo erected at a less cost. X. That it wan tho duty of the s ' Mayor and Aldermen, and of their cc ; mittee, to have required from the arc ' teat who planned said City Hill a care and exsot estimate of tho cost of o strootion, and to have given re&sona 1 notice, by publio advertisement of 1 biddings, for the purpose of secur i honest competition among all pore desiring to bid; but that, notwithsta . ing their manifest duty, they, the a Mayor and Aldermen, negligently, fra 1 ulently, and in direct violation of trust reposed in thom by the oitize ' corporators and tax-payers of the s i city, awarded the oontraot for a sum exceeding the proper cost of tho s 1 building, without any previous estie; . having been made by the architect, i permitted so short a time to elapse tween the publication of the notice i the awarding of the contract that oom tition "ni OD g tho bidders was impossil and persons desirous of competing tho said contract had not sufficient ti to examino the plans and speciflcati and make up their estimates for the p pose. XI. That the only porsous who bid the said oontraot were James M. All who bid 8138,000; ll. W. Johnson, v bid 8111,500; and Clark Waring, v bid 8140,000. And that the said b were all fraudulent and collusive, t mudo in pursuanoe of a conspiracy tered into by tho suid James M. All J. L. Neagle and William H. Wigg, the purpose of defrauding tho said c of Columbia of a larg? sum of mon to wit: The sum of 850,000. They, said James M. Allen, J. Lt. Neagle t William H. Wigg, conspiring and o federating togotber, for the purp aforesaid, having induced the said R. Johnson aud Clark Waring to put their said prescribed bids in excess of amount which they had agreed was to bid by the said James M. Allen, in or I tu scrum their fraud and to give to the said bidding? air appearance of compe? tition, upou the promise to the said R. W. Johnson and Clark Waring that they should afterwards share in the contract. Xii. That afterwards, the said James M. Allen, J. L. Neagle and William H. Wigg, farther conspiring and confederad lng for the purpose aforesaid, fraudu? lently 'induced the committee of the Mayor and Aldermen of said city, having the matter in charge, and of which the said William H. Wigg was chairman, to close the biddings by awarding the said contract to James M. Allen, before time had been given to any person not privy to their said fraud and conspiracy to put in bids. And afterwards fraudulently and corruptly prevailed anon the said Mayor and Aldermen to ratify the action of the committee, XIII. That the said oity of Colombia, by its Mayor and Aldermen, has entered into a contract with the said James M. Allen, as aforesaid, for the construction of a building which is to contain, in ad? dition to a City Hall and other rooms and conveniences proper and necessary for the public use, an opera house, with an expensive outfit designed for public entertainments and exhibitions, and which has greatly increased tho cost of said building. XIV. That the said oity has no autho? rity under its oharter, or otherwise, to build such opera hall, or provide for the public amusement, at the expense of said city, and that the contract for that pur? pose was both illegal and unnecessary and inexpedient in the present over-taxed condition of said oity. XV. That largo sums of money hare already been paid out on account of the said contract, and that the euid oily ic about to pay other and further sums upon the same, to tbe great injury of the tax? payers and inhabitants of said city ol Columbia. Wherefore, the said plaintiffs demand judgment; that the said oontract pur? porting to exist between the said city ol Columbia and James M. Allen, for thc building of a City Hall, be delivered up and be cancelled ; and that in the mean? time, and antil the further order of th? Court, the said oity of Columbia, itc Mayor and Aldermen, officers, agents, counsellors, attorneys and solicitors, b< enjoined and restrained from appropri?t iog or applying any of the funds of th? said oity of Columbia in payment of anj sum or sums of money upon tho soie oontraot, and from proceeding with, per forming or carrying out tue said COU