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Xlduoating Africans. THE DEBATE IS CONOKK88. \V? publish below tho Debate in Congress, on tlic Consular and Diplomatio Appropriation bill, which contained a clause by which provi. ion was made for the support and education of the negroes captured in the Echo, and returned to Africa by this Government. This clauso was opposed by the Southern democrats, on the ground tliatrt was an impertinent interpolation, having no relation to the body of the bill, and as objectionable upon its own intrinsic merits. The appropriation would sanction an unwarrantable exercise of power by the Executive, la proridiug for the education of tho Africans?This is an usurpation not sanctioned by the Act of Congress, which directs merely that Ihey be returned to the spot, whence they were kidnapped: Til* llotlflP Wfflt ?nfv> HAWfwJllaa " 1 Ul VIIQ WIIUIO and took up the consular and diplomatic ap propriation bill. The question was taken upon the proviso aubmilted by Mr. Curry yesterday in regard to the appropriation for the payment of expenses incurred iu pursuance o f the act of 1819, and it was lost. Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, said he could not aupporl the appropriation of $7.N,U0O for carrying into effect the provisions of the act of 1819, because $30,000 would go to the Colonization Society f?r supporting and educating the no groes taken from the brig Echo, and move-1 to strike It out. The law of 1819 only authorized tho President to provide for the support of the negroes while here, and effect their removal beyond the limits of the United States. Mr. Stewart, of Md.. sustained the action of the President as eminently wise and proper. The law of 1819 required hitn to take charge of these negroes ana deliver them to a proper gent. If, io effecting that result, it became necessary to make a contract with that agent for their support for a year, he could see no good ground for objection. In carrying out the law lie thought the President should be guided by principles of common sense. lie was opposed to lhc6e superfine distinctions uiauc uy geiiuemon. Mr. Milson, of Virginia, was surprised at the sensitiveness of Southern gentlemen upon this ubjcct, who seemed disposed to treat it ne a matter affecting the slave trade, lie did not to regard it, for in his opinion if the Sout h condemned the slave trade, she repudiated the basis on which her institutions rest, lie thought the President had pursued the proper course in the premises, and quoted from Mr. Monroe to show that in a previous case he took the same ground as Mr. Buchanan. Mr. Case, of Indiana, moved to strike out tho whole section, lie thought it should be stricken out as an act of consistency in a country where rights of every sort were denied to negroes. Under the very shadow of the oapitol they were subjected to outrage and wrong, and consistency required that the same policy sh< *!d be carried out. Mr. Keitt, of S. C., said gentlemen from bis aide of tbe House had not contended that this appropriation bad anything to do with slavery or the slave trade. They had opposed it on the eronni) that, if roo? in 1 ...... \JI lU vr* INC gentleman from Ohio yesterday found the point of law against him, and made out his argument by an appeal to the sympathies of the House. A great deal had been said of the horrors of the middle passage of an unregulated slave trade, but they were fully equalled, if notsurSassed, by the horrors of the emigrant passage etvreen Europe and the Northern States. The shores of New Jersey were whitened with the bones of the victims of the cupidity of eastern ship-owners and the carelessness of those having tbem in charge. lie would not now discuss the question of re-opening the slave trade. He regarded that as a great ecouomic problem which would resolve itself by its own inherent vitality. Mr. Crawford's amendment to reduco tho appropriation to $45,000 was carried by ayes 76, nays 38. Mr. Seward, of Oa., offered as an amendment a proviso for abolishing all the Inws for the suppression of the slave trade, leaving that matter under the control of the severs) States. Mr. Ronlmm. of Smith Ptmlln. ? J ? , ? viiua, lllUVCU ID strike out the words "act now in force." So far as he was aware, there wns no other act that contained the words "for the suppression of the slave trade" than the act of 1819, and he would be glad to know from the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means why these words had been inserted. If it was intended to put into the hands of the President money for the better executing of the act of 1820, it was not the place for it; if to enable bim or hip agents more effectually to suppress tbo elare trade, it was not the place for it. Mr. Seward, of Georgia, ?aid he looked upon 11 laws for the suppression of the slave'tradu as mischievous and unconstitutional. IIe would not take ground in favor of the revival of lhai trade, but the laws on the subject contained provisions which were, his judgment, clearly unconstitutional. Mr. Burnett protested against this revival of the slavery agitation. The question of the revival of the slave trade wait not involved in vuo opp<upi ibiiuii uuuer conaiaeraliou, and he appealed to gentlemen not to engage in exciting debate upon a euhject not before them. Mr. Singleton said it was not his desire to precipitate a discussion, but the only hope of the South was in a strict adherence to law.? She was the wenker party ; the abolitionists were constantly gaining upon her, and she must interpose the la-" between herself and her as sailanta. The appropriation asked for was in violation of law, and he had opposed it on that gr- ft id. Mr. Cochrane, of N. Y., said the House waa discussing propositions not legitimately before it. If it was proposed to repeal the law suppressing the slave trade, he was ready to meet the issue when it waa presented. Mr. Oroesbeck said he heped if that issue was to be made, it would be made at once. He waa ready to meet it. In his opinion it was more likely that laws would be pawed to more faithfully execute thoae in force than to repeal them. Mr. Hughes, of lnd., said that the democratic party was baaed upon the conatitution, and therefore he belonged to it; but whenever it honld propose to reDeal th? !?? ? fn? --- presaion of the slave