Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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" flH BY W. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 18(50. VOLUME XIV. NO. 33. T\ 1 * * -- 1 rresmeni jonnsons inessap. Fbliow-Citizsns of tiib Senate and House or Representatives : After a brief interval, the Congress of tbe United States resumes its annual legislative labors. An all-wise and merciful Providence lias abated tbe pestilence wbich visited our shores leaving its calamitous traces npon some poriious of our couutry. Peaco, ordor, tranquility and civil authority have been formally declared to exist throughout the Whole of the United States. In all of State?, civil authority has superceded tlio coercion of arms, and the people, by their voluntary action, are maintaining their Government in full activity and complete operations. The enforcement of tlie laws is no longer obstructed in any Stale by combination too powerful to bo suppressed by the ordinary course of j-.idicial proceedings, and the animosities oncjenderjd by the war are rapidly yielding to the beneficent influences of our free institution**, and to the kindly effects of unrestricted social and commercial intercourse. All entire restoration of fraternal fe<ilin<? must be the earnest wish of every patriotic heart. Wo will have acco.nplishel our grandest national achievement when, for rr?Hii?T tlia curl " ? 1 1 0 0 uiibi ui i>iia |r?9i, turn roinembering only their instructive lessons, we resume oar onward cireer, m a free. I prosperous and unite] people. In my message of the 4th of December, 18G5, Congress was informed of the measures which had been instituted by the Executive with a view to the gradual restoration of the States, in whicb tho insurrection occurred, to the General Government. Provisional Governors hud been app lintel, conventions called. Governors elected, an-l i l?epresenta?ives chosen to the Go i<jre%s of J the United States. Courts had beeu open- i el for the enforcement of liuvs long in abeyauce; the blo.kado lnd been removed, cuatoin-homej re-c*tablii!ied, anJ the internal revenue put iu force, in ordor that the people might contribute totlie national income; po?ul operations had bevii resumed, and trtfor'.s were being made to re3tor? them to their former condition of efficiency. The State e h?d been asked to take j part iu the high function of amending the ! Constitution, and of their sanctioning the extinction of Afiio?n slavery, as onj of the legitimate results of our internecine struggle. Having progressed thus far, the .Executive Department found that it had accomplished nearly all that wan within the scope of the Constitutional authority; odb thing, however, yet remained to be done before the worlc of restoration could be completed, and that was admission to Congress of loyal Senators and Representative* from the Slates whose people had rebelled against the lawful authority of the General Government. This question devolved opon the respective Houses, which, by 4he Constitution, are made the judges of the election returns and ntislifl cations of their own members, and its consideration at once engaged the attention of Congress. In the meantime, the Executive Department, no other plan having been proposed by Congress, in its effort to perfect, as far as was practicable, the restoration of the proper relation!! between the citizens of the respective State?, the Federal Government extended from lime to time, a9 the public interests deemed to rennirA tho 1 * 1 ., juwiwmi IOTCUUO ilUU pUHUli systems of the country, and with the ad vice and consent of (be Senate, the necessary officers ^rere appointed and appropriations made by Congress for the payment of their salaries. The proposition to amend the Federal Constitution, so as preVent the existence of slavery within the United States, or any place subject to. their jurisdiction, was ratified by the requisite number of States, Oo the 18th day of' December, 1866, it was officially declared to hare become valid as a part of the Constitution of the United Slates. All 'of the Suites in which; the insurrection bad existed, promptly amended their Constitutions so as to make them conform to 'the groat change that effected in the organic law of the land; declared null and void all ordinance* and laws of secession, repudiated all pretended debt* and obligation* created for the revolutionary, vurpo aes of the iasurreetioo, and prooeeded good faith to the abetment of measure I for the protection and amelioration of the condition of the colored race. Congrsss, however, yet hesitated to admit any of these States to representation, and it was not