tract, in any manner or particular what soever; and for such other and furthei relief as may be just and necessary, aa? for the costs of this action. BAOHMAN & WATIES, Plaintiffs' Attorneys. MCMASTER SC LECONTE and JOHt T. RHETT, of Counsel. B. C. Shiver, being duly sworn, make oath that the foregoing complaint ?B tro of his own knowledge, except as to mat tera therein stated on information am belief, and as to such mattera be believe it to be true. B. C. SHIVER. Sworn to before me this 20th day c December, 1871. THOMAS J. LAMOTTE, Notary Public. Packed . Juries-Tile Foreman Jackson In Bpite of tho defeuce attempted b that corrupt sheet called the ?7? io?-tbs is, the union of much that ia brazen an rotten-we made a shot right in th bull's eye wherein we spoke of "packe juries." It is the troth. And what w have said of Foreman Jackson is lei than the truth. We are fully posted c to his antecedents, to Buy nothing of tl: oharges under which he now rests. . pretty foreman, he! What does 1 think of the air of tho sand-hills? Win of his surveys there? A word to tl guilty is enough. Tho Union has something also to say < that memorial, and of its author's a saults upon tho chief editor of th journal. The less said on this subjec the better for tho memorial and its ai thor, and those whom it seeks to upholi We have it withiu our power to fii shots that would sink memorial, antin and Council-if, indeed, this result hi . not already been reaohod. We uro sic ply above the assaults made upon u Tho arrows fall harmless at our foot ar. there stay, exoept when wo take them t: and hurl them back uppu tho soun whence they came-all whioh wo do wil easo and at our good pleasure. We ha' , a stick for all tho dogs, big and little ; "Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart"-fi > all the dogs that seek to worry and hu: down the State and the city. THE DEATH OP AN ESTIMABLE WOMA 1 We regret to record the death, at an a . vanced ago, after a long and lingcrii , attack, of Mrs. Jacob Bell, long a rei dent of this city. Wo bhull leave it 1 other pens than ours to phico fully upi . record the womanly virtues und tl ; Christian graces of this most excelle and exemplary person. In all of lift relations, she discharged her duties wi , rare discretion; and ns an humble f< lower of the Lamb, wo aro told that si illustrated tho highest qualities of tl devout, uncomplaining Christian. F long years, the victim of a cruel disco* she was sustained by that Diviue phil sophy which enables tho childron earth to triumph over all the ills of lil Yesterday, she boro tho cross. To-da she wears tb* crown. The sympathi of many members of the community a with tho bereaved family of her who h gone h?Tlco with the year about to do? -? -? ?Vf-r A HANDSOME CHRISTMAS PRESENT. Think of a person unexpectedly recci ing a Christmas present to tho value 3130! This was the fortuno of nu o gentleman of this city, known and r spouted for his industry aa a worker at his zeal as a Christian. Aud this pr sent carno from his friendu iu New Yor Wo rooord this incident with plensur It shows how, after all, thu good men the North ami South muy meet upon ti ground of mutual recognition and tn tual regard. We uuito in tho wish th this old townsman may long live to gi< an exumple to tho young of great indu try and unswerving integrity. CnrUtmaa, 1871. Christmas baa come and gone. With the oolored people, it was aa usual a sea sou of mach merriment, and, '.TC expect in too many oases, of mnoh mean whis? key. Tho children, of coarse, enjoyed the usual visita of Banta Glan?. As for the elder portion of our community, and par ti oui ur ly ?the old citizens" and those honest Northern men who have oome to lire with ns, the day was ono of no more than choorful philosophy. The day elsewhere brought joyous reflections. Here in South Oarolina it could inspire in the thoughtful breast no other senti? ment than that of ?Christian fortitude under misfortune and oppression." Oar ootemporary of the Baltimore Sun well says: Our countrymen in general come to the observance of this day with great reasons for thankfulness. Peace and health have blessed their lot; oar crops for the year