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^ v ' -HR'.W. - -J" . , ' f * t ' " v ' A" . uk ' ~ "j-~ r- i|p? ? iiii 11 i * . Tfr? " * * * -5. " VOLUME XV. CAMDEN, SOUTH-CAROLINA, TUES)AY MORNING, DECEMBER 5,1&54. NUMBER 49. ? ? i PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THOMAS J. WARREN. \ TERttS. Two Dollars if paid in advance; Two Dollars and Fifty Cents if payment be delayed three months, and Throe Dollars if uot paid till the-expiration of the year. ADVERTISEMENTS will be inserted at the following rates: For one Square, (fourteen lines or less,) seventy-five cents for the first, and thirty-seven and a half cents for each subsequent Insertion. Single insertions, one dollar per square; semi-monthly, monthly and quarterly advertisements charged the same as for a single insertion. * , number of insertions desired roust be noted on tho margin oJ all advertisements, or they will be published until ordered' discontinued and charged acordingly. Miscellaneous. The Attack upon Sebastopol. The following graphic description of the attack upon Sebastopol on the 17th, is fr?m the correspondent ofthe-London-Morning Herald: English Camp, Oct. 18. It 'was half past 6. The enemy had been quiet for the last few minutes; b"th sides seemed preparing for an effort, when suddenly volumes of smokes and flashes of fire broke out simultaneously from ever) part of our lines? the shot and shell screamed hoarsely, tlirough the air, and with a reverb, ration which seemed to shake hoth heaven and earth, ?mr attack .on Sebastopol conum-need. Apparenti\ neither surprised nor daunted, tie- enemy returned 'indischarge^ith d"ijl?le vignf.and then Ik.?tIT K?i glish, French, Turks and Russian- lw to work at the guns in right can est. The fi *t vol!, f showed us what no soul in i I;<t a my hail hitherto been certain about, viz; . ? .-is.- n ture, both of our works and tin- in m\ -. and i atn sorry to say it a!-??. showed tii-.t, even in earthwork batteries thrown up i e we came here, the Russians immense.y out-num bered the allied lines.- Not only were there extensive entrenchments, mounting-25 and 30 heavy cannon, but on every heght and nage guns of heavy cali're were placed in battery. I have been informed that the extensive natme of their works completely astonished our g?-ne rats, and we are by no means sure that we have . seen theip-all yet, for dining yesterday; tie-It ones were frequently immasked in plai-es totally unexpected. * * * It is needless t?> say that 10 minutes after the tiring commenced both our line and the enemy's wore shrouded in thick smoke ; yet before tit at jmok place, .each of the batteries had singled out i;s antagonist. The Lancasterguns fell to.w- . . upon the Round Tower, while tiie six and two '_' :n batteries with one side of the < V e 'v 1 J I earthworks. Tlie 1. i t . g i <u: nt-. opened on the Twelve * oil i? 1 >. .n with the second far- ?>i" the <' i. 11. rterv. j while the remaining face. wiili i?m. i.u- < ! (lie j (ireen Moiind^I?:iltei y,%oiniuei:ec<l i] ri> doubt and r^ijjf) wall. The Fu nrh <T7re< *<continuous ?limver of hall on such of the Kns | sian vessels as iHey eould scr, while ut d:u same j time their other works bravely replied to the j overpowering volley of their lofty csssai'ants, j the Flagstaff batteries. Before the smoke in- j tervencd, each side had got an accurate range, ] and from half past 0 until near 8, shot and shell I roared through the air incessantly, and the J earth literally shook under the tremendous j concussion of the guns. Each minute fresh guns came into play, and each minute added l A I _ /* ll .t . s 10 me iary 01 me uproar. Conspicuous among the din could be plainly heard the Lancaster guns. Their sharp crack, different from the other guns, was like that of a yifle among muskets, lJut the most singular effect was produced by its ball which rushed through the a:r with a noise and regular beat precisely like the passage of a rapid express train at a few \ aids distance. This peculiarity excited shoats of laughter among our men who instantly iiiekiuuned it the express train; : nd only by that name is the gun known. The effect of the shot se nn-d most terrible. From 'I'af.'iiing noNe, |he b ill could be distinctly traced by the ear to the spot where it struck, when stone or earth alike went down before it. A battery of29 or 3!) such guns would destroy Sebastopul in a week. Unfortunately, from a short supply of ammunition, we can only afford to mount two. and even thn<e are only fired once in eight minutes. At 8 o'clock the firing was d afening. and about that time a breeze siruog up from the south, which "cleared awav the -inoke: and nl lowed us a full view of what was going on. Our friend in the Ron d ow r was th<yi l?ar" Iy recognisable, the d-urate attentions of lie Laneaster gun having efFe- ted a ?M?st <; ** able change in it? apeeaiatiee "a* I ! Strength N"l a sn|i'i. i rei-inine ! the four gun? w hich were v lli, ?wii_nii?l' lay about like dead horses. Huge h.