University of South Carolina Libraries
t?W??WMMflWWIWB????^ HIimllnnraits Jdrms. ScvoMlk Annual meeting Of the Stockholders of the Washington andJTetc Orltans Tdeyrnph Company From the report of tho proceedings furnished us kindly by ft friend, we make the following abstract; The Seventh Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Washington and ."New Orleans Telegraph Company was-held at-the Office of the President, in the City of Washington, on the 4th and 5th days of July, 1855. The President suhfnjtted his "Report which was read : , Gentlemen : It becomes my duty t<> lay Lefoie you an account of the operations of your Line of Telegraph during the past year and represent to you its condition and prospects. The year has been a disastrous one. During most of the summer and fall of 1854. the yellow fevo r prevailed at every considerable station on the line south of Richmond, not only curtailing our business, hut depriving us of the services of some of our best operators. While some fled in terror, ethers heroically remained at their posts, hazarding health and life to serve tiio Company Hid i5n?ir fallow.citizens: and we have to deplore the death of T. Carpenter, an excellent operator find i most worthy man, who had just been plaCid at tho head of tho Charleston Station.? Itis Assistant, S. U. Bingham, came near sharing the tame fate; and to put him at the head of tho office with a small increase of salary, was but a poor reward for self-devotion. Mr. Menzies, Chief Operator at New Orleans, and others in that office and on the line are entitled to sim ilar commendation for devotion to their duties amidst surrounding perils. Much difficulty and some loss have been encountered by the unfaithfulness of a fvw operators. Pecuniary defaults have occurred at Wilmington, Columbia, Charleston, and Macon, amounting in alj to about *1,003 50, of which about 913'65 has been collected, and most of the residue is hopeless. Important repairs have been made or. the Railroad routes in Georgia and South Carolina, where the Lines are believed to be in a good condition. All necessary repairs were also made on the Line from Columbia to Raleigh ; but the ter r'.ble fires occurring there subsequently, almost destroyed it in some localities, and left it exposed to frequent interruption by falling trees, a danger always existing in that region, but greatly increased by the effects of the conflagration.? Tho Superintendent was instructed to increase his force on that section, and spare no expense to keep it in working order. He repeatedly traversed it himself, but with partial success. Aftcra momentary improvement, it has, from some mysterious cause, relapsed into the same inefficient state. On one or more occasions, it has been wilfully cut, and circumstances justify a suspicion that its gene- I ral inefficiency is the effect of design or of gross negligence on the part of some of the Company's employees. But from the nature of the country through which this part of our Lino runs, it will always be a source of much vexation and trouble and effectual relief can only be found in the Line on the Manchester Railroad. On the whole, I am gratified in b.-iug able to present tho Line as a whole in much better condition than it was a vo.ir ago, ;?ul needing but tho completion of t?:o Manchester Railroad Line and renew,!.' of the wire through the swamps near New Orleans, to he in n.r good a condition for business as i: over will he; until rebuilt with greatly increased strength and an improved iusul.itior. Many circumstancss have conspired to reduce the receipts of the Line during last year, among which are the following viz : The general depression of commercial business from which the Telegraph derives its main support; The yellow fever in the .Southern cities last summer and autumn; The crippled condition of the Line generally at tho commencement of the year. The improved condition and. working of the competing line through the West; To which must he added, the bad management, for a time, of the Fourth Section, and the mysterious difficulties on the Second Section. The co-operation of all these causes lias reduced the receipts of the Line $27,GS5 below those of the nreceedins? vcar. '{'he causes of depression, as far as they wore ' ithin thc reach .of-the officers of the Company have he en removed, with the exception of the Line between Raleigh aud Columbia, and there hey will boou be entirely and forever avoided bythe Line on the Manchester Railroad. The oilier cau?x of depression have passed, or are passing- away, except the eompetiuou of the New Orleans and Ohio Line, which will probably become more and more ellicient. On the whole, it is believed {lie business of the Line will hcuceforth improve as the business of tho country revives, until it exceeds ail prcce- j dent. At the last Annual Meeting, though a three per cent. dividend was declared, there was in | . fact no money in the Treasury properly applicable to its payment. There wcro then outstanding dehts more than sufficient to absorb every dollar in the Treasury. If results could have been foreseen, it would have been prudent not to have at tempted to pay any portion of the dividend. 