Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

COLUMBIA, S. C. Wednesday Morning, May 10, 1872. Mr. Sumner ?nd civil limn ta. It is difficult to see what rational pur? pose Mr. Sumner has in view by bis oontinued defeat of the amnesty bill by saddling it with his civil rights amend? ment. It looks very much as if he sin? cerely favored neither civil rights nor amnesty, though he claims to be the champion of the former, and not indis? posed to grant tho latter. There is re? quired under the fourteenth amendment .a two-thirdB voto of Congress to pass a .measure relieving disfranchised South? erners of their political disabilities, .whilo for Mr. Sumner's pet civil rights project, a simple majority would suffice to make it a law. What is the Bense, then, in tacking civil rights ou as a rider to amnesty, giving beth an additional load to carry, and ending, as it has re? peatedly done, in the defeat of both measures? Alono and unentrammeled by the other, we are inoliued to believe that the amnesty bill would receive ite requisito two-thirds vote, and the civil rights bill be sustained by the simple majority which ia necessary for its pass? age. Mr. Sumner, by his foolish course, thwarts his own professed purposes; or, tn case we are mistaken about a majority of Congress favoring the oivil rights bill, he is taking ground which is equally un? tenable, in hil endeavor to foroe ac obnoxious measure on his bro th cr-repre? sentativos, and thus, too, defeating an? other act cf legislation which he oonourt with them in thinking advisable. Thii is the part of an obstinate ass, anc scarcely accords with Mr. Sumner's repu? tation as a first ol ass New England statesman. We in South Carolina would not go into eostasies ever the passage ol the amnesty bill, nor would we bc lamentably affected by the sucoeas of thc supplementary oivil rights bill. Amnesty is only valuable to us as il o vi noes a returning sense of j as tice tc as and an acknowledgment of oor right? by the North. It would mark an era o! renewed confidence and friendship, anc its incidental inflaenoes in that waj would, doubtless, prove beneficial to th? South. But it has no power to give ui relief from the curaca that reoonatraotioi has brought upon aa. If we were in thi ?condition that Missouri was when Grat; Brown burst the political shackles of ?50,000 votera, amnesty might ol tng< the character of the State Governmeu of South Carolina as effectually and a beneficially as the Liberal Bepnbli" i movement did that of Missouri .ob however, is not the case. . * aingl man more will vote ' ~>ouih Carolin after amnesty is accorded than vote tc day. Therefore, we say that amnest; will work no practical benefit to Soutl Carolina. Aa to the oivil rights of the blaok pee pie, they enjoy them to day in Soutl Carolina to the fall extent of their whit iellow-oitizeus, if not in a greater degree They do not frequent oar hotels, but, i we are not mistaken, they have as full legal right to do so as legislation ca: -give. That they do not avail themselve of it is, iu a great measure, ewing t their good sense and self-respect, whio .prevents them from intruding unneoei sarily where their presence would giv offence. But they do go to places c public amusement, and whenever the choose to do it, pay for ?and receive fire class passage on our railroads and othc publio conveyances. This doesn't work half so badly c one having a holy horror of African cot tiguity would expect. At any rate, : isn't for ns to grieve too sorely over tb extending to Sambo the same rights i other States of the Union which he oi joys here. We do not think the subjeot a prop? one for legislation, but it had better I acted upon and ended onoe and forevei than continually kept before the publi ?ind as a source of irritation, and 'fruitful theme for demagogues to curr favor with envious ignorance by dilatin upon. Once the legal right is accorde him, the negro will in other plaoes, t now in South Carolina, be diainolined I asatrt them over-rigoroualy. VEUT SIQNIII??KT.