Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Or;11 -vnurir Times. JTBSDKD l VERY SATURDAY MOIiKiSG. Tonus o! Subscription. O-ne (Jopj one Year.$'2 00 " h Six Mouth*. 1 00 Rates of Advertising. 0 One Square 1st Insertion.SI 60 Each Subsequent " . 1 00 Notices inserted, in Local Column at 20c per Line, All Subscriptions and Transient Advertise ments to be paid for in Advance. Jfr?y~ No Recipt3 Jo. Subscript 'on or A dver tiscmcnts arc Valid unless Signed l?j Business Manager. BSy We are in no way responsible for tho views or opinions of our Correspond ents. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1878. South Carolina College. The man}* friends of this time lion ored institution will be gratified to learn that tho bill, looking to its re organization in tho near future, together with the the management of | the Claflin College located at this point, lun passed the Legislature No college in tho South, nnd few in tho United States, can boas-t of a longer list of honored alumni than this institution, and lew bad more to do in moulding Southern character, nnd especially iu imprinting upon the youth of our own State those peculiar characteristics which everywhere dis tinguished tho Carolina gentleman It is tobe heped that tho College, rather than the University plan, will prevail when the reorganization takes place. The Eastern War. The Turks have again been defeat ed near Rutsehuk by the Servian forces. Tho Russians are cohcchlra. ting at Adrianople and sending out scouting parties to towns within twenty-five miles of Constantinople. The Sultan has arranged to move the government further east should the Russinns approoch uncomfortably near. Between the (dose proximity of the Russiau forces, the Rouman ian refugees, the half savage and armed Circassians iu and about his capital, the Tcrrili.td Molmmo'lans seeking transportation to softer re gions and the general panic pervad ing the entire country, he finds it exceedingly difficult to maintain or der aud provide for the necessities of his -subjects. ? o one desires peace more than the Sultan and, seeing his p^wAtfruAw wwi'l tor gingery, ''hold L f'y enough 1" The Trial Justic System. Our people, for the last two years, have been expecting some change.to be made by the General Asecml ly in what is known as the Tril Justice Courts. That there arc evils attend ing the present system of trials no ono 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, and 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 these J plans wcro fully discussed in the House last week nnd the whole mat ter wisely disposed of by a resolution offered by Col. Simontou, 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 affairs it would be eminently unwise, if not dangerous, to tamper with any part of the machinery of tho 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 the Democratic party lay its foundation securely. Let no change be made merely for the snkc of a change and it will be able to enter upon the next elect ion unburdened by issues growing out ol haste or impru dence. '1 bo result of the next elec tion will depend as much upon the exercise of prudence and foresight now as upon firmness and action in the Fall Baik of the State. The Attorney-General has inform ed the Goncrnl Assembly through Governor Hampton that certain pmw.- who Undercd the bills of the ??'.??? ~> <i\ ih Stain in payment of * i i i.i^twUlci oi v,i?ulc3loil to compel action on his part as the law directs. The questions involved uro of vital importance to tho citizens of our Stale and whatever action the Legis lature nmy take, ought to be prompt and decisive. The State is oortai ?ly 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 the credit of tho State. A cause of action that will beget confi dence, will entity the holders aud thus allow the Slate to redeem then grad ually und without serious detriment to the interest of any citizen. The Lien and Usury Laws. We aro not prepared at the pre sent writing to express a matured opinion upon the bills which has been but 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 in force as laws of the laud. We mean the bill to repeal the Lien Law and the Usury Bill. The first, wo 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 tho Lien Law had alone been repealed, the honest ami thrifty citizen, by it cut off from the advances heretofore mud? by the town merchant, could borrow money at reasonable rate? of interest, from his more fortunate neighbor, in .s-illicient amounts to purchase supplies. He would lind this cheaper, even wore the money borrowed at 15 per cent., than to give a lien upon his next year's crop to secure the payment of goods for which he is charged by the merchant ruinous credit prices and an exorbitant rate of interest besides. Cut off by the repeal of the lien law from the advances of the merchant and from the capitalist by the usury law, we await with great apprehen sions tin; 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 w isely and for the good of the country. Let them not undo the good they have done by re-enacting any law resembling the lien law If the good ol" the cotuiTry demands such a nieasT tire let the usury law be abolished. The following is what our St. Mat thews fanners 