1 >ut believing that the earnings of the year would be sufficient to "pay not only the current expenses, but with the.aid of the amount in the Treasury, the debts and divideud, the Treasury deemed it his duty to pay out the moneys as fast as they accumulated. Though his policy appeared at the time to be the . best for the Company, it produced dissatisfaction among, the stockholders not paid, who could not readily- understand the cause of tho apparent discrimination. The utmost anticipated ; after the true condition of the finances became known, was that all dobts and dividends would be paid up piior to this meeting; but in consequence of the unexpected reduction of receipts, there remains unpaid of last year's dividend and other debts not leu than 910,000. A/ .1.:. J..L> -i *r nnn ,s., ?r V/l will Utrub il^UUb 1> Via v/i last year's dividend, upon which near ^12,000 lias been paid. It is heneo apparent, that had no dividend been declared, the Manchester ltailroad Line might have been free from debt. And a9 the amount of funds paid over to the new lreasarer was but S0/J61 45, and ho has paid out on account of the Manchester Railroad Line ?G,892 71, beside* other considerable sums not chargeable to ordinary expenses, it is plain that the cnti"C dividend had to bo earned after it was ^fvll'Cd. In aii'tiaa to the actual indebtedness of the OoiKf *njr, tlio ?ubmanne cables which have bk-c order-*! foe Capo Fear River and the w.itcr-crosboor fiew 0r!oo^% wiH *** ^ th n S 1,000; the Manchester Railroad line must be finished, which will cost about $2,500 more; and about 25 miles of wire must be renewed in the swnrnps near New Orleans. In view of the urgent necessity for completing the Manchester Railroad Line,' the Executive Council sometime since authorized the PlCSirtmit tn pnritrunt n Lmn lint. P.VCeedinCT S>500 t' . .. ? r ? j but the authority lias not been exercised. The Council at the same time authorized the President, as soon as the Line on the Manchcs. ter Railroad should be in successful operation, ' to take down the wire on the old route from Rnll eigh to Columbia, or to sell the,Line to any parI ty who will keep it up without charge or responi ait.ititv tn tliin Pomnnnv. The office ex Lipases 1 j - - r I at Fayetteville, Cheraw ami Camden, being all | intermediate offices 011 this Section, exceed their j receipts by near $1,000 more. It. is very dcj sirable that the facilities enjoyed by those villaj ges should not be withdrawn; but it would not I be reasonable to expect the Company to pay for j their accommodation. i The following resolution was oft-red'by Mr. Dobbin, of Fayetteville : Rcsulvcdy That the proposal made by the ExI ccutive Council, and communicated to this meet! ing by the President in his Report, viz: to take I down the Line between Raleigh and Fayetteville | or to make some other arrangement fur the keepj ing up of that Line, does not meet with the aj>i proval of the meeting; and that it is due to ti c j stockholders of Fayetteville that the Line be I kept up as heretofore. j The foregoing Resolution, 011 being put to vote, was lost In a large majority. AMOS KENDALL was nominated for President, and was duly elected. D a vim. P ( 1 mike wn5 nnmiiuitci] fur ?\pr>rf> tarv and was duly elected. John E. Ken dam. was nominated tor Treasurer, and elected. The following gentlemen were ?1< eted Direc tors fo! South Carolina to serve the ensuing year: J. M. DeSaussurc, Camden, S. Mowry; Jr., I Charleston, John liryce, Columbia. E. C. Mowry offered the following llesolu tion : ftxolvcd, That it is the opinion of the stocki holders of this meeting that it is inexpedient at : present to remove the Relay Station from Co; lumlia; and that the amount of stock owned in South Carolina, and the rceipts of the Charlesleston office, demand its continuance at Coltim Wl.l. The vote on the above Resolution was taken, by stock. There were 1,071 votes for the Resolution and, 4,8*24 voles against it; and the Resolution was accordingly lost. The meeting was then adjourned. DANIEL F. CLARKE, Sccretury. TIio Artesian Weil. In another place we publish the report made to the Cit y Council, of the progress of the Aitesian Well in this city. We refer our readers to this report, as deserving an attentive persiial.? The "Weil lias now been forced down to the depth of 1,250 feet, and at this depth a stream of wn 1 ...M _ ... I I.I ter is secureu, hkii a propulsive lorce equal to the pressure of 25 feet head, which, through the tube of 3 1-3 inches internal diameter, willdi.s charge 5 feet above the surface of the earth from 20 to 45 gallons per minute. The water comes from beds of sand and gravel, .and is by reason <.f occasional entrances of sand into the bottom of the tube, that its ingress is impeded and the quality discharged varied. The full supply of water that can thus be obtained in twenty-four hours is 04,500 gallon?, while the calculated quantity with the same time, and without the impediment of the sand, would be 104,328, or i ninety two galions per minute. Of course, even this