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COLUMBIA, S. C. Flattering Unction. We are conscious that wo have soid enough on the re-assembling of the Tax-Payora' Convention. We have an ewo'red certain objections to it on the eoore of the expected introduction into its ooanoils of topics whioh had better be loft alone for tbe present. We have, also, in the discharge of the duty which devolved upon us as journalists, noticed oertain statements advanood by so-no of our friends, touching tho pronvioty of the oonvontion assembling a* the pre? sent time. A difference of opinion upon this point, coming from a respon- j eible and reputable source, challenged our attention. We treated it with can? dor, and our comments, we are pleased to know, were, proporly appreciated. There is no substantial difference of view entertained upon the grave matters whioh force themselves upon tbe con? servative pnblio opinion. This very discussion of differences, nioro apparent than real, as to tho best mode, time and manner of seeking relief and redress, will be Of benofit and give additional effioaoy to the remedies, when they shall have at last been agreed upon. Whe? ther the convention meets now or in October, after tho oleotions, tho only point of difference between some of tho Conservative members of tho Legisla? ture and the general public of the Stute, ?b really a matter of small oonsequenee. 'There is no difference in fundamentals, ?none as ' to the ueceBsity of oarncst aotion on the part of those who clearly see the downward tendency of all just prinoipies of government here, ond tho danger of . tho widespread corruption now existing, sweeping with uncon? trolled force aud demoralizing ourront through the longtu and breadth of the State, In the Union-Herald, of Tuesday, ap? peared a leader with tho sacrilegious heading of "The Comiug Messiah." We are not, therefore, surprised to find lit destitute of regard for tho truth of facts, devoid of ingenuous spirit, and utterly wanting in' true manliness of thought. Whether designed or not, the artiolo evinoes a misorable misoouoop tion of the true question, and an evi? dent mis-stalemeut of the whole issue. The Herald hears tho tramp of those who will hold its party to stem account? ability for their deeds of folly and crime. In its alarm, like a drowning man, it catches at the merest straws. The natural difference of opinion whioh may prevail in the ranks of the Conser? vatives as to non-essential points, is magnified into a threatening separation npon vital principles. Aud because, forsooth, a few of our members charita? bly attribute to a squad of those who | n?vn? no Ira(lu'uliuuuo DUUia jmtpuee I of amendment, beoauso they seu and ?sccg?iz? cthsrs a fearful lacking for of .troubles ahead, and consequently a little bettor behavior, because they think (weakly, in our judgment, but honestly, we doubt not,) tbe approach of the campaign will mend their man? ners, if it do not reform their morals, because some Conservatives are heard to say, "We are thankful it is no worse," the Herald pretends to rejoice in a disco? very of a mare's nest of supposed dis? crepancy of opinion and divisions in Conservative quarters. Men who eeek only the right?those who are animated only by patriotic motives?can afford to be indulgent and gentle, at the very time they are preparing to insist upon the sternest accountability. Because of this leniency, due in part to personal association, the Radical organ is not en? titled to infer or assert that any Conser? vatives of influence or character arc op? posed to the most decisive action, and much less to represent them, even indi? rectly, as knowing "that tho wholo cur? rent of the Legislature is directed to economy und retrenchment." Tlioy know no suoh thing, aud huve justified no suoh statement. Be so good, Air. Herald, as not to put the Conservative members iu a false position. Their faces aro not set to? wards your oampi. They are not tra rel log your way. No amount of your flattery can make any one of them a tail to# your kite. Thero never was, and there is not to-day, one particle of divi? sion or d.ifftsance of opinion eituor among the Conservatives in tbe State, or their representatives in tho Legisla? ture, as to tbe existence of enormous evils, aud of their being of-ft character at this moment too grievous to be borne. They know better than others, in fact, tho heavy burdens whioh crush our hopes and stifle oar enterprises. They witness every day almost and are power? less to obeck or control discriminating legislation and violations of the Consti? tution, as well as shamefal disregard of trusts on tho part of tho Government Officials, and indulgence in corruptions and abases, which the people, not. dis earning bo? nearly, have yet determined to endare no longer. And representa? tives and people ?rill bo fonnd one in effort and pnrpose, as they are one in intelligence, interest and sense of honor. The Herald has no moro right to lay this flattering unction to its soul than it has to rely upon a "special Pro? vidence." Its party in South Carolina is doomed. It is the opprobrium of the whple country. It is rotten to the core. Salt cannot save it. -??