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CQL?MBT?;F.trl Wednesday Morning! June 0,1875. ??- B ? -w. Tho War Cloud In England. ' The problem in European affairs just now sooms to bo whether France is arm? ing for another war with Germany, in the hope of restoring her lost military prestige, or Germany is seizing upon the efforts of France to restore her army to its ordinary footing, us a pretext for an? other wnr to be inaugurated for the pur? pose of completely subjugating the Frcnob. Many of the official statements that come to us'have the air of diplomatic untruthfuluess, while the rumors that are caught up by travelers and occasional correspondents, aroptob&bly unreliable by reason.of their being tho expression of individual' private opinion within a very limited circle. Tho Louisville Courier-Journal thinks nothing is more natural than tbat,tho hot-blooded young soldiers of France, lounging in the cafe or sauntering along the boulevards, should loudly proclaim their desire to wipe off the stain .upon the French army. Nothing is more natural than that un military tourists, not familiar with tho spectacle of military organization, should mistake repair for construction, remodel? ing for development. And nothing,. Again, is more natural than that tho ru? mors of these sights and sounds should occasion gossip in the outside world, and cause suspicion among the people of Germany. But of all gossip, the gossip of impending war is the least trustwor? thy, simply for the reasons that causes of complaint are subjects of confidential communications between governments, and the methods of war demand secrecy in its preparation. This secrecy extends oven to collateral correspondence, as was illustrated in the British House of Lords last Monday, when the curiosity of tho Eublio culminated in a resolution offered y Earl Russell, asking that the corres? pondence between Great Britain and tho continental powers, arising out of the recent war alarm; should be laid before the House. In response, the Earl of Derby, Minister of Btate for the Foreign Department, replied that he sympathized with tho curiosity of those who had watched the course of foreign affairs dur? ing the lost few weekR, but it would be impossible to give a fair account, with? out largely using confidential communi? cations relating to the policy and opinions of othor governments, who would object to such disclosures. > This declination of the British Government to furnish the House of Lords with authenticated in? formation on the subject would seem to leave little for reliable information from private sources. But the next day an unsigned letter in the London Times de? clared that-a few-weeks ago the German representatives at the various European courts officially complained that France was arming with a view to the early re? sumption < of war, and that General Von Schweinitz, the German Minister in Vienna, had stated it was only owing to Germany's long suffering that war had not yet broken out. t This statement was, in a measure, corroborated by Lord Derby's remarks. on the previous even? ing; for after'^declining to produce the official correspondence, he stated that ftorsons highest in authority in Berlin of ate openly declared that the French army had become a source of danger to Germany, because its magnitude showed a determination on the part of France to renew tho war; that Germany in self-de? fence might feel impelled to strike the first blow to socure;peace,and that it was necessary that thOiiSrenoh army should be considerably, Seduced. 4 If these re Eorts had not official shape, they at least ear the impress of German sanction. They seem to have been thrown by Germany into the current of war gossip to elicit expression of opinion. Thoy are not authoritative because they are rumors, but, as repeated by Lord Derby, they show v/bat la, or may be, the atti? tude of Germany, and Lord.Derby said they hadj pfc$&p' oxtronie uneasiness: in France.