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ESTABLISHED 1799.{?5V45!“
FROM COLUMBIA.
Lieut. Governor Simpson Demands
Hia Seat in the Senate.
Columbia., December 15.—The House
Committee examined several witnesses
aud have obtained returns Horn nearly
all the precincts but about fifteen
which will be supplied by testimony’
W. D. Simpson, Democratic Lieutenant
Governor, to-day sent a letter to the
{Senate claiming his election, and de
manding his seat as presiding officer
of that body. The letter was read and
referred to the Judiciary Committee
for report. - . : „
Another ballot was taken to day for
United States Senator by the Demo
crats in joint session. The Vote was
scattering. No choice.
LOUISIANA.
Th 9 Congressional Committee’s In
vestigations—Hugh J. Campbell Ar
rested for Preparing a Bogus, Affl-
Xew Orleans, December 15.—Clover
Supervisor of East Baton Rouge, sub
mitted a copy of an affidavit which ac
companied his returns, alleging riot
tumult, violence, fear, dread’ami ter
roism throughout the parish on the
day of election. Clover did not wit
ness any violence, but was informed of
it. On being cross-examined he said
the affidavit was prepared in the Cus
tom House in this city. Hugh J. Camp
bell has been arrested for preparing it.
Evidence Before the Investigating
Committee.
New Orleans, December 15.—The
House Committee met in the hall of
the Chamber of Commerce. Only the
witnesses, counsel of the parties and
persons specially invited were admit
ted. Henry Carrol, colored, testifies
that ha lives in Orleans parish, on the
right bank, five miles below the city;
was formerly a Republican; joined the
Liberal party and voted for McEnerv
in 1872; voted the Democratic ticket
this year, for which his life was threat
ened and attempts made to murder
hiui. A man was shot and killed No
vember 10th, being mistaken for wit
ness.
Wm. Ward, colored, of Grant parish,
testified that in 1874 he was shot at
and knocked in the head by Republi
cans, because he wanted to run for the
Legislature; was then a Republican;
had to leave the State because he
knew too much; Dewes and Matthews
told him if he did not leave he would
be killed. He remaiued out of the
State six months; took hia seat in the
Legislature iu 1874, though he was
fairly beaten at the polls. A paper
written by witness entitled, “History
of Outrages on Red river” was handed
him. Ward said he wrote it and be
lieved it true at the time, because he
had been so informed by the whites;
now he knew better. The committee re
quested Ward to make such correc
tions as he desired and return the pa
per to-morrow. Ward is now a Demo
crat.
O. B. Morgan testified: Lives in New
Orleans; talked with Supervisor An
derson ami Gov. Kellogg befpre the
election; Anderson did not thunk it, safe
to return to East Feliciana, but Gov.
Kellogg instructed him to return and
arrange our negroes to vote at two or
three places, and elected members to
the Legislature; talked with Anderson
after the election; Anderson told him
the Democrats had carried the parish,
one Republican vote having been
polled; on meeting day some men came
to Anderson’s office and said he ought
to be hung, but they did not otherwise
molest him. Morgan claims to be a
Republican; was clerk in the Custom
House; was discharged on the 10th of
November, but frequented the Custom
House afterwards and saw a number
of persons there making out affi
davits; know in some instances
they were not in accordance with testi
mony given iu regard to intimidation,
etc. The witnesses were mostly ne
groes, brought here by Deputy Mar
shals trom the country. He talked
with Supervisor Clover, of East Baton
Rouge; he said it was peaceable there
on the day of the election, but Clover
did uot consider it safe to remain there
after the election. Clover toki Morgan
after the election that he had thrown
out some boxes find elected three Re
publicans to the Legislature. He con
versed with Supervisor L :day, of La
foui'che, before and after the election.
Leday told witness the parish was Dem
ocratic, but it would go all right; he
was not there for any foolishness; he
would throw out enough polls to elect
Republicans ; said nothing about in
timidation. Witness was advised not
to go before the Congressional Com
mittee, or he would not get his place
back in the Custom House if he testi
fied.
John Petty, colored, testified : Re
sides in Algiers ; voted the Democratic
ticket at the election. Attempts were
afterward made on his life. He was
shot and beuten by colored mea be
cause he voted the Democratic ticket.
I'hi negroes have been threatened
with all sorts of punishment if (hey
voted the Democratic ticket. They
wen* told that General Sheridan was
coini ig, and every Democratic
would be shot. They were warned
also that they aud their children
would be put back iuto slavery
if they got the Democrats in
power; that they would no longer
have any schools. Some negroes
did not desire to vote, saying
it was no use—it did them no good.
They were told if they did not vote
their names would be taken, aud they
would see what came of it. He said
they had two speeches during the
campaign—one at Tunisburg and the
other at Mr. Stanton’s plantation.
While making the speech at Tunisburg
the negroes had frequently interrupted
him with threats of taking his life,
saying that every Democratic uegro
would have his throat cut.
The President of the Western Union
Telegraph Company and the Con
gressional Investigating Committee.
