The Charleston Daily News from Charleston, South Carolina • Page 1

VOLUME 2200. EIGHT DOLLARS A YEAR. THE TAX QUESTION AGAIN. SHALL THE TAXES FOR 1873- 4 BE LEVIED NOW OR NEXT WINTER Special County Bills intro? duced. OUR SPECIAL COLUMBIA, S.

February I. Toe subject of the taxes for next year or the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1873, ls now seriously occupying the attention of the financial committees of the General Assembly and of the Slate officers, the principal ques? tion being as to whether the levy tor thc tax made at thlssesslor. ot the Asjembly or postponed until the ot the next session. As the law now stands, the collec? tion of the annual tax begins on the 15th of November, and as the Legiidature does not convene until the latter part cf November, lt bas been the custom to have tax levied at the session of the year preceding the year for which the lax ls levied. This was done last year, the levy having been made at tbe session uf 1871-2 for the tax, the collection of which was to bave cegun on the 15th of November, 1872.

The collection ol the laxes under that levy was, however, enjoined by Judge Melton, and lt th is oecame necessary for me Legislature at this Bession lo make a new levy ot taxes. Now lt is proposed to make the levy ol the taxes, which will begin to be collected next November; but this Deposition Is opposed by some ol the members of the committees, and by the State officers. The arguments In of levying the lax at this session ot the Leg? islature are, first, the very obvious one that, unless the levy be made now, the collection cannot commence on the 15th of November, and as the penalty attaches by law ou me 15th ot January, the time for the people lo pay the tax will be unjustly abridged; second, that If the levy be made now, it cannot and will not include any levy of tax js for interest on the public debt because the debt lias not yet been investigated, and the Stale Gov? ernment stands pledged not to poy the interest until lt be thoroughly Bitted, and thai lithe levy be postponed until next session the bond hold? ing Interest will manage to have smuggled into it a tax for the Interest. Tne arguments on the other side are as follows First, those who desire to postpone the levy say that, as far as the time for collection ls concerned, that time might be. changed so that the col? lections should commence on the first of Jan? uary and the penalty begin to Attach on ihe first of March.

As to the Interest on the bonds they say that the first act ot the Legis? lature upon reassembling would te to make the levy ot taxes, and that if any investiga? tion cf the bonds be made it is not likely that the report will be made in lime to get tue levy for Interest included. Their third argu? ment, however, ls toe strongest one. and lt ls that the Assembly had better walt until they see wbeiber tbere will not be a de? ficiency left over from this year be? fore they fix the tax levy for next By the constitution a tax cannot be evled io? the deficiency of any oilier year except the one immediately preceding the year for which the tax is levied. Tiros, If there is to be a deficiency from the present fiscal yeal ot I872-73, the tax to meet ibat de? ficiency jan only be levied with Ihe lax ot the next fiscal year of 1873-74, nnd they say that lt ls almost certain that lhere will beau Itn Sortant deficiency left over from this year, bey account for this expected deficiency by saying that the State lax lor 1872-73 anion nt ed lo twelve mills- on the dollar, only five mills were for the State expenses ol this year; that this tax of five mills 13 oul.v expected to raise about seven hundred and illly thousand dollars, and that the general expeuses of me State lor this year will amount', os ls shown by the general appropriation bill now be? fore the Assembly, to upward of eight hundred thousand dollars, leaving a de? ficiency of at least from Atty tnousand dollars to one hundred thousand dol? lars, which will have to bu provided for In the tax levy now in question. Ttiese latter arguments will, lt ls beik-ved, ef? fectual, and the probability Is mat th? levy wlll be postponed until next winter's session of the Assembly, but In ibis case lt ls evident that-the Legislature ought, In simple Justice, change the time of the collection bl 1 irom the 15th ot November io the tlrtt of Jan? uary, and this change ought to be made be? fore the dose of the'preseut cession.

SPECIAL TAXES. have been during the present session umber of resolutions proposing special taxes ia the various counties. One ol' these resolutions, proposing a tax of two mills in Kershaw County, has alreudy parsed und be? come a law, but the finance committee ol thc Senate have gathered up nil Ute resi of the resolutions and incorporated in au omni? bus bili entitled "a bill lo authorize county com missioners ol certain counties to levy and collect an additional tax for certain purposes." This bill prescribes the following special taxes In the respective counties named: Marion Couuty.3 mills. Orangeourg County.3 mills. Blchlaod County.1 mills.

Lancaster County.2 mills. Newberry County.2 mills. HorryCounty.2 mills. Williamsburg County.2 mills. The taxes thus pro vu ed for ure to be de? voted exclusively to thc payment ot the past due Indebtedness of the connues In the cases of Marion, Orangeburg, Richland, Lancaster and Newberry Counties.

In Hie case of Horry County the tax is tor repairing bridges and paying the past due Indebteieuejs, and lu the case of Williamsburg County the tax is to pay the indebtedness caused by the building ot a Jail in that county. WOMAN SUFFRAGE AGAIN'. There ls an enterprising association, with headquarters at Boston, known us the Ameri? can Woman Suffrage Assoc ation, which comes before the Legislature of this, us weil as the other Stales, aoout once a year, with a long memorial begging for a constitutional amend? ment "to abolish hereat ter all political dis tlnciions on account of sex." The inevitable memorial has turned up again, signed by four persons whose names lurulab a very fair Index to the character otthe association. The signers are Thomas Wentworth Higginson, the poeti? cal, long-haired ex-coionel of a Massachusetts regiment of colored troops v. ho fought nobly, "Luoy 8tone," as she chooses to elga herself, whose name is followed obsequiously by that of Henry B.

Blackwell, who ls the ol "Lucy Stone," and Mary Grew, a black-eyed, energetic Utile lady, from Philadelphia, with more snap and enterprise than a whole reel nSrot of Colonel Higglnsons. This merni rial has been presented in both houses, and a special Joint committee ls about to be ap? pointed to consider the memorial. Just as was done last year, and this of course will be the end of IL AN IRON SMELTING ENTERPRISE. Senator Jamison yesterday introduced a bill with the rather deceptive title ol bill to aid and encourage manufactures," which proposes lo Incorporate Messrs. F.

A. Bab? cock, Wilbur Johnston, A. T. Peete, E. Don? aldson, and others, SB a company for the smelting of iron ore and manufucturicg of iron in this State, and provides that a sum ol money equal to the aggregate amount of State, county and municipal taxes collected upon the property or capital employed or In? vested strictly In euch manufactures shall be returned them annually, for ten years after the commencement of the businesp.

