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ESTABLISHED 1799. { FROM COLUMBIA. Bantings of the Rump-Jmi ge lioud Releases the Board of Canvassers— A n Effort to Unseat the Chief j UB . tice-The “Union-Herald" as a De tective of the Lowndesville Mur derers. j (Special to Constitutionalist.) Columbia, S. C., December 11, 1876. judge Bond filed a decision to-day in the habeas corpus releasing the Board cu Canvassers, on the {ground that the Supreme Court had no jarK diction. The Rump House is still trying to reach the Chief Justice, and the move now is to unseat him, on the ground that he holds a disqualifying office, as professor of Law. The resolution’ to declare his office vacant was made the special order for Wednesday, and will probably pass. The measure is purely one of revenge. Another concurrent resolution is in high favor with the Rucuj* House and Radical Senators, which is to get rid of the entire Judiciary of the State, on the cround that all were elected viva . vote instead of bv' ballot, as the Constitu tion requires. The terms are synony mous in the Constitution, but the en tire J udiciary is opposed to the Bump House.. i VLi TANARUS/ k/ \ i v The reported lynching in Abbeville county is ascertained to be false. All the prisoners are safe iu Walhalla. Six have confessed participation in the plot to massacre the whites around Lowndesville. The plot embraces sev enty-five or one hundred negroes, all armed with United States rifles, of course. The kiiling of Allen was the first step. Baker escaped with his life, and gave the alarm, which saved the community. The murderers were identi fied by a piece of the Union-Herald used as gun wadding and having a ne gro’s name on it. There is great ex citement in Abbeville and Anderson, but no fears of lynching now. W. H. M. THE METHODISTS. Appointments for tlte Ensuing Year- List of Augusta’s Ministers. [Special to the Constitutionalist.! Sparta, Ga., December 11. Appointments of Conference for the Augusta District: R. W. Bingham, Pre siding Elder; St. John's,C. A. Evans; St. James and Jones Chapel, A. J. Jarrell; St. Luke’s, C. W. Key; Asbury, F. G. Hughes ; Richmond, R. A. Seals; Mil ledgeville, H. H. Parks; Ringgold, W. L. Wooten. X. THE LOWNDESVILLE TRAGEDY. Arrest of Sixteen of the Murderers—A Plot to Murder the Whole Village. Charleston, December 11.—Sixteen negroes were arrested in Abbeville county charged with the murder of two white men whom they ambushed and shot near Lowndesville on Mon day. Six of the negroes made e, full confession, implicating their fellow prisoners and divulging a plot for the murder of the white men of the \illage and the capture o! the women. Twenty of them were in the conspiracy, and they had begun the butcherj by slaughtering the two white men. Of the sixteen arrested, thirteen were started from Lowndesville to Ander son, the intention being to send them from Anderson to Abbeville by rail road. This roundabout course was adopted to avoid lynching by men who were said to be on i he direct road from Lowndesville to Abbeville. The pris oners started for Auderson on Satur day under a strong guard, but up to now have not been heard from. It is rumored that they have been inter cepted and lynched by a party from Georgiu, but no confirmation of the report nas yet reached Charleston. Two of the prisoners had been hurt when captured, and the party may have slopped on the road to ease the wounded—especially as the weather has been so cold. One of tho Murderers Suicides. Columbia, December 11. —One of the captured murderers took laudanum and died from its effects. A jury in his case rendered a verdict unanimously that “We, the jurors, upon our oaths, do say that Sam Burton came to his death from the voluntary use of laud anum, taken by himself, aud received by him from the hands of his brother. ’ The prisoners are now ail safe in Wal halja jail. , . PEEILS OF THE DEEP. Hjavy Galas— lmmense Dastruction of Slipping and L 033 of Life. New York, December 11. —The sehr. Harry Elliott, from Thom.tsten, Me., was wrecked on Long island shore. The captain, his wile and child, and the mate, were drowned. The remainder of the crew are safe. The vessel is almost a total wreck. The schooner Tanny Bliven, from Port Jefferson, was capsized on Jones Inlet bar aud two of the crew were drowned. Capt. Seth Robbins was res cued, but lies in a precarious condition. The vessel is a total wreck. '\ alue, 820,000. Au unknown schooner, supposed to be loaded with brick, sank rapidly in Newark Bay Saturday. Over thirty vessels were reported asaore yesterday near Sandy Hook. Several were hauled off yesterday. Norfolk, December 11.—The body of Capt. Benj. B. Gandy, of the schooner Dreadnought, from Cape May, was found last night floating in the harbor here, supposed to be an accident. Baltimore, December 11.? —Jb e gale and cold on tho Chesapeake is the most severe for years. The captain and two of the crew of the oyster boat Ann Eliza, were frozen to death. An Embezzler Wanted. Mobile, December 11. —Twenty-five dollr.rs will be paid for tho arrest and detention of Samuel Nicholson, about 19 years old, with a scar extending from the eye across the forehead, about five feet eight inches high, weighs about one hundred and fifteen or twentj pounds, has on a rough black overcoat bound with black braid, left arm slightly crooked from having been bro ken. Charge: Embezzlement of office funds. [Signed.] W. Sandford. CONGRESSIONAL. Rr oceeamgaof the Two Houses Yes terday. December 11 _ The atint th f H °ue bill appropri- W rtSilSl 0 , <j , efray expenses of in®sS P L£ T’ mttefß of House to (South f’arrUi i6 T reoeut elections in with Earoil,la > Louisiana and Florida aaieilL *ment appropriating to defray the expenses of th? S:s e 1 r p " v ‘ i '“^“Eieouot authorized Th„ rßßoluUon of Mr. Edmunds. PrivilegesolTh ° n Electio " and UDthe the . Senate agreed to take Dotedm°4S instigation, as pro- The invt ¥ shell's resolution, investigation has been referred to Grover ’ un? th &a Kurnan * Governor Ore"6n he becretai T of State of ure o on will be summoned. The pro- Saturday is iu ■ til other respects adopted J c Mori*,, South Carolina aud Louisiana leave foe the wjene ot their labors