Executive Office Western CJnion )
Telegraph Company, f
New York, Dec. 15,1876. )
■H on. TH Uiam R. Morrison, Chairman,
<£c., New Orleans:
Sir —Subpoenas have been served
upon several employes of this Com
pany, directing them to produce before
the Committee, of which you are Chair
man, all messages in possession of the
Company, sent and received by the
persons named in the subpoenas during
several months of the present year. I
have delayed a reply to these demands,
in the expectation that similar applica
tions would be made by the Committee
°f the Senate, charged with the inves
tigation of matters connected with the
Presidential election and the canvass
'n the several States. So that the
action of the Company being
the same in respect to the
messages of both politioal parties,
could not be attributed, in any degre*
MdlSrn 0 Pr r° te &
u ither. No subpoenas have vet
be*u served upon us by or* “of the
mi“ht e a C ° rnmittee ’ aQd as funber delay
vouraefr PPea , r t 0 be a to
???[** an<l >’our committee, it does
not seem proper to further postpone
rJ i he sub P a,uas were served
cSmmlttii h toV ?* t,gatlon which the
haa , b * directed to make
ES, "•SUB, and before evidence had
that the ße^. ted 10 lhe commit tee either
Dc^ fl h h n H erßon - 8 Damed in the sub
ver aDy meß3a S eß what
t"h tbat aDy meß sages sent bv
*bTnl e ‘ a . ed *° the sub iect matter or
i>PArl UVaßt Eat, , on ' 11 appears to have
“ 3u, f d , tba t persons holding
aifi 1 ofib Q lal positions under the Fed
nrnnfi nd S , t ? te Governments, and others
D publlc affairs, were in the
f B ® u ding messages by tele-
E apb> • ar V? without attempting to
ascertain if any of these messages
were materia l to the investigation, the
officers and agents of this company
have been commanded to lay aside
the business in which they are engaged
to become spies and detectives upon and
Informers against the customers who
have reposed in us the gravest confi
dence concerning both their official
and private affairs. I have never be-
Loved that the Congress of the United
States, with this subject fairly before
them, would permit committees to
violate the secrecy of the telegraph in
this inauoer, and it seems to me that
the present is an opportunity which it
would be unwise to forego of obtaining
a decision directly from the represent
atives of the people. If the messages
of persons of one political party are
spiead before the public, a like course
will be taken in respect to those of an
other party. Both parties, therefore,
have the same interest in publishing to
tlie world the secrets of the telegraph
office, or of preventing such publicity.
It has, therefore, been decided to de
cline very respectfully to permit the
employes of this company to produce
before any committee of either House
of Congress messages sent or received
by the Representatives of either the
Democratic or the Republican party, at
least until after Congress shall have ap
proved the subpoenas of the commit
tees, and directed that their demands
be enforced. lam with great respect,
etc. William Orton, President.
FLORIDA.
The Investigating Committee Still at
Work on Leon County - The Manda
mus Case.
Tallahassee, December 15.—The
Congressional Committee is still at
work on Leon county, and appears to
work quite slowly. The Republicans
have had most of the day, but have
submitted but little iu rebuttal of
charges made yesterday.
The Supreme Court will reassemble
in the morning ,and the mandamus
case will be taken up for final argu
ment and decisioa. Everything quitt.
FROM. WASHINGTON.
News and Gossip from the National
Capital.
Washington, December 15.— Morton
has gone to Indiana.
Senator Coukling says there is some
foundation for the report of his inten
tion to retire from political life.
Inspector-General James A. Hardee
is dead.
The Government will commence the
payment cf the January interest on
the 29th, without rebate.
Full Cabinet to-day.
Steifle, Republican elector from Mis
souri, was before the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, to contest the
vote of Frost. Democratic elector, who
has Andy Johnson’d pardon but no
other relief from political disabilities.
No witnesses appeared in the New
Jersey case.
The Official Returns for Governor iu
South Carolina.
Before the inauguration of Hampton,
Speaker Wallace produced and read
the following official statement, from
the Secretary of State, of the vote for
Governor for 1876: “Hampton 92,261
votes; Chamberlain, 91,127 votes.
“Office of Secretaky of State.
“I, H. E. Hayne, Secretary of State,
do hereby certify that the foregoing is
a true and correct statement of tho
vote for Governor at the general elec
tion of 1876, as appears by the com
missioners’ returns now on file at this
office.
“Given uuder my hand and the seal
of the State at Columbiu, this 9th day
of December, 1876, and in the one hun
dred and first year of American Inde
pendence.” H. E. Hayne.
“Secretary of State.”
ARKANSAS.
Destructive Fire at Little Rock.
Little Rock, December 15. —A fire
occurred in the heart of the city at
10:40 last night, The water is exhaust
ed, ami a heavy gale prevails. Guests
escaped from the hoteis, but their bag
gage was lost. Loss so far, $150,000.
later.
Little Rock, December 15.—The
spread of the fire of la9t night was
stopped at midnight, when it was con
fined to two squares between Mark
ham street and the river. Loss, $140,-
000. lusurance about $50,000. Among
the losses are the Metropolital Hotel,
owned by Dr. R. R. Dodge and others,
valued at $35,000, with an iusurance of
$20,000. aud L. D. Gleason’s restau
raut, SIO,OOO, with no insurance. The
Opera House was on fire this morning,'
but the flames were subdued and the
building saved.
And Yet Another.
Memphis, December 15. —A fire in
Boliver, Tenn., destroyed the post office
and express office, and twenty-four
business bouses aud dwellings. Loss
aggregated at $250,000. Supposed in
cendiary.
Electric Sparks.
Erie, Pa., December 15.—The marines
from the United States steamer Michi
gan have been ordered to Washington.
Buffalo, N. Y., December 15.—Rev.
Simeou Howard Calhoun, a Presbyte
rian missionary, forty years in the
Holy Land, is dead.
Little Rock. December 15.— A full
blooded Arrapahoe was found guilty of
murder in the first degree in the United
States District Court at Fort Smith to
day. Seventeen other murderers are
to be tried.
Philadelphia, December 15.—Pro
ceedings have commenced in the United
States Circuit Court over the two mil
lions which should be on hand for dis
tribution. George Eyster, Assistant
United States Treasurer at Philadel
phia, is among the defendants. Trea
surer Eyster claims for the United
States one million and a half of the
said supposed balance,
3tepgta Constitutionalist.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Proceedings of the Two Houses Yes
terday.