-??- ? The Product Ivo Value or Immigrant Population. The remarks reoently delivered by Hon. W. B. Ogden before the Sparen? burg and Ashevillo Railroad Associa? tion, in Charleston, contain a cofnpuct and instructivo . argument to thu value of railroads in inducing immigration, and to that of the effects of immigra? tion in adding to the population aud wealth, and promoting tho production and growth of a country. His facts are as true a) thoy are wonderful. Tho oouclusiou to which they load of the immenso prospective advantages of a railroad thoroughfare from Charleston to St. Louis and Chicago, in tho ex? change of productions between the North-west and Sooth Atlantic, and in the opening of linos of stoarcBhips from Charlostou to Europe, bearing away to foreign markets the products of the two sections, and returning with immigrants to bo established along tho wholo line of the road, is ono which every intelli? gent mind mu?t accapt as fairly drawn. Population will flow in tho other direc? tion, also, and wo shall havo two steady streams?one from Europa, tho other from the North-west?coming in to de? velop and opon our country. It is our policy to do all that may bo practicable to securo those groat benefits; and ouce the railroad crossed tho mountain bur? ners, it .vill work its way rapidiy to the desired terminus. It will soou become tho most eloquent picador in its own buhalf. Crippled us wo uro, and ro duoed as are oar means, tho investmout in an enterprise whioh will redound bo largely to tho good of the country, nnd the dovclopment of its vast resources, is to bo commended aa eminently wise and desirable. < 4 m ? Answer Charge? Already Jludti. of all the great and good work which the Legislature has done, it will not I tamely submit to thu charges of crime and wrong whioh tho Tax-Payers' Con? vention is likely to put forth concern? ing what it oalls "our Bide of the house." What the Tax-Payers' Convention will do, iu the way of statement of the pre? sent condition of things, their causes, and the inevitable tendencies of the fu? ture, no ono has a right to forecast to its prejudice. Wo expeot it to bo just aud uuuameini.tj. a.lie ucuubiuu uuinuuUb no exaggeration. If tho indictment shall equal the offence, it will cortaiuly strongly tux the resources of the Eng? lish language. Meanwhile, wo suggest to our contemporary to look a little into tho publications made by Henry Ward Boecher, Elihu Burritt, and other oarn eat Republicans of the North, touching abuses and tho dangers which threaten Republican government here. The Herald is roady to protest und demur in advance against the expected action of Conservatives, who feel the oppression of thu State Government and tho shamw of its corruptions, but it says never a word against tho powerful orraigu menl of its party in tho Stale by the re spcotuble Mr. t ike, lato Minister to tho Hague, in his remarkable book, "Tho Prostrate State." Horo is a reality. What have you to say about it? It is a work from a Republican huud. It con tnius nothing but charges. Be so good as to meot thorn. -? Among Du. Jonks' Cokes Yesterday were Mrs. Heister L. Glymor, of Charles? ton, who has for years been suffering with rheumatism and other chronic dis? eases. The lady wishes her case men? tioned for the benefit of others, aud considers her eure wondorfui, after the best physicians in Charleston had failed. Another great core was thai of Mr. C. E. Lartigue, of Blaokville, Barnwoli County, in this State, a prominent drug? gist and merchant, who had a serious deformity operated for with entire suu cess; and nameroas euros, both in and oat of the city, have been effected by him. All ascribe to him wonderful skill, and several who are under his treatment for throat and lung diseases express great satisfaotion at good effeots in so short a time. His of&oe is private, and none of his cures are spoken