Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1? ? ? ? II'. _._ '. 1 , , I Hm ^-JjpLUME XXI. , CAMDEN, SOUTH-CAROLINA, TUESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 18, 1860. NUMBER 38. f\ POLITICAL. V- ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS OF "MANY VOTERS." j ' 7" * ?:0:? y Mr. Shannon's Reply. Editor :?I seize the first convenient to t0 l',c interrogatories proe 'ast Jonrual, to the candidates, HBH|t a press of engagements, as well fes^^p^^^iL^^apace I can, with propriety, claim will prevent my doing much my opinions,, rather tlian |||r-; Wuments which produce the eonis of little importance, lrowever, I MVS hiiu - me reasons iui iiiviu, uii K have hitherto been publicly and ?Kcn,-and arc no where ruisundcrg^fc-you iu favor of the election of fgj?Hl Lane for the Presidency and pHof these United States?" jwH^* in favor of the election of ^Hes, but regard the circumstances Si the adoption of the well known iHiciatcd "Majority Platform," with ion upon it, as a great triumph Hi tile part of the South, and sinHliat it may prove one in a great Bnphs. The principles of the platr as they relate to the great quins5 day, contain all the elements of honor to the South ; and these canl.rvrlt* on/1 v/?r\rr?c/.iit tliocn n?*IlWinll?S """ VI"? "" 1 "I i names that have worthily won and worn Bullied honors oti the battle-field and in the Pnntc Ilonsc. Second:?"In the event of the election of Lincoln and Hatnltn, would yon favor the hnnediate secession of the Southern Suites, or Jrefer to wait for an 'overt act'.'" ^^unhesitatingly reply, that I am in favor of Wt^immediaUT formation of a Southern Con(KlcracY., Bfon the happening of any such coiijttgency. I have so felt and so expressed invfclf ever since (he first nomination of a l>lack Ecpublican candidate for the Presidency. I "Overt Acts'* generally priced* a declaration If war, and surciy, in this case, we have had overt acts" enough. The murderous invasion >jf Virginia by the myrmidons of thus party? he refusals of other States to <rivc Hp to ius f:e parties implicated, and the more recent nspiracics in Texas and other States, would iyc furnished cause of war between any of c civilized powers of the world, and cannot tojerated without yielding everything dear ,a free people. Nor is the declaration of war jiting; the watchwords of this nefarious *y, are "freedom to the slave," "the knife Ec master," and the platform of the party Li carry death and desolation over the ft South. The Lexington and Concord of lr war have been passed?ice us have an Lling peace, or let Bunker Hill and Fort lultrie ensue. IVhat shall wc wait for? The inauguration fclJlack Republican President, with a Con l?'? party?places the army, the navy I H^V!??l,e Treasury at his disposal?pledged to B^'-V'BJestr,,ction' w^''? t',c occurring vacancies SjjjI^gcaBc Supreme Court will he filled by lJlack ^^P^i^^fcUicaiis, and this -ilapolishcs our last bill??m <' k and 1 can see ? S, t^jvc for postpone,ssllc' the timid one of danger.^^fl^H instinct with the j sluiU we be so craven as^v-' ailjourn this question to posterity, and, instead of the heiitage of freedom which we received, transmit to our children chains and shackles? Impossible! The South cannot consent to exhibit the first nf entire degradation of the Anjjlo tilOMIHVV VI V ? ? - w Saxon race. One thing further I must say, as j I have often said during the past year, or fnorc: It is most unfortunate that any public *nan should counsel submission to Black Republican rule. Such a course is worse than voting for a Black Republican; it is worse tthan an Abolition vote; and it is certainly far worse than a disunion vote; for who supposes /or an instant, that the North would dare to -elect a Black Republican President, if tl.ey r supposed that disunion would be the consequence ? and who among us doubts that disunion must and will be the iicccs&<irif consct queuce? And yet public men at tbe South P counsel waiting an-/ watching, and every such j letter or speech is published all over the North, I giving aid and comfort to our deadliest foes, i' causing hundreds and thousands to vote for Black Republicanism, which is disunion, who dare not do so, but that they calculate upon this encouragement given to them bv j the timid counsels of Southern men. Could any man do so nmch harm by voting for a fY--. Black Republican President ? These nreccuinjr questions I have hurriedly, ! I but most cheerfully, responded to. They are j the great questions of our age, and in them arc j cnvolved the destiuv, not only of our country, ourselves and our children, but of the human family. Cut I must confess that I come to the consideration of the remaining interroga' torics with regret and pain. I cannot see why they have been introduced into this canvass. "Not only have all the candidates been fully committed upon the matters concerned, but ^ the geographical position of each, with the evident interests of far the larger portions of the District, surely point both to the interest />f the individual and the duty of the Rcprc sentativc. Further, at this time, I regard the .discussion of this question as probably idle, as in iny judgmeut, the impending political and {financial difficulties will settle these matters jjVv?; ./or some time: but as they are brought into >? - '.consideration, I have taken, position upon them .as a candidate just as I did as an individual, > for I find no divided duty*. I shall class and ????. ;j|pswer these interrogatories together, for, althese propositions now come from other yet the questions involved are almost ^ . ':S46htical with.those considered, in this connection, early in Spring and Summer, and I have no views to express other than those then cn* jtertained. 