have been large and good; our foreign and domestic trade has been prosperous; immigrants from abroad, in large numbers, have found a home in our wide territories, and even such ter? rible local misfortunes as the Western fires have only had the effeot of develop? ing a degree of liberality and sympathy which has not only sufficed to relieve the sufferers, bat reflected new honor apon our common humanity. It is to be regretted that there is any portion of our country to which, as in some of the Southern States, even Christmas can bring no enjoyment nor inspire any sen? timent exoept Christian fortitude ander misfortune and oppression. It is nonie satisfaction, however, that even in the case of the wronged and wretched, no earthly tyranny oan deprive them of the consolations offered by the principles of that religion whose founder was born on this day. Tlie City Hall Contract. We learn that it is proposed by Neagle and others concerned, to puss tho con? tract over to Mr. Clark Waring, foi $85,000, and thus to give up the $50,000, ont of which it was first proposed tc swindle the oity. We learn, further that it is proposed to ms k o Mr. Berg architect. We have ev'j'.y oonfidenoe it Mr. Berg's skill, resolution and iutegri ty. Fie is, as ws conceive it, a man o unswerving fidelity to duty and to truth If this hall is to be built, he is thi architeot for it. But wo oppose thi compromise, whereby it is proposed ti have this work douo for $85,000, by Mi C. Waring. Messrs. Troy and Fry hav said that it eau be done for $78,000 Perhaps Homo may undertake to do i for cveu a less amouut. When tho pre sent contract is annulled, ns it will nn< must bo, if it then be deemed proper t curry tho work on to completion, then If the contract bo opon to houest compet: tiou. What is tho sense or tho honest of giving the contract to Mr. Waring when Messrs. Troy and Fry say the will execute the work, aud giveboud fe its faithful execution, for $78,000, whio -, is $7,000 less. Th OHO people want to compromise. A i compromise, say we, with thieves an i swindlers. Beat them first in theoourt ? send them to justioe, and then deck i what ?B best for the city. Lot them ha\ \ no voice in the matter. We don't b i lievo in treating a cancer with rose-wate CORRUPTION tries to win more thc i HONESTY. Lot ns sse to it that it do 1 not. 1 PERSONAL-.-We hud the pleasure, la evening, of meeting at ti.o Columb Hotel Oeu. Johnson Hagood, the pop lar President of the Stato Agricultor and Meohauical Society-tho right mi in tho right plaoe. We have also the pleasure of statii that Columbia is soon to have a new i sidont, in the person of Mr. John Brio sou, an Englishman. 1 ATLANTA, GA., Deoomber 25, 1871. Editors Phoenix-GENTLEMEN: In yo L issue of the 23d, is a copy of my lett ' to Mr. Waling, in which occurs a typ 1 graphical orror. It rends: "Mr. Pe 1 thinks my figures "too high," &c. i should read: "Not too high." By cc . resting the mistake, you will confei favor upon, yours respectfully. W. H. PARKINS. ? -? ? ? ? COLUMBIA, S. C., December 24,1871 To THE EDITORS DAILY PHONIX: "Tl victory over them cusses in the Hom and the conviction of the Ku Klux, I ' compelled me to become a candidate I the office of Governor once more, r ' only ns a vindication of my past honet ' and steadfast adherence to the prin 1 pies of tba Republican party, but to i ' to it, that tu? Democratic party do ni ' either by so-called Reform men or mi 1 sures, gain possession of the Stato, a thereby undo all that my administr?t! 1 hos so gloriously accomplished." i Thus spoko R. K. Soott, to his bene . men, on the iiold after impeachment. Wo bavo no doubt he will try to be nominated by some kind of a convc ' tiou, for ho sits tho imperial roaster ( an organized army of robbers, who ? willing, with thc ussistanpo of the Tn sury, nut only to ro elect theo king, t to add to their already stolen goodi 1 few millions more, i Though hu may fail to rob us of ma ; more, and to secure tho legal help him who, without any o? the profits, unlined n silent spectator of the vi Hui of King Robert, yet something tells that ho will fail, und bo blown away the honest breath that hos recently be stirred by tho spirit of reform. If n who is to blame? TAXES --rn .? ?