A SOUTHERN HOTEL. A bill waa introduced, yesterday, in the Senate to incorporate "The Grand Southern Hotel and Transfer Companvof Columbia, S. The named are Hardy Sol? omon, Josephus Woodruff, S. L. Cass Carpenter, LeGrand Benedict, Baldwin and David business of the company Is defined to be ihe construction and furnishing buildings and conducting the busi? ness of hotel keeping, and of transferring carrying and delivering passengers, and freight ol all kinds, and the usual righfs, powers and privileges are granted to the com? pany.

A CHECK ON THE TREASURER. Representative Dannerly yesterday intro? duced a Joint resolution to provide tor ihe auditing by the comptroller-general of all claims against the State. It provides that all claims against the State now due or which may become due, except pay certificates of the General Assembly, salaries and State ponda, stocks or coupons shall be audited and allowed by the comptroller-general, and shall have (tie words audited and allowed" te uncross the face ot the claim, and signed by the comptroller-general before they shall be paid by the State treasurer. The comptrol? ler-general is a so required to en'er in a book to be kepi for the purpose, a brief and clear statement ot the circumstances ol each claim disallowed by him, and the State treasurer ls rt quired lo pay all claims In the order In which they are audited. Any violation of the resolutiou by either of these officers is de? clared a misdemeanor, and made punishable by tine or imprisonment in the discretion of tbe court.

THU APPRENTICES' LIBRARY. Senator Jervey ihia morning introduced In the Senate a bill, which has already been in? troduced in the House, to revive and amend the charter of the Apprentices' Library Society of Charleston, which pro? vides that Ihe said charter be revived and ex? tended, with all the righlP, privileges, proper? ties and powers liereiolore granted und en Joyed, and thal the name ot eaid society be changed io the "Apprentices' and Minors' Library Society." THE PENITENTIARY GROUNDS. Senator Whittemoie today introduced a Joint resolution to provide for the purchase by the Stuie of a lot of land for the use of the Slate penitentiary, the preamble to which re? cites mat the life estate of Paul In one acre of land, const i hiting the northwestern quarter section cf the penitentiary grounds, which was purchased by the State, bas termi? nated by the death of the said lite tenant, and the estate in remainder therein bas passed to the heirs of the said Paul Boflil, and that lt is desirable that title therein In tee shall be se? cured to the Stale by purchase. The resolu? tion, therefore, provides for the appeintment ot Ave arbitrators, two lo be appointed by the Governor, two by Ihe heirs, and these lour to appoint the flub, that these arbitrators shall determine upon a valuation ot the said land and repoit to ihe comptroller-general, and upon the delivery to the secretary of State of a warranty deed ol the said lot In fee simple to lb? Slate, that the comptroller-general shall draw his warrant for the payment of Ihe amount determined by the arbitration out of the civil contingent lund. PRAYER FOR RELIEF.

Senator Jervey to-day presented a msmo rltil signed by Messrs. William Aiken, Robert Adger, William C. Bee and others, showlDg ttat they have paid the direct tax levied by Congress, and pratt log relief, and lt was re? ferred lo the committee on finance. The me? morial shows that a lax three hundred and sixty-three thousand rive hundred aud seventy and two thirds dollars ($363,5701) was laid upon the State South Carolina, being Its proportion ol $20,000,000 laid on the United Stales, and that the penalty of fifty per cent, provided for by subsequent acts created a Len on the property vestiog title in the United Stales, or the purchase thereof. It ls also set lorin that at the time of ihe passage of the act the authority ol the United States was subverted in this State, and afterwards, In No? vember, 1861.

was re-established in a small section, and the levy of the tax was made as far as possible, and many est ateo poid at nominal prices because the owners could not pay ihe laxes; that in 1865 Uulted Stales authority was established in Charleston and the seaboard and the same lien was extended. The memorialists hold that the whole amount ol tax and penalty was collected from a comparatively small number ol Hie citizens; that they were not voluntarily pat that their property was seized and held br agents ol the United Stales, and restored only upon the producion of a certificate that the tux and penally had been paid. They, therefore, ask the same treatment that would be given the coarte of the State, be? tween two individuals, claiming that they have paid the whole debt of the Stale, and would be well content to have their claim to relief tried and adjudged by the couria ol the State. They state lhat if, at the lime this lax wus laid, the United Slates had not been In? terrupted and entirely suspended In South Carolina, lt peace bad prevailed, the I of the tax of this State would have been doubtless paid by the State treasury, Instead i of directly by the property-holders, such being the custom la all Slates. The memorialists submit that there Is no why this should not be done, and that there is every possible reason why ll should be.

They claim to be In the position of having been compelled to advance and pay a public debt at a time of ure.it distress. They do not deny ihe lawfulness or validity ol the debt paid, but hold their claim to relief to be equally undeniable, knowing meantime that the condition of the Slate treasury will not ludulge the hope of direct payment therefrom. The petitioners say "they have waited for sev? eral years la the hopes of its more prosperous condition (ihus far in vain) and a more pro? pitious opportunity, and hope and irust the the latter is now open lo them, and ask that they may be referred to some proper tribunal where they may prove what sums they have advanced, and tue respective amounts with interest may be refunded to them la certifi? cates receivable ia payment of taxes, one third thereof at once, one-third in one year, and the other third In two years, and ii there be any doubt of ihe lawfulness ol the claim to refer the matter io the courts, and thereupon, if payment be allowed, lt be so ordered by the General Assembly. PICKET. BEYOND THE BRINE.

BERLIN, February A posse or Russian douaniers, or cu-tom houee officers, cro-sed the river Brlnaiiza, In the province of Upper Silesia, and destroyed ihe weir, or dam, bulli in the river fur con? ducting the fisb to Kuna Mill. This arbitrary proceeding belDg resented by the Prussians residing there, the Russian officer In charge ol ihe customhouse ceiachmenl tired and Killed a civilian. This outrage aroused the inhabit? ants lo a great pitch of excitement, and the government was fully informed ot the affilr. Priuco Bisnmrck hus addressed a peremptory ucie lo the Russian authorities demanding aa instant explanation of the outrage. MADRID, February 1.

