Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Benefit of Good Reading-. HY UQBBHT roi.T.OK. ..Composed of many thoughts, possessing, each, Inuute and undorlvod vitulity ; Which having litly shaped und well ar ranged In brotherly accord thoy buiidod up A stately superstructure, that no wind, Nor wave, nor shock of fulling years could move; Majestic and indlssolubly (inn, As ranks of veteran warriors in the Bold; Each by himself alone, and singly scon? A sea of valor, dread, invincible! Papers like this or sacred or profane, Which virtue helped, were tilled not amiss, The medicine of the mind: who read them, read Wisdom and was refreshed ; and ou his path Of pilgrimage with healthier step ad vanced. SAVING THE liXPRliSS. HY JAMBS B?GKHAM. " Well, Kent, I guess wo can spuro you for a couple of weeks, if you would like to take a vacation," said the Genoral Manager of tbo C. I), and 1*. railroad. Kent Bullat'd was night telegraph operator for tho C. 1>. and P. road, in the big terminal fetation at Chicago. He was eighteen yours old, and as bright, capable atid fuithful an em ploye as the company bad in their en tire system. As the General Manager came and leaned over the window shell of the telegraph otllce, with his pleas ant announcement, Kent looked up gladly and gratefully. "I would like a little outing, sir,'' lie said, "if it is porfeetly convenient. It's beeu protty steady work .the past year ; and I must confess thut I am a bit tired. When can you spare me, sir ?" " Day after to-morrow, if you wish. We will have a man at our disposal thou, and can put him on your work for a oouple of weoks. Have you any idea what you would like to do, or whore you would like to go?any vacation plun In which I could bo of assistance to you y" Kent hesitated a moment. " 1 have had a plan in my mind for some time, sir." he said, at length, " but I hardly dare to mention it, even now. It would be asking a great favor of the road." "Out with it, my boy !" cried the Goneral Muuager. " If it doesn't in volve us too deeply in Uuaneia! em barrassment"?and he laughed good bumoredly?" I can promise you it will bo granted." " I want to ma<to a- trip over the road in a locomotive," said Kent. " I should like to go clear to the Paoitto const, if there is time, if I could ven ture to ask you for permission to go out and back with the engineer of ouo of tho overland expresses"? " Why, of course you can. my, boy !" exclaimed the General Manager. " Say no more about it. Make all your preparat ions, and pome to my ollicu to morrow for your pass and written permit, in caso anybody should dis pute your right of way. You may start on Thuroday's out-bound trip." "Thank you, sir?over so much!" cried Kent. " it will boa great pi-jus nre to mo, and I shall never forget your kindness." Kent Ballatd told his mother next morning that his pet vacation pro ject was to bo realized. " I've always longed to cross the Uockies and sue the Pacific," ho said, "and now, if you can spare ino a couple of weeks, mother, I am off. Fred and George will take good care of you. They have had their vacations already, you know." On Wednesday, Kent went up to the General Manager's otllce and got his pass aud pormlt. " I have also re served section twelve In tho sleeper for you," said tho Manager. "You will want a good, comfortable bed at night, you know. Mere Is your ticket. And as for your meals, get them in the buffet car, regularly. The stewai'd understands." "Oh, sir ! you are too kind !" cried Kent* " No, I am not!" laughed the Mana ger. " A man can't be too kind?it's impossible. You must remember, too, that you have served us faithfully in a difficult and responsible position for .three years. You deserve a favor now and thon, according to my way of looking at things. Well, good-bye to you, and a pleasant trip 1" The mid-week over'vnd express pulled out at ten o'clock on Thursday morning, with Kent Hallard in the cab of tho big mogul locomotive. "Our lirst run will be express for fifty miles," said the engineer to him, "and you will bave a good chance to soe bow No. 312 behaves." It was a trip full of profit and do llgbt to tho young telegraph operator. ~lie- was very fond of all kinds of machinery, and the mechanism of the engine proved a most fascinating study, as they whirled along over the rails. Then the ever-changing scenery; tho bustling citlob and towns along the routes; the big rivers over which they steamed on spider-web steel bridges; the wide level prairies, across winch they raced at whirlwind speed, oc casionally sighting ia herd of deer or frightening up a llock of prairie chickens?all these things made an 'VriiiiesB"program of interest and pleas ure for Kent Bollard. Then What a thrill passed through him when at last thoy came in Bight of tho tower ing Rockies, with the terraced foot hills, llko nature's doorstep, to the threshold of the mighty range. So far the overland express had whirled on its long western trip with out tho slightest adventure. There had not oven been an hour's delay. Tho train was sharp on time, and, if everything wont well, its journey would bo completed in twelve hours. T.iey bad now reachod tho asueutiing graval over tho foot-hills, and were slowly crawling upward toward the pass, between tho great snow-capped peaks, through which thoy wero to gain tho Paoiiio slopo. Tho scenery was indescribably grand, and Kent's eyes never wearied of feasting upon it. "Ob, if mother could only see these grand mountains !" ho thought. " And if I over got promoted to a good salary she shall I" Nino hours passed, and at length the great engine, with an almost human sigh of relief, stopped panting, on u sido track at the Summit Station of tho "divide." A train of Hat-oars, loaded with stone aud drawn !