trade, it would ceaseto exist. Mr. Barksdale, of Miss., regretted thia debate, became it was not the proper time to discuss the subject. He waa ready to take his position when the issue came up. He believed the President bad violated the lav in making the eontract, but he believed he was actuated by * pare and honest motives. Mr. Clay, of Kv-. rose to a personal explanation. He had said yesterdsy that he was opposed to all the laws for the suppression of the - lave trade, because they were too severe. He bad also opposed the 8th article of the treaty .of Washington, because out of that ha<! grown the entangling alliance with Great Bri tain which bad led to the nemetrstion outrages in the Golf of Uexioo by her cruiserr. He aleo objected to the expense wa were suljetted to in keeping a squadron oa the coast of Africa; bat notwithstanding thrse views, no man was more opposed to s revival of the African slave trade than he wsi, and he believe^ the people of his distaiet were with hinTm that sentiment. Mr. Miiea, of South (Carolina, bad listened with some regret to the diicuasion. Ho was (hat hideous thing?a sectional man. He was ?1m represented ve of a sovereign State of the weaMreection, and they could not hnt be eectioaa), because they moat be united fa order to * maiataia their right*. He lid not olasa himself in the.great national democrat rank*. He go with (hat party honestly where he <6eri4wBWUatiotiely and consistently with the |M|lMHHUon; bat when they eallad upon jimtm depart one iota from that conn*. h? Aaroed bit M*k upon them. and l?ft them forAod vbile he wu not prepared to ad-vomUTthe re-opening of the (lave trade, he4 pr?|^wd to advocate the aweepiDg away ' 4r*a <wr etataU-booka of the lawa whieh stamped Dm people of hia Stat* aa pi" 'ift X ... I ; ir iiitf^mi tlie laws on the subject were unconstitutional, and whilo ho would not. say that it was politio now to re open the trade, it might he necessary if England and France carried it on covertly. He denounced the coolie system as infinitely less mild and humane than that of African slavery ns it existed in this country. Mr. Goneh. of Massachusetts, expressed his satisfaction that so much light ha>1 been shed on the subject, and made some remarks in opposition to the slave system. Mr. Case's motion to strikeout the whol* section was carried by yeas 104. nays 26. when the cruiinittee rose nnd the Llouse adjourned. THE INDEPENDENT PRESS IS Pl'DLIMlED EVERT FRIDAY M0RN1NQ BY LEE & WILSON. W. A. LEE, Editor. Individuals, like nation*, fail in not/ling which they boldly atleihpt, ichen sustained by virtuous purpose, an>*determined resolution.?Henry Clay " Willing to praise, yet not a/raid to blame" Terms?Two Dollars a Year, in Advance. ABBEVILLE O. H. ^ ? ^ i FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1850. Court Calendar. WESTERN CIRCUIT?SPRING TERM, 1859. return days. Abbeville, Saturday, Feb'y 19. Anderson, Saturday, Feb'y 20. Pickens, Saturday, March 6. Greenville m ??"-J1 1*. I Spartanburg, Saturday, March 19. Laurens Saturday, March 26. 1TTIN09 or oounT. Abbeville Monday, March 7. Anderson Monday, March, 14 Pickens, Monday, March 21. Greenville, Mondny, March 28Spurtanburg, Monday, April 4Lnnrens, Monday, April 11 Clubbing with Magazines. The example ot several of our contemporaries of the press, 6UggesU the propriety of reminding our readers, that we are prepared to furnish our paper in conncction with tlie popular monthlies of the Season at reduced rates We will furnish the PRESS and cither "tIAR PER," " GODEY"GRAHAM." or the "KNICKERBOCKER," for FOUR DOLLARS ; and " PETliRSON" or "Arthur" with the PRESS for $3.60?which is only $1 in advance upon the current rates of those Magazines. Such magazines as HARPER. GODEY and others, with their attractions literary and pictorial are iuvaluuble to the family circle, and with the local incidents and general miscellanj* of the country paper, constitute a fund of entertainmcDt, which wed repays the pecuniary outlay. Senator Hammond and General Bonham will please accept our thanks for Congressional Documents. Advertisements. We direct attention to the advertisement* of Messrs. R."H. Wardlaw <fc Son, R. H. Wurdlaw, Ag't., II. S. Kerr, John W. Hearst Adm'r., Matilda L Major, Adm'r., W. L. Reilly of Co lumbia, M. Frazier, Ordinary's <kc., <tc. We are requested to remind those interested, that a family of negroes of the Estate of An drew Lognn, dec'J., will be offered for sale by the Commissioner in Equity on Saleday next. The sale having been heretofore postponed on account of sickness. We have received a pamphlet copy of the controversy between Messrs. E. B. Bryan and Jno. F. Townsend of St. John's Colleton. The controversy grew out of the late Senatorial election in that Parish, and was originally published in part, in the Charleston Mercury. A Plan of Abbeville. Dr. J. Togno informs us that Mr. August Bernelle, an Architect and a Landscape Gardener, just from Paris, having fixed his residence among us contemplates making n plan of our village and euvirons. So people need not be surprised.to tee him take dimensions. Ac, of their respective properties and buildings. Cotton Statement. The receipts of cottun in Charleston for the past week were, by railroads 13,081 bales ; by wftfpr anrl wnnon 1 Q*71 Italia?(AnaikAH l c -O--- - ? "S"-""-. bales?corresponding week last year 0,302 bales. The exports from Charleston for the same time were, to foreign porta 8,645 bales ; coast wise 6,268 bales?Making the lotal exports of the week 12,722bales, and leaving on hand a stock of 64,251 balep, inclusive of 14,934 bales on ship board not cleared, against a stock of 20,666 bales, and 4,695 bales on ship board same time last year . The sales in Charleston during the past week amounted to 15,400 bales, at prices ranging from lli to 12*. The Rail Road to Washington. Our citizens are becoming alive to the importance of establishiug a railroad connection with Washington, Ga., and it is suggested that a jMiblic meeting be held in tho Village on Dext Saleday, to adopt measures for setting the ball in motion.?Charters have already been obtained from the Legislotures.of South (jaroiinn and Ueorgia, and we have no doubt tliat the necessary capital could be very easily raised. The distance is oDly 40 milts. Georgia has engaged to build her portion of the Road, and the