Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tin ? < >i ? v 1 at rr: Times. is id I- VEUY SATURDAY MOItKiSC. terms oi Subscription. fl-nc. Coiy one. Year.$2 00 " h Sic Mou'Ls. 1 00 Rates of Advertising. 0 One Square. 1st Insert ion.SI 50 Each Subsequent " . 1 00 Notices inserted in Local Column al 20c per l: ?: All Subscriptions and Transient Advertise ments to be paid for in Advance. JRST" No Iiec.ipU Jo; Subscription or A dver tiscmcnts arc Valid unless Signed by Business 3Ianagcr. BSEr" We nre in no way responsible for tho vicwB or opinions of our Correspond* I Bnts. ^?t?RDAY, FKItRUAKY 2, 1878. South Carolina College, The many friends of this time lion ored institution will he gratified to learn that tho bill, looking to its re organization in the near future. . together with the the management of the Claflin College located nt this point, haj passed the Lcgb'nture No college in the South, and few in the United States, can boa>l of a longer list of honored alumni than this institution, nnd few had more to do in moulding Southe rn character, and especially in imprinting upon the youth of our own State those peculiar . characteristics which everywhere dis tinguished the Carolina gentleman It is tobe heped that tho College, rather than the University plan, will prevail when the reorganization takes I place. The Eastern War. Hie Turks have again been defeat ed near Rutschuk by the Servian forces. The Russians are concentra. ting at Adrinnoplc and sending out scouting parties to towns within twenty-live miles of Constantinople. The Sultan has arranged to move the government further east should the Russians npprooch uncomfortably near. Betweeu tho close proximity of the Russian forces, the Rouman ian refugees, the half savage and armed Circassians in and about his capital, the Torrifitd Molmmolans seeking transportation to saftcr re gions and the general panic pervad ing the entire country, he finds it exceedingly difficult to maintain ol der aud provide 1 >r the necessities of his -subjects. . o one desires peace more than the Sultan and, seeing his [fl^f)liitrflnmw'.Ufaf omi^-ery,, "hohl L enough 1" The Trial Justic System. Our people, for the last two years, have been expecting some change to be made by the General Asscmt.ly in what is known as the Tri I Justice Courts. That there arc evils attend ing the present system of trials no one can doubt, and it would be well for tho country if their causes could bo removed. Three measures have been devised: The first was to purify the present system,and thus modified continue its existence; the second looked to the establishment of a sys tem of County Courts, nnd to regu late by law its fees and salaries; and the third proposed to increase tho number of Circuit Judges to eleven or more. The merits of each of tlicso plans wcro fully discussed in the House last week and the whole mat ter wisely disposed of by a resolution offered by Col. Simonton, which directs tho whole body of our laws both civil nnd criminal, to be revised, digested and arranged under their proper heads. In the present unsettled condition of oflairs it would be eminently unwise, if not dangerous, to tamper with any part of the machinery of the government. We had better en dure the evils that now exist for a few yenrs longer, than to incur new ones of which wo know nothing. Let tho Democratic party lay its foundation securely. Let no change bo made merely for the sake of a change and it will bo able. tu enter upon the next election unburdened by issues growing out ot haste or impru dence. Tho result of the next elec tion will depend as much upon the cxeicisc of prudence and fore-sight now as upon firmness and action in the Fall. Bai.k of lhe State. Tho Attorney-General has inform ed tho General Assembly through Governor II a nip ton that certain parties v. bo tendered the bills of the ?j ' t ?"? ? I i Si tin in payment of j. i v...oi4iv i oi Charleston io compel action on his part as the law directs. Tho questions involved aro of vital importance to tho citizens of our Suite and whatever action the Legis Iature may take, ought' to be prompt and decisive. The State is ccrtai uly pledged for the redemption of every bill, it matters not into who so hands they have fallen; and meeting tho questions fairly is the best way to maintain tho credit of tho State. A cause of action that will beget confi dence, will entity the holders and thus allow the State to redeem thorn grad ually and without serious detriment to the interest " any citizen. The Lion and Usury Laws. We aro not prepared at tho pro sent writing to express a matured opinion upon the bills which has been hut recently passed by both branches of our State Legislature. Two measures of vital importance to the citizens of our State have been passed upon by the General Assem bly, and are now hi force as laws of the