>y two locomotives, was ?iowty puffing up tho western grade. The expross had to walton tho siding until this freight t'ain should pass and leave tho main track clear. Whllo thoy wero waiting, Kent Ballard left the engine, and took his ?eat on tho rear platform of the last car, whero ho could look back at the grand snow-capped mountains they had just passed. Tho heavy freight train struggled up the grade,, until it had passed tho lower end of tho sluing, and then (stopped at tho water tunk on the main track. A. few minutes later tho ex press pulled out, und the switchman again set tho main track open. Kent remained on the rear platform of the train, looking back at the mountaius. Presently ho saw tho freight train endeavor to start up again. Tho engines backed a tri Me, and then, as tho car brakes wero released, went foi w at*J with a jerk. Keut Hallard suddenly jumped to his feet. What could it'moan ??tbo freight train seemed to be backing down the heavy grade after the ex press, insteud of going straight ahead Hut no! the engines aud the main part of tho train wore going the other way. Then the stirtling truth Mashed upon tho young man. Tho jerking start of the heavy engines had broken the train in two, and tho rear pari of it, without a brakemau aboard, was run ning wild down the .stoop grade after the express ! What was to be done ? Fortunately, Kent Hallard was not one to be easily I con fussed in au emergency. He was noted for always '"having his wits about him." Pluinly tho first thing to do whs to warn tho ongir,nor of the express. Hut this must he done with out alarming tho passengers aud throwing them into a panic. Some persons would have been just foolish enough, on muking tho discovery which Kont had, to run back through tho train, crying: "(Jot ready to jump for your lives! There's a runaway freight train on tho track behind us !" Hut Kont did not even hurry through tho ears, on his way forward to the engine, lest he should thereby excite the suspicions of the passengers. F.von tho brakemen did not suspect any danger from his actions, as no.passed through the train. Hut as soon us he reached tho baggage oar, whore tho conductor was sitting, he motioned tho latter to follow him. Hushing to the forward platform he climbed on top of the tender, and shouted ' " Fuloy !" The engineer did not hear him at first. " Faley I" The man turned quickly. ' Crowd on steam! The freight train hasJirokcn in two, and is chasing us down tlie grade !" "Terrible!' exclaimed the conduc tor, who had followed Kent out on the plutforin of the baggage ear. " Let Out Faley ! I will go back and signal you from the real ear." The conductor disappeared, and Keut crawled over the tender into the engine cab. Faley had already "let her out" to; much as he dared on so steep a grade. Presently, however, came the clear signal of the conduc tor's bell?" More steam I" l-'aley's hand was on the throttle ; but ho hesitated. "It's worse to jump tho rails than to get overhauled on tho track," he muttered. " Hut here goes ! I'm in this cab to obey orders." Ho throw the throttle wider open, and the great engine .nicked ami plunged at more terrible speed down the sharp incline. "Those stone ears must be terribly heavy," exclaimed Kent. "Yes; how many of them broke loose?do you know? asked Faley. "Not exactly," replied Kent: "but 1 should say four or live.' M?nOUgh tO smash the whole ex press to bits!" muttered the euginoer. "l?'s curious how much faster a loaded freight car can travel, on a down grade, than a locomotive, even. Seems to bo a greatei momentum, (iood heavens ! he wants more Steam !" The conductor's boll clamored -its signal twice. Faley threw the throttle wide open. "There." he exclaimed: "if that don't save us, it will smash us !" Kent Hallard had been thinking very hard for a few minutes. A pro ject was forming itself In his mind. Suddenly he grasped the engineer by the sleeve, and asked, eagerly : "How far ahead is the next .station?" " About fiV? miles." " Siding there?" " Yes." '?Telegraph operator ?" " Yes." "Good! I have a plan. Let me work the whistle I'll signal thoiil ! What is the name of the station ?" " Mlnevllle." Kent Hallard grasped tbo whistle cord. In Bounds 001 i ?-pi.r. ling to those of Clio Morse end" w leu ticked out by the instrument, bo signalled ? Mineville ! attention !" After a few second*' pause, ho repat* ed the call. " Ho* fur are wo from the station now ?" he tisked. " Between three und four miles," answered the engineer. " Yen can calculate a little moro than a mile a minute." Kent repented the call one.e met e. and allowed a pause of ten secon.l-?. Then ho telegraphed, by sounds "Open the siding, quick !" , Then a pause of ten s< conds, and again- - " Open the siding !'' The station was now insight. Men were running to and fro in front of it.. " I've telegraphed them to open the siding IV shouted Kent in Faloy's ear. for the train wa, roaring and thunder ing on at a tor rille speed. " And sure enough, they've done it!" exclaimed Faey. shutting olT steam and setting tbo air brakes. "The signal says 'siding open.' You've either killed us Ol' cured us?depends on how close behind tho freight cars are !" It was a minute of terrible suspense. Tho express, its speed slackened just in time by the powerful air brakes, glided on the siding. Would there he. time to throw open tho main track again before the runaway freight cars came on ? " .lump !?we've done everything wo can," cried Faley to Kent and the lire man, as the express stopped on the siding. Rven as thoy jumped, there was a roar like a poal of thunder on tho right side of the engine, and a dark shadow passed with the swift ness of lightning. It was the, runaway freight cars, thundering by on tho main track ! The station master had thrown open the switch rod and olodcd the Biding just in time. It was not long after this experience that Kent Hallard got his promotion: and tho next time bo visited the Kockics it was as Assistant ?onoral Passen go/ Agent of the O., 1). and F. railroad. On this trip ho brought his mother with him in a Pullman ear. ?Tho excitement over the gold fever in Oklahoma amounts now to a positive eiit/e. Tbo dispatches record , the fii'it that tho veins have been tcstod for a length of forty miles and that they g-ow richer in ore the further lip tuey are opened. We have in consequence tho familiar spectacle of men going well nigh insane, lunvlng their land claims and homes and rushing to the locality where the gold is supposed to bo. Thousands will bo disappointed. Even if the finds prove as rich as reported the land will soon bo in tho hands of a few syndicates, 1 which will employ the miners by the day. ? / ... TIIiLMAN'tt UKOIiAlUTION. Ho Repudiate** "the Tilliiiuii-Ilui-ii well tJoiiieroneo?Think* He in Absolved iv.im Its I'l. by tho Action ?