The bill introduced In the Spanish Cortes providing lor the emancipation the slaves on the Island ol Porto Rico provides that a 1 commission shall be.appolnted, selected Jointly by the siuve-owners and the government, whose duty lt shall be to ascertain and report as to the value of all slaves upon the Island. When ls accomplished, the owners shall be paid eighty per cent, of the estimated value cf the slaves owned by them, and one-halt of this amount shall be borne by the Spanish Government and ihe other half by the local government of Porto Rico. It ls believed that this measure or one similar in terms will be passed by the Cortes. In the matterot the abolition of slavery on the Island of Cuba, the Spanish Government will do uoihing toward inlfilling its promises to the United States Government until the insurrection on the island ls completely subdued. LONDON, February 1.

A destructive fire broke out last night ia ihe Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, which raged for Beveral hours. The flames were discovered io the central portion of the Academy, to which they were confined, but beiore the conflagration was subdued ihe extensive library ol the establishment, to? gether with ihe greater part of the clock tower, were destroyed. Great excitement prevailed, and fur a lime it was teared that the whole si niel ure would be consumed. Troops from the barracks were immediately summoned, and ihe fire was finally brought under control and extinguished. The loss ls not slated.

TUE WEATHER THIS DAY. WASHINGTON. February 2. For ihe New England States winds veering to southwesterly, and probably southeasterly, with rising temperaiure, and partly cloudy weal her. For the Middle Stales winds backing fresh and brisk southerly and easterly, rising temperature, and generally in? creasing cloudiness lrom the Ohio Valley and Missouri to Lake Erle and upper lakes, tailing barometer, decided rise of lemperature, fresh to brisk, and probably very brisk, easterly and southwesterly and very generally cloudy and possibly threatening weather.

For the South Atlantic States light to lresh easterly and southeily windp, higher temper? ature, and generally cloudy weather. For the Guli Suites, east ol'the Mississippi River, and Tennessee and Kentucky, lalling barometer, rising temperature, fresh easterly and south? erly winds, and very generally cloudy and possibly threatening weather; but afternoon telegraphic reports trom western Gulf SlateB and Kansas, and a portion ot those lrom Can? ada, Michigan, and the extreme have uot yet beeu received. IS COLFAX A PERJURER? THE SM I LI SC BUTLER CAUGHT AT LAST. Ills Bank Account Tells a Startling Story-The Circumstantial Evidence Against Him. of the N.

Y. WASHINGTON, January 28. The ruin vice-President Colfax Is only a Utile less complete than that of Senator Pat? terson. Last week tho vice-President stated on oath to Judge Poland's committee that he bad not received twelve hundred dollars from Oakes Ames In June. 1868; that Ames's check: upon the sergeant-at-arms for that amount In favor of "8.

had never been seen ty him; that he wad positive this because he could not possibly have received that amount of money from any source without recollecting lt. To-day, the books of the First National Bank ot Washington were produced, and Mr. Colfax's account was examined. There ap? peared a credit of $1968 63, daied June 22, 1908. two days after the date of Ames's check to on the sergeant-at-arms, and one day after that check was paid.

This furnished only presumptive proof of the deposit ol the $1200, but all doubt was removed when the cashier produced a deposit ticker, bearing Mr. Colfax's signature, In which the $1968 63 was itemized, $1200 being casb, and the re? mainder checks or drafts. The circumstan? tial evidence In Mr. Colfax's case ls, there? fore, complete. Mr.

Ames swears that he drew a check on the sergeant-at-arms In ravor of for $1200, on June 20,1868. and gave it to Mr. Colfax, In payment of the Credit Mobilier dividend. The sergeant-at arms produces ihe check dated June 20, and shows ibat it was cashed on the 21st, and charged to Ames's account. On the Mr.

Collax deposits exactly $1200 In cash In the bank. Now. unless he cun prove that he re? ceived the $1200 from some other source, his case ls hopeless, and he cannot escape a ver? dict of guilty of false swearing. Tlie Proposed Impeachment at vice President Colfax. Correspondence Baltimore It Is undeniable that the recent testimony before the Poland Credit Mobilier committee, including particularly that given to-day, piaces the Vice-president In a very awkward position before Congress and before the coun? try.

It ls veiy certain that perjury bas been committed by some one, and painful as lt may be to give utterance to such a suspicion, lt ls a fact that not a few of those who have been among the warmest personal and political friends of the vice-President are not sat? isfied as to which party this crime caa be fastened upon. The vice-President expresses the utmost confidence In his ability to clear himself entirely of all damaging charges and suspicions. It Is now very plain that the op? portunity which he asked of the Senate to? day can be afforded him by no other process than that ol impeachment. Rumors were very thick about ne Capitol this at te rn ooo that the motion to Impeach the Vice-President would certainly be made In the House ol' Rep? resentatives. Tne general im pression that no movement to Ibis end can be made by the House in advance of the report of its commit? tee ls erroneous.

The Investigation Into the Credit Mobilier being condncted with open doors, all the statements which have been made implicating Mr. Colfax and others are matierB ul common notoriety. It is therefore wilbla the province of any member of tbe House to rise in lils place, recite the allega? tions against Mr. Colfax, and move for Instruc? tions to the Judiciary committee to report articles of Impeachment. The vice-President's Fall.

the New York Tribune, Unless vice-President Colfax caa break through the web of circumstantial evidence which bas gradually enfolded bim, we Bee nothing be''ore him but moral ruin. In the new aspect of the case, the question ol hie connection with ihe Credit Mobilier scandal is no longer the chief one; it ls overshadowed by another, which affects his character lor honor and veracity. The astounding develop? ments in the Credit Mobilier investigation, yesterday, make it necessary lor ihe vice President to show, lt he can, lhat he has not sworn falsely. The circumstances are these: Mr. Collax denied that he bad received a cer talo specked didldend of twelve hundred dol? lars on Credit Mobilier stock.

Mr. Ames swore positively that he gave the vice-Presi? dent a check on the house sergeant-at-arms for that amount. The check, dated June 20, 1868, ls produced; it was paid June 21; Mr. bank account ls examined and it ls lound (Italcu June 22, 1863 he deposited the precise amount of twelve hundred dollars in bank notes; and, as If to emphasize the font ol the deposit, the whole amount ol it waa fled to be nineteen hundred and slur-eight dollars and sixty-three ceoiB, of which all but twelve hundred dellars was in checks. The fatal sum Staads by Itself.