Washington, December 15. —In the
Senate, on motion of Mr. Thurman, the
bill reported from the Committee on
Judiciary on the 12th of July last, to
amend the acts of July Ist, 1862, and
July 2d, 1864, to aid in the construc
tion of a railroad from the Missouri
river to the Pacific oceaD, was made
the special order for the third Tues
day iu January next. This is the bill
which provides for the establishment of
a sinking fund to liquidate the in
debtedness due from the Pacific© Rail
road Company to the Government.
The House is discussing the expense
of Southern Committees.
In the House the bills for the re
moval of the political disabilities of
W T m. Sharp, Lloyd J. Beall and Jas.
Shepperd of Virginia. Passed.
The bill making appropriations for
the expenses of investigating commit
tees was amended, by increasing that
for the House committees from $21,000
to $30,000, and reducing that for the
Senate committees from SSO,<X)O to $30,-
000. The discussion on the hill took a
political turn and was carried on on
the Republican side by Hale, of Maine,
principally, and on the Democratic
side by Holman, of Indiana ; Cox, of
New York, and Spencer, of Louisiana.
The report of the visiting Democrats
to Louisiana was read from the Clerk’s
desk, so as to be incorporated in the
Congressional Record.
The post office appropriation bill
was taken up and discussed until ad
journment, without final action.
In the Senate, Wright gave notice
that he would to-morrow introduce a
bill to provide ror the contested elec
tion cases of President and Vice-Presi
dent.
A resolution allowing three dollars
per day and five cents mileage to Con
gressional witnesses was passed.
The consideration of Mitchell’s Ore
gon resolution was resumed. Mr.
Thurmau opened the discussion by
saying his object was to contribute
something to the history of this Oregon
case, and to show that there were two
sides to it. This was a resolution call
ing for an investigation by the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, and
he was surprised that the chairman of
the committee (Mr. Morton) had pre
judged the whole case. Mr. Thurman,
in conclusion, sent to the clerk’s desk
and had read a lengthy opinion of
Judge George Hoodley, of Cincinnati,
as recently published iu the Cincinnati
Commercial, sustaining the course of
Gov. Grover. When the clerk read the
paragraph in regard to an alleged plan
to have Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, made
President of the Senate for the purpose
of counting tho electoral vote, etc., Mr.
Sherman said he wished to say this
whole story about a conspiracy to elect
him President of the Seuate was sim
ply a newspaper roorback, without one
word of truth whatever. Elaborate
arguments involving law and prece
dent followed. No action.
Mr. Edmunds, of Vermont, called up
the message from the House announc
ing the passage of a resolution provid
ing for the appointment of a committee
to act with a committee of the Senate,
to devise some method of counting the
electoral vote, and submitted a resolu
tion referring the message of the House
to a select committee, to be composed
of seven Senators, with power to pre
pare and report, without unnecessary
delay, such a measure as will secure a
proper count of the electoral vote, and
that said committee have power to
confer with the committee of the House
of Representatives. Laid over until
Monday, and ordered to be printed.
Adjourned to Monday.
FOREIGN NEWS.
Serious Illness of Cardinal Constan
tine Patrizidean —The Eastern Ques
tion,
Rome, December 15.—Cardinal Bish
op Constantine Patrizidean, of Sacred
College, who has been ill for some
time, is now worse, and his recovery is
regarded as impossible. He has re
ceived; extreme unction.
London, December 15.—A Vienna
correspondent of the Times says Rus
sia’s views about Bulgaria is extreme.
She considers all districts inhabited by
Bulgarians included in Bulgaria, which
covers half of Turkey.
Constantinople, December 15.—-The
preliminary conference ends to-day or
to-morrow .The formal conference will
probably commence next week. Tho
Greek population of Turkey presented
an address to the Porte, expressing
devotion to the Government of Tur
key, but at the same time protesting
against its granting concessions exclu
sively to the slave population.
The Governor of Vilaget, of the
Danube, has addressed a dispatch to
the Grand Vizier announcing that Rus
sian agents are endeavoring to induce
Bulgarians to prevent an address to
the conference demanding Russian oc
cupation.
Paris, December 15.—The Le Temps
announces that the Russian Ambassa
dor iu Paris has received a letter
from Prince Gortschakoff declaring
that Russia’s instructions to General
Iguatieff. Russian Plenipotentiary at
the Eastern Conference, will show that
she has not arrived at an irrevocable
decision. The movements of Russian
troops should not cause surprise. The
Minister of War merely wished to pre
pare himself while diplomacy was en
deavoring to avoid a conflict.
French Affairß.
Paris, December 15.—The declara
tion iu the Chamber of Deputies yes
terday by M. Simon, President of Coun
cil and Minister of the Interior, re
garding his policy, is received favora
bly by nearly all papers. The Repub
lique Francaise approves tho ministe
rial programme unqualifiedly, and says
the declarations made by M. Simon are
excellent, and of a nature to satisfy and
reassure public opinion. They justify
the expectation of anew era.
Liverpool Cotton Brokers’ Circular.
Liverpool, December 15.—The Circu •
lar of the Liverpool Cotton Brokers’
Association, for the week ending last
night, says : “Cotton has been in very
extensive demand, with advancing
prices, and although yesterday’s and
to-day’s (Thursday’s) markets have
been much quieter, quotations gener
ally are raised. American was raised.
American was in extensive demand at
the beginning of the week, and prices
gradually advanced 3-16d. Wednes
day and Thursday holders offered their
stock much more freely, particular! f
newly landed imports, and with a di
minished inquiry 1-I6d. of the ad
vance was lost. In futures, transac
tions were extensive, with considerable
fluctuations in prices.