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 wae unanimously lieaohctl, That it is the deliberate opinion of Washington Grange that the rcenactment of a lien law is not desired by the farmers of this couuey. That the lien law in its effects by high prices charged for supplies, interest aud cost of record ing is very disnstrious 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 over Senator Matthews' resolution declaring for the faith of contracts as to bonds, and allowing the government to pay cither in gold or silver coin as the bond stipulates. This resolution involves tho remoni tizalion of silver by putting the silver dollar upon the same basis as gold. Justice and reason would seem to de mand that nil coin should have the same standard whether gold or silver, but Mr. Sherman, the bondholders and their sympathizers thought oth erwise. Most of the Southern mem hers supported the resolution, nota b'y among them was the great and the good Gordon, who threw the w eight of his influence on the side of a common coin standard, and on the 2.0111 achieved a grand victory over the bondholders by causing the passage of ihe resolution by a voto of 42 to '22. The bears of Wall Street will doubtless growl, but honest gov ernment and honest money go hand in hand. Considerable inrring 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 New Ei gland to the shoulders of the South ami West. Another trick to i)union out people. A voto being V ifr tiii enncting clause wni btiickcii oiii. au.i um substitute adopted by ? voto of 145 to 112 as follows: "Th?t.fi reduction of the tax on distilled spirits is inexpedient.'' Another measure will soon come before Congress /or a practical solu tion that will run the pulse of? New England Solous up to a raging fever bent. Tho sum of ?9,677,0 60 in gold, known as the Geneva award, obtained, in part by the ravages of tho Ala bama, Shiinuudnnh and Florida upon F?deral Commerce during the war. This huge amount is to be divided between claimants of three classes. Doubtless there will lie a gathering of the hungry ones fron) 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 snow storm here all day; wind blowing a gale; trains behind. The storm is prevailing west of Detroit, and is reported severe ht Cincinnati, Toledo and other places. NORFOLK, January 31.?A storm with northeast gale prevailed Lst night and until noon today. The .stonier Lady of the Lake has not arrived fioin Washington. The weather was severe on the bay hist night; heavy wind with sleel aud snow prevailing. Waiting lor Confirmation. Washington', January 28.?In the Judiciary Committee to day, the case of Mr. Northrop, nominated to be United States Dist rict Attorney for South Carolina, was discussed briefly, but was laid over at the request of Senator Patterson, who wrote asking that no definite action b; taken upo.i it until he was able again to take his seat in the Senate. This ho hoped to do in a few days, and it is inferred that he has given up the trip to Pennsylvania which he had contem plated. What has induced him to change his mind is uot known defi nitely, but it is considered probable that bis action is to some extent influenced by a report which has boon current hero for a day or two p ist that Wade Hampton had forwarded to the Democratic Governors of Maryland, DJewarc, and Ohio, through which States the Senator would have to pass en route for Pennsylvania, requisitions for his arrest on theT same clmrgcT wfiiclr*1 were brought against him aovo, e tune ago In the meantime the friends of Mr. Northrop are doing their utni03t to have him eoufl rmed, while Judge Carpenter and his supporters are confident that he, and not Northrop, is tho comiu g man. Proceedings of the Legislature. Columbia, S. C, January 25.?The Charleston delegation as a committee, have agreed to the bill dividing Charleston Counties into four elec tion and judicial districts, called Old Charleston, Berkley, Edisto, and Col* leton. The line is to be run from tho confluence of tho branches of tho 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 nntee. and James Island, nnd 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 rending : Bill to apportion the taxes on pro perty in which tho tit'o, or an inter est therein, has been transferred sub ject to assessment. Columbia, January 28.?In tho House Mr. Simpson introduced a resolution providing for night sess ions, on and after Tuesday next. Adopted by a vote of 43 to 31. Tho following passed to a third reading: A bill to protect tho crop3 of plan* j ters and farmers in the hands of mer chants and .factors from attachments and ' levy for debts due by said mer chants and factors. Columbia, January 29.?Tho Houso, on motion of Simouton, re ferred tho bills abolishing tho Trial Justice system to tho commission for the revision of the laws of tho . t?te next summer, so the system stands. Tho vote on tho lien law to-day shows that tho chango in the law will pass to morrow by a decided vote. i oloi r.i a, January 30.?The fol lowing correspondence transmitted to I tho General Assembly _ to-day, will explain itself: >? M State of South Carolina, Executive's Chamber, Columbia, January 30, 1878. Gentlemen of the General Asscmb'y : 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 State 