-'es we?e also visible in it- -ide. whe-e masses of tie. . solid masonry xv.e-e <li-b>d h ' ?>-t thworks around the tower v-1 t d -i':?-d with e ?l ~ -t. .. i .. .... ...i .i.; SOUL irum UK oilier Iiillli < > ! < 'lit! VIII , remained much the suiif. Btvv?.ii these, works and the redan wall, and the Twelve A postles on the one side, ai*d our ? rown and Greeninound batteries on the other, an nwfu fire of shells was being interchatiged, but most of the enemy's as, usual, hurst in the air. On the left the French were gallantly maintaining a splendid fire against the flag staff Batteries, but from the com anding posit ion of the latter and the 10 gun battery which completely flank ed our allies, it was evident tln-y were' fight'ng at a disadvantage. As the view I lean dr It e L mcasler-Jiiii on our right redoubled iis tin o the lower. I never taw such firing. F.ve-y shot fe1 upon the building, and the offin-r* of all ranks, who were watching the attack from the house, were speculating how long the mw c -nld leiul. when suddenly there came an eXpheion. > li e n lima -.11 ..?? iw? a aitinuil ?i|i I t' 11 r " . " "" row we saw a den?e mas- of siih?'? <? over one of the French batteries th>' ?which we guessed but too trulv?the flank hie of the 10 gun battery had succeeded in blowing up one of the magazines, killing several men, and doing serious injury to the works. Thus, af the moment when it was most needed, one of the French batteries was competed to cease firing* nor did it again resume goring the rest of the day. About this time* 9 o'clock, we could see the fleet in the of&ng, making prepa. rations for an attack. All tlie steamers wer being lashed alongside the line of battle ships though more than this'it was impossible to see as the wind fell, and the smoke again collectei in dense masses over the whole scene. Thing continued in this state until about 11 o'clock when it'ljhcame evident that the fire of th French on'our left had slackened considerably and was falling off still more every minute.? T he fact was, the commanding position of th> enemy's batteries left our allies no chance.? They suffered so heavily while working thei gnns that it became folly to persevere, and a length, bv order of their command.er, the met were withdrawn, and the fire of the Frencl ceased. As it did so, that of the fleet com niencetl. Through t he <nv?ke over the the liar bor wo could hardly perceive the masts one funnel of a large screw line of battle ship which, without filing a shot, stood in until hei j broadside was wit hin 200 yards of one of th< I principal fortresses at the north of the harbor, j Then her guns began to roar loud above the i hellish din which seemed to rend the very sky. j The vessel whfch performed this gallant ex ploit was French, and I believe the Montebello. I 120, the crew of which suffered so dreadfully from cholera while at Varna. From the moment she arrived alongside the fort, her sides j seemed literally on fire; so rapid, so incessant, : were her tiers of guns discharged. At the same moment; all our batteriec, to effect a diversion in her favor, redoubled their fire; while 'lie Russian flag staff battery began again upon the abandoned French lines. This time, unfortunately the enemy assailed the latter with dreadful effect. One Russian shell, by ill-luck, dropped and exploded full upon the reserve m gazine of tin* principal French battery. The effect was instantaneous and awl'nl. About 20 ton- of powder, with shell and rockets in proportion. instantly ignited, and the earth seemed to heave as the greater pari of the battery, with ]() g ids. ana nearly all the men were hurled 'high into the air. Haidly liad the stunning I report whie i the last catastrophe produced, | ceased i" vibrate upon I lie ear, when, following ! ihe M"? tebello, four more French screw liners, J each having another in low, flushed up lo the ! tori - What the allied Heels did you will hear 'of lorn oiln-r correspondents. Wherever the (i <? wa most awtid an I incessant wherever j i pea ed t<> deal the gees', '->1 amount of death and destruction ituoiig the etlerm?then- was sure t.?? lie sc?n the r eoeh tri-enh.f fl\ i.ig conspicuous above ad. At iio time during the day, in conseijuepcc of intercepting objects, did we evgr catch a glimpse of an Hnglish Hag. As each : rem h line came in, she added in-r j i'lpccs I't In" ! ' c nous roai'of th i . ; I n - a i i - . 'I he >ceiic Was ? . c Iv . di-li * I lie. no hole was ; old (III ho ill Slio ko. Wll ell >'t...|||c(| to -?ut 1 t i> I ?! ilo 11.. !? % I' I 1^ I iin CAimuin < <">; imI -lii II w;is pik. gh i<> miike one's it i :i ; I <tn ? nd N" wot*!- of mine could i|n jn-'i c to paoal. oxi!ii:uii. Lei yoni ?cider- niiag n.