zeal and enterprise of our own citizens would promptly^furnish the means to complete the remainder.?The buildiig of tliia Road ; the connection between Newberry and Chester, and the Danville extension would place us on the highway of travel between the Northern oitiesand the Great Southwest, and eventually with the Pacific coast. Let ua inaugurate the movement. "There is a tide in tbe affairs of men, Which taken attbe flood, leads on to fortune." The Athe&wam. We learn that the officers of the Atbennnm. are making vigorous effgaU to secure the aer-? vices of able and eloquent speakers for their lecture uuon?which will commence about the flrat of ApriL Among those who hare consented to lecture are Hon. W. D. Porter, of Charleston, and Oon. W. C. Moragne, of Edgefield. Gen. 8. McGowan, of Abbeville, aod HonHenry W. Hilliard, of Alabama/hare alto acceptedthe Athensurz invitation, bat have not designated the time of their appearance. We 'congratulate the Athenian and our citisena upon^he rich intellectual treat in store for them.? Columbia Bulletin. , , , Medloal Association. We see it announced that Member* of the Medical Association, which U to meet in Charleston the 2nd pro* ? will be paased j?Ver the Greenville, CharJotte, and Cheraw fad Darlisgtoa RaUroaifc for one Care, X?i? ulilimi* Hi ii to. ..in The Echo Prisoners. Argument before the U. S. Circuit Court, by Isaac \V. Ilnyne, Esq., on the motion to discharge tlic crcw of the Echo, delivered at Columbia, December 1858, reported by Doug lacs A. Levien. We hove received n pamphlet copy of the Able argument of tin; Attorney General in this cause, and have read it with great interest. The crew of the Echo, charged under tho act of Congress of May 16th 1820, with piracy on the high seas, were brought before tho U. S. Cir* cuit Court at Columbia, and a motion mnde for their discharge, the Grand Jury of Richland having refused to find a true bill against them* Tho Attorney General of tho State was retained, as special counsel on behalf of tho Govern. merit, ami mado his arguuieut in support of the prosecution. In his argument he dismisses two points?1st The right of the prisoners to their discharge, from the mere fact that the Grnnd Jury had ignored the bill of indictment?and 2d The constitutionality oflhehiw under which they were indicted. Under the Habeat Act of Chnrles II. on the laBt dav of the grcond term of the Court, they would be entitled to an absolute discharge, but up to thut time, they could only make an application for hail, and Addressed to the discretion of the Court. Tlie fact that the Grand Jury had failed to find a bill against them would he a circumstance in their faror and if the fact atood alone, would probably induce the Court to discharge them on their own recognizances But in this case the prosecution had made such a showing, as far to outweigh the finding of the Jury, whose judgment no moie binds the judgment of the Court, on a muiiun ui tms kiihi, man it does the verdict of the Petit Jury, or the discretion of the prosecuting attorney. With regard to tho constitutionality of the Law, the Attorney General, makes nn elaborate argument. The right to define and punish crime enters into the very idea of Government, and the right to punish offences on the high sens is a necessary function of the Geneeral Government, and its authority is f.mnd in tha grant of Lhose implied powers, which flow from the powers cxpieaslv conferred upon Congress to make war, conclude peace and to reg" ulate commerce with foreign nations. But the authority contended for, does not rest upon any construction of the implied powers of Congress, but is conferred by a special grant, in that clause of the Constitution which gives to Congress the power to "define and pun r...v.v? _.<U UIUINIO 1II I I I I lll'd on IDC mutt seas, and offences against tlie law of nations." Objection is made that a power to "define" gives no power to "create" and that piracy is a term having a fixed meaning by the law of notion.*, and designating an offence existing independent of any act of Congress. The Attor ney General in reply show*, that the d istinotion between piracy under the law of nation?, and under the municipal law. is well established by the elementary* writers ; and that al' nations ia punishing offences on the high sens' have applied the term piracy, to crimes punished by their own municipal laws. Conceding the foregoing powers to Congress, the Attorney General, nevertheless would be inclined to doubt the constitutionality of the present law making the importation of Africans piracy, but for that restrictive clause of the Constitution, forbidding legislation until 18(18?This restriction 1808 Congress should have the right. This was the contemporaneous interpretation, and the restrictive clause was defended by General Pinckney in debating the matter before the Convention of the State, on the ground that it was a compromise*. The above is a concise and meagt-r abstract of this very able and conclusive argument. Oodifyers of the Laws of Geargia. Gov. Brown has appointed Thos. R. R. Cobb, of Clark, and Richard II. Clark, of Dougherty, to fill the vacancies in the Commis sion created hy the declension of Governor Johnson and Major Harriss. The Pacific Railroad Bill. This bill, which has occupied the greater portion of the time of the S..n?ta ><>; ".....? passed that body by 3-eas 31 to nay* '20. As remarked by Mr. Gwin, the bill, as passed, is certainly 110 Pncifip Railroad bill. It simply authorizes the Secretary of the lute, rior to .a tise for separate proposals for construc'hree railroads to the Pacific, viz: a I Norther.i Central, and Southern route, leaving to the next Congress to decide the whole question, and select the best route as the proposals may set forth. t Louisiana Senator. The Hon. J. P. Benjamin, of Louisiana, was re-elected by the Legislature of the Stnte, on the 24th instant, a Senator in Congress for sis years from the 4th of March next, when his present term will expire. There had been a protracted contest in caucus for the nomination, and when the result of the election reached New Orleans, the public gratification was niuniiestea oy the tiring of one hundred guns. The Woitcro Hog Or op. According to a ummtry of the Louisville Commercial Review, based on the aclunt observation of messengers who have