to-dav. The Judiciary Committee of the Dre^nt C r 181 f re(l , the Caso ot Be presentative from Colorado this morn lOe, and will take action to-morrow. th^^ A n^ HOl^C ‘ , ° U thecall States, tde attendance <was thin. t kW s L and re ferred were the following; By Darrall, of Louisiana— Author ~J^ te of I'olyt3ip.ua to close the mouth of Lafourche where it opens into the Mississippi; also to apply the proceeds of the sale of pub pie t 0 tlle cducatioa °f the peo- ■Banning, of Ohio, moved to suspend trie rules and adopt a resolution re citing the eulogy passed on J. Madison Wells, of the Louisiana Returning Board, on Senator Sherman’s report to the 1 resident, and calling on the Presi dent for copies from the War Depart ment of all tile reports, orders and cor respondence connected with General Sheridan’s removal ot Wells from the Governorship of Louisiana in 1867 which was defeated by Hi to 80, not the necessary two-thirds. MacDougal offered a resolution for the appointment of select committees on election frauds as follows : Com mittee of nine for New York, Brook lyn and Jersey City; five for Virginia, in the Second and Fourth Congression al Districts; nine for Mississippi; five for Philadelphia, and three for Ala bama. Negatived by yeas 124, nays 88 —not the necessary two-thirds. Cos:: then offered a resolution for a select committee on fraudulent regis tration and fraudulent voting iu the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Brook lyn and Jersey City. Adopted. Ou motion of Goode, of Virginia, the Judiciary Committee was instructed to inquire and report on the legality of the circular letter issued by the At torney General during the late Presi dential campaign to United States Marshals iu relation to their duties in such elections. A resolution offered by Spencer, of Louisiana, for iuquiry into intimida tion practised ou Government em- j plovers during the late election, to compel them to contribute to election funds, was defeated fop- waut-of the two-thirds rule. In the Senate, Bogy desired' to pre sent, for the purpose of having printed, the report of the live Democrats in vited by the Returning Board of Louis iana to be present at the canvass of the votes. Hamlin asked if it was addressed to the Senate. Bogy replied no; nor was the report of any other committee. Edmunds said if Bogy turned the paper into a petition, it would be proper to print it. Bogy said he would have the paper read as a part of his speech, and tinally decided to present it in the form of a petition to-morrow. It covers 8,000 words. Chairmen of the sub-committees on Privileges and Elections were empow pered to administer oaths. Boutwell was excused from serving on the committee. The petition af Gen. Joseph E. John ston and Gen. M. L. Bonham was pre sented for the removal of political dis abilities. The Senate then resumed considera tion of the unfinished business, being the joint resolution of Mr. Edmunds, proposing an amendment to the Con stitution of the United States so as to have the electoral votes for President and Vice-President counted by the Su preme Court, and the amendment of the Judiciary Committee, authorizing the electors to vote viva voce instead of I by ballot, was agreed to. Mr. Morton opposed the clause pro viding that the Court shall, in the dis charge of the and lty, disregard errors of form and bo governed by the substan tial right of the matter. He argued that such a clause would give to the Supremo Court a boundless jurisdic- tion. It would authorize that body to do anything—perhaps to go and count tho votes in the State of Vermont, Such a jurisdiction should not be con ferred upon auy tribunal, as it was dangerous. Mr. Edmunds said tho object of the clause was not to authorize tho court to exercise boundless jurisdiction, or go anywhere to count the votes of citi zens, but it was to authorize the court to do exactly what all courts do in matters which they are called upon to try, and that was to disregard forms and decide the substantial right of the matter. He then explained at length the provisions of the joint resolu tion proposing the amendment to the Constitution, and said it was a device, as some of the newspap'-s had intimated to swap horses in cross ing a stream. It was introduced by him in the Senate on the 22d of March last, almost a year ago, and reported favorably on by the J udiciary Commit tee, with amendments on the 12th of May following, before either of the Presidential candidatesjwere nominated. He then referred to the proceedings of the convention which framed the Con stitution and said he had been unable to find anything in the debates of the convention which threw' light upon the clause of the Constitution in regard to the count of the electoral vote in the presence of the two Houses of Congif ss. The extent of the power of the pre siding officer as to the count was not defined. In referring to tho last sec tion of the prcposeij amendment, mak ing it applicable to Uhe present contest if ratified in time, Mr. Edmunds said be did not share iu what was said by parties who should not have made use of such expressions—that there was danger of any civil convulsion by force. There would not be such trouble un less it was forced by the men who care more for what they can make out of war than they do for the peace of their country. If the two Houses of Congress could not agree in regard to tho last election, it did not ®ljk QUtgusta Cemsfitatwmdist follow that the wise men and patriotic men would think they must fall back on their muskets. He did not think the good sense of this nation, with its love for law, was goiDgto allow any dispute as to which of the two men voted for last November should ap point postmasters and sign commis sions during the next four years. There would be found, somewhere in the Con stitution, a way to settle it peacefully. No action. Oglesby was appointed on the Com mittee on Privileges and Elections, vice Boutwell. Adjourned. WASHINGTON NEWS. The Supreme Court - Action of the Democratic Caucus—Mitchell’s Ore gon Resolutions. Washington, December 11. --Iu the Supreme Court to-day, Windsor vs. McVeigh. Error to the Corporations Court of Alexandria, Va. There were actions