We have not the heart to comment at length on this apparently utter and deplora? ble fall. We hope, for the sake of the pure name which Mr. Colfax has eo long borne be lore the country-for the sake of the country Itself we hope-that he may yet be able to break down this damning wall of circumstan? tial evidence which has slowly encircled him. The only way of escape Is to prove that the $1200 deposited on June 22 was received from some other source the agent of the Credit Mobilier Association. The vice-Presi? dent has too olten spoken of his accurate bu? siness habits, his limited Income, and his fdlthiul recollection of all details of his small private business not to make this means of escape easy, if it ls possible.

He could not readily torget the disposition of twelve hundred dol? lars lu notes if he received them; he could Dot lorget their receipt. 8o far as we caa see now, unless Vice-president Colfax eau account lor the twelve hundred dollars deposit, the evidence must be accepted ns conclusive, and he stands before the country forsworn and dishonored; led on to false-swearing by the slender thread of a first weak, Irresolute and joged og denial. The figure which he assumes Is melancholy one, full ol warning and pro? foundly pitiful. Unless there be some door of escape In this seemingly adamantine wall of proof-for which we shall Billi hope, although the chance seems so Blight-the world ls the poorer lor this loss of one more shining ex? ample of public virtue. Was This Business? the New York Senator Logan has been a great deal more fortunate than many of his comrades In the Credit Mobilier business, because he has not lied about it.

But his testimony illustrates so perfectly the nature of Mr. Ames's transac? tions with members of Congress, and destroys BO thoroughly the pretence that these dealings were perfectly legitimate, that we must lake the liberty of still using Mr. Logan to point a moral and adorn a tale. He tells us tint, he agreed to take ten shares of Credit Mobilier stock at nar. This was in February, 1868.

paid nothing to Mr. Ames at that lime, and received no stock. On June 20 following Mr. Ames came to me and Bald this stock was entitled lo a dividend or dividends; he made a statement and gave it to me, which showed that the dividends on ihe stock no to that time paid the amount due for it and left a balance of $329; Mr. AmeB handed me a check for the amount; I had paid Mr.

Ames no money, and he bad given me no stock or of stock, in other wordB, Ames gave Mr. Logan the stock and $329 besides; aud he favored the Illinois senator no more in reality than lie favored all the rest; the others went through the form of paying him part value of the Bloch, but the money was returned to them soon alterward under the name of dividends. It 1B Incredible that acy membpr of Con? gress should receive valuable gifts of this sort without ihe suspicion lhat they were iniended to purchase his influence. Mr. Logan cer? tainly was not Buch a lool as to look upon the transaction as a mere piece of legitimate busi? ness, for after a few days he returned both the Block and the money.

A TUE'I BRIBING SENATOR. How Pomeroy Spent Ills Money and Got Defeated. Senator Pomeroy, of Kansas, was over? whelmingly defeated In election for United States senator in that State Wednesday. A epecla' telegram to the New York Tribune tells tue story thus: As the vote was being taken In Joint con? ventlon, Colonel York, member of the Senate from Montgomery Colin ly, when his name was called, passed up to the presiding officer seven thousand dollars which Mr. Pomeroy had given him for his vote.

He then detailed the circumstances ot the transaction in a speech ot au hour's length, The effect was overwhelming. A resolution was passed by the Legislature thanking Colonel York lor his course, and John J. Ingulla was Immediately elected. For two weeks Pomeroy bsB kept a lobby here of all his "strikers" at an expense not lesB than fl teen hundred dollars per day, and has spent probably one hundred thous? and dollars In the campaign. Mr.

Pomeroy has been arrested under tbe State law. Press telegrams give further particulars of the bribery as exposed in the Legisla? ture Senator York detailed three alleged Inter? views between himself and Mr. Pomeroy. He said these Interviews were held In pur? suance of a plan agreed upon by himself and other prominent opponent of Mr. Pomeroy.

The first one was on Friday night, when several persons were present, and during which the matter of the Rose letter was discussed. The second one was private, at the solicitation of Mr. Pomeroy, on Monday night. Ai this Mr. Pomerey offered him (Mr.

York) thousand dollars for his vote, two thous? and dollars In cash, five thousand dollars on Tuesdav, and the remainder on Thursday. Mr. York accepted the offer, and took $2000. On Tuesday afternoon he met Mr. Pomeroy again by agreement and received from him the $5000 promised.

He then produced a roll of bank bills Irom bis pocket, and said: Here ls the $7000 paid to me by Mr. Pome? roy, which I now desire to place In the hands of the president of this Joint convention. At the conclusion of York's speech a vote was laken for senator. Pomeroy received-0. $90,000 Ball.

TOPEKA, KANSAS, January 31. Senator Pomeroy appeared by counsel be? fore Judge Morton, ol the District Court, waived examination, and gave ball io the sum of $20,000 for his appearance at the June term. JOTTINGS ABOUT THE STATE. -There ls not a single prisoner In Bennetts vllle Jail. -Mr.

8amuel Smith and others have left Abbeville en roufe fur Texas. -Tne lax receipts In Abbeville, so far, foot up forty-eight thousand, dollars. -Since me extension of the time, taxpay? ers are becoming lux lu Abbeville. -A. Blythe, ol Greenville, bas enter? ed upon his dulles us solicitor In Anderson.

-Tue courthouse In Denington will proba? bly be ready for occupancy oy May next, -Snow ls reported on the Cberaw uud Dar? lington Railroad, near Harlin.lon. -The Darlingtoniann paid $.0,000 of their Indebtedness to the State. -Mr. J. M.

Davis died recently at his home, near Bennettsvllle. -Mr. James 8. Stewart, of Wlnnsboro', died last week, aged sixty-five. -The mortui.iy among the colored people of Luurensvllie from meningitis is very great.

-Mr. William H. Glenn, of Laurensvllle, SR cldentally shot himself recently while visiting Newberry on business. -Extensive purchases of real estate have been mads in Union recently by gentlemen who propose building thereon. -The Stonewall tire Engine Company, ot Chester, celebrated their second anniversary last Friday In the usual happy way.

-Hon. H. P. Hammett, mayor of Green? ville, has returned home from his Georgia lour. -Forty-eight thousand dollars has already been paid loto the Anderson treasury by prompt taxpayers.