>r Conservatives. Tbe followlug interview witli Sena tor Tillmau was printed in several newspapers on his return from Mom phis. "What effect will tho reversal of Judge Golf's decree have on State poli ties?" " It si in pi i Iii > matters vory much," said Senator Tillman In reply, '"aud relieves us to what was daily becom ing a more threatening situation. To illustrate. Those Conservatives who seemed to have tho greatest following, instead of pleading, as heretofore, fur au equal division of tho delegates, wero using a hectoring and threaten ing tone, whilo nearly all of tho Con servative papers wero urging their factions not to go *nto tno Demo cratic primary. General Hamptons and IJutlor had advised the same thing, and while tho News and Courier did not counsel this course, tho recent demouHtrution In Charleston ovor Cunorul Hampton left liltlo doubt as to whoso leadership they wou'd follow unless tho Heformers surrendered the control of the convention to them. All this is now changed, and in any event, no amount of porsunsion from any source can now induce the Hufor.ners to trust the Conservatives witn one half the delegates. You will remember that in the in terview published jUst after OUT con ference with Mr. Darn Well and others, I said that it would depend upon the attitude of the Conservative papers and a general agi cement on both sides to eease their bitterness, whether the scheme could bo successfully carried out. When Judge Golf was imported here, with his scandalous decree already written, had tho Con servative editors aud loaders-acted as patriotic Carolinians, denounced his unwarranted Interference, and offered to join bands with the Reformer* in maintaining white supremacy, it would have at once obliterated all factional lines and good fooling and confidence W?Uld have been restored. The Re formers, cannot now forget, nor will they Boon forgive those who so plainly showed their purpose to overthrow the white majority by negro votes : least of all can they trust them, nor can I advise our people to trust them. "J went. Into the agreement with Messr>. Darn well aud the other gentle men in perfect good faith aud had thut agreement been generally ac cepted by the Conservatives and en dorsed by their newspapers, it would inevitably have been carried out by almost every county. A goldou op portunity was lost and tho Conserva tives have "again"?tb use the words of tho 'Nowberry Herald and Mows? '?done the wrong thing at tho right time" for the good of the Reformers. " Do 1 understand that you now re pudiate the agreement?'' was asked. '? Hy no meant, although by every rule of morals, I could claim to be absolved from it. I would still like to see a nonpartisau convention composed of our best men from both factions, and 1 take this opportunity to urge our peoolo, and hy that 1 mean those who nave supported mo. to bo generous and not treasure up in their hearts with too much bitterness the recent taunts and throats made by the "Antis." We have got to live here together ; our in terests are identical ; the future pros perity nf the Statu depends largely on a better stato of feeling ; I can see no harm aud much good that will follow if the Reformers voluntarily select men of the best brains and character among tho Conservatives to come to tho convention. I would only give tho caution that no man bo allowed to come who during the dark days of Golf's tyrannical usurpation, showed any gratification or made any threats : such men cannot be trusted and had better be left at home. " Thoro is one other point that I fool Should be emphasized and that is this : There must he some hidden or secret purpose in the almost insane desire, which has shown Itself among the " Antis." to control the Constitutional convention. Having voted almost sol idly against it, I have never under stood why thoy have been so anxious, to have equal representation in it, when by nil rules of fairness and all the principles or Democracy they would not bo entitled to any representa tion at all except in tins counties whore they control. " When the Harnwell conference met, there appeared to be no prospect of an ag reement being reached because of this demand for half, and it was only accepted by the Heformers pres ent after imposing condltitlous, which are familar to the public. These con ditions are still vital, and no Conserva tive should bo voted for at the pri mary who d008 not discuss those ques > tions bofuro the people and satisfy them as to his attitude on them. "There is one other vital feature which our people must not overlook. It is tho constitutional provisions for tho control of corporations and tho questions, and the question of taxa tion. Corporation attorneys, those known to be In the employ of corpora tions, bail better be left at home whether Reformers or Conser vatives, Unless from their characters and gen oral course of conduct as men it is be lieved they cat. be trusted. " 1 must believe that the strenuous efforts to obtain half tho delegates * ere Inspired by the desire to put into the new constitution something that wovdd havo either hampered the Legislature or tied its bunds in some way." "What about tho action in Kdgo lieid ?" was naked, " I saw by the papers that that action was credited to my inlluonce. I had nothing to do with it, and only happnned to boat tins courthouse that day on private business." " Do you think tho plan of tho Kdgo licld committee will be carried out ?" " I doubt it very much. Our people have always been strong advocates for the primary and this return to the convention system of nominations is not likely to give satisfaction, I think tho county will sono somo Conserva tives provided they satibfy tbo people on the stump." " It sooms that while claiming to stand by the agreement you are ail vis ing against Its being carried out?" was suggested. " 1 am only standing by its spirit, not its letter. Tho Conservatives havo stood by neither its spirit nor letter. It would DO suicidal now for tho Ro formora to give one-half representation to thoir oppononts. Wo called tho Constitutional convention, and wo are roponslblo for it. Wo must Control It, and I urn vet y sure that wo cannot make a Constitution which will in any way, do injury to the rights cither of person or property of the.other side, which will not equally hour on oui sclvcs. Tho GolT incident bus raised tho voll and shown too much of hatred and a fall purpose to rule or ruin, for mo to ask the Heformers to do more than I have indicated, and if I wor? to ask it, and stumped tho St;ito county by county, the people would go theii Own way. governor kvan8 TAI,Iis. Tlie Memphis Convention Was a (Jreat Su.???