iroiH-iowsnk tfie close of the eighth month ofthe aeasion tbttt an exception wm made ;o f?vor of Teanaeaee, - by the donation of bar Senators and RepreaentatW+av I deamifra aubject of profound rcgrot IbatCongreM baa thus far failed to admit toaeata, ioyal Senators tad Reprfc* netjUtiree from tba other Sta^aa, whoaa iaWAaelflk wiHr iboae of Taonaaaea, had f enga^ad fn the rebellion. Tea atafee, more than 4^0 ybolanqmbar, remain with out r^reMii^mnr Tba seats of* fifty member* ia the Hodaa of Representative/ jne'.x-Jnv.c* t-i. V \ and of twentv mcmbor.s in the Senate, are yet vacant. Not by their own cousont; not by a failure of election ; but by tbc refusal of Congrc-ss to accopt thoir credentials. Their admission, it ia beleived, would have accomplished much towards tho removal and strengthening of our relatioiis as one people, and removed serious oau-e for discontent on tho part of tho inhabitants of those States. It would have accorded with tho great principles enunciated in the declaration of American inde_I_ .. 1 ? I uenuece?mat no people ought to bear the i burden oF taxation, and yet be denied the ' right of representation. It would have I been in consonance with the express provision of the Constitution?that each State should have at least one representative, and no State, without its consent, shall be de priv?d of its equal suffrage in t.Ii? Senate. These provisions were intended to every State, and to the people of every Slate, the right of repr!<entation in each H mse of Congress ; and so important was ?t deemed by the framors of lh?* Constitution, that the equality of the Slates in the Senate should be preserved, that not even by an amendment of the Constitution can any Siate, without its consent, be denied a vuioe in that branch of the National Legislature. It is true, it has been assumed that the existence of the States was terminated by tho rebellious acis of their i dialiitauts, and that the insurrection having been suppressed, they were thenceforward to be considered merely a? conquered territories. The legislative, executive, 'and judicial departments of Jtha Government have, however, will) great distinctness and uniform consistency, refused to sf notion nn assumption ao ino >mpatil?lo with the nature of our republican system, and with the professed objects of the war, through? out the recent legislation of Congre.sn, the Undeniable fict >n:? le itself apparent, thit. thesy ten political com nudities are nothing le?s than d'.H'ea of th:< Union. A." ilie Very commencement of the rjl>ol? lion, each House declared, with n unanamity as remarkable as it was significant, that the war wus not waged npon our part in any spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose of conquest and subjugation, nor ptirp iso of overthrowing or ititeifer ing wuh the rights oreaiiibli-cd institutions of those St atcw, hut to dufcnd arul mantain the supremacy os tlic Constitution, and all laws ma le in pursuance thereof. and t> preserve the Union with all the dignity equality and the rights of the i?e\"erul States un impaired ; and that as hood as these objects were accomplislted, the war ought to cease. In some instances. Senators were allowed to continue tluir legislative function!*, while in other instances, representative? were elected and admitted to their seats after their States had formally declared their right to withdraw from the Union, and were endeevoring to mantaiu that right by force of armp. All of the States whose people ware in insurrection ns States, were includdod in the Apportionment of the direct tax of $20,000,000 annually laid upon the United Stales by the Act approved 'August 5, 1881. Congress by the Act of M.irch 4, 1802, and by the apportionment of repre sentatioa thereunder, also recognized their presence as States in the Uniou, and they have for judicial purposes,been divided into districts as States alone can be divided The sauio recognition appears in -the re; cent legislation in reference to Tennessee ; which evidently rests upon the fact that the t. - lunciiuiia ui me oiaie were not destroyed by tlie rebellion, but inertly suspended; aud that principle i?, of cotfree, applicable to those States which,like Tennessee, attempted to renounce their places in the Union. The action of the Executive Department of the Government upon this subject I?a3 been equally definite and aoiform, and the porpoje of the war was. specifically stated in the proclamation i.->suel by ray predecessor, on the 22d of September, 1662. It was then solemnly proclaimed and declared that bereafte*} as bere'ofore, the war; wilt i.