by McVeigh to recover proper ty which had been confiscated. The court below held that McVeigh bad not had sufficient notice of the confiscation proceedings, and judgment was for them. That judg ment is here affirmed, the court hold ing that the jurisdiction acquired by the seizure in such cases is not to pass upon the question of forfeiture abso lutely, but to pass upon that question after opportunity has been afforded to the owner and parties interested to ap pear and be heard upon the charges against them, borne notification be yond that arising from the seizure is essentia], prescribing the time withiu which appearance must be made, and not being given in these cases by the usual modes, the decree of condemna tion is held to be void. Affirmed. Mr. Solicitor General Phillips to-day presented to the Supreme Court the petition of the United States District Attorney for the District of South Carolina, requesting that an order be made in accordance with the provisions of the revised statutes, directing a special term of the Circuit Court for that District, to be held jit an early day, for the trial 4f parties recently ar rested there for murder and other crimes against the United States. It is probable that among the cases to be presented for trial there will be a num ber of those involving the question of the intimidation of voters. The Democratic Senatorial caucus, after discussing the political situation, appointed Thurman, Bogy, Bayard, Kernan and Eaton a committee to con fer with a committee of the House eaucus for adjusting any differences regarding the counting of the electoral votes. There was a general and spirited de bate in tbe Democratic House caucus concerning the political situation and the difficulties between the two Houses in regard to counting the votes and the inauguration of President. Randall, Wood, Hunton and Caulfield were among tho speakers. A determined spirit was manifested to maintain all the constitutional rights of the House and give effect to what is claimed by Democratic members to be the express ed wish or the people iu the Presiden tial election. With a view to this end, Hunton, of Virginia, moved to procure the passage by the House of a resolu tion directing the Judiciary Com mittee to inquire iuto aud re port what course the House should pursue in reference to the count ing of the electoral votes, and also what are the respective rights and du ties of tho two Houses, separately or jointly, regarding the entire subject of the Presidential election. Several mem bers, including Randall, Watterson and Ely, having recently had interviews with Governor Tildeu, are understood to have communicated to the caucus the views expressed by him, to the effect that no action, except of the pre liminary character above indicated, should be taken concerning the exist ing or possible future political compli cations until after the return from the South of the investigating committees. The following is Mitchell’s Oregon resolution, as amended. It comes up to-morrow. The Committee on Privi leges and Elections, to which was re ferred the resolution relating to the electoral vote in Oregon, having con sidered the same, have instructed me to report that the said resolution be amended to read as follows, and we commend its adoption; Strike out ail after the word “whereas,” in the first line, and insert the following in lieu thereof: “It is alleged that at the late election for electors of President and Vice-President for the State of Oregon the people of said State, by a majority of over one thousand votes, elected W. H. Odell, John C. Cartwright aud J. W. Watts; and, whereas, it is also alleged that the Governor of said State did subsequent ly, in violation of law and in defiance of the expressed will of the people, issue a certificate of election to oue E. A. Cronin instead of the said J. W. Watts ; and, whereas, it is also alleged that said E. A. Cronin did, in violation of law, upon some pretext, assume to select for his colleagues one J. N. T. Miller and Parker, in lieu of said W. H. Odell and J. C. Cartwright; and, whereas, it is further alleged that said Cronin, Miller and Parker have as sumed to cast tho vote of Oregon for President and Vice-President, and to certify the same to the President of the Senate; therefore, be it Resolved, That the Committee on Privileges and Elections is hereby in structed to inquire into the eligibility of said J. W. Watts, and investigate the facts attending the appointment of said electors, and pretended electors, and report the same to the Senate; and for this purpose may employ a steno grapher, send for persons and papers, administer oaths and examine wit- nesses. FLORIDA. The Returning Board to be Tried for Contempt. Tallahassee, December 11. — The members of the Supreme Court have been summoned to Tallahassee, and will arrive to night. It is understood that if the Circuit Court decides to commit the Returning Board for con tempt, an appeal will be made at once to the Supreme Court. Tallahasse, December 11.—The trial for contempt against Gargill and McLiu, of the Returning Board, was continued to-day, pending the trial of the mandamus ordering them to open the canvass again and make a purely ministerial canvass of the returns. This cause will be tried to-morrow. Tbe Judge hail given unmistakable evidence from the bench during the trial that he did not think tho Board had purged itself of contempt, and the sentence was arrested at the instance of the Democratic counsel. The Congressit nal Committee have not arrived and are detained by an ac cident. AUGUSTA, GA., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1876. THE 31AN ON HORSEHACK. GRANT TALKS OUT PLAINLY ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS. He Repudiates Hia Conversation witli Hewitt, and Declares Hampton's Peace Professions a Bit of Imperti nence—He Airs His Views About Politics and Dares Congress to Im peach Him—Says He will Order as Many Troops as He Chooses to Wash ington. and Means to Have Peace if He has to Fight for It. Washington, Sunday night, Decem ber 10.