~ ? AMERICAN LADIES IN EGYPT.-A c I respondent of tho Now York Jlero j writing from Egypt, says that tho lat ; novelty in tho laud of tho Pharaoh* j the presence of fourteen young Ame ? can ladios, who um making a tour of I j world for instruction and pleasure. Tl ! aro accompanied by competent gu diiius. Already have they visited Et land, Ireland, Scotland, Frunce, G many and Italy, and now they appear Egypt, en route still further East. ^ALADMINO SPREAD OP CHIME IN NEW YOEE.-T?e Now York Tribune credit? ' the Superintendent of Police with the Btatemect thal "Ibis will be s bard win- < ter for erina in ale," explaining that he meant it would be a hard winter for ho? nest folk-at least a dangerous one. And the Tribuna notes premonitory symp? toms. "Already crimes ordinarily of in? frequent ocoarrenee have been of weekly and almost daily and nightly occurrence. It ia bnt recently that pockot-book snatching from the bands of ladies has been practiced to any extent. Scarcely a day now pauses that one or more oases are not recorded. There seems to be en epidemic of dishonesty among the young men growing np in thia oity. Never be? fore have crimea against the person been more frequent. The garoters who made their appearanoe here in the winter of 1656-67, and were summarily crushed out only by the Bentenoing of several perpetrators to twenty years in the State prison, have again begun their work Prostitution has never-not even during the latter years of the war-been so rife as at present. Our street* and avenues, especially in the neighborhood of the hotels, are literally over-run with disre-1 putable women, whose aotions and lan? guage are such as to bring the blush to the oheek of any modest woman wbo may pass along these thoroughfares es? corted by a gentleman." And the arti ole concludes with the remark,: which the premises seem abundantly to justify, "that tho matter calls for the immediate and thorough overhauling of our sys? tems of justice sud police." A REMARKABLE SOUTH CAROLINA BOY MECHANIC.-We find the following in the Scientific American, of the 26th ult. : We have on onr table a complete model of a horizontal steam engine, with tnbnlitr boiler of the locomotive type, separate from the boiler, the workman ? ship of which would do credit to an ex? perienced mechanic Every part is stated to have been made by Master O. T. Mason, (at the age of fourteen years.) Sumter, 8. O. Nothing is omitted, even a miniature steam gauge being sup? plied. Master Mason will, if he con? tinues to progress, be a master mechanic at an age when boys in general have scarcely aa idea beyond tops and mar? bles. He will please accept oor thanks for sending his eugine for our inspection, and our predictions that, if he fives, he will occupy a distinguished place among the engineers o? this country. Few men oonld beat the execution displayed in his working miniature engine, which, in its details, indicates a knowledge of steam and tho laws of action most re? markable in such a youth. Let Master Mason apply himself diligently to the study of mathematics, mechanics and drawing, and there oan be no doubt of his fnture. We may add that this yoong meobanio received a silver medal as a first premium on this model from the I Agricultural and Meobanioal Society of I Sooth Carolina, at its fair of 1869. BY WHOSE AUTHORITY-We are in-1 formed (says the Union Times) that the political prisoners now in our jail are subjected to the moat rigid and tyranni? cal disciplino. No one is allowed to ?peak to them when they see them at the windows in passing the jail, and but few are allowed to visit them. All letters are read by the officer on guard before the prisoners are permitted to know their oontonts. We have heard it hinted that this tyr .nny is put upon some of them to extort some confession of their know? ledge of or complicity with the Ku Klux. We are pleased to state that while the offioers and soldiers guarding the prison? ers rigidly adhere to their instructions in those matters, they perform their duty courteously, and with great con? sideration for the unfortunate men placed uuder