The report in circulation that W. A.
Choice, of Rome, was dead, is not true.
The Courier says he is improving and
will get well.
AUGUSTA, GA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1876.
THE INCENDIARY TORCH.
A LARGE PORTION OF THE TOWN
OF BLACKVILLE LAID
IN ASHES.
More than Twenty Buildings Destroy
ed—Details or the Origin and Pro
gress of the Fire—Excitement of the
People in Regard to the Supposed
Incendiarism.
(Special Dispat eh to the News and Courier.)
Blackyille, via Branchville, Decem
ber 14.—A large portion of the town of
Biaokville was laid in ashes this morn
ing. The fire, which is supposed to
have been tho work of an incendiary,
started in a small store on Railroad
Avenue at about 4 o’clock this morn
ing, just us the up Augusta night ex
press was approaching. The store was
occupied by H. Asher. An alarm was
given and every effort made to subdue
the flames, but without avail. They
spread north and west, and consumed
the entire block between Simon Brown’s
store and the Palmetto Hotel. The fire
then extended over to the railroad de
pot and telegraph and express office,
which were consumed, together with
the guauo shed of the South Carolina
Railroad Company. About eight bales
of cotton in the depot were consumed,
and for a time a train of cars, most of
them loaded with cotton, was in immi
nent danger. The engine of the up
freight train, however, hauled these
cars out of reach of the flames, and
the cotton and cars were thus saved.
Over twenty stores and residences were
destroyed, and the loss cannot fall far
short of $40,000. It is impossible as
yet to ascertain the amount of insur
ance.
The property burned is as follows :
The store of H. Asher, the office of Dr.
Lartigue, the shop of John Newton,
Weissbaum’s saloon, Lucker’s store.
Von Dolen’s large store and dwelling
attached, Messinger & Diefenthal’s
store, John R. Brelinger’s law office,
Storne’s store, tho store of Gyle’s &
Bro., the Palmetto Hotel, Yose's store
and Kearse’s store, Dr. Storne’s unoc
cupied dwelling, besides the guano
shed, &c., previously mentioud. Simon
Brown’s barn was burned, but his
store, a two-story brick building, was
saved. The entire loss of the South
Carolina Railroad is about SI,OOO.
A large number of persons are in
town, and there is much excitement,
the general opinion being that the fire
was the work of incendiaries. Railroad
communication is not interrupted, but
it is impossible to communicate with
Augusta or Charleston, except by going
to Bamberg or Branchville.
CHAMBERLAIN CATCHES A
TARTAR.
Patterson’s Son Attempts to Bribe the
Supreme Court of South Carolina.
[Special Dispatch to the Gazetted
Washington, December 12.— 1 t has
leaked out that one of the agents em
ployed by Zaeh Chandler to do the
dirty work of the Hayes committee,
was Silas Patterson, a son of the sena
tor of that name. Young Patterson
not only visited Judge Bond, and per
suaded that worthy to repair to Colum
bia and liberate the board of state
canvassers who were committed to jail
for contempt by the Supreme Court
but ho also attemped to bribe the Su
preme Court judges by offering $2,700
to each of them if they would agree to
sustain the Chamberlain usurpation.
The rich part of the affair is that Cham
berlain has “caught a tartar” in young
Patterson, who refuses to refund the
bribe money, knowing that it could not
be recovered by law. Patterson bids
fair to excel as a politican, and this bit
of sharp practice is an earnest of what
may be expected of him when he grows
older. Like father, like son.
The Oregon Vote.
(N. Y. Journal of Commerce.)
No Constitutional provision is a tech
nicality. To violate any such provi
sion is a crime of the highest order,
and strikes at the life of the Govern
ment. The question whether Mr.
Hayes ought to have those votes is of
small account when the Constitution
must be violated to give them to him
In Louisiana no one knows what the
will of the people isasto the two elec
tors there, and, in that State especially,
the violation of the Constitution by ap
pointing Federal officers goes to show
fraud and wrong in the precise way
which the Constitution intended to
prevent. The votes for office-holders are
to be disregarded. No elector runs
against any other elector. The blank
votes, if counted as votes, defeat a
Republican candidate as much as a
Democratic candidate. Thus, in New
York, there were one hundred and live
candidates for electors, aud the thirty
flve having the highest number of
votes were entitled to election whatever
tickets they were on. A plurality vote
elects electors. Where a majority vote
is necessary, blank votes are counted
as against either candidate. All cases
hitherto cite ! are cases in which a ma
jority over all votes cast was necessary
to election. This is no such case, for if
it were, it cannot be said that any one
on either ticket had a majority, since
the blank votes count equally against
all, aud defoat,both electoral tickets,
which would be absurd. But these
votes for an office-holder are not blank
votes. They are void votes. Being
cast in the teeth of a Constitutional
prohibition they are worse than waste
paper, and of no possible effect as
blanks or otherwise. Ignorance in the
voter is no plea. All citizens are pre
sumed to know the laws. If the Leg
islature when it had this power had ap
pointed as electors men whom the Con -
stitution forbade them to appoint, suoh
an act woulu have been unconstitution
al and void. An unconstitutional act
is not voidable, but void, and has not
even power to protect an officer seek
ing to enforce it. A citizen’s vote in
the same case is as void as a Legisla
tive Act, and is to be disregarded. No
one can oppose the Constitution and
claim any value or effect in his act.
The Canvassing Board of Oregon was
therefore right iu returning the three
candidates having the highest num
ber of votes, and the Governor was
right in certifying them to be the ap
pointed electors.
THE EIRE AT BLACKVILLE.
Twenty Stores and Residences De
stroyed—Conflagration in# Florence.