3d. "Wjll you vote for a charter, and with ;jt aid from the State, to build the projected j ^Central Rail Road of South Carolina i" 4tb. "Are yon in favor of granting a charter | to the contemplated Kail Koad from Gourdiu's station, or any otlier point on the North-Eastcrn Rail Koad, to connect with the Charlotte 4$: South Carolina Kail Koad at or about Kiclgway, via Camden ?" If the proposition contained in the first interrogatory should come before the Legislature unembarrassed bv other complications, it would be, in the event of sufficient funds existing to I insure the building of the road, difficult to find tenable grounds to resist the application for a charter ; but when a rival scheme is present- ! ed, which proposes to build a road to Lancas tcr and the North Carolina connections, in such manner as will benefit five-sixths of the | population of the District, ami yet I am expect-1 - cd to "vote for a charter and with it aid froin ' 'the State" to a road destructive to the inter-: <csts of a very large portion of the District, 1 ' ,innst he allowed, respectfully, to say that, with v any opinions on this subject, I would be false do the convictions of my mind and to the j promptings of duty to do so. I know neither j principle nor precedent that would justify tax- j ?ng the citizens of the northern, middle, south-, icrn and western portions of the District, to th&T own detriment and for their own ruin, for the benefit of the extreme eastern portion / of the District; nor have T nnridea tin* o-;r . citizens of that portion of the District expect or desire any such unjust and unreasonable pledge. In anv event, I can but say that, much as I prize the many evidences of kindness T have received, and yet receive, from iny friends in that neighborhood, dear as these memories- are and shall be, I can give no such pledge. With my convictions of duty I shouPd be unworthy of trust if I did so, and I have no fear of being misunderstood. As to the other proposed Road, with its connection to Lancaster, it is but an improvement of the road which a very large portion of the District approved and endorsed hitherto. It would afford great facilities and advantages to at least five sixths of the District, build up the market town of the whole District, give a valuable connectipn alike with the producing and exporting portions of the country, and shall receive from me, either as an individual or representative, an earnest'and cordial support. Very Respectfully, WM. M. SHANNON. Camden, September Cth, 18C0. ?Ir, Dc$au<jsurcV. Reply. 1. I am in favor of the election of Mr. Breckinridge and Genl. Lane to the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the United States, and would vote for them. They have my entire confidence?none of the other candidates su:t. my views. Mr. Lincoln is most hostile to our rights and interests. 2. "In the event of the election of Lincoln and Hamlin, would you favor the lmmcifiato secession of the Southern States, or prefer to wait for an overt act?" My answer is, that "overt acts" enough have been already done by the Legislatures and people of the Northern States, against the rights of the Southern States, to justify the latter to take any steps they deem proper to protect their rights and interests, at any time. But the election of ? ? i 11. 1 r l .1. Air. JAUCOin will miiKC us icui me mure sure, i that the power of the United States Govern- I ment will also he used still further against our i rights and interests.' I think, therefore, thut, ! upon his election, measures ought to he taken l?y the Southern States immediately, forthwith, j to assemble in convention to decide what course I they ought to pursue?and when they decide on ihe secession of the Southern States from I the "United States," It shall have my "full and cordial assent. It seems strange to me that my few remarks at Sell rock's Mill, should he so misunderstood. I went there to give all the information in mv power, to people who did not keep up well with the current political events?hut with the determination not to express my opinion upon them, and I did not do so, because that opinion was not asked. 3. ''Will you vote for a Charter, and with it aid. from the State, to build the projected "Central Hail I load f 1 told the people at Sehroek's Mill, that I L tmw ,vf iir, niin.witinn tn the charter for the I "Central Kail Koad,"' and, therefore, I would vote for it. Since then, on the tenth instant, I have been informed for the first time, that opposition will be made to a charter for that road by a I a lire body of the people of Kershaw, on the ground that it will be injurious to ^^^^terest to grant a charter to that road, petition of the most money raised in propo!"* tion to the cost. '] This changes the facts upon which my opinion was based. Upon this new state of tilings, ^ it is manifest that I would be compelled to withhold any opinion and form no judgment, J until all the facts should be presented to the y Legislature?and the course either party de- j sired to take should be laid before that hotly. I am not now informed sufficiently upon the y projects to form an opinion?certainly my feciiunrs would carrv me to sustain any road among , ""?~ y # ^ t those with whom I reside; hut all parties must t be heard. 4. In answer to this one I say certainly I ' would vote for the charter for such a road, < upon the general principle respecting Kail ( Koads adopted by tlio Legislature. 1 J NO. M. DeSAUSSURE. t September 10th, 1SG0. * 1 I O j Mr. Perry's Reply. i To the interrogatories of "Many Voters," I would beg leave to make the following re- 1 ply :? ' 1. I am in favor of the election of Breckiu- 1 ridge and Lane for the 1'resiliency and Vice- I 1'residency of these L'nitcd States. 2. in the event of the election of Lincoln 1 and Hamlin, I am in favor of "the iunnr li'ilr ' sescssion of the Southern States," or any uum- ' her of them, and unwilling to wait for any ' further "overt act." We have already waited ; too lon?r and talked too much, 1 am reiwlv 1 tor action. I 3. Kemg a Kail lioau man, ami wining 10 give all a showing, I would vote for a charter ! for the "Central Kail Koad of South Carolina." ' In the matter of "aid from the State," I would 1 be governed entirely by such circumstances,as I 1 deemed sufKeieiit to determine my course in 1 the premises, reserving the right to exercise 1 my own judgment as occasion might demand. ; 4. To this interrogatory, I have substantial- 1 lv the same answer to make as 1 have made ; to the third. J>. J). PEUKV. L,ibcrtv Jlill, September 11th, 1SG0. ' 1 LATE Mi TSSO.T5 BUI A A A. J j IM PORTA NT INTELLIGENCE. Xew Oklkaxs, September 10. The steam ship Bienville, Captain Kulloch, | from Havana, with dates to the 7th instant, has arrived. 