The Abbeville banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, August 25, 1847, Image 2
N
THE BAMER. "^
A13BEVILLK C. II., 8. .:
Wednesday, August 23, 1S<A7.
A Vegetable Curiosity*
We have been presented by I\lr. Robert
Bradyoflliis District a Beetof mammoth size
and which is really a curiosity, it weighs
103-4 lbs, and is'23 1-4 inches in circumference
and the same in length. We should
like to see the Beet that beats this.
East Teniiesse BJniversty.
We would call the attention of parents, !
nnd those desirous of acquiring a Col) Tiate 1
education, to the advertisement of Ka
nesse University found in this week'
per.
Latest from iWexiro.
By the Steamer New Orleans which arrived
at that city bring dates from Vera
Cruz to the 7th inst., and from Tampicoto
the 10th, we have the latest news from Mexico
which isof but little interest. Various ru
mors had reached Vera Cruz purporting to |
be from the city of Mexico, and one of these j
is the old story of commissioners being ap- J
pointed by Santa Anna, to meet Mr. Trist. j
The correspondent of the Picayune writing ;
f.-om Vera Cruz, attaches importance to :
i
it.
A train left Vera Cruz the evening of |
the Gth inst., for the army at 1'uebla, under j
command of Col. Wilson of the 12th In- j
fantry. The train was escorted by from j
1500 to 2000 men : Four deserters arrived j
at Jalapa on the 30 of July, three from Pu- !
ebla, and one from Gen. Pierce's train;
the Boletin a Mexican paiper says the.=e
fromPuebla report that the desertions were !
very great in the American army, and that
seventy-three were advertised ell in one i
day.
Nothing is said with regard to the move- i
ment of Gen. Scott, and the probability is !
that he is still at Puebla.
From Monterey. Advance off
Gen. Taylor.
A correspondent of the N. O. Delta writ-.
r -\/t T.-i.- nTi i_ M
mg iroin muniuruy, Juiy /S<iu, says.?ii.
move to San Luis Potosi has finally been
decided on. All the departments connecwith
Gen. Taylor's column, are activelyengaged
in preparing for the march. The 1st
September is the time fixed upon for the forward
movement. The forces under Gen.
Taylor would seem, in my opinion, to be
inadequate for such an undertaking, but the
old Hero has to use his favourite quotation,
determined on the matter nolens vn/r.vs
Catholics in the United States.
The Catholic Almanac for 1847, says
that the number of priests in tho United S.
is 834, being an accession of98 in one year;
and also that there are 812 churches, 72 of
which were erected during the past year.
In addition to this number there are 577
stations visited by clergymen, but as yet
without any commodious and suitable place
of worship.
Interesting.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York Courier cj* Enquirer says:?
"I know positively, and say so, without
fear of being contradicted, that the British
Government and the British Minister in
Mexico arc perfectly agreed that we should
keep Upper and Lower California on the
terms proposed by Mr. Buchanan in the second
instructions sent to Mr. Trist, and
Mr. RaNKFIKJO vvna oortiAotltf nrr*;.?r? ??
? J ""
the Mexican Government the policy of accepting
at once the proffered peace. And
I can further inform you that Santa Anna
is most solicitious for peace; but that the
Congress, detesting Santa Anna, and fear'
ingthe return of hi? military rule aftef the
troops under General Scott shall be with- !
drawn, is anxious for another battle, in which
they know Santa Anna will be defeated,
and with hirji all the military tyrants and
extortioners of Mexico. Santa Anna is
now surely in a deplorable condition, press" j
ed by friend and foe, and I should not be I
surprised to see him. after thn Wtln
be urged to fight, surrender at discretion to
General gcorr, This is the. opinion that
has been obtained among the officers of our
arm? geoeiralljy and I am informed that
Geheral ScotfT himself shares it with most
of Bjs staff. The fact that a large Mexican
army is now again concentrated on one
upot is considered IT)opt, favorable to the ter- i
mi nation of the war, as the blow which will
be struck will be a decisive one, and prevent
our army from being harassed in detail.
General Scott, you may depend upon,
will release no more prisoners on parole,
~:.l 1 .1 tr r\
uuiwiu uhiiki auiiu mum iu vera v>ruz or
New Orleans, to prevent their fighting us
again or to instigate the. Mexicans to renewed
resistence.
I
(FOB TIIB HANXCU.) !