of, unless they re? quest it or do it themselves. Ho ro mains with us until the 25tb inst. Accident and Probable Lobs of Life.?On Monday, Oapt. Gannon, of tho island steamer Pooosiu, saw a sloep belonging to a Mr. Sayers, of Mount Pleasant, lyiDg bottom np off MaflUt's Channel. It is supposed that she was oapsizod by the gale on Sunday night, and that tho two colored men, George Yenning and Moses Young, who were aboard, were drowned. The Union-Herald {Charleston News. Important Xtutt*r from Horn P. I?. Car. Hcxa, Submitted to tho i.egiil*tur? Executivs Depapthent, OojjUMBiA, S. O., February 10, 1874. To fa Honorable the Senate and House of Hepresenialtves?GuMTLBMltNi^^ItaTe the hodor to state that, after transmit? ting to your honorable bodies my com? munication of tbe 7th instant, I have, upon further reflection, deemed it pro pur that I should again communicate with you in relation to the matters cud taineiiin suid communication. Iu view, not only of the peculiar and embarrass? ing circumstances surrounding the pnr ticular case uuder consideration, but of tho weighty and important principles involved, and the gravo cousequonces that may attend upon unadvised aotioti ou my part, I deairo to respectfully in? vite your attention to the reasons that have induesd uio to pursue the course 1 hnvo followed. Governed by no object, uptuuted by no motive save an earnest desire to obey tho Constitution and laws of the State, aud to faithfully perform the duties of my ollioo, I have felt that I owed it as a duly to tho Geueral As? sembly and to the people, that in dis? bursing the public moneys 1 should carefully scrutinize each aud every claim presented for liquidation, and arrest the settlement of such us may bo proved by the records of my office to bo irregular, until tho General Assembly bo informed of tho facts connected therewith. I have taliuu this view of my obligations to tho State, believing that in so doing, 1 am sustained by the Constitution aud the laws. Upon an examination of the Consti? tution und laws of tiio State it will be found that tho State Treasurer, as the head of tho financial department of the oxecutive brauch ol the Government, bus dutfoH to perform that are, in their nature and exercise, separate und dis? tinct from tho legislative department. En tho main, those duties uro not merely ministerial, but involve the exercise of judgment and discretion. He it} u bonded officer, liable to criminal prose? cution as well as civil suit for improper disbursements or a failure to render proper account of tho moneys entrusted to his care. Section 22, Article 2, and Sections 11, 12, 11 and 15 of Article 9 of tho Consti? tution, prescribes plainly the modo for tiro disbursements of the public fuuds, and the roauuor of recording tho trans? actions of tho State Treasury. Chapter 17 of tho revised statutes also regulates and prescribes tbo duties of the office of Stnto Treasurer. It is unnecessary to recito hero all tbo duties therein en? joined, but I would simply call atten? tion to tho language of Section 33 of suid chnpter, which reads ub follows: "That the Treasurer shall, at the end of evory month, report to tbe Comptroller General an accurate .statement of the caah transactions of tho Treasury of every description. Iu tho said report, he shall state the amount of every sum of money which be may receive or pay away in behalf of the State, particular? izing the person, and his office, of whom ho receives, and to whom he pays, as also ou what account bo has received, and for what purpose ho baa paid such suras." Uuder the plain and positivo prescrip? tions of tho Constitution aud laws, and in view of the existence of the condition of facts as before stated, charged, as I am, with the performance of such im? portant duties, ^ith such weight cf re? sponsibilities resting upon mo, with consequences of tbo gravest character to myself aud bondsmen, attendant upon my wrongful acta, 1 may well pause in the exercise of my functions to iuquire into the righlfulnoss aud validity of the claims thut may be presented for pay? ment, and may well refuse to discharge doubtful claims, until the attention of the Legislature shall have boon directed to such claims. To act otherwise, would be a manifestation on my part of the most wanton disregard of the interests of tho State, and an exhibitiou of rock loss uucoucoru for tbe rights of my bondsmen. But I am aware that, on tho other baud, it is claimed that the Goueral As? sembly htiving mado an appropriation for tho claims against tbo State