Charleston, December 15.—Twenty
stores and residences, including the
depot, express and telegraph cfflco at
Black ville, Barnwell county, was
burned. Loss, 840,000; believed to be
incendiary.
There was also an 811,000 incendiary
fire in Florence.
PLAIN TALK.
AN INTERVIEW WITH BEN HILL,
OF GEORGIA, ON THE POLITI
CAL SITUATION.
Feeling of the Southern Representa
tives—Attitude of Southerners To
ward the Negro—President Grant’s
Partisan Attitude Deplored.
[New York Herald.l
Washington, December 12.—A goed
deal of random gossip has been afloat
here for some days as to the senti
ments said to be entertained by the
Southern Congressmen with reference
to Governor Hayes and as to their lik
ing for him. To ascertain the real na
ture of this feeling Mr. Ben Hill, of
Georgia, who was foremost in the cau
cus in deprecating the Presidential im
peachment proposition and who has
been clased among the many Southern
Congressmen said to be almost indif
ferent whether Hayes or Tilden is next
President so long as the Southern
States secure good loeal government,
was this evening asked to give a state
ment of his views of the situation and
his opinion regarding Gov. Hayes :
Mr. Hill, in answer to the first ques
tion put to him, said :
“I regarded General Hayes’ nomina
tion from the beginning as a victory
over the ultraisms of the Republican
party. It was a defeat, in my judg
ment, of the military element, so much
to be dreaded in the civil administra
tion of all free governments. It was
also a defeat of the political, belligerent
element of the Republican party, which
seems to have no place for statesman
ship or policy except to foment sec
tional hates and passions. The South,
above all things, wants an honest ad
ministration of the General Govern
ment, according to the Constitution. I
do not kuow Governor Hayes person
ally, but from the information I get
concerning him I believe he is an hon
est and fair man. Being a lawyer he is
also familiar with civil matters, and
will naturally have respect for the Con
stitution and civil methods. These
things being true he must necessarily
discontinue the unwarrantable infer
ences in tho affairs of the South; he
will also naturally desire the co-opera
tion of the best men in the
South. If this be true his administra
tion will be a great gain and improve
ment to the Southern people. The
Southern people have no desire to re
sist the Federal Government, but they
do desire to be regarded as a portion
of the common country, and entitled
to the administration in the South ex
actly as that administration is extend
ed to other portions of the country,
and if she can get this plain, honest
administration, and her best people
can be recognized by the Federal Ad
ministration as the proper representa
tives of Southern interest and senti
ment, the whole country will perceive
at once that the ultraisms charged
upon the South will have no foundation
in fact.”
♦ Correspondent—Do you anticipate
that there would be any trouble in the
final disposition of this Presidential
question?
Mr. Hill—There is, in my opinion,
neither necessity or excuse tor trouble
in the settlement of the Presidential
question. If we are as patriotic as the
men who framed the Constitution we
shall find no difficulty whatever iu its
fair and true interpretation. There can
be no possible apology for a breach of
the peace, nor for any physical collis
ion, much less for a civil war. I must
be permitted to say that the chief trou
ble of tho present situation lies in the
deplorable fact that too many of the
prominent leaders of both parties seem
to be exerting all their ingenuity, not
in discovering the truth about the elec
tion, but in devising ways to secure a
moro party triumph, and I am afraid
they are only too willing to secure a
mere party triumph by any means,
foul or fair. I do wish some means
could be adopted to make Gen. Grant
realize that he is the President of the
whole country and not the President of
the Republican party. I must confess
that no feature of the situation gives
me so much uneasiness as the evi
dences I daily see that Gen. Grant
seems to think that he is under some
obligation to use his office to secure
the success of the Republican party. If
my fears in this respect are well
grounded and General Grant should
persist in such a partisan administra
tion of the government, then I do fear
the most serious consequences will re
sult.
Correspondent—ln what form or
shape would these serious consequen
ces bo likely to come up?
Mr. Hill—Well, if I understand the
position of the Republican party they
will insist that the President of the
Senate alone shall not only count the
votes a3 the organ of the two houses,
but that he should determine all ques
tions arising in the count. This posi
tion is mainfestly absurd. He is a pre
siding officer; he announces results,
but he must announce them as the
mouthpiece of the two houses. Accor
ding to the position of the Republicans
this mouthpiece is not only judge, but
he is an absolute judge and must de
termine all questions which, from their
nature, can only be determined by the
two houses. It he refuses to entertain
objections and takes upon himself, not
only to count the vote, but to determ
ine also what vote shall be counted, he
will simply declare Hayes elected Pres
ident. The House may deem it its du
ty to enter a protest against such arbi
trary adjudication by this mere
presiding officer, and if the House
shall honestly conclude that Governor
Hayes is not elected and proceed
to elect Tilden, as they are required to
do by the Constitution, I suppose Gen.
Grant, with his idea that he is admin
istering the government for the success
of the Republican party only, will seek
to use the military to inaugurate Gov
ernor Hayes. Of course no man can
foresee the results of such a policy.
They cannot be otherwise than disas
trous to the whole country. One thing
is certain, the Southern people want
peace; they know well what war means;
they know that civil war is the remedy
for no wrong, but an aggravation of all
wrongs. Their Representatives in Con
gress will use all their best exertions
to secure a peaceable solution of all
these troubles.
Correspondent—Will not those Rep
resentatives now Id Congress who have
seen service in the ex-Confederate
army, by the calmness, moderation and
counsels, as shown in the House, exer
cise a good influence in a peaceful so
lution of the present difficulties ?
Mr. Hill—l certainly think so. These
Representatives feel and feel keenly,
the embarrassments of their situation.
They are the subjects of suspicion.