visited nearly every packing point at the West, the hog crop of 1868 will show an increase in numbers over season 1857 and *58 of 28,700; a decrease in average weight of 13 27-100 lbs. per hog, or 115,749 hogs of 200 pounds each, making a net decrease of hogs from-iast season of 86,989. Th9 Largest Cotton Crop in Georgia. The Macon Telegraph say*: "Col Bond, of this city, has made this year twenty-one hundred and seventy bales of cotton, which wo'jld at present prices bring hiia over one hundred thousand dollars"* Washington's Birth Day The ChaiMton Courier states that the anniversary of the Birth-day of Gen. Waghintrt/wir D "* J,the 22d February,) will be observed in that *eity with more than usual interest. "The Washington Light Infantry, Washington Artillery, Washington Fire Engine Company, and other associations committed to the name, will observe the day with the nsual demonstrations. The German Artillery, Capt. Wagner, will give a Ball in Hibernian Hall, and the.Unim Light Infantry, Captain Ramsay, willelose the dj^in a like manner, in St. Anefoew'* Hall. Lutheran Oollsge. The Lutheran College, located at Newberry a H.f 8. C., went into op?c*tio(^lasl wt?k, says th. n.? iu^? ?r.-? > - /m tH? rMJtUi; (OtlUM of Dr. Stork, President, Rer. J. A Bpowu, Profeasor of UngoigM ; RobL Oirlii t Prof?Mor of UathcMfttiM Rttnal nd Dr. 0. ,FlrofaN9i!?f CJbWirotrJr. Thirty-fir* thousand dollar* ^rtbfCSofeoUr hips kiT? bMB t#kM. * Him' r inf ' i* niiirrirtitif-'-*" aa The Oensua Act. The Census Act, passed at tho recent Session, in pursuance of the third Section of tlio first Article of the Constitution of the State, for an enumeration of its free white inhabitants, to bo made every tenth year, provides : That fit and proper persons, shall be appointed in the several judicial districts, by joint resolution of both branches of the Legislature, whose duty it shall be, to take and return on oath the uuinber of the freo white inhabitants, residing in such Districts ; that they shall make their returns to the office of the Secretary of State, carefully sealed, certified, and directed to the Governor ; that the Governor shall examine the reti.rna, and in case of default in making the returns shall appoint other persons to perform the duty, in the district* where tho default shall be made; tliat upon the performance of their duty, the census-takurs shall receive a reasonable compensation to be fixed by the Legislature ; that before entering upon the performance of their duties, they shall make oath before a Magistrate to discharge them properly, and in making their relurns, shall take his certificate endorsed, that they have made oath of the correctness of the enclosed returns ; that it shall be their duty to call personally upon the head, or sonic member of each family in their several Districts; and that each head, or member of family, shall when summoned, make n correct return on oath of the free white persons, which composc it, under the penalty of $20. Free Schools. The Commissioners of Free Schools s 113*3 the Pickens Courier met on Monday last. Twentyeight schools were located, this being a larger number than is usual for the January scission of the Board. For this year, the number of poor scholars allowed to each school is only three. The Hoard has been driven to this course by the increased number of schools, and the scantiness of the appropriation for thid purpose. The pay of teachers will be as follows : First class, four cents per day ; second class three cents ; nnd third class two cents. As heretofore, where the teacher is a sub scriber to the Courier, he will be furnished with an extra copy, gratis for his school. Philadelphia and its Manufactures. The above is the title of a neatly printed vo lump, published by the Philadelphia Board of Trade, and designed to rIiovb tlmf oitf :? I o - - J " chiefseat of tlie manu fucturing r.nd industrial resources of tlie Country, and one of t lie best and cheapest markets for buyers. It exhibits tho development and statistics of its manufacturing industry, and a list of the articles now made in Philadelphia. The following statistics with regard to the Book and newspaper business will show the resources of the city : Hooks, Magazines, and Newspaper*.?The chapter on book*, in the volume before us, is particularly deserving of atten'ion. It. relates the principals events in the history of the publish iiitr interest from the establishing of the first, printing press in Philadelphia?being the second set up in North America?to the present, time. Nine-tenths of tlio medical books issued in the United States are published in Philadelphia ; while in law books, religious books, school books, and other standard literature, the publishers of this city tjike a leading rank. The capital invested in the business is Plated at $"2,6(H),0(10, and the value of the books published Annually at $3,690,000. There are 12 newspapers published daily, over 40 weekly, and about 50 periodicals, including four litei'nry magazines. There are 4 typo foundries, liavinir a capital invested of 000. and producing annua lly $420,000 ; seven sterotype foundries, employing 180 hands, and having a capital invested of 150,000. There are about 60 printing offices, employing from 3 to 100 person* each ; 60 book-binders and blank-book manufactories, producing annually a value of $1,210,000, and furnishing employment to 1700 persons, male and female ; engravers of all kinds, and lithographers whoso work has attracted marked attention in Kngland ^manufacturers of mnrble paper, maps, printing inks, stationery, <?c. There are'J paper-mills in the city, producing auaually $1,250,000, and 35 houses for the sale of paper. The annual product of the book manufacture and its kindred branches is stated at $5,593,000. A Timely Correction. As it is our duty to aid in the suppression of false statements, whether they may nfTect our immediate friends or those removed from tis within the State, we copy with pleasure the annexed article from the Charleston Etvemng Neu>?, which we hope will set at rest the reports of that lying jade, Madam Rumor, which it seem* she had been circulating to Ihe injury of our friends upon the seaboard. We will let the Newt speak for itself.?Bulletin. The Spring Trade ok Charleston.?Rumors art* prevailing throughout the adjoining country and