-Til |ea-l 4,0<K) pieces of tlte heavie iu J in tirr wot jo, (]- i sfi?-rf ntnr rochet- witli'-lit a -eeond's inter ni-sion. Tli> air -eonted one perpt inal exp'o ion, 'nit i t the m dst of wltieli singular enough, the ppiuliui i jerking scream of the Ltineasie -hcli e?xd<i bj plainly heanl. Our hatteries were in fill ' " 'j?c ed t'? engage more limn a ! > o il in enemy's attention ; for tin- twelve Apostlewhich were coinplelel. sbelh red by land from the attack of the French -nips, and quite as completely sheltered from everything hut one of the Lancaster guns, began to drop red hot hollow shot into die Ctown battery The "effect of thi- w a- soon appea eat. Before a dozen had been fired, one of them hounded and struck a spare ammunhion wagon full of powder, whieh it in>tai tly exploded. The shock was not. so -eveu* as it might have been, for the powdei was cnnipar.itivoiy ntironfiued. it ol course kilk"! a few of oin uirii. but trie works of tilt* battery were uninjured. The Hussions set up tremendous < iieers.?lien the)' saw the explosion, us they diik^lien the batteries of our allies bl^w up, imagining they had done us the same mUcliiel. Their mirth, however, was but short lived. While in the acj of cheering, a shell froiri the Lancaster lodg- d (I presume so) in the magazine of the redoubt in front of the redan wall. The ex pl'-sion which followed was appttlling. It ntadti the stoutest man's blood run cold. A" first it seemed as if the whole ol JSebastopol was envelo e?l' the ruins; live minutes after, wlien the h?o oartli and > ioike cleared away and allowed to see the extent of the mis . . . ... _ . ...II. i. '_i . : i r.?iri, \vr &;i ? \ n iuiiu remained w : the j>r; b ?!? ?lit had stood and that a l>.t I in- ted wall was blown i.iai ; > stuiiiiini* ap, i-uied tr.e effects of the t. i Hue blow to Hit* eiieo ), tn.-il it was some mi inte-? before I hey fired a single gun. When tiiey did, they concentrated their whole fire upon the battery where tin'- fatal Lancaster gun w is placed, bu in vain, it was quite out of rang--, and their shot stoppe rolling nearly two hundred ya d< in ?.? 1 e of the battery. Seeing this the Ru ??i-ui wisely gave up the attempt t<? reach it, .1 tin bed their attention t the Fr iiehll -i. deli indeed required it. During all tin tt neir fire, iiMend of slackening. bad attter i ivi-asml,'and it was evident from the perpetual th.i ders they s tit forth, that one or the tn'e party'lhusf soon give 111. f 1 it wis .on ible lo < (|| i rate ag mg 1. W' v e to vv -old j ' 11, fo the smoke w e r .1 w a _ . a i ii! v 1 |e ing 1 ' if i e Russian 1 .i i i ? J ' 'I . J a l at this JUyini-iii the 001 e 1 away, and j loth torct-aiiu tl- h> c?*ui <li> i . ly >ee t-acfc I > her TheFieue ves el- la . >ti tim- t'?>r-s t? M?uib of lilt' uarb-T. An<>tlu*i demclnneiil ii* ship-. ere at' teking those t? Ir.f i.ortn The sm -ke w.i- *ti i inn tlii. k t? iiiiow tis i.? make out the (bias ofthe-e latter hut we had no douht they weie English. The batteries tit the motilh of tlie liarhoi mount tlnee Iter- of guns, the uppe ino-i .nni on the root, being open like oidiuai > butteries the two low- r tiers are ea-emateu, mi . inj almost level with the water's ??igi . i n,. vne my had completely abandoned 'In- g.<ns on tin roof, many of which were d|8thou.,te<hrainl thi works much cut up; but the caaemaied gun -: - '. - .: :v &&? t > * . e seemed little injured, and as the smoke cleared i, away they attacked the fleets with redoubled >, vigor. We could also see that some earth d works had been thrown up-to flank the forts, s which were pouring a destructive fire upon the fleet. ^ s Thfr snioke soon hid all again, and the battle >t .raged with as much fury as before until dusk. - The cannonade then seemed to slacken, and e before night had almost entirely ceased. The T5* l!_L. A ~*l ~ mamam /mrtoarl- fhalr fifO ! CiUgilSU miireiiciiiiitfiibs ucvei ycnoc-j ui?i> ?..w, r though as a matter of course, it slackened much ! t as the darkness increased, i Oct. 21.?We have had nearly fifty deserters i come in to day. One of them, is an English j . Engineer, who has lived some years in Sebus-1 . topol. He siys that the Russians are dismay 1 ed by the precision of our fire; aud that our . shells fail in the batteries with such terrible p effect as that it is now with difficulty that they ; can keep the men to their guns. He also said , that during the combined attack ou the 17th, . they lost a large number of men ; more than , 2,01)0 had been buried already ; ami the hospitals were full. Most of the inhabitants have , left the town, and their houses were occupied ! by the soldiery, among whom, since our fire I upon the houses, we have done considerable execution. Every preparation has been made | for repelling an assault?the pavement of the , streets broken up?deep trenches