-It is stated upc -good authority that Hon. James Brook of New York, and Hon. J. B. Beck, < Kentuoky, aro in favor of the Oinoinna "M nomination. Oho is a repres?ntate " nan of the old Whig and Demoorat parties, now fused in the oppositio and the other is a representative of tl Conservative-Democratic party of tl South. They are both leading me Thia is very significant. No two mi epuld more strongly represent tho pe ties and aeotions to whioh they belong, Gen. Hanoook forbids mining expec tiona into the region of the Blaok Hil for the reasons that, first, the gold the belongs to tho Indians, and, scocn there isn't any gold there at all. TU? of CU j nonda. To .day., there Trill be -old, or offered for sale, at public out-cry, 9250,000 of the bonde of the city of Colombia. We opposed the passage of the bill author? izing the additional issue of bonds; for we believed and still believe that it was unnecessary, unwise and dangerous-re? garded it, in faot. as but another project devised by avaricious and unscrupulous men to swindle a helpless community. At the eale to-day will oome the first op? portunity to put the swindle in opera? tion. We have boen led to apprehend that there was a design to chill the salo of tho bonds, in order that they might be purchasod at far less than their value by a clique of speculating officials. Wc hope their Boheme may be frustrated, and that the bonds will sell at something like their true value. The entire indebt? edness of the city is only $(100,000, and tho taxablo property amounts to $5,000, 000, and the income from licenses and other Bouroes is very large. When tbie is taken into consideration, and tho fur? ther even more important faot that the bonded debt of the city caunot be in? creased, except upon the vote of the people, it is clear that these bonds to be sold to-day are very valuable securities, and should bring a good price. There can be no excuse for their sacrifice, at any rate, for the City Council can bid them in, should they fail to bring a rea? sonable price. Preparation for War. In view of the failure of the Wash? ington treaty, which is now regarded at almost absolutely certain, the sudden de? termination of the Government to fit up our navy and repair the Southern coast defences, appears rather significant, and indioates that there is some apprehen? sion, or a desire to create an apprehen? sion, that a war with Great Britain maj follow a rupture of the treaty. Wash? ington correspondents of our Northen; exchanges write that the Cabinet hst determined that "every iron-clad of thc navy shall be put in condition for immt d?ato service, and that the coast defenoes, especially those at the South, shall be ai once made as impregnable as possible.' Something is said about the mounting ol flftoen-inoh guns by the Spaniards ai Moro Castle, that guards the entrance to Havana, and other hints given witt the apparent desire to convey an impres sion that trouble is anticipated witl Spain. But the idea of our making an] extra exertions to prepare our ooaBt de I fences against au attaok from Spain seems too absurd to be seriously oontem plated. A Government that requirei years to quell an insignificant rebellioi like the one in Cuba, aud that canco even permanently suppress its roving banditti at home, can surely oxoite n< serious fears of its attempting an inva sion of theso United States. England i the power whioh these warlike prepara tiona are intended to guard against; or more probably, to frighten into a mor accommodating spirit in settling th "Alabama claims." The Washington treaty was highly ac oeptable to the people of the Unite* States. The press, whether Democrat! or Republican, approved it, as alike ore ditable to Amerioan diplomaoy and Bri tish fairness and justice. To have i fail now and all ita advantages loaf through Grant's blundering folly and in sane desire to make politioal oapital ou of a negotiation involving such impoi taut interests, caunot fail to fix a stigm upoa his administration that even tb President's war record cannot wipe awaj It will insure Grant's defeat at the poll ia November, beyond peradventure, an despite even any false step that th Demoorats may take, whioh is now hi only chineo, anyway. Hence his truca lent attitude towards England, and th cringing offers of compromise whioh h has made. These being about to fail too, he is probably now contemplating design to try a little blaster again, an by making a show of preparing for wai induce the British Government to saori floe something to the oansoof peaoe, aa accept the virtual withdrawal of