The suspicion may be considered some
what natural. Asa result of this feel
ing they are not inclined to make
themselves prominent or conspicuous
in directing events, but you may rely
upon it that they will he calm, self
poised and determined to do whatever
they can to secure a peaceable solu
tion of the present difficulties. If war
must come it will not be their fault.
And now let me add emphatically that,
come what may, the Southern peoplo
will remain in the Union and true to
the Union. They have tried secession,
and they know it bore no fruit but
bitterness. They will never try it
again. The people of the North,
too, should know that the negro
will receive from the Southern people
absolute protection in all his
civil and political rights. The South
has no prejudices against the negro :
we charge none of our wrongs to the
negro ; it is our interest not only to
protect the negro, but to do ail we can
to educate and improve him , he is a
citizen, and it is our interest to make
him an intelligent citizen ; he is a free
man, and it is our interest to make
him a worthy freeman ; he is a voter,
and it is our interest to make him a
wise voter. This is especially true be
cause the fourteenth amendment in
creases the power of the South iu tho
Electoral College and in Congress. We
would not, therefore, if we could, take
the right of suffrage away from the
negro. The South is not afraid of the
negro; when sinister influences are
removed from him he is docile aud
easily governed, and, being a necessa
ry element in our society, we are also
desirous that he should be an element
of power with us.”
FROM WASHINGTON.
Governor Swann and the Political
Perplexities—Tilden’s Counsel De
sirable— View's of Republicans—
What Blaine Would. Have Done in
Tilden’s Place.
[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.]
VIEWS OF GOV. SWANN.
Washington, December 12.—Govern
or Swann said to-day that he regarded
the situation as full of perplexities and
doubts. The Governor spoke with hid
usual caution and good sense. He
stated that he had liis views as to
what was proper to bo done, but that
he did not propose to urge them upon
the party at this time. Ho thought
that it would be best if Governor Til
den would suggest some proper solu
tion of the difficulty, as it was due to
him that his counsel be followed, and
that there should be no further delay
in the matter. The recent interview
which Governor Swann had with Sec
retary Fish was, he says, very long
and very friendly, and almost entirely
on the political situation. The Gov
ernor says, however, that he does not
consider it proper to communicate the
views expressed by Mr. Fish.
REPUBLICAN GOSSIP.
One of the oldest and most promi
nent Republican members of the House
in conversation to-night said that the
Republicans had ail the forms of law
in their favor. In regard to the Oregon
ease he said there was no doubt that
Watts was ineligible at the time of hia
election, and therefore there was a va
cancy iu the electoral college. Watts’s
resignation of his postmastership after
the election, of course, made him eligi
ble to fill the vacancy which existed,
and therefore the action of the two
other electors in electing him to the
vacancy was entirely according to the
constitution and the law. He said that
he did not anticipate any forcible re
sistance to the inauguration of Hayes;
that there were, no doubt, thousands
of rough, adventurous spirits in some
of the leading cities who could easily
be roused into tumult if the Demo
cratic leaders would give the word.
But he did not believe the word would
be given, because the rich men and the
property holders in the Democratic
party would hesitate a long while be
fore they would evoke a mob spirit
which when once aroused would know no
difference between Democrat or Re
publican. “In fact, said he, “Governor
Tilden is too rich, and therefore too
timid, ever to inaugurate a conflict of
force, and there is no possible way by
which he can hope to attain to the
Presidency except through force.”
Another Republican said, “If Jim
Blaine stood in Tilden’s shoes he would
take the Presidency away from Hayes
just as surely as the sun shines. With
his reckless courage and audacity, he
would by this time have set the people
of the country on fire, and the other
side would not have dared to resist.”
The above, which is a fair sample of
Republican sentiment here, shows be
yond a doubt that the Republican lead
ers count confidently on the prospect
that there will be no forcible resistance
to their schemes, and they are equally
confident that unless force is brought
against them, nothing else can stop
their success.
The Brothers Sherman Looming Up
in the Front.
[Special Dispatch to the World ]
Washington, December 12.—There is
a good deal of quiet cogitation going
on here among the more far-sighted
men of both parties as to the attitude
and intentions of two personages who
bid fair to play a much larger part in
the political drama now unfolding than
has been hitherto suspected. These
are Senator Sherman, of Ohio, and his
brother, the General, Commander-in-
Chief of the Army. Senator Sherman,
as the IVorld advised its readers two
days ago, is now hard at work to se
cure the displacement of Senator Fer
ry and his own selection as President
of the Senate. It is well known that
Mr. Hayes is wax in Sherman’s hands.
It wtw Sherman who first suagested the
candidacy of Hayes eighteen months
ago,and he holds over him the power of
a keen, cold, unscrupulous intelligence
over a weak and well-intentioned na
ture. If Sherman is made President
of the Senate he will take pains to pre
vent any official declaration or the
election either of Hayes or Tilden, and
he will do this in the interest of no
body but himself and bis brother.
Neither Senator Sherman nor General
Sherman has any respect or liking for
President Grant. In fact, it is noto
rious that they both despise him. If no
regular declaration of a President is
made, or if two Presidents are declared,
Senator Sherman, at noon on the 4th
of March, will claim to be, as President
of the Senate, which is a continuing
body, acting President of the United
States. His brother will be, by force of
law and of his position the highest offi
cer of the United States army. On the
last stroke of the clock Grant will be
come a private citizen, with no m<sre
legal authority over any offioej; or
soldier of the army than the hall boy
at the White House. If he presumes
to exercise any authority Gen. Sher
man will deal with him remorselessly
as he would with a drunken drummer
or a riotous cabman. Any officer or
soldier in the army who ventures to
obey an order emanating from any
body but acting Vice President Sher
man, through General Sherman, will
be dealt with in like manner. The
forms of law will all be with the Sher
mans, and the expectation (who shall
say the unreasonable expectation?)
of their friends is that the alarmed
conservative sentiment of the country
will rally to their support instantly and
overwhelmingly.