<??.s i?Hu W st , ml hy HIh ricducs tu the Tltiinan linrn well Conference. Govornor Kvana was Interviewed on hio return from Memphis, and ho gave his iinprevalent* ad follows : "Tho convention at Memphis was one of the largest ever held in tho South and must enthusiastic. It was not composed of millionaires nor poli tielans, bu*. of men whoso faces showed that they earned their bread by the sweat of their brows. The enthusiasm with which tho speeches were receiv ed, and especially that of Senator Till man, showed that the people of the West and South are bound to come togethor. Their interests are identi cal and they now realize tho utter hopolessnoss of obtaining any relief from Congress, so long as it is con trolled by tho Hast and tho money power. Populists. Republicans und Democrats all joined in perfect har mony in tho domunds so forcibly put in the resolutions adopted by tho con vention." " How will they eomo together V" "This is a matter of mere detail. They are already together, but in my opinion tbo Democratic party will de clare for the free and unlimited coin age of silver at tho ratio of Hi to 1 by an overwhelming majority, and the Northern and Eastern Democrats are as mho to secede und bolt the con vention us if it wore already done. TUe Populists in my opinion ought not to make any nomination for President, and tho silver Republicans will sup port the Democratic nominee. These Republicans are like our people in South Carolina : Prepared to go any where to obtain relief irom tho burdens that oppress our farmers. Thoy are obliged to come to us for the reason that the R-jpuhlican party will not de clare for free silver and they know it." " What about the reversal of.Judge Golf's decree ?" '? Well, I received the news imme diately upon my arrival at the hotel in Memphis through telegrams. I havo never seen four faces of wornout travelers, who had had nothing to eat or drink for twelve hours, brighten up, as did those of the fo?r delegates from South Carolina upon reading the news. It was very gratifying ol course to kuow that the State hud trlumpuOd, and I congratulate tho people of South Corollua, and our friends Ol the nation, on this victory for State's rights and guarantee of white supremacy in the South. I was congratulated oy every prominent member of tho convention, among them Republicans. Tho poe plo of the Southwest seem to take as lively an interest in this light for prin ciple as our own people In South Caro lina. ?' As to the result there need be no fear of an appeal to the negro. Tho Reformers havo a majority BUttioleut to overcome tho Conservatives and negroes combined should the issue come to this, but as I have always maintained, no considerable following whether Conservative or Reformer could evor be led In this direction." " I desire to corroct the false state ments und misrepresentations con tained in an editorial In the News and Courier of to-day, which bus been called to my attention. While many of the Conservatives were In sympa thy with tho State administration in its efforts to reverse this decision, yot tho jubilant tone and threats to use the negro and their advice to stay out of tho Democratic primary, by most of tho Conservative press of the State and the interviews of their leaders, leaves no doubt of the fact that the whole scheme originated in their ranks. Had it not been so, the. Insti gators of it would never have been tolerated in South Carolina. As to the management of the case too much credit cannot be givou to tho State's Attorney General and his assistants; while tho aid of tho Conservative lawyers was appeciated tho 8UCC0S8 ul termination honestly belongs to the Attorney General. "Governor, what attitude will you assume now as to the composition of the convention ?" "In this hour of triumph 1 would not havo you think that I havo re ceded or intend to recede from any thing 1 have said or done heretofore looking to a harmonious settlement of our differences and securing for the State a Constitution based on the principles of our conference. The Democratic party is the only arbiter and any action from any source to forestull tho nominees of tho people would be presumptions and result in failure." stan yarnk WIIjSON'S VIEWS. The Reformers Will Control (he Con stitutional Convention. Tho Piedmont Headlight has Inter Mow Congressman Stanyarne Wilson since his ri cent visit to Washington, and on political topics bo speaks as follows : "Now what about politics? Weil, I don't think I over saw quite so much of them and In such variety. The most lastidtous cannot complain of an Insufficient assortment. Ha man can not now get the kind that he wants, ho was never made to lie happy. The most striking feature to me Is that the people are on top, and everything in dicates that they are going to stay tbei'0. There can bo no better condi tion for any State than that, for the people or tbo State. Judge Got? has come and gone, but the people are still in tho middle of the road, and are no luOie affected by what* bo did, of at tempted to do, than by tho reprovings of some of tho littk. tom-tit. inconse quential, featherweight editors of this State, who think tuoy are shaping public sentiment, but whos.s inlluenco is con.fibed within their own imagina tions. "My belief is that if the influential conservative newspapers had submit ted to the Democratic doctrine of lot ting the majority rule, instead of con stantly inflaming their conservative readers by bitter appeals to their pas sions and prejudices, none of that large class of our citizens would ovor have thought of cutting themselves oh* from their race and of appealing to the negro. Too only deplorable thing about Judge Golf's decision Is that it disclosed to tho people some of ho.' citizens who wore so h.uit on rule or ruin that they gladly rushed into tho arms of the negro to make common cause with them ugainst their own people. It was a sad spectacle, but one that our State can never see again, as the opportunity will not again bo presented. "The election fir delegates to tho convention, In August, will be con lined to those who havo registration tickets. Tbo nominees for that elec tion will be selected by tho whlto man's primary, which will bo held cu tho With of .Idly. A*t that elect inn every white man can vote, and no mail will be made to go with the negro, except of bis own choice. Tho Con servative leader are very persistently determined la tholr usierttons that thoy will not go Into that, primary, and I don't suppose thoy v111. They refuse to recognize tbe organized Democracy of tho Stato, although there has never i been any question ol its . legality, j Eyery voter at that primary will so ' leOt hiB'own seven iavoritOB, ami the seven nomioatod will be elected. There will bo no attempt to agree upon any compromise or dlviHion of delegates. I do not believe any man has the right to make any contract or agreement about his neighbor's vote. My opinion is thut this county will se lect men