held by tho South Carolina Bank nud Trust Company, I am thereby estopped from inquiring as to whether tbe claims are really what they purport upon their face to be; that I urn neither required nor authorized to ascertain from tho records whether or not tho consideration ? namely, tho pay certificates?which is supposed to have boen received by the State in return for the issuance of said bills payable, were really received and canceled; and, if so roceived, whether tho bdls payable prosentod for payment are really those issued in return for such certificates. It is further urged that tho Act of appropriation has finally closed the question of the validity of the claim, and that any consultation of tbe treasury rooords, iu order to ascertain tho status of such claim, is irrelevant and impertinent to the case. I nood not here state all tbo reasons that induce me to shrink with abhorrenco from such a doctrine, or tbo motives that impel mo to record a docided negativo to such an interpretation of my duties and con? stitutional powors as State Treasurer. Suffice it to say, that tho sanction of such viows would be followed by oonso quonoes of tho most appalling, daugor ouh and ruinous character. To take this viow of the question would be establishing a very unwise precedent, that might eventuate in tho payment of claims of most doubtful legality. By considering tbe history of these bills payable, it will bo observed that the? were made matter of record in tbe Stato treasury; that tho pay certificates received wore canceled, the name of tbe person presenting tbem being marked on tho bnok of tbo certificate so re? ceived, togethor with tho amount and number of the receipt given by said party, bills payable for tbe same boiug Issued, bearing a faoo value equal to the certificates, properly numbered or let? tered, Afl stated in my letter of the 7th in-* slant, I waived the payment of tho bills payable for 825,000, now in question, for the reason, that, there being no evi? dence of exchange, should said claim he paid, the pay certificates would still bo liable to be presented for paymont, and neither the General Assembly nor my? self would bo able to ascertain whether or not they had already beim redeemed. The State might, under thcao circum? stances, bo called upon to twice dis? charge tho same obligation. Lot us briefly inquire into the correct? ness of the theory that the Appropria? tion Act works a duality as to the status of the claim, and thut nothing is left to be dono but for tho Treasurer to count out und transfer tho money. There can In; no question us to the meauiug and intent of the General Assembly in mak iug tho appropriation. It can bear hut one construction, which i3 this, that only valid claims should bo paid. The Act was clearly intended to provide the menus lor the settlement of the claims of tho South Carolina Bunk aud Trust Company, that wero legal and binding on tho State. Tu deny this simple state? ment, is to assort that the Legislature intended to make valid an illegal claim ?a proposition that is monstrous in every aspect. Now, then, tho Legisla? ture having provided the means of pay? ment, who is to stand between the State aud tho claimant? Surely tho State Treasurer. By looking at the Act eut: tlod "An Act to make an appropriation to pay the claims of tho South Ouroliuu liauk aud Trust Company vs. tho State of South Carolina," it will ut ouco be seeu thut the whole mutter of identifica? tion of said claims, of the computation of thu interest accrued thereon, ?v.o., is mad.- the duty of the Treasurer. With the facts before ine, I cannot compre? hend in what inauuer it cm l>c main? tained that my duties in the premises are merely ministerial. On the contrary, those duties involve tho exercise of the fullest judgment ami largest discretion. It will not do to say that !ho appropriation ot thu money gives tho South Ciroliuu Bank and Trust Company au absolute, vested right to it; that the moment the Act be? came a law, the State lost and the bank acquired full title therein, for th<? his? tory of our Government, Stale and na? tional, proves the contrary; for, if f->r any reason tho appropriation lapsed, the Legislature would, without doubt, do what has always been dono by Congress and by every State Legislature?cover the money back iul<? tho Treasury. lu udopting the above views as to the duties and fuuetions of the State Trea? surer, I have not altogether bocu left to my own ideas and judgment. Fortu? nately, tho duties aud province of the financial officers of