th olaim for consequential damages, wi th oe demanding an actual modification of tb American case, which would prove e diaaatroua to Grant as the absolute fal ure of the treaty. UNION, S. C., May 13, 1872. To THE EDITOR 07 inn FHCBNIX: I your issue of the 10th instant, a pan graph appeared, headed "A Law-Make a Law-Breaker," in whioh it is said was arrested under a oharge of oommi ting a rape upon a ?mall oolored girl. In reply I have only to say that I ha\ not committed a rape; I have not bee arrested or even charged with doing si and the person who says so, utters malicious falsehood, and what he mu know to be ono. If the author of the slander is not ooward, as well as a slanderor, ho wi make himself known to me, und I wi tako that satisfaction out of his hit whioh his diabolical malico deserves. J. S. MOBLEY. WHAT THE RADIO AI. P APSES SAT or THH STATE QO YHRWIM?T. -Th s Charles? ton Republican, speaking of tho present Legislature, acknowledges its guilt. It says: '., "The people have had enough of this Legislature. The financ?e of the State are in a sufficiently bad condition al? ready, without the Legislature attempt? ing to tamper with them. "The State and the Republican party would have beon mach better off, if the last Iisg?'a'.uid had never met. We understand, upon the very best authori? ty, that the amount of pay certificates issued for the last session amount to $1,200,000. Just think of it-one ses? sion of the Legislature bas cost tho State over a million dollars! All tho re? ceipts from the liaense tax are being used to pay off this immense indebted? ness." The Missionary Record, also Republi? can, thus asserts the truth in ref- ronce, to the real situation: "The fearful maelstrom into wbioh our Stato finances have been sweeping for the lust year, continues without any abatement, but with inoreasod velocity. There is 'commendable progress' from bad to worse; the last vestige of honor has departed from official pledges in the Treasury Department, aud no reliance whatever can bo placed in any deolura I tions made. To-day the State cannot [ secure credit for one hogshead of bacon io Columbia to feed the lunatics nor the deaf and dumb. If ever there was a de? mand for a revolution in the State Go? vernment that time is now. There is no hope for the people while these men rule this State as they have; ruinl ruin!! ruinll! is the proper designation for out preseut financial oondition. The taxes have been levied, they are being collect? ed, everybody that gets a day's work has to pay a lioeuse of ten dollars for hie salary. Every man, woman and child thal plys a vocation, which brings in a living, must pay a tax and take out n license; and the result isthat all persom are oppressed, from one end of the country to the other. The only reined) for these evils lies in the ballot-box, and in the people's fidelity to themselves, this coming election. If they have noi enough to move them now, then there it a degradation to which they havo de? scended which we could not have be lieved them capable. There must be u uniting of all classes as against a oom moa foe. Demoorats- Republicans white and black men, Northern anc Southern mon, all who want an honest strong, economical government, we mus unite for self-protection, as agains pirates, who como upon the high seas, tc plunder and scuttle our ship of State and oarry off the booty. "The people of every Connty shook hold meetings and deolare against thi continuance of the rule of the men win controlled the finances of this State Let there be County Conventions callee by tho citizens, and a general disoussioi of all matters of public interest." In the face of these utterances, wbei will the eyes of the North, of the Eas and of tho West bo really opened to th actual condition of affairs in South Care lina and the other Southern States, an to the necessity of a completo reforc and redemption in the interests of a oona mon people and a common country? . ? ?.. IMMIGRATION TO THE SOUTH.