* Kubl situation as thus semi? officially revealed to tho House of Lords presents the question whether Germany or France is seoking war. Whatever disinclination the British Government may have to making an official revelation of the actual situation, it seems to have no hesitation in exposing its opinions on the situation inferred from the rumors repeated by its Foreign Ministor. Lord Derby declared to the Lords that ho accepted as entirely sincere the disclaim? er of the French Government of all warlike intentions. He believed no statesman in France contemplated a re? newal of tho war, and in behalf of Franco he said that naturally, after her humiliation, she desired to have un army which wonld give her tho influence to which she considered herself entitled, and that the French Government was unable to conceive that German appre? hensions were genuine. La a word, while attributing the sentiment to the French, Lord Derby made it quito appa? rent that it is-the opinion of the Go? vernment of Great ^Britain that the rep? resentations ascribed to Germany could be interpreted only as a pretext for war. The force of this opinion is, however, somewhat impaired by the fact that in the Franco-German controversy Great Britain leans toward France, not that sho has forgotten her old scores with tho Frenoh, but that she has present appre? hensions of Germany. ? Her Majosty's Government perceived in tho existence of this mutual distrust between France and Gorniany a good opportunity to offer the friendly offices of England, and the Russian Government, which wtfrllff,Wl,WWftf' that" GernRn,y'^a,,| France should give their exclusive at? tention to watching each other for the remainder of the present century, rather than that ono should triumph over the other and than bo ready to survey the field of Europe, waa quite willing to co? operate with England in her benevolent design. Ixjrd Derby is not willing to tell all he knows, because "the causes of dispute are liable to recur." Neither is he willing to tell what England might ! dc when she has exhausted hor friendly offices. But, while he takes occasion to renew to all the parties interested the assurances of his most distinguished consideration, ho significantly remarks in reference to tho liability to recurrence of the causes of dispute, that'Eriglond's policy of non-intervention doos not mean isolation or indifference to the peace of Europe. ?-??-? l Re-Union of tile Hampton Legion? I Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry.?Mr. Frank E. Taylor, Secretary, 1ms fur? nished us with a copy of the following circular, which wo publish for the benofit of thoso interested : At a mooting of the Hampton Legion Survivors, held in the citv of Charleston, S. C, February 24, 1875, Gen. James Conner presiding, it was unanimously Resolved, That a re-union of the Le? gion be held in tho city of Columbia, S. C. , on tho fourteenth anniversary of the first battle of Manassas, tho 21st of July next. The undersigned wero then appointed a committee to forward a circular to all surviving members of the Legion, and to make the other necessary arrangements for the re-Union. Tho objects of the re-union will be: 1. To collect tho neces? sary records for compiling a complete history of that command And its off? shoots, from its organization in 1661 to tho close of the war, in April, 1865; and with this view, officers and men are earnestly requested to preparo complete rolls of their companies, with full lists of the killed and wounded in all the en? gagements in which , tho Legion and its members took part; also, of thoso who died from disease; and to furnish copies of all official reports or other documents, concerning the Legion, that they may be able to obtain. 2. To take tho initiative steps towards erecting a suitable monu? ment to aU our dead. 3. To form an association for the purpose of carrying out the ends above indicated. Lieutenant-General "Wade Hampton will preside. Gen. F. M. Logan will de? liver an oration. Addresses may bo ex? pected from other prominent officers, who were officers of tho old command. The oommittee consists of Theo. G. Barker, Field and Staff; F. L. Parker, M. D. , Field and Staff; Jas. McElroy, Com? pany A, Infantry; G. T. Whilden, Com? pany A, Infantry; T. S. Ihglesby, Com? pany A, Infantry; C. P. Poppenheim, Company A, Infantry; S. E. Welch, Com? pany H, Infantry; Jos. Simons, Bach man's Battery; Rudolph Siegling, Bach man's Battery; E. L. Halsoy, Hart's Bat? tery; Louis Sherfesce, Hart's Battery; John S. Fairly, Beaufort District Troop; W. B.' Bull, Beaufort District Troop; Rev. O. F. Gregory, Company H, Infan? try. JAMES CONNER, Chairman. Frank E. Taylor, Secretary. The First Report.?Mr. J. M. Craw? ford has exhibited to us a bundle of oats, grown from some of the seed furnished by Senator Robertson, from the Agricultural Department at Wash? ington, last fall. Mr. C. planted in rows ten inches wide, dropped one seod in the hiU, six inches apart; plowed with a bull-tongue twice and hoed twice. From a quart of the seed cats he will make at least three bushels?about forty bushels per acre. The sample has been greatly admired by all who have seen it ?it is considered the finest ever raised in this section.