- - - ir><pro<<e<jiut>a ior u?e object or practically restoring.t\?e Constitutional relation between the United Suites find each of tbe States, and the people thereof, in which State* tb*t relation it, of ma; be, luspertdt:d or disturbed. Tbe recognition of .the State) bytbe Judicial Department of the Oovernment has also been clear and coa<Witra fa all proceeding? affecting them as Stat*^ |,?d io tbe Supreme Circuit and III tbe edmniion of -Senators and lUpreaentatires from any and all of the be ho just ground of ipprelieosibft ^ parsons who are diiloynl wHl be elarfTef %itb tbe powers of legislation, for tbi. coo* pot wh?n tbf enforce J q*2&> *?* -Hotua ?T i^ade the judge ^^<|fl0^nn" r*tarni*nd,qualification^ ?f,iU bera, ?nd may, Witb the OODOOriM^jj expe! it ifiiMaatyr;". Wb<rj?5 Senior,or-BepreeeotatiTe present* bit oer tifionte of election,^ may #1 onc^ Be atf1 criuwLoraijeebed; <tr tbeBldifcese* j* ftpjf ?> . v ? question as to bis eligibility, his credent ; may bo referred for investigation to tbe propriate committee. If admitted t( seat, it must bo upon evidence, satisfact to the House of wbich he thus becomt member, that he possesses the requi constitutional and legal qualifications, refused admission as n member, for wan due allegiance to lho Government, and turned to hi3 constituents, they arc adiu islied that none but persons loyal to United Scales will bo allowed a voice the legislative councils of the natioo ; t the political powot and moral influence Congress are thus effectively exerted in interests of loyalty to the Government t fidelity to the Union. Upon this questi so vitally iiffe'.'ling tlio restoration of Union and the permanency of our pres ! form of Government, my convictions hi tofore expressed have undergone no chan ! but, on llirt contrary, thoir correctness j been confirmed by reflection and time, i the admission of loyal members lo seattlio respect i?c blouses of Congress was h and expedient a year ago. it. is no less w and expedient now. If this anomal condition is right now?if in the ex condition of these States, at the pre&< time, it is lawful to exclude tliein from 1 resentation, I do not see that the quest will bo changed by tho efflux of tii Ten years hence, if these State-? remain they are, the light of representation v be no stronger?the right of exclusion 1 be no weaker. The Constitution of United States makes it the duty of 1 President to recommend lo the conaide lion of Congress sue.h measures r?s lie si ju<Jg? necessary or expedient. I know no measure more imperatively demanr 1 by every consideration of national inter j sound pol'cy and equal justice, than i admission of loyal members from now 1 j represented State*. This would consu mate the work of restoration, and oxer ! tuo^t calir.niy influence in the re-establi? incut of peace, harmony, and frnier feeling. It ?vould tend greatly to ren tbo eonfi lence of the American people i the vigor and stability of their institutio ! It would bind ns more closely together a nation, and enable us to show to world tlic inherent and recuperative po ers. of a Government founded upon I will of the people and established i on tho pri ncip'es of liberty, just and intelligence. Otir increased siren* and enhanced prosperity would iri fragibly demonstrate J.he fallacy the arguments against free insti lions, drawn from our recant national d order?, by llio enemies of republican g eminent. The admission of loyal me bers from llio Slates now excluded frt I Congress, by allaying doubt and appreln sion, would turn capital, now awaiting opportunity for investment, into the cln nels of trado End industry. It would a viate the present troubled condition of tin States; and, by inducing emigration, ! in the settlement of fertile regious now \ cultivated, and lead to nn increased prod lion of those staples which have added greatly to the wealth of the nation a the commerce of the world. New fields enterprise would be opened to our progr sive penp'.e, and soon the deta&tatii of war would be repaired, and all t ces or our domestic differences effa< from the minds of our countrymen Iii our efforts to preserve the unity of Gi eminent, which cons'Jtut es us ooe peoj by restoring the States to the conditi which they held prior to the rebellion, should be cautious lest, having rescued c nation from perils of threntened disinteg tion, we resoit to consulidation, nnd in I end absolute despotism. As a remedy the recurrence of similar troubles, the * naving terminated, and wtib it all occa&i for the exercise of powers of doubtful c< stitotionalily, we should hasten to bri legislation within the boMndaries prtscril by the Constitution, and to return to t ancient land-marks established by < fathers