land. We moan the bill to repeal tho Lion Law and the Usury Bill. The first, we have no hesitancy in pro nouncing a blessing to our whole people, the fruits of which in less than three years will vindicate the wisdom of our judgment; but the lat ter, to our mind, is of very question able policy. If the Lien Law had alone been repealed, the honest and thrifty citizen, by it cut off from the advances heretofore mad .; by the town merchant, could borrow money at reasonable rate > of interest, from Iiis more fortunate neighbor, in sufficient amounts to purchase supplies. He would hud this cheaper, even were the money borrowed at 15 per cent., than to give a lien upon Iiis next year's crop to secure the payment of goods for which he is charged by the merchant ruinous credit prices and an exorbitant rato of interest besides. Cutoff by the repeal of the lien law from the advances of the merchant and from Lho capitalist by the usury law, we await with great apprehen sions the developments of the present year. The benefits of the repeal of the lien law may be counteracted by the evils of the usury law. Lot us however hope that our Legislators have acted wisely and for thegocd ol tli e country. Let them not undo the good they have done by re-enacting any law resembling the lieu law* If the good ol the country demands such a"raCluT" ure let the usury law be abolished. The following is what our St. Mat thew s farmers and grangers think of the matter : A regular meeting of Washington Grange No. 124 was held at St. Mat thew's Academy on January 2G. It was unanimously Resolved-, That it is the deliberate opinion, of Washington G~ange that the reenactmeut of a lien law is not desired by the farmers of this county. That the lien law in its effects by high prices charged for supplies, interest and cost of record ing is very disastrious to the farmers, and that under its operation they can never hope for prosperity in their business. Congress. Congress has been wrangling for many days ever Senator Matthews' resolution declaring for the faith of contracts as to bonds,and allowing the government to pay either in gold or silver coin as the bond stipulates. This resolution involyes tho reuioni liznlion of silver by pulling the silver dollar upon the same basis as gold. Justice and reason would seem to de mand that all coin should have the same standard whether gold or silver, but Mr. fihermnn, the bondholders and their sympathizers thought oth erwise. Most of the Southern mem bcrs supported tho resolution, nota b'y among them was the great and the good Gordon, who threw the w eight of his influence on tho side of a common coin ?tundnrd, and on the 25lh achieved a grand victory over the bondholders by causing the passage ol' the resolution by a vote of 42 to 22. The bears of Wall Street will doubtless growl, but honest gov ernment and honest money go hand in hand. Considerable inning was felt over the Blackburn Bill to extend the time for paying tax on spirits in bond to 30th June next. The burden of this tax has been shifted from Now Ei gland to the shoulders of the South and West. Another trick to ntirden out people. A vote being 11 it 1 i!?? < ling 'dau-o wa? t trie ken uui uui Lltu substitute adopted by a vole of 145 to 112 as follows: "That a reduction of the tax ou distilled spirits is inexpedient.'' Another measure will soou come before Congress for a practical solu tion that will run the pulse of^ Ne?v England Solon's up to a raging fever heat. Tho sum of $9,077,000 in gold, known as the Geneva award, obtained, in part by the ravages of the Ala bama, Shanaudoah and Florida upon Federal Commerce during the war. This huge alnouut is to bo divided between claimants of three classes. Doubtless there will bo a '?alhoring of the hungry ones from Maine to California, and then we'll have it. Uf course Oraugebtirg will enjoy the enchantment that distance lends to the view. The Weather. New York, January 31.?A se vere ? now storm here all day; wind blowing a gale; trains behind. 1 he storm is prevailing west of Detroit, and is reported severe at Cincinnati, Toledo and other places. Norfolk, January 31.?A storm with northeast gale prevailed last night and until noon today. The ste imer Lady of the Lake has not arrived fiom Washington. The weather was severe on the bay last night; heavy wind with sleet and snow prevailing. Waiting lor Confirmation. Washington, January 28.?Iu the Judiciary Committee to-day, the case of Mr. Northrop, nominated io be United State? District Attorney for South Carolina, was discussed briefly, but was laid over at the request of Senator Patterson, who wrote asking that no definite action h : taken upon it until he wus able again to take his seat in the Senate. This he hoped to do in a few days, and it is inferred that he has given up tho trip to Pennsylvania which he had contem