—President Graat, in the course of a long aud free conversation to-day with a representative of the New York Associated Press, Mr. L. A. Gobright, concerning political affairs, said that recently lie received a dispatch from Governor Chamberlain informing him that it was currently reported in Co lumbia that the President had, in his interview with Representative Hewitt, ; of New Yufii, a week ago, remarked* mat. when Sixty-three members of the South Carolina Houss of Representa tives, holding certificates from the Sec retary of State, should convene, he would recognize them as the legal House. The President, in reply to Gov ernor Chamberlain, telegraphed him that if Mr. Hewitt had sent or author ized the sending of such a dispatch, it was untrue that he had so expressed himself. The President says he had a free and agreeable conversation with Mr. Hewitt, in which he said that in his judgment not less thau sixty-three members were competent to organize the House and transact business, in cluding the qualification of its mem bers. This was the view he then held; but it was merely a private opinion, and he might have been wrong. The : President on that occasion further ex- 1 pressed his views with regard to the j grounds on which each wing of the members of the House respectively claim their seats, and in this connec tion tho President showed a note, ad dressed to him by Mr. Hewitt, dated House of Representatives, December 6th, as follows: “To the President: I have received a reliable telegram from Columbia, stat ing that tire sixty-third member hold ing a certificate from the Secretary of State, has been sworn into the House presided over by Speaker Wallace, whieh is therefore organized in accord ance with the requirements of law, as stated by you.” Ou the same day Mr. Hewitt sent his Excellency another note, as follows : ‘‘l have just received a late dispatch saying that the Supreme Court of South Carolina has pronounced the judgment and declared the House presided over by W. H. Wallace to be the legally con stituted House of Representatives, and that Mackey is a private person, not Speaker or in any respect an officer of the Legislativejbody.” The President said with reference to these notes that he did not think after his free conversation with Mr. Hewitt, that the latter would make use of what he said for the purpose of defeating the party which he represented. When Mr. Hewitt aud Senator Randolph call ed upon him several days ago, he in formed Mr. Hewitt of the contents of the dispatch he had received from Chamberlain aud the reply he had to it, and intimated to Mr. Hewitt that his confidence had been abused, Mr. Hewitt denied that fie had sent to Co lumbia such a dispatch as that men tioned. The President then repeated to Mr. Hewitt the substance of the dis patch iu reply to Governor Chamber lain as to the report current in Colum bia. Senator Randolph then produced a dispatch fromCeu.Hamptou.iu which he said if the President would recog nize the Wallace House, and withdraw the troops, lie would do everything possible to preserve the peace. The President remarked that he look ed on this as a piece of impertinence on tho part of General Hampton in telling him what to do. That the sending of troops to South Caiolinawas in obedienee to the call of Governor Chamberlain, the danger there being too formidable for the au thorities of the State to control. That organized rifie clubs, representing Gen. Hampton, were in the city of Columbia, and that if the Federal troops should be withdrawn there would be peace, but it would be the rest of death. Sen ator Randolph then explained to the President that he should not think that Gen. Hampton would advise him what he ought to do, aud that the dispatch which was shown to the President was a reply to one that Senator Randolph had sent to Gen. Hampton. Iu response to a question, tho President said he never instructed Gen. Ruger to place the troops iu the State House, but that was the way Gen. Ruger understood his orders. The troops were in South Carolina, the President repeat ed, in obedience to the call of Governor Chamberlain to suppress an insurrec tion too formidable for him to control, and had it not been for these troops Governor Chamberlain would be a refu gee to-day, as Governor Ames now is from Mississippi. The President said, in the course of the conversation, that he looked upon the situation to be em barrassing, to say the least. A good deal of bad temper had been shown on the Democratic side, and many were acting unreasonable. They seem to fear that he was doing what was not right. This struck him as strange, considering the scenes through which we have passed. Governor Hayes rep resented the party that carried, in the election, all but four of the States that furnished the means for the suppress ion of the rebellion; and Governor Til den carried all but three of those which sought to destroy the Union. In alining to fraud, he said; The majority for Tilden in the city of New York was larger than his total majority in the entire State. It is a city in which much crime is perpetrated, and where there is a large number of men who have very little interest either in the State or the Republic. In the same way frauds were committed in New Jersey and Connecticut. While it was true that those in the Southern States who gave Mr. Tilden a majority were voters, many of them voted more than once. But nobody claimed that Tilden did not carry such States. The same party that perpetrated frauds in the South ern States for Mr. Tilden complain of frauds in Florida, South Carolina and Louisiaua;U>ut if there had been no frauds iu Mississippi, North Carolina and Arkansas, those States would have gone for Hayes and Wheeler. The President justified the exclusion of Laurens aud Edgefield counties from the South Carolina returns on the ground that Georgians voted in those counties frequently, and cast more votes than there were voters for the Democrats. Much had been said about the use of troops, but considering the number of lives sacrificed, and the many political murders in the South, it was necessary to afford the required protection. The President thought all was quiet now in the South, and so far as he could he would protect every one from violence. All the steps taken to that end had been duly considered. The President, in