1 The Havana sugar market was dull. The , stock on hand amounted to 200,000 boxes. Molasses was unchanged. ' The health of the Island was excellent. A cargo of slaves has been landed on the j Eastern coast of the Island; but no particulars have been received. The steamer Oaof /, which arrived at Hatftbnno from Truxillo, reports that the English man-of-war learns, ordered Walker to surreiidel the town. Walker obeyed, and retreated down the lower coast with a force- numbering eighty men. Uut according to the last advices, his force was finally reduced to twenty-five men from the continued attacks of his enemies. Walker was severely wounded in the face. His wounded followers at Truxillo have been placed on board the Icarus. He lost one Colonel in his last engagement. When the Oceti/u was leaving Truxillo Alvarez was entering the town with a force of 300 men. The steamer Tvniut has arrived at Havana, bringing Vera Cruz dates to the 3d instant and ?4,500,000 in treasure. The Juarez Government has decided that the bark Marie Concept inn is a legal prize. Miramon has reached the Capital, and is concentrating his forces there. The Liberals are making extensive preparations, and are | rapidly moving thither. They will probably I soon attack Miramon in his last stronghold. I MISCKLLAjN-UO U ?. To the Hon. Edward G. Palmer. .It is in behalf of the people of South Carolina that tou arraign the Officers of the Company in the columns of the Edgefield Advertiser, the South Carolinian, and, I presume, in other public journals, on the charges of a violation of the charter of the Company, and of bad faith for having expended the funds of the Company beyond the limits of the State. I have shewn that other Kail Koacl Companies in South Carolina have, by a subscription of stock to other i).'i i> i A ... a.i * i . c 11(in ituau ^umpamcs, in una oiau*, arid uui or it, aided in the construction ofother roads than their own, and it lias not occurred to any person that in so doing they had violated their charters or acted in bad faith. But I will proceed to show thatsuch expenditure is authorized by Legislative reports and enactments and that even if it were not consistent with the charter of the Company, the State, as a stockholder, has sanctioned and confirmed what the officers of the Company have done. Some latitude must be allowed to the defence. My purpose is not to assert and to argue in reply to your charges, but to prove them to bo grossly unfounded. In the statement of the evidence 1 will be as brief as may be compatible with this purpose. 'i lie Blue Ridge Bail Road Company was incorporated in 1{?52, and by the same Act the State gave aid to the enterprise by engaging, on certain conditions, to guaranty the bonds of the Company to the amount of ?1,250,0 )0, which bunds wore to be secured by a first mortgage on the road. It is unnecessary to advert to the conditions of that aid, because it was not accepted by the Company. In 1853 the Company entered into a contract with ' Alison Bangs A; Co., for the construction of the ' entire Blue Ridge Road from Anderson to 1 Knoxville. The contractors undertook to do ! all the work and furnish all the materials necessary tor the complete construction of the road, at certain fixed prices for the work and materials, for which payment was to be made : to them monthly, one-half in cash, one-fortli in 1 stock, and the remaining fourth in bonds of the 1 Company, which were to he secured only by a 1 mortgage .of tJiu road. 1 lie suil granted by the Act of 1 85'2 being considered by tlic contrac- 1 tors to be instifiieieiit to enable the Company : to perform their part, of the contract, they ' inserted a stipulation that, unless more satisfae- I lory aid was granted by the State they should ' be at liberty to abandon the contract. The Company accordingly petitioned the ; Legislature, in 1858, for more effective assis- 1 tJii.ce. In the petition all the tcrmsof the eon- j tract with Anson Hangs k Co, were fully setforth. The estimated eost of the road in South Carolina was stated to be $2,500,000 ? and of the entire rmul, from Anderson to Knoxvillc, ' to be 97,500,000. The means of the Company ' to accomplish the work, were exhibited to be : ' The subscription by the City of Charleston, I $1,040,000; private subscriptions, $151,000. ; The Tennessee subscription, $500,1.00, and the 1 Stock and Honds of the Company to be taken ' by Bangs & Co., in payment of one-half of the : estimated - cost of the road. These josUs, 1 amounting in the whole to $5,450,000, " f deficiency, whtMMamipared with tli A*(j I cost 01 uie ro;ui'^BB?|^^njOii 10^j| $2,ooo,ussb. ?jislatuiy' would STTJTpIy this dtjigicnrylu^P^ M^criptou of SToOjUOU, in addition to the junifrfTtv of I Jolids provided for by the Act of u ?5'2. The petition was referred to the appro- 11 >riate Committees in the two Mouses, and a jill was reported granting rid to the amount v >rayed for by the Company. After a very full w liscussion of the bill upon its merits, the bill ? vas passed in the Senate but lost in the ^ House. . " In the progress of the bill certain resolutions c vere adopted by the Senate, calling for inlbrnation respecting the amount of the subscripions in South Caiolina and Georgia; the ll uuuher of individual subscribers, and the s! larticulars of the contract with Anson Bangs 0 fc Co. The President of the road, Mr. Henry ' jourdin, responded to the inquiries, and his e .tateiiient was reported by tlie Coinmittee of u "inance and Banks to tlie Senate. The terms c if the contract with Anson Bangs it Co., for ^ lie construction of the road from Anderson to t \tio::vil!e, were fully set forth by the Pi en- ^ lent. r The application for additional aid was renewed 11 n 1851. 