plated. What has induced him to change his mind is uot known defi nitely, but it is cousidercd probable that his action is to some extent influenced by a report which has boon current here for a day or two pist that Wade Hampton had forwarded to the Democratic Governors of Maryland, Djlewarc, find Ohio, through which States the Senator would have to pass en routo for Pennsylvania, requisitions for his arrest on the same charges wfiich^* were brought against him sum e time ago In the meantime tho friends of Mr. Northrop are doing their utmost to have him coufi rmed, while Judge Carpenter and his supporters are confident that he, and not Northrop, is the comiu g man. Proceedings of the Legislature. Columbia, S. C, January 2?.?The Charleston delegation as a committee, have agreed to the bill dividing Charleston Counties into four elec tion and judicial districts, called Old Charleston, Herkley, Edisto, and Col lcton. The line is to be run from the confluence of the branchos of the Cooper River to Saltkehatchie bridge. Old Charleston will embrace St. Philip's-and St. Michael's, Christ Church, St. ?Thomas and St. Dennis, St. James antce. and James Island, and will have one Senator and eleven' members. In tho Senate tho following bill became a law : A bill chartering the South Caro lina Imigration Association. The following were engrossed for third reading : Bill to apportion the taxes on pro perty iu which tho tit'o, or an inter est therein, has been transferred sub ject to assessment. COLUMBIA, January 28.?In the House Mr. Simpson introduced a resolution providing for night sess ions, on and after Tuesdoy next. Adopted by a vote of 43 to 31. Tho following passed to a third reading: A bill to protect the crops of plan ters and farmers in the hands of mer chants and ; factors from attachments and levy for debt-j due by said mer chants and factors. Columbia, January 29.?Tho House, on motion of Simonton, re ferred tho bills abolishing tho Trial Justice system to tho commission for the revision of the laws of tho -t tato next summer, so the system stands. The vote on tho lieu law to-day shows that tho chaugo in the law will pass to morrow by a decided vote. < olumbia, January 30.?The fol ? lowing correspondence t rammt it ted to tho Gener?1 Assembly _ to-day, will expluia itself: State of South Carolina, Executive's Chamber, Columbia, January 30, 1878. Gentlemen of the General Assembly : 1 take great pleasure in submitting to you 'a letter from tho Hon. Peter Cooper, of New 'York, proposing to make a valuable donation to the State. My answer to the venerable philanthropist is also transmitted for your information, The generous action contemplated by Mr. Cooper deserves grateful re cognition at the hands of tho Stato authorities, and I trust that the Gen eral Assembly will express to this gentleman the sense of the deep obli gation under which ho has placed the people of the State. Wade Hampton, Governor. New York, January 12, 1878. Hon. Waile Hampton, Governor : Allow mo to present to you, for your consideration, anJ also that ot your Legislature, the following in quiry, concerning a d motion which, upon conditions, I might make for the benefit of the youth of Sooth Caroli na, viz: "What arc tho best conditions on which the State of South Carolina would aCcept the donation from me, of a certain property, situated at Limestone Springs, Spnrtanburg County, S. C, consisting of the build- j ings and one hundred, or more,acres | of land, and make and maintain a Manual Labor Institution, or a School of Science aud Arts, applied to the useful and necessary purposes of life, for young women, similcr to the branches nnd pursuits now taught in tho Cooper Union of 5?Tcw York. If there be any need of an Orphan Aoylum, this might be included in the general design, as there are buildings on the estate sufficient for both pur poses My attention has been directed by a friend of Southern education (Theodore Brown) to the great needs of the youth of South Carolina, for instruction in usclnl arts aud trades, which, in my opinion, is one of the best methods of securi ng the pro s perity of'onr glorious union of States, which is my ardent desire. I am, sir, Yours, very respectfully, Peter (. ooper. ^o. 9 Lexington avenue, New York. Stat.: of South Cap.oi ina, KXECUTl VfT-v/if AJIlltK, - Columbia, January 30. My Dear Sir: Your letter, inform ing mo of tho munificent donation which you propose to make to this State in aid of the cause ofeducotion, has been received, and I beg to ex press my great gratification on ac count of your generous actiou iu this matter. I but forestall what will, I am sure, bo tho sense of the General Assembly when I tender to you, on behalf of tho State, the most heart felt thanks for your bonificence. Your request shall be submitted to the Legislature, and its action in the premises shall at once