reply to a letnark that many of the Democrats had abandoned the idea of impeaching him, said he would ad vise them not to attempt it, for it would bring out evidence which they would not like to see spread on the re cord. He would rather trust the rebels thau their Northern allies, and he, had tried to say as much iu his annual message, He said, in response to a question, that he would answer tbe House resolution, and inform them why he sent troops to the South. In response to other questions, he said there were now six or eight hundred troops in Washington. If there should be any necessity for more, he would order them hither. We shall have peace if we have to fight for it. Some days ago he received five or six letters threatening assassination, but he paid 110 attention to them. The President, referring to the political complications, said he’ had an abiding faith in the people. As we have had one rebellion, he did not believe the people were anxious for another, and he thought there would be some way out of our present difficulties. HOW OREGON DID IT. A Circumstantial Statement of How the Vote was Cast. Salem, Oregon, December 10.—The following statement by the Democratic candidates for Presidential electors has been published: Inasmuch as grossly false statements purporting to relate what occurred at the holding of the Electoral College to-day are being industriously circula ted by members of tbe Republican par ty, we, the undersigned, submit the fol lowing faithful detail of the proceed ings in question: The said Electoral Colege was held in Salem, on the 6th day of December, 1876, at the hour of 12 o’clock. There were present in the worn designated as the one in wbioh tiie Electoral vote should be cast the following persons : J. C. Cartwright, J. H. Odell, J. W. Watts, Henry Kup per, W. B. Caswell and E. A. Cronin. At the said hour the door of the room in whieh the said electoral vote was to be cast was opened, and the Secretary of State handed to Mr. Cronin an envelope con taining the certificate in triplicate of the election as electors of E. A. Cronin, L C. Cartwright and W. H. Odejl. After handing the certificate to Mr. Cronin, the Secretary retired from the room. Immediately afterward Mr. Cartwright opened the door and admit ted one Mr. Minte, a police officer of the city of Salem aud a Deputy United States Marshal. Minte, upon entering, closed the door, locked it and took out the key; whereupon Cronin requested him to leave the room. Cartwright and Odell insisted, at first, upon Minte’s remaining, but finally, upon the request of Cartwright, Miute re tired, leaving tho key in the door. Odell then locked the door aud Cook the key, but upon the re quest of a Democrat, replaced the key in the door. Cronin then read, in sl6 presence and hearing of all those iu the room, one of the certificates showing tho election of himself, Odell ■frird Cartwright. After the reading Cronin inquired of Odell and Cart wright if tuey were ready to vote with him and proceed with their business as Electors. They answered by demand ing the certificates in Cronin’s posses sion, Cartwright acting as principal spokesman. Cronin iu reply proposed to proceed with the vote for President and Vice-President; stating iu effect that the certificates would be pro duced, and attached to the certificates showing the result. Cartwright and Odell refused to proceed aud requested Klipper and Caswell to retire, whieh they declined to do. Cartwright then arose and addressing Cronin, said : “If you want a row you might as well have it now as at any other time.” Cronin replied, “Sit down, we are not here to have a row, but to vote fur President and Vice-President.” Cronin then again requested Cartwright and Odell to proceed with the election. Cartwright then moved that Odell should act as chairman, and upon the vote of himself and Odell declared the election carried, and Odell then ap pointed Cartwright Secretary. Mr. Watts then read a paper purporting to be his resignation as Elector. Cart wright moved the acceptance of the pretended resignation, aud it was de clared carried, and immediately there after, by the votes of the two* Watts was declared Elector to fill the vacancy. These proceedings were interrupted throughout by dialogues which had the character of altercations between Cro nin on tho one side, and Cartwright and Odell on the other; Cronin insisting that the latter should act with him and proceed with the business of the col lege, aud they refusing to do so. After the pretended appointment of Watts, Cronin arose and addressing Cartwright and Odell, said in effect, if not in these precise words:“Gentlemen,do you refuse to act with mo in proceeding with the busiuess of the Electoral College?” One or both of them replied, signifying an unqualified refusal. Cronin then said that this refusal to act created va cancies in the United States Electoral College, and that he appointed J. N. L. Miller, or Jackson county, to fill one of said vacancies. Mr. Miller having been introduced into the room, and informed of what had taken place, asked Cart wright and Odell if they refused to act with Cronin in casting the vote of the State. Cartwright, answering, said they had so refused ; and Mr. Miller then signified his intention to acoept the appointment. The two then ap pointed John Parker as the third Elec tor and Secretary, and the votes were taken by ballot for President and Vice- President, and the business formally i proceeded with to the end. Pending | these proceedings, Cartwright, Watts : and Odell were engaged in signing pa i pers. E. A. Cronin. W. B. Caswell. Henry Klippeh. Minor Telegrams. Burlington, N. J., December 11.— Twenty buildings on York street were burned. Loss, #150,000. New York, December 11.—The steam ship Wescr, which arrived this morn ing, brought £IBI,OOO of gold coin. Death of Two Prominent Men. Charleston, December ll,—Hon. Geo. A. Trenholm, Secretary or the Treasury of the Confederate Govern ment at the time of its collapse, is dead, aged 70. Poughkeebsik, December 11.