-Tbe February term ol the Lancaster Court of General SesBlono begins to-day. The com? mon pleas ducket Is large. -The Lancaster Ledger has no marriages to report, but declares several to be on the tapit). -Dr, James P. Boyce, formerly ol Green? ville, bu now living in Kentucky, is paying a flying visit lo his old homo.

-Amy Fdlr, an old colored servant, resident In ihe suburos of Abbeville, died recently, aged S9. -Tue line imposed by the courts upon Wm. Hoffman, of Marlboro', for selling spirituous liquors, has been remitted. -A difficulty occurred Saturday morning on Main street, Columbia, between Mr. James Orchard and Mr.

F. J. Ludetie. In which Ihe latter was stabbed in the shoulder. -Treasurer Watson, of Yorkvllle, ha9 re? turned to his dulles, receiving a cordial wei come ihe laxpayere, who throng his office night uud Mr.

J. Dow, of Granitevllle, has been arrested for malfeasance In office. He was a United Stales deputy internal revenue as? sessor. Miss Addle, the youngest daughter of George W. Ha nmond.

Abbeville, was severely burned recently, out ls now recover? ing. -The new dwelling of Mrs. E. 8. Campbell, recently erected upon the site of the old one at Manchester, Sumter County, was burued on the 18.h ultimo.

-BeuueiisvlUe intends that In future her citizens shall be law-abiding and quiet, il' severity on ihe part of her magistrates and a town marshal can effect it, -The storehouse, with all Its contents, lo? cated on Mr. B. Parnell's place, near Darling? ton, was destroyed recently by fire. Cause, Incendiary. -A bevy of young ladies left Columbia on Saturday morning, under care ot different professors, bound tor various State academies.

In consequence the Columbia youth are all tears. -A frame cottage, occupied by Mr. Wm. Pickling, situated at the corner ol Plain and Barnwell streets, Columbia, was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning. Most of the con? ten? were saved.

-A school-house used by Mr. Henry Du Bote, In the Beaver Dam Fork, Sumter Cou? ty, was burned about a week Bioce-loss uuoiu fifty dollars to the teacher, and twenty five dollars, worth ol books lo the children. Supposed cause, Incendiary. -Tne engineers in charge of theexperlmen- lal survey ot the Greenwood and Augusta Railroad have completed their survey upon the Carolina side of the Savannah River, and are now encaged In running lines from some point near Fury's Ferry lo the City of Augusta. -Oa Friday last, Mr.

T. R. Jeler, living near Saniuc, met with a very severe loss by the burning of his glnliouse and ail Its con? consisting of a nearly new gin and gearing, fifteen bales ot cotton and a large quantity of cotton seed. The loss ls estimated ai, two thousand five hundred dollars. The fire was accidental.

-Robberies and attempts at robbery are be? coming common lu Columbia. Oa Friday night AdJutani-General Purvis was stopped ny two colored looipads on Gervais street, near Bull, but a prompt of his- pistol set the would-be robbers off-one ot them with an ounce or two of lead In his carcass. The wounded man was cared for, and proved to be a negro named Hardy. He ouly wanted "money," and eschewing the drudgery of labor, look io "the road." -Tne old homestead known as "Rising Lexington side of the Conga ree, opposite Columbia, was burned on Thurs? day. This building was a two-3tory log structure, plastered and weather-boarded, the nails used In Its construotlon being the old style "wrought." It ls believed to have been built more than a century ago.

The property hus been in possession ol ihe Gulguard family for a long period, and ls now owned by Mrs. H. H. May rant Mr. J.

J. Richardson and his two sisters, who occupied the house, saved bul little ol their clothing or furniture. -Tue stockholders of the Wlnnsboro' Na? tional Bank have elected W. Robertson, Joh ii B. Palmer, J.

Ell Gregg, James H. Rion, J. B. McCants, J. M.

Rutland, H. L. Elliott, G. H. McMasier, James Beaty and D.

R. Flannl ken directors. The directors elected the fol? lowing officers: W. R. Robertson, president; G.

H. McMaster, vice-president; S. B. Clowney, cashier. Operations will begin as Boon as practicable.

The bank will be operated at present upon $60,000, with the privilege of ex? tending the caplial stock to $200,000. NEW YORK BANK STATEMENT. NEW YORK, February 1. The bank statement shows a loan increase of four and three-quarter millions; Bpecle de? crease and tnree-quarier million; legal tenders decrease one-elgnth of a million; de? posits increase three-eighths of a million. NOTES FROM NEW TOES.

THE FALL OF COLFAX-A SENSATION AMONG TBE RIGHTEOUS. A Sanctimonious Metal Importing Home Loira Ila Character for Moral? ity-Poisoned Mea t-The Sawdust Swindlers-Feigned Arrests by the Po? lice-Heading One's Own Obituary Rumors About Bennett, Jnnlor. OCR OWN NEW YORK, January 30. Even the Times has abandoned the defence of Schuyler Colfax, and be stands condemned before the tribunal ol the whole world as a dishonored man. His fate has been terrible.

His friends are dumb. In Sunday-School cir? cles here there ls astonishment as well as grief, for Colfax bas been the model constant? ly exposed to the youth for emulation in all things. There has been equal amazement In the same quarters at the revelations about the great house of Phelps, Dodge Co. There ls no concealment now that the charge made against the firm by the government is that lt has been In the habit of using double Invoices on Its Imported goods. The loweBt priced being for service at the customhouse, and the other the basis for sales to customers.

The amount the gov? ernment has been deprived of by this system of false entries is estimated at two millions of I dollars. It ls reported from Washington lhat the treasury department bas compromised for $260.000. Whether this is true or not, the affair has been a serious blow to the reputa? tion of the house. Hr. Dodge, one of the firm, Is president of the Young Men's Chris? tian Association ot this city, and is foremost In all religious and reformatory movements.

He ls likewise an ardent Radical ls politics, and was a candidate for Congress in 1865, against James Brooke. Brooks was eleoted, but a Radical House of Representatives turned him out of his seat and voted Dodge Into lt. There ls an alarm In thia city about "poisoned meat." The story ls that thousands of rotten or scrofulous sheep are being sent here from the West, butchered hastily In the slaughter-bouses, and served to consumers. Consequently there is as great an abhorrence of mutton prevailing at present as there was of pork a few years ago wnen the exaggerated repone about trichina abounded. The "sawdust swindlers" are enjoying a temporary triumph over the authorities In consequence of the recent discharge of some of their number and ihe reprimand adminis? tered lo the police by Justice Scott, of the Third District Police Court.