for the guidance of succeeding g eratfons. The Constitution, which, at a time, evsts uutil changed by any expl; and authentic act of the whole people, saoredly obligatory upon all. If, in i opinion of the people, the distribution I modification of llie Constitutional pow b<>, in any particular wrong, let it be c reeled by an amendment, in the w.?J which tliq Constitution designates; h let there be oo change by usurpation,.fn is the customary weapon . by., wbich I Governments are destroyed. Waabingi spoke these words to hfa country m when, followed, by their love apt! gratitu be voluntarily retired'from the cares bf p lie life. To keep ell things wilbio pale of oor eon?tHntiot?r ^powers, i ch^mhthe Jfadeuii Uaioo 'a*; the a rpek of safety, were preeop bed by Jeffcr aB rtiloa of notion to endeat- bis count) men to the trne-ptinolptew'of their Com Ration and promote : % anioa of scntim j*H>. action equally au*picions to tUeir lit ' I ^S^W^fety, JaiTcsod ^ld th^ inla always be strictly cunflne'I to the ppliere c ap. its appropriate duties, and justly and forci I i.I - > -i ) a 1 u,y uracil mill our ?i >vernmont is not to b maintained nor our Union preserved b js a inVils'?ns of tho rights and powers of tin site R0Vora' Slates. In thus attempting t jC make our General Govern men t strong w tof make it weak. Its true strength consist ro_ in leaving individual* and States an mud on_ as possible to themselves; in making it t|je self felt, not in its power, but in its betiifi j cence ; not in its coutrol, but in its protwc ?nd l'on ' not binding the States more closo 5 of '-v to ^ie conlro) hut leaving each to mov the lll,?hstriict<j*l in its proper constitution:! ind ?'hit. Tlieso are the tea chings of mei Qn whoso whose dee<ls and services have mailt; tl,0 i them illustrious, and who, long since, hav? ent w''hdrawn from tho BCPnes of life; hnv< re left to their country the lich legacy o their examples, their wisdom mid their pa^ tiiotism. Drawing fresh inspiration from their lessons, let us emulate them in lov< of country and respect for the (Jotistituiioi ! in - 1 and the laws. isc t 0 lse ?37? Last week wo were unable t? nis ; publish the Govetnor'a Message entire ac^ ! Wo givo below the most interesting par I .... - u,,v ; ot that winch wo omitted in our last isMi?JURISDICTION REMITTED BY THE Mil.IT A 111 TO TUB CIVIL AUTHORITIES. ne' Tho Acts passed at the lato extra seFsion f3 were transmitted to the Military Command l1'' ! ant of tlie Department of the Carolines, a Charleston, and on the first day of Octobe l',u last, by General Orders, bo remitted al tlie j cases in whi?h ih<> inhabitants of this Slab ra* w?;ie conri*ni*d, c'n il aiul criminal, Lo tin lall civil aii'horiiics.. If ?qual and exact juslio is i!i<-U'd out to all the inhabitHiitS of th< ? ! State by courts and juiies?if the fivedint:t b'd | mceivu that protection of per-on and prop est, orly which the Ia\v6 now <*u.tranuu tbein d,e wt5 will not again he adjudged by Provns jn Courts and Military Coinmi.isioiis, and w? will vindicate before the world, our !u^>l im" sense of moral right, by enforcing iniji irtia t ft j ill stiff ivli^lllur llm l"> ! . j . ...u annul wv I1UIIIU1C Ur V*' h? | ailed. j Experience will demotiMrato the wisdom I <>f your enactment authorizing negroes tc ! testily in itll cases. It lakes away the im1,1 | jtiinity which bad man have long enjoyed, ?ns. j in tempting these ignorant people to pet puns ( Hate crime for tlie benefit of the templots, ihe ' ' 'u> >~esiil( of tliH experiment at the late Fall Term ?>f the Courts lias been entirely i satisfactory, and most of the fteertmen who ''ie have been called to the witness stand, have up- manifested a highly creditable desire to tell ice the truth. The extension of the privilege has had n salutary ii.flueiict? in encouraging and elevating their moral sense. Many of ?* tliern appreciate their obligations to society, j and readily assist in bringing to punMitu j ment evil-doers of their own color. They j8_ are invaluable to the productive resources of the State, and if their labor be lost by removal to other sections, it will convert :m" thousands of acres of productive land into a 501 dreary wilderness. For this reason, I have an- felt it to be my duty to discourage their an migration. The short crops of the present year should stimulate the planter and farB"* I/X . I I . yr iimi in miicn vu cnuiyv :iuu cuu-rprine. JLlrt will, however, lind his lands of little value, il use lie cannot command labor to cultivate them, aid If the negro remain here, his labor must he j,,. made sufficient Is- remunerative to subsist and clothe him comfortably. Schools must