Mr. Editor :?I informed your readers j
in the last Banner that Dr. Pressly paid I
me one hundred and twenty dollars, to constitute
the Rev. W. R. Hemphill a Life Director
of the American 13ible Society, and
that he relied upon Mr. Hemphill's congregation
to refund a part of the amount to
him. I have just received a letter from
\i- ?u:n :..r. : ?u_?
IUI. 1 i^lll|iIIU]j ililUI II1U lUcll Utl lUfcl
Sabbath the congregation actually matlo np
One hundred axd sixty-two dollars ; instead
of one hundred and twenty, which amount,
added to the thirty previously rooeivo:l,
makes up the handsome sum of One
hundred and ninety two dollars, (*Well
done" Cedar Spring and Long Cane.
ISAAC BR.\NCH?
34, August, 1847.
correspondence ok the ahdevii.lr uasiner.
WINNSBORO', AUG. 10.
Mr. Editor?When I left Abbeville, you
made a request of me, which I have not
complied with as yet, viz ; to write an occasional
article for the " Manner," 1 will now
put a few thoughts on this sheet, which, if
you think proper, you can insert. You are j
aware, that, my "metes and bounds" are J
quite extensive, and afford me an ample op- ;
portunity of judging, and forming an opin- j
ion of men and things. Of this, I have '
made good and profitable use, so far as my
own personal experience is concerned,
though what has afforded me instruction i
and amusement might fail to impart any- I
thing good or p'easai.t to othf rs. Of this in
the present case you are to be the sole judge.
I will then call your attention, and that of
your reauers, 10 certain localities, ana some
circumstances which give them a claim to
notice and entitle them to a place on the
impartial historic page.
I will begin with Chester District.?
Perhaps very few of your readers have any
personal knowledge of the history or inhabitants
of this portion of our State. Chester
was first settled in 1750, chiefly by emigrants
from Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Its name was derived from a county in the
former State. A considerable number of
emigrants from the Emerald Isle was made
to its population in 1763 after the Peace of
Paris T fllinlr tfio nroaf
? M. ?.?*W g uiujwilb^ iu J to
settlers may trace their origin to the Irish,
they arc of, that, valuable classs of Irish who
adhere most rigidly and consistently to the
great and soul-saving doctrines of Protestant
Christianity; and I need scarcely add,
they are valuable citizens. The population
of the District at the last census (1840,)
was 17,747 including white and colored;
showing an increase, in twenty years, of
nearly four thousand inhabitants. The
next census will exhibit a considerable falling
off* as many persons, in consequence of
the failure of the crops two years ago, have
been induced to emigrate tn t.h? Wi*?t TWo
lands <n Chester are in respect to soil, various,
but generally fertile, well rewarding
the faithful toil of the husbandman. They
contain large proportions of clay, red, grey,
and mulatto, more or less mixed with primitive
substances. The ridges between
the water courses are sandy, with other
light soil; whilst the low grounds are sometimes
stony, with gravel and much rich
loam. The face of the country is hilly and
uneaven, abounding with the finest granite
and soap stone. No mineral or metal sub
stances nave oeen anywhere discovered.
Chester is the seat of justice for the District
and i9 beautifully situated upon the ridge
which devides the waters of the Broad and
the Catawba Rivers, at the head of the east
branch of the Sandy River, The situation
is lofty and romantic and so commanding,
that, it has been likened to one of the strong
fortresses of the feudal times and barons?a
little San Marino, equally secure in position,
as in the possession of a free, fearless, and
contented population. The grounds about
it slope on all sides in the manner of a glacis;
and the wcods are oleared beyond the reach
of cannon shot. The town contains a
handsome Court House and Jail, two Academies,
Male and T'emale, with three
Churches, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist
The jail is decidedly the finest
building in the place, and astranger in passing
by it, would not for a moment think
thai, is one of 11 the Houses Jack built."?There
are many tasly private residences in
the village, which give it quite a desirable
appearance to the traveller. Her citizens
are kind and hospitable and quite a church
going people. Chester District is not without
her revolutionary interest. It was
in this District, near the waters of the
Eswawpuddenah, or Broad River, that General
Sumter, defeated the British under
Weyms; ond here also, on the banks of
Fishing Creek, this brave patriot inet a severe
reverse of the fortunes of war; suf|
fcring a surprise, l^y which his troops were
} totally routed. Her gallant citizens did
! t-ieir full share in the toils and labors of
that bloody struggle. Colonel Lacey, who
nobly distinguished himself at the battles of
Hanging rock, Kings mountains, and
Black stock's was a native of Chester District.