State*, that the Charleston merchants hav? been so disheartened by the effects upon their bueineM of the prevalence of yellow fever this last season, and, possibly so prostrated in means and confidence by the smallness of their Fall trade that they will supply but small stocks, and attempt, but limited efforts for the Spring season. This is a grave mistake, and calculated to do much injury to the interest* of the city and the people. Despite the epidemic, quite a fair amount of sales were made lam autumn, and in resource*., our merchants were never sounder nor stronger. As there is nothing to interrupt the Spring trade. And as, in fact, they are desirous to compensate themselves for the drawbacks of the last six months, the Charleston merchants are laying in full, varied and choice stocks of goods, and arc and will be ready to supply all comers, and accommodate them on the most liberal rates aim! terms Southern merchants are freely invited to this Southern market., and the assurance is given them that they shall be satisfied in all respects, and that they shall not repent not going to a Northern ono. Charleston is now full of people, full of bu sines*, and full of animation. The rebonnd haa been unexpected in it* extent and oonfideneer ?:wl hop r>i>m>U J -* ? ??v. |/vV|f*w Ul V? lOlllg up, U CO pi to the clamors of n few, to remove every drawback to her prosperity. Personal. Io the House of Representatives, on the 27th instant, daring the debate on the Diplomatic Consular Bill. Mr. Hughes, of Ind., made a disrespectful remark to the Speaker, who asked him whether he meant to be rude. ' Hughes uid no, but if he had it was in payment of ah old debt. The Speaker remarked that it was no place to settle personal quarrels. I f Mr. Hughes had one with him it could be settled elsewhere. Mr. Hughes?I say the*same to the Chair, Subsequently, Mr. Hugfofc apologized, regretting nis language. The Speaker responded that he was glad Mr. H. had disavowed any disrespect, sod-Added be had alwaya treated Mr. H. with the ntmoet I f0 . ? Ltrx or CAisoojf.?No life of Mr. Cajbonn has yet been written. Mr. ft. K. Crelle prom ! iwd oo?mmd< ^Mn igf bat tl)!i hu not bwit per 1 formed, and is, we suspect, abandoned. Oapt. Reynold* knew Mr. Cathona well, and was on i&Hmito relations with nNMt of hi* distingatthed Booth. Carolina eotemporaries. Of these brilliant men be baa eoileoted a Urge amount of interesting matter??acb ae ought to b* preserved in book fbrm. The t*rb volumes Wnioh i? * prepMfog will Wbf greet aad fatiag' value,xasa6wi?rtbetioe't??ie^ so?tbe*i Mom graphicat.*?erat*ra ^ and <Mfiht |o be liberally cneonraged by <or pMpivrAM^ Trmtnt. V. ?<i..rtWltin??ur (COMMUNICATED.) TAX COLLECTORS AND TREASURERS OF THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS, AND THEIR COMMISSIONS. Mh. Editor?Sir: It is nut my business or custom to write for the press, but with v?ur permission I will offer some suggt-siiniis through the columns of the Banner. I huve recently seen a list of the Acta passed by our last L?gislnture, and whetherany weoe passed that should not have been I shall not attempt to say ; but I wdl endeavor to show th;it they failed to puss or amend Acts that should have been, and in consequence of which, the Tnx Collectors of the Stilt* ?..?t Il.o T? r ? -- ' ?...v (.vuouicioui tuc Duarni* ui v/urnmissioncrs will this year receive of the lax payer'e money, the sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars, over and above a full compensation for their services. This, ( Iihvo no doubt, will be regarded as rather a bold assertion. I xhAll attempt, liowover, by fuctsund figures, to prove it Tlie Comptroller General of the State, us I think, very properly, recommended to the Legislature in 1857, the propriety of reducing the rate of Commissions allowed to the Tax Collectors, stating the present rato of Commissions was affixed when the amount of Taxes was one half less than at present. Since the large increase of the Taxes of the State, to retain the old rates of Commissions is unfair and ungenerous. thus 10 pay one set of officers <loul>lo the value of iheir service;*, while others are poorly paid. The Legislature, however, tailed to carry out ll.n f J - . ... , 9 it-cuiiuiienoiuioil. 1 think, however, it was generally expected lhat t!ie Legislature in 1858 would act on it, but thpj failed to do so. And although they raised the Taxes of the Slate One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars, the old rale of CommiKsiouB was continued, which will give the Tax Collectors this year upwards of nine thousand dollars additional pay over last yeur, ami, I shall endeavor to show they elio'ihl have received that amount less than last year, making eighteen thousand dollars this year, over and uliove a full compensation for their services. There ure forty six Tax Collectors in the State, one (the Tax Collector of Charleston) receives, as commissions, four per cent, on seventyJive thousand dollars, and one per cent, on the i.?l ~r I.:.. -.11? : - ......>?v.<; ui ii.o binil-ciiuiis ; icii collectors receive five per cent- ; thirty three receive seven per cent. ; ond two receive ten per cont. I fuul the uverage will be about six and a fourth per cent. Now, hir, I have no doubt but the General Taxes of the State will amount to six hundred thousand dollars*, and the District Tuxes, two huudred thousand dollars more, making the Bunt of eight hundred thousand dollars. This at six and ti fourth per cent, will give the round sum of fifty thousand dollars as commissions to be divided between forty-six inen, who, ill discharging their duties, will occupy time varying from thioclo ten weeks each, (perhaps the Collector of Charleston may require twelve weeks, for which lie will receive upwards of four thousand dollars) But I will oarry the calculation a little further: I have no doubt but an uvernge of seveu weeks will cover the time of each Tax Collector, making the entire tune occupied by the I'ax Collectors of the State, about three hurnlrprf I unci twenty weeks, for wliicli tliey will receive tliia year fifty thousand dollar?, pitid in advance- I Now, sir, my position is, that (lie last Legiw- j lature should have reduced the rale of Commixmoils to at lenst an average of four per cent, which would have paid the Tax Collec.lorti ol the State the sum of thirty-two