- ?'? * ? Tho Washington Republican is in a very bad humor with the hotel-keepers of that City, because they 'allow Spotted Tail and his select company of savages to sit at the table with white people. These red brethren are undeniably a little dirty, a little uncouth and ill-mannered, but thoy are "brethren," nevertheless, if their skins are red. Why should the Radical Republican have such an antipa? thy to color and even dirt? It is really depressing to observe it, after all the les? sons of equality that paper has given its readers. The Indian negotiations at Washing? ton will result, probably, in the vacation of the Nebraska hunting district by the j Sioux, without the oxpendituro by the Government of the $25,000, which they refuse to take until they con go home and consult with tho tribe. The Shcr man-Augur treaty of 1868 cedes the Ne? braska district to them as long as buffalo are to be found there, and tho Govorn | ment, it is said, can prove by admission of tho Indians themselves that buffalo are rarely seen there. Tho trip of the Indians to Washington has been both expensive and useless. Hotel Arhivals, June 8, 1865.?.Mm shn Jlouse?J. M. Brown, Md.; R. M. Davis, S. C.; Lovi Slnwson, Orangeburg; N. A. Peay, Fairfleld; J. It. Slawson, city; J. L. Rlack, S. C. Hendtix House?R. W. Steele, Augusta; E. J. Gage, Charleston; W. M. Crook shanks, Atlanta; J. D. Witherspoon, York; J. W. Coi l or, city. ' TjEtteb fbom Ms. Jeiteebok Davis.? The St. Louis Times publishes the fol? lowing letter from Mr. Jefforson Davis, addressed to Col. W. F. Mellen, a former Confederate officer,' in wbioh he repels with warmth the. broad intimation con? tained in Gen. Sherman's "Memoirs," that he (Davis) was connected with the plot which resulted In the assassination of President Lincoln; whilst the story that when captured ho "was traveling with wagon transportation and had a few thousand dollars of specie in a valise." is thoroughly exploded. Acting on the principle that blows should be given as well as received, Mr. Davis administers a severe castigation to Gen. Sherman, charging him with a Violation of ihe terms of surrender accorded to Gen. Johnston, and with the display of an ineradicable malignity: Memphis, Tens., May 27, 1H7?.?My Dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for your kind letter of the 19th instant, and the accompanying copy of a St. Louis paper, containing an extract from the forthcoming work of Gen. W. T. Sher? man. My absence delayed the receipt of your letter and this reply to it. The malice that seeks to revive the nefari? ously concocted and long since exploded slander which connected my name with the assassination of President Lincoln, is quite in character with the man who so conducted his invasion of the South as to render "Sherman's bummers" the synonym of pillage, arson, cruelty to the helpless and murder of non-com- J batants, and who closed his career of arson with a false accusation against Gen. Hampton in regard to the burning of Columbia, South Carolina. But the question arises, why did Gen. Sherman, at the date of his reported conversation with Gen. J. E. Johnston, suppose me capable of complicity in the assassina? tion of President Lincoln? General Sherman never was personally acquainted with me, and from those who knew me, cither in the X'nited States army or in civil life, surely learned no? thing to justify such suspicion. In the conduct of the war between the States, despite of many baseless accusations, wo can proudly point to a record which shows a strict adherence to the usages of war between civilized nations. On what, then, did the suspicion of Gen. Sherman rest? Was it not that, proceeding on the rule of judging others by oneself, he ascribed to mo the murderous and mali? cious traits of his own nature? He reports a conversation with Presi? dent Lincoln, from wdiich is to be in? ferred a desire to have authority for de? parting from the course which, as a sol? dier, he must huvc known was usual and Eroper towards prisoners of war. Did e hope to get instructions for the slaughter of tho Confederacy's President and cabinet officers, as set forth in the orders of Col. Dahleren, when he made his raid against