1 cannot obtain a copy of the peti- I1 ion, if any was presented ; hut it is probable j-' .hat the petition, hill and proceeding of the '' )receding session were again brought forward. In the meantime, that is in July, 1854. a meet- 1= ng of the Stockholders waslicld in Charleston, 'i 0 which the President and Directors made f1 report. They state in it that Mr. Lythgoe, 1 he Chief Jingiuccr of tlie Company, with his l1 issistauts, had made a final location ol the road ' it South Carolina and Georgia, and also, in v part, in North Carolina and Tennessee. The * resources of the Tennessee Company were * shown to have been largely increased l?v a ^ liberal grant of aid hv that State, while the ' lieans of the Company, so far as related to this v State, Georgia and North Carolina, remained :lie same as they were at the date of the former ' Application to tiie State for aid, viz: the City Subscription ?1,040,000 ; individual subserip- :I Lions ?151,000 ; Contractors Stock and Bonds". ' ^0,000,000, and the State Guaranty, under the * Act of 1852, ?1,250,000. The Report reoom- 1 mends that the application should he renewed ' <i... i r. i.i;<: i ..;,i tl... ; miouiit of out* million of subscription, and a 1 guaranty of the Company's Bonus for one mil- * lion morf. The charier requires tliat the Coin- ' puny shall make an. annual report to the Ley- " islaturc, and it may be assumed that the Com- ' [may accordingly did siihiint that report to tiie < presiding ollicers, and to the members of both 1 houses i The Committee of Ways and Means, by their ' Chairman, the lion. J. Izard Middlcton, made I a favorable-report on the application. The report brings to the attention of the House that 1 "the Company had completed its surveys" and < 'located their entire line," which "set at rest all questions respecting the practicability of I this great work, lint, although practicable, it ' is diiiicult and costly. Although costly, it will fall far short in costliness to those great railway [ lines which connect New York, 1'hiladelpliia j and Baltimore with the great and fertile valley ' of the W est." "The whole line of railway 1 proposed to be brought under the control of your memorialists will, when completed, bring 1 Charleston into connection with Knoxville. i The connection of Knoxville, by completed , and projected lines of railway, will open to the Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast, boundless fields of enterprise to the commercial spirit of Charleston. But not to dwell longer upon merely material and commercial interests, your Committee venture to suggest that there are social and political considerations of vast mo - .1.1 m <ii<) ontdr. 111 IJI ^IIICH MIUIIJU no i *J iiu? vt.vw. prise, even should its achievement involve a large expenditure of money." The Committee recommended that the bill should be passed, with some unimportant amendments. It was passed under the title of "An Act to authorise aid to the JJlue Jiidgc Hail Koad in South Carolina." No comment is necessary to lead the dullest mind to a conclusion. The petition of the Company, the replies of the President to the in ucut and Directors to the Stockholders m July, 1854, and lastly, tbe report of Mr. Middleton, from the Committee of Ways and Means, all muke it manifest, beyond doubt or contradiction, that the Legislature was fully informed of the design and purpose of the Company, with the funds that could be obtained in South Carolina, and contributions which could be obtained in the other States through which the road was located, to construct the entire road from Anderson to Ivnoxville, and that this purpose \vas as well known and understood by the Legislature as it was bv the officers of the Coinmnv. The cost of the entire road was exhibited to the Legislature, and the deficiency of the means ol'thc Company compared with the estimated cost of the whole road was presented to show the necessity of State aid, and the measure of accessary assistance. Aid was granted to the measure of the Company's wants to complete the entire road, and it is an imputation of consummate stupidity and folly in the Legislature to affirm that they restricted the expenditure of the aid which was granted to the construction of the road in South Carolina. The completion of the road in South Carolina would be worthless towards the accomplishment of those groat advantages of a free and quick commerce between South Caio linn and the regions West of the mountains, which are strongly set forth in Mr. Middletou's report. It was expressly to secure those advantages by the completion of the road to Knoxville, that the Legislature granted aid to the Line ltidgc ltail Load Company in South Carolina. Hut to put in a still stronger light, if that is possible, the absurdity of the supposition that the Legislature intended to restrict the expenditure of the siid granted, within the limits of South Carolina, it is only necessary to advert iu inu i.iin ['k'm'iui'ii hi lhu mciMuiiai, iihil Llie estimated cost of the road in Soutli Carolina was ?2,500,000 ; that under the contract with 15*<ngs <fc Co., oiie-dialr the cost would lie paid in the Stock and Uonds of the Company secured only by a mortgage of. the road, so lliat the Company required only Si,250,000 to meet the cash payments, and that tliev actually exhibited to the Legislature cash resources to meet these payments in the amount of the City subscription. $1,040,000, and of individual subscriptions for $151,000 more, of which twothirds was made in South Carolina. It is preposterous to suppose that with the exhibit of cost and resources, which the Company made to the Legislature, they should ask aid to construct the road in South Carolina; and it is inconceivable that they should petition for two millions more, and that the Logislatue should have given a moment's heed to such a petition. If anything more were needed to establish the authority of the Company to expend the lid granted by the State beyond the limits of South Carolina, it will be found in the clause providing for the guaranty by the State of the bonus or tnc blue Kiogc Kail Koau Company in South Carolina. It was made a condition jf that guaranty that the Companies in all the States should first execute a mortgage "of the ivholo estate, property and funds which they ?aosscs-cd, or might afterwards acijtiire," ire the payment of these J.?onds. It canj credited that the Slate would have ,.v^Jsuch a demand,-or thift the Companies gjH^other States w^^^jp^Hcned to it, as to he applied exclusively to the construeon of the road in Sojith Carolina. It was also provided that the mortgages 1 liieh have