The patriotism of that day still lives
in the hearts of her people. Old Chester
was the first district in South Carolina to
respond to the call for volunteers for Mexico
She furnished her full ouota of able, intelli
gent and worthy young men, who will no
doubt do honor to themsclve3 and credit to
their ancestors and their native district in
the tented field.1'
Of late much interest has been excited
with respect to the proposed rail road from
Columbia to Charlotte, N. C. and the people
have said by a $200,000 subscription of
stock we must have the road. I believe a
rail road through this District would greatly
add to the value of the lands and much
enrich its owners. Cotton is produced in
i npe quality ami quantity lor market, but,
the roads arc so very bad, it is almost impossible
to passover them in safety, much
j less with speed, a wagon and team with
: a load of cotton in the winter, or early
j spring will take about ten days to go and
return from market. This I take to be a
v^ry slow business. I thought I had seen
and passed over bad roads in Abbeville
District but. your roads are good at all seasons,
compared to the black-jack roads in
Chester. " The Devil's race paths" in
Edgefield are <? not so bad after all." bv their I
v- - ' y
side. More Anon.
r
(RF.rORTKD FOR THE ABBEVILLE BANNER.)
RAIL ROAD MEETING.
At a rail road meeting held at Downs
Calhoun's on Thursday 19th Instant Dr.
T. R. Gary was called to the chair and explained
in a lengthy and forcible address
the objects of the meeting. The meeting
being organized, Capt. T. B. Byrd moved
?" That a committee of ten be appointed
to devise ways and means to procure Subscription
for the buildinar of the contemnla
W I
ted R. Road from Columbia to Greenville
through Abbeville and Anderson and to recommend
such means as will best unite the
various conflicting opinions, and give concert
ofaction in occomplishing an enterprise
of great importance to our whole country."
Thecommittee was appointed and retired
for two or three hours, during which time
Messrs. Jones, Heller and Cunningham, of
Laurens, entertained the assemblage-^with
animated speeches. The latter Gentleman
interested us with a very beautiful
in wliioK V?n nnmnn
? muii MV uuiupai&u nit uicaiil
Engine upon the land to the gallant Ship
and compass upon the waters. He said as
he was from Laurens, he felt bound to lend
his efforts to taking the road through his
native District, but if Lanrens could not
succeed, Abbvillc too should have his mite.
In the progress of his remarks the committee
returned, and submitted the following
itiiruit i :
(t Your cmmittee would respectfully beg
leave to report that they have examined the
subject referred to then) for their consideration,
and would recommend the adoption of
the following Preamble and resolutions :
It is with regret that your committee have
seen such a diversity of opinion on a subject
of such vast importance to the citizens of
Abtjeyille District generally, and that so
many have taken stock with conditions annexed.
We believe that the conditions laid
down irt the charter are the only terms on
which we should take stock. That if the
road should not run""on thrf West side of
oaiuaa, crossing near me moutb ot Wilson's
Creek or bland Ford, we have the privilege
of withdrawing our subscription*^ nd
any money paid to the Commissionisn is
bound to be refunded. We would rj&pect.
fullyrecomr^endtothose who j^j^e taken
stock with to withdraw
the conditions ana submit the location of
the route through this District to the Engi
neers and to the judgement of the stockholders,
whom we believe will locate the road
on the most practicable route to insure.the
greatest amount of trade and travel, and
they would respectfully recommend the following
resolutions:
%
Resolved That a scries of meetings be
held at the following times and places?at
Abbeville C. H. on Sale.day next, at Due
West on Tuesday Tth, Douglass,s Mills on
Wednesday 8th; BulahChurehon Thursday
9th: Jourdan's Store. Fridav 10th? at
Cambridge, in the Old Fort, Saturday 11th.
Resolved, That this committee do recommend,
that th Commissioners, appointed to
take stoclc, take into consideration the propriety
of requesting a survey of the Abbeville
route,
Resolved, That a general meeting of the
friends (of the Abbeville route) of the contemplated
road, be held at Colcesbury on
Thursday the 23d ofSept'r. next
Resolved, That the Commissioners of Abbeville
Andersen and Pickens are respectfully
invited to attend said meeting and report
the amount of stock subscribed.
Resolved, That this meeting request the
r>? 1 - r? .1 -
vyuiinii i.>siui|i:i A it; jhucuii; f jjuil ivu13 114 l(iu
various meetings appointed.