upon whom 'the people are confident they can rely on represent ing thoir interests and political senti ments. '? There is one matter of especial im portance that I will mention. It men of certain Ideas get control of the convention, they will most certainly adopt an educational and property qualilicattion, either or both, lu order to disfranchise the negro and the poor uneducated white man. There are men who are unlit to vote. But there is no white man in this State, not a pauper or convlet, who should bo de nied his vote. lie and his people have rendered too great a service to the Stato In her struggles of 1801-'<i,>, and in the cause of Reform since 181)0, to havo tho babot-box elosed against them. "I huvo been talking lougor than 1 intended, but will say this: My judgment is just what it was last Feb ruary In Columbia, and tho results have justilied what I then stated. We will have the primary, every man will vote as ho pleases (oxeopi in some counties where compromises have been made) and the convention will bo in control of tho Reformers, by a good majority, and tho Stato could not desire anything bettor than that. Tho Reform movement has done a great deal for South Carolina, but its best and most enduriug achievement will be the Constitution which it will frame next fall. AN 1NHCRUST1NG KHMINI80RNOR The Lost Days of the Southern ('mi loderaoy On ehe Wtnjr. A writer in the Southern Presby terian is giving historical reminis cences of Charlotte, N. C, and in tho last issue tells of the visit of Jollersou Davis to that town in the closing days of tho Confederacy : A site on Tryou street in front of tho present express ollice marks the spot on tho pavement where Jefferson Davis stood on the 15th of April, 18U5, and received the telegram containing his first intimation of-the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. 1 will try to narrate the particulars of this as re lated by a participant, my old friend Col. William Johnston, who lias done si) much to udoru and develop Nort h Carolina. " 1 wus standing," says Col. Johnston, "on my piazza on South Tryon street, when I huw u mounted troop of some 1500 men commuiided by General Vaughn of Mississippi riding down tho street, at the head of whom rode three distinguished looking leaders and tho middle tigure 1 recognized as tho slender but erect and stately form of the ?rst and only President of the Confederacy. I rapidly crossed tho street and joined Mr. Davis who bad thou alighted and was hitching his horse and on ottering to relievo him received this gentle answer, ' My dear sir, I havo so long been uncustomed to waiting on and doing for myself that I can finish"'DOW,' but. he cordially took my arm and walked with ine into, the house assigned as his lodging place in Charlotte. "Tho President had been expected by rail and to the depot his host, a Northern man who afterwards gave much testimony about him, bud gone to meet his distinguished guest. The locked doors of the bouse compelled us to wait on the stops for tho return of tho host, and the crowd which had gathered in front grew larger and larger and called eagerly on the chief of their choice for what proved the last speech which tho leader of the lost cause waj ever to make. And waiting on those steps, even in that trying, critical hour Mr. Davis made a great speed), clear, powerful, calm but sad : as if lie knew it to bear his last father ly words to his faithful people. Already thoro seemed resting on him the weight of that cross which ho was so soon and so heavily to bear for the South, which his pale worn features showed ho had ever borne since on him had been plac >d the oath and duties of his tryingollice. And sadder still he grew when a telegraph official pressed to his side and banded him the message of Lincoln's sudden and fearful taking olY, and caused his anguished lips to exclaim, 'This is an extraordinary communication,' which he repeated heavily and wearily as if lie wore stunned oi dazed. Ho did not as the crowd called on him to do, read the message to others, but I took it and read it aloud and I saw its depres sing effootOH his face, his speed), his actio s, as if he realized that this sudden and misguided stroke of an obscure assassin would be tn'sjudgod and in dieted upon bis high minded but now prostrate people of tho South, for whom he was willing and ready to die, but not to be misunderstood and maligned. Mr. Davis' escorts to Charlotte were Mess. Benjamin, Breckonridge, Reagan and Tronholm of bis cabinet, and his private secre tary, Col. Harris, and his military escort. Tho cabinot held several meetings in the old ollice of the Charlotte Observer which Mr. Tron holm was too sick to attend and the proceedings of which wore never inado public. These meetings were, I think, tho last ever held by the Confederate cabinet, for Sherman was pressing' from Raloig h to Greensboro and here tho escort of Mr. Davis disbanded, though soiiio members of the cabinet wont with Mr. Davis to Abbeville, 8. C.,i and thence to Washington, Ga. And then Mr. Davis, who in the path of Breckonridge and Reagan v. us making his way to Cuba, was over taken at sunrise on the loth of May. IH(i?, in one of two tents which bad been pitched for his party, near a little swamp in a pine for st near frvlnville, Ga. , by Col. Harndon who with 150 picked men of the Fifth Wisconsin rogimont had been sont out from Macon to effect his capture. The captured partv consisted of the Pre sident] his wife and sister-in-law, his private secretary, Mr. Reagan, of Texas, somo teamsters and a few un armed soldiors. Mr. Davis in tho cold and darkness of the dawn had thrown a shawl over his shoulders v. hen a private of the First Michigan halted him. Co'. Ilarndcn then came up and hi st addressed the Postmaster General) Mr. Reagan, who courteously said, " Gentlemen, you havo taken the old gonoral hlmsoif." Tho delay caused by Mrs. Davis who wanted to go to her homo'in Mississippi had forcedGoneral Basil Dukes' cavalry osco-l to loavo tho party the day before, and Mr. Davis thought was tho causo of his cupture. All of tho party wore paroled oxcept the President whoso subsequent imprisonment is common history.' Col. Harndcn's description of the fallen chieftain was "talllsh, thin featured and nervous but very dignified and stately, and ono who would pass in any crowd itu a hightonod irentle ' man/' BARN WALL'S ' PLAIN TALK. HIS 8TATKMKNT OF TUN < ON FKRKNCK AO HKF.M KN I\ Ho Reviews the Hit nut Inn in Uio Htnto i. und Given His Views ol'ilio Famous i'<?.????