dug, and barricades thrown up, defended by artillery. In | t>n*a i\f n riifrkt (lTOP17 CnlfHpr hjlS his appointed post; parties have been told off for reserves for extinguishing fires and defending houses. The allies are no doubt in want of fresh troops. The effective British force is not more . than 1G,000, so great has been the void made by battle and disease. No less than 9,000 men are dead or /tors dc combat in the last eight weeks. More Turkish troops are being sent up; to day the Golden Fleece arrived here from Volo, with 2/100 troops, who wero engaged in opposing the Greek invasion. But it cult! be wished that reinforcements of a better class could arrive from Portsmouth or Marseilles. * . From Washington* Washington, Nov. 24, 1854r Ail increase -in our army is by the ad minis* | 11.-.lion deemed as indispensable as an increase i in the navy. In conformity with this want, it will, no doubt, be recommended to add to our ; cavalry and infantry force?say two regiments j in each. There is no deficiency I believe in ! the artillery Th?* Imiidins: of new vessels of war over and .I aln?ve fiie* s x u*i<11 i<?i ;iI steam frigates now emit.acted tic, <nd af> >ut to be ready ill the coui*e""of he c ui'.g \i ar. will also be reconimen*led. Tin-,, j. both wisdom and forecast in such a recommendation. The National llo-pit.d for the insane in the District and in the army and navy will be all I completed with 8100,000. The patients of i the !M>irict are now in the Maryland Hospital md at the Mount Mope Institution at_ Haiti more. Tor tiirac, acTOiiiinodaibhis will tie" ready he emit the 1st of January next, and the whole ? s a lislimei t, leadv for the leeepli ?n of all the categories ah--ve named, will be com pi ted on the 30th of June fid lowing. The ( nil-lint* will enntaiii accommodations for 85 oaiient% wiili >lH.-er-i. at ten hint'., physiei.uis and servant.-. 2!) patients belonging to the army and navy are now scattered -.ll oyer the Union, and .53 ' indigent insane ae now in the Baltimore institutions, while II are detain ed in iaiI in this e.itv : 84 will be entitled - - ... J? v/. -- ?J I t<? the bencfits-of the new institution jis originally designedt It will be the model inslitu tion of that sort in the country. An appropriation of $10,000 will be wanted for the penitentiary of the District to pay iK debts. Appropriations were made in 1840 and 1847 to discharge the debt of the institution, and it has now decreased to the sum named without any means to discharge it, except by an appropriation from Congress, which will lie . asked. An increase in the number of guards is also required, as will appear from the fact that in 1840 there were 40 convicts, with only 0 persons to watch them. In 1853 the number of -onvi ts had increased to 100, while ihe^ number of persons to guard them had dwin-'j died down to 8. No wonder then, if not long ago, a convict made his escape in open day from the penitentiary of this city. Among the most satisfactory things connected with the administration of the,public busi- i ness is undoubtedly the.fact that the revenue of the fieneral Post Office is now regularly in- j creasing, while the expenses of the Depart ment are diminishing. This process cannot go on much longer without one meeting the other. Mr. Cueto, the Spanish minister, who met. with ;i sad accident on Wednesday last, is, I am glhd to inform you, doing well. No for* eign diplomatic has in so short a time made: himself so universally acceptable bo^i to otii- J cial and private circles. During hit^rief rcsi- ] deuce in Washington he has already acquired a perfect knowledge of the American la1 guago., Fillmore Defending iiis Position.?The j .Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, with the view , of vindicating ex President Fillmore's consist ency on tin- slavery question, reproduces ilie whole <*f his celebrated letter to the "AntiSlavery Society of the. County of Erie," in whi' h he answers all the interrogatories pro pounded him affirmatively, and favora !y to ilie Abolition cause. The New York Evening ' P.-si *a\sit altuehes great importance to thi> exp nii.iiioii, as it "shows that the late Pre*ident ha* a'-andoiied all hope of doing anything ( 1 wiiliou' th<'aid. of Northern Whigs, and has j ' no hope o ' getting their support without re- : ' suining his original anti-slavery opinions." , ? Flour to China.?This is a cheering feat t in.. < i ..ur?.i,;.. cut .i.ii.i Pi.uif in rthinn" for m-ti-ad or" gold i.-uviiig the country to pay for ? um, >ugiir >pice>, silks, shawls, and other . necessaries and luxuries, we. send the products of our soil and the labor of our hands. This is what builds up our State . Four thousand ' quarter sacks of California flour from the Eu ; reka Mills were sold yesterday by the Messrs ; Friedlander & Co., at satisfactory prices, - (about $9 per bbl) to sfiip to China. Other s shipments of like character will sh?