greatest possible Quantity would be-Quito insuflieint to supply the city with water, but the experiment is not therefore by any means, to be held as profitless. A fact has been established that there is water beneath the city which can be reached by means of artesian wells; and the establishment of this fact is quite n sufficient return for all the large amount of inouey that has been expended to render tlie matter certain. It remains now but to perforate other wells till a sufficient number to supply the water necessary to the city's use shall be obtained, or, what is better, as recommended in the report to the City Council, to excavate one large one which shall ho equal to the same supply. We congratulate our citizens on the thus far favorable result of this enterprise. It was entered upon and has been steadily persevered in under many circumstances that were calculated to bo discouraging. Many excellent authorities upon sue!) matters have declared that an Artesian weli which should bring a permanent stream J of water from beneath Charleston was an impossibility?that the geological formation of the J land whereon the city is founded would admit of ' no tueli institution. The idea exited, however, ti. it there was water to be reached by boring in the CK'tb, and accordingly many years ago we find thai Mr. Longstreet expended a thousand dollars to penetrate to the depth of fifty seven feet, but without any satisfactory result. Subsequently a second experiment was made under direction of the City Council, in the face of the unfavorable and very decided opinion of some of the most distinguished geologists in the country. The bore was sunk to the depth ot" 335 1-2 feet, but without coming upon any water. Other and lessor unfortunate attempts have, from time to time, been made, and other unfavorable and rlr>fMib?tl nliiniitos <riv?>n Juif t!ir> wlirtle !? <;f?r aiide by the more fortunate result which we now have the pleasure to record. Our artesian well is a fact.?Standard. The Columbia Carolinian says : ' We regret to record the departure from our office and Columbia of Mr. Robert McKnight, who has long been identified with the Newspaper press of our city. Mr. McKnight was born in Williamsburg district, in 1783, and in 1798 commenced his apprenticeship to the craft in the office of the Georgetown Gazette. He subsequently removed to Charleston, where he served with Coxc <fc Sheppard, in the office of the Times. Ho has continued for fifty seven years to work steadily in his vocation in South Carolina?the latter seventeen in Columbia, chiefly in the office of tho South-Carolinian. During this whole time he has enjoyed tho confidence and respect of his associates and employers.? The pressure of years is beginning to bo felt bv liiin, and lio has yielded to the oaruest solicitation of filial affection, and goes to Alabama to place himself in the care of the eldest and young* e.-tof hischildreu. He has b(K>n faithful in hisduty may the evening of his days bo paased in com* fort ami peace! He has cur respect and esteem in hri rj^ircmcct from ' A life of labor *o art ago cf o-,*c" ri?? Che Cnmhctt Deeftlt) Journal. Tuesday, July 7, 1S55. THoTj. WARREN, Editor. If the mthor of tho obituary notice signed "D." will call nt our office, the reason will bo gircn why said notice docs not appear. The Weather Has been exceedingly warm, and the crops hare suffered vastly, until within a few days, from tho oxccssivo dry weather. Weliavehad soveral fioo rains, accompanied by sharp lightning and heavy thunder. Wm. Gilmore Simms, Esq., Will deliver, it if expected. an Address in tho Chan cl of tho Spartanburg Femalo Collego, on tho 22d i inst. Tlio occasion will no doubt bo ono of considcraj bio interest, as the reputation of the speakor is as extensive us that of any other living Poet Orator or Author. Dr. Breckenridge on Slavery. Not being able this week to publish the whole let. ter of Dr. Breckenridge to Mr. Sumner, on tho subject j of slavery, we have laid it by for a leading position in j our next paper. It is an able production, and one which should be read by every person, not only because of tiic elevated character and position of its author, but from the deep and vital interest and importance of the subject under contemplation. Gamewell's Lightning Machine. ! Wo do no not know the techuical appellation of our ! friend's new invention, but prcsurao its character lias been sufficiently tested by tho recent heavy storms of lightning and thunder which have visited us this season, particularly for the last few days. Mr. Gamowell has received Letters Patent for this invention, and is now prepared to give tho most indubitable proofs of its agency in effectuallv removing the atmospheric | e'cctricity from the wires without tho elighte?t injury j to tho magnet, and thereby preventing the usual iat tcrruption in the transmission of messages during the ! prevalence of a thunder storm. This inrontion is likely to provo of vast bonofit to Telegraph Companies, saving thereby thousands of dollars, besides rendering the occupancy of an office perfectly safe whilst tho olomonts