bo established to educate his children, '80 nnd churches built for his moral training, "d The experiment of free labor, whilst it I of has not been entirely satisfactory, is far e9. from proving a failure. Where the blacks have been adequately compensated and >ns kindly treated, thev have generally labored ra" faithfully. Suddenly relieved from the conned trolling will of others, and exemptdd from , the compulsory labor which had, through ov. life, been exacted from thetn, they have . performed, during the present year, nn 1 e' amount of voluntary labor which may well 100 excite sirprise. The indolence of some, we and the improvidence of many, will doubt* )Ur less cause them to undergo much suffering before they are educated fully to the necessity of constant and untiring labor, and to proper thrift and economy, for Humanity and sound policy unite in do rar manding that we should provide for the ion H8e(' l',e nn<l the helpless, and I tl.eieforo respectfully recommend the pas1 sage of nn Act making it incumbent on the n? Commissioners of the Poor to provide suit>ed able buildiDgs at the various District Poor he Houses for their accommodation, and to )Ur subsist them. The Regents of the Lunatic Asylum have en* wjaelv and humanely made .provision for ?y the reception and treatment of insane coloricit ed patients, and the Commissioners of the is Poor in the several Districts should bo rethe qll're(* 10 make the mine provision for theii Hiipport in the Asylum as now exists* foi white, pauper patient* iu that Institution, The idiotic and epilcptic may bo well taken jor- care of at tlie DUtriot I'oor House. in 'fFIK PUtlOIIABK' Of COIiN. " . lUl Pursuant to the resolution of 21?t 8ep r it b-mlwrr last. niiMtd b*r th? (ImpmI Atum re* bly, 1 appointed Colonet I>. Wymt Aik?if ton. Aijep.t of tfia Slate to tanks purchase* ol corn. Having satisfied Iums?lf fully Chwl e the.double reBtriction imposed in rhe re*o~ ?d?ir luUot) random) it fimpOMtfeie t effect purub olmiMtS, he'-^lfecrtned the'Appointowrit. 1 tb? concurred fully it) his conclusion, that (ix jpj ddtibte restriction poderecL.'Ute whoU _j ' scheme nogAtoTjjjwd mHrH?wfo? ' sppOMt^ juttther-AgecL. /Chft reaoletioi *0* required th*t three hondrod thousand doU rjr?- laaa ?f>boodi shoo Id purchaaft and detirei iU? itvih?*fturt#4h?rt Mifdnd thousand bosh , ?ls of com, It is reasonably eeila1nrtl)tf r . . tiitftorn<ft'?5ott!4>ot hire b?Sn Wd"/<jf maR *1 til* ttdiWMdjptoar tUU**> parfcoahelr-'Ttu 1 ' * V->ii~tx .-i ?f correspondence between Colonel Aiken and _ myself is herewith communicated. Tlie grain crop of the Stale has been gathered, and you are better prepaied now, than ^ at th? extra session, to determine the defiu ciencv, ami what will be needed to supply o the absolute wants of the poor. \Y lien you ! 0 have fixed the amount, the grave question j ^ arises, how are you to supply the fund-' to j j purchase it ? The fevoriuli hih! unsettled ' '' condition nf public afl'airshas not tended to j I appreciate the credit of the Southern States; . _ and if the purchase of a large amount of j breadstulf*. for distribution among the poor, j is to be ellected by the sale of Statu bonds, j it can only bo accomplished at a ruinous I 0 fl > I U..UWU.IU j ?ic tjni-Miuii is rarnusiiy com? j I j mended to your gravest deliberation. 1 Tl.o firm of liruwne & Schirmer, grain , merchants of Charleston ami Columbia. ! ^ I have made a proposition to furnish corn, and ^ i have requested me to lay it before you. j 9 ' They propose thai, if the State shall advance j f : to them twenty-live thousand dollars, which j . ! thoy will give approved security to refund, I lliey will engage to furnish sixty thousand ; bundle's of coin per month, to he sold at ac[ tual cost, with transportation and twoand- | 1 i one-half per cent, commmissions added, to ' the c tizons of the State: invoices to he sub j mitted to commissioners, and the corn to he 3 subject to inspection by the commissioners i. or by on agent. If a largir amount should ^ be needed monthly, Hint larger amount will be furnished, upon condition that tho State ' make a prn ruhf increase of tho loan. The ' r money loaned is to he returned as soon as j the conti.'ict terminates, h is proposed by j j these gentlemen to establish depots for tho J ' sale of the corn in Charleston, Columbia I ami Marion, from which points it may be I readily distributed to eveiy section of the r State. The members of the firm pre en? | terprising and trustworthy, and, if such a j contract is awarded them, tliev will douht. less fulfill its stipulations with fidelity. If u the necessities of tito State should require ; the importation of one million of bushels, i ! to supply the wants of those wl o must buy . j and are aide to pav, the saving to the poo? , pie of the State, by such au arrangement, I i woiiiu noi lull sijorl ol two hundred thous? I unci dollar*. i j I have been informed Unit a proposition I j of the same sort will bo submitted to yon by . A. M. Riker, a yiiiin merchant ol'Charleston, who can furnish \ou with satislacUiry testi i iiiciiiials of integrity ami business capacity, i These plans f.