been mentioned "may also seem e 1 ithout any priority or preference, other Bonds i f the Bine Itidge Kail Koad Company in t outh Carolina, to An amount not exceeding J 1,500,000. Providet/,' that nothing herein i outained shall he construed to prevent tiny r ; lite s'.'id Companies from applying any of t he proceeds of the loan so made by them, and i lie instalments which may be paid in on the I took of the said Companies for the purpose of t onstrueting, equipping and working their 1 espectivu roads, and for no other purpose what- t ver," except to pay tlie in to rot ami principal t n the Bonds. "Any of the said Companies" i an only mean those in Georgia, and Xurth 'aroliua, and Tennessee, for when the Legisla- < nro gave aid to the Blue Bidge Kail Bond < 'oinpany in South Carolina, to complete the oad from Anderson to Knoxville, they could I iot have intend'd to frustrate the express pur iose of the aid by forbidding that it should lie i xpcndvd out of the limits of South Caru- . ilia. I I have, thus shown that before the aid was s ranted by the Act of 18.54 which set the en- i erpriso on firm ground, the memorial of the I Aiiupanv, in 1833, had fully and completely tiformed tlu- Legislature of the design anil iiirposo of 1 lie Company lo build iliu ]>luc lidgc Kail Koad front Anderson to Kuoxvillc | itli snclt means as could lie obtained in South i 'aroliua and the other Sttites. The memorial 1 et-s out the surveys by tlie lingineers of the j Company, the cost of the road in South Garoiun, and tlte entire cost of the road to Knox- i ille, the amount of snbseription in the several itates, tlie contract of the Dine Kidgo Hail load in Smith Carolina with Alison Dangs A Jo., for the constrin-tion of the entire road, we ilso exhibited the siiiiieieiiey of means to finisli he rottd in South Carolina, hut a deficiency of il',01)0,000 for the construetion of the entile oatl, and asks aid to the amount of that deieicney. Tlie Committee of the Senate made m imposition into the facts stated in the. menio ial, and reported the result to tliat body ; the Committee of A ays and Means in tlie House ecomincnded that the prayer of the memorial iJiould he granted, and reported tlie Jiill to 'authorize aid to tlie Dine Kidgc Kail Koad Company in South Carolina," and strongly ir-i'ed upon the consideration of the House the iiipoi'tauce of the connection between Charlesion and Knoxvillo, to complete which aid was waved for by the memorial. After this summary how utterly groundless mist your charges against the ollicers of the Joinpaiiy appear to ou i<> vwj .t.mu,. Ami your own letter to .Mr. <Jary manifests | liow groundless your charges are to your own ! consciousness. In recommcmlingtho Statesviile connection, j ' on contrast it with tin; IJlue Ridge Road and ! urire the adoption of the t'onner route, "as pass-! ing through a much richer, am) penetrating to : the very region of country where the JJluc Ridge is attempted to he luiilt at an enormous cost to the State." IJy "the very region of country" you do not mean "the Ccorgia Line;" you mean that region of country which is to l>e reached by the completion of the Kluc : Ridge Road to KneVille. Von have forgotten to "note the words, to the GV0/////1 line and when you have, in vour argument, passed by the charge of a violation of the charier in spending money heyAiid the (icorgia line, light is admitted to show Vliat. the Western terminus of the IJlue Ridge I Quad is at Knoxvillc. This i road is "attempted tin he built at an euotmons j cost to the State." JJJy whom is it attempted to lie built at an enormous cost to the State, but by the IJlue Ridge Rail Road Company in South Carolina ? You have forgotten the I charge that the elm iter of that Company is re- J stricted to the Geors ;ia line, and that?hc officers I of the Company 1 inve grossly violated their charter, and acted i 11 bad faith in applvingany part of their funds to the construction of the 1 is restricted to tlic Ueorgia line, ati? no moncy can be expended beyond that line, how came you to argue in favor of the Statesvillc connection, against the Blue Ridge Road, that the former "penetrates the very region of country where the Blue Ridge Road is attempted to be built at an enormous cost to the State ?" 1 have before noticed your short memory in your statement of the excess of cost above the estimates, and of your short reading, in not seeing in the Act of 1854 the repeal of the "14th section" of the Aet of 1852, when the latter furnished an argument in support of your charges. Ar.d I have now noted another instance of this freak of memory. Indeed there seems to be with vou an oDauue section in that i faculty of the mint!, which revolves with your argument, and obscures at one time facts in relation to the Blue Ridge Road, which would oppose your conclusions, and .at another time admits them, when they favor your purpose. It would be better if that opaque section were stationary. Then it would not betray you into inconsistencies. Having thus, I think, refuted your charges, I will refute also the mischief which yon specify as the consequence of the gross violation of the charter, and of ti.^ bad faith of the officers of the Company, viz: that the funds which have been expended in the construction of the road beyond the Georgia line, would have finished the road in South Carolina. In pursuance of the original design of the Company, and of the purpose for which funds were contributed by individual subscribers, by 1 the City of Charleston, and by the State, the officers of the Company have directed* the construction of the road with a view to its completion from Anderson to Ivnoxvillc. They have urged forward the work on the tunnels and masonry, which are the most costly and tedious parts of the work, leaving the light! grading almost, entirely suspended after Bangs J A- Co., were dismissed, who had done nothing j -I ? \ .. *1... stf' + ltsi H'aiI* lone i*At\Atdnr] ! UIMJ. a> lin* J?l l???l TO? V?l tllU ? UI i\ iuj/uiu m j to the Stockholders in detail, this policy of the i Directors was, in almost every report which I they made, comiminicatcd to the Stockholder and to the Legislature. In order to give the largest publicity to the