—Smith T. Van Buren, only remaining son of ex-President Martin Van Buren, died to-day, aged 69. “Her Majesty Queen Ranovaloman jaka, of Madagascar, is a woman of brains.” It would also seem that she is a woman of considerable means. REGER’S BOSS. THE MAN WHO STOOD AT THE DOOR. Something About "Tinker Dennis’’— Grant’s and Ruger’s Scapegoat—The Man who Decided uu the Action of the Supreme Court—A Sample of South Carolina Patriots. [From the Worcester (Mass ) Press.) Grant desires to have it understood that tbe employment of troops at the South Carolina State House was car ried beyond his intentions. General Ruger explains that ho gave no orders warranting such use as was made of the troops. These disclaimers seem to throw the immediate responsibility of the outrage upon Dennis and give new prominence to the conundrum, WHO IS DENNIS? The question would doubtless have been fully answered before this time were it not for tbe fact that Denni3 has Jived in so many places that it is ex tiemeiy difficult to track him through his various windings from the cradle to the spot where his power reached its climax in his passing judgment upon a decision of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, aud pronouncing it not good. Aside from the scene of his recent ex ploits, there is no place which has a stronger elaior to the notoriety of pro ducing Dennis— such as he “is—thau the heart of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Here he began his military career, which culminated in the per for mance of the most noted mil itary feat yet recorded in the annals of the republic. WHO HE WAS. John B. Dennis is a native of Con necticut. His father was Jared G. Dennis, of Nyrwich Falls. John grew up in aud around Norwich, learned the tinker’s trade, and gave no promise of the warrior he was destined to be. When about twenty years of age he came to this city, where he worked at his trade for nearly all the stove and tinware dealers iu towu. He was at one time employed by Lyman Browu, who trimmed the ears made at the car shop of Osgood Bradley. During this time liis chief characteristic was his worthlessness. He was unreliable, and spent iu a reckless manner the little money that he earned. An abundance of that quality known as cheek was perhaps the characteristic which held the second place in his make-up. The Jess said about his habits, the more charity; for his manner of life sent him back to Norwich unfit for work. After spending some time in the process of recuperation at the home of his brother in that city, he returned to Worcester and hired out to William Lucas & Sou, where he seems to have tarried longer than at any other place. • While stop ping here he was married to the daughter of tiie lady with whom he boarded, uiuch against the wishes of the family, KXPKRIEXCE AGAINST CAPITAL. He theu went to Norwich and went into business, investing his experience against the unfortunate man who be came his partner. Iu a short time the concern failed. The other man came out with increased experience, and. in view of his later success it would be unkind to assume that Dennis did not retire with the capital. He then re turned to Wescester and was employed by J. W. Jordan, a stove and tinware dealer. \Y iiile he was in Jordan’s em ploy his wife died. Her influence over him would seem to have been good, so far as iiis habits were concerned, for his employers at this time speak of him as a steady journeyman worker. He afterwards married the daughter of a Mr. English, o£Fair Haven, Conn. his “war record.” When the war broke out in 1861, Dennis was twenty-six years old, and was a member of the Worcester Liuut Infantry. He went to the front with his coiupauy aud served three months, when he was mustered out. Returning to this region, he endeavored to obtain a commission in the volunteer service, but was unsuccessful. He theu went to Connecticut and raised a company Three of his brothers went out with his company—two as soldiers aud one as a sutler. His was company H, of the Seventeenth Connecticut regiment. He was twice captured by the Confed erates, and several times promoted, coming out or service as brevet briga dier. J HIS FIF.T SLICE. At the close of the war he hovered around where spoils were likely to be divided, and it must bo confessed that his hoveriugs were not in vain. His first slice is said to have been a large one. A portion of the loan made to Southern busiuess men aud planters at the close of the war was placed in tho hands of Dennis aud two kindred spirits for investment in South Caro lina. His pnodus operaudi is said to have been more profitable than it was ingenious, consisting merely of loan ing the funds to the man who would give the largest mortgage for the smallest sum of money, and pocketing the difference between the sum and the mortgage. About #270,000 is said to be the sum which Deuuis and his friends cleared by the operation. OTHER SLICES. South Carolina was then, as now, un* der carpet-bag rule, and the State debt rapidly multiplied. For decency’s sake a whitewashing committee. was ap pointed to see about the placing of the State bonds and the expenditure of funds. Dennis was on that committee. He went to New York and lived gor geously at the expense of his adopted State. He came to Worcester and as tonished by his showv opulence the Tormer acquaintances of “Tinker” Den nis. He rode out with a friend behind a valuable span of steppers, and liked them so well that ho bought them. Money was no object to “General” Den nis. He boasted of his rapid acquisi tion, and proved the solidity of his boasts by displaying the cash. But he was compelled to return to South Caro-, lina after a while aud make hi§ report as a member of the committee of in vestigation, It was as pretty a piece of tinkering as he tun} ever turned off. The committee expressed itself as be, ing highly pleased with the ounduet of the State authorities, and delicately recommended them to the continued confidence of the people. He thus ob tained the gratitude of the managers of affairs, and becamo the happy con tractor for refurnishing the State House. This job gave him the title of “THE BTjKNITIIRE MAX,” besides giving him some forty or fifty thousand dollars profit. The House of Representatives then had lijo members ana he provided each man with an elght-dollar spittoon, besides furnishing 75 more of