-rtIjy follow; t* and thus, at length, California ha* lie ohm- an s exporter of breadstuff*.?Sau Francisco Herald. 4? -' . } ; v * . J V j(L' i'w * _ 4 , The Sandwich Islands. Honolulu, Oahu, Sandwich Islands, September 1G, 1854. Honolulu is very quiet at present, and busi hess dull, for the whalers which crowd thii port (juring the Arctic winter have not yet ar rived, though the first arrival.was u month ear lior last year. ^ Politics fonn the all-absorbing theme jus now. The annexation and fillibusteringf par [ tics are the two great heads, and out of thenc I soring many minor parties;?the inciepcnntjp Republic Men, the Royalists, &c. But of all parties the Annexationists aro by far tliestrong er. ami composed of the more respectable class of American residents. The community is In^ld in not a little excitement by the report ol a fillibustering party now organizing in Cnliforhia, destined for the capture of these islands, Tin; government, as is reported on good authority, has received official warning to be on its guard from Gov. Bigler, of California. By every vc.-sel fiom the coast adventurers arrive very doubtful character and intentions, to say the least, and some of whom are well known to be here on filibustering business.?; The chief matter of doubt seems to-be, not whether a filibustering expedition is actually projocted in California, but in what particular manner this formidable organization will make its first appearance. Should they come down from the coast en masse, like General Lopez or'President Walker, the Hawaiian Government would instantly throw itself upon the United States for protect'on, and become a part of that country. In this case the United States sloops of war St. Mary's and Portsmouth, now lying in this harbor, are amply sufficient for the protection of the islands from any loree me uniousteis coma uring into me field. 13uL there are two other more insidious ' n J dangerous plans which the lillibusters njay adopt: The one is by coming over as passengers in small parties and mingling and identifying themselves with the citizens as much as possible, and at a given signal creating a riot which should take the form of a civil revolution, and with which the naval power of the United States could not interfere t<j prevent; the other is by making tools of the sailors who arc landed to the number of severaKthousands from the whaling fleet, and who are always ready for anything. This formidable body of men have several times had the town in their possession .and the Government at their mercy; the last instance of which occurred in the riots two years since.? By either one or a union of both these schemes the filibusters might, in less .than twenty-four hours, overthrow the existing Government and establish another before any armed force from the United States could obtain a right to interfere. To such a revolution the Government c<>uld not offer a moment's effectual resistance. Considerable alarm was felt the other day by a report that a huge quantity of arms had arrived fromiSan Francisco by the schooner Lady Jane, ami afl the military were ordered under ill"'!'1? Tuis proved to be a false alarm, however, arising from the finding of several pairs of revolvers in passing the baggage of one of the passengers of the Lady Jane through the custom house. The policy of the existing Government is evidently to hold out as-long as it is able to sus lain 11Self, and when a cri-is arrives to throw it-ell into tlie arms of the United States.? t'rtnce Alexander, the heir annarent to the * . . throne, is young arid ambitions, and of' course one ul' the chief'opponents of any plan which may deprive him wf his birthright. Bui it is plain that the Government cannot exist many years as it now is. The*nativo race itself is becoming extinct with such great rapidity, that it is estimated that iu thirty years hence there will not be a full blooded Hawaiian on the isl ands. Of course, in this stale of affairs, it seems but natural that the Ubited Stated should adopt the child to whose nourishment and growth she has so much contributed. The question whether the United States wants these islands we leave to you at home to decide, being confidenl that sooner or later they will offer themselves to you, and that, too ypcaceably and without bloodshed, except it Tfnay be in a fight with the fillibusters, tingland does not want them ; France is content with her large possessions in the Pacific among the Society Islands. Tho question i.