be transmitted to you. \Y itli my own earnest thanks, and the assuranco of my respect and esteem, I have the honor to bo Very trul), yours Wade Havpton, Governor. If on. Peter Cooper. PROCEEDINGS of the house. Tho following bill were engrossed nnd read a third time : A bill to protect t,ho crops of plau ters end farmers in the hands of mer chants and factors from attachment nnd levy for debts due b) said mer chants and factors. In the Senate a message from thu Governor was received, informing tho Senate of the resignation of Judge P. L. Wiggin, of the Second Judicul Circuit. The following h?ls passed their third reading : Bill for the protection of landlords leasing lands for agricultural pur poses. Bill (House) to extend tho provi sions of an act entitled "an act to authorize county commissioners to submit to the qualified electors of thei r several counties a proposition to alter itho fence laws aud t o provido for 'effectuating the same'' to the planta tions of certain persons named herein. [ Bill to incorporate tho Charleston j Bagging and Manufacturing Com pany. I Bill (House) to authorizo tho Sec retary of Stato to confer with tho {South Carolina Monumental Associa ?tion, and to select n spot within tho '?State House grounds for tho erection j of n .monument to tno Confederate dead, and iu bGhalf of tho Stato to authorize tho enmo. Bill (House) to authorize the em ployment of able-bodied male prison ers confined in * jail under sentence in labor upon tho public roads and upon the the public streets of the cities and towns and the roads leading thereto of this State. Bill (House) to establish a uew judicial and clectiou county from a portion of Beaufort county, to be known as Hampton county. Bill to apportion the taxes on pro perty in which the title or ae inter est therein has been transferred sub sequent to assessment. Joint Resolution (House) to author ize and direct the Secretary of Stato to extend the time for payment of I amounts due upon lands purchased of the late Land Commission. < olu.mi'IA, S. C, January 31, 1878. ?In the House, the bill to rogulatej the costs and please of plaintiffs and defendants, clerks, etc., after two hours discussion, was finally disposed of by referring the whole matter to a committee compo.-ed of three lawyers and four [farmers?Messrs. Vorn er Pope, J. J. Hemphill, Voumans, K S. Allen, W. S. Alien, .1. C. Cain. In the Senate, too con cur reut res > Ittliou , relative to the election of Cir cuit Judges was made the special order for Wednesday. Presentment of Grand Jury. To II is Honor W.U. Wallace Presid ing Judge First ( 'ircuit. Wo. the Grand Jury of Of?iigebtirg County make the following report: Jail. Wo visited the Jail and found it iu bad condition, the roof leaks in several places, in one so badly that the Jailor reports when it rains, it is necessary to have the water dipped up. We found no glasses or shutters to the windows, and the prisoners twenty in number, suffering extrc ine ly with cold. We found four locks wanting, and two that are in use worthless. This matter was brought to the attention of the Court in the presentment of the last Grand Jury, but no attention has ever been paid to it. Two doors of the dungeons we found broken, the front planks of which had been ripped off and could not bo properly shut. We would recommend that the County Com lubsiurers be required to furnish the additional locks, to have the doors of toe tiuiugboirs i\ [n;':rf\}, and !*ttkct 4J1 the roof of the jail stopped. County Offioks. We found the Offices of the Clerk of the Court, Treasurer, Probate Judge, Auditor and County Com missioners in good condition, their books and papers as far as Ave could judge being neatly and properly kept. We found the offices of the Audi tor, Sheriff and Treasurer badly furn ished and ihesc offices subjected to many inconveniences in consequence thereof, we therefore recommend that such tables and desks be supplied them respectively,as may supply their wants. The Treasurer stated that he con sidered his sale not sufficiently secure for his purposes; we therefore recom mend that it he tu rued over to the Sheriff whose office needs one, and a heiter one s upplied him. School Commissioner. We found the office of School Com missioner in a bail condition, his books and papers being badly kept and otherwise showed great in coin p stency. Iiis books show the back indepled ness of the county to be about $25, 000 for school purposes, the result of ignorant und incompetent officials. This heavy debt will prove a great barrier to the cause of education iu our coun ty. We therefore "present School Commissioner Thomas Phillips, for incompenteuoy. The cause of educa tion will never prosper in our county, as l?ng as an ignorant official re mains at its bend. Pooh House. We found the Poor House iu good condition, its inmates five iu