-In Previous article, we indicated Soother; urope as the most likely field for th South to seek that immigration which i so Imperatively needed for the restore tion of her exhausted labor. But tb South must do much more than see abroad in order to encourage a substan tial immigration of a thrifty and usefu class. She must offer adequate induce ments at home, and these indaoemont must be such as will compete with th zealous, determined and intelligoD efforts made by the States of the North? west, their railroads and laud agencies to keep the tide of population flowing i their direotion as it has hitherto done Laud mast be cheapened to immigrant; labor and gool waces assured them; an especially must they feel sure that thc will enjoy that perfect social cqualit that is so large an element in the induce ments which actuate tho European prc lelairo when he abandons his old bom and ancient associations sod customs fo a now home in the untried Wost. If th planters of the Carolinas, Georgia au Virginia, instead of encouraging tho ar pointaient of politician "State emigre tion agents," wore to form themselve into "homestead sooieties," Rubsoribin land instead of money, and guaranteein to iu-ooming labor small farms at norn: nal prices, the houses which are to b built and paid for out of the wages c the immigrants, they would not onl proenre labor, but that very kind of pei manent, settled, domesticated labo which they themselves most need, an which will be most useful in restorin the State to a healthy oondition. Let i be Ljnown to the thrifty peasantry of th agricultural parts of Italy that a marrie man, by going to tho South, can obtai at onoe a farm of twenty or thirty aore of land, with a house upon it for his in mediate oooupanoy, all of whiob he oa make his own fee-simple property by th labor of fire years, and an important in migration will be at once secured. The essence of the matter is, that th South muBt not invite a peasantry, nor tenantry, but a yooman olass of ema proprietors, who will identify tbemselv< with the interests of the country, an beoome at onoe an industrial rcsouro the back-bone of conservatism and tli bulwark of liberty. And all this tl: Southern people can do now, at once an efficiently, without putting their ham in their pockets for a dollar, and by the own individual, unaided personal effort I Washington (I). C.) Patriot. The Oregon Iudians capturo bears I baiting honey with chloroform. OIJOBE OF THE LTJTHKBAN GXNZBAXjj BTVOD.-The Lo theran Oeneral Synod assembled again yesterday tnorniog. BOT. D. M. Henkle. Chairman o? the Oommittee on Home Missions, presented a report, which was adopted, by whioh the home missions operations of the cha rob are left entirely under the control of the various district synods. Bev. Dr. Bude read au extended and interesting report on the state of the ohuroh within the bounds of the Qenoral Synod, which, on motion, was received and considered by items. The report gave riso to quito a long and earnest dis? cussion, particularly in connection with certain recommendations in it on the subject of home missions. Pending this discussion, tho further consideration of tho report wus, on motion, suspended, and u motion mudo and carried to recon? sider tho report of tho Committee on Home Missions. This report was then amended so as to rend as follows: "lu view of tho vast field of our mis? sion work, ami the urgent want of means to carry forward tho sumo, wo recom? mend that the district synods address themselves moro energetically to the work of missions within their own boundaries, and that they co-operato tn their fullest extent with the General Syuod's Contrat Committee on Home Missions iu tho general wotk of mis? sions." The coasiderutiou of Dr. Rudo's re? port wus then resumed and the docu? ment adopted. Rev. T. W. Dosh presented au able paper expressive uf the Synod's fooling as to the position, purposes and pros? pects of the body, and pledging itt members to unwavering adherence tc tho organization us a necessity. Th< paper was unanimously adopted. Dr. Bachrum then made some eongra tulutory and fraternal remarks, express iug bis pleasure at the harmony anc peuce which had characterized the nea M?On of the Synod, and said that he ex peeled to meut with them no more aa i body on earth, and could not express hil heart's emotions, but could and wouk ever pray for God's blessing to abidi upou them. Whereupon, it wus Resolved, That we have boon bighl; gratified with the deeply interesting au< alluding remarks of the Rev. Jobi Baohman, D. D., LL.D., in giving u bis farewell benediction, and shall eve feel encouraged in our