<? Conference. Tho Charleston New? and Courier has interviewed Mr. Joseph W. Harn well, ao a inuinbor of tho conference between Senator Tili man and other Reformers and members of the Con servative party, who consented to give his views of the situation US atfectod by the late declaration of Senator Till man. M Mr. Rarnwoll," asked tho reporter, " do you consider your agreement at an end owing to the withdrawal of the Reformers who signed it?" "In tiie first place, 1 do not kuow tliat all the Reformers have with drawn from it." replied Mr. Barnwell. ?'Governor Kvans, I see, n aintaim; that ho is still in favor of it, and it would not DO fair to treat him or the other members us having repudiated either its letter or spirit until- they have said 60." "Then what will the Conservatives do upon Governor Til I man's withdraw al ?" asked tho reporter. "I have no authority to speak for any member except myself," said Mr. Barnwell. "but I am perfectly willing to say wha*. 1 think should he done. You must remember that Messrs^ Bomphlll, Moses, Sloan, McGowau and Mower, who, with me, met Senator Tlllman and his friends, acted under the terms of a resolution which insist ed Upon only one condition?that there should bo an even division iii the whole convention between the Conser vatives and Reformers. All other matters were considered subsidiary, and it is violating no confidence to say that the terms nquiring an equal di vision were more strongly insisted upon among the gentlemen whom the Conservative committee represented, by the laymen than by the lawyers, so that so far as those gentlemen are concerned Senator Tillman is entirely in error in saying that the interests of corporations directed the demand for equal representation. The argument used for an equal representation was very simple and obvious; that it rendered the convention a body which was the representative of neither fac tion if the Democratic party a one, but of both : ibat when it met it should do so as the result of a compromise and not as the creature ol one faction or the other which had been victorious after a *contest at the pol is. If thus elected It would not be necessary to submit its work back to the people, as it represented thorn all, and in all probability It would bo a body boot upon doing .all that was possible to regulate too difficult question of the SUliragO in such a manner as to secure tho State from the dangers of Ignorant universal suffrage "Tue terms finally agreed upon were the only ones, after long and earnest discussion, which it seemed possible to obtain. The IS.'formers distinctly said that they could not speak for their whole party. The Conservatives equally disclaimed any power, to speak for tho Conservatives. "The view taken by the Conserva tives was that already there was a well-developed sentiment in the State in favor of having no contest over the convent ion, and that if Senator Till man, Governor Evans and their friends would pronounce also in favor of such a movement it would certainly be car ried out. " When the oilier side asked what guarantee we had that the Conserva tives would consent to an cqaul divis ion our reply was that wo could not conceive of any large number of them refusing such an oiler, although of course it was impossible to say what all would do. I still think I was per fectly accurate in my juoginont, for if the Reformers on the committee had all earnestly undertaken a canvas on. behalf of these terms and even now, if the matter were pushed, an agreement could be reached. "Of courso no cue asked at the meeting, nor has any Conservative suggested since, that the constitution should regulate the suffrage in such a way as to be in violation of the Consti tution of tho United States or sanction the exclusion of voters through fraud, hut I have always maintained, and do maintain today that the terms agreed upon, though not all Ol them, what I would be in favor of under ordinary circumstances, nor except a-i a compro mise, yet furnished a proper basis upon which bot h Reformers and Con servatives might agree : certainly there was nothing dishonorable or sub versive of any principle whatever, for wicked as it may seem, I do not be lieve in the divine right of an igno rant and barbarous majority to control a civilized and intelligent minority. It was cxpcblod that the ngrecui.-nt would be fiercely attacked from the very two quarters from w hich it has been assuilod, but the curious sight was presented of the Conservatives being denounced on the one hand by members of their party as anything from weak and silly dupes to 'unprin cipled schemers and wire-pullers ' and at the same time that Senator Tillman and Governor Evans should bo assailed by t heir party as weakly giving away to the Influence and blandishments of the Conservative mem hers, but in the State at large the majority of both Reformers and Conservatives felt that a long step had been taken towards settling a very diflloult question upon some, basis, and in a number of coun ties the feeling' was so strong that they had already determined on tho terms of division. "Then came Judge Goff'sdecision. No constitutional lawyer for a moraont thought that it could be upheld, and Its effoot, if acquiesced In, would really have prevented any regulation whatever of tho suffrage In tho future. For a time the Roformors Bcomed to realize the danger of an angry con test over the control of the convention, and a great Impetus was given to the growing belief in some compromise ?? It was. in my opinion, a great op portunity for ail Conservatives to at once agree that they would come to gOther and overthrow Judge Coil's decision and join hands with tho Re formers, even if circumstances SCO mod to show that for tlx* time boin;; tho advantage was with tho Conservatives. Undoubtedly a number of tho Conser vatives were elated by the fueling that for once, at least, fortune scomcd to Incline to them, but I d > n it see that any course would have b son loft them, but to go Into the primary. All the Conservatives-who did not approve of tho 'conforenco' plan ?so far as I could judge from the published acls of the Forty Convention, ' and the inter views with others confirming the ac tion of the forty .seemed bound to go into tho Democratic primaries, though I do not know what reservations there were among the members of the con I vention. S inner or later, however, I I believe thcro would have been an equal division of delegates. I cannot I speak for Other counties, but had the I scheme of equal division boon carried I out amongst the Reform counties I am