thousand dollar*, or one hundred dollars for each week's services, paid in advance. Is any reasonable man prepared to say that one hunJred dollars a week is not ampin pay. And litis would have saved to the Slate the sum of eighteen thousand dollars this year. Now, sir, having, as I think, shown that the last Legislature should have amended the Act which provides the rate of Commissions to the Tax Collectors for receiving the State uud District Taxes, I now come to scy something of the amount of commissions received by the Tr.flfliipuf. ?r n" 1- -r I~> - </ uuaiua ui v.uiiiiiiiskionera throughout the State. I tuke it for graiiled tliut the litw is uniform, and that the CommiesionerB in the different Districts nud Parishes of the State receive ihe same rate of commissions. I shall base my calculations on the Reports of the Commissioners of Abbeville District. And I would juta here remark that if the Abbeville delegation had taken a glancc ut the Reports made last October Court, by the Treasurers of the Boards, and especially the Report of ihe General Board of the Commissioners of Road.", whose Commissions amounted lo the .-um of four hundred and thirty dollars, for about one (lav's labor, thev would have spcii ilm propriety of anienili:.g the Act which given t-ucli pny. The Treasurers of the Commissioners of l'oor and Public Building*, as their published Reports have shown, receive five per cent, comin BbioiiH for receiving the Taxes from the Collector and paying it out. I havesi-eii no published Reports of the Commissioners of Roads, (or several years, until lant October. But I understand for the last five years the Treasurers of the General Board have received five per cent, commissions on the whole amount of the Bridge Taxes, which they received from the Tax Collector and piiid over to the Treasurers of the Sub Bonrds. The Treasurers of the Sub Boards have each received twenty dollars annually, nnd the Secretary of the General Board, ten dollars, (I discover in the Report that the Treasurer of the UppsrSaluda Board last year only charged ten dollars.) I have no douht, air, but it has cost an average of seven per cent for the last five years to disburse the Bridge Taxes of Abbe ville District And as the Bridge Taxes are usually as much as the Poor and Public Buildings both, I place the average commission of the Treasurers at six per cent, in our District* on which is the basis of my calculation for the whole State, aud supposing that the Taxes, assessed for District purposes in the State, amount to two hundred thousand dollars, I find the stun of twelve thousund dollars for the Treasurer i of the Poor, Road and Public Building* throughout the State, and this I regard as at least seven thousand dollars more thau it should be. It is to be borne in mind that the commission^ though they are large, sre not their only income; they frequently have large amounts of cash on hand which they use three or six months witHout accounting for interest, aud I will jnst here take the last Reports of the Treasurers in our own District for example. They had cash in hand the first of October over five thousand dollars, this was in their bands for three months at that time, (the first of Joly being the time prescribed by law for the Tax CoHeo'tor making settlement with ^Treasurers,) and I prnrame the most of this aujp remained in their hands to tffcfirst of January, My si? month*. This, at the Mgiu MMiOTt wouia fire uiem uie turn or one ^qndr?4.?o4 ,ao*enty-fi?? dollar*- la may re?aonabia man prepared to nj that lh? aso of |tbi? rnonty for tlx naontha wiihont fateraat ia not yunp$ ooijip?iii?Won for rMaiviqg th? money "from tha Tax ColloftUr, **yjtlDg charging thamMlfwtritti Uh aamaf * w-: ..U^v Now, sir, my position in, iho Treasurers of the Boards of Commissioners throughout the State shoulil only receive' two uml u half j>or cent, commission int.tend of sit.und this would save three nd a half per cent, this your on two hundred thousand dollars, or the sum of peven thousand dollars. This added 10 eighteen thousand of uddi tionul or extra pay to the Collectors, wilt make tlio sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. You und your readers have these facts and calculations to examine. If my propositions are fair, and the calculations correct, I think I have made out my cahe?that for want of Legislation there will he twentv-fivn llinn?.irwt /lrtllur? nt ill- ? pie's money" expended this year without any equivalent. Tins sum, of course, is not very large for the State of South Carolina to give away, but, sir, it might have been applied to pay the interest on eoinc of ?he State debts, or if the Legislature hud granted aid to the Hlue Rulu'e Railroad it would huve paid interest on four hundred thousand dollars, at six and a fourth per cent., which would huve kept it in motion. I have only to say, in conclusion, sir, that I hope this sultjccl will be taken up by some person more eapablo than myself, nnd discussed, uud when the next Legislature assembles, they may see the propriety of ucting in the case.? The remedy is with that body, and should ihey fuil to reduce the present, rate of commissions allowed to the Tax Collectors, and the Treasurers of the Boards of Commissioners of Poor, llond ....I I>..|.l:.. n..a->: .1 ? * - w * ...? . ........ uunuui(;a 1II1 *?u JMIOU I IIIITMIIU'. I Fllal! conclude that tlio men holding lhen<? ofiices, have strong friends in tlic Legislature of our State. The Independent Press will please copy, and oblige A TAX PAYER. Washington Society. In the Washington correspondence of the New York Times, we find tho following agreeable sketches : In a social point of view, the city has not been so gay or brilliant for many seasons Hospitality prevails on every side, except in the >rfne direction which, for the honor of the country, it may be as well not to name PoatmasU-r General Brown keeps open bouse, and his gracious lady gives a warm and true Southern welcomc to all who enter her superb and stateIv mansion. Mr*. Slidell is extremely, almost painfully, impressive in her demonstrations ofconrt'-sy.? Willi tlie manners of n Freneh woman, ami the impulsiveness of her native South, she evidently regards all men, women and children as licr husband's present or prospect ivo "constituency ," whom it is her duty to captivate at whatever cost