work by the re collection of bis kind wishes, the favot able opinion which he has been pleasei to express of our harmonious and peace ful deliberations, and his earnest praye for our most enlarged usefulness au prosperity. Tho'Synod thou finally adjourned,|t meet next May in Virginia. At the adjournment of the Genen Synod a meeting of the Board of Dire? tors of the Theological Seminary, ri moved by tho action of the preset Synod to Salem, Roanoke Coonty, Ya was held in the church. This boan composed of Lutheran ministers, a members of tho General Synod, accepte the resignation of Dr. A. R. Rude. On motion, it was resolved to go int an election for a Professor of Theolog for the Seminary, who should nlao ai in tho cupacity of President of the ii stitulion. Mr. Repasa was unanimous] elected by a viva voce vote. In brief and appropriate words, M Repass acknowledged his sincere uppr ciation ol the high honor oonferred upc him. On motion, the salary of the ce Professor was fixed at $1,200 per un uni: and a oommittee appointed to recen tho final answer of Mr. Repass in Se; tomber. lu the event of bis declinii the position tendered him, the said coe mittue to have authority to make suitub provision for theological inatruotio and to tako such Bteps os may be nece sary to forward tho wishes of tho Sync and of thu board with regard to tl Seminary. A committee of th ruo was appoint? to draft n constitution sud by-laws f the government of the Seminary. On motion, the board adjourned, sui ject to tho call of its President. [ Charleston Keics. TUE COTTON SITUATION.-The who position of this staple, (says tho Ne York Daily Bulletin, of the 10th instant ns it presents itself now, may bo summi up in a few words. Tho crop prospec in tho South have been materially ii proving sinco tho 10th of April; t then tho weather was cold and dan most of tho time, and tho plant w backward. The weathor und tho gen ral condition of field labor have been i that could bo wished for. ? larger ar has been planted, and moro thorough -twice, and iu some localities tbr times, as much fertilizers as last yo having boen used, flush of funds aa tl planters are, for the first time since t war. Although tho stook and prospe< ive supply of American cotton aresoan in Europe, other kinds are plentifi and India ootton especially is coming in foroe. Money is getting dearer, ai there is a revulsion against spaoulatii any further in merchandize. Tho ace mulatiou of ootton fabrica in Europe known to be largo, indeed excessive; at to a considerable extent the ootton our large 1860-'70 crop ia still repi sented in thoao very fabrics. If o crop proceeds satisfactorily, there o be no reasonable doubt that betwe now and the end of the year we sh see lower prices for ootton hero and Europe. Some of tho old cotton mi chants and brokers hore feel con fido that, if matters develop normally, a wo havo no special drawback from cati pillars and frost this season, we ah seo sixteen couts for low middling ti landt- beforo Christmas. Tho prcdicti may Bcem extravagant, yet wo had e ton down to thirteen cents in March li year in this market, at a time when t facilities for bringing India cotton market through the Isthmus wero i half of what they aro at present. A city that soots people-Pittsburg Booal Item?. CITY MATTERS.-The prioe of Bingle oopies of the PHOENIX is five cents. Attorney-General Chamberlain is un? certain as to the liability of ministers of the Gospel to the license tax. It is an unjust and unheard-of emotion. Tho pleasing custom of wearing a flower in the button-hole of the ooat is becoming popular in our city. The employees of the Southern Ex? press Company, in Charleston, have presented Mr. T. D. Gillespio, their popular superintendent, with a pair of handsome silver goblets, as a mark of their appreciation. Bring them up, Monsieur, and we'll drink your health with ice water. The following is the programme of music for to-day, by the band of the Eighteenth Iufantry, Joseph Buchar, baud-master : DoMolay Quick-step, by G. A. P?tz. Aria from Norma, by Bellini. Emilia Waltz, by Hamm. Komauze, by Roga?si. Graud March, Lucretia Borgia, Don Zitti. Tho Independent Firo Company, of thia city, with LyBrand's Silver Cornet Band, expect to leave here on Saturday night, to participate with the firemen of