pure Charleston would have been wili ng to do her share. "Uovoruor Hampton* was Invited to Charleston by a committee of ladies und the young Sous of Veterans, aud Charleston honorod herself wheo she did houor to bis magnificent sei vices as u soldier and his services to tho State in lS7(i and iu tho I'uited States i Senate. Mauy of those who svere fore most in doing honor to him were not prepared to follow him in his view that the Conservatives should not go iuto the primary. "Then came tho reversal of Judge Goff's order of injunction, and with it has come what was to bo expected, the swiug of the pendulum to tho other sido. It seems to have carried Senator Tillman along with it. My advice would hi) that tho Conservatives go on with their work just as before : that they do not abandon tho attempt to secure an unpartisan convention : that they go into tho primaries and agree to abide by the result of the election, und that the Conservative counties give representation to the He form ele ment if the Reform counties give re presentation to the Conservative. " For myself I do not see how those who advocated the move of tho "Forty' can consistently refuse to go into tho primary, but men look at political matters from different standpoints aud 1 suppose they can see the difference between ordering an executive com mittee to work under tho State execu tive committee and yet'sa) that doing so is, not submitting themselves to the party rules. So far as 1 am personally concerned,I do not in any respect re gret the action which 1 took in sigu Ing the agreement. '? 1 diu not outer Into any alltanco with Senator Tillman or Governor Evans. I never for u moinunt gave up uiy principles us a Conservative. I expressed no contrition, and was not asked to express it, for any aet, politi cal or Otherwise, that I hod ever taken. I diil not undertake t > guarantee that our agreement would ba carried out by Son a* or Tillman or by anyone but my self. I did agreo to advocate a truce, not an offensl/0 and defensive treaty, and I am still prepared to advocate it. I have never said a word but in com mendation of tho 'Forty' or anyono eise who =.eek? peace. That the ? con ference1 did good, and a world of good, in staying for a time at least the waves of political animosity, lias been fresh ly acknowledged by Reformers and Conservatives. Whether the good ClTcots will be done away with tho new move of Senator Tillman 1 am un prepared to say ; results must prove, invective will, I am convinced, do no good either against tho Reform ioud ers or against the Conservatives who do not happen to agree with mo or With each oilier." t I. km son COIjIjEGIG CADKIS. Ulliolnl Kepori of Inspector General' (JHI'IMtt'tnu?A Compliment lol.hf^t tionuhlson. Tue following report, vo/sff" credit able to the instruction aiy^coudiict of cadets at Clemson CnU^o, lias been made by the InspecU^Gencritl ol the United States unnu^T CmomsoNj-C, c., May 20, 1805. To tho Inspector General Ol the United States Army, Washington, I). C.! Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of an luspcutlOL of the military de partim nt ol the Clomson Agricultural t-nd Mechanical Col U go, mude this day uuder instruc tions from the S. croti r. of War. Lieut. T. (,). I) muldsoi , Eighth Cav alry, is on duty as military professor at this Institution; he :.- cntiroly, satisfactory to the authorities of the institution, and judging from the con dition of the corps of cadets, 1 (.Stink he is eminently suitable for stieb work, The college authorities uro will dis posed toward the military depart ment and assign to it as nine!, time as the general requirements of tho in stitution warrant. The corps of cadets at'O organized into two battalions of three companies each aud at all formations form as a regiment. The battalion commanders are graduates of the South Carolina Military Academy, and are I,cut. Donaldson's assistants in the military department. Tho appearance and bearing of tho cadets at review and inspection were excellent. Present In ranks at inspection.271 Absent. . ? Sick.?.. -11 Guards. - With l( ave. 2 Physically disqualified. 7 Under si/e. 8 Total.315 Tm arms were in oxce'lont condi tion. The ofllcor in "barge had evidently properly instructed the cadets how to care for their arms, and then had required thum to do It. They keep their arms in their 1'OOIUs. The equipments wore In v? ry good order. All wore In uniform. The .steadiness and behavior of the cadets during the drill were excellent. In the review and the drill which fol lowed, the cadets showed an excellent knowledge of the close order move ments ol the drill regulations. Each battalion wus drilled separately, and nearly every movement in tho book was covered. The cadet officers aud guides were well up in their respec tive duties, and the cadets in rank wore prompt and soldierly in the ex ecution of the various movements. There has been no instruction in the extended order which Is unfortunate. I as the size of the corps would enable 1 the instructor to go further into that, important part of the drill book than any other school inspected. There | has boon no artillery drill, no practi cal instruction in signaling or in minor tactics. A guard is maintained at all times, and tile sentinels, two of them, walk post all if gbt and perform the | regular garrison duties of a sentinel | as far as practicable ; in oilier words they do regular guard duty and in a highly creditable manner, Lieut. Dun- j aldson informs me. While the cadets of t he senior class, whon assembled in the section room, did not show the sail.xCOllont knowl edge of the theoretical instruction given as they had shown on the drill ground, they were fairly well ac quainted with the principles governing ( outposts, advance and rear guards, inarching, camping and subslstonco of troops, otO. The institution has been in operation less than two years, and the excellent condit ion id the cadets as to military instructions, soldierly bearing, etc.. could have boon secured only by un usual ability, tact and proservnnco on the part of I acut. Donaldson, and a hearty, genuine co-operation on the part ol the authorities of the institu tion : and to both are due tin; highest degree of credit for the excellent stato of ellloloney of the corps of cadets. I.ieut. Donaldson has charge of the bin racks and the mess hall in all things pertaining to discipline. As a matter of interest, and as an example of creditable management, 1 will state that the subsistance of tho boys at this Institution costs less than$0 per month, that sum being charged each cadet for his hmiu, including lighting and boat ing in his room, by oleutrlcity and steain respectively. 