proceedings of the j President and Directors, their annual Report I to the Stockholders has every year been pub-! lislied in all the daily papers in Charleston, and in pamphlet form sent to the Mayor and Aldermen of Charleston, to all the Stockholders, members of* the Chamber of Commerce in Charleston, and largely distributed among the citizens of Charleston and the .State. As required by the charter, copies have been officially presented to the presiding officers of both branches of the Legislature; and, besides laving a copy on the fable of every member, one has been mailed to their residences before the i session of the Legislature, in order that they I might, have time to read it before they went to Columbia, and became, distracted by amusements and elections, or engrossed in business. " i -ii . .. .1. ? e l i ion eannor orsnoum nor,.increiore, uavu ueen , miiiitbriiied of the views of the oflieeis of the | Company. They have constantly avowed and j published, as tliev now do, that if the Hlnc !' Ridge Road is finally to terminate at the Gcor-! gia line, in the midst of the lilue Ridge Moun- j tains, the addition it would make to the com- i ' mcrcc of South Carolina, would fall very far I short of compensating for the cost of its con- ' struetion. * w'" <!nia^e !l (lncV'f "A specious ^liiVKBp^ may have iccn presented in the graflffg of the road, if it ?ad not been deemed unwise so to apply the esoitrces of the Company. A little reflection ^ nnst make it apparent that if the road were to .J (.nninate at any point of the line short of ! nr tin! tuiviirablc waters of the Ten l>i>vn...<v) - - icsscc at some other place, the road would not ' ompensate for its cost, The construction of a he road has been accordingly directed to the s icconipfishinciit of a connection between Charcstoti and Knoxville. The great obstacle to * his important end is presented by the Blue Itidga .Mountains. If the line of the road to ^ he itabun Cap presented only ordinary difli ultics, tlie Blue Bidgc Bond would have been *' liidertaken and finished long before this time. a When the inountaii.s are crossed the extension 1 jf the roail to Knoxville will be acertain consc- b jtiencc." ! I suppose every intelligent person in tbe 1 state will concur in the opinion of the officers *' if the Company, that if the lioad is to terini- 1 nate at the Ccorgia line it would not compel)- b sate for its cost. The insufficiency of funds to N linish the road to the Georgia line, which you 1 specify as the mischief resulting from the mis- 1 anidiict of the officers of the Company is, then, 1 uo iinsciiiei at an. At the hazard of being tedious I will further |' vindicate ilie officers of the Company from j! emir charge of had lailh. I understand bad j 1 laitli to he a violation of some trust or conti- j j leiiue reposed, it may he in the transaction of -j business, or in the intimate relation of the i ' parties. The had faith you charge is coinpre-:s licndod in thch'rst part of my definition. If a 1 commercial attorney or agent should engage in j' traiisaetious heyond the scope of his authority, js and not inform his principal of such transac- j ' lions, but conceal them, that would he bad 1 faith, hut if he fully apprised his principal |' from time to time, as often as he communicated ! ' with him, that lie was engaged in transactions |1 which were heyot.d the original scope of bis j' authority, and bis principal did nor disapprove I ' or make any objection, that would make valid , \ and Ikiihi fi.<h the transactions of the agent, of' 1 which his principal has been so informed. The ollicers of the Company are the agents j of the Stockholders. These consist of the Slate |' of South Carolina, the City of Charleston, and j' the corporate and individual subscribers. The ' rtf tint &|.t|t|t(t Mllll 1 louse of Hen- 1 resciitalivcs arc the agents or proxies of tin*;1 State for tlie Stock which it holds in the Blue !1 Uidge Bail Road Company. Even if it were ' admitted that the oliicers of the Company line! ' violated the charter by the expenditure of money for the construction of the road beyond the Georgia line, yet if I show that this expeti-; diture wa< communicated l? the Stockholders : 1 in every Animal Beporl of the officers, the | charge of had faith is repelled. It would be tedious to ipiote trom the re- j ports, but I allirm that in every report since i October, 14155, when 1 was elected President of the Company, the progress of construction, Iand, of course, the expenditure of money for | work beyond the Georgia line, has been ex-1 hibiled in detail. No disapprobation lias been expressed bv | tlio Legislature, nor by any other Stockholder. j to the present time, though in the report of j 1858 the expression of a want of confidence i was suggested to the Legislature and other Stockholders, as the means by which the further expenditure of money would be arrested. Jiangs k Co., were dismissed in April, 1850. In the report of 1857, you will find the follow-1 ing passage: "The Directors have no motive nor desire to delude the Stockholders (in the number ofwhom, bv the State and City subscriptions, all the ' citizens of the State arc comprised) into a fruit- \ less expenditure of money, when the President was heard at the JJar of the House of Representatives, at the last scssson, on a petition i of the Company, then under consideration, he 1 explicitly stated that, by the failure of Bangs A- C??. to perform their contract, the portion of I ;J... ,*. ; ;.<r w; . ;. <] I ; th .