are raging without. We trust that a remunerative pecuniary reward is in store for our friond and fellow citizen, his genius and industry richly merits it. Telegraph Matters. from an abstract of the proceedings of tho Annual Meeting of tho Washington and New Orleans Telegraph Company, it will be seen that we are not to have a Telegraph Office much longer in Camden, unless a company ui uiuerprising cuizcns iuko uio manor in hand and buy out tlio present lino from Fayctteville, N". C., to Columbia, or, from this placo to Columbia, connect as an independent Companj*. The offices at Fayeitoville, Cheraw and Camden, do not pay a sufficient amount to meet their expenses, and corisotjuontly the Company liavo determined to throw them out of line. The question is: TIavo they tlio right to do this??is it in good faith to those who were induced to take stock in the line botween Columbia and Fnyettcvillo, now to turn thorn out neck and heels? Corporations arc said to have no souls, and wo may add, consciences neither, it is a question whether the Company can do this. What are tboso interested to do' So fur as we aro concerned in Camden, the Tele| graph is of very little use, for our experience is not in its favor, vet it may bo that others liavo been moro fortunate. Gnnd Division at Anderson. We regret not being nblo to attend the meeting of the Grand Division at Anderson C. II. on tlio 26th ult. Wo learn that the occasion was ono of interest, and will no doubt produco a favorablo effect upon our friends of the mountain region. The editor of the Southern Enterprise was there, and we copy apiragraph or two from his interesting nolico of the mooting. We expect to publish the proceedings in a week or two, or, as soon as wo can. Tho Enterpriso says: Tlio moetina of the Grand Division was one of harmony and interest. Many Divisions were represented, and considerable enthusiasm prevailed. On Thursday eveninrr the citizens con venerl in the Court House, and were addressed by A. M. Kennedy, esq., of Camden, Gen. 0. E. Edwards, ofSpaitanburg, and Warron I). Wilkes esq., of Anderson. The crowd was very large and intelligent, and the addresses such as gave 1 satisfaction to all and evinced a display of ability on the part of the speakers that would have done justice to any subject. On Friday a procession, composed of the Grand Division, the Anderson Division, aud the Cadets of Temperance, was formed and marched to a grove in the vicinity of the place, where a large and enthusiastic crowd of ladies and gentlemen had assembled. Grand Worthy Patriarch, B. T). Townsend, introduced B.C. Press!}', Esq., of Charleston, who was iistenod to with delight for an hour, in a speech replete with sound argument, good sense and tine humor. Hon. J. B. O'Neall followed in a speech of more than an hour's length, on tho prohibition feature of the temperance reform. This speech inet a hearty a xxr . r i J. * I _ response irom every quarter, vye xeei mat tins meeting has dono much good for the temperi ance cause, not only in Audcssou, but throughout the State generally." Our Answer to SpectatorIn another column will bo found tho communication of our correspondent " Spectator," to which we desiro in a3 brief and concieo a mannor as wo may bo ablo to reply. Tho author of this communication is a gen. tlcmau for whom wo liavo long ontcrtainod moro than a common regard, and our replies to his sevoral propositions shall bo dictated by no spirit of unkindncss, i or desiro to deal unfairly with bis production. Wo aro sorry to differ with our rospecled friend, but as Doctors sometimes will differ, he must of courao allow us tho same privilege which ho claims, of dissenting from our viows. That however, ought not to inako any poraonal difference among friends, whenever roason and argumont fail, then wo aro willing to abandon tho position which wo may occupy upou this or any other quosiion. To the first direct iutorrogatory of our friend wo answ- r: Wo did not " roadily ondorse" tho principloa of tho American Party, whilst it " sought aocrcsy for 8trcnglh and protection, and darknoss to shield its procoodings," but condemned then, as wo do no?, any underground or dark lantern oporations, preferring what is said or done, to bo in tho light of full orbod day. '11113 we conceive a ouuiuiuui nuawer 80 mr as we are conceruod, lo tlio objection of secresy in tlio new party. Thi* was the groat bugbear with ua, but since its removal, wo have had rooson to change our view*, aud is not thi* admissible in a free country? 