-r supplying with corn the whole population, including the Hoards of , Commissioners of the Poor, who will be compelled to provide for a large number of indigent persons, at a profit of only twoand-a?half per eent. lo the contractor, on cost and expenses, are commended to your : ^vornhle consideration. HEAVY SHOE > FOR LADIES. Winter h commg, and we de?ire to say a word or two to our ladv tenders nhnnl clothing tlii feet. When tlio celebrated physician, Abernetby, died, report said that, besides a will of some interest to hi* heirs, in a pecuniary point of view, there was found among his effects n sealed envelope, said to contain the secret of his success in the healing Art, and also a rule of living, the following of which would ensure longevity. A large price was jiaid for the sealed envelope, it was found to contain only these words : "To insure continued health and a ripe old age, keep the head cool, the system open, and the feet warm." Dry feet are warm feet, fenernlfr. if i!>a - " I D J * "" " 6ysteui id healthy. To kwp the system healthy the circulation must he good. Tbe circulation is not good without exercise, and exercise can only be really valuable when walking. Hiding in a carriage is no exercise at all ; it is merely inhaling the air. Tine i3 very well &a iar as ii goes, but the lungs are not in full play without the iudiviunal is walking. Horseback exercise is very good, and is an improvement on carriage riding, but it is uot tbo kind of heallh-cieating play of tho muscles nature demands. It i? action?action of the entire body?and walking only will procure it. Now the ladies of Europe, particularly England, understand this tiling. Tiiey Walk mites per day, and i( any of our pule beau ties desire to know bow the English ladies keep their floe color, clear complexion, and ' superb bust?, we tell them it is by out door exercise; walking in the open air; tilling the lungs with pure oxygen by rapid movei ment on a sharp October day, when the sun bines brightly and the clear blue sky is above. This is (he secret of the rioti billww 1 r?F tKo RmrlicK niAmAw o?/l ol I most universally fine looks and matronly beauty ai fifty, when at that age American ' women are pale, (fellow, and wrinkled. ' To enjoy a walk thick Boles are needed. Stout, weli-fiuing call-skin, lngh gaiters, neatly laced, will alwaye "set off ' a pret' ty fool, and improve a bomoly one. To ... guard tlwrt aenshhre portion of the human p frame (for the sole of the foot i? keenly sent aitve fO lire changes ffom hont to cold, ordry ne8a to dampness,^ the boot, Bote should be thick, and as well.maJa as huumu ingenuity . c^odott. Then, venia moist weather, or , in.a rain storm, the foot oao be protected ; , th<* insured, all ia well with the body. -'' \ 1 % / >\; Wendell jPjbillips eays be wm wedded r to Wath aad philanthropy wben A .boy.-? -1 ua ?kt0 o?e<HDa a- widower when i r^ttite -fW. ? L ' "> . *v'm *> < i-. v-Ht .. [I JSBS}*$* U. eopetimte out of *>W. r j- We heard ? iptu botal of be>D& a baobei ?;k>r, &? bit father *m before hini. WIUTTKN FOK TIIK ADDEVII.I.K I'KKSS. TO THE CITIZENS OF ABBEVILLE DISTRICT. Til a former communication I attempted to show tlio moral responsibility of the debtor in regard to his contracts made before the emancipation of slavery, and promised to review the subject in its leyal aspect. I confess to a feeling of great diilidcnco in entering upon the discussion of this division of the subject, in the presence of such profound legal bearing as your District affords. A Judicial tribunal is the proper one to which the subject should be , referred ordinarily, but tho extraordinary condition ol the country renders it entirely appropriate that the people should take I counsel together upon a matter which in volves each individual, and the general interests of the whole. W<? nl-n iviiluml l/i. gal decisions to which to re for us precedents on this subject. It is something new. We inu^t therefore, a utilize it ab initio. The first question to determine is, what is a contract? It is a creature of the law?it exists only in contemplation of the law. Its extent, its duration, its terms ate all determined by tho law?nor, in this