our Government have been the subject of judicial in? quiry, and have boeu decided und adju? dicated again und again by the highest tribunal of tho country?the Supreme Court of the United States. Those views huvo been elaborately argued, fully considered, aud completely estab? lished in tho case of Decatur vs. Pauld iug, 14 Pot. S. C. Bop., 107; case of Kendall vs. United States, 12 Pet., 521; Brashoar rs. Mason, G Howard's U. S. Reports, 02; United States vs. Guthrie, 17 Howard's U. S. Reports, 284; United I States rs. Seamen, 17 Howard's U. S. I Reports, 225. Tho relations of tho co ! ord:nn.to brannh** of Ki?le gvysr^mcnt::, and tho restraining power of tho one upon tho other, have also been fully considered and defiued. (Seo Low vs. Towns, b Geo., 156U; People vs. Bissel), 10 111., 220; Mauran vs. Smith, It. I. Rep.; State of Ohio ex rel. Lewis White man et nl , vs. Salmou P. Chase, 5 O. S. Rep., 520. Upon n patient investigation of the facts in tho ease, aud a careful consider confirmed in tho opinion that 1 have ation oi tho law applicable thereto, I urn rightfully acted in tho premises, aud that it will bo unlawful for mo to pay the said claim of $25,000, unless tho General Assembly shall pass an enabling Act authorizing mo to waive tho ro quircuier i of the necessary vouchers. In relation to tho instructions given to tho South Carolina Bank and Trust Company, uud to myself, by the Comp? troller-General, (copies of which arc hereunto anuoxed,) I would respectfully invito nttontion to tho law regulating and governing tho duties of tho Cutnp troller-Geuorul, und law creating a du pository, or depositaries, for tho public funds. Seotious 50, 51, 52 and 53, of Chap? ter 17, Revised Statutes, are as follows: "Tho Treasurer of tho Stato of South Carolina shull doposit all moneys that shall come to his hand on account of this Stato, within three days, Sundays I exclusive, after receiving the same, in such bunk or hanks in the cities of Co? lumbia aud Charleston as shall ho de? signated by tho Governor, Comptroller Generul and Treasurer, or auy two of thorn, and as, in their opinion, shall be secure aud pay tho highest rato of in? terest for snoh doposit. Tho money so dopositod shall be placed to tho ucoouut of tho Treasurer, and ho shall keep a bank book, in whioh shall be entered his account of deposits in and moneys drown from tho bauks in which juch de? posits shull be madu. "The said banks shall, respectively, transmit to thu Governor and Comp? troller-General monthly statements of tho moneys which shall be received and paid by thorn on account of the trea? sury. "Tho Treasurer shall not draw uuy moneys from Btioh banks, unless by chooks subscribed by him as Treasurer, and coantorsigned by tho Governor; and no moneys shall bo paid by cither of tho said banks, on account of tho treasury, exoept upon such checks. "Tho Treasurer shall exhibit his bank book to tho Comptroller-General and Governor for their examination, on the first Tuesday in overy month, and oftener, if required." It will, at oooe be seen that the power to designate a depository or deposito? ries of tbe pablio moneys is conferred by Section 50 on a board of officers consisting of the Govern or, Gomptroller General aud State Treasurer, aoy two of whom being sufficient to designate snub bank or banks. It will also be seen that it will be required, as a condition precedent, that the bunk shall be secure aud pay tbe highest ra'u of interest. By virtue of tho authority given, in this section, thu South Carolina Bank and Trust (Jompauy was chosen aud desig? nated us the solo depository for ?tute funds. By reference to the said communica? tions from tho Comptruller-Gencral, it will be seen that that officer has as sumcd 'bo right to regulato tho duties of the Treasurer, uud to prescribe tbe mauuer iu which his books shall be kept, claiming authority for suoh action under Chapter 17 of tho Revised Sta? tutes. By Section 3 of said obuptcr, be is authorized to inspect and estimate the Treasurer's booki. Section 1 requires his personal .superintendence ut tbe transfer of the mouoy and papers from thu oilioo of tho Treasurer to his succes? sor. Sectiou ? declares uudor what cir? cumstances thu Comptroller-General shall draw his warrant ou the Treasurer, and the manner in which such wnrruute may be drawn. Secliou 7 requires that the Comptroller-General shall keep u set of books constituting a complete check upon that office; and shall make a report to tbo Geuerul Assembly. These aru tho only duties having reference to