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 Slate. Wade 11 ampton, Governor. New York, January 12, 1878. Hon. Wade /lamf'ton, Governor : Allow me to present to you, for your consideration, and also that of your Legislature, the following in quiry, concerning a donation which, upon conditions, I might make for the benefit of the youth of South Caroli na, viz: "What are tho best conditions on which the State of South Carolina would accept the donation from me, of a certain property, situated at Limestone Springs, Spartanburg County, S. C., consisting of the build ings and one hundred, or more,acres of land, ami make and maintain a Manual Labor Institution, or a School of Science and Arts, applied to the useful and necessary purposes of life, for young women, similcr to tho branches and pursuits now taught in the Cooper Union of New York. If there he any need of an Orphan Asylum, this might be included in the geneial design, as there are bu ldings 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 useful arts aud trades, which, in my opinion, is one of the best methods of securing the pro s perity of our glorious union of States, which is my ardent desire. I am, sir, Yours, very respectfully, Peter t oopkk. No. 9 Lexington avenuo, New York. St at.: ok South Cvnoi in a, l*x rc UTl VtT~Chi a *l OKit, Columbia, January 30. My Dear Sir: Your letter, inform ing me of the munificent donation which you propose to make to this State in aid of the cause ofeducotiou, has been received, and I beg to ex press ray great gratification on ac count of your generous action in this matter. I but forestall what will, I am sure, bo the scuseof the Goneral Assembly when I tender to you, on behalf of the State, the most heart felt thanks for your benilicence. Your request shall be submitted In the Legislature, and its action in the premises shall at once be transmitted to you. W ith my own earnest thauks, and the assurance of my respect and esteem, I havo tho honor to be Very trul3, yours Wade IIavpton, Governor. Hon. Peter Cooper. proceedings of tur housic. The following bill were engrossed and rend a third time : A bill to protect ihe crops of plau ters and farmers in the bauds of mer chants and factors from attachment I and levy for debts due b) said mer chants and factors. In the Senate a message from the Governor was received, informing tho Senate of the resignation of Judge P. L. Wiggin, of the Second Judical Circuit. The following bills passed their third reading : Bill for the protection of landlords leasing lauds 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 thoi r several counties a proposition to alter jtho fence laws and t o provide for 'effectuating the same'' to the planta tions of certain persons named herein. Bill to incorporate tho Charleston ?Nagging and Manufacturing Cam pauy. I Bill (House) to authorizo tho Sec rotary of State to confor with tho South Caroliua Monumental Associa tion, and to select a spot within tho 'State House grounds for tho erection of a x&ouument to tno Confederate 1 " dead, and iu b?half of tho Stato to authorize tho samo. 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 tho the public streets of the cities aud towns and the roads leading thereto of this State. Bill (House) to establish a new judicial and electiou 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 an 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 amounts due upon lands purchased of the late Land Commission. ( OLUMI'IA, S. C, January 31, 1878. ?In the House, tho bill to regulate, the costs aud please of plaintiffs and defendants, clerks, etc., alter two hours discussion, was finally disposed oi' by referring the whole matter to a committee composed of three lawyers and lour (farmers?Messrs. Vorner Tope, J. J. Hemphill, Youmuns. E S. Allen, W. S. Allen, J. C. Cain. In the Senate, tho coucurreut res > lutiou I relative to the election of Cir cuit Judgts was made the special order for Wednesday. Presentment of Grand Jury. To Iiis Honor W. II. Wallace /W<id ini/ .Judy. First '' ircuit. We the Grand Jury of Orangeburg County make the following report: Jam,. Wo visited the Jail ami found it in 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 glassed or shutters to the windows, and the prisoners twenty in number, suffering extre rae ly with cold. We found four locks wanting, and two that arc 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 bad been ripped off and could not bo properly shut. Wo would recommend that tho County Com lubsiorers bo required to furnish the additional locks, to have the doors of the ti1uug"co.'.s n.-p.v.vvYj, ajwJ !