3as "Speotator" never discovered auythjng in the "old hao Democracy" which be woald alter ? or, is that yarty 60 nearly irr.macu!ate that ro tint of etsiil can be found upon its Spotless character? We bardly think our friend would " readily eudorae" everything " emanating" even from his own party; if he does then we havo mistaken our man, that's all. Tho political monstrosity part of the new pnrty wo havo not as yet beon able to discover, and wo are of opinion that our friend is a little previous in his proscriptions of this "monster." Ho ought at least to wait awhile until some prnotical evidence is afforded of its ovil tondcnc es. TIio '' Trojan horse" part of it j is only a now hobby, upon which the "old liners'" i would rido the now party out, and themselves into j power. "Sam" understands "the trick," and will be apt to t ike cnro of that part of the business. Wo aro now whero we have been and oxpcct to be, as ready i and as true as any other "old line Democrat" to dofend tho South and her insiitutions if need bo, " to the bitter end." It is a favorite cant among the opponents of the American Party, to dub them as old Whig head'* on now shoulders; but whoiher facts will authorize this, does not appear. Take the Platform of tho American Party of 1855 and contrast it with that of the " old line Democracy" of 1852, and which is preferable 7 In Bevorul essentia! featuics of tho two we prefor tho former. To the second distinct paragraph of our correspondent's critique we desire to say, that otir former remarks are again endorsed " advisedly" and that too after' calm reflection." Tho "further improvement" which we dosire to see, may bo found in an editorial of ours in tho Journal of the 17th ult. Tho roason why tho American Party changod the secret phase of their order, is a mattor about which we know little and caro less?it is changed, and now we know what they are after; and somo of their objects strike us a3 very desirable in a political point o' viow. Parties ofton change their modus operandi.? Tho " ol. liners" nrJ not always in line, but somotiracs following the directions of their political tactics, make j certain skilful curveturcs to Buit varying circumstances, nor are these always quite as graceful and well turned as Hogarth's :cavc lines of beauty. The American Party had tho right to retain or | chnngo any peculiar feature of their organization as their wisdom or inclination saw proper. Our views upon tho Catholic and foreign part of this subject may be found in our paper of tho 17th and 24th ultimo, and we do not think it necessary to boro our readers with their repetition. Once for all, and forcvor, wo assort that no man who is trut to tho institutions of our country should bo proscribed because of his religious opinions. Those who havo tho right to speak assure us " that tho opposition of tho Ameri can party is not to Itoman Catholicism, as a religion. but to Roman Catholicism as a politico-religious hierarchy. Let American Catholics absolve themselves from any and all allogiance to the Popo of Rome, and assume a position common to other religionists in this country, and immediately they will find the door open to them, as to all others, to enter in and onjoy ihe full privileges of membership and communion in the American party I Till then, however, tlioy must bo content to bear the burden of opposition that is laid on tbo shoulders of foreign Protestants and other foreigners. " Anything excessivoly monstrous in this? Wo do not see it if there is. The timo was, when the " maintenance of the union of theso United States was the object of patriotic desire and the paramount political good," and wo aro not far wrong in assuming that the old line Democracy" hold that doctrine now as one of their favorite tenets. Do they not? The American Party are up to them there, and rather too national for some of us, however, it is not likely that this question will cause much distuibancc among tlio people of the South# They love the union stronger than our Northern antipode3 do, and wo are almost afruid that thoy never wi.l go out until forced, to do ao, and even then some will "cast ono longing, lingering look behind." Our friend asks signiGcautly " how can you side with both sections ?" We object to this interpolation, and emphatically deny thja charge, it being nowhere authorized by any word or act of ours. Our allusion to the convention system is also commented upon by our correspondent. Here is an open ing for any quantity of verbiage pro and con. Wo aro not inclined to enter the fiold of endless discussion and beg to pass over this part of the discussion with tlio simple remark that the national political conventions of our country have dono moro harm, as a general thing, than good, and have boon instrumental in oxcitii cr and npri)L*Lufliini? mneli of rh.if. RfWinn.il rtif. ference and .strife, which has disgraced our common country. Deny it who can? In tho principles avowed by the American Party we acknowledge our inability to discover any of tho approaching symptoms of the " Reign of Terror," to which our friend so alarmingly alludes. How is it proposed that those principles shall bo carried out ? "Through tho ballot-box alone, tho only legitimate instrument of reform in our country." Any thing wrong in this? Is thero any thing nuti-rcpublican in jt ? We desiro a pointed and emphatic reply. The 12:h plank in the Platform of tho American Party lias been pretty severely rasped, and vvhereforo we caunot toll. We do8iro that our friend "Spectator" will compare their declaration of tho rights of the Statos with that made by tho "old line Domocracy" in 1852. 