The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, August 07, 1855, Image 2
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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