-, do \uu want the Sandwich Islands? Cor N. T. Cour. and Enq. > ? Tiie Musquito Terhitory.?The meditated expedition to Central America, under Col. Kinney of Texas, may lead to important results. He is to be the local agent of the Cm tral American Land and Mining Company, which claims to be the sole and - rightful pos sessor of San Juan and all the surrounding territory for three or four hundred miles up and down the coast. The views of Col. Kinney are understood to be of a filibustering charac ter. He and 1^ rangers will assert the title of their principals to the Mosquito country by tlie.-6trong hand if necessary : and will receive a million or so of acres as their fee for so valuable a service. But it may be doubted whether, in these degenerate da) s, working-men are not more essential to the foundation of empire than fightingmen. The establishment of a tew hundred sharp-eyed American riflemen in that region, however,.will have a tendency to adjusl some of the troublesomavquestions which have foi a number of years disturbed our relations with CVntiul America.? Correspondence of thi Courier and inquirer. -? Casualty. - Mr. Henry Eggeos, an assistant up.ui the freight train of cars from Charles ton jeateiday, after the cars had started, aboul nine miles below' Columbia attempting to pass from the tender to the engine, slipped, fell anc received injuries in the fall which terminated his existence in a few moments. This unfor tuftiate -iudix iilual, we learn, hns a family re siding in New York.? Columbia Times. n ? Great are he uses of whiskey. Great anc manifold are its nlessiugs. Its riches are pasi cnmpt-lii inn. It is bread to the hungry. It ii ia intent to the naked. It is jo}' to the heavy ii -.tried. It i- gold to the penniless. It feed: tie fiies of the j ntriot's heart. It kindles tlx eivt.r of religion. It -makes man happy node a.I circumstances?? Cayuga Chief. 'r . ? J*. - / < MESSAGE NO. 1. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. Columbia, Nov. 28, 1854. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: , | Under the uniform action of our system of. government, without strife or confusion, new members to the General Assembly have been I chosen, to represent the latest views of the peo- 1 Ppfe of-this Commonwealth, and otherwise to I provide for their happiness and welfare. Although this event is of regular recurrence, jt is nevertheless, one full of interest both to you and your constituents. . >/ ' In a country like this, so rapidly growing, * and developing each day new events and fresh i resources, the legislative mind tnay well be i anxious, lest, bv the omission of some act? ! ' the neglect of some doty?the progressive strides of the State towards wealth and power may, for a space, be retarded. A st'rong inclination to progress is a characteristic of the 1 race which you in part represent, and is, perhaps, the secret of Anglo-Ameriwu^wccess and ascendancy. Its spirit prevails over the conti nent, and is continually hurrying us into new positions of theory and of government. It pervades, to a greater or less extent, every State in the American' Union, and is incorporated into its laws, religion, industry, and polities.? But, on the other hand, all well regulated understandings will regard, with something lilto anxiety, that restless desire for change in fundamental principles of government, and strong inclination to specific legislation, as encouraging, to an undue extent, the tendencies of popular institutions to run into extremes of opinion and action, the end of which is license without 1 I"*** oopimnM/iA rtf iiuui iyy auu law uuuuut mc aooui aiioc vi v/tuci Whilst the State for which you legislate can scarcely be said to have kept pace with others in this rapid march of improvement, it may be claimed for it that it has more surely attained those qualities of government which are most lively to insure the greatest amount of real hap piness to the citizen, maintained a higher degree of social order, preserved a more even balance of power among the co-ordinate branches of government, and been less controlled by cupidity and ambition?those certain forerunners of national degeneracy. Well, then, may you take pride in your State. The1 feeling is always admissible, but especially so when you live under a Constitution and laws conceived in justice and administered with purity; under 1 a Legislature independent in its views, and capable and rapid in the discharge of its functions; under Executives content with their limited prerogatives; under a religion without heterodoxies of these present days; and under a i sound, just, and high toned public sentiment ? I cannot, therefore, recommend to you, gentlemen, too strongly to watch oyer, with solici- ( tude, this noble political organization, and to preserve it froin those changes and innovations which tend to weaken, and eventually to destroy, the happy equilibrium which,exists; and I fervently hope that, far down in the vista of . time. vhen./tM memorials of us ape lost ex.cept_ those which may remain amdnglts archivesTa gracious Providence will preserve this State Government, in all its