their guard. The marshals here say they are instructed by the au? thorities in Colombia to keep the strict? est surveillance over the prisoners. James Hammond, Jr., in Providence, being in the fourth story, and also in? toxicated, went over the railing and down a circular stairway of the Arnold Block, breaking a two and a half inch rail of iron by bitting it with his head and smashing through a sky-light into a tailor's shop. He was taken up sense? less and carried home, when it turned ont that he was not seriously hurt-only "a little sore." The escape of this man from instant death is declared to be wonderful, and only to be accounted for by the fact that he was in a balmy condi? tion when he went over. This, however, cannot be considered an argument in favor of excessive drinking, because. but for the drinking, this involuntary acrobat wouldn't have pitohed over at all. If the uew Congressional apportion? ment, bill passes the House of Represen? tativos, fixing the number of members of that body between 1872 and 1882 at 281, the old fifteen slave States will have 101 members, and the old free States 181. The North and West, therefore, will not have double the number of members of the South. The latter have gained in representation both in the House and in the Presidential Electoral College, from the fact that formerly tho negro slaves were counted as five for three, whereas now, since emancipation, no difference is made. This effange gives the South a dozen additional members. A hearty langb, which is ever in order, stirs up the physical man from the cen? tre to the circumference, and tends to improve the whole physical and spiritual being. It promotes animal health and spirits, and is to the man what tides are tn the ocean; it stirs np the sluggish depths, prevents stagnation and keeps tho whole system fresh and wholesome. It is what the Qulf Stream is to the ocean-a vivifying and warming element. The convulsion produced by hearty laughter penetrates to the minutest blood vessel, and canses the blood to flow with a freshened impulse. - Clement L. Vallandigbam's last client bas been acquitted. A despatch from Cincinnati states that after a few mo? ments' deliberation in the case of McOe han, who, twelvo months ago, killed Thomas S. Myers at Hamilton, the jury returned a verdict, of "not guilty," and the young man, who, only two days ago, was almost without hopo, was at once turned over to his friends, free to go where ho pleased. A foppish young dandy, who has just returned from abroad, appeared at a New York ball, last week, elegantly attired in full dress anit, with diamond studs and sleeve buttons, point lace neck-tie, three buttoned gloves, bair powdered with blonde powder, French heels ta bis boots, a strong suspioion of rouge on his cheeks and a piece of oourt-plaster on hts forehead. The girls made so muob fun of Iii m that he retired before supper. TZ? Q O 1 X t O X30L t9? Om MATTERS.-Tho price of single copie* of tho PircJtNix in (Ive cents. Secure ticket B in tbe South Gar ol? na Laad aud Immigration Association- D. Gambril!, Esq., is the agent ?D Colum? bia. There sro a number of valuable prizes. A complete outfit, with the exception of a press, for a country paper is offered for sale at a very lo? rate. Particulars can be obtained at PHCBNIX. offioe. The PHCBNIX office is supplied with ell ?ec essa ry material for as handsome cards, bill heads, posters, pamphlets, hand-bills, circulars, and other printing that may be desired, as any office in the Sontb. Give us a oall and test oar work. Messrs. Da Se 8c Chapman have pre? sented ns with copies of Miller's Plant? ers' and Merchants' Almanac, for 1872. The almanac is tarnished at 1.10 per dozea by mail. Also, a copy of "Eng land's Last Queen"-a poem fer parlor and office. The weather for several days past baa been very summery. WtaAows have been open, and fires ICO per cent, below*"* par. A little too mach rain, perhaps. A new Republican paper, called the Carolina Nev? Era, has made ita appear? ance in Spartcnbarg. Dr. JaVan Bryant, ex-member of the Legislature, is the editor. For the purpose of keeping this publication afloat, it bas been designated aa