number being well cared for. Trial Justices. Wo visited the office of Trial Jus lice, W. A. O'Cain, aud found his books and papers as far as we could judge in good condition. Wo aro un able to make any report of tho other Trial Justices in the county for tho reason that their offices are located in tho country. Wo would call their at tention through the Solicitor, to tho "vagrant law," and recommend that it bo enforced, Tho Grand Jury understand that there aro many "idlors and loafers" through tho coun m try, who in their opinion might bo used with profit to tho county in re pairing streets aud public roads. Wa would further recommend that every" Trial Justice in the county be requir ed to report at each term oftheOourt to the Grand Jury, submit their books for examination, and otherwise ac count for their "Stewardship." Tho Grand Jury have reason to believe that their offices are often abused, aud that cases are not unfrcquentta * brought into this Court which o mid' he settled at home, thus entailing up on the county u useless and unnecess ary expense. court IIOU8E. I We notice that tho plastering in I the Court House is falliug'off. -Tml building being a very new one, wo submit the inquiry, whether or not , the contractor could not bo required to repair the same? Otherwise to direct ? the County Commissioners to have same attended to. One G. A. Neuffcr appeared beforo us and stated that he was in possea session of important information relative to the co rruptinn and fraud practiced in our county for several years past. We woui d respectfully request that he be allowed to go bo fore the SoliS\tor with his evidenoe and information, and that he should institute such proceedings in the mat ter as iu his opinion tne public jus tice demands The Grand Jury find from evidence which has been sub mitted to them, that certain impor tant papers, discovered by committco of a former Grand Jury, und furnish ing evidence of extensive frauds against the county, in a settlement between T. C. Andrews as former Treasurer, and P. R McKinlay, as School Commissioner of the county, by erasures, changes of dates, and ' false endorsements, and cn which a presentment was made by said form er Grand Jury, went into the pos session of one, C. W. Buttz, then Solicitor of the First Circuit, who neither gave out bills of indictment upon them, nor restored them to the custody of the proper officer, aud the Grand Jury Would earnestly recom mend to the Court, th.it the Solicitor be instructed to take all proper legal steps to recover possession of said papers from said Buttz, and take such action upon them, as the public jus tice may seem to demand. And that if it shall appear that said C. W. H?tt/, has been entity of official mis conduct, or any punishable oftVnso in connection w?hUhe sVrjf" p7ij,L,?A,"i/hl?"1"'* the Solicitor do also institute the pro per steps to bring him to trial Ibr^ueh offences. Tho papers referred to are thirteen Teacher's Bay Certificates, a more exact description of which the ?ran I Jury through their Foreman is prepared to fuuish to the Solicitor. Respectfully submitted, A. AI. COX, Foreman. State News. Columbia's streets are not lighted. Too much license is allowed pistol prowlers in Greenville, Laurensyille comesuo the conclu sion that she is losing trade by poor roads and streets. ( Two Charleston ncAroes Saturday evening made a $250 robbery, but were speedily arrested.,' Clinton h?ts to buy -nnglefoot now at Laurensyille, sine* she selected "dry paths" of government. The Luurensvillo leruld publishes renewed assurances tilt tho Lau re US Bai i road will be atontf) completed. Sunday's Columbia Register says s "The latest rumor 1 >m Washington j is that Senntar Patte sou is willing to doff the robes of o: ice, provided he can secure im muni t throug Demo ?ratic influence, am feel eure as to the succession being c inferredaccord ing to fia ideas " Forty students bow attend the Thcnh gical Scmii|?j0 in Columbia? Tuition is cntirolygjjo, tho Seminary being supported Uj.tho members of the Presbyterian U'jf.'ch in the South* ern States. Its 'julty consists of Professors Rev. J ]j. Howo, Plumer, Woodrow and 0~iideau, and a He brew tutor, Rev. CH. Hemphill. Oil I'll i Departed this life Hday, Jan.Gth, 1878, with pneumonia, If. Matnam Boxard, wife of Lewis Ilozai months. -Sho was ul^> Church for 4' ycawj figed 64 years and ten mber of the Baptist I hereby notify if that I have lost o\ Farm three miles papers arc Itecorj . and aro of no use?I i Jriends and the public ?..Vpisplaced, during the inai i nave iosi o, ^lapiuccu, uurmg wie last three years, U ^eeds and rapcra for ?n?_.i_i_m_f~. f\_._u..__ a_tj m Orangeburg. Bald in the Clerk's Office any one but myself. II1111 HID Ul IlU unv??4 ill*J vuu uu? Jiiynv... Any information 'a/?cerning them will ba thankfully receive | feb 2-4 i .CONIO C?AMPY.