'The Doinocralic Platform declares " Congress has j no power under tho Constitution to interfcro with or j control tho domestic institutions nf tlm scvnr.il Stilus " ' The American Platform announces this principle' also, but it doos not rest tlioro, as the Democratic Plat- ' form doos. It adds: " Congress has so power, under , the Constitution, to exclude any State from admis- ' SI ON INTO THE UnlON BECAUSE ITS CONSTITUTION DOES ' | or does not recognize, tjie institution ok slavery as a part of its social system." "But tho Araorican Platform goe3 nlill furllior. It declares " that Congress ought not to legislate on the subject of slavery tcithin the territories of the United j States," and that any interference by Congress unth i slavery as it exists in the District of Columbia would be ; a violation of the spirit and Intention of the compact by j which the State of Maryland ceded the district to the j United States and a breach of the national faith." Our Iriond, "Spectator," has borno down so heavily upon the 12th articlo that we presume ho will not bo surprised if wo should dwell at some lenitli on this poixt, nor can ho object to tho use of an extract or two from a cotomporary who takes a different viow of the subject from himself. Our cotemporary the Carolina Times says: " It is tho first tirao in the history of American Politics that any national organization has, on this question, affirmed and maintained tho rights of the South. ?* *? Upon nil thoso questions, it takos direct issue with the abolitionists and frcesoilers. On tho other band, the Domooratic Platform passes thorn over in silonco. So j far then, tho American Platform is far. vorv far. more I just to tho South than tho Democratic Platform "Lot uh continue tho Oontrast; tho Democratic Platform Plodgea tho party to "abidobyand adhoro to & faithful ozecution of the Compromise measures of 1850;" and to resist all attempts in renewing in Coogress, or out of it, the agiution of the alarory question." The American Platform pledges tho American party to " abide by and maintain the czistivjlvn en thoaubjoct of Slavery as asettlement of tbat subject in principle and substance." In this, the American Platform goes beyond the Democratic Platform. Whilst the latter promises to "abide by and adboro to the execution of the compromise measures" merely, tho former promises to maintain the settlement" of the subiect of slavery. The Nebraska Kansas act repealing tho Missouri Compromise is among tho " existing laws" referred to, and therefore the American Platform Diedtres the partv to oppose any aud all attempts to repeal tlioao laws so as to ro-establish thv Missouri Compromise and to maintain the Fugitive Slave Law, by resisting its repeal, and obeying its mandates." If it is "ono of tbeso stupendous political tricks," which our friend seems to think, it will 60on bo discoverod and will cease in the land, but that is yet to be proved. | Tho closing chapter of our friend touches a theme of grateful interest, and we should bo untrue to the promptings of our onture to deny the tribute of gratitude to tho memory of tho noble foreigner who lies ' entombed upon our classic soil, rich with fruitful memories of the great past " that tried men's souls.'' But the fact that DeKalb gavo his life to the eauso of human liberty', is no argument against tho American Party. Such spirits oa Lafayette and De Kaib will be as much as ovor honored by Americans, : and no proscription will be able to efface their memo; Ties aud names from American hearts, or tho pago of | American glory. We reiterate the sentiment an. 1 nouoced on 31at ult., " Alt uno nave soug/u a nome j upon our soil and conduct themselves as good citizens are j sure of being honored and protected." It is a matter of small moment to us where we are "eetdown," wo ackdowledge no party obligation*, wo wear no party collar with the namo of anybody on it, we aro free to express our opinions when and how wo please, and expect so to do oven at the risk of being '"set down as one of the native American Party, with a strong predilection for tho Know Nothings." For the Camden Journal. Agricultural .Hcetiug. A meeting of the Agriculturists ot Kershaw District waB held at Temperance Hall in Camden on Saturday 4th inst., for the purpose of appointing delegates to represent them in ihe Agricultural Convention to be convened in Columbia on tbc 8th Inst. On motion Col. J. Cbesnut Jr. was called to the chair, and A. M. Kennedy requested to net ns Secretary. The meeting being organized, on motion of Dr. W. J. MeKnin, a committee of Five was appointed to nominate suitable persons as dele gates, and the following gentlemen were nominated and elected : / Col. J. Chesnut, Sr., Thos. Lang, C. Jf Shannon, A. H. Boykin. L, J. Patterson, l?. VV. W. R. Blair, Jas. B. Cureto'n, Jas. 0. Haile, Dr. E. A Salmond, J. M. DeSaussur^, Thos. \V hi taker, \V. A. Ancrum, Jas. Teanj, Zack Cantey, John Thompson, J. K. 1 )y?