What Congressmen are Saying and
Doing About the Presidential Con
test.
(Special Correspondence of tho Philadelphia
Times.)
Washington, December .—All legis
lative business is in abeyauce here
pending tue result of the Presidential
contest, and little else but that contest
is thought of or talked about. From
the public and private utterances of
the leading members of both parties,
during the past week, it Is possible to
foreshadow, in some measure, the line
of policy which the two parties now
plan to pursue. The return of the
votes of the three contested Southern
States surprises no one here. A good
many clung desperately, up to the last
moment, to the vain hope that some
where, somehow, one of the Southern
Returning Boards would find it impos
sible to count out Mr. Tilden. Even
the most hopeful would have been
pleasantly surprised if the count had
disclosed such a result. After it be
came evident that the administration
was determined to support Chamber
lain in South Carolina it has been im
possible to find a prominent man on
either side who had the faith to say he
believed there was any reasonable pro
bability that Tilden would be given
auy part of the electoral vote of any of
the contested Southern States. The
declaration of the result, therefore,
has merely strengthened the general
belief, in tho Democratic mind at least,
that the final counting in of those
Statee for Hayes was a thiDg deter
mined on at least as early as the day
after the election, when it became ap
parent that the vote of ail the con
tested States Yvould give the election
to Mr. Hayes.
The father of the conspiracy is gen
erally accredited to Zaeh Chandler, but
in this case it is quite certain that the
devil is getting more than his due.
That Chandler has been an able abettor
and an earnest advocate of the con
spiracy there can be no doubt. His
whole future hangs upon his success in
this fight, and never for one moment
has he ceased to proclaim loud-mouthed
assurance of success or hesitated at
anything needful to achieve success.
The paternity of the scheme, however,
belongs neither to hia brain, sharp aud
unscrupulous as it is, nor to the stolid
cerebrum of the President, but to that
worthy son of his sire, Don Cameron,
the War Secretary. The Don is not a
loud-inuulhed man, as the readers of
the Tines well kuow, but he has inher
ited both his father’s love of scheming
and ability to scheme, and the pair of
them have been both the bruins and
backbone in this effort to steal the suc
cession. Strange us it may seem. Grant
has been the most weak-kneed factor
in the administration, if thattoriu may
be applied to one who has occasional
qualms of conscience but never acts on
them. In his several interviews with
Mr. Hewitt, the President has exhibited
symptoms of a real dread of impeach
ment, and has said maDy fair words as
to bis intentions to act justly and le
gally toward the South. When the
pinch comes, however, the Camerons
get hold of him, bolster up his cour
age, aud he comes to the scratch with
as much certainty as the Independent
Republicans in the Senate do after a
caucus.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
In the South Carolina affair Grant
came very near putting his foot in it. So
long as it appeared probable that the
Returning Board would return a Cham
berlain Legislature he gave Mr. Hewitt
to understaid explicitly that he should
recognize no man as Governor who did
not get a majority of all the Constitu
tional members of the Legislature who
should be legally returned. Because of
his fair talk to Mr. Hewitt quite a
number of the Democratic members
believed that he meant that if Hamp
ton should, by any chance, get a legal
majority of that Legislature the Presi
dent would recognize him. So Mr.
Hewitt and some other leading Demo
crats gave out that the Democratic pa
pers were too severe on the President,
and counseled more lenient judgment.
When it finally transpired that Hamp
ton really had sixty-three members
who held certificates from Chamber
lain’s own Returning Board, Grant was
in a dilemma. Even now the Demo
crats are chuckling over this dilemma
and wondering how he will got out of
it. But Cameron has thought up a
way, and to-day the President denies
that ho told Mr. Hewitt he would rec
ognize that man as Governor who
should have sixty-three legal member*
of the Legislature, but that he would
notrecognizß any man who had less
than votes. This is an en
tirely different statement, for Chamber
lain received more than sixty-three
votes, and now all that is oeoassary is
to decide thut the Chamberlain minori
ty had a right to seat the extra mem
bers who were needed to make up the
requisite sUtj -three, This decision, in
the language of a prominent Southern
member, the President will undoubted
ly make if Cameron can keep him ud
to his work.
THE OREGON MUDDLE.
The Oregon muddle has decidedly
added to the complication, and neither
side is altogether pleased. It has cer
tainly put the Republicans 1q a Very
curios dilemma, aud it ia amusing tn
note their wry faces and hear their in- 1
dignant declamations about it. “The )
country wii| never stand such an out-,
rage!" shouted the usual genial Char
ley Fostar, of Ohio, to-day, to a mis
chievous Democrat, who asked him
how he liked the result m Oregon. 1
“Well, J don’t quite think they wUI.” !
oaid the imperturbable interrogator, i
“and I guess they won't stand Louisi- !
ana or Florida, either. What do you f
think?” “Ob! Ahf Well, that is anoth
er question, There is no precedent for
Oregon, and there is for Louisiana.”
So it goes. The men who chuckled yes
terday over the result in Louisiana
snd Florida, and crowingly shouted to
their Democratic brethren, “We’ve got
you now,’ have suddenly drawn on
their indignation boots, and, with much
affected indignatlou, are shouting. ‘The
country won’t stand it.” as a matter
of fact, the .Hemoyjafca, especially the
I)emoc.raMj in the Senate, don’t alto
; gather fancy the Oregon business, which
fbok3 too much like a piece of chman
.eryoftbe very sort widen they ate
denouncing iq th? frqft, As. Jet
SIX DOLLARS A YEAR
none of them have committed them
selves publicly. A good many have
privately denounced it, and the only
outspoken opinion they have is that
the Republicans are in a bad dilemma.