the official paper for York, Spartan burg, Union, Laurens and Greenville Counties. I Christinas waa celebrated in jolly fashion. Several boura before day broke, Monday morning, the streets re? sounded with the unpleasant and un? natural sound of tin trompeta; followed by discharged from pistols and fire oraokers. Improvised processions pa? raded the atreeta daring the day; but at night there was a perfect pandemonium -fire oraokers, rockets ead Roman candles were being discharged in every direction, and timorous individuals were i forced to use their legs. Several battles with these fiery implements occurred, bnt with tho exoeption of slight barns, no damage was done. Later in the night oommenoed the transferring of signs, etc. A promineut milliner fonnd "cider and liquors" over her place of business, while the Exchange announced "fash? ionable millinery." Over the door of the City Attorney's offioe was to be Been "City Clerk's office." The PHCBNIX sign has not yet been discovered. There was an extra force of police on dnty, bat the sleep-distarbers were not disturbed; and, as in Tam O'shanter, the "mirth and fun grew fast and furious." WORKS OF ABT.-A beautiful collection of imported oil ohromos, on canvas, engravings, oil paintings and photo? graphs, after celebrated American and European artists, with handsome golc leaf and walnut frames, will be on exhi bition and sale during the week al Messrs. D. O. Peixotto & Son's, on Mail street. This is a direct consigomeo from Misell Sc Co., of Montreal, Canada and contains many rare and choic pieces. Such a collection is rarely ex hibited to us, and we hope all lovers o art will avail themselves of the opportu nity to obtain something ohoice to adon their homes. Catalogues will bo pub lished and delivered in town to-cay. MAIL ARRANOEMEKTH.-Tho Norther mail opens at 8.00 P. M.; close? 7.1 A. M. Charleston day mail opens 4.0 P. M.; closes 6.00 A. M. Char les to night mail opens 6.80 A. M.; dos?s 6.0 P. M. Greenville mail opens 6.45 I M.; closes 6.00 A. M. Western ma opens 9.00 A. M.; doses 1.30 P. M. O Sunday office open from 3 to 4 P. M. A TREAT IN STOBB.-The eminent ct medians, Rose and Harry Watkins, con menee a short engagement of thr< nights, at Irwin's Hal), to-morrow evei ??g. "Kathleen Mavourneen" is tb opening piece, of whioh the Dubli (Ireland) Express speaks as follows: "Kathleen Mavourneen," a new Iric drama, was produced for the first tin in Dublin at this popnlar establishing last evening, and achieved a well d served success. As to Rose and Han Watkins, we aro free to confess that \ visited the Theatre Royal lost nig] with feelings of regret-regret that s tists who made so favorable an impre sion in their own specialties should tin hazard their popularity by essaying tl difficult task of rendering Irish chars tars to the satisfaction of an audien composed entirely of Irishmen. Ho ever, judging by the generous reoeptn that greeted them both on their entre it was evident that the large assemblai bad determined to be indulgent for t short-comings, and before the first s bad ended, all oqr fears had vauisbe and we were satisfied that the favori t wonld emerge triumphant from the < deal-as the sequel proved. We nev heard a more enthusiastic recall tb that whioh followed ibe dropping of t curtain on "Kathleen Mavourneen." a modest and well-turned speech, Ik! Watkins feelingly alluded to the kit ness he had experienced daring a to in Ireland; but while seeking lo apo gi zo for an "American tongue trying tnrn an Irish brogue," he was in terr u] ed by a stentorian voioe from the g lory, shouting, "Niver mind yer brog -you're the next best thing to an Int man, anyhow." This was reoeived bj tornado of applause, daring which A W., satisfied by au oh an endorsement his ^'temerity," pan tomi medalia than and retired^ ^_ LIST OF NBW ADVERTISEMENTS. E. W. Seibels & Co.-Estate Salo. Jas. B. Steadman-Land for Sale. John B. Patrick-School Notice. Meeting Riohlaud Lodge. E. W. Seibels ?fe Co.-Auotion Sale. Tho8. B.Jeter-Accommodation Tra J. H. Hendrix-Notice. Wm. J. Etter-Liquor Licenses. E. H. Hein i tah-Serious Disturban Irwin's Hall-Theatre. House or Rooms-Wanted to Rant.