1 inspected diuuer ?my visit was not expected -and found it to be excellent ?n quality aud quan tity. Undoubtedly the bone lit- produced warrant fie continuation of the mili tary department. Very rt speiv{.fully, E. A. t;.\Ki.i>n*Ti)N', Major, Inspector General. A C1IANOE OK VENUE The Grand Jury of Charleston County Fulls to Find True Hills in Dlspeii stiry Cusps. The dispeusury law came up in the Court of Sossions dor Charleston Coun ty on tho 18th inst., und during- tho morning tho grand jury were giveu v batch of bills by tho solicitor. Among these were six against parties for the violation of the dispeusury law. Ou these Judge Huchanun said that tho jurors should carefully consider tho ovidence against the accused aud render presentment according to tho ovidence. They should not permit their prejudice, il they held any against the law. to inlluouco their verdict, if the law was an obnoxious one tho strict enforcement of it would bo the surest means of enlisting public sentiment and thoreby causing its repeal. On the contrary, if they permitted their prejudice to Inlluonee the r presentment. It would redound in I'iVor of tho law. ?"""*' Ii a short while the jurors returned and repented that they had been un able to lind indlctmcuts against the following parties, against whom bills had been given them : Frit/. Mollen turner, Henry Hemme, George F. Steuloken, M. L. Olark, VV. J. Bowel) und.Barney Lovutt. Assistant Attorney Coneral 'To wii st'ml, who win here to conduct the dispensary cases, of which , several hundred are pending, said that ' lie wus totally surprised at th? uction of tho grand jury, as the^?*rA denoe in tho oases above mentioned preponderated against tho uecused, hut ho did uot earo to havo anything to say on this score. As to whf*tfmovo ho would take he could noj>-say until the next morning. Ho yjf*ts to ' havp a conference with Att/rJrney Conoral Towusend Harber and would agree upon BOmC| lino of action. A -. ** -*""Tu the "Court of sessions the next morning, th i Assistant Attorney (ien eral moved or a change of venue for the trial of > -vcnty-live alleged viola* tlons of the Dispensary law. This action was brought on account o' the failure of the grand jury to indict tho six parties already named against whom tlx; State claimed its strongest cases. Counsel for the defendants op posed t'ne motion, claiming that it was unconstitutional, unprecedented and wus an impeachmentfof the grand jury, besides doing agrave injustice to tho community. The allldavit ol the trial justice who held the preliminary ex aminations of the cases wus read, in which bo said that the State had made out its eases aud the failure of tho grand jury to indict was due to pre judice against the Dispensary law Judge Buohanan sidet with the State and granted a Obaugi of venue and transferred the cases f om Charleston to Orangoburg County. The Dispeu sai y law was amended at the last Legislature so as to allow the SUite the special privilege to move foiN u change of vonoo. The constitution ality of the amendment will bo tested. <;cm:kai; m:\vs summary. littlest Hems and Curious Notes from Our Exchanges. ? Hon. Josiah 1'atterson, upon In vitatlon of aboutu hundred of .Augusta's most prominent citi/.ens. Irrespective of then own financial views, has con sented to deliver an address in Augusta on the linuneial question on or about Juno 24. ?The grave of William Bonn, in the old Quaker* graveyard at ?Jordan's, in Buckinghamshire, England, is visited annually by many members of the Quakors sect. Bonn was buried on August."), 1718, aud the day is celebrat ed every year by a pilgrimage under taken by Quakors from all parts of England. ?Mr. Ex urn Boruival How is, of Washington, who look the degree of Ph. D. at Johns Hopkins University on June 12, has boon nominated for tho position in the University of California recently tilled by Professor Harold Whiting, who was drowned iur fife wreck, of tho Coli ran, off the Pacific coast. ?During the terrible spell of hot weather in New York about ten days ago u street Ja?ggar fainted and was taken td the hospital. When tho at tendants undressed him they founrT" that he was wearing four coats, throe waistcoats, throe Shirts and two pairs of pantaloons, lie had not succeeded, however, in keeping out the heat. Mr. John Wanamuker has increased his life insurance to the remarkable aggregate of $2,000,000. lie is the most heavily insured man in America and possibly in the world. John H. Stetson, of Philadelphia, has policies on his life for $750,000 and Hamilton Disston for $000,000. Chaunucy M. Depow is said to be insured for $500. U00. ? ?W? T. Hornaday, who has made a close investigation of the mat tor. says that there are now only 200 wild buf faloes alive in the United States ?150 in the Yellowstone Park, twenty in Colorado and thirty in Texas. This remnant of the vast herds that once roamed over the plain shows how nearly one of the most typical of American wild animals hit- reached extinction. - 1 'resident (llovoland has signed an ordor bringing the employees of the great Government Printing Olllco, over 2,000 in number, under the pro tection of the civil service rules. This will gratify tho employees who peti tioned for it, but it will be distressing news to many CongrossmeJ who huve been able to got jobs for needy con stitutions. ?The synod of the Boformcd Pres byterian church of North America is very broad in Its demand for "a re cognition of God " in the national con stitution. Its resolutions adopted at D.-iivcr last week demand "A clear ami explicit acknowledgement of Al mighty God as tho souroe of all power, of Jesus Christ as the Prince of Kings of the earth, and the Bible as the supreme rule In all affairs." An accident occurred not far from Auburn, Ala., on the IHth in- 1 . at Perry's mill pond, which is great!) deplored in that community. Mr. Lewis Cox, a drummer from Tuskeegce, Ala., and Miss Cornelia Torronce, aged 10, the belle of her neighborhood, and a remarkably pretty girl, were out txm! riding on the pond, when unoxpeotedh J the boat overturned, drowning then. J both. Tho children playing near the I scene of the accident hoard the I i screams for help, but wore powerlossl j to aid them. *he pond is very deep] at the point whoro tho accident oe-J ' ourrod, and the bodies havo not iie. A recovered. Tho whole community ifl covered with grief over the uii.imc.B demise of tho popular young cm pie. ?