Ihe "sawdust swindlers," you may have heard, are the gen? tlemen who flood the country with cir? culars, offering to sell counterfeit money. Some Idea of the gullibility as well as inherent dishonesty of a large num? ber of our fellow-AmericaoB may be gathered from the fact that over fifty of these swindling concerns are driving a flourishing business In New York. Of course the victim receives no counterfeit money for the good money he sends. The swindler ls too cun? ning to get himself Into trouble by uttering counterfeit bills. Ii he sends anything In re? sponse lt Is a filled with sawdust, for which be gels an express company's receipt.

If the victim complains in person the swind? ler flourishes the receipt In his face and In? thal the contents of the box has been changed by the express company's servants. He knows that no victim will dare lo have him arrested for failing to supply counterfeit bills according to contract. A few dais ago the police made a descent on some of these sawdust swindlers and car? ried them off to the Tombs. When the swin? dlers were arraigned before Justice Scott the police were to produce complainants against them. Scott let them go and berated ihe policemen for making the arrests.

The next day Mayor Havemeyer wrote a severe letter to Justice Scott, accusing bim of en? couraging vice, and disheartening the police in their efforts to break up a nefarious busi? ness. He said he was overwhelmed wlih let- tere from the South and West complaining of tbe swindlers. Justice Scott has aluce been interviewed by the indefatigable reporters, and his statement, if correct, pule a uiff-rent face on tbe matter. He says that the police kept these wealthy swindlers twenty-four hours before taking them a Justice, and theo were or unwilling to produce any de? finite evidence against them. He Intimates very broadly thal the arrests were made only for the purpose of extorting money from the swindlers, who, being squeezed dry, were "let up" by the police.

He says that the police authorities know the local inn of every gamb? ling place, every swindling gift enterprise, and every sawdust agency in New York, and have but to issue the order "shut up," and every one of them will close Instantly. That they are open and doing business ls evidence, he lasists. that for some reason they are tole? rated by the police. A pretty "reform gov? ernment" we ure living under, then. Ex-Mayor Kalbfleisch, of Brooklyn, has Just eoji yed ihe rare privilege of reading his own obituary in the Herald.

He was supposed to be at the point ol death, and the enterprising manager of lhat paper had bim written up In haste. As Boon aa a report reached the office that the mayor was cone, the obituary was ordered in. The subject ol it was astonished and flattered, of course, at the appearance of ihe Herald the next morning, for his virtues were set lorth in glowing terms. He began to mend forthwith, and waa on the street to? day swearing that he will run for mayor again at the next election, like the "sturdy old Dutchman" he ls. He ls about sixty-five, years old, worth four millions of dollars, and has a law case pending with a dressmaker, who has sued him for breach of promise of marriage-damages one hundred thousand dollars.

Writing of the Herald reminds me that a rumor ls circulated in Printing House Square lhat young Bennett ls aboutto start great journal in London "on the American plan." Bennett Junior ls not overburdened with wits, but he tas too many for any euch fool? ishness as that. By-the-way the sun la bawl? ing for him to return home, and take care ot his paper here, and threatens fearful expos? ures ll something ls not done about lt at once. A PINC BB A. CK JUDGE. NEW ORLEANS, February 1.

The Stale Supreme Court, In the case of Morton vs. Kennard, confirmed the decision nt the lower couria In favor ot the plaintiff. Kennard was appointed Just ce of the Supreme Court by Warmotb, and served several weeks. Morgan was subsequently appointed by Pinch back, and the court held-confirmed by the senate of the State of Louisiana, composed of I persons returned as elected by the returning officers, recognized by this courl-to be the legal returning officers ot the late electloo. Ludellng rendered a lengthy opinion, Howell concurring, reserving the right to file reasons.

Wyly dissented. Kennard retired, and Mor? gan presented his commission this morning and took his seat as associate Justice. TBE STOKES CASE. NEW YORK, February 1. The counsel in the Stokes case, in the event of failure to obtain an order for a new trial from Judge Boardman, will apply for a stay of proceedings, and thereby secure a review the case by a full bench of the Supreme Court, and on failure there, will go to the Court ot TBE If BARTON TRIAL.

ANNAPOLIS, February 1. After twenty-two days ot laborious trial, the case of Mrs. Wharton for the attempted poi? soning of Mr. Yan Ness was finally submitted to the Jury yesterday ofiernoon. At half-past two o'clock to day the Wharton Jury reported that they were unable to agree, and asked io be discharged.

The Judge retused to discharge them. SBNDAT Jury ls still out. FRANKING PRIVILEGE REPEALED. WASHINGTON, January 31. The President bas signed the bill repealing the lranking privilege.

The departments are moving for an appropriation to cover postage expense. NEWS FROH WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, February 1. The President a few dajs since received a formal application for the recognition of the Southern States by an appointment to the Cabinet, accompanied by a recommendation, ibiu be snail select Senator foote, ul Norm Carolina, for the position. The recommenda Hon was signed by nearly all the Republican members from the South, except those from South Carolina, who are urging Senator yer for a similar promotion, and the Virgin? ians, who have pronounced a decided prefer? ence tor Judge Hughes.

According to uotice given in the Senate yesterday, an effort wilt be made on Wednes? day to bring up the House bili for the repeal of the bankrupt act. The attempt will hardly prove successful, but, even if the subject Is brought before the Senate, about the only aciion that will be taken will be to amend the law by striking out the involuntary bankrupt? cy provision. The colton tax clalmB have nearly all been passed upon by the commissioners of Internal revenue. Upon this action payment ls made after going through the proper accounting officers of the treasury department. About will settle ihe whole of these claims.

Stewart, the contumacious Credit Mobilier witness, is confined In a prison cell of the cap? itol, near the crypt, and no one ls allowed to visit bim except on a card Issued by the ser geant-at-arms; but he bas an abundance of company, for the card Is never refused. The committee of ways and means yester? day, all the members being present, consider? ed the bill Introduced by Mr. Beck for tbe re? funding of the cotton lax. After full discus? sion, an amendment was adopted limiting the tax to be refunded to the amount of cotton actually exported. Subsequently, however, the bill and amendment were both rejected, and by a vote of six to three an adverse re? port was decided to be made.