tbo treasury that are imposed on the Comptroller-General. The powers and authority mentioned in the above sec? tions are the ouly powers delegated to him iu this respect. Nowhere iu tha 17th Chapter of tho Revised Statutes, uowlirru in auy law of thu State, is auy authority to be found for thu regulation by the Comptroller-General of the keep iug of the records by tho State Trea? surer. To cId! he the Comptroller-Geuo ral with thu power now claimed by him, will be to vitiate thu object hold iu view by the Legislature iu providing for tbe keeping ol* separate sets of books by these two officers. To grant this power will be to make the State Treasurer the niero clerk of tho Comptroller-General. Tho accord of such authority would be extremely uuwisu and mischievous. The duties of tho Treasurer in rela? tion to the keeping of tho books and tho drawing of the checks are equully well defined. Seotiou 31 of the same chapter declares that "it shall be the duty of thu Treasurer to keap nil tbe records, books and papers heretofore bulongiug to the Treasurer of the Upper Division and to tbo Treasurer of tbe Lower Division, in his office at Colum? bia." Section 33, already quoted, di? rects him to make monthly statements to tho Comptroller-Genoral. Section 3-1 directs that when required thereto, be shall produce to thu Comptroller-Gene? ral satisfactory statements of the cash iu hand, and furnish him promptly with information as to the reveuue aud finance of the State. Such are the plaiu provisions of tho law as to these two officers iu relation to tbe keeping of thu records of the treasury. I still fail to find any authority for tho exer? cise of tbe power assumed by the Comp? troller-General. I have also inquired from what source springs tbe right ol tho Comptroller-General to interrupt tho monetary transactions of tho govern meet, direct:::** the Prccidc-t c: South Carolina B9nk aud Trust Com pauy to refuso the payment of cbeokt drawn by tho Treasurer, unless drawt in compliance with directions, ns lnic down in bis letter of instructions. Tin only power ho legally possesses over th( bank as tbo depository of the State ii found in Chapter XVII, Section 51 which reads as follows: "Thu said banks shall respectively transmit to tho Governor and Comptrol ler-Gcneral monthly statements of tin moneys which Bhall bo received anc paid by them on account of tbe tr'oa sury." All tbo power ho has is to demand aud, if necessary, to compel the truus mittal of ouch statomout. To assumi to do more is to usurp authority not delegated to bim. But tho objeot tho full scone and meaning of tbe tore going sectiou is clear when Soctiot 53 is road. It is as follows: "The Treasurer shall exhibit bis ban! book tu the Comptroller-General ant Governor for their examination on the first Tuesday iu every mouth, ant often er if required." Can auy ono fail to understand tbi purpose of tbo sections? Do wo no comprehend at a glance that the object is to furnish thu Governor and Coin? troller-Gouorul with tho means of veri fytug the bank account of tho Treasurer and ascertaining from timo to time tin actual oonditiou of the fuuds? Certain !y it will not be seriously contendot that noy snob powor as that oxeroiscc by tho Comptroller-General isembrauot iu these sections. They cannot by auy ingenuity bo made to bear suoh con structiou as would clotbo him with suol power. But let us look further at Sec tion 52, whjoh relates exclusively to tin drawing of chocks on such banks or do positories. Tho sectiou is iu tbe fol lowing words, to wit: "Tho Treasurer shall not draw auy moneys from suoh banks, unless by checks, subscribed by him as Treasurer and counlersiguod by tho Governor; auc no moueys shall be paid by either o said banks, ou account of the Treasury except upon such chocks." This is the legal restraint upon tin Treasurer in the drawing, and upon tbi banks iu tbe payment of moneys ou ao count of tho Treasury. Nowhere, it this connection, is any duty imposed or any authority conferred on tin Comptroller-General. He is neithsi heroin directly mentioned or indirectly alluded to. As a member of the boart crested for that purpose, ho has a void iu the choice of the depository. At Comptroller-General, he has a right t< demand monthly statements from the bank in order that the bank book of the rrooaurer may be verified, oud bis au? thority is at an end; hero his, power eeeses; beyond this he cannot legally go. Anything bevond this is arbitrary and unauthorized. Tho act of. tho Comp? troller-General, like the right olaim'ed