Charlotte, N. C., in their celebration on the 20th. Companies from other cities will likely be in attendance, with steam? ers which have acquired a reputation, but tho Independents feel confident that their "Silsby" will sustain herself nobly. Rev. John S.Ezell, (a Baptist minis? ter,) J. J. Ezell, W. B. Ward and R. L. Lebannon, have been arrested in Oconce County, charged with Eu Elnxism, and were yesterday lodged in Richland jail by Doputy United States Marshals Mounce and Williams. Tho water will be shut off at 9 o'clock this morning from all that portion of tho city South of Blauding street, in order to make some necessary repairs in the water pipes. Tho Stark's Hill bridge on the Char? lotte, Colombia and Augusta Railroad, appears to be in a dangerous condition. We hope the proper officers will loo's after it. While cleaning out au old well on th< oorner of Sumter and Richland streets a few days ago, several muskets ant cooking utensils were discovered. DEATH OF HON. ALFRED HUQEB.-Thi< old and distinguished citizen of Charles ton departed this life, yesterday. Hi had been postmaster of Charleston fo many years, besides filling other honor able positions. COURT OP GENERAL SESSIONS-TUES DAY, May 14.-The Court met at 10 A M., Judge Melton presiding. Thomas Henry Kirkpatrick, a convie in the penitentiary, who killed a fellow prisoner several months ago, was acquit ted of the charge of murder, on tin gronnd of insanity. He was remande? to the penitentiary. Messrs. Melton am Tradewell for the prisoner. SUPREME COURT, TUESDAY, May l?. The Court met at 10 A. M. Present Chief Justice Moses and Associate Jus tices Willard and Wright. E. J. Moody, appellant, vs. E. R Ellerbe, respondent. Mr. Sellers wa heard for appellant. Mr. Harllee fo respondent. Mr. Warley in reply fo appellant. lihioso and Baxter vs. Simeon Pratt Mr. Baxter was heard for appellant. James A. Crotwell, administrator, e al., appellants, vs. Jane Boozer, et al. respondents. Mr. Baxter was heard fo appellant?, At 3 P. M., tho court adjourned til Wednesday, 15th, at 10 A. M. PDONIXIANA.-Now comes an ci ohango to tell us that tho origin of th word candidate is Candidus, white, re ferring to thc color of the toga whic! tho old Romans used to prescribo fo aspirants for office. Candidatus is white-coated applicant for popular soi frage-Dr. Greeley, for instance. Here' to our first genuine olassioal candidat for the Presidency-the first who did th thing by ovideut instinct in "the big old Roman way." Gratz Brown is in part of Israelit descent, and it is said that a female reli ti ve of bis family was the original c Scott's Rebecca in "Ivanhoe." If yon wish to know a person's dispc BI tion, play a game of backgammon croquet or dominoes with him, and wi the game. Having found Dr. Livingstone, th Now York Herald will next find th North pole. When a boot-maker oommencos t make a boot, the first thing ho uses i tho last. Genius nnexalted is no moro geniu than n bnshel of acorns in a forest c oaks. . The figures in tho absolutely late: style of Dolly Varden aro so delightful! large that it takes two young ladies t show them property. Thoy have to g arm-in-arm and keep step, or else tb effect is spoiled. M?nztet or Cur Go UK cru-Tho rega? lar meeting of Council was held les? night. The Mayor and a quorum of Al? dermen present. 1 A communication was received from Dr. Ensor, Superintendent of the Luna? tic Asylum, notifying Council that the oity pauper imbeciles would be turned over to the Council at once-owing to lack of means and insufficient room. A discussion thereupon occurred, relative to the condition of the alms house. The matter WUB referred to the Alms House Committee. The Davis alley nuisance was debated, and the report ol the committee-recom? mending a covered drain and sewer lead? ing to the brick drain on Taylor street adopted. The opinion of the City At? torney was that the parties creating the nuisance could be fined from day to day until the uuisanco was abated, or the ne? cessary funds obtained to cover the pro? posed work. The city printing was awarded to the Union and PHOENIX. The Chief of Police was instructed to inspect the pavements and notify owners of lots that hereafter the ordinance rela? tive to obstructions and imperfections would be rigidly enforced. Bids for supplying wood to the water works and for building street bridges, ahed at guard house, medicines for city poor, &c, were referred to proper com? mittees. The City Clerk was notified to adver? tise for proposals to white-wash the city market, repair the guard house, alms house, Seo. An ordinance forbidding the shooting or trapping of birds, or robbing nests, was read the first time. The Vigilant Fire Engine Company was granted four days leave of absence, from the 18th, to visit Charleston. The consideration of the case of Ro? bert O loper-fined for selling liquor on Sunday-was postponed to special meet? ing on Friday night next. MAIL ARRANGEMENTS.