Your Comrniitee hope lhat the citizens
of the above named places will make preparations
for the various meetings.
Resolved. That the proceedings of this
meeting be publishd in tli Abbevillle Banner.
*
After the adoption of the report, the
Chairman of the eating Committee invited
us to the spring where we found a most
sumptuous and well served dinner, for
which the secretary thinks a special resolution
ofthnnlcs should have been voted.
After compliments to the dining Committee,
till". c.rnw.l rmviirprl tn tlip etnnd wlion !
? 1 ?
Mr. Joel Smith was called for: Mr. Smith
exhibited great zeul in hi3 remarks?-he
was one of those who had been disposed to
doubt the propriety of Abbeville moving in
this matter, fie had thought at first that
there was but little chance of her success:
but he had buried his scruples and was now j
convinced, that if the money was suhscrib.
ed we would get the road.
After he concluded the meeting' was addressed
by Messrs. Connor, and Anderson
of Laurens and adjourned.
T. R. GARY, Ch'n.
J. N. Cociirax, Sec'y yL.
7i r, iiTL.i ?_ ? i i I
Mr. j^iiuui?w nui inugic m?n cnains
down the people of Abbeville 1 Is ii not
time, in this age of progress and improvement,
that they should arouse up to their
present interest, and look forward to their
future destiny? Will they continue to play
the profitless game of Rip Van ; to while
their time in fruitless dreams until the very
last opportunity to join in the march to prosperity
shall be snatched from them ? Will
they yet stand upon the verge of the mighty
thoroughfare and gaze with upstretched
necKs, into ingniea birds, at trie busy march
of commerce and commercial facility, without
sense to appreciate, or energy to embrace
its advantages? Will they be content
to live under a lethargy that hangs
Jike an incubus upon them, foreboding a
legacy to posterity, of poverty, desolation
and ruin? Will they be so inhuman as
not to love their children and confer upon
them one of the greatest blessings ever
realised by a people? Will they be so ungrateful
as not to love their country; tne
land of their nativity and the home of their
fathers? Where are the once prosperous
inhabitant? of Abbeville? Look at the
neatly improved and well cultivated farms
jcattered over her surface, and ask the
question how many have been their occupants
in the last 20 years and whither have
they gone? Let the middle aged man
look around him and see where arc the associates
of his boyhood. The tide of emigration
has swept them to the West in search
of a more favored land. That samn tiH? i?
still desolating our country and impoverishing
it of its most enterprising and useful
citizens. Will not those who cherish this
as the soil of their birth; who hallow its
solemn treasures of the dead ; who read
upon the sacred mable of the cemetery the
~ ?- r -? _ '
biinouaii caoiii|iic ui uieir miners ana are
admonished by the memory of the past to
lift their orisons to the living- God: I Will
ihey not feel interest sufficiently strong to
bind them to Abbeville and influence them
to lend their might to the subversion of an
evil weich has burst the strongest ties of
kindred love and scattered her families all
over the Earth ? There are few sections of
the world, if any, possessing greater natural
advantages than Abbeville District.?
| There is nothing lacking, with the fertility
of its soil and the geniality of it climate,
but trading facilities to develope its resources
and make it one of the most desirable
abodes of the earth. These facilities are
now offered us if we will enjbrace them.?'
The most business and calculating men
amongst us, now say, if we will take the
stock there is no doubt but we wilt get the
Road. We think Mr* Editor where there
is an incalculable value to be acquired the
I price ofits acquisition should not be weighed.
We believe that if Abbeville district were
to mortgage her whole capital and jabor
' ' ' ' 4 ...
for ihe next ten years, to procure this road,
thecost would be cheap. Especially when
we consider this the only chance she will
ever have to get a road. Which is most
surely tho case unless the contemplated
road from Columbia to Greenville should
r_:i ip.i- r_: 1 ? _ . > i
inn. xi me u luuua ui mai enierprise snouiu.
be disappointed in their undertaking, then
a road will certainly be built from Hamburg
or Aiken which must pass through
Abbeville, and for that reason, if no other,
is preferable to her citizens. But should
we lie idle hoping only for that contingency',
under the existing probabili ies of the completion
of the former route ?