Richmond? If the good natured, characteristic reply of President Lincoln taught him that murder was not the approved measure, it seems to have failed to inspire him with the gene? rosity and charity which is ever found in noble minds, or with the chivalry which ever adorns the character of the true soldier and gentleman. Among tho articles of the surrender of General J. E. Johnston, there was one prohibiting military expeditions in the country East of the Chatuihoochie River. That was the best consideration obtained for the surrender of armies, nrms, niuni i tions and manufactories in that section, nnd it was in violation of that article I that the brigade of cavalry, by which I was captured, was scouring the country And freely taking from the unprotected people the little which was left to them for their future subsistence. From the statement of Gen. Sherman, we learn that a story had been told, to the effect that I was carrying in wagons millions of specie to tho South, and, therefore, we ore left to conclude, was made that expedition in violation of the ngroement of surrender. Though the story of the millions of specie is now admitted by Gen. Shermaa to have been a fiction, the admission is made in such terms as would load the reader to suppose I had been traveling with wagon transporta? tion, and had a few thousand dollars of specie in a valise. But neither supposi? tion would ho true. I had recently joined the wagon train, and was about to leave it when captured; my only baggage was a valiso, which was packed on a mule, and it contained no specie. The few thousand dollars of specie were in a pair of saddle-bags belonging to Secre? tary Reagan. Whether that money ever reached the United States Treasury, Mr. Reagan, from whom it was taken, may be able to learn after he shall have as? sumed his functions as a Regresentutive in the United States Congress. Should the course of the commanding gonoral of the army, in attempting at this late day to resuscitato a defunct slander against tho President of tho late Confederacy, nnd to wdiich slander not even suborned witnesses could give the semblance of truth, bo taken us tho ex? ponent of tho feeling of the army, that arm of tho General Government would seem to bo ill-suited to the task, of late so largely assigned to it, of preserving oivil order and of restoring harmony among tho people of the United States. For public considerations it is to he hoped that tho ineradicable malignity of Sherman may bo an excoption to the Srovailing sentiment;; of tho United tates army. Again thanking you for your friendly consideration, I am very truly yours, JEFFERSON DAVIS. Gon. Augur, of the United States army, who lias been making a tour of inspection through Louisiana, expresses himself as much gratified with the con? dition of affairs throughout the State. Crrr Mattfrs.?Where, oh! where, is the diamond breast-pin?.. Strawberries are playing oat. arid black? berries playing in. Old Sol- is above the horizon now for fourteen hours and sixteen minutes, giv? ing daylight for sixteen hours. The weather, Monday night and yes? terday morning, was chilly, and extra covering was necessary for comfort. The bed-room of Mrs. S. B. Peck, on II ich I und street, was entered a few nights ago, and a gold watch carried off. And now for the missing diamond und cross. Will the citizens be forced to take up tbnt matter? It begins to look so. Give a man a light heart, a white hat and a new suit of linen, and for a day he is above the cares and depressions of this world. The early closing movement is becom? ing popular, and very few business houses are now op on after 7 o'clock in the evening. Main street was thronged with people, yesterday afternoon, bnt whether for business or promenade, it is bard to say ?more than likely the latter. The Augusta Chronicle, we thought, was aware that this is the era of wonder? ful performances. The cutting off the remaining arm by an old Napoleonic soldier is one of these feats. Perhaps he will intimate that "it can't be did." The Phoenix agrees with him. The subject was discussed at longth, however, by some of our citizens. Another query ex? cited discussion, whether or not n man could marry his widow's sister. ? ? m The Cm Finances?Per Coktra. ? "At the request of a number of influential Republicans," another meeting of citi? zens was held, last evening?the Court House being designated; but as that building could not be obtained, Parker's Hall was