-Tho Northern mail opens at 2.30 P. M.; doses 10.45 A. M. Charleston day mail opens 4.30 P. M.; ol o BOS 6.00 A. M. Charleston night mail opona 7.15 A M.; closes 6.00 P. M. Greenville mail opens 6.45 P. M. ; closes 6.00 A. M. Western mail opens 12.30 A. M.; cl OB os 12.30 P. M. Wilmington mail opens 2.30 P. M.; closes 10.30 A. M. On Sunday office open from 3 to 4 P. M. LIST OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Seibels & Ezell-Beal Estate. C. Rives-Miloh Cows for Sale. II OT EI. Anni v Ann, May 14.-Nicker son Houae-Q P Pnrlbert and wife, N Y; Mro B B Spaulding, Misa Anna Spaulding, Misa Eunice Spaulding, O G Robinaon, Mane; J 8 GuigD ard, 8 0; Miss I J Caber, N O; W W Fry, Va; Mro O B Bryce and two children, Mies L Bryoe, Miea M Bryce, F A Conner, 8 G; Mrs Caldwell, Greenville; J M Seigier, Newberry. Columbia Hotel-O E Knowiea, C H Barston, N Y; H B Moore, J D Ellies, Pa; W Carring? ton, W Dudley, B Graham, 8 J Coate?, J Woodruff and daughter, Charleston: E W Fenn and wife, Orangeburg; 8MB Gillespie, D L Fillyau, N C; T P Mitchell, wife and child, Fairfield; B O Biohardaon and wife. Clarendon; G P Ootohett, 8 E Co; W H Evans, A A Brown, E H Brooke, H E Mazyck, Ga: L B Austin, Greenville; T 8 Moorman and wife, Mra J M Baxter, three children and a nurse, Newberry; J B Stoadman, Union. THE - ENTERPRISE RAILROAD.-The Charleston News has a lengthy article on this new freight and passenger city rail? road, from whioh we extraot: This, it will be seen, is an ambitions and comprehensivo route. The length of the road on the East side, running from the battery to Magnolia, will be seven and a half miles; on the West side, the distance from the battery to the Sa? vannah and Charleston Railroad, by the route proposed, is about four and a quarter miles; and the cross-town, from the North eastern Railroad Depot on the East, to the Savannah and Charleston Railroad Depot on the Weat side of the city, will bo ono and a quarter miles long. Active operations have now been be? gun in the actual construction of the road, and large gangs of laborers are at work in different portions of the oity. Ground was first broken iu East Bay last week, and some of the curven have already been laid in tbat street. Yester? day morning, a force of 100 men were set to work on Meeting street, commenc? ing at John street, and going North. It will, of course, be neoesBary, with the approaoh of warm weather, and in view ot the danger of turning up the soil dur? ing the hottest months of the year, to get through with the digging os soon as possible; and it is olaimed by the offtoers of the compaoy that they will have their foundation laid from the battery to Mag? nolia Cemetery within four weeks. ???? > DisTBxssiKa OCCURRENCE.-Three co? lored men--Elise Caldwell, Bob Biggera and Joe Hunton- were engaged one day last week blasting rook in a well on the premises of W. B. Byers, a few miles distant from Book Hill. They were at the bottom of the well, fastening the fuse, when cns of the iron tools with which they were working atruok fire from the rock, tho fase ignited, and a terrific explosion took place, severely wounding Elias and Joe, slightly injuring Bob, who hastily climbed ont of the well and oalled for assistance. The wounded men wero taken out and brought to this plaoe, where they are re? ceiving proper medical attendance. Elina had his leg broken. Joe was fearfully injured, having both jaw-bones and his collar-bone broken. Both of the unfor? tunate men were haply burned by the powder.-Rock Hill Lantern. Mr. Columbus Moi so, an old citizen of Charleston, but recently a resident of New Orleans, died in Charlottesville, Va., a few days ago.