They must either esunt in the duly re
turned Tilden vote from Oregon, they
say, and announce Tilden’s election, or
go behind the certificates and throw it
out on the ground that the people of
Oregon did not elect the elector cer
tified. But they say if the Republicans
go behind the ceitificate in Oregon
they must acknowledge the right to go
behind the certificates in the South.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN.
That Is where tho Democrats are
counting without their host. The Re
publicans don’t propose to go behind
the Oregon certificates; that is, they
don’t propose to appear to, but they do
propose to count Oregon’s three votes
lor Hayes, and in this way: When the
two envelopes from Oregon aro handed
to the President of the Senate, he will
open them both. At a glance he will
see which is the Hayes certificate. He
will announce that a majority, of the
Oregon electors, duly certified, have
met, filled the vacancy, and cast Ore
gon’s three votes for Hayes. The other
return will be treated as so much wuste
paper. *•
It is now evident that [the real crisis
is coming over the question of whether
or not the joint rules are in existence.
The President of the Senate has ruled
that they are not, Speaker Randall
haa ruled that they are. When the
two Houses meet to count tho vote
this question will come up for discus
sion. Then comes the tug of war.
Mr. Hewitt made the good point in
conversation to-day that the twenty
second joiDt rule when it was in exist
ence was merely a construction of that
passage of the Constitution which re-
lates to the manner of eouctiug the
electoral vote. If it is not in existence
the only question is the old one of how
that part of the Constitution shall 'je
construed, and the Republican n .
struction under the twenty-second
joint rule, during two Presidency e j e(l .
tions, was that either House* ] ia d the
right to object to the vote of any State
and no vote could be counted which
the two Houses did not agree should
oe counted. Morton’s bill, which he
will tty to get passed this
; very adroitly changes
; la * 3 instruction and provides
1 hut no vote shall he thrown out un
less both Houses agree, which is a
horse of quite a different color. Mr.
Hewitt and the House Democrats
however, all hold that the joint rules
are still in force. Mr. Merrimon pro
pounded the same theory in the Sen
ate, but only two members of the Sen
ate supported him. The indications
are that both Houses will stick to
their construction, although it is
rumored that Conbling, Jones and
three or four Republican Senators who
have been ominously silent will voto
with the Democrats. If the Senate
does stick there will surely be a dead
lock. Prominent House Democrats like
Randall, Lamar and Proctor Knott sav
that if the President of the Senate as
j Butnes to count the vote or choke off
: debate and announces Hayes elected
the House will withdraw and elect
Tilden. Then what? That is the
question all are asking and none
j answering. e. H. L.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
Mr. Samuel H. Mortimer, of Charles
ton is dead.
Mr. Isaiah Mines, a soldier of the
war of 1812 and one of the oldest citi
zens of Clarendon county, died last
week. i
On Sunday morning last the steam
null of Mr. D. M. Brad ham, in Mann
ing, was destroyed br fire. Loss $2 000-
iusuranoe SI,OOO.
The Greenville Neves states that
Judges Reed and Cooke will exchange
circuits—provided they are not count
ed out by Mackey’s Legislature.
A steamer on the Ashley river, near
Charleston, at tho Wando Fertilizer
Company, works exploded last Wed
nesday, killing four men.
The commencement exercises of the
University will take place so-day, at
the library of that institution in the
campus. The Radical Legislature have
been invited to attend.
The oountrj men, of the late Gen.
John A. Wagner, ot Charleston, are
moving in the matter of removing his
lemains from Walhalla to Charleston,
and erecting a mounment to his mem
ory.
A close guard by assistant sergeant
at-arms is kept at tho doors leading
into the State Capitol and none but
members and newspaper reporters, witli
a few other priviledged characters, are
admitted. A military guard remains
in the building still.
The residence aud kitchen of Miss
Maria Spann, near Providence,in Surn
tei county, with almost the con
tents, were burned on Monday morn
ing, the 11th, about 4 o’clock. The flro
commenced in the kitchen, and when
the family awoke they harely had tlmo
dress and get out of tho house with
a few articles.
It is currently reported that the Tunds
have been supplied from the North
(Uncle Sara?) to keep the Mackey Leg
islature afloat. Certain it is that Tues
day, immediately after they had gone*
through with the farce of electing a
United States Senator, they adjourued
and members were seen dispensing
greenbacks around prettey freely. &
George Robinson, an old negro man
about sixty years old living in the
Rafteu Creek neighborhood, Sumter
county, was found on the public road
near his house, on last Saturday morn
ing, insensible, from the effects cf in
toxication and exposure, from which
he soon expired. He had been to a
nouse-raising the day before, and was
returning home Friday night, when he
gave out, aud froae to death before he
wa% found. An inquest was held bv
Trial Justice Coghlan. y
The gin-house of Mr. John S. Richard
son. IU Hunuer county, was destroyed
by ure last week. Three colored bovs
who were in the But room at the time’
were burned to death. It is supposed
that these boys had matches in their
pookets, and that in a playful scuffle
the matches became ignited, firing the
loose lint cotton, and that they were
suffocated and burned to death before
the hnt room door fro** the outside
could he opened, bade# of cot
ton were lost, & lct u
cotton seed.
“Tile Democrats may not Like Mr
f Hayes,’* says th® Chicago Tribune
“hut we will credit them with preferring
him to war J” Which in very kind of
' y® l1 * ^.| e dders of Radicalism may
1 hr* • * lldeo ~ ' B eanuot credit
Preferring him to war with
! ■M ohAWea o£- tk®m all being Generals
j *uWe;s or quarter masters.—Courier