There will be no minority report In the case, but lt was agreed that a discussion should be permitted when the adverse report shall be presented to the House. DEA TH OF COMMODORE MA URT. RICHMOND, February Commodore Mathew Fontaln Maury, Ameri? can hydrographer and naval officer, died at Lexington, at one o'clock to-day. He was the author ot -'Letters on the Amazon and Atlantic Slopes ol South America, "Re? lation between Magnetism and the Circula? tion of the Atmosphere." "Astronomical Ob? servations," "Physical Geography of the Sea." dbe. During the late war he was an officer In the Confederate navy, and at the time of his deal was professor of physical science at the Virginia Military Institute.

He was aged sixty-seven years. WHAT TWEED SATS OF HIS TRIAL. NEW Yonx, February Tweed last evening said his trial was merely a political one, and that tr. ey would never get a Jury to convict him. He was tired of the business.

The prosecuting lawyers claim that the Jury Wis packed. The Jurors refused to reveal what occurred la the jury room. THE FLORIDA 8ENATOR. TALLAHASSEE, January 31. S.

B. Conover, Bepuoilcan, was elected United States Benator to-day on the fifth bal? lot by 43 votes, twenty-seven Democrats voting with the Republicans. Both houses adjourned until Monday. SPARKS FROM THE WIRES. -The postofflce authorities of Boston have taken possession of the old South Church.

-The government will sell a million and a half of gold, each Tuesday, and buy one mil? lion of bonds, each Wednesday, In February. -One hundred thousand dollars worth of properly bas been burned at Jackson, Ten? nessee, embracing the business portion of the town. SOUTH POLAR EXPLORATION. There appears to be a rivalry springing up between ihe Norih Pole and ihe Souib as to which can tffer the greatest attractions to explorers. Huberto the North Pole has been the most popular, partly because lt ls the nearest to those nations from which the ex? plorers come, and there are at present no fewer than seven expeditions in the Arctic endeavoring lo suive the mystery of the great Polar Sea.

Of these, one ls French, one American, one Austrian, one Prussian, two Norwegians and one Russian. It will be noticed that England bas withdrawn frum Lhls Held of wherein her navi? gators have distinguished themselves from me days ol Cabot, Baffin, Davis and Scoresby down to those of Franklin, McClure and Mc? clintock. She bas now turned her attention to the Antarctic reg ona which are accessible In direct lines from four of her colonies, viz the Cape ol Good Hope, Australia, New Zea? land and the Falkland Isiands. Sue has char? tered ihe Challenger, a vessel of 1400 loos, and titted out for a ibree years' voyage ot explora? tion and deep sea soundings, under the direc? tion of competent scientific men; and ni Len? non will first be given to ihe Southern Pacido Ocean. This vast portion ol the earth's sur? face has not been investigated aa lt ought to have been.

The Spanish and Portuguese ex? plorers sailed through the Straits ol Magellan in the fifteenth century, but they seem lo have considered that far enough south, or else to have thought that the best thing ibey could do would be get to India as soon as possible, and so they ateered In that direction north? west, accidentally discovering island afier island on the way. Thus lt happened that until the year 1616, when the Dutch navigator Van Schou? ten discovered Cape Hjrn, and gave lt its present name, no one bad ventured further south; but when he led the way others fol? lowed, and lt was soon lound that the then prevalent idea ol geographers that the Ant? arctic regions were occupied by a vast ice? bound continent, was not wholly without foundation. Tasman, Dampier, Cook, and other navigators, visited these regions, but, ihough they discovered Australia, New Zea? land, Van Dieman's Land, and other isl? ands, they did not contribute much to the world's knowledge of the South polar circle. It was not until the present century that any material progress was made. In 1819 a Bri? tish brig discovered the Islands now known as Palmer's Land and the South Orkneys.

Aller that they were frequently visited by In the same year (1819) the Russian government sent out an expedition under Captains Lazaren and Beinghausen, and i hose Intrepid explorers almost circumnavi? gated the South Pole at an average distance ot thirty degrees, and examined a portion of the polar circle. -They also discovered the first conlinental land there, and named lt Alexander Lind. Thia appeared to be a cape belonging to a large continent; lt was com? pletely locked In ice. From that time up to 1840. several American, French and English expeditions were sent out lo these regions, which ascertained that there existed within the south polar circle a vast continent.

Lleu terant Wilkes, of the United Slates navy, sailed more than fifteen hundred miles along? side of a wall ol Ice from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet high, beyond which, at many points, rose high, mountainous land. In 1842, Slr James Ross discovered South Vic? toria Land, whereon was a lofty volcano twelve thousand feet height, now known as Mount Erebus; but bis further progress was checked by an Immense continuous wall ice, above which could be seen in the far 1 lance mountain peaks of great height, cov? ered with ice. It is one ol me singularities ot thia portion of the earth's eurface, containing an area double that of Europe, that lt exhibits no signs of animal, marine or vegetable life. In the sea Itself lite seems extinct, unless the deep soundings shall reveal some at the bot? tom of the ocean. Rut lt appears from the soundings taken by Sir James Ross, that the Antarctic seas are generally shallow, compara? tively speaking.

The depth rarely exceeded lour hundred fathoms, or twenty-four hundred feet (not half a mlle,) and lt was ordinarily only from two hundred to three hundred fath? oms, while in some spots in the Atlantic Ocean the depth ls fifteen thousand feet. At one point off the coaBt ot Brazil, Slr James Ross failed to toncb ground at a depth of twenty-seven thousand feet, or five and a bait miles, and at one spot In the Antarctic Ocean he failed at twenty-four thousand. A VIRGINIA TRIUMPH. COMPLETION OF THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO KAI LEO AD. The Waters of th? Ohio United With Thoae of the Atlantic-HU tory of th? Enterprise, Tbe Chesapeake and Oblo Railroad has been finished.

Tbe first train lrom Eicbmond reached the banks of the Ohio on Wednesday last, and on Saturday the first train eastward over ihe road, through from the Ohio Elver, arrived in Richmond, bringing about fllty pas? seDgers, mostly West Virginians, and tour loads of cannel coal, the first of the kind ever received In that city. Thus there ls another through line from the Atlantic to the Weat, making the fifth connecting line reaching from the seaboard lo ihe Western system, or at least Its waters. Richmond ls in high spirits over the event, and ls making arrangements for a grand celebration, which will probably brace an excursion to the Ohio and return, bringing large delegations from Western cities to participate ID the order of ceremonies in the capital of the Old Dominion. The fact that there are so few "through lines," compared to the expansion ot the rail roads In the Mississippi Valley, ls owing to the greater difficulty and cost of construction, arising from the rugged, intervening eleva? tion of tbe Alignantes. The Baltimore and Railroad hus the honor of leading the way in crossing the American Alps, a victory of peace nobler than Hannibal or Napoleon ever achieved.