usefulness and beauty, to remote, posterity, fresh and glorious in its immortal youth. The year, which is now nearly past, has been one of great calamity throughout the world.? War and pestilence, disasters on the ocean, commercial anxieties and distress, with gaies . and drought materially shortening the grain and ; other crops, are some of the melancholy incidents which have marked it. Nor have the people of this State escaped tbo common misfortunes. The metropolis, and some of the lesser towns and portions of the country, have been visited by a fatal fever, and other diseas 1 . j?. i:r_ ? es (iimusi us ucsi.ruci.ivu iu me, which iui u time have arrested all business, destroyed a number of valuable lives, and invested their communities with a profound gloom. But few families arc without some sorrowful event to call to their recollection the past summer as a period of severe trial and mourning. Still we have abundant cause for gratitude to God, for arresting the ravages of disease, and for restoring, both the city and country to their usual ! health. j The aggregate income of the State from ag I riculturnl sources for thej^resfintyear'arc likely to be materially diminished. The yield of J short cotton to the planters, notwithstanding a. most favorable season for gathering and preparing it for market, will scarcely be equal to the crop ol last year, whilst the long cotton and rice on the seaboard have been very much injured generally, and in some instances entirely destroyed by -the equinoctial 3torms. These numerous circumstances, taken in connection with the stringency in the money market, and the consequent check given to commerce and trade, induce a strong necessity lor economy both in disbursement of money from the Treasury, and in private expenditures Fortunately, owing to the -previous comparative freedom from debt in the State, the losses both in business and agriculture will or.ly work a tempo rary injury, which ordinary prudence cannot fail soon to remedy. For an abstract of the condition of the finan1 ces of the Slate I beg to refer you to my last Annual Mes-age. The nett profits of the Bank of the Slate for the present fiscal year amount to the sum of 1 8295,000, against $330,000, the nett profits of ' 1853, thus showing a diminution in the income ' of the State from that source to the extent of $35,000. It was to have'fieen~autjcijwted that the " orofits of the Bank for the brjesent 'year would fall short of that of the year previou'a. The k great stringency in the money market, which has extended over the whole country, tiecessa' lily curtailed its operations. I herewith have ' the honor to lay before you the Annual Statement <>f the Bank to October 1,1854, showing ' total funds to the amount of $7,308,605 '50. During the year, $*25,000 have been applied to the reduction of the State debt. 1 By comparing the balance in the treasury on i the 1st of October, 1853, with that of a corres3 ponding period during the year 1854, it will bo perceived that there is a falling off of $81,403 * 05 The^ncijme derjved for several years from i stock in the South Carolina Railroad Company i will be. withdrawn from the treasury, in? conse quencc of its exchange for stock in other rh.il' '4" - t , ' . ? i _ ! road companies. Op toe other hand, there is t [ reason to suppose that the cash receipts i'rom , I taxes will considerably exceed those of the last vear. In the Uoner division alone the roeeirits . I I from this source exceed those of the year pro _1 % vious by the sum of.$18,538 72. In June Inst I received from Mr. Anthony ! Hyde, of Washington, a treasury draft for ?17,-r. 78G 05, which I have placed in the Jbdnk to tho credit of the State. This is a portion of^ the sum'appropriated by the last Congress In satisfaction of a claim rttfule by this State toy. losses sustained in equipping a regiment of volunteers, in 1830, for the Florida war. It appears that there is the further suid^of ?1,583 still due under the impropriation, . A charge of ten per rent, for commissions was nftade by Mr. Ihde for collections, but (.'> - * did nrft conceive myself authorized to pay Ft without authority from the Legislature. Until this question is determined by you, I have suf. fered the $1583above meiitioi&d tb.reniainju the United States treasury, to meet such com- ^ pcufttion as you may'allow. I herewith lay before you^both Mr. Hyde's report upon the ease, aild otaarpnpcrsouiihec.