these useful and ornamen tal pieces of furniture as provision against breakage. Such hfe mu-, nificence, His exploits as "the furni- ture man” were made the subject of in vestigation, and it was proved that he was worthy to stand among the cham pion swiudlers of the age. But the Government of the State was on his side; and, like Chamberlain, he defied “hell and shot-gun Democracy” to move hint. His whole career up to the pres ent time has been that of a most auda cious public swindler, from the time when he took Bis first slice as a New England carpet-bagger In South Caro lina. ; j i WHAT HE HAS BECOME. The many persons who have faint recollections of the “Tinker” Dennis, who wielded the soldering-iron in this city, twenty years ago, will be sur prised to know that he is the “General” Dennis upon whom Grant and Ruger have thrown the responsibility of the South Carolina outrage upon the liber ties of the people. When he was asked who he was that he should deny Senator Gordon and a State Senator of South Carolina the freeman’s privilege of en tering the Representative’s hall, he should have replied, “I am ‘Tinker’ Dennis;” and then the Worcester and Norwich readers of the morning dis patches would not have asked, “Who is this Dennis?” IH&rtford Times.) Oranti3m has introduced to the coun try a variety of novel experiments— from Reikuapery and Shepherdism to the Brother-in-law rule at New Orleans, the little Black Friday speculation, the government protection of the whisky ring thieves, aud the Graut-Catneron- Chandier plan for reversing the results of popular elections by the bayondt, The fact is, he was inexperienced iu civil affairs, when he began his oareer in the White House (as be says iu his message), aod he decided to establish lines of new departures and new pre cedents. He has sought, now, In this South Carolina business, as be did in the bayonet expulsion of the Democratic members of the Louisiana Legislature in 1874, to evade the responsibility by laying it upon the military officers who executed the orders. But General Ruger doesn’t relish this, aud lays the blame, iu turn, upon “General” Dennis, VS ho this Dennis is, the account given by the Worcester Press shows. We are sorry to know that he originat ed, like Benedict Arnold, in Connecti cut—and in the same towu where Ar nold was born. He went out, in the war, as a soldier of fortune, and at the close of hostilities allied himself with the worst elements of the thieving gang of carpet-baggers who were set to rule and plunder thejprostrate State of South Carolina. He is now the Superintendent of the Stats Peniten tiary—and it has been said by Dr. Albert G. Mackey, the father of the Speaker of the bogus Legislature, that he (Dennis) ought to be inside, instead of outside that of that establishment. So thoroughly were the funds plun dered, that public announcement was made, nearly a year ago, that the con victs, tq prevent them from starva tion, would have to be turned loose. In the winter of ’6B-9, this Dennis had got himself appointed an agent of the State to buy furniture for the South Carolina State House. Our readers may remember tho extravagant pur chases that were made—the cosily curtains, the rich furniture, and the $8 spittoons for the half-clad planta tion negro members to squirt their to bacco-juice into. This item alone amounted to $1,600, and it was one of the minor items. It was the tax payers’ money—and what didn’t go into damask aad brocade curtains, and $8 gilt spittoons, went into Dennis’ pocket—and the pockets of the robber horde who ruled the help less State and shared tho plunder be tween them. This Dennis, in April, 1869, met in Washington a Hartford gentleman, ot whom he inquired, “Where can I find the agent of the Sharpe rifle company? I wish to make a State contract for arms for South Carolina.” He was di rected to Mr. Penfield, of this city, who was in Washington, aud who was ready to sell to Dennis, or anybody else, a large let of rifles, of which the lowest price has been 818 a-piece. The regu lar price was #22. Dennis wanted to “make a little arrangement,” by which the bill to the State would be a good round figure—enough to leave a mar gin for himself and brother officials. Penfield agreed to hill the arms at the rate of #23 eaoh, aud allow to Dennis, Governor Scott aud Moses (the Radical and disreputable ex-Governor, aud nephew or his respectable uncle, the present Chief Justice) a margin of #7 to divide. “That ain’t enough,” said Dennis; “/ want to make that much on e tch gun. Can’t you bill them for mors than #23?” “I have billed them, in some cases,” aaid Peufleld, “at $25, and will do so to you, and that will give you #9 to divide,” Dennis was not satisfied. “Couldn’t you,” he asked, “fix it so that T can make #5 on each gun, and let Soott and Moses divide he #4?” This was too much for Penfield. He broke off all further negotiations, then and there, with the exclamation—“By other, I think its time to quit! ” And Dennis is said to have arranged for his guns with the Winchester Arm Company, of New Haven, Dennis has stolen enough out of the taxes to make himself rich—as to ac count elsewhere given shows. In 1872 the gentleman to whom we have re ferred met Dennis at Columbia. The State was already bankrupt, by the combined plundering of the Republican officials, and its credit nearly ruined. Dennis had sold a State order for $9,300 to the Governor’s and Treasu rer’s Bank (for these worthies had a bank) for #6,000. He felt proud of his ill-gotten gains, and pointed the Hart ford gentleman to his lot, and that house, and to vaiious pieces of city property, as his. The question was put to him—“ How is this? Dennis, have you been stealing ?” The fellow made this answer: “O yea $ but not near so much as tho others of our set.” Jt is said he has never paid foj tbe captain’s uniform in which started from Norwich. He was engaged, at the time of the trial for the contested seat of the older Mackey, in the United State* Senate, iin company with the higanaist Bowen, i the expelled member of Congress (and who has just acted us chairman of the Hayes electors in South Carolina), in j an effort for Dr. Mackey. Bowen and i Dennis wanted more funds to