of exertion, smiles or complimentary vnllubility. Mm. Senator Gwin, a queenlike but very jjra eious lady, whose figure is of the Juno order, dispenses almost royal hospitalities, which ?re'! made more agreeable by the renl kindness and frank condescension of her pleasant manners and address. The Senator inuoh resembles the stately gentleman of lite days gone by, and rather prides hiinself.it is said, on his resom blrtnce to Andrew Jackson. A'hat he may lack in quickness is made up in urbanity ; and if not brilliant in conversation, be has the virtue of never speaking bitterly of those with whom he associates. Mrs. Douglas is. beyond all question, the Senatorial belle. Young, beautiful and win niDg?never constrained in courtesy, bill filling her position witli easy grace?her presence serins to dissipate all political asperities ; and one might very richly think thul ns many recruits to the Douglas cause have been enlisted by her smiles as by her husband's eloquence. The dashiug Mrs. Clement Hill, whose house is the rendezvous for all that is distinguished in Wni|iiii|!toii society, seems to have no political proclivities, and her drawing rooms are a kind of neutral ground whereon people of all opinions way meet iu uncompromising inter course. But the bright particular Btar of the metropolis is Mrs. Conrnd, a young Southern widow, who has a natural gift of diplomacy, and takes to politics and plcts just as naturally ns young schoolgirls do to bright ribbons, rich luces and Parisian gloves. From the Vice President down, through all gradations of Senators, Congressmen, financiers, journalists and artist#, Iter empire is undisputed. She lias the kind of voice which St. I'aul, or some other good authority , pronounce* to be nn excellent thing ill a woman; and, as might naturally be expected, this Talleyrand in crinoline is not a little envi?a by many of the leeg gifted and less brilliaut of her sisterhood. Charleston and Oincinnati. The Cincinnati Gazelle of the 25th, in noticing the proceedings of the late meeting of the Blue Ridge stockholders in th is oity, remarks:? There is a good deal of heavy and expensive work yet to he done by the Blue Ridge Company in crossing the mountain?. The remaining connections ore not difficult, and may be speedily completed whenever tins part of the line becomes certain of accomplishment. Cars aro nlready running, we believe, nearly or quite to Clayton, in the narrow angle of Georgia, crossed by this route, and near tho line of North Caroliuu, a corner of which State, also, the Blue Ridge Road traverses. On this side ot the mountains it would be comparatively easv to construct a direct lin<>. ?* him Iwen r>rn. posed, from either Paris or Lexington, to meet the arm thus extended towards us from Charleston. As to the probability of an early construction of suoh a road we are not disposed to speculate. Certain it is that our business men uoulddo well to consider the expediency of effecting this connection by a direct line, instead of allowing the great thoroughfare between Charleston and t lie West to decline a way to the Southwest, in the direction of tbo confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and by way of Chattanooga and Nash viile. The course this central enterprise shall take can now he controlled, it is a question that can hardly be more interesting to Charleston than to Cincinnati. The President Wooing. We copy tfie following from the Washington correspondent of the New York 71 me* : "There are abundant rumors afloat to the effect that the President is likely to laad to the hymenial altar an accomplished and estimable widow lady of Georgia. Perhaps this accounts lor me eapecmi care ana elegance 01 our oscne)or President's dress. It is matter of frequeDt reuiurk, that Mr. Buchanan, in his handsome brown frock coat, white veBt and oravat, and patent-leather pumps, is one of the most elegantly dressed young men in the capital." The Prosperity q( Texas. A correspondent writing from Gonzales co^ Texas, on the 14th ipst, says ; I would thutl could describe to you the prosperous condition of our 8tate at this time. Let it suffice for me to say that everything in the way of provisions is so cheap, that there is no market to be found. Corn prioe merely nominal; pork from 3^ a 4 cents per pound ; beef from 2 a 2| cents per pound. Our hogs fattene<L,on the mast alone, and oar beeves on thd crasi exclusively.?It haa never been my good fortune to see a State where land and provisions were so good and cheap?where health was so good and money so easily made. Tex m ia empnauoaiiy, uigsuie ior emigrants, and 1 am pruqd to seu t|iat tl|ey aj-e coming by the the hundred*. We haye ample room, and a hearty welcome for them. o > ? W. O. Proatoq. If, D., write* frotq Colombia to the Winoa.'" \MfrsUh. s Eton. W. 0. Preston is, at present. In Abington, Virginia ' 4>Jtaend and oorreapondent of his inforp* us that ha intends comiog back to Columbia pre long?thai, his aged heart yearn* ' for the season of yore. " Wo he?r of it gladly, for of *11 the brilliant Urtfcer* we bar* met none *ppro?eh >n happineas of diotien, and >nor? than bapptniMl of thought Mid spirit this, "old man eloquent. UitbMrt and miod were fortttd to b)?? a wid# oircl# oC hritntU, sod ' SJT- #9W '* < r. ' i* 9 The Celebration in Columbia. The South Carolinian enys: "The eupper given in celebration of tho Burnt* Contcntial Aniversnry, passed off most happily. We have never attended a more orderly feative jubilee. There were about ii nurfu mm sixty persons seated at the tables. The dishes were abundant, varied, and well prepared. The table ornaments were also appropriate in their style, and did much credit to Mr. MelCenzie'a taste. From the top of one of them waived a most beautiful thistle. The regular toasts were read, and many of tliem responded to?some with speeches, othert with appropriate national songs. Judge Longstreet responded to the compliment to the South Carolina College. Dr. Gihhes and our cotetnporary Mr. I'elhum, sustained the cause of the press. Mr. McMnstor spoke for the bar. Colonel Wade Hampton was complimented, and r-sponded in graceful and grateful terms. Dr. Wallace, who noted, in the absence of his venerable father, us President of the meeting, replied in an ofFliuud, free, easy, humorous and happy manner to the sentiment to his father, offered by Colollumpton. Professor Reynolds also contributed u.uch to the amusements and entertainment of the evening. Burns, the poet; Burns, the man of muulv attributes- Ttnrr.? ?i- ?