pcupp, has it aii)r moral significance whatever. The law enfnrce9 a contract never because of the "promise to pay" simply, but beeaubt of tlie "value received" of tho payer. Property then is the ba-.is of all contracts ?il is the lei/al obligation of the contract. If two of us are about to contract, the payer will only contract to an extent proportionate to the amount of property the payer has, and if he has nothing, the exlent of the contract w.ll be proportionate to the niiilmbli* I?nrnin(?t ??f liic \\T * have shown, therefore, that the legal ob'igation of the debtor consists in tho property which he has at the time the contract i3 mrde, and may thereafter liave, and which tho creditor and the law both recognize him as hav'r.g, and for which the "law makes him responsible. What now is the pl??a of the doctor ? Ii is that the law can not decree as_r?ii;?t him, except for the remainder of his debt, after deducting an amount. e<]ual to tho proportion of his property which it has destroyed. To show this to be Ilie law is to establish the plea. The President issued hia proclamation abolish^ ii;g slavery throughout the United States. Coitjyress approved this proclamation, and so amended the Constitution as to contain the same provision, thus making the abolition of slavery tho constitutional, fundamental law?not a statutory provision or enactment, hut the organic law of the land. The State of South Carolina ratified the same provision in her Constitution, thus making the abolition of slavery the organ* ic law of the State. We are not permitted to question the Constitutionality of this law. It is the constitution itself and we dare not oppose it. We held it at bay for four years, and wero at last forced to acknowledge i?, however reluctantly. If the quesiion had rested alono with the destruction of property by the act of the public enel^v, tho debtor would have been left free to regain hi* property at a future day j ii.v \> < vav.( viviic) vi uuij uu itta uw II responsibility ; but the law having not only sanctioned the net of the public enemy, but made the dost ruction universal and complete, renders it impossible fur him ever to regain if. What is the relation o.f this organic law to contracts existing at the time of its advent! Does it fuYnish any new rule of interpretation ! Does it alter their lerim or requirements 1 So far as we can perceive it adopts the existing rules of construction at the time they were executed. If the "lex loci contractus" the law of the contract where made is invariably the rule of construction, is it not equally true of the law of the contract when made. This samo law, as declared by the Court in the late case involving the constitutionality, of the stay law, say# that every means existing at the time the contract is made, by which the creditor it enabled to enforce his contract, is implied in the contract and be- | cornea a part of tlie same, therefore to fitay process is unlawful, is the reasoning of the Court. Then, by a parity of reason every species of property existing at the time the contract is made, and every law in relation to that property, is a part of the contract? the legal obligation of the contract; hence, if the law destroys that property, that. legal obligation, the argument is reduced to the foUowing proposition?, that either the destruction of the property it unlawful, or that the contract is broken. But Che former proposition cannot be trae. -We can not the destruction of the property is unlawful; it.is the law of the Constitution v ftself; therefore the destruction, by the law, of the property, on which the oooitraot is based; destroys the contract, and release* the debtor to the-> extent of the property destroyed. This property was the basis _ of ,tbe contract?it. was thai which -rvas-pledged for its fulflUment?that upon which both creditor and debtor retted as a pa** of the contract. This Uw, as thjfy lplerpret^? in now*y infringes ppwr the OonUkation-of the United Stales, The language of is *m> StuU ** . sliall pass any law impairing the obligation |B Kg of contracts." Tlio Stato Las not passed such a law. It is no enactment?it is SDNs the organic law of the wholo land, which. an every court, both State and Federal, is bound to observe. This being the law of ;Hs8h the country, and that law having altered iho conditions of the contract by destroy- 9 B ing the property of the dobtor, can it en- wSraa furco that contract against him to its full ?BjM extent. It has destroyed nine-tenths of tl'O debtors' properly which whs pledged for the fulfillment of bis contract, can it iiivreiurc txHci ume-ienins 01 ins debt, thus ^ ESB licaping upon him