to regulate tho manner in which the hooka of the Treasury shall be kept, is neither sanctioned by the Constitution nor authorized by law, nor demanded by the requirements of his office. The Comptroller-General and tho President ?f the South Carolina Bank and Trust Company have alleged that I have violated the law in not keeping a proper reserve in the bank. If this were so, the power to correct it does not He within their province. ! But it is not correot ub a matter of fact, j. The Tax Act levies a tax of 12 mills .for State purposes; G'.J mills are al 1 ready appropriated and can be used; ;5>2 mills must be reserved. The re? serve is in excess .of the amount re? quired. I These geutlemcn base their calcula? tions upou the amount of ourreney in the bank, whereas a large amount of I "certificates of indebtedness," reeeived for tuxes and canceled aud filed in this [office, must be included in any oorrect 'computation made; for by the Tax Act these certificates are receivable for all icaxeB and redeemable out of any moneys rooeivod from all taxes, except the tax levied for schools and the payment of ?the iuterest on the public debt, though they were only issued for two of vho eight objects levied for in the Tax Act. Submitting these views upon the sub? ject, and relying with confidence upon the decision of your honorable bodies, I do most earnestly invoke your just judgment. I I have the honor to be, very respect fully, vour obedient servant, F. L. CARDOZO, Treasurer St?to of South Carolina. City Matters.?Subscribe for the Pnozsix. ! Saturday next will be St. Valentine's Day. Fine's Norfolk oysters uro all the rage?they aro large, plump and juicy. A fine drove of cattle passed through our streets, yesterday. Cat. Wagner's Minstrels are heading this way again. Always a feast or a famine; the famine i.to-day, in this column. J Charles P. Cheatham killed a man named Tompkins, iu Edgefleld, a few iduyB ago. j The ladies say there is uo ose sewing , any more, for R. O. Shiver Sc Co. are ! selling ladies' under-wear less than coat of material. 1 The down passenger train on the Greenville and Columbia Railroad was a little delayed, yesterday, by the run? ning off of a freight train near Chap j pell's. I Chicken thieves are still committing - their nightly thefts in various parts of j!the city. On Tuesday uight, the fowl Jhouse of Mr. Edgar Lowry was robbed t of five fine Brahmas and Coobins. ?I The bankrupt sale of the stock of I. -jouiz/uauLiur 7,be cciztinscc, *c c~y, zz ' the ouotion rooms of Messrs. Peixotto , Sc Sons. The attention of parties wish ling to purohase is called to the adver? tisement in another column. ! Those seventy-five cents and one dol? lar carpets at R. C. Shiver & Co.'s are creating quite a sensation among house r keepers. I Sent emk Co?nT?Wednesday, Feb? ruary 11, 197A.? The Court met at 10 i A. M. Present?Chief Justice Moses , and Associate Justice Willard. 'j At 12 M., tho Court adjourned until 'A Friday, 27th, 10 A. M. 'I 'I Parker's Halt..?The beautiful drop ! curtain and scenery for Parker's Hall j has been completed, and is being rap* j idly placed in position for public exhi ( bit ion to-morrow evening,, the 13th 1 instant. The artist, Mr. Eugene Cra? mer, is represented, by these who know, - to have excelled himself in these speci [ mens of his talent. Mrs. Mat tie Cramer ihas assiduously aided in the preparation ? 'of the canvas for the toueh of the . artist's brash. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer, 5 j with a good support, will give an enter - I tainment at Parker's Hall to-morrow 1 evening, at tho opening of whioh Mr. 1 Cramer will exhibit and desoribe the 1 various paintings. There will be two , dramatic renditions during the evening; . one of whioh is entitled "Christine; or, J the Return of the Soldiers"?a drama ' of the French revolution. Excellent music will be furnished, and we predict , an excellent evening's entertainment. i Seats can bo secured at Prof. LyBrand'a ? I music store, without extra charge. See advertisement. ? . _ _-? ' { List or New Advertisements. Beautiful Boen er y at Parker's Hall. 9 Moeting Aoaoia Lodge. 9) "j Fins.?On the 28th alt. the grist mil! 1 and cotton gin of Dr. low and Mr. ? Kendriok, in the Northern part of the B County of Greenville, were destroyed r by fire. There waa a large quantity of y ginnsd cotton in the building at the 1 time. The fire was accidental, it is sup 9 posed. Loss over $6,000. The two ' buildings were olose to eaoh other, and y a strong wind blowing at the time.