< . to accept payment iti stock, as well as tlic difference between the payment to them in Donds at par, and the prices at which the Bonds may l>e sold by the Company for the payment of the cost of the road (the whole estimated at 82,000,000,) would have to be supplied. He represented that aid could b? expected from the States of Georgia and North Carolina, the former of which has a rival road completed, and the latter has expended a large amount, and is expending more towards the completion of a competing road through its own limits; that more aid might be hoped for from Tennessee, but thatSouth Caroiinashould be prepared, in the last resort, to supply the deficiency. He further advised that unless the people of the State were prepared to do so they should at once stop any further expenditure upon the road." In the report of 1858, you will also find this passage: "On tin's subject (of aid to the road) the Company can approach the Legislature with confidence." "Two years ago the Legislature was apprised that the road could not be completed unless its construction was assumed by the State, and a suspension of the work was advised, unless the State was prepared to provide the sum necessary for its completion. If a resolution had then been passed declaring awant of confidence in the enterprise, the work would have been suspended. Since that time a million of dollars have been expended, fruitlessly, if the State does not grant the Company's petition. From the inaction of the Legislature, the Company was justified to infer acquiescence in the claim of which they were notified; and certainly the Directors were not authorized to arrest the construction of the road." I have thus, as I hope, vindicated the officers of the Company from your charges of a violation of the charter and had faith, and have on the latter charge even exceeded the limits of a strict defence, in order to exhibit the conscientiousness and candor in the execution of their trust. I repeat, that in one respect I do not regret your attack, since it has furnished an occasion to present to public attention the conduct of the officers of the Company in a light which, I hope, will be satisfactory. Your accusations have produced no irritation. My only regret is, that you should, on such groundless charges, have appeared as the public accuser of the officers. They had hoped for more charity from you, and even a warmer and more generous sentiment towards them. If iti the course of this defence, I have used any expressions which may seem to he wanting in resneet for von. I did nut. so intend. I have long esteemed your good sense and generous temper. J Jut 1 tear your anti-DIue Ridge furor lias perverted tliem both, so far as that enterprise is concerned. EDWARD FROST. Cftarttrfon Courier. The try of Disunion. We have always observed that whenever, in the course of political events, the Southern States make any demonstration in defence of their right*, or intimate that it is their purpose to take care of themselves, when these rights are assailed, the cry of disunion is immediately raised nganist tlicin. This idolatry of the Fedf> deplore. At no point of our political history, that wc an remember, has the cry of Disuniouism ecu raised against the people of the South, sudor and with more acerbity and bitterness, han it is at present. The triple hosts of Linoln, Douglas and Dell arc all in unison here, i) J denounce the Democrats and others who npport.Breckinridge and the Constitutional iglits of the South, as traitors and Disunionists. Lnd why? Is there a line of treason or a scniincnt of disunion incorporated in the platform f principles? Not one. The people of the Southern States, cannot bandage their eyes, ml shut out the fact, that the past quarter of century, has nearly swept away every right hey hold under the Constitution. Amid the inging of paeans to the Union, and the syren nusic of "compromises" and friendly concessions, they have witnessed the onward march of agression, robbing them of their rights, conracting their power, limiting their territory, teaiing their property, and invading their soil vitli the torch and the pike. They have witicsscd all this too, not under a Black Republican Administration, but under one whose prin- ' :iples arc opposed to these fiendish instru Mentalities to crush the institution of slavery, nid yet to-day, they are counselled to submit o the installation of a President and AdminIilint.. Iivi-m-ml IH'ilLi-inti>s Cup vo-ire r r? ?. last, and whose teachings from the beginning, Mive all l>ecii directed to, and have fur their >bjcct, the entire subjugation of tlie Cotton states of the South, and the overthrow of their lecessarv system of labor. The priests and disjiples of tliis wild fanaticism, know well that such an end cannot be accomplished, but hrough a bloody revolution, and the mostout ageous scenes of barbarity that every disgraced ;he annals of any people, savage or civilized. And yet, wc must submit or lie branded as lisuuionists and traitors! Cod help the people f the South, when in response to the high riests of this Juggernaut of the ITiiun, they ire willing to sacrifice all that is dearer than ife, and without which life is of little value-Liberty uud Kipial Rights. Where then is the treason? Surely not iinotig those who cling to tlie Constitution and ihcir rights under it. It rests, first, among the idvoeates of a higher law than i-itln r the LJible jrtlie Constitution?those who would willingly >ce the torch of the incendiary and the knife jf the midnight assassin a]iplied to accomplish their fiendish ends. It is, in the second place, treason to the South, at least, among those who would wontonly deprive her peo[>le of their just rights for mere political personal advanvemeiit; and, thirdly, it is no less treason in a third mongrel party, who would, although Lincoln's election would he "a grievous misfortune" and "dangerous to the peace and security of the Southern States," still counsel acquiescence. This party is composed of the odds and ends of several defunct factions, which never sought any higher end than political power?Know Notliingism, Whigs and bankrupt politicians. This, then, is the position of parties in the present contest. One party cleaving to the Constitution of the country, a second ignoring the rights it confers upon the citizens of all sections, and setting up instead of its authority, tlie dictum of nil unorganized community of squatters; a third basing its pretension upon the love of a Union under which the Constitution may he violated, and rights trampled upon, if that Union can be preserved; and tho fourth an open and avowed enemy of the Constitution and Equal Eights. The Cattle has to be fought between the first and the last named, and it is easy to dctermino which is made up of traitors and c!isnnionists,and which is entitled to the support of every patriot in the land.? Southern Guardian, The total