a double injustice? The 9 H law is a uniform, consistent piinciple.? B fflj Chief Justice Coke declares it to bo "tho perfection of reason," that "reason is the jHRSuS soul of the law." If the law, thon, has HSgj broken the contract, is thoro any reason why it should enforco it? If the law, in- ttSdM stead of abolishing slavery nloae, had declared all property abolished?lands, hou- Sprafl ses, slock, &c., would any one have then Sggifl charged the law with such absurdity as to SmRR enforce ?ho contract against tho debtor! H ; with what tnoio of reason can it enforce flafi j the contract for the nine tenths of the prop* IBBj9 | erty actually destroyed ? Tho Barae high IcSfflH | authority, after declaring "reason to be the soul ol the law" says, "when the reason for I|bBB any particular law ceases 60 doOa the law sflHEj itself." Tlio reason heretofore existing why BBKra the law should give judgment ngainst the MB debtor, wa3 that the contract remaining H unimpaired, the debtor refused or neglec- -JHB ted to comply with it; the lav, therefore, ;fl?g?| gave judgment against him in behalf of . the creditor. But in this instance, the ' contract is broken, and the reason of tho law having in consequence, ceased, so does BUS the law itself by means-^f its own opera* ^R& Linn. The debtor pleads that it is no fault flHn of his, but of the law iuelf, and therefore UH cannot, in Us execution, do hira tho injustice of destroying his contract, and still 1MB force him to execute it. The creditor, it is j3HB| true, has a right whethor abstract or con- HBB crcte, but he has no legal remedy; and |^M9 where there is flo legal remedy, there is no 9B legal right. His appeal must be to the 3BH same law which has violated the contract. UkB mai law says it cannot exact tbo debt of BUM the debtor, unless it reinstates the contract IHJ by returning to him its basis, which it can* ijjMQ not do without ignoring its own existence fifi and authority. Ilence the creditor must -flSj lose that proportion of his claim equal to the amount oi property destroyed by the nQS law. SALUDA. PROFITS OF LITERATURE IN ENGLAND. Sgg A London letter in tbe Chicago Trib- gjffS une maintains that this is the golden age ISflj of literary men as regards the prosperity of their private circurmtance3, and goes into details as follows: As Charles Dickens himself made known BB the dispute with his wife, there is no barm Sh in alluding to it, or in concluding from the ?Eg fact that he allows her ?500 a year, and aWS that he keops up both n town and country ggg I * m " nouse on a scaio ot considerable expense, that his income is not less than ?3000 or Mi ?4000 a year, probably yet more. His H periodical All the Year Round produces 9fl him nearly half that sum, and his "Read- ffi inga" in public are worth ?500 a year. wg| Mr. Dickens Is generous and sympathetic B ?always ready with his purse in a good jag cause, and also with his influence. Mr. e9 Tiollope has a good income in a govern-* ment ofilce, to begin with. He keeps his JK hunters, and is splendidly mounted at the sport. lie usually has a houseful of com* SB panv, though he works as bard as any S man I know. Be is in no danger of want, SB even though the American Oongress ad- 1?3 heres to its unfair and suicidal course. jagg Kingley's professorship at Cambridge, & though it appears to have taken every drop g*a of manliness out of him, has at least' sop* IB phed him with a competent income and. jM added considerably to the means wbwsh his 8B ehuri-h livihg already supplied. Of friend gg Tupper what shall be said ? He is immonse- in ly proud of the popularity of his wnrlr* In AmericM, and invam' ly recurs to it la fffi talking of the contemptuous treatment be 9 meets with from critics At home, sod, on a beautiful estate in Surrey, thanks bis stars |jj tbstif the censors are agaiost him he can/ ^ thrust a hundred editions in their faoes.? 8m Alfred Tennyson, bad be oo pension, would >. 9 htill be a rich man. Tbe author of ^en . 9 Thousand a Year" ruminates in tbe opfr - 9 lence of a highly paid judicial. office, fb* asl which he has only party reccoutroendatlbns. 9 Miss Evans has-but to lift np ber finger, g| and ball the publishers of London would 9 run tolisr and bid a preposterous 4g?m< |B .for her literar* ttf 'A-' t v. ioii^iuuh . authors, the MoLeodB, and Gothries, ioA - 9 Sporgeons, I can only say (hat tiHfofls the ' H most prosperous calling of any, squatting 9 even Mr. Boncicault's pay for new dramas, 9 which is a bold. ftUtanaoi to -pajpv- jfl word, tho poor auih?*, who i?at thaw?# ;? time deserving, c&n hardly b? aald to;?dit * - M ip E^andWtfcipfWnti ~ fl TSlfri**?o( R*^a?D, ,9