Since that lime the surplus produce ol the Western States has grown to such dimensions that existing railroads-the Pennsylvania notably among tbe most Im? portant-and the Erle Canal are scarcely able to accommodate the freight. The producer in the West and the consumer In the East most both gain by the construction of a new line possessing all the elementa for oheap trana poi tallou. Io 1836 the Louisa Railroad was Incorpo? rated by the Virginia Legislature, Intended to pass by or near Louisa Courthouse to a point near the eastern base of the Southwest fains, and thence to a point In the Valley of Virginia. Afterwards the scheme was extend? ed, and the name was changed to the Vir? ginia Central. The original capital stock of.

the company was gradually i crean ed by acta of the Legislature as the extension of the road demanded until lt bas reached the sam of $13 600,000. Its maximum authorised cap? ital ts $30,000,000. The road was completed to Louisa Courthouse In about 1840, to Oordons lil a lew years later, to Staunton In 1867, and to Covington In 1860. There, when the war overtook it, lt was awaiting toe comple? tion of the Covington and Ohio Railroad, which was being rapidly pushed by the State. At the conclusion of the war the Virglu a Central Railroad was left a complete wreck.

All of Its bridges and most its depot build? ings were destroyed, much of Ita trsck torn wp, and that which remained in snob condi? tion that lt was unsafe io run over lt a train of cars; Us engines, coaches and cars worn out. and Us treasury utterly depleted; the prospect seemed indeed gloomy. The super? intendent says that they had "leas than one hundred dollars In the treasury, and only twenty miles of road available for producing In September, 1868, the Legislature granted a charter to toe Cnesapeake and Ohio Com- panv, tbe Covington and Ohio and the Cen? tral having been previously consolidated, and, in 1869. a proposition of Huntington A ef New Tork, was accepted, under which the work has been extended to the Ohio, the length ot the Une to tbe northwestern boonda- ry ol the State ot Kentucky being lour hon- dred and twenty-seven miles. Half of thia great raliway has been constructed In len than three years.

There ore seven miles and about one-third of tunnels on the road. Tbe road strikes the Ohio at a point further weat than any other, and, aa we have before stated, it ls proposed that Us eastern terminus shall not remain at Richmond, but be extended to Newport News, on the James Elver, near Hampton Roads, with a branch at Yorktown, on the York River, the company desiring to be able to transfer the freight to the largest European and coastwise sailing and steam vessels. The cost of the work ls stated at up? wards of $36,000,000. A MONSTER OF THE DEEP. A Hage Sea Serpent Visita Tybee.

A telegram was published a few days since stating that ooe of the oceen steamers of a New York line, on Its last return voyage, en? countered two Immense Bea serpents, whloh were distinctly seen by the officers and pas? sengers. One was colled up, apparently asleep, and the other was Idly fl ming on the water. The Savannah News, referring io this incident, says: What will be thought when lt ls known that one of these strange monsters of the deep baa been seen at tbe very mouth of oar river Many of our readers may shrug their shoul? ders Incredulously at this announcement, but we can assure them that we have no reason to doubt our iDlormatlon. We had heard of this mammoth tea serpent having been seen In the vicinity of Tybee about two weeks ago, but refrained from Baying anything about it until we could get more satisfactory Informa? tion. This we now have, and shall proceed to give lt lor the benefit ol our readers: On Lhe last trip of the steamship Hunsvllle, from New York to this port, thia serpent waa twice eeen, once at night and the other lime by daylight, by several ol the offl crs and passengers.

The monster la described as being nearly forty feet in length, with a head somewhat resembling an alliga? tor, and very large, glowing eyes. It waa floating upon the water, and at times would raise Its head above the surface, thus giving all a full view of Us proportions. Borne who Baw the monster suggested it waa a whale, but the mate of the steamer, Mr. Craw, wbo is au old whaleman, stated that lt was entirely In shape and appearance from a whale, and the only presumption left was that lt was one'of those often heard of, but seldom seen, denizens of the vasty deep-a sea-ser? pent. The old seamen acknowledged lt waa ihe most singular, as well as the largest inhab? itant of the sea they bad ever beheld In all their tripp, and the sight furnishes a topic ot gene? ral conversation for them.

We do not re? member now of ever having heard of serpenta of thia kind being seen on this side ot the ocean before. Ia Webster's unabridged we find three definitions ot the term "sea ser? pent:" 1. A serpent-like animal of great size, supposed lo dwell in the sea; now com? monly reckoned as fabulous. 2. A kind of eel found in the Mediterranean.

3. Tne hydras a large marine serpent found In tbe Australian seas. To this latter genus, we suppose, the one seen at Tybee belongs, but to what cause ls due the undertaking by bia serpentine majesty of such a long Journey lae mystery, -Lydia Sherman ls said to be reviewing her recent conlessloD, In order to work In a few more dead bodies that she entirely forgot about belore. Qerman admiralty have decided to. build DO more large lron-clads at present, bnt to strengthen the coast deiences by monitors and torpedoes.

-Thoa. O. Boyd bas been sentenced at Knoxville, to Imprlsonmeat for five years and a fine of $6000 for the perpetration of pension irauds. -The Harrisburg, State Senate have adopted a resolution Instructing the United Mates senators from that State to vote against either the purchase or control of the telegraph by the government. -The Tribune stockholders have decided to tear down the Tribune building In May next, and erect a new bulldlog, of suoh dimensions, ii ls said, as to rival, lt not eclipse, any other devoted to Journalism lo the country, at an estimated cost of two hundred and fifty thous? and dollars.

-England had an enormous loreign trace last year, the aggregate b-lBe $3,046,690.000. The Imports were $1,766,680,000, and me ex? ports $1,279,810.000. In both these Items lhere was an Increase over tbe trade ox un, the aggregate Increase being nearly two hun? dred and Beventy-elght ml of dol ara. England stands at the head ol Hons, her trade far exceeding In volume that of any other country..