% Thos. E. Shannon, E. E. Adainsnn, W. G Kirkland, W. B. Fletcher, Dr. John Milling, J. B. Micklo, Barrel Jones, A. D. Jonas, \V. C. Cuniiingliam, Cspt. John Boykin, E. Parker, L. W. Bovkin, John Rosscr. On motion of Dr. E. A. Salmond, the Chairman of the nominating Committee was added to the list of delegates, and the Chairman of li.e meeting, J. Chesnut Jr., was also added on motion of Maj. A. II. Boykin On motion ol u-ijit. J. livykin, the Chair ii,an iif this meeting was authorized to app int additional delegates and fill vacancies. On motion it was ordered the above pro cceding* be published in the Camden Journal. On motion the meeting adjourned. J. OHESNUT, Jr., Cli'n. A. M. Kennedy, Soct'y. For the Camden Journal. To the Editor of the Camden Journal: ? In perusing your paper of July 3d, I was i somewhat struck with the tenor of your cdito rial remarks upon the "American party and their Philadelphia Platform," and am induced to think that they were penned without a great deal of previous calm reflection, either as to the merits of the Platform, or the influence ytur approval of them may have upon many of your renders. Without arrogating to myself the of-1 fice of censor, I desire, in the most friendly way, to call your attention to your comments on this ,l American Party Platform," and give you sonic reasons for the faith that is in me, and induce you if possible, to modify your views respecting this party. Now in tho first place let tne ask you how can you so readily endorse anything emanating from a party that deliberately sought seeresv for strength and protection, and darkness to shield its proceedings. Is there a national cause operating in our government to produce such an effect! Has tho freedom of the press been trammeled; or are sedition laws threatened? Has the genius o: spirit of the government and laws of this our free Republic been subverted; and has it become necessary for men to band themselves secretly together, either to preserve the majesty of the law, or, the more safely and ! securely to effect any political good ? No sir!1 'tis none of these. It is a political monster, hatched in the land of isms, and reared under ^abolition auspices to do the behests of the abolition, political tricksters who called it into being; and to tho. South would pi ore tho " Trojan horse," if tho trick had not been discovered ; and to tho old lino Democracy be nil the honor and glory given, for they, true to their cherished principles, and jealous in their guardianship of thorn, watched narrowly the progress of this monster, and, by untiring perseverance treed the old coon, and found that he actually had nine rings on his tail. Yes sir, they have unveiled him, and " Sam" is no other than the old Whig party. In your editorial you remark that, with a " little further improvement, you would cheer fully adopt their entire creed," and say so " advisedly." Can it be possible, that one so recently an avowed opposer of tho order, can so easily swallow their Platform, containing us it does, tho same objectionable features that were attributed to it while it yet wore the veil of secresy ? Has its first overt act, the Philadelphia Convention, changed your opinion of its detestable secret charactert Do you not know that they 1 . r it iv a _r it t wcro driven to u, irom mc ihci oi lut'ir aecresy i becoming unpopular, and that the public mind liad begun clamorously to demand an honest ' and open exhibit of their piinciples, if they had anyand do you not tuither know, that in 1 their Council held in N. C. in April, that they 1 acknowledged that "in their socresy lies their 1 strength," and confessed that it was the "Sampson's lock of their power," and, let me ask you ! when you strip their Platform of its opposition ' to foreigners and Catholics, what new feature does it hold up to your nammng guze i is k the spirit of piety it breathes in its prearablo! If so, yon have tho evidence that the God of c harmony and love vould not vouchsafe tnem 'i His blessing if He thought them unworthy of it. Is it secondly the u cultivation of that profoundly intense American feeling f If so I have yet to learn that Americans have ceased to love America and that the u American Party" nlone have the astuteness to teach us how to love onr country. Is it thirdly the u maintenance of the union of ftio&n fTiiifD/l flintoc no f Kn naroniAiini Vlivwv V IMKVV N/??VW W VI*V |/?IMIU1VUU? |/Vt?tlV;ttl good ?" If so, why should they have split upon a sectional question, and how can you side with b th sections? - As their resolutions are lengthy, and would consume time to take them up teriatim I will weary your patience a little further by alluding to those only that vou have sinorled out. Your first allusion is to the convention system^ and, from its apparently incongruous elements" you seem to expect uo good. Why sir, if it never had effected any other good than the nomination of Franklin Pierce, I think that the South and the whole country should npprove of if, and, until a better method is suggested, should exp ct good results from it. (t is a time-honored usage, and one that gives all the chance of Vx-"' pressing their views and reconciling difference*. It is a. common attar where the parties both North and South can meet and exchange friendly sentiments, and, laying aside sectional differ dices, may select their rulers with a view to the good of the whole, and pledge their fealty to the constitution and laws. In their resolution touching this subject, you may possibly seo an aim that points back t<? the " purer dhys of-the Republic." i only sec in this, .as in iltrdf thefr ' machinations, the daik shadowing* of.ail.Zap- . pr<>nchit:g "Reign of Tcrrror" and faction, and in none of their specialities do 1 see anything that portends good. 