help the : case, and borrowed §2,000 of theHart furd gentleman for that purpose. Dr. i Mackey was the father of the Speaker of the present bogus and illegal negro “House of Representatives” in Soutfi Carolina, but a better man h son. He failed to get fcia seat in the Senate, and Bowsp thmnis pock eted the bQJKMfcft §2,000 and never re turu&d, $ cent of ft Tfiis is the man who, backed up, by ! Grant’s bayonets, reverses the decisions I of the Supreme Conn of Qato- SIX DOLLARS A YEAR lina, and pronounces the certificates of a quorum of tbe Legislature “not valid.” It is such rascality as this that is baffled by the unexpected result in Oregon. NATIONAL COTTON EXCHANGE REPORT. District of Augusta—Crop Report for November, 1876. Thje Augusta Exchange, ( Augusta, Ga., Dec., 9,1876. ) 2o the President and Board of Directors oj the Augusta Exchange: Gentlemen ; We respectfully sub mit the following report for the month of November, as to the prospects and condition of tho cotton crop in the dis trict allotted to this Exchange. Our report is based upon forty (40) replies, twenty-two (22) counties. Average date of replies, 30th of November. Ist Question —Has the weather for gathering the crop been more or less favorable during the month of Novem ber than last year ? Answer—The weather is unanimous ly reported as having been more favor able than during November, 1875. 2d Question—What proportion of the crop has been picked, and when will it all be gathered ? Answer—Ninety-five (95) per cent, of the crop is reported as gathered. Two counties only report all as picked. Iu all the others there will be some pick ing for the next ten to twenty days. 3d Question—Will the yield in your county be greater or less than last year ? State increase or decrease. Answer—The average of our replies indicate a crop aggregating ninety-two (92) per ceDt. of that of last year.* The Tailing oft - includes the loss caused by about 6 per cent, decreased acreage. 4tb Question—What proportion of the crop has been marketed from your sectiou ? Answer—Three-fourths (%) of the crop is reported as haviug been mar keted. sth Question—State fully’ auy aud ail material facts relative to the yield, not covered by the foregoing questions ? Answer—The figures given by our correspondents as to yield, are not a positive basis for our calculations, as a proper average cannot be arrived at without a correct and detailed knowl edge of tbe acreage of each county some being much larger and richer pro ducers thau others. On a close and careful analysis of replies, wo must still believe that the yield of this sec tion will he fully equal to, aud proba bly greater than last year’s. At the same time we beg to note, that the de tailed statements of our correspond ents aie now entitled to even greater weight than usual, as the crop is so nearly gathered that they ought to be able to form a very correct opinion as to whit quantity they will yet be able to gather and send to market. Much of the cotton still in the fields is reported as poor in grade, being in jured by storms or stained by frosts There is great diversity of opinion as to the yield of lint to seed cotton But many of our most reliable correspon dents report cotton as ginning out well, as the rapid maturity during the August heats decreased tiie weights of the seed.' It seems to be tbe universal opinion that this crop has been picked ginned aud marketed with a prompt ness never before known. Very respectfully, L. L. Zulavsky, Chairman; J. J. Pearce J. W. Echols. R. W. Heard C a’ Rowland, A. M. Benson, W. M Read’ Committee. New Orleans Exchange Report for November. New Orleans, December 10.—-The Cotton Exchange report for November for Louisiana says: It has been tho most favorable season ever known for gathering the crop. Ninety-five per qent. has been picked, and a finish will m u d xr h 7 the m lsth * The yield iu Carroll, Madison, Tensas and Concor dia parishes is from forty to fifty per cent, short, because the bulk of the crop planted was overflowed. In th* remainder of the Slate it will bo about tweuty-flve per cent, short. In Mississippi the weather has been more favorable tlian last year and 85 per cent, of the crop has been’ gather ed, and a finish will be made bv the loth The yield falls off 28 per cent. Arkansas reports are more favorable than hist year. The yield is 33 per cent, less than last year, and a finish of picking will be made by the 15th The reports generally indicate a very fine quality of ootton, owing to the favor able weather. Heport of the Charleston Cotton r t chanire for November. The November report gr the Charles ton Exchange on the South Carolin i cotton orop, based on fifty replies from twenty-five counties, is as foliowf \Veather reported by thirty-three more favorable ; by llfteea. as tL same au d by two, less favorable than tho ame month last year. The crop of the State may bo regarded as gathered Thirty-four report picking as finished at the date of their repl£ ™teen y L r ? m fV° 5)0 P er cent, already picked, and that all would be gathered by the lath. The average of replies show a decrease in yield in the 25 counties heard from of 1G per cent, compared £ last year. The proportion of the cror, already sent to market is from 50 to uo per oent. The average is 76 ne cent. The drought in August and Ra early frost in October are reports having reduced tho crop from cent to 33 per cent, and the condition of the country is cr.usingT?o be marketed more rapidly tSTSLuiU Report of tho Exchange' port for 1876 : ; of the weather from the Ist nt S j has been geneTafiy exceedingly favomble for gathering the crop, even more so than StTear No killing frost until about the r,!f ar ; October in the unpcr coUtil L l I r m l ? lho 10th of Novem b*iog, however, '^y seoUons the crop is nearly all gathered, while in some few dk r ,vf. th e W SSh* m r be 00 " li °ed uotuXit I to yield are somewhat ,tho general opinion favors 15 per cent, in excess of 'tt 20 from various causes year hw been rapidtymarketed tho crop A killinrr f ■ bests, 11 * V S&wfs ,** emoer, but no damage was don “ Wly matu'rei Hck 1 be entirety over bv the 15th ! ‘“Ates of the yield vary from 15 osxess of fast year Tho betw '^'tivatfvl 1