-v ted therewith. At tHb last annual meeting of the Legislature, m Connection with the Comptroller Gen er;tl,.J was directed by act, to jssue bonda'pf"^ the State to the amount of two hundred. and fifty, thousand dollars, ('300,000,) C?r the pfir?; pose of forwarding the construction of tjie r new State Capitol. The bonds were accord* ingly prepared under the immediate auspice^ of the President of the Hank, were duly -executed, and offered in the market for sale. Butj owing to monetary difficulties, there was little or no demand for such securities, and huU .a- J portion of them were disposed ofT Urider +~s these circumstances, after consultation with tho President of the Bank, it was deemed advisa ble for hira to proceed to New York, and offer them in that market. There he found similar difficulties, somewhat increased {Torn the fact that the bonds were made payable at the State . Treasury, and not in New York, as was preferred. He nevertheless effected a sale to the amount of ? $130,600 00' Upon which a premium was received nett of 3,393 04 % There remain unsold bonds to the . 'y amount of 120,000 00. . Of these there are lodged in the Bank of the State 20,000 00 And in the Bank of thc-Republic, ? New York 100,000,00 In connection with this statement of our fi- M nancial affairs, I desire, pith great ^deference, to submit a few suggestions with regard to the present condition of banking operations, their.' ??' effect upon the money market, and upon the people and business of the State* jf- * The Legislature, two-years since, acting under what appeared tho:i to ho a general demand for increased banking facilities, established a $ number of new bunks, thereby enlarging tl\o * bankipg cftpffa! .tojthe extent of two millions sTx Trafmred amrctgfijyTTvTJ nioir^a mrroo rtnmdred and seventy fiye dollars, (?>2,G85,475.)r?TIia imnrpssion RAAjned irAncr/illv fn nicvml that ihis step would make money more abundant, and that the increased want of it, botU for commerce and internal transactions, woold be amply met. Those who dealt in stocks, and in foreign and domestic exchange, joined the agricultural interests in the demand; and the result, as has been clearly demonstrated by experience, has disappointed the cxpeclutioi s of both. Instead of increased discounts by notes in a period of unusual difficulty in money affairs, and an increased amount of money in circulation, the discounts arc less than they were previous to the.establishment of the new. banks, and the want of "money greater than at any period since the commercial disasters.of 1837. Both those.who deal in stocks and exchange, and those engaged in agriculture, are alike clamorous for some legislation to remedy existing pecuniary evils. -? - It is proper to inquire into the causes which,, have led to these results,.and to endeavor- to suggest a remedy, which I shall do as briefly as possible. , ^ - h. . . " .-/i* It is well known that, previous to the crea- . ' fir?n nf nniu KonL'C nt livicf nnn.f r\f - the capita] and credit of the old banks was ?2 employed beyond the limits of the.State, w Hicli would go to show that even, then there was too much banking capital With therecehl increase of it, the amount sent abroad is greatly enlarged, and perhaps is equal to half ofjjjP the banking capital in the State; and stockholders are benefitted'by this motifs operation, the wants < f the great mass of the ^ community are neglected. It is certainly-" toexpected that the money-.of the banks will be.? " :% employed in those places from which tbfr'.lar-^ gest per centago fn Imsincss is to be derived, and that where the interest at home is restricted to six per cent* capital will go where ten and fifteen per certt. is to bo had. -A' j->: The utter failure, of hanking in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, opened jt new and extensive fi?ld for the employment of bank capital ; and the reputation of the banks of South Carolina', and the credit which is attached to* their issues in those States, together with .the large per centage to be derived there, were a strong temptation to our banks to send their' * means abroad. The result of their operations was evidenced bv largely increased dividends, which for several years reached six and eight per cent, per-annum, and more recently went as high as ton to fifteen percent. They invest large amounts in those States in the purchase . % of bills .payable iti New Orleans, Mobile, and other Western cities, arid when they arrive at maturity the fnnds are re-invested in bills paynII . .C? T1 .1. uie in me iiuim ui ??? kuiwpc. i iiijsb lunus centre chiefly in New York, to the extent of their circulation in the West, where they draw interest, or, a9 is generally the case, are invested in Southe.-n paper. All these changes afford a large p r rentage on tho money in use, and it is therefore nui Mrfprising that the citizen cannot borrow money at home, from . banks at the rate of interest fixed by law. It is in this way-that in the past eight "months it is supposed that tin* aggregate amount of exchange operations more than eqogls loans on notes, and that the sum of notes discounted is actually less than it was before the new banks were established. During a period that- those ' ' ^ \ f . .. v V tf yi' '