'l'heir 12th article, from which, you seefi} to hope much, but do not expect a. great deal, was put there as a gull trap to catch Southern men, and you are well aware that it acted as a firebrand and caused a disruption between 'the Northern and Southern members, thereby defeating the nationality of the party. Now sir, viewing it as a whole, and keeping in mind that it expects to rise on the ruius of the. Southern. Democracy, what can you expect or hojie from, it ? < ^ Believe me, it is one of those stupendous po Iiiic.il tricks which cunning politician! have gotten up in darkness for party ends, but which I believe, carries with it the elements of its own destruction. * Allow me to make one more appeal to you and I have done. .. . /\\ow can you approve of that Platforn), containing as it does, opposition to foreigner;*: an-, atholies? You were boru upon the sori ?'.< South Carolina, and in my own native ,lioin?'. Camden?and you know sir, as well as I, thai the most vaiued ornament that adorns that.olu town is the monument of "Baron DeKalli. a German by birth," who fell covered with wound' not far from where his bones lie interred, w'lf/ lighting for American independence, and'etv y. . a ce.nii.ry shall have passed away, shall th enjoying tne liDcrty Ms valour helped to wis., cry out proscribe the foreigner? Our Republic, not yet a century old, owing the inestimable blessing of her liberty and independence to the generous aid of foreigners, a< well as to the devotion of Iter native sons in ungrateful accents crying aloud proscribe the fur eigner. South Carolina, with the hlood of the Ilugue tints flowing in the teins of some of her most honored and honon.ble sons 'cryirrg-aloud prose* i he the foreigner? No sir, n-'! she will not proscribe the either the foreigner or calhoiie unless one or the other in the future should in vade her rights, and in my humble judgrneui she has much more to fear from those tiro . V.. 1.1* ft .? /* .1 originated una orucrman trom any oilier soiin *. Now in conclusion, let mo say that were ymi judged of by the Democracy of Mississippi t?> which I have the honor to belong, upon tlaments of your editorial referred to, you would he set down as one of the native American Partv, with a strong predilection for the KnovNothings. " SPECTATOR. The Croi-s.? The season continues very fa vorahle. Froin all parts of the Distvict, and in fact, fa:n all parts of the country, we hear most cheering news of the corn croj). In this District, and in those contiguous to it as well as in the counties adjoining us jn North Carolina, we learn that wheat has: turned -oil* well, hut farmers are so very busy with tingrowing crop, they cannot spare the time to thrash it; the consequence is. flour is sc.irce here. Cotton is not represented so favorably; the rains which have proved so beneficial to corn, * have injured and retarded the growth; but the wiiuii MJII wi iiiyia uniig iw uuu? Farmers in some portions of the district are needing rain at this time, hut generally none are suffering. The excessive heat of the past three I or four days w II no doubt be terminated by copious showers. P. S. We are having a fine rain this (Wednesday ) morning ? Lancaster Ledger. Droughts, Chops, ic.? We have no change to notice sinco our last. We are still without rain, and the prospects for bread are becoming dailv more alarming, in our District In smut* sections, we learn the corn crop i>':i!fno?t entirely destroy ed, while in others, there cannot, a half crop he made. We believe the drought to be general in our District, as far as we learn. The cotton crop will also he short. Sumter Watchman. Death or Dn. J. C. Calhoun.?We regret tol arn the death of this estimable gentleman ?son of our late statesman. He died at Winnsboro, yesterday, after long suffering and n gradual decline. His remains were brought down last evening, and taken this morn- j ing hy the Greenville train, on their way to the family burial place of Fort Hill. ? Carolinian* #? TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE. One week Later from Europe. Halifax, Aug. 1.?The steamer, Asia arrived here last night, with Liverpool dates to Saturday the 21st ult., one week later than previous advices. There is nothing decisivo as yet from the seat >f war. Roebuck's motion for a vote of censure, made n the tlousc ot Uominons, Ijhs been rejected by i vote of 190. Consequently the Palmerston ninistry still exists. It was rumored that Sir Wm. Molesworth will iucceed Lord John Russell, as Colonial Secrctay. Liverpool market. ? Liverpool, Friday, July 20. Cotton.?Miltigan A Co. quote: The sales of sotton during the week reached .40jOQQ h*les, Deluding 7,000 for export, snd.S.OOQ.hales for