With tho facts before us that they already
have seven hundred thousand dollars subscribed
; that Columbia, Newberry, Edgefield,
Laurens and Greenville would pull
against the Aiken route; and only Abbeville
and Pendleton, probably Charleston,
for it, the chances preponderate strongly in
favor of the Columbia road. It has been
urged that if we would hold off, the project
must fail. If the road cannot be built
without the aid ot Abbeville, it certainly
proves that she will hold the balance power
and can locate the route where she pleases.
Then we had better take our stand on safe
ground, since getting the. road is the paramount
object, whether from Aiken, Hamburg
or Columbia. Let us organize our
forces, know our strength, and tell to tho
world what we can and will do in this
matter. Then should things take a direction
in favor of Aiken, as is urged by a writer
of the Mountaineer, we are willing, and
can soon direct our energies to that point.
Though wo do not concede to that writer
that such would be a more profitable route,
or that it would nass thronah a mnrp fprtilr*
and populous section of the country.
May we not expcct something from our
friends of the Savannah regiment, in a matter
of such general interest ? Surely, if
they are not interested in the general good
of the district, they will bestir themselves to
advance their own pecuniaiy interest.?
Far we contend thai every individual on
that side whose plantation will be in twenty
five miles of said road, will have a deeper
personal interest in it, than he now has
in the boating conveniences of Savannah
rivnr
We have heard much said of la to, about
the intelligence of Abbeville District. That
her citizens arc comparatively an enlightened
people, cannot be denied. We know
that to her, the world is indebted for some of
the greatest statesmen of the age. That to.
hsr this nation owes the discovery of that
balance wheel to. the geroral Government
Slate Rights. : That to the indomitable zeal
and resifctles3*reason of her sons must bo
acknowledged the extension of free- trad*y
which is fast becoming the established doctrine
of the world. But that she is not hurt
with an over stock of < r?light? nment, the fol
lowing facts will evidence. By the census
of 1840 these are lS,88C\iree white persons,
in the District. Out of that number, there
are 6001 who are over the age of 20 3rears;
and out of that number txf G0OI, there are
1,279 who can neither read or wri'e.-?*
Thus making the startling proportion of almost
one-fourth of the grown persons of this
highly refined and enlighted District* who.
are debarred the privileges of a common,
Grammar school. Now is it not incumbent
upon Abbeville, to exert her every
ability to still further enlighten her citizens!
To extend to the poor man as well as the
rich, by giving a market at his door, tho
means not onlv to support himself, bv the
v a * ? J
sweat of his brow, but to devote at least a
pittance to the education of his children.
Where are there greater means of civilization
and enlightenment, than in commercial
and travelling facilities? Already the
Northeast presents one chechered map of
rail road intersection: And we think we
fore-see the day not far distant, when by
the wonder working agency of steam and
the firery wires of electricity, the whole
world will throw around her the garb of
civilization and enlightenment. When
the country of the green mountains and the
lone star, shall shake hands: When the At-,
lantic and the Pacific shall embrace. When
the raw head and bloody boms of slavery in the
south, snail be made laminar to the sojt
hearted abolitionist of the North; when
these United Stales shall be bound together
by inseperablo bars of iron: Then shall
the perpetuity of our institutions be fixed ';
the palladium of our liberties laid, and its *
foundation will be a rock. ^Saluda.
_________ ? #
%
Discoveries of Antiquities in ?
gland?The excavators employed in making
a cutting for a new railway, near Portsmouth,
having uncovered a Roman burial
ground, in which many skeletons and funeral
urns have been found
In the townshiD of Hale, in the course of
forming an inclosure for a plantation, the
spades of the workmen struck against the
stump or stock of an old oak tree, which
had been previously buried in the soil, when
out tumbled several small silver coins, seve*
rally of the size, or nearly so, of a modem
sixpence, which had been thus concealed
for two centuries, at the least, in the fissure
of the stump or root. Eight of these, were
regained from the laborers who had them
in possession. Regarding the i&ftiiest of
them, which wbs much rubbed, there is
some little obscurity;?it has be^oreferred v
perhaps correctly, to the reign of Edward
fhtt: .Qtvfk ' rVliAP Cmi*
...? waoaua V>UV? IVHt UIBVIUlillV 9UOW' IUO dales
of 1471, 1573, 1584, and 1595, of
the reign of Elizabeth, while the remain*
ing three are of the coinage oiJames the firsts
upon two of which the dates jnay be read of
1604 and 1623. In judging from
pearance presented by the coin of ihelieweat
stamp, namely that of 10ft2, the-infer*