-? - ? viic jmtrioi; l5urn?, tho republican ; burns, the advocate of freedom of the press; Burns, tlie ornament of the festive hoard ; llurna,in every aspect and relation of life, waR exhibited to the coropony ; and nil present, under the genial influences of the occasion, must have had their admiration of the poet and man greatly enhanced,and have riiea from their wonts with sincere regrets that the brief time allotted to life did not permit them to participate in the convivialities of more thnu one centennial.*' The Indiana Divorce Lawi. Hero is a specimen of the operation of di* vorce laws in Indiana, demonstrated in the per" son of one not quite a "model wife" and an outraged husband : In the dieenssion on amendments to the divorce law in the Senate, a case was discovered in which a gentleman in Leavenworth, Kansas, had furnished wlf" money to visit her friends in tlie Hast, slid to travel for the benefit of her health. On arriving at Indianapolis, she concluded t<> tnke ?ilv?nf?.? - s>- " me inaiana divorce law, and procure a nullification of her marriage. She tliun went to Kokomo, where she made affidavit that she was a boni fide resident of the State of Indiana, and filed a complaint in the Howard circuit court against her husband for a divorce, a notice of which waa published for the benefit of her husband, who wus a non-resident of the Stole. Iu the meantime, her husband tliought she was in the East, as ho received letters from her postmarked first at Cleveland and afterwards at Boston. While still under the impression that his wif.? w03 at Boston, the husband recived a copy of the Howard Tribune, containing a notice of the tiling ot the complaint, against him. He immediately left Leavenworth, and arrived at Indianapolis, reaching this city on Saturday, the '20ill ol November. The Howard Circuit commenced. its session on the following Monday? the '2'2d, and to reach Kokomo in time to anRU'fP llmniininUint 1 ... iijjuuiit, Him. ne naa to hir? a locomotive on iho Peru and Indianapolis Railroad to take him to Kokomo, in order to be in court at the proper hour. The reason stated for the defence made in the oAse was that the wife had been induoed to usk for a divorce under improper influences.? Sin- hitd been, for some time, half crazed by spirituulism, and the husband thought if ho could place her beyoud those influences, she would abandon the suit. The oase is still pend* ing. Anecdote of Monrnr..?The Paris correspondent of the National Intelligencer sayc: The following story has beeen related to me, illustrative of the philosophy of chew, * game which enjoys the traditional admiration of every originating faculty of the mind. In the course of one of the games between Messrs. Morphy and Ander.seen, a move of the former exciu-d much surprise among the bystanders.? He had declined to take a piece, which, al? iuuugu uppnrentiy an exchange of km'ghl*, would have resulted, it was thought, coocln sively in his favor. The game proceeded, nevertheless, without verbal comment, and was rapidly won hy Mr Morphy. No sooner did he deliver the "checkmate'' than one of the most intense lookers on, breathless with pent-up en.otion, exclaimed, " For the love of heaven tell me why you did not take the knightf " Because," said Mr. Morphy, all alive to the nature of his friend's concern, "it was a deep laid plot. In a few moves I should have lost the gam6 by a stalemate. Mr. A'nderesen saw the game was desparate, aud he planned the snare for me." So saying, he replaced the pieces as they had been at the critical moment, nnd demonstrated the result by a series of moves which would have been inevitable had he taken the knight. " Was I not right, Mr. Anderssen!" "Precisely." ejaculated the bewildered gentleman, thinking possibly that the Prince of Darkness was not without a share in the composition of the yoong stranger. Inorease of Praiarht and T???l The Sumter Watchman says; We were pleased to learn, while upon recent passage over the Wilmington and Manchester and Northeastern Railroads, that both the freight and travel upon them had greatly increas* ed. We heard it stated that the travel upon the Wilmington road had never been betUr since its origin. The freight brought over the Northeastern has more than doubled recently. Mechanic's Mcetino.?Pursuant to call* pre* liminnry meeting of the contracting mechanics of Newberry was held in the Court House on last Wednesday night, for the purpose of considering the best action to be taken in regard to the not of the Legislature taxing the income of mechanics. A committee was appointed ta draw up n report and resolutions, and to report at the next meeting, which will beheld on Wednesday, the 2d FehrtiArv Nevokrry Kiting Sun. HYIIMeal. MARRIED, on Tuesday the 1st inst., by the Rev. James Moore. Mr. T. P. HAMILTON, and Miss ELIZABETH EAKIN, all of Abbeville District. ir Printers Fee Received. MARKETS. Abbevillk, Feb. 2, I860. Cotton.?Our market to-day is rather doll, though this article duping tb* past week haabaeq freely taken at prions ranging ffom 8 to jl oenta. Columbia, Fpb. St, 1869, Cotton.?Vf 9 hare to report a decline in eotton of on yesterday's quotations. 8ales for the day 600 Sale*. Extreme# 8} to 114 cents. Chaklxsto v, Jan. SI, 1869, Cotton.?'The transactions in cotton to-day, reached upwards of 2,000 bales, at 10 td 13 cents. Cuunroii, Feb. I. lUfc Cotton.?Sales of cotton to-day 8,000 bales. prices tending downward. N*w OafK^Ke, Feb. 1, I860. Cotton.?The s^les of potton to-day amounted to 4.OO0 bales, a decline of 4? Middling^ 11% tq 11?. 8alos of (ha three days 8,760 bales,? Receipts of the three <&ys 49,000 Mica, against 89,800 same time last yJifcr. CO^SIGlVJBEji. " -I I, >1 . ., The following percoo* have-freight in thaljepot at Abbeville !? M McDonald. J A R J White, M WIle<m, tQ I.lrtd?y, D L Wardlaw, J T Moon, 3 ?WMl ?8Kerr, PS RaUodso, W I? Bjooo> Dfl Branch, W C Coiby, D 2 Jordan, Hpgh WUMt. J T Barn at, L J MiteraoiS, JFliaiCWrit, Cfott Hunter A Co, Bon LiohtewUio. J fc ]YK?ok J McBrye, Parsonage, J MPerrio, L Boracra, 1 P Oibart, I?ra?l * BroeB^Koorfatfealfe, F Conorar. A Clarke 4t, a'% TWft,'! TreeK m p. %, '