occupied. General Stoibrand, Chairman of the Council Committee, was appointed Chairman of the meeting, and Messrs. Bichard Jones and W. B. Jones (the present and the former Clerks) Sec? retaries. The hall was about half full?the ma? jority of tho assemblage being colored citizens. Alderman Pugh asserted that, as many citizens were not allowed to ex? press their views at the citizens' meeting, on Monday, he hoped such would not be the case here. Alderman Carroll contra? dicted the statement, and said that all had an opportunity of freely expressing their views. Several points of order were then raised, which were ruled down by the Chairman, and the following report was read and adopted: To the Committee of Twenty appointed hu His Honor th? Manor and the Honorable the ("ity Council of Columbia?Gentlemen: Your Sub-Committee of Five, after inves? tigating the books, records and other pa? pers belonging to the city, beg leave to present the following report: Beginning with the 18th day of April, 18(55, we lind for the period terminating with the month of June, 1808, that the receipts and expenditures cannot be veri? fied in any satisfactory manner, for the want of vouchers which arc not to be found. This part, therefore, of the city accounts, must be taken on trust. From the books, vouchers and papers of subse? quent administrations, we have ascer? tained that on April 1, 1870, tho bonded debt amounted to $344,000; interest un? paid for previous years, $70,000; city currency f outstanding, (circulation.) $20,000; miscellaneous debts unpaid, (circulation,) $15,000-$449,000. City administration inaugurated April 1,1870. Taxes for said year Cotlecteu-pnd Spent previously by Ute out-going Council?Neto Administration Tiorroics Money for its first year's Current Expenses.?At this date, (1st April, 18?0,) the firs^ term of the pre? sent Mavor began. It was found that the bulk, if not all, the taxes for 1870 had been already collected and the money disposed of and spent, in addi? tion to $5,000 obtained by out-going Council for 2,500 shares Greenville and Columbia Bailroad stock. The in-com? ing government was reduced to the ne? cessity of borrowing money for defraying current expenses. Payment of non-bonded City Hebt con? tracted prior to March 31, 1870.- The ad? ministration of 1870 and its successors have satisfied or paid debts and liabili? ties against the city incurred prior to March 31, 1870, * of the following amounts: Interest on public debt due, $70,000; outstanding city currency, (cir? culation,) $20,000; miscellaneous debts, $15,000; for provisions furnished in 1865, (Joe Crews,) $11,108. $116,108. dispenses for Permanent Improvements. Some of the larger outlays for permanent improvements are as follows: Erection of City Hall, $67,971; pur? chase of water pipo, $22,000; now alms house, city hospital, bell tower, engine houses, city bell, new market, $14,000; two steam tire engines, street lamps and posts, $6,000; compiling, printing, Ac., city ordinances, $1,500; total, $111,110. The aggregate paid as abovo ($116,108) and the permanent improvomonts($lll, 410) foot up tho sum of $227,548. Assuming tho present indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, as amounting to $626,752, and deducting therefrom tho above mentioned $227,548, paid out liquidating old debts and for permanent improvements, leaves $399,202 as the present debt, had tho moneys been used for nothing but running exponses, ordinarily so-called, of the city. Tho Committee presents these state merits simply to show how the finances Would have appeared at thin date, bad no debts been Incurred prior to April 1, 1870, nnd if no permanent improvements had been ordered or undertaken by the city administration after said date. Large Outlays to Indigent Poor.?The expenses found upon the books for indi? gent poor were startling to your Com? mittee. Upon close scrutiny, however, it was found that these outlays were caused by the large number of people who, terror-stricken during the great ex citoment in the up-country, flocked to and arrived in the city in a helpless and destitute condition. The excitement having been allayed, these people hava gone back to their former homes and the City Council has altogether discontinued the said expenditures. We record with pleasure that the alms house expenses of current year, under rigid economy, have beeu brought down to about one-half of last year's figures. Summing up our report, your Com? mittee feel