tmnibcr of wild pigeons shipped East from Michigan, during the past summer, exceeds two millions, which yielded &25.000, tram me taamvha i-.r<quuer. A Protest. The undersigned, citizens c/f tbe Soutbern States, accidentally assembled at tbe White Sulphur Springs, have read with much surprise tbe speech of Judge Douglas, recently delivered at Norfolk, and being man)' of them too remote from their homes to take part in any public expression of opinion there, deem it duo' to themselves to make known in this manner their dissent from its doctrines. In this address, Mr. Douglas declares that if tbe Southern States (not a part, but all,) shall secede from the Union upon tbe inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, it will be the duty of the 1 'resident of the United States, who, in the case StlDDOSed. will lie T.inneln punish or subdue them, and that be will couusel him to do so, and aid him to do so by all the means in his power. Now, as there is a large party at the North avowing the most implacable hostility to thcr institutions of the South, whose candidate for the Presidency is Mr. Lincoln, this declaration of Mr. Douglas is in effect - that the election: of a man to the Presidency of the United States, by the votes alone of one section, who is pledged to use all the powers of the Government for the destruction of the rights and property of the other section, would not justify the weaker in resistance, but that if in such an event, the fifteen Southern States should assume to determine on the extent of their danger, and to quietly withdraw from it, he should regard their action as revolt, and as such to be punished with all the force of the Government. Than this we can conceive of 110 doctrine more dangerous to the South. It?confounds resistance to establish law, by individuals which it would be the duty of the Chief. Magistrate to punish, with the peaceable- secession of States from a compact no longer consistent with the interest or existence of its constituents; but it treats the Union as a perpetual bond, exacting unconditional submission, forever, from a weaker to a stronger sectionIt strips the States of the chief attribute of sovereignty, to-wit: the right to determine when their existence is put to 1 a/.aid, as to the means necessary to their preservation, and affirms that,' while it is legitimate in the people of the North having control of the General < i .1 > - " ' V7u>ci iniiuiiiy iiiruugu it, to limici upon uic States of the South whatever wrongs it may be consistent with their interest or feelings toimpose, it would be treason in the people of the South to obey the orders of their States ins., opposition to Federal authority. Frauglit with error as this doctrine is, subversive of that constitutional theory, in which alone the rights of the States are to be found,., it has, at this moment, and under the circuit!- * stances, a bloody significance. The enemies of the South, in the Northern States, have selected Abiaham Lincoln to lead them in the "irrepressible conflict," W'flicli lie has proclaim.- ' e l. Mr. Seward, the most distinguished coim- ' seller of Mr. Lincoln, declares at Los ton that the election of Lincoln is sure?that with it the power of slavery wilj_^nd, and that the son's?by a man from the North, from the neighborhood of Lincoln himaeltj a candidatefor the Presidency, volunteering his counsel to Lincoln, and, in the event of his election, his aid to wage war upon our people, and to slay them in battle as rebels, or hang them in cold. blood as traitors, if they shall render obedience, to State rather than Federal authority, is r?~. pugnant to every sense of right, and merits i'roin the people of the South, the severest re-. bnke. Such a rebuke, we sincerely hope, will' be given the doctrine audits author at tho November elections. JAMES LYONS, Richmond City-. JOIIN PERKINS, Louisiana. ALLEN S. IZARl), South Carolina*,. II. K. BUKGWYN, North Carolina.. II. R. RUNNELS, Texas. EDWARD IIAILE, Florida. L. W. SI'RATT, South Carolina. JOHN CUNNINGHAM, South Carolina.. i> imdvothtp X\. >. ui'*% >11^1111(1. UFO. It. DltUMMOND, Virginia. JOHN iMIARS, Virginia. E. C. TIIOMAS, Virginia. J. U. KEITT, South Carolina. A. It. 13LAKEY. Virginia. .JOIIX C. GRIFFIN, Virginia. A. B. 11EXEGAX, Soutli Carolina. CHARLES IRBY, South Carolina. F. M. E. FA NT, South Carolina. .). 0 VXTZLER, South Carolina. W. EDERIXGTON, South Carolina. IMIILLIP JIOWEliTON, Virginia. ? WILLIAM II. TEltliILL, Virginia. N. F. 130WE, Virginia. 1 tOBERT M. TAYLOR, Virginia. GEORGE M. RATES, Virginia. JOHN W. STREET, Virginia. W. A. STREET, Virginia. II. 15. TOMLIN, Virginia. WM. FOLK, Louisiana. W. E. JOHNSON, South Carolina. JOHN PROSSEIl TABB, Virginia. MIERS W. FISIIER, Virginia. LELAXD NOEL, Mississippi. RANGOON CIIEVES, South Carolina.. WM. C. REE, South Carolina. WHARTON J. GREEN, No. Carolina. EDW'D. O.SA'i'CHELL, Virginia. GEORGE F. WILKES. Virginia. A. SALTMARSH, Alabama. JOS. A. GRAVES, Virginia. TIIOMAS 13. LYNCH, Soutli Carolina. WM. R. FECK, Louisiana. J. A. ltlDDICK, Virginia.. V. A SELDEX, Virginia, .10IIX A. SELDEX, Virginia.. G. 15. SIXGLETAEY, North Carolina. One of the vagrant fortune-tellers, who arc. now inlcstiug this section, was taken up at Edward's steam mill, recently, and thirty-nine lashes struck closely under his shirt. That'sright. They should also have treated him to a coat of tar and feathers There arc numbers of these scamps roving over the country, andi they should U whipped, whenever seen, and * made to emigrate.?Butler Democrat, Ala. A lady residing in Richmond, Va., gave birth to twins on Monday List, which, strango to stay, are united bv a broad ligament, very similar to the famous Siamese twins. Untnrt-nnntidv tlior <\i-oi\rvv thi> vuisitinn of face to.i face. At last accounts IxUb were alive and doing well. Some Snake.?The. Klytou Alabamian, of the 17tli inst., says Mr. Thomas Friel killed, a few days ago, three miles north of that place a rattle snake nine feet lo,ng and eighteen inches thick (circumference is zyaut, no. douU) with sixteen rattles. If a young lady has a thousand acres of valuable land, the vonng men arc apt to conclude that there are sufficient grounds ftyj.. attachment. v /