<r&k&-pi the roof of the jail slopped. County Offios. We found the Offices of the'"Ilerk of the Court, Treasurer, Probate Judge, Auditor and County Com missioners in good condition, their books and r npers as far us we could judge being neatly and properly kept. We found the offices of tho Audi tor, Sheriff and Treasurer badly furn ished and Lhese offices subjected to many inconveniences iu consequeuce 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 bis sale not sufficiently secure for his purposes; we therefore recom mend that it be tu rued over to the Sheriff whose olliee needs one, and u belter oiics uppliedhim. ScHoc?i. Cumm i-sio^'i;n. We iound the office oi School Com missioner in a bad condition, his books and papers being badly kept and otherwise showed groat incomp iteucy . His books show (be back indepted ness of the county to be about $25, 000 for school put poses, the result of iynorant and incompetent officials. This heavy debt will prove a great barrier to the cause of education in our coun ty. We therefore present Sch ool Commissioner Thomas Phillips, for incompentQucy. The cause of educa tion will never prosper in our county, ns? Wig as an ignorant official re mains at its head. Boon House. We found the Poor House in good condition, its inmates five iu number being well cared for. TitiAL Justices. We visited tho office of Trial Jus tice, W. A. O'Cain, aud found his books and papers as far as wo could judge in good condition. Wo are un able to make any report of tho other Triai Justices in the county for the reason that their offices aro locatod iu tho country. Wo would call their at tention through tho Solicitor, to tho "vagrant law," nnd recommend that it bo enforced, Tho Grand Jury und er .stand that there are many "idlors and loafers" through tho coun try, ^Yho in their opinion might bo used with profit to the eounty iu re pairing streets and public roads. We would further recounueud thnt every Trial Justice in the couuty be requir ed to report at each term of theCourt to the Grand Jury, submit their books for examination, and otherwise ac count for their "Stewardship." The Grand Jury have reason to believe that their offices are often abused, and ihat cuse3 are not unfroqueptlw \ brought into this Court which, e ntld' be settled at home, thus eutailiug up on the county a useless and unnecess ary expense. COURT IIOU8E. We notice that tho plastering in the Court House is fulling;?ff; TMre building being a very now one, we submit the inquiry, whether or not*^ the contractor could not be required to repair the same? Othonvisj to direct ,,the County Commissioners to have same al tended to. One G. A. Ne?ffer appeared before us and stated that ho was in posses session of hnportiut information relative to the co riuplion and fraud practiced in our county for several years past. We woui d respectfully request that he be allowed to go bo fore the Solicitor with his evidence and information, and that he should institute such proceedings in the mat ter as in his opinion tno public jus tice demands The Grand Jury find from evidence which has been sub mitted to them, that certain impor tant papers, discovered by committee of a former Grand Jury, and furnish ing evidence of extensive frauds against the county, in a settlement between T. C. Andrews as former Treasurer, and F. R. McKinlay, as " School Commissioner of the county, by erasures, changes of date3, aud ' false endorsements, and cn which a pre-entment 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 tho custody of the proper officer, aud the Grand Jury Would earnestly recom mend to the Court, that the Solicitor be instructed to take all proper legal steps to recover possession of said papers from said Buttz, and take such action ujmui them, us the public jus tice may seem to demand. And that if it shall appear that said C. W. H?tt/, has been f:hilly of official niia condtict, or any punishable offense in connection witfCXfie sTrtf pipllT'ri*lh;ir,?? the Solicitor do also institute the pro per stops to bring him to trial Ibr^uoh offences. Tho papers referred to are thirteen Teacher's Bay Certificates, a more exact description of which the lirau l Jury through their Foreman is prepared to funish to the Solicitor. Respectfully submitted, A. M. COX, Foreman. ? i ? I Ii I j ? *? ? t BT SIIWi ? State News. Columbia's streets arc not lighted. Too much liceisc is allowed pistol prowlers in Greenville. Laurensville comcsito the conclu sion that she is losing trade by poo* roads and streets. ^ Two Charleston ne;.roes Saturday e vening made a S25C robbery, but were speedily arrested. Clinton h?s to buy rnnglcfoot now at Laurensville, sine* she selected "dry paths" of govcrniieut. The Laurensville J era Id publishes renewed assurances tl it tho Laurens Railroad will be atony, completed. Sunday's Columbia Register says ? "The latest rumor fl>m Washington is that Senatar Patte doff the robes of ojico, provided he can secure immumt cratie influence, ane the success', n being e inferred accord ing to .?is ideas M Forty students iow attend the Thenlogical Semiuay in Columbia* Tuition is entirely fi c, the Seminary being supported b} the members of [son is willing to throug Demo feel sure as to the Presbyterian Ch em States. Its ft Professors Rev. D| Woodrow and Oiftrdeau, and a Hi) brew tutor, Rev. C .-ch in the South* ulty consists of j. Howe, Plumcr, OUlTl'iRY. wife of Lewis Jlozard, X, Hcmphill. Departed this life Sf day, Jan. 6th. 187?, with pneumonia, Mr. Marriam Bosard, iged 61 years and ten months. She was a lumber of the Baptist Church for 41 years. \ papers are Recorde ana are of no use iST I hereby notify mnriends and the public that I have lost or displaced, during the last three years, thtt>eeds ana Papers for Farm three ...lies floi Orangeburg. Said in tho Clerk's Office any ono but my ??elf. Any information c iceruing them will be thankfully received feb 2-4 A: CONIO CHAMPY.