called upon to state, as their opinion, that, whilst closer economy in the use of the means of the city could and should have been observed and en? forced in former years, and as we per? ceive it is now, at least in some of tho departments, being observed and en? forced, we have failed to detect in any instance unlawful or dishonest use or appropriation of the funds or other means of the citv. C. J. STOLBBAND, Chairman Committee of Twenty. After the reading of the report, Alder? man Purvis and others addressed the meeting in defence of the present Coun? cil. L. C. Northrop, Esq., after a sharp speech, in which he volunteered to de? fend the City Council in any action which may be brought against them, offered the following preamble and reso? lutions, which were unanimously adopt? ed: Whereas a committee to investigate our municipal affairs, appointed by certain citizens of Columbia, have made and published a report, in which they allege that "incoinpetency and dishonesty" mark the management of our municipal interests; and whereas ot a similar meet? ing of citizens, called to consider this report, certain resolutions were adopted requesting the Mayor and Aldermen to resign, and at the same time advising ? the commencement of legal proceedings against them; and whereas these meet? ings represent a small minority of the voting and tax-paying people of this municipal corporation, while the wide? spread publication of these matters tend to the detriment of our public honor and the injury of our public credit; and whereas we are animated by an entire devotion to the principle of a prompt and proper accountability in our public officers and a wise and economical dis? charge of their public duties; therefore, be it, , Resolved, That we deem it due to the honor, reputation and interests of our fair city, as well as to the character and responsibility of those whom we have elected to administer its public affairs, that our Mayor and Common Council . should tike such measures as they may deem necessary, to investigate the report of tho said Committee, as published in the public press, and to examine, prove and publish a verification, explanation or denial of the charges and allegations of the said report, as well as Co make public a full nnd minute statement of tho public debt of the city of Columbia. Resolved, That while it is tho right of . all classes of our people to have an honest and faithful administration of our municipal interests, ft is also the unde? niably right of our public officials to have fair play in accounting for their stewardship, and that, until they shall havo been fully and fairly board, they are entitled to our confidence jn their integrity, and shall have our warm and cordial support in vindicating the honor of our city, in protecting the welfare of our pcoplo and in making straight their ' paths before the public eye. Resolved, That we deprecate ail passion and prejudice in asserting the. right and redressing the wrong in all 'public af? fairs, and respectfully ask a suspension - of the public judgment until the facts are clearly Bet. forth upon whioh the honest verdict of the people may be ren? dered.' Ex-Alderman Carpenter, being called upon, responded in a somewhat lengthy speechi By this time, the hall was well filled, and much interest was manifested in the proceedings by tho assemblage. Other speakers ventilated their ideas, and at a late hour the meeting adjourned. -? ? ? If You Want It.?Everybody is pur^ chasing tho indelible transfer paper, and a trial is only necessary to prove its merits. A. H. Oliver, Clendining House, is the agent, and will call on you. -?- ? TnE Citizens' Committee on Finance. The following gentlemen have been ap? pointed on the above committee: E. J. Scott, Chairman; Dr. John Fisher, C. Bouknigkt, E. W. Seibela, John C. Seogers, E. W. Wheeler, P. O'Neale, Jr., W. B. Nash, W. H. Gibbes, W. Lowry, W. C. SwafBeld, J. H. Saw ver, W. B. Gulick, W. B. Stanley, F. W. McMastcr, W. K. Greenfield, J. P. Southern, C. M. Wilder, C. F. Janney, Wm. Wallace, Israel Smith, W. D. Love, Dr. A. N. Talley, J. A. Hendrix, E. H. Heinitsh. SupnEMB Court Decision, June 5, 187?.?Ex parte Thomas C. Dunn, Comp trollor-General of South Carolina, in re Daniel Hand vs. the Savannah and Charleston Bailrond Company ef aL Judgment of Circuit Court dismissing the petition reversed and petition re? manded to Circuit Court. List of New Aovebtisements. Columbia Chapter, No. 5. W. B. Burke?Hay, &c.